Antioxidants in Date Fruits and the Extent of the Variability of the Total Phenolic Content: Review and Analysis

The date fruit is economically important agricultural commodity, as well as a staple food in many countries in the Arab world, North Africa, and the Middle East. Recent interest in its nutritional, health, and therapeutic attributes is manifested by the rise in scientific publications. Dates of various cultivars are widely publicized and highly ranked as rich sources of natural antioxidant constituents and antioxidant activity. Such publicity, justified or otherwise, is sometimes accompanied by misconceptions and claims of cultivar- and/or country-wise superiority. This chapter examines these claims using a dataset generated from scientific studies published over the last three decades focusing on the total phenolic (TP) content of three stages of date maturity, with emphasis on the last stage, Tamer. The dataset contains TP values (mg GAE/100 g DM) from 18 countries and 243 cultivars and included 583 entries. It only examines variability of TP values. Statistical analysis indicates a great variability of TP content, both within a particular cultivar and among different cultivars. Claims of cultivar- and country-wise superiority and very high ranking of date antioxidant activity are not substantiated. The chapter also discusses various causes of high variability and calls for a collaboration work to address the issue

Can Vocabulary and Grammar Hold the Doorway for College Reading Success? The Case of Arabic Learners of English

Reading is an important skill for college success. This study investigated cognitive predictors of English reading comprehension success among college students whose first language is Arabic. Knowledge of vocabulary/grammar emerged as the strongest predictor of reading success, followed by silent reading fluency, and then decoding skill. However, metacognitive awareness of reading strategies did not statistically significantly contribute to the model. Findings suggest that Arabic speakers draw on their vocabulary and grammar knowledge when tackling an English reading comprehension task, skills that are language specific to L2. Implications include the recommendation for placing the development of college students’ language reservoir at the heart of language programs, and incorporating silent reading fluency and decoding skill within these programs. The finding regarding metacognitive awareness of reading strategies brings into question whether a certain level of language proficiency must be met by language learners before reading strategies begin to contribute to reading comprehension achievement. Keywords: Arabic speakers, Cognitive Model, college reading, decoding skill, EFL, ELL, English language learners, ESL, grammar knowledge, metacognitive awareness of reading strategies, reading comprehension, second and foreign language acquisition, silent reading fluency, vocabulary knowledg

IDENTIFYING OF KEY PROTEOGLYCANS IN DIFFERENT ANATOMICAL REGIONS OF THE CANINE CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT FROM DOG BREEDS AT AN ALTERED RISK TO LIGAMENT DISEASE AND RUPTURE

Cranial cruciate ligament disease and rupture (CCLD/ R) is a common orthopaedic condition in dogs. CCLD/ R can be due to trauma (least common) or to non-contact injury (most common). Once the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is damaged complications such as stifle osteoarthritis can occur. Different dog breeds are at an altered risk to CCLD/ R. Previous biochemical and ultrastructural studies have found that glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were altered in high risk dog breeds when compared to CCLs from a dog breed at low risk of ligament rupture. We hypothesise that proteoglycans and GAGs may vary between different anatomical regions of the CCL, and between differentially predisposed dog breeds to CCLD/ R. Proteoglycans were determined by semi-quantitative Western blotting, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), quantitative biochemistry, semi-objective histology scoring, and immunohistochemistry. Water and GAG content in the CCLs was also measured. Further qRT-PCR analysis was conducted to determine the expression of ECM proteases (ADAMTS -4 & -5) in the canine CCL. We showed with Western blot analysis that certain proteoglycans and GAGs were significantly different between anatomical regions of Staffordshire bull terrier CCLs. Data analysis between differentially predisposed dog breeds showed that the Staffordshire bull terrier CCLs (a moderate-high risk dog breed to CCLD/ R) had a significant increase in water content compared to greyhound CCLs (a low risk dog breed to CCLD/ R). Further, gene expression and Western blot analysis of fibromodulin, gene expression of aggrecan, and Western blot analysis of chondroitin-6 sulphate stubs were significantly increased in Staffordshire bull terrier CCLs compared to greyhounds. Decorin and ADAMTS-4 gene expression were significantly increased in greyhounds compared to Staffordshire bull terrier CCLs. Histology analysis showed that fibrocartilaginous regions were present in the CCL and were mainly observed in predisposed dog breeds to CCLD/ R. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry analysis showed that each proteoglycan had a different distribution throughout the CCL, which indicates that proteoglycans provide essential functionality to the CCL. The increase of certain proteoglycans and GAGs in CCLs of Staffordshire bull terriers might indicate increased fibrocartilage regions as a result of compressive loads. These changes in ECM content in the Staffordshire bull terrier indicate higher loading pressure on the CCL and could compromise the tissue, leading to increased incidence of disease and rupture. The increase of decorin in greyhounds could be essential for maintaining collagen fibril strength, whilst the increase of ADAMTS-4 could indicate a higher rate of turnover to regulate normal CCL homeostasis

Review: Pharmacological effects of Capparis spinosa L.

Medicinal plants have been known as one of the most important therapeutic agents since ancient times. During the last two decades, much attention has been paid to the health-promoting effects of edible medicinal plants, because of multiple beneficial effects and negligible adverse effects. Capparis spinosa L. is one of the most common medicinal plants, used widely in different parts of the world to treat numerous human diseases. This paper aims to critically review the available scientific literature regarding the health-promoting effects of C. spinosa, its traditional uses, cultivation protocols and phytochemical constituents. Recently, a wide range of evidence has shown that this plant possesses different biological effects, including antioxidant, anticancer and antibacterial effects. Phytochemical analysis shows that C. spinosa has high quantities of bioactive constituents, including polyphenolic compounds, which are responsible for its health-promoting effects, although many of these substances are present in low concentrations and significant changes in their content occur during processing. In addition, there is negligible scientific evidence regarding any adverse effects. Different health promotion activities, as well as tremendous diversity of active constituents, make C. spinosa a good candidate for discovering new drugs. However these findings are still in its infancy and future experimental and clinical studies are needed

An ethnobotanical study of traditional steam-bathing by the Batak people of North Sumatra, Indonesia

This study aimed to document (1) the Batak people’s knowledge of the use of medicinal plants for steambathing, (2) the preparation and operation of steam-bathing, and (3) the benefits of steam-bathing. To attain these objectives, data were collected by using ethnobotanical survey and interview methods. The survey was conducted in Kabanjahe and Berastagi traditional markets, in Kaban Tua village, and in Tanjung Julu village. The participants for the interview were nine medicinal plants traders, nine midwives, and 32 mothers. The basic principle of steam-bathing by the Batak people is based on thermotherapy and aromatherapy. A total of 59 species (belonging to 37 genera and to 25 families) have been documented as medicinal plants for their use as steam-bathing materials by the Batak people. The traders, midwives and mothers are all aware of the benefits of steam-bathing. Gaultheria leucocarpa Blume and Cinnamomum porrectum (Roxb.), the species that produce distinctive aromas and reduce pain, would be interesting to study for their phytochemical and pharmacological properties

Ibn Khaldun\u27s Attitude (808 AH) towards the Islamic Sects

The study deals with the subject of the Islamic groups by Ibn Khaldun, and presents his methodology in his study of the groups, and his sources in doing that are the Holy Quran, Sunnah, unanimous, and the law of human civilization. The rules of his methodology in the study of groups were: symmetry or expulsion, difference or variation, cause or rational. The study explained the factors of the formation of the groups by Ibn Khaldun, namely: religious intolerance, follow the similarity, the external factor, and translation, and make the religious intolerance the core for these factors, based on his theory in human civilization. From the Islamic groups, he reviewed: The Khawarij, the Shia, the Batinia, the, the linguistic teams, and the Sufism. He was neutral in his presentation of the emergence of these groups, presenting some of their beliefs without making decision or judgement on them, yet he was biased towards the Sufism, considering his conversion to the Ash\u27ari doctrine. The study concluded with a set of results, the most important of which are: Ibn Khaldun\u27s doctrine is close to the doctrine of the Righteous Salaf, combining the correct transmission and the clear mind. His method of dealing with groups is characterized by extrapolation, analysis and criticism, and its emphasis on the religious factor, the laws of history, the laws of society, and the philosophical approach

Engagement in Reading and Access to Print: The Relationship of Home and School to Overall Reading Achievement Among Fourth Grade English Speakers

The present study puts forward two models which examine the relationship between at home at school variables of (1) engagement in shared and independent reading and (2) access to print with reading achievement. Participants were fourth grade English speakers from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia), New Zealand, England, and USA. Data from the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) questionnaires and reading achievement test were used to design the two models, and Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to analyze the data where students (Level-1) were nested within classrooms (Level-2). The results of the Engagement in Reading Model demonstrate that activities of shared reading at home and at school did not statistically significantly relate or related negatively with reading achievement. Parents helping their children with school readings emerged as the strongest negative predictor of reading achievement in the entire model. However, the relationship between how often participants talked with their families about what they read on their own and reading achievement was positive. Additionally, independent reading at school, reading for fun at home, and reading printed material (books and magazines) at home predicated reading achievement positively; reading for homework did not predict reading achievement; and reading for information and reading on the internet at home predicted reading achievement negatively. The results of the Access to Print Model demonstrate that while access to books and other reading material at home related positively with reading achievement, access to books and other reading material at school did not overall relate to students’ reading achievement. Additionally, access to the library, generally, did not relate to reading achievement; and when statistical significance was found it was not replicated in all or even most of the countries. Based on the results of the present study, it is recommended that fourth graders be given ample opportunities to read books of their own choosing independently at school, and to develop students’ habits and motivation to read for leisure during their free after school time. Additionally, children should be provided with ample access to reading material at home which is geared towards their interests

Antioxidant phenolic extracts obtained from secondary Tunisian date varieties (Phoenix dactylifera L.) by hydrothermal treatments

Three common non-commercial Tunisian date varieties were treated by two thermal systems, obtaining a liquid fraction which was characterized and its antioxidant capacity determined. The concentration of total phenols in the three varieties (Smeti, Garen Gazel, and Eguwa) was increased by steam explosion treatment up to 5311, 4680, and 3832 mg/kg of fresh dates, and their antioxidant activity up to 62.5, 46.5 and 43.1 mmol Trolox®/kg of fresh date, respectively. Both thermal treatments increased the content of phenolic acids. Additionally, a long scale study was carried out in a pilot plant, with steam treatment at 140 °C and 160 °C for 30 min. The liquid phase was extracted and fractionated chromatographically using adsorbent or ionic resins. The phenolic profiles were determined for each fraction, yielding fractions with interesting antioxidant activities with EC50 values of up to 0.08 mg/L or values of TEAC of 0.67 mmol Trolox®/g of extract

Assessment of the antioxidant properties of the caper fruit (Capparis spinosa L.) from Bahrain

AbstractCapparis spinosa, a wild plant of the family Capparidaceae, is said to be native to the Mediterranean basin and found in many parts. This shrub can grow very well on dry heat and under intense sunlight and can tolerate low temperature. Caper berries from different locations of contrasting habitats were evaluated for their antioxidant capacities using several methods, including reduction of ferrictripiridyltriazine [Fe(III)-TPTZ] (FRAP assay), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging (DPPH assay), and [2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] scavenging (ABTS assay). Total free phenolics, total flavonoids, and total carotenoids were also examined. The mean mmol Trolox equivalent/kg fresh weight for FRAP was 9.059±1.450, DPPH 6.131±0.607, and ABTS 8.127±2,017. Mean % DPPH scavenging activity was 37.67%±7.19 and mean % ABTS scavenging activity was 31.29%±7.76. Partitioning studies revealed a higher antioxidant–antiradical capacity in the seed as compared to the flesh, and these capacities were associated more with hydrophobic and not lipophilic constituents. Antioxidant capacities strongly correlated with the total free phenolics, total flavonoids, and total carotenoids. Findings of this study contribute to the recent increase in scientific interest of a wild fruit which should be re-considered for its antioxidant constituencies and characteristics