Showing papers on "Pumpkin seed published in 2004"

Preliminary nutritional evaluation of five species of egusi seeds in cameroon

Abstract: This study deals with the analyses of the quantity of moisture, crude proteins, total lipids, carbohydrates, ash, crude fibre and calcium. These analyses were carried out in five different species of egusi seeds, which belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. These seeds are: Cucumeropsis mannii (egusi melon), Cucurbita maxima (pumpkin or squash gourd), Cucurbita moschata (musk melon), Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd or calabash) and Cucumis sativus (“Ibo” egusi). The moisture content was determined by drying in an oven to constant weight, crude protein content by Kjedahl method. Total lipids by Soxhlet, ash content by incinerating in a furnace and carbohydrates by the Bertrand's method. The crude fibre content was the residue obtained after sequential hot digestion of the defatted sample with dilute acid and alkaline solutions. The calcium content was determined by the complexiometric method. From this study, it was noticed that the moisture levels (4.33 - 7.25% f.w) were similar to those of other oilseeds such as soybean and the fluted pumpkin seed. These egusi samples contained good levels of crude proteins (24.3 - 41.6% d.w), total lipids (42.9 - 57.3% d.w) and calcium (129.7 - 269.7 mg/100 g d.w). Their levels of crude proteins were similar to those of soybean and the fluted pumpkin but higher than that of groundnut (23% d.w), while the total lipid contents were similar to those of groundnut and the fluted pumpkin seed but higher than that of soybean (19.1% d.w). The carbohydrate contents of these seeds (4.56 – 10.2% d.w) are lower than those of groundnut (18.6% d.w) and the fluted pumpkin seed (14.5% d.w). The crude fibre levels (0.9 – 1.63% d.w) were lower than those of soybean (5.71% d.w) and groundnuts (5.15% d.w). The ash contents of these seeds (2.82 - 5.0% d.w) were similar to those of groundnuts (2.79% d.w), soybean (5.06% d.w) and the fluted pumpkin seed (3.4% d.w). Calcium levels compared well with that of soybean, higher than that of groundnut (49 mg/100 g d.w) and even higher than that of the fluted pumpkin seed (1.1 mg/100 g d.w). These egusi seeds can therefore be considered as an important source of plant proteins, lipids and calcium, which could be used in the fight against malnutrition. Key Words: nutritional potential, Cucurbitaceae, egusi seeds. ETUDE NUTRITIONNELLE PRELIMINAIRE DE 5 ESPECES DE COURGES DE LA FAMILLE DE CUCURBITACEES DU CAMEROUN Resume Cette etude analyse les potentiels nutritionnels de cinq especes de courges de la famille de Cucurbitacees a savoir : Cucumeropsis mannii, Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Lagenaria siceraria et Cucumis sativus .Sept principes nutritifs ont ete evalues : L'eau, les protides totaux, les lipides totaux, les glucides, les cendres, les fibres brutes et le calcium. Les resultats obtenus montrent que les teneurs en eau et en cendres sont generalement semblables a celles des autres graines oleagineux tandis que les teneurs en glucides et en fibres brutes sont plus faibles. Les courges contiennent essentiellement les protides totaux (24.3 - 41.6%), les lipides totaux (42.9 - 57.3% m.s.) et le calcium (129.7 - 269.7 mg/100 m.s). Leurs teneurs en proteines sont presque les memes que celles de Glycine max (soja) et de Telfaria occidentalis mais superieure a celle d'Arachis hypogyaea (arachide) (23% m.s.) Les teneurs en lipides sont semblables a celle de Telfaria occidentalis mais plus elevees que celle de soja (19% m.s). Les teneurs en calcium sont presque les memes que celle de soja, mais superieur a celle d'arachide (49 mg/100 gm.s) et plus elevees que celle de Telfaria occidentalis (1.1 mg/100 gm.s.). Au vu de tous ces resultats, nous sommes amenes a dire que ces especes de courges constituent une source importante de proteines vegetales, de lipides et de calcium qui sont indispensables pour la lutte contre la malnutrition. Mots cles : potentiel nutritionnel, Cucurbitacees, graines de courges AJFAND Vol.4(1) 2004

Enhanced selenium content in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) and pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seeds by foliar fertilisation

Abstract: The fruit and thin-husked seeds of the pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) and buckwheat grain (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), both grown in Slovenia, were analysed for selenium (Se) content following foliar application of Se(VI) solution during the period of blooming. Samples were digested by a H2SO4-HNO3-H2O2-V2O5 mixture and Se determined, based on hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The whole procedure from weighing to measuring was carried out in the same Teflon vessel. The detection limit of the method was 0.14 ng g−1 solution. Buckwheat seeds from untreated plants contained 47 ng g−1 of Se and 394 ng g−1 from plants after foliar fertilisation with Se. Pumpkin seeds from untreated plants contained 108 ng g−1 of Se, and 381 ng g−1 of Se from Se-treated plants, all per lyophilised sample. Se content in lyophilised pumpkin fruit was 15 ng g−1 in untreated plants and 20 ng g−1 in Se-treated pumpkin plants. It is thus feasible to enhance Se content in buckwheat and pumpkin seeds by foliar fertilisation, making them a rich source of dietary Se and useful as a raw material for enriched food products.

Supercritical fluid extraction of Cucurbita ficifolia seed oil

Abstract: Pumpkin, Cucurbita ficifolia, seed oil was extracted with supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) in the temperature range of 308–318 K and in the pressure range of 18–20 MPa. In addition, the influence of the superficial velocity within a tubular extractor was studied. The oil content determined by a Soxhlet apparatus was 43.5%. Physical and chemical characteristics of the oil were obtained. The results in terms of free fatty acids contents were compared with those obtained when n-hexane was used as the solvent, and no significant differences between the oils extracted by both methods were found. The main fatty acid was ω6-linoleic acid (about 60%), followed by palmitic acid (about 15%) and oleic acid (about 14%). Oxidative stability was studied by using the induction time determined by the Rancimat method. The oil obtained by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was less protected against oxidation (4.2 h for SFE-extracted oil and 8.3 h for the pumpkin seed oil extracted with n-hexane). The oil extracted by SC-CO2 was clearer than that extracted by n-hexane, showing some refining. The acidity index was 5.5 for the n-hexane extracted oil. For the oils extracted by SC-CO2, two analyses were made: for the oils obtained at 15 min of extraction time, for which the acidity indices varied from about 15 to 20, and for the remaining oils (extracted until 150 min), for which the acidity indices varied from about 2 to 2.6. The central composite nonfactorial design was used to optimise the extraction conditions, using the Statistica, version 5, software (Statsoft). The best results, in terms of oil recovered by SC-CO2, were found at 19 MPa, 308 K and a superficial velocity of 6.0×10−4 ms−1.

Comparison of two kinds of pumpkin seed oils obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction

Abstract: The oils from two kinds of pumpkin seeds, black and white ones, were extracted by supercritical CO 2 (SC-CO 2 ). The technological variables for SC-CO 2 extraction were optimized and the resulting oils were analyzed by GC-MS. As a result, the optimal conditions for SC-CO 2 extraction were as follows: 25∼30 MPa, 45 °C, SC-CO 2 flow rate of 30∼40 kg/h. The main compounds in the resulting oils were 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid for both types of pumpkin seeds, however, the black seed oil contains more unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) than the white seed oil. On the other hand, some compounds including heptadecanoic acid (0.27%), tetracosanic acid (0.1%), 9-dodecaenoic acid (0.45%) and pentadecenoic acid (0.05%) were found in white seed oil but not in black seed oil; while eicosanic acid (0.05%), 11,14-eicosadienoic acid (0.2%), 11-octadecenoic acid (0.06%), 7-hexadecenoic acid (0.02%) and 1,1 2-tridecadiene (0.02%) were only found in black seed oil.

Lipid classes, fatty acid composition and triacylglycerol molecular species in the kernels of pumpkin (Cucurbita spp) seeds

Abstract: The lipids extracted from the kernels of pumpkin (Cucurbita spp) seeds of three cultivars were classified by thin layer chromatography into six fractions: steryl esters (SEs, 0.5–1.2%), triacylglycerols (TAGs, 92.7–93.4%), free fatty acids (FFAs, 2.9–3.5%), sn-1,3-diacylglycerols (1,3-DAGs, 0.4–0.9%), sn-1,2-diacylglycerols (1,2-DAGs, 0.7–0.9%) and phospholipids (PLs, 1.5%). Fatty acids derivatised as methyl esters were analysed by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection. Molecular species and fatty acid distributions of TAGs, isolated from the total lipids in the kernels, were analysed by a combination of argentation thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography. A modified argentation TLC procedure, developed to optimise the separation of the complex mixture of total TAGs, provided 11 different groups of TAGs, based on both the degree of unsaturation and the total chain length of fatty acid groups. With a few exceptions, SM2 (5.8–20.1%), S2D (8.8–11.2%), M3 (6.7–24.8%), SMD (6.8–16.7%), M2D (16.7–23.6%), SD2 (4.6–15.1%) and MD2 (4.9–18.6%) were the main TAG components. These results suggest that there are significant differences (P < 0.05) not only in fatty acid distributions of acyl lipids but also in molecular species of TAGs among the three cultivars. The differences in pumpkin cultivars could be appreciable, based on the distribution of molecular species in TAGs. However, pumpkin seed kernels could be utilised successfully as a source of edible oils for human consumption. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry

Preclinical studies of cucurbita maxima (pumpkin seeds) a traditional intestinal antiparasitic in rural urban areas

Abstract: Experimental research was carried out at the Parasitology and Chemistry laboratories of the Jorge Basadre Grohmann National University, in Tacna. The process involved two phases: (1) determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Cucurbita Maxima as an antiparasitic agent using canine tapeworms with an intestinal isolation of 5 to 6 hours, and (2) determination of the side-effects of Curbita Maxima on exposed albino rats. It was found that the MIC of 23 gr. of pumpkin seed in 100 ml. of distilled water can produce an antihelminthic effect. This concentration is equivalent to +/- 73 pumpkin seeds (x2 = 5.6, p 23 gr. There is a protheolithic effect with an average survival time of 38.4 minutes. Microscopically the mature proglottids present a destruction of the tegument involving the basal membrane. In the gravid proglottids there is egg destruction. These findings are accentuated when experimenting with Cucurbita Maxima in a concentration of 30 and 32 gr. Superficial non-erosive gastritis was found in weys rats after 4 hours of administering 9 gr/kg.

Effects of nitrogen fertilizer on productivity of medicinal pumpkin

Abstract: Medicinal pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo convar. pepo var. styriaca) is an important annual plant that belongs to Cucurbitaceae family. The seeds of this plant, which are used to cure the prostatic hypertrophy and urinary tract irritation, contain fatty oil, β-sitosterol and E-vitamin as active substances and Zn as important nutritional element The effect of nitrogen levels on leaf N and chlorophyll (a, b, and total) content, seed yield, oil yield, and Zn content was examined. The nitrogen treatments were at five levels (0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 Kgha) that were applied at three different stages of the plant growth (seed sowing time, four leaf stage and flowering). The results indicated that nitrogen fertilization increased the amount of chlorophylls and N content of the leaves compared to the control. The highest rate of chlorophylls and N content of the leaves was obtained when nitrogen applied at 300 and 225 kgha level, respectively. Also the highest seed dry weight and oil seed content were obtained at 75 kgha of nitrogen. The highest β-sitosterol level showed at 150 kgha of nitrogen. Zn content of the seeds decreased with nitrogen increasing, but the control indicated highest amount of the Zn. INTRODUCTION Common pumpkin (Cucurbita pepop convar. pepo var. styriaca) is an important annual plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. It has a sprawling prickly stem, about 300-500 cm long. The leaves are large, orange-yellow in color, male flowers appear in leaf axil and the female flowers on stalks. The fruits are green to orange. The root systems are fibrous (Hornok, 1990; Bernath, 1993; Robinson and Decker, 1997). Pumpkin has been used as a vegetable and medicine since ancient times, but is has been cultivated as a medicinal plant only in recent decades. Nowadays, it is cultivated all over the world for with different kinds of usages. The seed oil is used as a local specially, e.g. in Austria and Germany as salad dressings additive. Pumpkin seeds are used in bakeries for special breads and also as snacks (Kuhlman et al., 1999). The seeds of pumpkins contain fatty oil, β-sitosterol and E-vitamin and is used as a raw material for certain pharmaceutical products including Peponen Pepostrine and Gronfing capsules which are mainly used to cure the prostatic hypertrophy and urinary tract irritation (Horvath and Bedo, 1998; Bremness, 1994). Although it is still not fully clear which constituent is responsible for the cure of prostatic hypertrophy, a combination of several ingredients and particular content of sterols are generally considered to contribute to it (Kuhlman et al, 1999). According to popular experience in Hungary, the incidence of hypertension, arteriosclerosis and prostatic hypertrophy is lower in people regularly consuming pumpkin seed oil (Horvath and Bedo, 1988; Vas et al., 1988; Zambo, 1998). Nitrogen is an important nutrient from the view point of yield, quality and environmental pollution. On the other hand, the natural products must be as pure as possible. Nitrogen application in excess of the crop demand is costly for several reason; first it costs the grower money, second it causes pollution of the water system (Fontes et al, 1997) and pollution of the natural drug (Omidbaigi, 1995). To use efficiently, an accurate evaluation of plant N requirements is necessary. Total N and nitrate-N concentration of plant parts has proven a reliable indicator of current N status in a numerous Proc. XXVI IHC – Future for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Eds. L.E. Craker et al. Acta Hort. 629, ISHS 2004 Publication supported by Can. Int. Dev. Agency (CIDA) 416 variety of crops, including vegetables (Jones et al., 1991). However, there are large genotype and environmental interactions for nitrogen accumulation by plants (Omidbaigi, 1995). Recently, a method that has attracted attention is based on measuring the chlorophyll content in the leaves as the chlorophyll content has been found to be directly related to N leaf concentration (Lopez-Cantarero et al., 1994). Several workers have utilized plant chlorophyll contents to assess the N status of crops, such as wheat and potato. Leaf chlorophyll may serve as a useful index for determining crop N requirements. However, the use of chlorophyll and total N concentration to assess the N status of medicinal pumpkin plants may not be practical without some kind of normalization procedure to account for variety, plant age, and location effects on the chlorophyll and total N levels. This study was undertaken to determine the chlorophyll and total N critical levels in medicinal pumpkin leaves at flowering stage. The dry weight of the seeds was determined after fruit harvesting, extraction and drying the seeds. MATERIALS AND METHODS Medicinal pumpkin seeds, kakai cultivar, were sown in plastic pots that contained sandy loam soil in a controlled greenhouse and were kept moist until emergence. After this stage, the seedling was irrigated with half strength Hoaglands solution. The diameter of the plastic pots was 30 cm. The details of the physico-chemical properties of the soil are shown in table 1. Treatments consisted five N levels (0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 kgha or 0, 25, 55, 85, and 110 g per plant respectively). The were pots arranged in RCBD with three replicates. Nitrogen was applied as NH4NO3. 1/3 of total fertilizer mixed with the soil before seed sowing and 2/3 of it was added at four leaf stage and flowering stage. Two wrapper leaves in each plant were collected at flowering stage. Ten leaf discs were detached from the leaves and used for chlorophyll determination following the Arnon (1949) procedure. The remainder leaves were rinsed and oven-dried at 70 C in a forceddraft oven, and ground to pass a 0.03 mm (20 mesh) screen, digested in a mixtures of sulfuric acid (H2SO4), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), salicylic acid (C7H6O3 ) and selenium, and N determined by Kjeldahl method (Jones et al, 1991). After fruit ripening and extraction of the seeds, the fresh weight of the seeds determined and then the seeds were dried. Then dry matter of the seeds (%) determined. Oil was extracted from the seeds and then the Zn of seeds was determined with Atomic Emission Spectroscopy(AES) instrument. β-sitosterol of the oil seeds determined with Shimadzu UV_2100 spectrometer instrument. In each treatment there were 15 plants and five of them were sampled for analysis. Irrigation was given at regular intervals during the vegetative growth period. Other agronomic management practices were performed as and when needed. To study the effect of nitrogen on leaf N and chlorophylls content, samples were taken from developing leaves at the flowering stage. The fruit picking was done in September at full maturity when the fruits become yellow-orange in color under all the treatments. Seeds were manually separated, cleaned, washed and dried. Oil was extracted from 20 g of powdered seed with 300 ml n-hexane in a Soxhlet apparatus at 60 °C. Solutions were taken from the extract and were placed on a rotary evaporator. After removing the solvent the sample was dried in an oven at 80 °C. The difference between the beaker containing oil and the empty beaker determined the amount of oil. Statistical data was analyzed for analysis of variance using the MSTATC software package and statistical differences were calculated according to Duncan’s multiple range test. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Effect of Nitrogen on Leaf Chlorophylls The response of common pumpkin to nitrogen treatments differed and the concentration of treatment had different effect on the leaf chlorophyll content. The results show that the chlorophylls of the leaves were increased by N rates (Table 2). Leaf

Triacylglycerol Species of Less Common Edible Vegetable Oils

Abstract: Chromatographic and spectroscopic methods used for the detection and quantification of triacylglycerol (TAG) species present in less common edible vegetable oils (almond, hazelnut, pumpkin seed, safflower, sesame, walnut, and wheatgerm oils) are reviewed. For these oils, as well as for thistle oil and high-oleic sunflower oil, for which no data exist on their TAG composition, both high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC) chromatographic plus spectrometric techniques have also been performed. Triacylglycerol comparison of the data found in the literature is also presented. Five fatty acyl moieties (palmitoyl-, stearoyl-, oleoyl-, linoleoyl-, and linolenoyl-) are found to mainly contribute to the formation of TAG species of the aforementioned edible vegetable oils, whereas six more (palmitoleoyl-, arachidoyl-, gadoleoyl-, heptadecenoyl-, margaroyl-, and erucoyl-) are reported as minors. Only 19 to 33 TAG make up the mass of these oils. These TAG are also found in mo...

Sustainable pig nutrition in organic farming: By-products from food processing as a feed resource

Abstract: Since keeping nutrient cycles intact is one of the most important goals in organic farming, the option of recycling by-products from organic food processing by feeding them to organically raised pigs was analyzed in this study. A more specific objective was to estimate the potential of this nutrient source in reducing the protein deficiency in organic pig nutrition. Sector-specific questionnaires were sent to 321 processors of organic foods in Austria. The information provided was used to estimate the total quantity available of the respective by-products. Proximate analysis, amino acid and mineral analysis were performed for different by-products. These data were combined with the available quantities of the respective by-products, resulting in the amounts of nutrients potentially recyclable for pig nutrition. Each year 2,400 t of wheat bran, 990 t of rye bran, and 1,300 t of residues from the separation of seed grains are already fed to different kinds of livestock. Some 510 t of stale bread are currently disposed of, but could be used as a highly nutritive feedstuff for pigs, once the problem of collection is solved. Relevant amounts of other energy-rich by-products were found: Currently, about 11,000 t (2,000 t on a dry matter basis) of feed-grade potatoes are composted, resulting in a waste of 27,000 GJ of metabolizable energy (ME). These potatoes could be better utilized as a dietary energy source for approximately 12,300 pigs. Additionally, about 12,900 t of whey from organically produced milk are discarded, which could be used to feed roughly 14,000 pigs. High-protein by-products are scarce. Annually, 80 t and 63 t of expellers from pumpkin seed and sunflower seed, respectively, are produced from organically grown oilseeds. Only small quantities of okara (byproduct of the production of tofu from soybeans) and buttermilk are available. Only 4 % and 5 % of the protein and lysine requirements, respectively, of the pigs currently kept on organic farms in Austria could be covered by by-products rich in protein. Excluding feed-grade potatoes means to lose 18 %, 18 % and 26 % of crude protein (CP), lysine and ME , respectively, of the entire nutrient supply available from organic by-products.

Pollination Problems in Styrian Oil Pumpkin Plants: Can Bumblebees be an Alternative to Honeybees?

Abstract: The Styrian oil pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L. subsp. pepo var. styriaca GREB.) has an important regional importance since the European Union protected the Styrian oil pumpkin seed salad oil as a selected European speciality in 1995. In recent years the production of the Styrian oil pumpkin listed severe losses, one of the reasons is a decreased availability of pollinators. Since a great loss of bee colonies (decrease of about 200.000 beehives in the last ten years) and wild bees can be observed in Austria and worldwide, an adequate pollination cannot be guaranteed any longer. Strategies to find alternative pollinators and to ensure sufficient pollination are important. In this study we determined the pollination efficiency of bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) compared to honeybees (Apis mellifera). Further we investigated the pollination behaviour (flower visit rate, visit frequency and forage distances) of bumblebees in the open field, to see if they can be used as an alternative, if honeybee colonies continue to decline, or honeybee pollination alone is not sufficient, for example at adverse weather. These studies of bumblebees in Cucurbita fields are the first ones in Austria, as up to now bumblebees were only used in glasshouses or orchards. Our studies showed that bumblebees can be used in the open field and can lead to a general improvement in pollination, as bumblebees visited four to five times more flowers in a minute and foraged at adverse weather, even during rain. But the use of commercial bumblebees in Styrian pumpkin fields, as already used in tomato or pepper greenhouses, can not be a solution for the pollination problems as at least four to five hives / hectare are needed. They can only be an alternative if the natural populations can be increased again, this means habitat and food resources must be conserved.

Composition for treating hepatitis c

Abstract: By administering a composition comprising pumpkin seed, safflower, plantain and honeysuckle, subjective symptoms (for example, general malaise and abdominal swelling) of a patient with chronic hepatitis C can be eliminated and, moreover, objective symptoms diagnosed by a medical doctor (for example, liver enlargement and palm erythema) can be relieved or eliminated. From 1 to 3 months after the administration of the composition, a significant decrease in hepatitis C virus RNA level is gradually observed. Therefore, the above composition is useful at least as a composition for treating chronic hepatitis C. In particular, it is advantageous in treating a chronic hepatitis C patient showing a high chronic hepatitis C virus RNA level.

Literary Journalism Techniques Create Compelling Blackhawk down Web Site

Abstract: At a time of declining newspaper circulation and readership,1 many newspapers are turning to online journalism as a means of reaching readers.2 One example of the World Wide Web being used for a particularly compelling kind of journalistic storytelling is the Philadelphia Inquirer's Blackhawk Down site.3This article examines The Blackhawk Down site from the point of view of literary journalism and suggests directions that this form of journalism may take as it moves into a new communication medium-the World Wide Web. The investigation also reveals ways in which techniques of literary journalism can help creators of Web pages make writing on the Web more dramatic, powerful and, consequently, attractive to readers.Reporter Mark Bowden began writing Blackhawk Down as a series for the Philadelphia Inquirer in late 1997. The series also appeared on the newspaper's Web site. Blackhawk Down is the story of a single episode in the United States' participation in the military action in Somalia in October 1993, seen through the eyes of the young soldiers involved.Even seven years after its creation, the site sets a standard for innovative use of the Web by online journalists. The project introduced a powerful combination of Web features and j ournalistic techniques that most online newspapers have still not tried to emulate. The site remains active, showing the longtime value of this kind of project to a newspaper.Defining Literary JournalismIn contrast to standard reportage (characterized by objectivity, direct language and the inverted pyramid form), literary journalism seeks to communicate facts through narrative storytelling and literary techniques. The concept has been described with a variety of terms, including new journalism, narrative storytelling, creative nonfiction, intimate journalism and literary nonfiction.The phrase new journalism described a kind of writing popular in the 1960s that was formally recognized in a book of that title by Tom Wolfe.4 Wolfe's description of this style is that "it just might be possible to write journalism that would... read like a novel. "5 Wolfe described defining four basic techniques of thenewjournalism: scene by scene construction, use of extended dialogue, third person point of view and the use of details symbolic of status.6James E. Murphy identified three characteristics of literary journalism: the usage of dramatic literary techniques, subjectivity and immersion.7Norman Sims provided the following list of defining characteristics: immersion reporting, accuracy, voice, structure, responsibility and symbolic representation.8 Kramer notes that literary journalists write in an "intimate voice" that is informal, frank, human and ironic.9 Kramer adds that structure counts, with literary journalism often mixing primary narrative with tales and digressions to amplify and reframe events.10 Another technique of the literary journalist is the cliffhanger ending-a device clearly borrowed from fiction.11An example of a literary journalism writer using digression is John McPhee's discussion in The Deltoid Pumpkin seed of the history of dirigibles.12One of the driving forces behind the literary journalism movement is growing research evidence indicating that the reading public prefers news writing with a narrative structure. A 1993 study by the American Society of Newspaper Editors compared a storytelling structure with three others, including inverted pyramid, and found that the narrative versions "were better read, and they communicated information better."13 Another study based on interviews with workingjournalists suggested that the narrative style is appearing more frequently in the news section than in the past.14The Blackhawk Down SiteBlackhawk Down is unusual in being a very long piece of writing on the World Wide Web. The site was very popular when it was introduced, receiving up to 42,000 page views per day, often pushing the limits of the servers that were running it. …

From Seed to Pumpkin

Abstract: Pumpkins can be baked in a pie, carved into jack-o'-lanterns, and roasted for a healthy snack. But how does a tiny seed turn into a big pumpkin? With clear text and detailed, colorful illustrations, this book explains what a pumpkin seed needs to help it grow! This book also includes delicious pumpkin recipes and easy experiments to do with pumpkin seeds. This is a Stage 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explains simple science concepts for preschoolers and kindergarteners. Let's-Read-And-Find-Out is the winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series. Supports the Common Core Learning Standards and Next Generation Science Standards

Variations in the composition of acyl lipids and triacylglycerol molecular species of pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita spp.) following microwave treatment

Abstract: Whole pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita spp.) of two cultivars were exposed to microwaves for 6, 12, 20 or 30 min at a frequency of 2450 MHz. The kernels were separated from the whole seeds, and were investigated not only for the different acyl lipids and their fatty acid compositions, but also for the molecular species of triacylglycerols (TAGs). A modified argentation TLC procedure, developed to optimize the separation of the complex mixture of total TAGs, provided 11 different groups of TAGs, based on both the degree of unsaturation and the chain-length of fatty acid groups. With a few exceptions, dioleopalmitin (5.8–18.8 wt-%), dipalmitolinolein (8.1–8.8 wt-%), triolein (6.3–20.5 wt-%), palmitoleolinolein (15.0–16.1 wt-%), dioleolinolein (16.7–23.0 wt-%), dilinoleopalmitin (4.6–15.4 wt-%) and dilinoleolein (6.7–19.4 wt-%) were the main TAG components. When pumpkin seeds were microwaved for 20 min or more, significant differences (p <0.05) occurred in the acyl lipids as well as their fatty acid distributions with a few exceptions. Therefore, microwave roasting caused a significant decrease (p <0.05), not only in TAGs molecular species containing more than 4 double bonds, but also in the amounts of diene species present in triacylglycerols. These results contribute to the study of the functional properties of pumpkin seed products.

Novel substitutary combinied liquid veberage for adult and production mehtod thereof

Abstract: PURPOSE: Provided are a novel liquid phase beverage which is effectively served as a meal for adults and a method for manufacturing the same by washing and drying ingredients then roasting them without burning, mixing them in a predetermined weight ratio, adding water to them and vacuum-packing them. CONSTITUTION: A method for manufacturing a novel liquid phase beverage comprises the steps of: mixing 14% of glutinous rice, 13% of unhulled barley, 4% of black bean, 12% of unpolished rice, 13% of normal rice, 0.5% of Rhynchosia Nolubilis, 10.9% of barley, 8% of job's tear, 0.3% of Glycine max MERR., 0.7% of indian millet, 0.4% of pumpkin seed, 0.9% of black sesame seed, 1% of sunflower seed, 1% of perilla seed, 5% of potato, 1.5% of carrot, 2% of yam, 1.2% of chest nut, 0.5% of walnut, 0.4% of pine nut, 0.5% of pine needle, 1% of lotus seed, 1% of mugwort powder, 0.4% of kale, 0.8% of spinach, 0.3% of cabbage, 0.4% of laver, 1% of sea tangle and 0.3% of shrimp, after washing and drying; pulverizing the mixture into 400 meshes, and followed by addition of 4% of oligosaccharide and 2 times of pure water; and vacuum-packing the mixture in a container and sterilizing it.

Preparation and Primary Application of Monoclonal Antibodies against a Novel Ribosome-inactivating Protein Moschatin from Pumpkin Seeds

Abstract: Plant ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) have multiple biological functions, and have been widely used in the studies on biomedical and agronomic applications Moschatin is a novel single-chain RIP recently purified from pumpkin seeds, and it has been successfully applied to construct the immunotoxin that can selectively kill the cultured human melanoma cells Six stable strains of hybridomas (2H8, 4A8, 5B6, 6F8, 4H10 and 6C2) that can secrete high specific monoclonal antibodies against Moschatin have been successfully prepared using hybridoma technique The isotypes of these monoclonal antibodies are IgG 1 , IgG 1 , IgG 1 , IgG 1 , IgG 2a and IgM Their affinity constants were determined to be 142×10 8 , 271×10 8 , 872×10 7 , 206×10 8 , 136×10 8 and 151×10 8 M -1 in a sequent order, measured by non-competitive ELISA The monoclonal antibody 4A8 has been used to detect Moschatin in Western blot An immunoaffinity gel, which consisted of a monoclonal antibody 4H10 and Sepharose 4B, was prepared and used to purify Moschatin from pumpkin seeds crude extract

The composition of a health-supporting food being effective the preventation and treatment of osteoporosis

Abstract: PURPOSE: Provided is a health food composition which effective for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. The composition removes the risk of estrogen administration and increases calcium absorption to increase effects on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. CONSTITUTION: A health food composition for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis comprises 15-65 wt.% of at least one containing isoflavone selected from the group consisting of black bean powder, black sesame seed powder, walnut powder, job's tear powder, perilla seed powder, black rice flour, and pumpkin seed powder, 25-75 wt.% of natural calcium containing material selected from the group consisting of brown seaweed powder, sea tangle powder, anchovy powder, Hizikia fusiforme powder, sea mussel powder and seaweed-derived calcium, and 10-60 wt.% of at least one selected from the group consisting of Pleuropterus multiflorus powder, kale powder, orange powder, mustard powder, pomegranate extract powder, persimmon vinegar or its powder, red clover extract powder and spinach powder.

The manufacturing method of sea food samgyetang

Abstract: PURPOSE: Provided is boiled chicken in fish broth which has refreshing taste while keeping the taste of chicken. Natural seasonings are used to make it tasty and nutritious. CONSTITUTION: The food comprises: first process of making fish soup by boiling 10wt% of water, 5wt% of fish bone, 0.2wt% of small clams and 0.02wt% of laminaria at 100degC for 20-30 minutes; adding to 8wt% of the fish soup, 0.1wt% of ground garlic, 0.04wt% of ground ginger and 0.05wt% of pure salt and boiling for 3 minutes; adding 0.35wt% of swollen glutinous rice, 0.05wt% of sunflower seeds, 0.05wt% of pumpkin seeds, 0.2wt% of walnut and one root of 3 year old ginseng by grinding them with water and seasoning and second process of boiling chicken after pasting the chicken with mixture of ginseng wine and ground ginger in a ratio of 2 to 1; stuffing with ginseng, date, chestnut, garlic and swollen glutinous rice and fixing both wings with pins and boiling for 30 minutes in a pot; and adding the chicken from the second process to the soup from the first process and boiling 10 minutes.

Çekirdek kabağı (Cucurbita pepo L.) hatlarında morfolojik özelliklere göre tanımlama ve seleksiyon çalışmaları

Abstract: Bu calisma, cekirdek kabaklarinda (Cucurbita pepo h.), daha onceki calismalarda umutvar olarak belirlenmis hatlarda cesit tanimlamaya yonelik bitki, yaprak, cicek, genc meyve, olgun meyve, tohumluk meyve ve tohum ozelliklerinin belirlenmesi ve bu hatlar arasindan kabak cekirdegi tuketimine uygun olanlari secmek amaciyla yapilmistir. 2002 ve 2003 yillarinda 2 yil sureyle yurutulen calismada, ilk yil 20, 2. yil 9 olmak uzere toplam 29 kendilenmis cekirdek kabagi hatti degerlendirilmistir. Cesit tanimlamada Uluslararasi Cesit Koruma Birligi (UPOV) tarafindan, sakiz kabagi (Cucurbita pepo L.) icin gelistirilen cesit ozellik belgesindeki kriterler esas alinarak, bitki ozellikleri (gorunum, kol atma ve derecesi, cim yaprak sekli, govde rengi, suluk varligi), yaprak ozellikleri (buyukluk, renk, damar varligi ve duzeyi, dilimlilik, sap rengi, sap uzunlugu ve kalinligi, sapin enine kesit sekli, sapta dikenlilik), cicek ozellikleri (sap uzunlugu ve capi, sap rengi, sapta tuyluluk ve olukluluk, tac dibinde halka varligi ve rengi, canak yaprak uzunlugu, tepecik rengi), genc meyve ozellikleri (boy, cap, boy/cap, boyun varligi, ana renk, damar rengi, benek varligi, rengi, tipi ve belirginlik duzeyi, kircil rengi, meyvenin enine kesit sekli, parlaklik, sigil varligi, cicek kalintisi buyuklugu ve sekli, sapta ana renk, sapta uzunluk, benek varligi ve beneklerin belirginlik duzeyi), olgun meyve ozellikleri (renk ve yogunlugu, benek rengi, kircil varligi), tohumluk meyve ozellikleri (boy, cap, boy/cap ve meyve sekli, irilik, renk ve yogunlugu, benek rengi, meyve sayisi/bitki), tohum ozellikleri (sekil, irilik, renk, verim, citlama kolayligi) gozlem ve olcumler yapilarak degerlendirilmistir Ayrica hazirlanan seleksiyon kriterlerine gore secilen hatlarda kendilemelere devam edilmistir. Denemeye alinan hatlarda, hem morfolojik ozeliklere hem de seleksiyon kriterlerine gore yapilan seleksiyon calismalari sonucunda, 3/1, 9/1, 19/1 ve 20/1 no'lu hatlar umutvar bulunmus ve ileriki yillarda yapilacak calismalarla bu hatlarda seleksiyona devam edilmesinin yararli olacagi kanisina varilmistir.Abstract This study was carried out to identify some pumpkin lines for seed according to the morphological characters such as plant, leaf, flower, young fruit, ripe fruit and seed characteristics and in order to distinguish the cultivars increase the homozigoty levels by selfing of the selected hopeful lines pumpkin (Cucurbitapepo L.) for seed. In 2002 and 2003, total 29 selfed pumpkin seed lines were selfed again and evaluated according to the determined criteria formed by UPOV such as the plant characteristics (growth habit, branching and degree, shape of the cotyledon, stem color, existence of tendrils ), the leaf characteristics (size, color, marbling of leaf blade, incisions, peduncle color, peduncle length and thickness, shape of the cross section and prickles level of petiole), the flower characteristics (color, length, diameter, grooving and hairiness of pedicel, ring and color of ring at inner side of corolla, the length of sepal color of stigma), the young fruit characteristics (fruit length, fruit diameter, length / diameter ratio, existence of neck, major color of fruit, rib color, type, color and conspicuousness of mottling of skin, sprinkled with gray color of skin, shape of cross section of fruit, glossiness, warts, size and shape of flower scar, length, color, mottling and conspicuousness of mottling of peduncle), the ripe fruit characteristics (intensity of major color, color of mottling of skin, sprinkled with gray), fruits for seed characteristics (length, diameter, length / diameter ratio, shape, weight, color and color intensity of fruit, mottling color of skin, -fruit number per plant), the*eed characteristics (shape, weight, color, yield, cracking properties). According to the results obtained from both morphological characteristics and selection criteria on the evaluated seed pumpkins lines, the lines 3/1, 9/1, 19/1 and 20/1 were found to be hopeful and it has been thought that future selection studies on these selected lines will be useful.

The World as an Eternal Entity and Vitalogical Living Reality

Abstract: A basic characteristic of the African world is that the human being is seen, above all, as a relational subject (between himself and his peers, the world and God). Based on this category of relations we can remark that saying “I” is equivalent to saying “you,” or better still, is equivalent to saying “the other” or saying “us,” which all together means saying “human beings.” In fact, whoever wants to know the reason for living has to question the “world,” as such, and finally has to question God, the Author of life. Therefore all the realities (pain, destiny of man, spiritual life, human thought itself, death and life) are all arguments which envelop the human being. From these considerations we can conclude that the human being is the love of God personified in the world. The global vision of creation is therefore centred in the human being. In African vitalogy or worldview, it is impossible to think of humans not being linked to the “world” and to God, the Creator. All these realities are interdependent and are thought of within a hierarchy of values which go from God, through human beings themselves, to all creation.

Composition of Chinese medicine

Abstract: The Chinese medicine composition is prepared with edible tulip, pumpkin seed, pilose antler, Jilin ginseng, gallnut and other Chinese medicinal materials. The medicine of the present invention is used in treating AIDS, tumor, hemopathy, genetic disease, etc.

Production of seasoned duck for barbecue containing mushroom and vegetables and seeds as garnish and seasoned duck prepared thereby

Abstract: PURPOSE: A method of producing seasoned duck for barbecue by mixing dressed duck meat, vegetables, spices, mushrooms and then garnishing with seeds is provided. It eliminates the odor and greasy taste of duck meat and provides rich in nutrients to the seasoned duck. CONSTITUTION: Dressed duck meat is quickly cooled to -15 to -20deg.C, stored for 3 to 4hr and thawed 2 hours before cooking. Then, the duck meat is mixed with 200 to 450g of mushroom, 80 to 120g of onion, 40 to 60g of carrots, 40 to 60g of green onion, 40 to 60g of unripe red pepper, 10 to 40g of Codonopsis lanceolata and other materials containing garlic, red pepper powder, corn syrup, black pepper, MSG, sesame salt and sesame oil and then garnished with 25 to 35g of whole garlic, 20 to 50g of chestnuts, 3 to 8g of jujubes, 7 to 15g of sunflower seeds, 7 to 15g of pumpkin seeds, 7 to 15g of walnuts, 7 to 15g of gingko nuts and 7 to 15g of Gyrophora esculenta. The seasoned duck meat is strongly roasted for 3 to 7min, added with 100 to 250g of sesame leaves, 100 to 250g of water cress and 100 to 300g of Flammulina velutipes and then slightly roasted.

A Pumpkin added pumpkin seed and Method of Preparing thereof

Abstract: PURPOSE: A method for manufacturing pumpkin taffy using pumpkin paste and roasted pumpkin is provided. The product has fiber, taste and flavor of a pumpkin as it was and exhibits a high crunch texture, together with chewing properties. CONSTITUTION: A mixture of 39% by weight of purified sugar, 42% by weight of grain syrup, 10% by weight of purified pumpkin, 3% by weight of soybean protein, 5% by weight of an emulsifier, 0.40% by weight of vegetable oil and 0.60% by weight of purified salt is heated at 110deg.C and then concentrated under reduced pressure. Thereafter, 80% by weight of the concentrate is mixed with 30 to 89% by weight of fondant, 10 to 20% by weight of flavors and 1 to 50% by weight of roasted pumpkin, agitated for 30 to 40min and then cooled to give a taffy product having a moisture content of 6 to 8%.

Manufacturing methode for health of support food

Abstract: PURPOSE: Provided is a method for manufacturing a health supplementary food which has treatment effect on diseases which middle-aged men suffer from and continuously supplies nutrients. CONSTITUTION: A method for manufacturing a health supplementary food comprises the steps of: mixing 0.35-0.45% of pumpkin seed powder, 0.787-1.0125% of Acanthopanax Koreanum Nakai powder, 0.35-0.45% of bamboo salt, 0.175-0.225% of red ginseng powder, 0.087-0.112% of Houttuynia -Cordata powder, 0.087-0.112% of Rubus Coreanus powder, 0.087-0.112% of corn hair powder, 0.087-0.112% of Arctium lappa L. powder, 0.087-0.112% of brown seaweed powder, 0.087-0.112% of Lycium chinense Mill. powder, 0.087-0.112% of Ulmi Cortex powder, 0.087-0.112% of cinnamon powder, 0.087-0.112% of Poria cocos powder, 0.07-0.09% of Cornus officinalis S. et. Z. powder, 0.07-0.09% of Rehmannia preparata Libosch powder, 0.35-0.455 of wheat flour and kneading them; granulating the dough; shaping the granule into a sphere shape with rolling; and drying the product and packing it.

Epidemiological Investigation of Taenia saginata Infection in Congjiang Area of Guizhou Province

Abstract: Objective To investigate the current status of taeniasis in Congjiang area of Guizhou province. Method Traditional epidemiological method was used to investigate Taenia saginata infection in Gaozeng County and its 6 villages. Results 38 patients showed clinical symptom (36 male and 2 female) with clinical symptoms. 19 male patients were able to expel adult worms after taking pumpkin seeds, areca catechu L and other drugs. Among them, the age range of 16 patients was 41 to 70. The people in this area like eating raw or uncooked meat and viscera of cattle and pig. Excreting proglottides in the feces and pruritis ani are the two most important clinical symptoms. Conclusion Congjiang area is a severely endemic area of taeniasis at present.

Managing strategies for organochlorine contaminated soils for a safe food production

Abstract: Background: Organochlorine pesticides such as dieldrin, DDT and others are highly persistant pesticides, which were applied world wide against pests in horticulture, fruit and arable crops. Although they are forbidden since more than thirty years in the European Union (EU), the compounds remain still in soil. Several crops are known to accumulate these pesticides in eatable parts up to critical levels. For instance dieldrin is detected in high economic value crops such as cucumbers (Cucurbitaceae) and in tomatoes (Solanaceae). Besides plant type and climatic conditions, soil properties, e.g. pH and soil organic carbon content influence the pesticide uptake. In particular in labelled food and feed stuff production, such as organic farming according to EU Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91, consumer expectations in safe, high quality food are extremely high. Since organic farming is prospering – more than 10% of vegetable production is certified organic in Switzerland – the organochlorine residues in organic food stuff have become a major issue for food control authorities. Enquires showed that imported food from EU countries was partly highly contaminated with organochlorine pesticides such as pumpkin seed and oil. Hence, the organochlorine problem in food stuff is expected to occur EU wide.