Protein quality assessment of pecan [Carya illinoinensis (wangenh.) K. Koch] and pine (Pinus gerardiana wall.) nuts for dietary supplementation

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beenu Tanwar ◽  
Rajni Modgil ◽  
Ankit Goyal

Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the protein (biological) quality of pecan and pine nuts supplemented diets in male Wistar albino rats. Design/methodology/approach A randomized and controlled study (45 d) was conducted in male Wistar albino rats (n = 60) comprising six groups, namely, control (Cc), control with 1% cholesterol (CC1), Pecan group (Pe), Pecan group supplemented with 1% cholesterol (Pi1), Pine group supplemented with 1% cholesterol (Pi1). Protein quality of supplemented diet/s was assessed in terms of various biological indices. Findings Pe and Pi groups exhibited normal growth when compared with Cc. Despite showing higher feed and protein intake, Pe and Pi groups exhibited significantly (P = 0.023) lower weight gain than Cc. There was no significant difference between the protein efficiency ratio (3.8 ± 0.2 and 3.7 ± 0.2), apparent protein digestibility (81.5 ± 2.2 and 80.5 ± 2%), true protein digestibility (90.6 ± 1.1 and 88.5 ± 3.5%) and biological value (BV) (75.6 ± 0.9 and 72.6 ± 0.9%) of Pe and Pi groups, respectively. Pe group presented considerably higher net protein utilization (68.5 ± 1.4 vs 64.4 ± 0.8%) and protein retention efficiency (34.8 ± 1.1 vs 31.2 ± 1.3%) than Pi group. Overall, pecan-based diet displayed superior biological quality over pine nut. Antinutrients present in the nuts did not show any major negative effect on the growth, digestibility and bioavailability of the nutrients in rats. BV ranging from 72.6% to 75.6% suggested a satisfactory quality of experimental nut-based diets. Research limitations/implications Further investigation of pecan and pine nuts consumption to examine the potential benefits and associated mechanisms of action is warranted which would aid in a better understanding and to establish nutritional recommendations. Originality/value Overall, the exploitation of pecan and pine nut flours for the development of value-added food products is favorable from a nutritional point of view.

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elina Maseta ◽  
T.C. Mosha ◽  
Cornelio Nyaruhucha ◽  
Henry Laswai

Purpose Child undernutrition is a persistent problem in Africa, especially in areas where the poor largely depend on starchy staples with limited access to diverse diets. The purpose of this study was to determine the protein quality, growth and rehabilitating potential of composite foods made from quality protein maize. Design/methodology/approach Four composite diets were prepared from quality protein maize, namely quality protein maize-soybeans; quality protein maize-soybeans-cowpeas; quality protein maize-soybeans-common beans and quality protein maize alone. A fifth diet was prepared from common maize alone. The control diet (Chesta®) was made from maize, soybeans, fish, bone and blood meal. The formulations were made to meet the greatest amino acid score and the desired amount of energy and fat according to the FAO/WHO (1985) recommendation for pre-school children. Albino rats were used in evaluating the protein quality of the formulations. Findings The food intake was significantly different (p < 0.05) among diets; with a trend of intake decreasing from quality protein maize-based to conventional maize alone diets (apart from the control diet). Protein efficiency ratio and net protein ratio varied significantly (p < 0.05) across the experimental diets. Protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) was 80 per cent (quality protein maize-soybeans-cowpeas), 87 per cent (quality protein maize-soybeans), 103 per cent (common maize alone), 98 per cent (quality protein maize), 80 per cent (quality protein maize-soybeans-common beans) and 53 per cent (control). Research limitations/implications Two diets, namely quality protein maize-soybeans-common beans and quality protein maize-soybeans-cowpeas, showed the greatest potential to support growth and rehabilitation of undernourished rats. Human trial is proposed to validate the findings. Originality/value Despite adoption of quality protein maize in several parts of the country, there are no studies that have been done to determine the potential of quality protein maize to support optimal growth and rehabilitation of undernourished children. The objective of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the protein quality, growth and rehabilitating potential of composite foods made from quality protein maize.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 234
Author(s):  
Fatemah B. Alsalman ◽  
Hosahalli S. Ramaswamy

Chickpea cooking water (CCW), known as aquafaba, has potential as a replacement for egg whites due to its emulsion and foaming properties which come from the proteins and starch that leach out from chickpeas into the cooking water. High pressure (HP) processing has the ability to modify the functional characteristics of proteins. It is hypothesized that HP processing could favorably affect the functional properties of CCW proteins by influencing their structure. The objective of this study to evaluate the effect of HP treatment on the associated secondary structure, emulsion properties and thermal characteristics of CCW proteins. A central composite rotatable design is used with pressure level (227–573 MPa) and treatment time (6–24 min) as HP variables, and concentration of freeze dried CCW aquafaba powder (11–29%) as product variable, and compared to untreated CCW powder. HP improves aquafaba emulsion properties compared to control sample. HP reduces protein aggregates by 33.3%, while β-sheets decreases by 4.2–87.6% in which both correlated to increasing protein digestibility. α-helices drops by 50%. It affects the intensity of some HP treated samples, but not the trend of bands in most of them. HP treatment decreases Td and enthalpy because of increasing the degree of denaturation.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Salerno-Kochan ◽  
Paweł Turek

PurposeThe aim of the study reported in this article was to establish whether the quality of clothes of a given brand is perceived and assessed by consumers at the same level. An additional purpose was to identify the features that characterize the quality of popular, among Polish young female consumers, clothing brands and to classify them according to their quality level (perceived and assessed).Design/methodology/approachThe article presents two approaches to consumer assessment of the quality of clothes: the survey method, in which the product quality was determined by 320 Polish female young respondents (19–25) based on their own previous experiences and impressions related to a particular clothing brand, and a direct assessment of shirts of selected brands using a sensory quality assessment method, a five-point hedonic scale with the verbal anchor (115 evaluators).FindingsThe research has revealed a significant difference between the perception of selected quality features of brands and the consumer assessment of the products. The perception maps developed based on the PROFIT analysis (PROperty FITting) as well as on cluster analysis provided interesting information about the situation of selected brands and their features in comparison with others and allowed to identify strong and weak features characterizing a given category.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has several limitations. First and foremost, the research results cannot be generalized to all consumers because they encompass the results from one national context and one population of respondents (young females). It should also be noted that the conducted research comprises only the most popular clothing brands available on the Polish market, in particular, the fast fashion segment brands. Furthermore, it would be advisable to carry out a sensory assessment of the quality of other clothing items offered under the brand names investigated.Practical implicationsThis research could be a valuable source of information for clothing company managers, thanks to which they could better manage their brand and its position on the market. When undertaking marketing activities consisting of building positive perceptions about the product, it is important to make sure that the product offers an attractive sensory experience. When real quality deviates from consumer perceptions about the quality, managers should take corrective actions to restore and even improve the brand image in the eyes of the consumer, as well as to ensure the brand and the products offered under it a stable position on the market.Originality/valueBy comparing two approaches to consumer quality assessment, discrepancies between declared and real (sensory) quality of clothes have been identified and the distinctive features that differentiate selected brands regarding their quality level have been indicated.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 652-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke ◽  
Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa ◽  
Marcia M. Raphiri

Purpose There are several types of accommodation available to students of higher education institutions, and it is the responsibility of the institutions to focus on factors that can attract and retain students to their residences. This study aims to investigate satisfaction of higher institutions students with on-campus accommodation with an emphasis on the ethnicity of the students. Design/methodology/approach Using convenience sampling method, questionnaires were administered to students of selected residences in the study area. Mean item score was used to rank identified factors, whereas mean gap and Kruskal–Wallis K-test were adopted to examine the difference in opinion of students from various ethnic groups. Findings Overall, major features that make students dissatisfied with university-owned accommodations are enforcement of rule that compels all students to move out with their belongings during each recess, the effectiveness of the lift system, the size of wardrobe and closet, laundry service in the residence, numbers of electrical sockets and window quality. Considering dwelling unit features, neighbourhood, environmental, building quality and services provided by residence management, this study reveals that there is a significant difference in the satisfaction of students of diverse ethnic groups with their accommodation. Research limitations/implications The study was limited to on-campus residences owned by higher education institutions in South Africa. However, the findings of the study can be adopted for off-campus residences, and such owned by private individuals, agencies and other bodies provided are approved by the institutions. Originality/value The findings of this study will help management of higher education institutions to improve quality of services in their residences for the satisfaction of their students. Developers, contractors and other stakeholders involved in construction of these residences will also find the findings useful in designing and construction of the facilities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 424-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafikul Islam ◽  
Selim Ahmed ◽  
Dzuljastri Abdul Razak

Purpose – This paper aims to identify the gaps and differences between customer expectations and perceptions on service quality of Islamic banks in Malaysia based on six dimensions of service quality, namely, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, tangibles and Islamic Shari’ah compliance. Design/methodology/approach – This study surveyed 179 customers who have first-hand experience with Islamic banking services in Malaysia. The research data were analysed using reliability analysis, independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Findings – The results indicated that customers’ perceptions failed to meet their expectations on the service quality of Islamic banks in Malaysia. The results also indicated that those customers (respondents) aged below 30 years have higher expectations on empathy from the Islamic banking service compared to other age groups. However, there is no significant difference between customer expectations and perceptions of Islamic banking service quality based on educational background and occupation. Research limitations/implications – This research focused solely on Islamic banks in Malaysia and thus the results might not be applicable for other conventional banks. Originality/value – The findings are expected to provide guidelines for enhancing the satisfaction level of clients of the Islamic banking system in Malaysia and other countries.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Burak Kaymaz ◽  
Onur Yılmaz ◽  
Ali Osman Taşova ◽  
Doğukan Anapa

Abstract Background: Studies have shown that bioactive cements have beneficial bone-forming effects. Our objective in the present study is to investigate the efficacy of tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) on fracture healing in rat femur.Materials and methods: Forty-two female Wistar Albino rats randomized into two groups (groups 1 and 2, n=21 for each). The left femur of all animals was fractured by osteotomy after deep anesthesia with ketamine. Additional procedure was not applied to the rats in group 1. Rats in Group 2, following osteotomy were applied to the fracture line approximately 2 cc TTCP. The animals were sacrificed on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd post-operative weeks (each week 7 animals were sacrificed from each group) and the broken femur were removed. The femur were examined first radiographically and second, histopathologically.Results: Radiologically, callus maturity and bone union increased with time in both groups. But no significant differences were found regarding callus maturity and bone union in weekly comparisons (Anteroposterior plain: p:0.53, p:0.37, p:0.42, Lateral plain p:0.26, p:0.42, p:0.87). Histopathologically, the fractures healed normally as the weeks progressed in both groups. In the comparison of both groups, no significant difference was found outside the 1st week, although the histological scores of group 2, who were treated for all weeks, were higher in terms of fracture healing (p:0,024, p:104,p:462).Conclusions: Although no significant difference was found in the comparison of both groups except for the first week, the histological scores of the group 2 who received TTCP in all weeks were higher in terms of fracture healing. According to the results of this study, we think that TTCP can be useful especially in the early stages of fracture healing.


Author(s):  
Hassan Zareei Mahmoodabadi ◽  
Mansoreh Nourian ◽  
Seyed Reza Reza Javadian ◽  
Elahe Fallah Tafti

Background: Elderly is an era of life, which affects quality of life; aging changes the thinking ways and reduces the self-confidence. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of hope therapy on the elderly quality of life in Mehriz, Yazd in 2016 - 2017. Methods: In this controlled study with pre-test post-test design, the study population consisted of all elderly people who referred to daily care centers of Mehriz. The sample consisted of 24 elderly women in the daily care centers, who were divided into two groups of experimental (n = 12) and awaiting (n = 12).Hope therapy was provided in eight sessions for the experimental group. The instrument used in this research was Quality of Life Scale for the Elderly. Results: The MANOVA results showed a significant difference between the experimental and awaiting groups. In the experimental group, physical function, depression, anxiety, mental performance, and life satisfaction improved, but education did not affect the sex dimension. Hope therapy, was effective on improving the elderly quality of life. Conclusion: The studied training can be used as an effective treatment to improve the elderly quality of life.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Grace Prost ◽  
Meghan A. Novisky

Purpose The purpose of this paper aims to examine differences in measures of and relationships between visitation and quality of life (QOL) among older and younger jailed adults. The authors also explored the contribution of visitation to QOL among adults in this setting. The authors anticipated fewer visits and lower QOL among older adults. Framed by psychosocial developmental theory, the authors also anticipated a larger effect in the relationship between visitation and QOL among older rather than younger adults and that visitation would contribute most readily to psychological QOL. Design/methodology/approach Cross-sectional data from a large US jail were used (n = 264). The authors described the sample regarding visitation and QOL measures among older (≥45) and younger adults (≤44) and examined differences in measures of and relationships between visitation and QOL using independent sample t-tests and bivariate analyses. The authors explored the contribution of visitation to psychological, social relationships, physical and environmental QOL among jailed adults using hierarchical multiple linear regression. Findings Older adults had fewer family visits and lower physical QOL than younger adults, disparities were moderate in effect (d range = 0.33–0.35). A significant difference also emerged between groups regarding the visitation and environmental QOL relationship (z = 1.66, p <0.05). Visitation contributed to variation in physical and social relationships QOL among jailed adults (Beta range = 0.19–0.24). Originality/value Limited research exists among jailed older adults and scholars have yet to examine the relationship between visitation and QOL among persons in these settings.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chinedum Ogbonnaya Eleazu ◽  
Aniza Abd Aziz ◽  
Tay Chuu Suen ◽  
Lam Chun-Hau ◽  
Chin Elynn ◽  
...  

Purpose This study aims to design to assess the traditional, complementary and alternate medicine (TCAM) usage and its association with the quality of life (QOL) of Type 2 diabetic patients in a tertiary hospital (Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia) in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach A total of 300 respondents included in this study were divided into the following two major categories: TCAM (34.33% of respondents) and non-TCAM users (65.67% of the respondents), respectively. The mean ages of the respondents were 59.3 ± 10.2 for the TCAM users and 57.7 ± 12.0 for the non-TCAM users. Findings A greater percentage of non-TCAM users reported poor control of diabetes (14.7%) and blood glucose (55.8%) compared with the TCAM users (9.7% and 48.5%, respectively). Further, the diabetic patients on TCAM reported lower rates of coma, stroke and kidney problems but higher rates of diabetic foot ulcers, heart diseases and retinopathy than the non-TCAM users. Additionally, the diabetic patients with TCAM usage had a significantly better physical (p = 0.02) and overall (p = 0.03) qualities of life compared to the non-TCAM users. However, psychological, social and environmental health did not show any significant difference. Originality/value The prevalence of TCAM usage among diabetic patients was lower than in other comparable studies. Diabetic patients on TCAM reported lower rates of coma, stroke and kidney problems but higher rates of diabetic foot ulcers, heart diseases and retinopathy than the non-TCAM users. Further, diabetes patients on TCAM reported better QOL compared to non-TCAM users especially in terms of physical health.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-61
Author(s):  
Dagwom Yohanna Dang ◽  
James Ayuba Akwe ◽  
Salisu Balago Garba

PurposeCredit relevance of financial reporting can be influenced by change in financial reporting framework. This study aims to examine the effect of mandatory international financial reporting standards (IFRS) adoption on credit relevance quality of financial reporting of deposit money banks (DMBs) in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses difference-in-differences (D-in-D) design for its modelling. Panel data regression analysis based on the D-in-D model is used in analysing the data collected from secondary sources.FindingsThe findings of this study are that based on the D-in-D approach, there is a significant and positive effect of mandatory IFRS adoption on credit relevance quality of financial reporting of DMBs in Nigeria, and that there is also a significant difference in the credit relevance quality of financial reporting of mandatory adopting banks in the post-mandatory IFRS adoption period compared to pre-mandatory IFRS adoption period.Research limitations/implicationsTo the best of this study's review, there is inadequacy of literature within the credit relevance research in Nigeria. In the light of this, this study intends to fill the gap.Practical implicationsThis study is specifically important to regulatory authorities, both primary and secondary regulators. Specifically, this study has implications in the regulatory roles of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC). However, the study recommends that regulatory authorities should encourage DMBs to avail their financial reports annually to credit rating agencies (local and international) for proper evaluation for subsequent ratings.Originality/valueThe peculiarities in this study, that is the utilisation of the D-in-D design and the use of credit relevance metric as the dependent variable, made this study important and novel to push the frontier of existing knowledge.


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