Higher Decrease Research Articles

Comparison of Lidocaine Versus Nifedipine for Attenuation the Cardiovascular Response to Direct Laryngoscopy and Intubation during General Anesthesia

Background: Laryngoscopy and Endo-tracheal intubation are gold standard for securing the airway and giving positive pressure ventilation. Drugs like Lidocaine, Fentanyl citrate and Nifedipine are used frequently to attenuate presser response to laryngoscopy and intubation, Single drug or technique is not satisfactory. Different methods of attenuation of response to laryngoscopy and intubation are still to be studied with new drugs tried every once a while. Aim: To compare the lidocaine and nifedipine effect on the cardiovascular response to direct laryngoscopy and intubation during general anesthesia Methods: Following the approval of the Institutional Review Board of AL jala Teaching hospital and written informed consent from patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia, fifty patients between 18 and 60 years old, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) Grades I and II, were randomized to one of the following groups, Group A: Lidocaine group 1.5 mg/kg IV bolus 3 minutes prior to laryngoscopy and intubation, Group B: Nifedipine group. 10 mg SL 15 minutes prior to induction. The induction protocol was standard for all patients. Intraoperative vitals were monitored using ECG, Pulse Oxymeter and NIBP. HR, SBP, DBP and MAP were recorded & RPP was calculated in all patients inside the operation theater just before induction (baseline), immediate after laryngoscopy and intubation, every 2 minutes after intubation during which no stimulus was given to patient for the next 10 minutes after laryngoscopy and intubation. Results: Patients' characteristics of age, gender and were comparable in the two groups. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the type of the surgery. Statistically there was no significant difference (p=0.66) in the two groups in terms of ASA grading. No significant difference was observed between Lignocaine group and Nifedipine group values (P> 0.05), in any parameters at pre anaesthetic check-ups. the first significant change between the two groups , in which significant drop (p <0.05 ) in MAP occurred 4 minutes after intubation in group received Nifedipine sublingually, Once again , 6 minutes after intubation we recorded significant drop in SBP and MAP in Nifedipine group compared to Lidocaine group, No significant changes in parameters between two groups , 8and 10 minutes after intubation. The HR reached its maximum value immediately after intubation, after that the recording of HR became fluctuant in both groups. The percentage of rise in HR was less significant in Lidocaine group immediately after intubation and after that except for the reading 2 minutes, which was less significant in Nifedipine group. Both drugs failed to bring the HR to pre-operative value even after 10 minutes; the highest SBP was recorded at the pre-anaesthetic check-up. After that the SBP started to decline in both groups, this decline reached its maximum 4 minutes after intubation. After that the SBP started to gradually rise until 10 minutes without reaching the pre-anaesthetic basal value. The percentage of decline was more pronounced in Lidocaine group immediately and after 2 minutes of intubation and more pronounced in Nifedipine group after that, The highest DBP was recorded at the pre-anaesthetic check-up. After that the DBP started to decline in both groups, this decline reached its maximum 4 minutes after intubation. After that the DBP started to gradually rise until 10 minutes without reaching the pre-anaesthetic basal value. The percentage of decline was more pronounced in Lidocaine group immediately after intubation and more pronounced in Nifedipine group after that, The highest MAP was recorded at the pre-anaesthetic check-up. After that the MAP started to decline in both groups, this decline reached its maximum 4 minutes after intubation. After that the MAP started to gradually rise until 10 minutes without reaching the pre-anaesthetic basal value. The percentage of decline was more pronounced in Lidocaine group immediately after intubation and more pronounced in Nifedipine group after that. The Pressure Rare Product reached its maximum value immediately after intubation, the highest decrease in Pressure Rare Product occurred 4 minutes after intubation in both groups Conclusion: Both drugs in our study ( Lidocaine and Nifedipine ) has been shown to be effective in attenuating and preventing the increase in haemodynamic stress response to direct laryngoscopy and intubation during general anaesthesia in our patients. However, Nifedipine is more effective than Lidocaine in preventing the hypertensive response and attenuating the increase in RPP, and Lidocaine is more effective in attenuating the tachycardia response than Nifedipine. Recommendation: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to consider the use of iv Lidocaine and sublingual Nifedipine to reduce the presser effect of laryngoscopy and intubation.

Survival of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat "Guacamole": Role of Added Antimicrobials.

Ensuring the microbiological safety of food products is majorly important to regulatory agencies, producers, and consumers. This study aimed to examine the effects of three different antimicrobial agents, including chitosan (CH), mastic oil (M), and citric acid (CA), individually or as a combination, against Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes (artificially inoculated) in Guacamole, a ready-to-eat (RTE) avocado-based salad. The Guacamole samples included untreated samples, designated as CNL, and samples treated as follows: CA 0.15% and CA 0.30% with citric acid added at 0.15% and 0.30% v/w; CH 0.5% and CH 1% with chitosan at 0.5 and 1% v/w; M 0.2% and M 0.4% with mastic essential oil (EO) at 0.2% and 0.4% v/w; CACH with CA 0.30% and CH 1% v/w; CAM with CA 0.30% and M 0.4% v/w; CHM with CH 1% and M 0.4% v/w; and CACHM with CA 0.30%, CH 1%, and M 0.4% v/w. Microbiological evaluation, monitoring of the pH values, and proximate analyses (moisture, fat, protein, ash, and water activity) were performed at different time intervals (days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7) at two storage temperatures (4 and 10 °C). Antimicrobial treatments, particularly CH 1% and CACHM, effectively (p < 0.05) reduced Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157:H7 populations at 4 °C, while CACHM showed the most efficacy against L. monocytogenes. However, at 10 °C, antimicrobials had limited impact, and the bacterial counts exhibited an increasing trend during storage. The pH values in the avocado-based salad samples showed, in general, higher decreases at 10 compared to 4 °C, with the CHM combination showing the highest antimicrobial effect.

Racial disparities in the enjoyment of the right to full protection of children and adolescents in Brazil (2019-2021): a legal-quantitative approach

The formal recognition of the right to full protection of children and adolescents by the Constitution and the Child and Adolescent Statute (ECA) does not imply the practical implementation of this right, nor that its legal effectiveness is racially equitable. The study aims to give quantitative expression to racial disparities in the empirical enjoyment of the right to full protection. The research time frame comprises the years between 2019 and 2021 and data are referred to Brazil. Variables related to aspects of full protection are considered, such as the number of homicides, police fatalities, deaths from preventable causes, low birth weight, low per capita household income, and enrollment in daycare centers and primary education, based on aggregate data made available by IBGE, UNICEF, Fundação Abrinq, the Brazilian Public Security Forum, and the Ministry of Health. The main finding is that the race/color of the child and adolescent mattered for the enjoyment of the right to full protection in the analyzed section. Racially biased police lethality concerning black children and adolescents was the aspect with the highest deterioration in the period studied. The highest decrease in racial bias observed was in the incidence of children and adolescents up to 14 years of age with per capita household income of up to ¼ of the minimum wage, which, however, remains with a strong bias. Among the variables considered, there was only no relevant racial bias in live births with low birth weight. The findings challenge the arguments that there would be a deracialized childhood/adolescence in Brazil and point to the need to explicitly consider race when designing public policies aimed at childhood and adolescence.

Zinc phytotoxicity and cationic micronutrients contents in quinoa as influenced by high Zn levels and soil amendments

Contamination of soils with heavy metals (HMs) is a serious concern due to the non-biodegradability and accumulation of these metals in living organism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of fish scale powder, chitin, and chitosan in reducing zinc (Zn) accumulation of quinoa grown on Zn-polluted soil. A 3*4 factorial greenhouse trial was conducted with three levels of Zn contamination (0, 100, and 200 mg kg−1) and four types of amendment (control, and 0.15% of each fish scale powder, chitin, and chitosan). The quinoa seeds were sown in soil treated with Zn contamination and amendments. Results showed that application of amendments especially chitosan increased shoot and root dry weight and greenness index of quinoa leaf. While high soil Zn levels decreased cationic micronutrients uptake in quinoa shoot, chitosan addition desirably enhanced cationic micronutrients uptake in quinoa shoot. Overall, amendment addition significantly decreased Zn concentration and uptake in plant; the highest decrease was observed following the application of chitosan. Although the application of high Zn levels significantly increased the values of phytoextraction efficiency, application of chitin and chitosan significantly decreased it. The value of translocation factor was lower than one, demonstrating that a large amount of Zn was stabilized in the root tissues, while a small amount of this metal was transferred to aboveground parts of quinoa. Results of this study revealed that fish scales derivatives were effective in preventing Zn toxicity and at the same time increasing cationic micronutrients contents of quinoa grown on HMs-polluted soil.

Temuan Baru Ekstrak Kulit Nanas Sebagai Potensi Antidiabetes pada Tikus Putih (Rattus Norvegicus) Diinduksi Streptozotocin

Diabetes mellitus is chronic and metabolic disease which occurs because of the increase of blood glucose level or hyperglycemia caused the body which cannot produce or use insulin effectively. Hyperglycemia has a glucotoxic effect resulting in an increase in ROS (reactive oxygen species) thus inducing liver pathogenesis which promotes severe inflammatory and apoptotic responses, as indicated by an increase in the SGPT enzyme. The pineapple peel contains flavonoid. It is known of having a strong antioxidant activity. With the giving of pineapple peel extract, it is expected to decrease the blood glucose level. This research to find out the the effect of pineapple peel extract (Ananas comusus L. Merr) on decreasing blood glucose levels and SGPT levels in male white rats (Rattus norvegicus) induced by streptozotocin. This research is an experimental study with a research design of pretest and posttest control group design. The samples consisted of 18 rats divided into 6 groups consisted of: normal control, negative control, and positive control group given metformin, and pineapple peel extract with dose 200mg/KgBW, 300mg/KgBW and 500mg/KgBW for 28 days and the measurement of the rats blood glucose was conducted by blood glucose test meter at day 1, day 4 (after post inductionof STZ 45mg/KgBW given by intraperitoneal), and day 29. The analysis result of One Way ANOVA showed that pineapple peel extract with dose 200mg/KgBW, 300mg/KgBW, and 500mg/KgBW decrease the blood glucose level significant (p-value&lt;0,05) with negative control group. There was no significant difference between 200mg/KgBW, 300mg/KgBW and 500mg/KgBW compared with positive control (p&gt;0.05). There was an effect of pineapple peel extract administration on the SGPT levels of STZ-induced rats with a dose of 200mg/kg BW, 300mg/kg BW, 500mg/kg BW (p-value &lt;0.05). The administration of 300mg/kg BW pineapple peel extract had the highest decrease in SGPT levels compared to other groups. Pineapple peel extract (Ananas comosus L. Merr) can reduce blood glucose leveland SGPT levels in rats induced by streptozotocin with the greatest reduction at dose 300mg/KgBW.

EVALUATION OF VARIOUS FILTERS IN RECIRCULATION AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS ON SURVIVAL RATE, CORTISOL, GROWTH AND OSMOTIC PERFORMANCE IN CHANNA MARULIOIDES AS DOMESTICATION EFFORT

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of various filter materials in RAS such as synthetic materials and organic materials and there an impact on plasma cortisol, osmotic performance rate, growth rate and survival rate of Channa marulioides. The cultivation process in the RAS system is carried out for 100 days with 50 individuals in each different treatment, namely T1: Synthetic filter; T2: Organic filter; T3: Mixture of synthetic and organic filter; Control: No Filter and RAS. Measurements of plasma cortisol and osmotic performance levels were carried out at the beginning and end of cultivation which had an impact on growth and survival rates. The results of the study showed a decrease in cortisol levels (ng/ml), namely: T1: 9.24, T2: 9.66, T3: 10.37 which showed that there was no significant difference in each treatment (P&gt; 0.05) but in T1, T2, and T3 were significantly different with control treatment: 1.32 (P&lt;0.05). The same trend occurred when observing the level of osmotic performance with the highest decrease in T3 on 6 scales; T2 on a scale of 5.5; T1 has 5 scales, and Control has 3 scales. Reducing the level of cortisol and osmotic performance hormones with the RAS system can increase energy efficiency by reducing stress levels, and osmotic performance so that it can be optimized for growth and survival in adaptation.

Cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory effects of high-intensity interval training in body fat responders and non-responders

This study aimed to investigate cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory adaptations to exercise intervention among participants who showed higher (responders–RsBFP) and lower (non-responders–NRsBFP) levels of body fat percentage (BFP) responsiveness. Adolescents (42.5% males) participated in a ten-week school-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT), followed by a comparison of BFP, blood pressure (BP), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). RsBFP age of 16.15 ± 0.36 years, body height 170.82 ± 8.16 cm, weight 61.23 ± 12.80 kg, and BMI 20.86 ± 3.29 kg/m2. Meanwhile, NRsBFP age of 16.04 ± 0.36 years, body height 168.17 ± 8.64 cm, weight 57.94 ± 8.62 kg, and BMI 20.47 ± 2.24 kg/m2. HIIT intervention impacted BFP, with a higher decrease in the RsBFP than the NRsBFP (ΔBFPRs = − 2.30 ± 3.51(10.34%) vs. ΔBFPNRs = 1.51 ± 1.54(6.96%) p < 0.001). The primary comparison showed a statistically significant interaction effect in relation to CRF (F(1,71) = 14.12; p < 0.001). Detailed comparisons showed large and significant CRF changes in RsBFP (7.52%; d = 0.86; p < 0.001) but not in NRsBFP (2.01%; d = 0.11; p = 0.576). In addition, RsBFP and NRsBFP benefited equally in SBP (5.49%, d = 0.75; p < 0.001; 4.95%, d = 0.74; p < 0.001, respectively). These findings highlight that exercise benefits on body fat may be mainly related to gains in CRF. Due to substantial intra-individual variability in adaptation, there is a need for personalized intervention tailored for those with different reaction thresholds in body mass components.

Moisture sorption isotherm and thermodynamic analysis of egg powders dried by foam-mat-assisted refractance window drying.

In the designed study, the moisture sorption isotherm and thermodynamic properties of refractance-window-dried egg white powder (EWP), egg yolk powder (EYP) and whole egg powder (WEP) were determined. The adsorption isotherm of egg powders was classified as type II, giving a sigmoidal shape. Peleg showed the highest goodness of fitting for egg powder. The monolayer moisture content of egg powders varied between 0.02 and 0.09 g g-1. According to the thermodynamic analysis, an increase in moisture content led to a decrease in net isosteric heat of sorption (qst), and the highest decrease was observed in EWP. The qst of EWP was calculated as 18 637 kJ mol-1, while it decreased to 3104 kJ mol-1 at 0.2 g g-1 moisture content. Like qst, sorption entropy decreased from 52.07 to 7.14 J mol-1 K-1 with increasing water activity (aw) for EWP. Increasing temperature caused a decrease in spreading pressure and was higher in EWP samples. Increasing moisture content and temperature also decreased Gibbs free energy level. Moisture sorption isotherm (MSI) is used to predict the amount of bound water in a material at a specific relative humidity and temperature. To inhibit chemical and microbiological spoilage, the drying process must continue until the monolayer moisture content is reached. In this study, the monolayer moisture content of powdered eggs for safe storage was demonstrated by MSI. Additionally, by determining the thermodynamic functions of egg powder, valuable information was obtained related to predicting the energy requirement in drying processes. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Low and High-Normal FMR1 Triplet Cytosine, Guanine Guanine Repeats Affect Ovarian Reserve and Fertility in Women Who Underwent In Vitro Fertilization Treatment? Results from a Cross-Sectional Study.

Dynamic mutations in the 5' untranslated region of FMR1 are associated with infertility. Premutation alleles interfere with prenatal development and increase infertility risks. The number of CGG repeats that causes the highest decrease in ovarian reserves remains unclear. We evaluated the effect of FMR1 CGG repeat lengths on ovarian reserves and in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment outcomes in 272 women with alleles within the normal range. FMR1 CGG repeat length was investigated via PCR and capillary electrophoresis. Alleles were classified as low-normal, normal, and high-normal. Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle were measured, and antral follicles (AFC) were counted. IVF outcomes were collected from medical records. Regarding FMR1 CGG repeat length alleles, 63.2% of women presented at least one low-normal allele. Those carrying low-normal alleles had significantly lower AMH levels than women carrying normal or high-normal alleles. Low-normal/low-normal genotype was the most frequent, followed by low-normal/normal and normal/normal. A comparison of ovarian reserve markers and reproductive outcomes of the three most frequent genotypes revealed that AFC in the low-normal/normal genotype was significantly lower than the low-normal/low-normal genotype. The low number of FMR1 CGG repeats affected AMH levels and AFC but not IVF outcomes per cycle of treatment.

Effect of probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains on some properties of grapefruit juice and naringin

For citrus juices, especially grapefruit juice, bitterness is an important problem. In this study, some probiotic bacteria with naringinase enzyme activity (L. plantarum ACC 54, L. plantarum ACC 28, and L. plantarum 250) were added to grapefruit juice in order to reduce naringin, one of the most important bitterness components. Then, the physicochemical properties of grapefruit juice were investigated with changes in antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds and naringin amount. Improvements in the physicochemical properties of grapefruit juices were detected in the first three days of storage. Water-soluble dry matter, determined as Brix, was 9.13 on the first day of storage, and this amount decreased to 8.66 after 4 weeks of storage. Likewise, pH decreased from 3.58 to 3.11, and titratable acidity increased from 0.79% to 1.46%. Colour values were determined spectrophotometrically. During the storage period, IC value varied between 3.98 and 5.24, colour shade 1.27–1.29, red colour 32.18–32.54%, yellow colour 41.022–41.97%, and blue colour 26.80–25.49%. From the beginning of the storage period to the end of 4 weeks of storage, decreases were identified for DPPH• and ABTS•+ radicals, with the results changing from 16.41 to 31.98 and from 7.45 to 11.95, respectively. Total phenolic content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and values were 643.32–319.72 mg GAE/L from the beginning to the end of storage. The phenolic compound profile was determined by LC-MS/MS and the highest phenolic compound was found to be quinic acid (35768.88 ppb) in B25 at the end of the 4th week. The amount of naringin in grapefruit juice samples was determined by HPLC. The highest decrease (61.5%) in the amount of naringin in the samples was detected in B37 at the end of the 3rd day.

The role of debittering process with normal water, NaOH and lye on chemical properties of brine, antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds and sensory characteristics of fermented caper (Capparis ovata Desf. var. Ovata) buds

In this study, the effect of the application of salt water (brine), lye and caustic (NaOH) on salt content, acidity, pH in caper brine during fermentation was investigated. The total carotenoid quantity of the caper buds were assessed to be between 0.46 (lye) and 1.57 µg/g (hot water) on the 5th day, while the total carotenoid quantities of the buds on the 30th are found between 0.22 (normal water) and 0.94 µg/g (brine). The total carotenoid values of the caper buds on the 45th day were changed to be between 0.05 (hot water) and 0.75 µg/g (brine). The total phenol quantities of the buds on the 30th day were detected between 111.23 (caustic) and 194.48 mg GAE/100 g (hot water), while the total phenol quantities of the caper buds on the 45th day were assigned between 66.87 (lye) and 159.33 mgGAE/100 g (brine). The total flavonoid quantities of thecaper buds were assigned between 289.29 (lye) and 458.81 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/100 g (normal water) on the 45th day. The highest decrease in phenolic components during fermentation was detected in catechin, rutin and resveratrol. Fermented caper buds, whose bitterness was removed with normal water on the 45th day, received the most appreciation. At the end of fermentation, the buds whose bitterness was removed with soda water, normal and hot water, normal water and caustic were most appreciated in terms of color, smell, taste and hardness.Graphical abstractIn this study, the effect of the application of salt water (brine), oak wood ash and caustic (NaOH) on salt content, acidity, pH in caper brine during fermentation and to determine the moisture, bioactive properties (antioxidant). activity, total phenol carotenoid, flavonoid), phenolic constituents and sensory characteristics of caper buds using hot water as an alternative to the bittering process with normal water in the production of fermented caper budswas investigated

Gut microbiome and inflammation among athletes in wheelchair in a crossover randomized pilot trial of probiotic and prebiotic interventions

Disorders related to gut health are a significant cause of morbidity among athletes in wheelchair. This pilot feasibility trial aims to investigate whether probiotics compared to prebiotics can improve inflammatory status and gut microbiome composition in elite athletes in wheelchair. We conducted a 12-week, randomized, cross-over controlled trial involving 14 elite Swiss athletes in wheelchair. Participants were given a multispecies-multistrain probiotic or prebiotic (oat bran) daily for 4 weeks (Clinical trials.gov NCT04659408 09/12/2020). This was followed by a 4-week washout and then crossed over. Thirty inflammatory markers were assessed using bead-based multiplex immunoassays (LegendPlex) from serum samples. The gut microbiome was characterized via 16S rRNA sequencing of stool DNA samples. Statistical analyses were conducted using linear mixed-effect models (LMM). At baseline, most athletes (10/14) exhibited low levels of inflammation which associated with higher gut microbiome alpha diversity indices compared to those with high inflammation levels. The use of probiotic had higher decrease in 25 (83%) inflammatory markers measured compared to prebiotic use. Probiotic has the potential in lowering inflammation status and improving the gut microbiome diversity. The future trial should focus on having sufficient sample sizes, population with higher inflammation status, longer intervention exposure and use of differential abundance analysis.

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on emergency health care demand: inverse relationship between COVID-like illnesses and ED accesses in Genoa, Italy.

SARS-CoV-2 has changed the demand for in-person health care. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyzed data on access to San Martino Hospital Emergency Department (ED), Genoa, Italy, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive statistics for 180,117 records of patients accessing the ED between 2019 and 2021 were reported. A linear regression model was built to evaluate the relationship between the weekly number of COVID-like illness cases and ED attendances. In comparison to pre-pandemic levels, the median number of ED visits declined by 41.6% in 2020 and by 27.4% in 2021. The period of maximum drop in access (-61.9%) was the 2020 12-16th calendar weeks and coincided with the highest rates of COVID-like illness cases (+360%; 22.8% of total ED attendances). About 20% of the variation of the weekly number of ED attendances was explained by the number of COVID-like illness cases. In 2020 and 2021 non-urgent ED codes decreased (-6.7%; -7.3%) and both urgent and emergency ED codes increased (+4.8% and +3.9% the first; +1.9% and +3.5% the second). However, the absolute number of ED access fell drastically for all codes. In particular, the highest increase was registered in 2020 for acute respiratory infections (ARI), including COVID-19 (+3.28%), while traumas and eye diseases saw the highest decrease (-1.02%; -3.80%). While the reduction in non-urgent visits suggests avoidable pre-pandemic access levels, the decline in non-COVID-19 urgent accesses potentially points to an increase in delayed and missed care.

Evaluation of the Effect of Educational Intervention on the Error of Insurance Documents on Deductions in Hospitalization Records

Background: This study aims to consider the effect of an educational intervention on the error rate of insurance documents in the deducting of hospitalization records of COVID-19 patients' health insurance among hospital staff. Methods: The target population of this semi-experimental study was all personnel involved in the management of patients with Covid-19. Among the hospitals of the COVID-19 site in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces, one hospital was selected as the educational target group (24 individuals) and one hospital was considered as the control group (16 individuals) by lottery. To measure the effectiveness of education, the sample size of all cases of 19 patients with health insurance in two hospitals during two periods of October and March 2016 was determined. Data collection was performed by checklists and direct reviews of files, the health insurance system, and the hospital HIS system. Data analysis was performed using SPSS21 software. Results: The number of deductions in the case of "Covid 19 hospitalized patients" of the health insurance decreased significantly in the intervention hospital from 1833 to 933 (p &lt; .005) and increased in the control hospital from 447 to 2712 (p &lt; .005). In the intervention hospital, the highest decrease in deductions in the hoteling service was from 235 (12.8%) to 2 (0.2%) cases (p &lt; .001), and for medicines from 335 (18.2%) to 56 (6%) cases (p &lt; .001). Conclusion: The results demonstrated that staff training on the error in COVID-19 insurance documents during the coronavirus pandemic outbreak has reduced the number of insurance deductions in COVID-19 patients' records.

Effect of heating and germination on bioactive properties, phenolic compounds, fatty acid and mineral contents of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) seeds

SummaryIn this study, the effect of roasting, boiling and germination processes on bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, fatty acid and phenolic profiles and biogenic elements of quinoa seed and oils was assigned. The moisture amounts of boiled and germinated quinoa seeds were recorded to be significantly higher than the control. Also, the oil yield of quinoa seeds decreased compared with the control by roasting, boiling and germinating. The total phenolic and flavonoid quantities of quinoa seeds were assigned to be between 137.70 (germinated) and 315.00 (boiled) to 156.62 (boiled) and 402.38 mg/100 g (control), respectively. Antioxidant capacities of processed quinoa seeds were reported to be between 11.91 (germinated) and 14.43 mmol kg−1 (roasted). The highest total flavonoid and antioxidant capacities were recorded in the control group and roasted quinoa seeds. The highest decrease in total phenol amount of quinoa seeds was detected in germinated quinoa. Gallic acid and catechin values of quinoa seeds varied to be between 29.17 (boiled) and 38.00 mg/100 g (control) to 2.72 (germinated) and 137.26 mg/100 g (control), respectively. The rutin, ferulic acid and p‐coumaric acid contents of the processed (roasted, boiled and germinated) quinoa seeds gradually increased compared with the control. The highest palmitic, oleic, behenic and arachidonic acids were recorded in germinated quinoa oil, followed by the fatty acids of boiled, raw (control) and roasted quinoa seed oils in descending order. P and K amounts of quinoa were established to be between 2203.44 (roasted) and 3314.59 (control) to 4350.60 (boiled) and 6266.85 mg kg−1 (control), respectively.

Influence of organic acids on the viscosity and rheological behavior of guar gum solution

The present study aims to determine the influence of four edible organic acids (ascorbic, citric, malic, and tartaric) at two concentrations (0.5, and 1 %) on the viscosity and rheological behavior of guar gum dispersion (0.2 %, w/v). The finding of this study revealed that the apparent viscosity of guar gum dispersions reduced when the shear rate increased. Additionally, the apparent viscosity of the guar gum dispersions reduced as the organic acids concentration increased from 0 to 1 %. The highest decrease in viscosity was related to 1 % ascorbic acid and the lowest was related to 0.5 % malic acid. The rheological behavior of dispersions were successfully modeled using Power law, Bingham, Herschel-Bulkley, and Casson models, and the Power law model was the best one for describing the behavior of guar gum dispersions containing organic acids. The Power law model showed good performance with the maximum r-value (mean = 0.9988) and least sum of squared error (SSE) values (mean = 0.0021) and root mean square error (RMSE) values (mean = 0.0119) for all samples. The consistency coefficient (k-value) values of the samples (Power law and Herschel-Bulkley models) reduced as the acid percent was increased. The sample containing 1 % tartaric acid had the lowest k-value and the sample containing 0.5 % ascorbic acid had the highest k-value. The flow behavior index (n-value) (Power law and Herschel-Bulkley models) of the samples increased when the acid percent was increased. In summary, the use of guar gum in food products containing high concentrations of tartaric and ascorbic acids is not recommended.

Weak-light stress at different grain filling stages affects yield by reducing leaf carbon and nitrogen metabolism in fresh waxy maize

Insufficient light radiation is one of the main factors limiting maize yield in southern China. The plum rainy season overlaps with grain filling stage, and intermittent cloudy and rainy weather results in weak-light stress restricting the yield improvement of fresh waxy maize. This study was to assess the impact of weak-light stress at different grain filling stages on yield and leaf carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolism in fresh waxy maize. Suyunuo5 (SYN5) and Jingkenuo2000 (JKN2000) were used to investigate the effects of weak-light at different stages after pollination (1–7, 8–14, 15–21 and 1–21 days, recorded as Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4) on yield, dry matter and nitrogen (N) accumulation, C and N metabolism in leaf of fresh waxy maize from 2021 to 2022. Compared with CK (natural light treatment), weak-light decreased the fresh ear and grain yield, post-silking dry matter and N accumulation, and the decrease was maximum in Z4, followed by Z1. The decrease in JKN2000 was greater than SYN5. RUBPCase and PEPCase activities, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance of ear leaves decreased under weak-light, and those were lowest in Z4, followed by Z1. Furthermore, weak-light stress significantly decreased the activities of nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase, and post-silking N accumulation. The highest decrease was found in Z4, followed by Z1. Weak-light stress also downregulated the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and raised MDA content in ear leaves during grain filling stage, which accelerated leaf senescence process. Weak-light stress after pollination decreased maize yield by affecting leaf C and N metabolism and antioxidant system, and the stress occurred in first week after pollination had a more severe impact than those in middle and later stages, and JKN2000 was more sensitive to weak-light than SYN5. Our results contributed to understanding how weak-light stress could reduce the yield of fresh waxy maize by affecting leaf C and N metabolism, and offered theoretical support for implementing measures to alleviate weak-light conditions in the planting areas of fresh waxy maize.

The effect of h-BN content on mechanical properties, microstructure and machinability of hot-pressed h-BN/Si3N4 composites

Si3N4 ceramics now face new applications and challenges in the semiconductor field. The preparation of h-BN/Si3N4 machinable ceramics incorporating 5–30 vol% h-BN via hot-pressing was carried out. This study systematically explored how the varying h-BN content influenced the composite's microstructure, mechanical attributes, and machinability. The results showed that some of the h-BN was encapsulated by growing Si3N4 grains to form an intragranular structure during the process of hot-pressing, while the remaining h-BN exhibited uniform distribution along grain boundaries. The Si3N4 phase transition in composites was inhibited by excessive h-BN, accompanied by a higher decrease in densification. The sample containing 20 vol% h-BN exhibited the best comprehensive performance, with high mechanical strength and excellent machinability. The bending strength and fracture toughness remained high at 862 MPa and 10.3 MPa m1/2, and could be effortlessly machined with cemented carbide drills. Additionally, the machinability of the composites was systematically characterized through observations of crack propagation paths, fitting of R-curves, and mechanical drilling tests.

Surgical treatment of painful neuroma in amputated and non-amputated patients: does the level of neurotomy affect clinical outcomes?

To compare the outcomes of distal neurotomy (DN) versus proximal neurotomy (PN) for the surgical management of painful neuromas in amputees and non-amputees, whether used in passive or active treatment. A retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent surgery for painful traumatic neuromas between 2019 and 2022. DN with neuroma excision was performed at the level of the injury or amputation. PN was performed using a separate proximal approach without neuroma excision. Outcomes included a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores, as well as patients' subjective assessments. A total of 33 patients were included: 17 amputees and 16 non-amputees. They totalized 43 neuromas treated by DN in 21 cases and PN in 22 cases. At the median follow-up time of 13 months, there were significant decreases in all NRS and PROMIS scores in the whole series. The decrease in limb pain scores was not significantly different between groups, except for the decrease in pain interference and patient satisfaction which were higher in the DN group. Sub-group analyses found the same significant differences in amputees. Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) was associated with a higher decrease in PROMIS scores. DN seemed to give better results in amputees but there were confusing factors related to associated lesions. In other situations, the non-inferiority of PN was demonstrated. PN could be of interest for treating neuromas of superficial sensory nerves, for avoiding direct revision of a well-fitted stump and in conjunction with TMR.

The use of Iron Sand as Filtration Media for Slaughterhouse Wastewater Treatment

An increase in slaughtering animals will have an impact on increasing the liquid waste produced. The resulting RPH liquid waste can damage the environment if it is not treated, so it is necessary to conduct research to reduce pollutant levels so that it is suitable for disposal into the environment. The technique used in processing RPH wastewater is iron sand filtration method. Iron sand filtration is a filtering process using renewable media, namely iron sand. Iron sand is known to contain the mineral magnetite (Fe3O4) which has the ability to absorb colloidal solids, so it has the potential to be used to remove pollutant content of RPH liquid waste. This research objective to determine the effect of variations in the thickness of the filtration media (cm) and grain size (mesh) on pollutant parameters. The thickness variations used were 20, 25, and 30 cm, with grain sizes of iron sand 40, 60 and 100 mesh. The experimental results showed that the iron sand filtration method was able to reduce Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Suspended Solid (TSS) levels, increase the Dissolve Oxygen Meter (DO) value, and change the pH value. The highest reduction in COD was in the thickness variation of 30 cm with 100 mesh. the percentage of decrease in the value of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) was 95.05%, the highest decrease in Total Suspended Solid (TSS) value was in the media thickness variation of 30 cm with 100 mesh, the percentage of TSS value reduction was 97.11%, the pH value increased in the thickness variation media 30 cm with a mesh number of 100 from 5.8 to 7.4, and the value of Dissolve Oxygen Meter (DO) increased with variations in thickness of 30 cm with 100 mesh, increased from 1.2 to 15.2. Based on the parameter test results, it was concluded that iron sand filtration is effective in reducing pollutant levels below the quality standard, so that it is expected to be applied directly on a larger scale.