Raw Products Research Articles

Investigating the effects of industrial transformation and agglomeration on industrial eco-efficiency for green development: Evidence from enterprises in the Yangtze River Economic Belt

Improving industrial eco-efficiency (IEE) is significant for green development, particularly in the areas characterized by intense industrial agglomerations, such as the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB). This study analyzes IEE in the middle and lower reaches of the YREB (YREBML) from 2011 to 2020 using the Super SBM-ML model. Based on industrial and commercial enterprise database, this study clarifies the effects of industrial transformation and agglomeration on IEE based on spatial Durbin model. From 2011 to 2020, the IEE in the YREBML exhibited an increased trend, with an average annual increasing rate of 1.48%. The high IEE areas predominantly clustered in eastern coastal cities, while lower IEE regions were mostly located in the central and western areas. Malmquist-Luenberger index decomposition analysis suggests that advanced production technology, improved efficient resource allocation, and optimized industrial structure enhance IEE. The spatial econometric analysis revealed industrial structure rationalization (ISR) and textile industry factory scatter index (FSI) had significant positive effect on IEE, while FSI of chemical raw materials and product manufacturing industry had significant negative effect on IEE. These findings highlight the importance of promoting textile industrial clusters and controlling the quantity and distribution density of chemical industries to improve overall IEE in the YREBML.

Analysis of the zoonotic tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in raw milk and dairy products in mountain pastures of the Lombardy region, Italy.

Over the last few decades, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has become a growing public health problem in Europe. The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a zoonotic virus that affects the central nervous system (CNS). TBEV has been detected in 27 European countries, and the rise in TBE cases is mainly due to environmental and ecological factors, and factors that increase the risk of human exposure to infected ticks. The infection via the alimentary route is the second most common means of TBEV transmission to humans. Raw milk from infected goats, sheep, or cows has been identified as a source of human food-borne infections. This study aims to gather new information on the prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in raw goat's and cow's milk and related raw products in the Lombard Alps (Italy). This is important due to the close proximity of Lombardy to the Triveneto region, where TBE is endemic, and southern Switzerland, where numerous TBEV-positive mammals have been found. Throughout 2023, a passive monitoring plan was implemented on samples delivered for TBEV analyses from the Alpine pastures. In total, 248 specimens including raw milk, raw milk cheese, and butter were tested. This is the first monitoring of food at risk of TBEV transmission in a non-endemic region with evidence of TBEV circulation. Despite testing a wide range of dairy products, no sample tested positive for RNA-TBEV by real-time RT-PCR. Preliminary results suggest that raw milk and raw dairy products do not pose a significant risk of TBEV transmission to humans in the territory of Lombardy.

Predictive Production of a New Highly Soluble Glucoside, Corylin-7-O-β-Glucoside with Potent Anti-inflammatory and Anti-melanoma Activities.

Computational tools can now facilitate screening precursors and selecting suitable biotransformation enzymes for producing new bioactive compounds. This study applied the data-mining approach to screen for candidate precursors of glycosyltransferases to produce new glucosides from 412 commercial natural compounds. Among five candidates, experimental results showed that only corylin could be glycosylated by the bacterial glycosyltransferase, BsUGT489. Analysis of interaction potential between candidates and glycosyltransferase by molecular docking tools also found that corylin was the only compatible substrate. The new glucoside was purified and confirmed to be corylin-7-O-β-glucoside. The aqueous solubility of corylin-7-O-β-glucoside was 14.2 times more than its precursor aglycone, corylin. Corylin-7-O-β-glucoside retained anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production of murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, with an IC50 value of 121.1 ± 9.5µM. Further, corylin-7-O-β-glucoside exhibited more potent anti-melanoma activity against murine B16 and human A2058 melanoma cells than corylin. Together, predictive studies facilitate the production of a new glucoside, corylin-7-O-β-glucoside, which is highly soluble and possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-melanoma activities and therefore has promising future applications in pharmacology.

Polysaccharide-Based Bioplastics: Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Solutions for Packaging

Over the past few decades, synthetic petroleum-based packaging materials have increased, and the production of plastics has surpassed all other man-made materials due to their versatility. However, the excessive usage of synthetic packaging materials has led to severe environmental and health-related issues due to their nonbiodegradability and their accumulation in the environment. Therefore, bio-based packages are considered alternatives to substitute synthetic petroleum-based packaging material. Furthermore, the choice of packing material in the food industry is a perplexing process as it depends on various factors, such as the type of food product, its sustainability, and environmental conditions. Interestingly, due to proven mechanical, gas, and water vapor barrier properties and biological activity, polysaccharide-based bioplastics show the potential to expand the trends in food packaging, including edible films or coatings and intelligent and active food packaging. Various chemical modifications, network designs, and processing techniques have transformed polysaccharide materials into valuable final products, particularly for large-scale or high-value applications. Transitioning from petroleum-based resources to abundant bio-based polysaccharides presents an opportunity to create a sustainable circular economy. The economic viability of polysaccharide-based bioplastics is determined by several factors, including raw material costs, production technologies, market demand, and scalability. Despite their potential advantages over traditional plastics, their economic feasibility is affected by continuous technological advancements and evolving market dynamics and regulations. This review discusses the structure, properties, and recent developments in polysaccharide-based bioplastics as green and sustainable food packaging materials.

Three new coumarins from Notopterygium incisum with potential anti-inflammatory activity.

Three previously undescribed coumarins (1-3) were obtained from the roots of Notopterygium incisum. Their chemical structures were elucidated using a variety of spectroscopic techniques and chemical calculations. The inhibitory effects of these new compounds on NO production and pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were investigated. Further studies revealed that compound 1 suppressed the expression of COX-2 and iNOS while also reduced ROS accumulation. Western blot analysis demonstrated that compound 1 could inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway by decreasing the levels of p-PI3K and p-AKT. Collectively, these findings suggest that compounds 1-3 exhibit promising anti-inflammatory properties.

Assessing research needs for informing pet food industry decisions

Abstract The global pet food industry continues to grow being fueled by increased pet ownership, higher disposable income of pet owners, and a growing demand for premium products. While this growth has attracted increased interest of researchers in animal nutrition and product formulation, the overall body of management and economic literature to guide product innovation and marketing strategies in the pet food industry is still limited. This study aims to identify and highlight the most important, relevant, and current research needs for informing product and marketing decisions in pet food. The methods include a quantitative analysis of primary data from a survey of 76 pet food decision makers involved in the procurement of raw material, production, and marketing. The findings suggest the need for extensive research in various areas pertaining to the quality and availability of raw materials, processing methods, and forecasting consumer preferences. The findings also emphasize high value research areas such as identifying alternative protein sources, enhancing nutrient retention during the extrusion process, identifying opportunities for product innovation that align with customer preferences, and accurately predicting consumer demand.

Bio-guided isolation of anti-inflammatory compounds from Tilia tuan Szyszyl. flowers via in vitro and in silico study

Ethnopharmacological relevanceTilia tuan Szyszyl. is a perennial arboreal plant renowned for its medicinal and economic significance. All the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits have been used medicinally by the folk Bai and Yi people in Yunnan province, China, to treat inflammation, rheumatism and pain for a long time. The detailed chemical constituents and their anti-inflammatory mechanisms remain unexplored. Aim of the studyThe objective of this study was to investigate the main anti-inflammatory constituents of T. tuan flowers through bio-guided isolation and to evaluate their anti-inflammatory effects relevant to its traditional medicinal use. Material and methodsBio-guided isolation was conducted on the extract of T. tuan flowers using a combination of column chromatography and preparative HPLC. The structures were established by a combination of extensive spectroscopic analyses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The anti-inflammatory activity in vitro was evaluated by measuring the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. TNF-α and IL-6 levels were evaluated by ELISA. The expression of COX-2 and NF-κB was assayed via western blotting, and in-silico molecular docking was conducted to explore the potential mechanism. ResultsTwenty-two compounds, including ten flavonoids (1−10), seven phenylpropanoids (11−17), three triterpenoids (19−21), one sterol glucoside 18, and one glyceride 22, were identified from T. tuan flowers for the first time. Among them, 1 is a new compound. It is noted that 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 17, and 22 exhibited remarkable anti-inflammatory activity against NO production with a range of 5.2–34.5 μM, superior to the positive control L-NMMA. Moreover, the new compound 1 inhibited significantly inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α. ConclusionThe results show that flavonoids including the new one and the phenyl-propanoid are the primary active constituents of T. tuan flowers, responsible for its ethno-pharmacological uses on osteoarthritis and rheumatism. T. tuan flowers could be a promising therapeutic agent to modulate inflammatory diseases.

Consumer Perception of Palm Sugar Products in Rokan Hulu District, Indonesia: A Prospective Analysis Approach

The demand for palm sugar has been consistently increasing each year, particularly due to the growing public awareness of health benefits. Palm sugar is considered a safer sweetener option due to its low glycemic index and absence of side effects. The primary objective of this research is to analyze consumer perceptions regarding the attributes of palm sugar. This analysis is crucial in assessing consumer satisfaction and loyalty toward palm sugar consumption. Consequently, the findings will contribute to enhancing the marketing mix strategies for palm sugar. The survey method was employed to conduct this research, with a sample size of 30 consumer respondents selected through random sampling. Additionally, an opinion poll was conducted with key individuals to gather insights on the development of palm sugar products. The collected data were then analyzed using a prospective analysis approach. The research results indicate that specific attributes significantly influence consumer perceptions when purchasing palm sugar. Consumer perceptions in purchasing palm sugar are based on details of the marketing mix attributes which are the determining attributes, namely: taste, quality, palm sugar color, texture, popularity of craftsmen, and price. The marketing development implications of this research are improvements to three attribute components, namely raw material composition information, product standards, hygiene, partnerships, and technology. This serves as a consideration for craftsmen to improve consumer perceptions of palm sugar. Keywords: marketing of palm sugar, perception, prospective

Berberine Inhibits the Inflammatory Response Induced by Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Atopic Eczema Patients via the TNF-α/Inflammation/RAGE Pathways.

Atopic eczema patients exhibit high levels of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) skin colonization. S. aureus can stimulate macrophages and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Berberine (BBR), an alkaloid, attenuates S. aureus toxin production. This study investigated if BBR suppressed bacterial growth and inflammatory response induced by eczema-patient-derived S. aureus using murine macrophage (RAW 264.7) and human monocyte cell lines (U937). RAW 264.7 and U937 were treated with BBR at different concentrations and stimulated with heat-killed S. aureus (ATCC #33591) or S. aureus derived from severe eczema patients (EC01-EC10), who were undergoing topical steroid withdrawal, for 24 h. TNF-α protein levels were determined by ELISA, gene expression by qRT-PCR, cell cytotoxicity by trypan blue excursion, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels by fluorometric assay. BBR showed a bacteriostatic effect in S. aureus (ATCC strain #33591 and clinical isolates (EC01-EC10) and suppressed TNF-α production in RAW 264.7 and U937 cells exposed to heat-killed S. aureus (ATCC and clinical isolates) dose-dependently without any cell cytotoxicity. BBR (20 µg/mL) suppressed >90% of TNF-α production (p < 0.001), downregulated genes involved in inflammatory pathways, and inhibited S. aureus ROS production in U937 and RAW 264.7 cells (p < 0.01). BBR suppresses S. aureus-induced inflammation via inhibition of TNF-α release, ROS production, and expression of key genes involved in the inflammatory pathway.

Functional Properties and Components of Koenigia alpina Extract.

Koenigia alpina (All.) T.M.Schust. & Reveal (alpine knotweed) is a perennial herb belonging to the Polygonaceae family. Several studies have examined Polygonaceae species' potential applications as cosmeceutical materials; however, the potential of K. alpina as a cosmeceutical has not yet been studied. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and lipopolysaccharide were used to induce an inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 cells. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and H2O2 were used to evaluate the free-radical scavenging activity of K. alpina extract and its protective effect against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cell damage. The whitening, antiaging, and cell proliferation/migration effects of the extracts were evaluated via tyrosinase inhibition, collagenase/elastase inhibition, and wound healing assays, respectively. The anti-inflammatory effect was confirmed by evaluating nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), UV, and MS/MS were used to determine the main components of the extract and fractions. The ethyl acetate (EA) fraction and its aglycone fraction showed very high free-radical scavenging activities (47.5 and 47.1µg/mL, respectively). The extract/fractions also showed significant tyrosinase inhibition (IC50 = 0.38mg/mL in EA fraction), collagenase inhibition (IC50 = 0.21mg/mL in EA fraction), and elastase inhibition (IC50 = 0.57mg/mL in aglycone fraction). NO production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells was inhibited by the extract/fractions. The extract also promoted the closure of scratch wounds in HaCaT cells. The K. alpina extract/fractions contained cardamonin, quercetin, and quercitrin. K. alpina extracts/fractions showed antioxidant, antiaging, whitening, and anti-inflammatory activities, suggesting they may have potential as antiaging cosmeceuticals.

Highly oxygenated clerodane furanoditerpenoids from the leaves and twigs of Croton yunnanensis

The phytochemical investigation of the leaves and twigs of Croton yunnanensis resulted in the isolation of eight new clerodane furanoditerpenoids, named croyunfuranoids A-H (1-8), along with three known analogs (9-11). The structures of these compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic analyses, and their absolute configurations were determined through a combination of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Notably, Croyunfuranoid D (4) is identified as a rare 18,19-dinor-clerodane diterpenoid. Additionally, the structure of a previously reported diterpenoid, crotonyunnan B, was revised. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities on nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Among them, compounds 5 and 6 demonstrated significant inhibitory effects, with IC50 values of 20.33 ± 2.31 and 22.80 ± 1.31 μmol·L-1, respectively.

Development of a bread recipe with added french willow infusion

The article considers the research on the development of bread with added new ingredient – French willow. French willow or Ivan-tea is widespread throughout the Ural region. It contains all the vitamins and microelements necessary for the body, which help to reduce oxidative processes. The components of Ivan-tea have immunostimulating properties, they affect the processes of hematopoiesis and the activity of vitamins in the body and are of great importance in blood diseases, atherosclerosis, and some types of tumors. The development will expand the range of bread offered to the population in stores. And create new types of bread, including functional ones [1, 2, 3]. The production of bread samples consisted of the following stages: raw material preparation, ingredient addition, dough kneading, dough maturation, kneading, baking, cooling and product inspection. Five bread samples were produced and analyzed. Samples No. 1 and No. 2 were made using live sourdough, while samples No. 3 and No. 4 used baker's yeast. The control bread sample was made in accordance with GOST R 31807-2018, which is valid in the Russian Federation. Bakery products from rye flour and a mixture of rye and wheat flour. General specifications. French williw infusion was added to four samples (No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4) in amounts of 100 and 200 ml. The organoleptic properties of all samples were assessed according to GOST 31807-2018. The physicochemical properties included porosity (GOST 5669-96), acidity (GOST 5670-96), and humidity (GOST R 58233-2018). The research showed that the best sample was wheat-rye bread (No. 2), prepared with sourdough and 200 ml of fireweed infusion. The appearance of the product corresponded to the baking form - tin. The surface was without cracks and tears. Color was light brown. Taste and smell were typical for this type of product with notes of fireweed. Porosity was developed, without compaction. Traces of unmixed particles were not found. The humidity of the experimental sample No. 2 was 47%, the acidity index was 0.5° higher than the norm and was - 3.5°. The porosity index was 68.82%. Thus, it can be assumed that the French willow infusion affects the physicochemical properties of bread products (increasing porosity by 0.82%). And it affects the organoleptic properties of the samples, improving the taste and appearance of the product.

Analysis of technologies of disposal and use fibrous paper skopje

The article examines the current state and trends in the development of waste management technologies in the pulp and paper industry, with the aim of analyzing the reasons that hinder, and sometimes make impossible, the effective utilization of fibrous waste paper to obtain environmentally safe materials and raw products. The production of paper products is one of the most capital-intensive and energy-intensive industries, second only to the metallurgical and chemical industries, with a correspondingly large amount of waste and a negative impact on the environment. The technological processes of scum formation as a result of waste paper recycling and paper production wastewater treatment are considered and analyzed. Skopje is the final waste of the pulp and paper industry, which is formed at various stages of the paper and cardboard manufacturing process, therefore it is deposited in landfills. Multiton volumes of skopje require significant areas for its storage. Despite the low IV hazard class, this leads to serious environmental problems, as the leachate from the skopje landfill pollutes surface and ground water. Technologies of possible disposal and reuse of skopje, known in domestic and foreign literature, are described and analyzed. The technology of reusing scoop is determined by its relatively environmentally safe physicochemical composition. The indicated fibrous, mineral, extractive constituents and lignin determine the possibility of reusing skopje, mainly for the construction industry. The perspective of the complex use of multi-tonnage waste – slag, sludge, ash and slag of thermal power plants as plasticizers, fillers, binders and binding components in the production of building structural and heat-insulating materials is named. Technologies for using scapula as a filler in the production of building materials require a high content of inorganic compounds and a minimum amount of organic compounds. A high content of fibrous particles and a low content of mineral substances is necessary when using scapula in the production of composite wood composite materials. The specified technological limitations ensure only small amounts of skopje use in the production of building materials. The effectiveness of using skopje as an additive to the asphalt mixture for road construction and production of fuel materials is determined by the economic costs of transportation and dewatering. It is noted that the high humidity, ash content and low calorific value of scum are the main reason for the lack of effective technologies for its utilization. The solution to the problem is the use of low-energy technologies through the direct use of osprey as a component of the soil mixture for biological reclamation of man-made landscapes. The article substantiates an environmentally safe and socially favourable option for using a soil substrate based on osprey. It is emphasised that the humidity and organic viscosity of the plant origin of osprey form the agrotechnical properties of soil substrates of prolonged action, which ensure optimal technological efficiency of phytomelioration of degraded lands. The reclaimed areas will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the soil, prevent wind and water erosion, and ensure the environmental safety of natural and man-made ecosystems.

Pentacyclic Triterpenoid Content in Cranberry Raw Materials and Products

Cranberry fruit extracts have been shown to inhibit expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in THP-1 cells and reduce colonic tumor burden and tissue inflammation in a mouse model of colitis. These activities are attributed to both the triterpenoid and polyphenol constituents of the fruit. The pentacyclic triterpenoids ursolic acid (UA), oleanolic acid (OA), corosolic acid (CA), maslinic acid (MA), and esters of UA and OA occur in the waxy layer of cranberry peel, and their content in cranberry products is likely to vary with the fruit source and processing methods. UPLC-MS (ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) was applied to determine the four triterpenoid acids and their esters in cranberry products and raw materials. Cranberry pomace, a side stream in juice production, was a rich source at 64,090 µg total triterpenoids/g DW. Cranberry juice beverages ranged from 0.018 to 0.26 µg/g of product, fruit samples ranged from 6542 to 17,070 µg/g DW, and whole berry products contained up to 2665 µg/g DW. Free UA was the most plentiful triterpenoid in all samples. These analyses illustrate the potential value of an underutilized side stream in cranberry juice production and highlight potential benefits of whole fruit products.

Epidemiological analysis of event-based surveillance data of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) outbreaks across Balochistan Province, Pakistan, from 2000 to August 2021

Background Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is endemic in Balochistan, caused by the Bunyaviridae family’s tick-borne virus (Nairovirus). The CCHF virus leads to severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks with a fatality rate of 10–40%. This study aims to describe the epidemiological trend of CCHF in Balochistan and provide recommendations for controlling current and future outbreaks. Methods A descriptive approach was adopted for data analysis, utilizing the standard case definition of the Vector-Borne Diseases (VBD) program. “Any person of any age and gender residing in Balochistan from 2000 until August 10, 2021, presenting with the acute onset of illness, featuring a high-grade fever (38.5°C) persisting for more than 3 days but less than 10 days. Individuals should also exhibit any two of the following symptoms: hemorrhagic or purpuric rash, nosebleed, blood in vomit/sputum/stool, or other hemorrhagic symptoms. Moreover, there should be no known predisposing factors for hemorrhagic manifestations, and individuals must have had contact with a confirmed patient or engaged in handling animals and raw animal products.” The study covered cases identified from 2000 to August 10, 2021, and the descriptive study was conducted at the Provincial Disease Surveillance and Response Unit (PDSRU) in Quetta. Frequencies were calculated, and Excel 2016 was used to generate tables and graphs. Results Based on the case definition, 1418 laboratory-confirmed cases of CCHF were identified out of 2542 reported cases from 2000 to August 10, 2021. Most cases (89%, n = 1262) were found to be males. The case fatality rate increased from 5% to 13% over the last decade. The highest number of CCHF cases occurred in 2017 (n = 172), followed by 2005 (n = 108) and 2004 (n = 107). Direct animal contact was reported in 61% of cases, with 22% being butchers and farmers each. CCHF poses a significant public health issue in Balochistan. Conclusion This study provides a detailed overview of CCHF in Balochistan over the last 21 years, recommending the declaration of CCHF as a public health emergency. Establishing a comprehensive tick surveillance system, ecological studies, and health education sessions in collaboration with the livestock department is crucial to prevent future outbreaks.

Assessing Listeria monocytogenes Growth in Artificially Inoculated Sea-Farmed Product—Raw Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Fillet, Produced in Greece

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is responsible for listeriosis, a serious foodborne disease, with high hospitalization and mortality rates worldwide. The main cause of listeriosis in humans is the consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods; Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 establishes microbiological criteria for Lm in RTE foods. Raw fish products are widely consumed, e.g., in sushi and various seafood recipes (e.g., carpaccio, sashimi, maki, nigiri, tartare, etc.), but are not subjected to RTE food safety criteria. The aim of our study was to assess the growth potential of Lm in raw sea bass fillets obtained from a leading aquaculture company in Greece. In order to assess the growth of Lm in raw sea bass fillets, we applied the “challenge test”, a scientific experiment designed to assess the growth of Lm within a specific food product under controlled conditions. According to our results, and taking into consideration the health risk for the listeriosis-vulnerable population, raw fish products utilized in the preparation of RTE foods, including sushi and an array of seafood dishes, should be incorporated in the Category of Safety Criteria of Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 “Ready-to-eat food able to support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes”.

Case study of the environmental impacts and benefits of a PBF-LB additively manufactured optimized filtrate nozzle

In this paper, we present a comprehensive case study of a laser-based powder bed fusion-manufactured optimized filtrate nozzle, focusing on environmental impacts and benefits. The scope of the study covers the raw material production, part manufacturing and use phases. We compare the results for similar components manufactured by conventional, mainly material-removing manufacturing technologies. Primary data, measured from processes, are utilized for life cycle assessment calculations, which are completed with database data when necessary. The results show that by exploiting the design freedom of additive manufacturing, it is possible to achieve positive environmental benefits, namely, a 40% reduction in the carbon footprint during the use phase, although the manufacturing phase per se requires a similar amount or even more resources than the conventional manufacturing route. In addition to environmental benefits, we present here some other potential benefits for using optimized, additively manufactured parts.

Multi-depot and product vehicle routing problem with precedence constraint and selective backhauling in animal feed manufacturing industry

ABSTRACT Multi-depot vehicle routing with precedence constraints and selective backhauling, along with practical challenges such as outsourcing, demand splitting, and flexible pickup and delivery formats, is a common issue in the animal feed industry. However, few studies address demand splitting and flexible pickup constraints. The industry struggles with inadequate management, leading to difficulties in efficiently utilizing limited vehicles for both raw material pickup and product delivery. This inefficiency results in higher transportation costs, including subcontractor vehicle expenses. This study proposes the Extended Adaptive Grey Wolf Optimizer to minimize total transportation costs by incorporating essential factors such as multi-depots, outsourcing services, optimization of split delivery and pickup operations, precedence constraints, and selective backhauling. The results show a remarkable 97.6% improvement toward optimality, representing a significant enhancement of 38.1% improvement over current practice. The findings emphasize the benefits to the industry of adopting proper route sequencing and utilizing subcontractor vehicles.

Ultrasound-Assisted Solid-Phase Affibody Synthesis Using ZEGFR:1907 as an Example-Superior to the Conventional Protocol?

Affibody molecules represent a class of highly specific binders of particular interest for the development of highly affine target-specific radiopharmaceuticals. Their chemical synthesis is, however, intricate due to their considerable length of 58 amino acids; thus, approaches to optimize their preparation are constantly being sought. As ultrasound assistance has recently been shown to increase the efficiency of amino acid conjugation during solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), the influence of ultrasonication on the outcome of the SPPS-based preparation of the EGFR-specific affibody ZEGFR:1907 was compared to a common protocol relying on mechanical shaking. After the identification of a suitable solid support for the study, the execution of the systematic comparison of both approaches showed that conventional and ultrasound-assisted syntheses yielded equivalent results with analogous composition of the raw products. Further, both approaches produced the affibody in good isolated yields of >20% when applying the same optimal reagent excesses and coupling times for the conjugation of each amino acid. This indicates that, under optimal reaction conditions, the choice of solid support used has a much stronger influence on the outcome of the preparation of ZEGFR:1907 than the application of ultrasound, which did not further improve the synthesis results. Therefore, for the chemical synthesis of affibodies, great attention should be paid to the choice of a suitable solid support, enabling this highly interesting class of biomolecules to be obtained in good yields and to bring them more into the focus of radiopharmaceutical research.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Diverse Escherichia coli Pathotypes from Nigeria.

Escherichia coli is a gram-negative commensal bacterium living in human and animal intestines. Its pathogenic strains lead to high morbidity and mortality, which can adversely affect people by causing urinary tract infections, food poisoning, septic shock, or meningitis. Humans can contract E. coli by eating contaminated food-such as raw or undercooked raw milk, meat products, and fresh produce sold in open markets-as well as by coming into contact with contaminated settings like wastewater, municipal water, soil, and faeces. Some pathogenic strains identified in Nigeria, include Enterohemorrhagic (Verotoxigenic), Enterotoxigenic, Enteropathogenic, Enteroinvasive, and Enteroaggregative E. coli. This causes acute watery or bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and vomiting. Apart from the virulence profile of E. coli, antibiotic resistance mechanisms such as the presence of blaCTX-M found in humans, animals, and environmental isolates are of great importance and require surveillance and monitoring for emerging threats in resource-limited countries. This review is aimed at understanding the underlying mechanisms of evolution and antibiotic resistance in E. coli in Nigeria and highlights the use of improving One Health approaches to combat the problem of emerging infectious diseases.