Physicochemical changes in Amaranthus spp grains, flour, isolated starch, and nanocrystals during germination and malting.

Amaranth is a pseudocereal that contains between 50 and 60% starch, gluten-free protein, and essential amino acids. This study investigates the physicochemical changes in Amaranthus spp. grains, flour, isolated starch and nanocrystals during germination and malting.

Study of the changes on the physicochemical properties of isolated lentil starch during germination.

In this work, the changes in the composition of the flours and in the morphological, structural, thermal, vibrational, rheological, and functional properties of the isolated lentil starch during the germination process were investigated. The fiber, fat, and ash content of the flours decreased and the protein content increased, while the apparent amylose content of the starch granules remained constant. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the starch granules remained intact during germination, and no enzymatic activity of α- and β-amylases was observed.

In Situ Photoacoustic Study of Optical Properties of P-Type (111) Porous Silicon Thin Films.

Porous silicon (PSi) on p++-type (111) silicon substrate has been fabricated by electronically etching method in hydrofluoric acid (HF) media from 5 to 110 mA/cm2 of anodizing current density. The problem of determining the optical properties of (111) PSi is board through implementing a photoacoustic (PA) technique coupled to an electrochemical cell for real-time monitoring of the formation of porous silicon thin films. PA amplitude allows the calculation of the real part of the films refractive index and porosity using the reflectance self-modulation due to the interference effect between the PSi film and the substrate that produces a periodic PA amplitude.

Design, fabrication, and optical characterization of one-dimensional photonic crystals based on porous silicon assisted by in-situ photoacoustics.

We present a methodology to fabricate one-dimensional porous silicon (PSi) photonic crystals in the visible range by controlled etching and monitored by photoacoustics. Photoacoustic can record in-situ information about changes in the optical path and chemical reaction as well as in temperature, refractive index, and roughness during porous layers formation. Radiometry imaging can determine the carrier distribution of c-Si substrate that is a fundamental parameter to obtain high-quality PSi films.

Effect of the addition of potassium and magnesium ions on the thermal, pasting, and functional properties of plantain starch (Musa paradisiaca).

Starch is a biopolymer widely used in the industry; however, rarely used in its native form, making necessary its modification. This work studied the effect of the inclusion of potassium and magnesium ions on the physicochemical properties of plantain starch. Ionic solutions were prepared at five concentrations between 0.

[The relationship of nutritional status, body and mandibular bone mineral density, tooth loss and fracture risk (FRAX) in pre-and postmenopausal women with periodontitis].

Introduction: During menopause there is weight gain and a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) that has been related with periodontal disease (incidence between 5-30%); therefore, it is essential to assess the risk factors related with anthropometry and BMD.

Objective: To assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI), skeletal composition, waist circumference, tooth loss, fracture risk, BMD of the spine, hip, femur, and mandible in pre and post-menopausal women with periodontitis.

Subjects And Methodology: We studied 60 women aged 35-60 years, divided in 4 groups (n = 15):

Control Group: premenopausal women without periodontitis; Experimental group 1: premenopausal women with periodontitis; Experimental group 2: postmenopausal women without periodontitis; and Experimental group 3: postmenopausal women with periodontitis.

[Impact of risk factors for osteoporosis on bone mineral density in perimenopausal women of the City of Querétaro, México].

It is essential to evaluate osteoporosis risk factors, mainly the modifiable, like the lifestyle, in Mexican women in order to prevent it, since it is a serious public health problem. We studied 805 women (35-55 years old) in the City of Queretaro, México. We obtained: personal data, family history, habits, such as smoking, alcohol, caffeine (coffee and soft drink of cola) and physical activity.

Effects of drying process on the physicochemical properties of nopal cladodes at different maturity stages.

Chemical proximate analysis was done in order to determine the changes of nutritional characteristics of nopal powders from three different maturity stages 50, 100, and 150 days and obtained by three different drying processes: freeze dried, forced air oven, and tunnel. Results indicate that nopal powder obtained by the process of freeze dried retains higher contents of protein, soluble fiber, and fat than the other two processes. Also, freeze dried process had less effect on color hue variable.