The particular effect of 4 kinds of amino acid and peptide-rich food material (APRM) containing different charged amino acid contents on the gelatinization and retrogradation behavior of potato starch granules and on the water-vaporization behavior was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry, rapid viscoanalysis, x-ray diffractometry, thermal gravimetry-differential thermal analysis, and pulsed NMR. APRM with a high-charged amino acid content produced unique gelatinization and retrogradation behavior in terms of an elevated gelatinization temperature, reduced viscosity, higher setback, and lower retrograded starch melting enthalpy. The recovered x-ray diffraction intensity decreased with increasing charged amino acid content. APRM with high-charged amino acid content could provide an improved paste having easy vaporization of external water in the swollen starch granules due to the reduced swelling.

The original mandate of the UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights said that he should „develop materials and methodologies for undertaking human rights impact assessments.‟ Since then, tools for human rights impact assessment (HRIA) have developed by different actors. This article reviews two such tools, both of which are up for revision in 2010. One is by the International Finance Corporation, International Business Leaders Forum and Global Compact, the other by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels. The article finds that substantive human rights and human rights principles are well understood by the former, while the latter seems to have an inadequate understanding of crucial human rights principles, such as non-discrimination, but the latter has some procedural strengths as compared to the former.

A new method for the determination of trace copper was developed by cloud point extraction preconcentration and spectrophotometry. In the proposed approach, amino acid (isoleucine) was used as the chelating agent, and Triton X-100 was selected as the surfactant. Some factors including pH of sample solution, concentration of the chelating agent and surfactant, and equilibration temperature and time, which affected the extraction efficiency of Cu and its subsequent determination, were studied and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration graph was linear in the range of 10–1000 μg L−1, preconcentration of 25 mL sample gave an enhancement factor of 22 and a detection limit of 5 μg L−1. The method was successfully applied to the determination of Cu in food and water samples

Modified cold-induced aggregation microextraction (M-CIAME) is a fast and simple method for extraction and preconcentration of metal ions from samples with high salt content. Furthermore, this technique is much safer in comparison with the organic solvent extraction. The extraction of palladium (Pd) was performed in the presence of Michler thioketone (TMK) as the complexing agent. In this method, sodium hexafluorophosphate (NaPF6) was added to the sample solution containing small amounts of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [Hmim][BF4]. Afterwards, the solution was placed in the ice bath and a cloudy solution was formed. After centrifuging, the extraction phase was settled. Under the optimum conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.2 ng mL-1. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.7% for 40 ng mL-1 of palladium (n = 5).

Entender la relaciones que determinan el equilibrio higroscópico en un alimento deshidratado y la velocidad a la que ésta sucede, es crucial para pronosticar la actividad de agua que se manifestará en un ambiente inestable. Con la finalidad de determinar el efecto de las fluctuaciones de temperatura ambiente sobre la actividad de agua de un alimento deshidratado, se estudió los cambios de la humedad de equilibrio que se presentan al exponer al ambiente hojuelas de papa deshidratada. Para interpretar y reproducir estos procesos de cambio, se analizó la interacción alimento-aire en condiciones controladas en el rango de 3 a 30ºC. Los pronósticos y cálculos estadísticos se realizaron en el Programa Microsoft Excel 2007. La bondad de ajuste de los pronósticos se midió mediante el porcentaje de error medio relativo y el coeficiente de determinación (r2). El análisis y determinación de las humedades de equilibrio del alimento se determinó en base a isotermas de adsorción a 3 y 30ºC. La velocidad de adsorción de humedad del alimento se analizó midiendo los cambios de masa en el tiempo que se producen al colocar 5g de alimento en un ambiente a 17ºC y 53% de humedad relativa. El pronóstico de la evolución de la actividad de agua del alimento expuesto a un ambiente de temperatura variable se consiguió interrelacionando los modelos matemáticos de BET, Clausius-Clapeyron modificado, y el modelo que describe la ganancia o pérdida de humedad del alimento en función del tiempo. Se observó que el mayor cambio en la humedad de las hojuelas de papa deshidratada, se presenta durante la primera hora de exposición a un ambiente a 7ºC y 99% de humedad relativa. Los pronósticos indican que en estas condiciones la actividad de agua puede incrementarse desde 0,38 hasta 0,6. | Tesis

A través de un experimento con 192 pollos mantenidos a 30°C en promedio de temperatura ambiente (TA) entre 28 días y 35 días, se evaluó el efecto de la adición de minerales en el agua o el alimento sobre las variables productivas y fisiológicas durante la etapa de finalización, bajo condiciones de estrés calórico crónico y agudo en pollos de engorde. Luego se simuló a los 36 días de edad, el estrés agudo con 36 °C/6 horas, incluyendo 3 tratamientos: T1= Alimento balanceado sin adición mineral, T2= Alimento balanceado con adición mineral en alimento y T3= Alimento balanceado con adición mineral en agua. El diseño experimental fue un arreglo completamente al azar, con 8 repeticiones/tratamiento, 8 pollos/repetición. La composición del suplemento mineral fue: NaHCO3 (0,83%); NH4Cl (0,07%) y; NaCl (0,30%), obteniéndose un balance de electrólitos de 240 mEq. Se evaluaron, el consumo de alimento, consumo de agua, ganancia de peso, conversión de alimento, temperatura corporal (TC), nivel de hiperventilación (NH), durante el estrés crónico y mortalidad (M) durante el estrés agudo. Los datos fueron analizados mediante pruebas de ANAVAR y de Chicuadrado para la mortalidad. Encontrándose que al adicionar minerales tanto en el agua como en el alimento, no hubo efecto significativo en las variables productivas. Se observó que los pollos que recibieron minerales (T2 y T3), incrementaron el consumo promedio de agua en un 34% (P=0,016) con respecto al T1. La adición de minerales en el agua permitió una disminución (P=0,007) de la TC (42,80 ± 0,16 °C), NH (159,95 ± 4,93 insp/min) y una reducción de la M hasta un 22% durante la simulación del estrés calórico agudo. Se concluye que la adición de minerales afecta principalmente las variables fisiológicas y la mortalidad | In order to evaluate the effect of mineral supplying in water or feed on productive and physiological variables in broilers under acute and chronic heat stress during final growth stage an experiment was conducted. Using a completely randomized design, a total of 195 broilers were randomly assigned to three treatments with 8 replicates of 8 birds each one. The treatments were T1 = basal diet with no mineral addition; T2 = basal diet plus mineral addition in feed; T3 = basal diet plus mineral addition in water, which were applied from 28 days of age. Before this period all broilers were receiving a same balance diet. The composition of the mineral formula used was: NaHCO3 (0,83%); NH4Cl (0,07%); NaCl (0,30%), obtaining an electrolytes balance of 240 mEq. Between 28 to 35 days of age, all these groups of birds were subjected at 30 ºC and the following day an acute heat stress was simulated using 36ºC for 6 hours. At 28 to 36 days old the following parameters were measured: feed and water consumption, body weight gain, feed conversion index, body temperature (BT), hyperventilation level (HL) and mortality (M) during acute stress. An ANOVA test was applied to all variables except M, which a Chi-squared test was performed. No significant effects on productive variables were found with minerals adding, neither to the water nor to the feed. Water consumption was 34% greater in T3 and T2 (P=0,016) regard to T1, which not received minerals. Mineral addition in water reduced significantly (P=0,007) BT (42,80 ± 0,16 °C), HL (159,95 ± 4,93 breaths/min) and M was reduced until 22% during acute heat stress period. It is concluded that mineral supplying affects mostly physiological variables and mortality

A total number of 166 specimens of Mugil cephalus caught from Epe Lagoon (low brackish/ freshwater) were examined for food and feeding habit and biometric features from November 2006 ? May 2007. The food of the species consisted mainly of algae (Bacillariophyta, Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta and Pyrrophyta) and detritus. The size range of fish examined were 12.4 ? 27.0cm (standard length) while the weight ranged from 22.40 ? 308.00g. The mean values of the biometric characters of Mugil cephalus did not reflect wide variations. The population dominant cohort in the lagoon represents the harvestable and marketable representative for a sustainable fishery and is a strong indication of potential for freshwater culture of this marine species. | Includes:- 2 tables.;1 fig.;23 refs.

This is the third volume of the proceedings of the national conference on ?Water for Food and Environment?, which was held from June 9 ?11, 2009 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). The volumes 1 and 2 have been produced as separate documents of this report series. In response to a call for abstracts, 81 abstracts were received from government institutes dealing with water resources and agriculture development, universities, other freelance researchers and researchers from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Forty seven of the eighty-one abstracts that were submitted were accepted for compiling full papers. | In the past couple of years the sharp increase in food prices worldwide has raised serious concerns about food security, especially in developing countries. To effectively address these concerns a holistic approach is required that encompasses improved agricultural water productivity, adaptation to climate change, targeted and appropriate institutional and financial measures, and a consideration of environmental issues. The main purpose of the conference was to share experiences in these areas and to find opportunities to improve farmers? incomes and food production, and to promote environmentally sustainable practices in Sri Lanka in the face of growing water scarcity and the challenges of climate change.

This is the third volume of the proceedings of the national conference on ‘Water for Food and Environment’, which was held from June 9 –11, 2009 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). The volumes 1 and 2 have been produced as separate documents of this report series. In response to a call for abstracts, 81 abstracts were received from government institutes dealing with water resources and agriculture development, universities, other freelance researchers and researchers from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Forty seven of the eighty-one abstracts that were submitted were accepted for compiling full papers. In the past couple of years the sharp increase in food prices worldwide has raised serious concerns about food security, especially in developing countries. To effectively address these concerns a holistic approach is required that encompasses improved agricultural water productivity, adaptation to climate change, targeted and appropriate institutional and financial measures, and a consideration of environmental issues. The main purpose of the conference was to share experiences in these areas and to find opportunities to improve farmers’ incomes and food production, and to promote environmentally sustainable practices in Sri Lanka in the face of growing water scarcity and the challenges of climate change.

Este trabajo presenta la viabilidad de los sistemas de refrigeración solar por absorción usando soluciones de monometilamina - agua (MMA-A) para aplicaciones en conservación de alimentos en las regiones rurales de Colombia, sin acceso a la red de energía eléctrica. Para suplirlos requerimientos de energía térmica se propone un sistema de calentamiento de agua con energía solar usando colectores de placa y un sistema de respaldo convencional. En este trabajo se determinó el coeficiente de operación (COP) del sistema de refrigeración solar por absorción de una sola etapa en función de la temperatura en los diferentes componentes del ciclo. Los resultados indican que el sistema podría mejorarse mediante un mejor diseño en el intercambiador de calor de solución, el evaporador y el rectificador. Los resultados teóricos demuestran que el uso de la solución de MMA-A puede ser usada en sistemas de refrigeración por absorción operados con energía térmica de baja calidad, tales como la energía solar. | This work reports the applicability of monomethylamine-water solutions in a solar absorption refrigerator for food conservation purposes in the rural regions of Colombia , where no electricity is available. A solar heating system using fíat píate solar collectors with a conventional auxiliary heating system is proposed. We have determined the COP of the solar single-stage absorption refrigerator as a function of the temperature in the different components of the cycle. The results indícate the system might be improved by better design on the solution heat exchanger, the evaporator and the rectifier. The theoretical results prove that the use of MMA-W solution can be driven bylow-grade thermal energy such as solar energy. | Este trabalho apresenta a viabilidade e aplicabilidade dos sistemas de refrigeração solar por absorção usando como parelha a monometilamina - agua (MMA-W) para fins de conservação de alimentos ñas regiões rurais da Colômbia, onde não há energía disponível. Propõese um sistema de calefação solar mediante coletores solares de placa plana com um sistema convencional de aquecimento auxiliar para suprir as necessidades energéticas do refrigerador por absorção. Determinou-se o coeficiente de desempenho (COP) do sistema de refrigeração solar por absorção só de uma etapa em funçã da temperatura nos diferentes componentes do ciclo. Os resultados indicam que o sistema poderia se melhorar mediante um desenho melhorno intercambiador de calor de solução, o evaporador e o retificador os resultados teóricos demonstram que o uso da solução de MMA-W pode ser usada em sistemas de refrigeração como parelha absortiva operado pela energía térmica de baixa qualidade, como a energía solar.