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Impact of Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle on Anthropometric Characteristics, Climacteric Symptoms, Sleep Quality and Quality of Life in Women During Menopausal Transition

Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of a lifestyle promotion based on the principles of the Mediterranean diet (MD) combined with regular physical exercise on climacteric symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life in women in the menopausal transition. Methods: Among 100 perimenopausal women recruited, 80 (48 ± 2 years) with climacteric symptoms were eligible for the study and were randomized into two groups: an intervention group (n=40) that received nutritional counselling based on the principles of MD with the practice of regular activity during 8 weeks, and a control group (n=40). At baseline and 8 weeks after the initiation of nutritional intervention, we assessed daily energy expenditure and food intake, anthropometric characteristics, climacteric symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life. Results: Results showed that in the intervention group, compared to the control group, after 8 weeks of nutritional counselling, a significant decrease was noted in somatic and psychologic (p<0.01) symptoms. No significant difference was noted in urogenital symptoms. The quality of life was improved by the decrease of the Menopause Rating Score (-25%, p<0.001). A decrease was observed in subjective sleep quality (-27%, p<0.05), sleep duration (-39%, p<0.05), habitual sleep efficiency (-43%, p<0.05), and daytime dysfunction (-43%, p<0.01). The score of PSQI was decreased by (-31%, p<0.01), which meant that the quality of sleep improved. Conclusion: Anthropometric characteristics, climacteric symptoms, sleep quality and quality of life were improved in women on menopausal transition adopting a healthy lifestyle based on the principles of Mediterranean eating pattern combined with regular physical activity.

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Determination of Heavy Metal Contents in some Medicinal Plants from The Region of Oran from Algeria

Background: Some heavy metals found in our environment are toxic; once absorbed by plants, they build up in tissues and are phased out. Other heavy metals are trace elements needed for human health, but they can be toxic in excess concentrations. Objective: The purpose of this study is both to confirm the necessary metals' recognized medicinal virtues and to raise awareness of the presence of harmful non-essential metals that could harm humans and the environment. Methods: This study depicts a profile of existence of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Fe) in some important herbal plants used in some parts of the country as a food condiment like (Moringa oleifera, Artemesia campestis, Nigella sativa, Asparagus stipularis, Sesamum indicum, Ruta montana, Rhamnus alaternus, Pistacia lentiscus using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: The heavy metals in these medicinal plants were in the range of 0.38-0.56ppm of Zn, 0.00- 0.69 ppm of Cu, 0.13-0.16 ppm of Cd, 0.26-0.52 ppm of Pb, 1.10-8.89 ppm of Fe. Of the eight medicinal plants/products examined, the prescribed limits were respected. For each plant, a test sample of 2 grams of powder is mineralized. Each mineral is analyzed by injection. For each element, a calibration curve is generated. Assay with atomic absorption devices (lead, copper, cadmium, nickel, manganese) is carried out. The results are expressed in mg/L for different species. The highest value is lead. Copper content is present in various extracts and is considered a good source. Conclusion: The obtained results are promising for human health. The zinc contained in Moringa is very valuable. The presence of iron in the species Rhamnus alaternus confirms its use in traditional medicine as an anti-anemic.

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Open Access
Facile Acid Hydrolysis of Cotton-Based Cellulose: Obtaining Cellulose Nanocrystals and Investigating Dispersion Their Properties via a Refractometric Method

Over recent decades there has been a significant surge in research interest aimed at developing novel composite materials derived from cellulose, catering to the diverse needs of industries such as paper, pharmaceuticals, and medicine. Aligned with this trend, our research project described here focused on leveraging cellulose to produce high-value-added products, particularly nanocomposite materials for reinforcement purposes. Our aim was to develop nanocomposite materials utilizing hydrolyzed cotton cellulose. To begin with we employed a straightforward, cost-effective and readily applicable process to extract nanocellulose from cotton fibers. The structural integrity of the resulting cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) was validated through various analytical methods such as UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Raman spectroscopy. We conducted a comprehensive examination of the physicochemical properties of the CNCs, particularly investigating their dispersion behavior and solubility in both aqueous and selected organic solvents. In the final phase of our study, we explored the chemical modification of CNCs using maleic anhydride to produce cellulose maleate. The structural transformation was confirmed through infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis.

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Size-dependent analytical model for the free vibration analysis of coated- functionally graded nanobeams via a nonlocal strain gradient theory and higher order shear deformation theory

Abstract Free vibration behavior of new advanced functionally graded (FG) nanobeam, namely the coated FG nanobeam, is presented in this work using the recently proposed nonlocal higher order shear deformation theory. In the present theory, the stress tensor can satisfy the parabolic variation of the shear stress distribution throughout the thickness direction and also fulfills the requirement that the shear stress on the top and bottom surfaces of the FG nanobeam is zero. Two common types of FG structures, namely, FG hardcore and FG softcore are considered here for the analysis with three schemes. Material properties of FG nanobeam are assumed to vary continuously both longitudinal and transversal directions according to a combined simple power-law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. Governing equations of FG nanobeam with simply supported boundary conditions are derived using the proposed higher-order shear deformation plate theory. The nonlocal strain gradient theory is employed to capture the microstructure-dependent effect. The influence of the structure geometry, the gradient index and the nonlocal and length scale parameters on the vibration frequency is investigated. Finally, many new results are also reported in the current study, which will serve as a benchmark for future research.

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Open Access
Fibonacci-like Sequences Reveal the Genetic Code Symmetries, Also When the Amino Acids Are in a Physiological Environment

In this study, we once again use a set of Fibonacci-like sequences to examine the symmetries within the genetic code. This time, our focus is on the physiological state of the amino acids, considering them as charged, in contrast to our previous work where they were seen as neutral. In a pH environment around 7.4, there are four charged amino acids. We utilize the properties of our sequences to accurately describe the symmetries in the genetic code table. These include Rumer’s symmetry, the third-base symmetry and the “ideal” symmetry, along with the “supersymmetry” classification schemes. We also explore the special chemical structure of the amino acid proline, presenting two perspectives—shCherbak’s view and the Downes–Richardson view—which are included in the description of the above-mentioned symmetries. Our investigation also employs elementary modular arithmetic to precisely describe the chemical structure of proline, connecting the two views seamlessly. Finally, our Fibonacci-like sequences prove instrumental in quickly establishing the multiplet structure of non-standard versions of the genetic code. We illustrate this with an example, showcasing the efficiency of our method in unraveling the complex relationships within the genetic code.

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Open Access
Co-detection of eugenol and butylated hydroxyltoluene by green and selective hydrodistillation of Heliotropium europaeum L. using ionic liquids as additives

This study is the beginning of the research that focuses on uncon-ventional ionic liquids (ILs) hydrodistillation (HD) extraction of the essential oil of Heliotropium europaeum L. using ILs as additives. Two ILs based on 1- butyl-3-methylimidazolium were used by switching the anions (Cl- and PF6-). The effect of mass percent of the added ILs on its yield and composition was evaluated. Compared to the conventional HD, ILs-HD gives a higher yield of essential oils (0.10?0.36 %). Particularly, with [C4mim][PF6], the observation of morphological changes using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) con-firmed the effectiveness of the ionic liquid in this distillation process. The GC? ?MS analysis of essential oils (EOs) revealed the presence of sixty-six com-pounds in HD, ILs-HD methods. Gas chromatography?mass spectrometry ana-lysis of the EOs revealed the predominance of eugenol (1.70?72.35 %), but-ylated hydroxytoluene (8.95?65.39 %) and phytol (18.20 %). The new distil-lation methods of H. europaeum with ILs identifies more compounds (50 com-pounds in ILs-HD [C4mim][PF6]; 22 compounds in ILs-HD ([C4mim][Cl]) than conventional hydrodistillation (25 compounds in HD). Therefore, the ILs- -based hydrodistillation approach is superior in improving the production of EOs. It is important to emphasize that the data presented in this study are not yet available for any of this Algerian Heliotropium species of genus and present the great potential of this medicinal plant as a source of novel bioactive extracts with possible therapeutic uses.

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Open Access
Allele and genotype frequencies of β-lactoglobulin gene using PCR-RFLP in Algerian local cattle populations.

Milk protein genetic polymorphisms are associated with economically important traits in dairy cattle. The objective of this study is to genotype a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) responsible for the amino acid changes in the beta-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) variants A and B on 85 unrelated DNA representing Algerian cattle populations: Chelifienne (28), Cheurfa (31) and Guelmoise (26). The method used is the PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism). Genetic polymorphism was detected by digestion of PCR products amplified of exon II of β-Lg gene by with the endonuclease HaeIII enzyme. The results revealed that the amplified product was observed as 247 bp. Restriction digestion with HaeIII revealed three genotypes: AA, AB and BB. The genotypic frequencies of AA, AB and BB genotypes were 0.08, 0.41, 0.50; 0.08, 0.41, 0.50 and 0.01, 0.19, 0.56 in Chelifienne, Cheurfa and Guelmoise and respectively. Frequency of AA genotype was absent in Guelmoise population. Frequencies of A and B alleles were 0.29 and 0.71 in both Chelifienne and Cheurfa and 0.25 and 0.75 Guelmoise population. These results further confirm that Bos torus cattle are predominantly of β-Lactoglobulin B type. The Chi-square test at p-value < 0.05 results revealed that the Chelifienne and Cheurfa populations were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and the results are not significant for the Guelmoise. This genetic information could be useful to estimate the effect of polymorphism on different milk production of Algerian bovine populations.

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NATURAL CONVECTION OF NON-NEWTONIAN DILATANT FLUID IN THE GAP BETWEEN AN OUTER CYLINDER AND INNER CYLINDER WITH GROOVES

This paper reports a numerical study of the laminar free convection of dilatant fluid between two concentric cylinders. The simulations have been performed for the two-dimensional steady state and the ANSYS CFX 16.2 was used as theoretical-computational approach to achieve detailed and realistic results. The finite volume method was used for that objective. The governing problem parameters are taken as 1 &amp;le; &lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; &amp;le; 1.6,10 &amp;le; Pr &amp;le; 10&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;, 10&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;&amp;le; Ra &amp;le; 10&lt;sup&gt;5&lt;/sup&gt; and a different number of grooves was added to the inner cylinder (4, 8, 12, and 16). We give detailed explanations on the effects of the precedent coefficients on the streamlines, isotherms, velocity, and dimensionless temperature. It is found that dilatant fluids display the behavior like a solid more than a solution. The Rayleigh number strengthens the convective flow which refers by increasing in the Nusselt number at the same set of the other parameters. Also, the important phenomenon here (effects of the grooves) will take a large part from the discussion section. When the grooves accomplished a given number and &lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; is high, the fluid is stiff and the heat transfer mode is purely by conduction.

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