Comparison Of Profiles Research Articles

Selection of an appropriate tracer to measure the residence time distribution (RTD) of continuous powder blending operations

Residence time distributions (RTDs) are quickly becoming an important component of the quality control strategy for continuous manufacturing (CM) of pharmaceutical products. However, methodologies for determining RTDs, including appropriate selection of tracers and proper processing of RTD data, have not been fully developed, and there is potential to improve current methods.This work aims to implement protocols for tracer selection and establish a methodology for the determination and quantitative comparison of RTD curves obtained by the pulse method. We used an extensive material property data library and multivariate analyses to select appropriate tracers for active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of interest. Tracer performance was evaluated in two continuous blenders using pulse input experiments. The equivalence of RTDs obtained from the API and the tracer was examined for formulations with widely different blend flow properties.For the most suitable tracer candidate, material properties were determined for mixtures with different API concentrations to ensure that blend properties containing varying amounts of tracer along the RTD profile remained similar to those of the target formulation. It was observed that even small changes in the physical properties of the target formulation would result in a different tracer RTD. This observation emphasized the importance of preserving the physical properties of the blend when characterizing the dynamical behavior of a unit operation.Further, the RTD of the tracer and the API in the blender were characterized under three different base flow properties. The outcome of these experiments enabled a fair side-by-side comparison of RTDs obtained using pulses of either API or tracer for powders with a varying range of properties. In finding an appropriate tracer, RTD profiles were compared quantitively using different methods. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was shown to be a suitable tool for RTD profile comparisons.

A comparison of Lipid Profile and Highly Sensitive C Reactive Protein (HsCRP) levels between prehypertensive individuals and those with normal blood pressure.

Objective: In the current study, hsCRP and lipid profile levels in prehypertensives were assessed and compared with those in normal subjects, as well as blood pressure and lipid profile correlations were examined. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Department of Physiology, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS) in Jamshoro. Period: Six months 1st November 2022 to 30th April 2023. Material & Methods: From the general population, 50 pre-hypertensive and 50 normotensive subjects ranging in age from 25 to 55 were enrolled. A blood pressure measurement and an anthropometric measurement were taken. Student t tests were used to compare serum hsCRP with lipid profiles. In order to correlate blood pressure with hsCRP and lipid profile, Pearson correlation was used. Results: A significant correlation was not found between blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and hsCRP in either group. When compared to normal individuals, pre-hypertensives had significantly higher cholesterol and LDL (P-value <0.001). Among prehypertensive patients, blood pressure and lipid parameters did not seem to be significantly correlated. Conclusions: We conclude that in both prehypertensive and normal subjects, hsCRP levels are not significantly different. Therefore, pre-hypertensive patients do not have inflammation. Prehypertensive patients have significantly higher total cholesterol and LDL levels than normal individuals. There is an alteration in the lipid profile of prehypertensive individuals.

Entropy generation effects with thermal radiation on MHD Casson fluid flow in porous micro-annulus

The study of entropy generation analysis on natural convection non-Newtonian (Casson) fluid flow between two concentric cylinders/tubes is evaluated in this article. The influence of the external magnetic field normal to the flow direction with thermal radiation is analyzed on the porous surface of cylinders under the condition of Casson velocity slip and thermal jumps. The non-dimensional momentum equation of Casson fluid (CF) is solved analytically by using a modified Bessel equation containing rational number order of first and second kinds, and the energy equation is solved by using the Cauchy-Euler equation. This analysis aims to find out the loss of energy of CF flow within two cylinders and present the combinations of some parameters through which it can be minimized. Volume flow rate, entropy heat generation and irreversibility parameter are evaluated through different parameters such as the Casson parameter (CP), magnetic field parameter, Reynolds number, Brinkman number and Grashof number. Velocity is diminished for the increment of CP [Formula: see text] Volume flow rate descends with the enhancement of M and [Formula: see text] Entropy generation increased with elevation of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] but reverse effects are found through higher values of [Formula: see text] Moreover, [Formula: see text] is reduced due to magnetic field and group parameter. At the end, a comparison of the velocity profile for [Formula: see text] with Abbas et al. (2019) and the volume flow rate for M with Jha et al. (2015) is established.

Biopsychosocial Determinants of Problematic Pornography Use: A Systematic Review.

Although some studies have examined the determinants of problematic pornography use (PPU), few systematic comparisons of risk profiles have been conducted so far. Research on risk profiles can shed a bright light on our knowledge of both the early diagnosis and etiology of such highly prevalent disorders. Accordingly, the present study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the determinants of PPU. Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched, and relevant English articles, including longitudinal and cross-sectional studies on risk factors published from January 2000 to February 2022 were reviewed. The determinants of PPU extracted from the investigated studies (n=66) were summarized and clustered into biological, psychological, and social categories. The findings indicated that ventral striatum activity is a consistent biological factor which plays a key role in the development of PPU, while there were other psychological factors influencing PPU as mentioned in several studies, including craving, low self-esteem, sexual arousal, coping styles, stress, frequent pornography watching, avoidance, negative beliefs, and emotional deficiency. In addition, the social factors affecting PPU have been reported to be male gender, age, religion, moral incompatibility, and loneliness. According to these results, the identified factors could be considered in preventive treatment. This systematic review provided a comprehensive overview of the biopsychosocial determinants of PPU by analyzing 66 articles mostly from Europe and North America. Most studies showed that ventral striatum activity, craving, self-esteem, stress, frequent pornography watching, gender, age, and religion are related to PPU.

Sustainable Pultruded Sandwich Profiles with Mycelium Core.

This research focuses on exploring the potential of mycelium as a sustainable alternative to wood or solid foam in pultruded glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) sandwich profiles. The study evaluates the performance and the environmental sustainability potential of this composite by mechanical tests and life cycle assessment (LCA). Analysis and comparison of pultruded sandwich profiles with mycelium, polyurethane (PUR) foam and chipboard demonstrate that mycelium is competitive in terms of its performance and environmental impact. The LCA indicates that 88% of greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to mycelium production, with the heat pressing (laboratory scale) being the main culprit. When pultruded profiles with mycelium cores of densities 350 and 550 kg/m³ are produced using an oil-heated lab press, a global warming potential (GWP) of 5.74 and 9.10 kg CO2-eq. per functional unit was calculated, respectively. When using an electrically heated press, the GWP decreases to 1.50 and 1.78 kg CO2-eq. Compared to PUR foam, a reduction of 23% in GWP is possible. In order to leverage this potential, the material performance and the reproducibility of the properties must be further increased. Additionally, an adjustment of the manufacturing process with in situ mycelium deactivation during pultrusion could further reduce the energy consumption.

Comparison of phenolic profiles of albino bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) wines fermented by non-Saccharomyces yeasts

The profiles of phenolic compounds in albino bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) juice and wines fermented with eight different non-Saccharomyces yeasts, including Torulaspora (Tr.) delbrueckii, Issatchenkia (Is.) orientalis, Lachancea (Lc.) thermotolerans, Saccharomycodes (Sd.) ludwigii, Hanseniaspora (Hs.) uvarum, Metschnikowia (Mt.) pulcherrima, Pachysolen (Pc.) tannophilus, and Schizosaccharomyces (Sz.) pombe, were assessed using UHPLC-QTOF-MS and UHPLC-DAD. A total of 40 phenolic compounds, including 20 phenolic acids, 16 flavonols, and 4 flavan-3-ols, were identified and quantified in the albino bilberry products. In unfermented juice, phenolic acids were the most predominant group, accounting for 80.5% of total phenolics. After fermentation, the concentrations of phenolic acids, flavonols, and flavan-3-ols showed significant increases by 21.8%–42.5%, 26.8%–47.2%, and 4.9%–74.5%, respectively. Five new flavonols including myricetin-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-galactoside, laricitrin-3-O-galactoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside, and syringetin aglycone, which were absent in the albino bilberry juice, were formed during fermentation mainly by the metabolism of non-Saccharomyces yeasts. The phenolic compositions of albino bilberry wines depended primarily on the applied yeasts. Most of the non-Saccharomyces yeasts showed positive contributions to the increase of phenolic compounds except for Pc. tannophilus PT70352, which reduced the total phenolic content reflecting the decreases in concentrations of phenolic acids and flavan-3-ols, especially of p-coumaroyl monotropeins, procyanidin B-type dimers, and (−)-epicatechin. The highest levels of phenolic acids and flavan-3-ols were detected in the sample fermented by Hs. uvarum HU26650. The fermentations with Sd. ludwigii SL3447, Tr. delbrueckii TD291, and Mt. pulcherrima MP70321 were characterized by higher concentrations of myricetin-3-O-glucoside and syringetin-3-O-glucoside but lower contents of most phenolic acids.

Comparative transcriptomic profiling reveals differentially expressed genes and important related metabolic pathways in shoots and roots of a Saudi wheat cultivar (Najran) under salinity stress.

High salinity of soil is a threatening constraint for agricultural output worldwide. The adverse effects of salt stress on plants can be revealed in different manners, from phenotypic to genetic changes. A comparative RNA-Sequencing analysis was done in roots and shoots of bread wheat, Najran cultivar between plants grown under unstressed control condition (0 mM NaCl) and salt treatment (200 mM NaCl). More than 135 million and 137 million pair-end reads were obtained from root and shoot samples, respectively. Of which, the mapped reads to Triticum aestivum genome IWGSC_V51 ranged from 83.9% to 85% in the root and 71.6% to 79% in the shoot. Interestingly, a comparison of transcriptomic profiling identified that total number of significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) examined in the roots was much higher than that found in the shoots under NaCl treatment, 5829 genes were differentially expressed in the roots whereas 3495 genes in the shoots. The salt-induced change in the transcriptome was confirmed by RT-qPCR using a set of randomly selected genes. KEGG enrichment analysis classified all DEGs in both roots and shoots into 25 enriched KEGG pathways from three main KEGG classes: Metabolism, organismal systems and genetic information processing. According to that, the most significantly regulated pathways in the root and shoot tissues were glutathione metabolism and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as phenylpropanoids and galactose metabolism suggesting that these pathways might participate in wheat salt tolerance. The findings highlight the importance of the control of oxidative stress via Glutathione and phenylpropanoids and the regulation of galactose metabolism in the roots and shoots for salt-tolerance in wheat. They open promising prospects for engineering salt-tolerance in this important crop via targeted improvement of the regulation of key genes in the production of these compounds.

Comparison of Phenolic Profile and In Vitro Antioxidant Capacity of Sorbus domestica L. Leaf Samples from Poland and Croatia

Comparison of Phenolic Profile and In Vitro Antioxidant Capacity of Sorbus domestica L. Leaf Samples from Poland and Croatia

Induction of Fungal Secondary Metabolites by Co-Culture with Actinomycete Producing HDAC Inhibitor Trichostatins.

A recently bioinformatic analysis of genomic sequences of fungi indicated that fungi are able to produce more secondary metabolites than expected. Despite their potency, many biosynthetic pathways are silent in the absence of specific culture conditions or chemical cues. To access cryptic metabolism, 108 fungal strains isolated from various sites were cultured with or without Streptomyces sp. 13F051 which mainly produces trichostatin analogues, followed by comparison of metabolic profiles using LC-MS. Among the 108 fungal strains, 14 produced secondary metabolites that were not recognized or were scarcely produced in mono-cultivation. Of these two fungal strains, Myrmecridium schulzeri 15F098 and Scleroconidioma sphagnicola 15S058 produced four new compounds (1-4) along with a known compound (5), demonstrating that all four compounds were produced by physical interaction with Streptomyces sp. 13F051. Bioactivity evaluation indicated that compounds 3-5 impede migration of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

DEVELOPMENT OF FINITE ELEMENT MODEL FOR CONTROL OF SOLIDIFICATION SHRINKAGE IN AL-SI (A1200) CASTINGS

The objective of this work was to develop Finite Element model and experimentation of the control of solidification shrinkage in Al-Si (A1200) alloy castings. Finite Element method was used to discretize and solve the governing equations developed for the models using the commercial software, Comsol Multi-Physics. The models developed were validated from experimental data obtained using six samples. A comparison of the temperature profiles generated from the experiments and simulations showed that in 64% of the processes, there were no significant differences between the experimental and simulated values. Comparing the Niyama values obtained from experiments with those obtained from the simulations, there were no significant differences in 46% of the processes. Threshold Niyama values of 0.103 (°C-s)1/2/mm for A1200 was established. Below these threshold values, shrinkage will occur in castings from these metals. Results showed that temperature gradients and cooling rates are important in predicting the occurrence of shrinkage in a casting. It was also revealed that alloy composition affects the threshold Niyama values. The Niyama value obtained for alloy A1200 was 0.103 (°C-s)1/2 /mm) because of lower silicon content. The shapes of the castings did not have a significant effect on the Niyama values. However, the sizes of the castings affected their Niyama values since the smaller-sized castings had higher values than the bigger /mm while that with cast dimensions 150mm x 50mm ones. For alloy A1200 with cast dimension 200mm x 50mm, the Niyama value was 0.103 (°C-s)1/2 has a value of 0.129 (°C-s)1/2 /mm.

Comparison of lipid profiles in the faeces of beef cattle fed three common temperate grass silage diets and their relevance to dietary composition

Comparison of lipid profiles in the faeces of beef cattle fed three common temperate grass silage diets and their relevance to dietary composition

Experimental and numerical investigation of the deep rolling process focussing on 34CrNiMo6 railway axles

Deep rolling is a powerful tool to increase the service life or reduce the weight of railway axles. Three fatigue-resistant increasing effects are achieved in one treatment: lower surface roughness, strain hardening and compressive residual stresses near the surface. In this work, all measurable changes introduced by the deep rolling process are investigated. A partly deep-rolled railway axle made of high strength steel material 34CrNiMo6 is investigated experimentally. Microstructure analyses, hardness-, roughness-, FWHM- and residual stress measurements are performed. By the microstructure analyses a very local grain distortion, in the range < 5 µm, is proven in the deep rolled section. Stable hardness values, but increased strain hardening is detected by means of FWHM and the surface roughness is significantly reduced by the process application. Residual stresses were measured using the XRD and HD methods. Similar surface values are proven, but the determined depth profiles deviate. Residual stress measurements have generally limitations when measuring in depth, but especially their distribution is significant for increasing the durability of steel materials. Therefore, a numerical deep rolling simulation model is additionally built. Based on uniaxial tensile and cyclic test results, examined on specimen machined from the edge layer of the railway axle, an elastic–plastic Chaboche material model is parameterised. The material model is added to the simulation model and so the introduced residual stresses can be simulated. The comparison of the simulated residual stress in-depth profile, considering the electrochemical removal, shows good agreement to the measurement results. The so validated simulation model is able to determine the prevailing residual stress state near the surface after deep rolling the railway axle. Maximum compressive residual stresses up to about -1,000 MPa near the surface are achieved. The change from the induced compressive to the compensating tensile residual stress range occurs at a depth of 3.5 mm and maximum tensile residual stresses of + 100 MPa at a depth of 4 mm are introduced. In summary, the presented experimental and numerical results demonstrate the modifications induced by the deep rolling process application on a railway axle and lay the foundation for a further optimisation of the deep rolling process.

Early-Onset/Young-Onset Colorectal Carcinoma: A Comparative Analysis of Morphological Features and Biomarker Profile.

Introduction Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is one of the most common cancers that involve the human body. Young-onset CRC (YO-CRC) or early-onset CRC (EO-CRC) is defined as CRC that develops before the age of 50 years, as opposed to CRC that is diagnosed after the age of 50, referred to as late-onset CRC (LO-CRC). EO-CRC is sparsely studied in our population. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the clinicopathological parameters and biomarker profile of EO-CRC and compared them with those of LO-CRC. Methods This was a retrospective study conducted at the Department of Histopathology, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 254 biopsy-proven cases of CRC, reported over a period of nine years, were enrolled in the study. The specimens collected during surgery were sent to the laboratory for histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) status examinations. IHC staining of the specimens was performed using antibodies, namely, MutL protein homolog 1 (MLH1), postmeiotic segregation increased 2 (PMS2), MutS homolog 2 (MSH2), MutS homolog 6 (MSH6), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu), on representative tissue blocks. A comparison of morphological and biomarker profiles between EO-CRC and LO-CRC was performed. Results The mean age at diagnosis was 46.27±17.75 years, with female predominance (59.8%). A significant difference between the two groups (EO-CRC and LO-CRC) was noted with respect to laterality, tumor site, tumor grade, tumor type, presence of pre-existing polyps, perineural invasion (PNI), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and IHC markers. EO-CRC (as opposed to LO-CRC) significantly affected the left colon (92.6% vs. 72.9%, p<0.001), with the rectosigmoid being the most common site in the majority of cases (72.1% in EO-CRC vs. 61% in LO-CRC). EO-CRC showed a higher frequency of PNI and LVI than LO-CRC (42.6% vs. 23.7%, p=0.001; 29.4% vs. 18.6%, p=0.046, respectively). A significantly higher proportion of EO-CRCs were mucinous (42.6%) and medullary carcinoma (11.8%). Although the majority (54.4%) of cases of EO-CRC weregrade 2 tumors at the time of diagnosis, a significantly higher proportion of them were grade 3 (44.1%) compared with LO-CRC. IHC comparisons between the two age groups showed that a significantly higher proportion of cases of EO-CRC showed positive HER2/neu expression (27.1%) compared with LO-CRC (13.2%). Conversely, the loss of expression of microsatellite instability (MSI) markers was more commonly seen in LO-CRS compared with EO-CRC. Conclusions We found a relatively higher frequency of EO-CRC in our population. Moreover, compared with LO-CRCs, EO-CRCs were associated with prognostically poor histological parameters, such as mucinous and medullary carcinoma, high-grade, PNI, and LVI. Similarly, EO-CRC had a higher positive expression of HER2/neu with intact MSI markers compared with AO-CRC; all these characteristics indicate poor biological behavior in EO-CRC.

Evaluation and comparison of pharmacokinetic profiles and safety of two extended-release buprenorphine formulations in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

While sustained-release buprenorphine (BSR) is used as a long-lasting opioid analgesic in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), there are no published studies on pharmaceutical-grade extended-release buprenorphine options such as Ethiqa XR (EXR) for this species. However, BSR is a compounded product and has been reported to cause injection site reactions in multiple species, including marmosets. Additionally, now with the availability of EXR, a pharmaceutical-grade veterinary product, the use of BSR in laboratory animals is not compliant with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide) unless scientifically justified and approved by the IACUC. We compared pharmacokinetic and safety profiles of BSR (0.15 mg/kg) and EXR (0.1–0.2 mg/kg) administered subcutaneously to adult marmosets. Blood was collected by venipuncture of the saphenous vein at multiple time points (0.25–72 h) and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). EXR between 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg resulted in a dose-dependent increase in Cmax (1.43–2.51 ng/mL) and were not statistically different from BSR (1.82 ng/mL). Tmax, lambdaz, and t1/2 were not statistically different between formulations. Mean plasma buprenorphine concentrations for BSR and EXR exceeded the therapeutic threshold (0.1 ng/mL) within 0.25 h and lasted for > 72 h. Mild sedation, but neither respiratory depression nor ataxia, was observed for both formulations. BSR injection sites had significantly higher histopathological scores compared to EXR. Video recordings for monitoring drug-induced behavioral changes showed increased animal activity levels after BSR and EXR versus saline controls. Norbuprenorphine, a buprenorphine metabolite associated with respiratory depression, was detected in the plasma after BSR and EXR administration as well as by in vitro liver microsome assays. In conclusion, we recommend using EXR over BSR as a long-lasting buprenorphine analgesic in marmosets because EXR is a pharmaceutical-grade formulation that is compliant with FDA guidelines and the Guide as well as exhibits comparable PK and safety profiles as BSR.

Natural fucoidans inhibit coronaviruses by targeting viral spike protein and host cell furin

Fucoidans are a class of long chain sulfated polysaccharides and have multiple biological functions. Herein, four natural fucoidans extracted from Fucus vesiculosus, F. serratus, Laminaria japonica and Undaria pinnatifida, were tested for their HCoV-OC43 inhibition and found to demonstrate EC50 values ranging from 0.15 to 0.61 µg/mL. That from U. pinnatifida exhibited the most potent anti-HCoV-OC43 activity with an EC50 value of 0.15 ± 0.02 µg/mL, a potency largely independent of its sulfate content. Comparison of the gene expression profiles of fucoidan-treated and untreated cells infected with HCoV-OC43 revealed that fucoidan treatment effectively diminished HCoV-OC43 gene expressions associated with induced chemokines, cytokines and viral activities. Further studies using a highly fucoidan-resistant HCoV-OC43 determined that fucoidan inhibited HCoV-OC43 infection via interfering with viral entry and led to the identification of the specific site on the N-terminal region of spike protein, that located adjacent to the host cell receptor binding domain, targeted by the virus. Furthermore, in a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus neutralization assay, fucoidan also blocked SARS-CoV-2 entry. In vitro and in vivo, fucoidan decreased SARS-CoV-2 viral loads and inhibited viral infection in Calu-3 or Vero E6 cells and SARS-CoV-2 infected hamsters, respectively. Fucoidan was also found to inhibit furin activity, and reported furin inhibitors were found to inhibit viral infection by wild type HCoV-OC43 or SARS-CoV-2. Accordingly, we conclude that fucoidans inhibit coronaviral infection by targeting viral spike protein and host cell furin to interfere with viral entry.

Potentialities of iodine-enhanced micro-CT imaging in the morphological study of adult Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) mosquitoes

X-ray micro-computed tomography (CT) produces three-dimensional images of samples on a micrometer scale. This technique has several advantages, such as its nondestructive character and low measurement time, compared with other techniques. However, when applied to biological samples of soft tissue, the low attenuation and low effective contrast between structures pose difficulties in creating appropriate images for morphological studies. Diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced CT (DICE-CT), which uses iodine solutions to enhance contrast, is a viable alternative for addressing the aforementioned challenges. Given the variety of biological samples, an appropriate methodology must be adapted depending on the dimensions and morphological characteristics of the investigated object. A specimen that has not been morphologically studied by micro-CT and is of high sanitary importance is the adult Aedes aegypti mosquito. This study investigated the stage of iodine staining in the treatment of the A. aegypti mosquito to determine the most suitable staining time for the morphological study of this mosquito in adulthood. After determining the appropriate staining time, we discuss the potential of applying DICE-CT and methodology to mosquito studies. Seven A. aegypti females were treated using fixation steps with Bouin's solution, dehydration in a graded ethanol series, staining with iodine solution (1%), and washing in absolute ethanol. Only the staining step was different between samples. Each mosquito spent a varying amount of time (6–72 h) in the iodine solution (1%). For comparison, one of the mosquitoes was not stained. After treatment, the samples were scanned using the Bruker SkyScan 1172 micro-CT scanner. The reconstructed volumes and histograms were compared to determine the most suitable time. In addition, a quantitative analysis was performed based on a comparison of the attenuation profiles of the mosquito brains. Thereafter, the most suitable treatment process was selected, and two other samples were scanned after applying the selected process. Although fewer than 18 h was insufficient for an effective increase in attenuation and effective contrast, surpassing 24 h proved unnecessary and resulted in saturating the gray tones visualized through the histograms, leading to information loss. Therefore, a time of approximately 24 h was the most suitable staining time for studying adult A. aegypti. It was possible to isolate the organs of the digestive and reproductive systems of the mosquito stained for 24 h. Thus, micro-CT was confirmed to be an excellent technique in studies of individual structures of adult A. aegypti mosquitoes.

Comparison of Amino Acid Profile, ACE Inhibitory Activity, and Organic Acid Profile of Cow and Goat Yogurts Produced with Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, and Classical Yogurt Culture.

In this study, we aimed to produce a standard, more functional, and nutritious yogurt by using 5 different combinations of cow milk and goat milk and 2 types of starter cultures (classical yogurt culture and commercial probiotic culture). It was determined that the use of different milk types and different starter cultures in yogurt production had a statistically very significant effect (P < 0.01) on all physicochemical, microbiological, and biochemical properties. In addition, the storage period was effective on all parameters examined at varying rates. In the context, the use of goat milk in the experimental yogurt samples caused an increase in the ACE inhibitory activity values and the count of S. thermophilus, while the use of cow milk caused an increase in serum separation and pH values. On the other hand, serum separation, pH values, and ACE inhibitory activity and phenylalanine and leucine levels were found to be higher in the yogurts produced by using ABT-2 probiotic culture. It was observed that an increase in the levels of asparagine, aspartic acid, proline, and serine, as well as lactic acid, orotic acid, and citric acid, is higher in the yogurts produced by using classical yogurt culture. It has been concluded that the combination of goat milk and cow milk at different proportions and the use of probiotic culture together in yogurt production can produce yogurt that is more functional and richer in terms of organic compounds and essential amino acids.

Comparison of descriptive analysis and flash profile by naïve consumers and experts on commercial milk and yogurt products

Flash profile (FP), a ranking-based consumer-oriented method, has been studied as a rapid consumer profiling method that can be used as an alternative to conventional descriptive analyses, which require significant time, cost, and effort to get results. However, few studies have compared conventional profiling methods for different FP panel groups. In this study, we investigated the similarities between three methodologies, conventional descriptive analysis, FP by consumers, and FP by experts, on two commercial products: milk and yogurt. The results showed minor qualitative differences in the sensory attributes generated by the assessors between the three methodologies. The expert groups used terms related to product-specific attributes, whereas consumers used less specific terms. However, the overall results of the sample configurations and RV coefficients of the three methodologies were similarly high, ranging from 0.92 to 0.97 for both sample sets. These results highlight the applicability of FP when conducted with experts and consumers. This study showed that consumer and expert panels generated comparable sample configuration results using FP compared to the descriptive analysis conducted by trained panelists in two food matrices.

Biochemical and Hematologic Profiles in B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Children.

B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common type of leukemia found in children. Timely diagnosis, white blood cell count, age of onset, and sex are considered the most important prognostic factors in childhood leukemia. Hematological and biochemical profiles are crucially important to infer the health of leukemia patient pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy treatment. In the current study 200 cases were taken and evaluated for hematological (complete blood count and white blood differential count) and biochemical parameters (renal function tests, liver function tests, serum electrolytes and serum proteins) by comparison with normal reference values. Most of the cases were male under 5 years of age. Hematology parameters including red blood cells, hemoglobin and platelet levels were relatively low whereas white blood cells level was high in cases as compared with normal reference value. Sex-wise and age-wise comparison of biochemical profile showed significant difference among B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases whereas hematological profile did not show any visible difference.

GC-MS comparison of fatty acids profile of oils extracted from viscera of Tainha (Mugil liza) and Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum)

The commercial activity of the grey mullet (known as Tainha: TAI) and Tambaqui (TAM) generates tons of waste that can be turned into valuable resources. Therefore, this work aimed to chemically characterize and quantify the fatty acids profiles of the two fishes. GCMS quantification was performed by using calibration curves built from a standard that contains 19 FAME. The analysis revealed that visceral wastes from both fishes contain 16 fatty acids (FA) consisting of saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA). However, their compositions were different as FA side chains in TAI and TAM contain 12 to 20 and 13 to 22 carbon atoms, respectively. Also, the SFA amount in TAI was greater than in TAM. On the other hand, TAM is richer in MUFA and PUFA compared to TAI. Both have similar chemical compositions of ω-3 and ω-6 in PUFA and ω-5, ω-7, and ω-9 in MUFA.