Significant Influence Research Articles

Pottery traditions of the Old Bering Sea Culture of the Chukchi Peninsula (based on materials from the Chini cemetery)

Here we present the results of the technical and technological analysis of pottery from one dugout (4 ves-sels) and 22 graves (23 vessels) of the Chini cemetery (Chukchi Peninsula). We found that potters of the Old Bering Sea Culture used mainly ferruginous, weakly sanded clay in the production of pottery. Two recipes for moulding clay were found in the dugout and five in the burial ground. The construction of the hollow body was made by patchwork layering, presumably on a base mould. Smooth or embossed knockout was used for shaping. The surfaces were worked by troweling. Five vessels from different burials demonstrate the effect of residual plas-ticity of molding mass. The area of the Chini cemetery was used by different groups of the Old Bering Sea Culture with different pottery traditions. At least three different groups can be distinguished, which used different recipes for the moulding mass. The absence of hybrid recipes indicates that there was no mixing of pottery skills between these groups. Similar pattern is also characteristic for the pottery found in the dugout. The spatial context of the cemetery shows that different groups of the Old Bering Sea Culture developed different parts of the Chini ceme-tery. Group 1 built their tombs in the northeastern part of the cemetery, while Group 2 — mainly in the central part. Burials of Group 3 are located on the periphery of the cemetery. Pottery of groups 2 and 3 existed at the same time, as two vessels made from two different recipes were found in burial 8. Presented information reveals the dynamic history of a distinct group of Neo-Eskimos who left the Chini cemetery. These data indicate a signifi-cant influence of ancient populations related to Paleo-Eskimos and ancestors of the Chukchi on this group, and also suggest participation of women of various communities in pottery production.

Paradigms of people management: Human resource strategies during an economic downturn

Since the Industrial Revolution, there has been an evolution in the paradigms under which the industrial worker is perceived and dealt with. These paradigms can be briefly listed in the order of their evolutionary stage as: the food-gatherer, the economic man, the social man, the resourceful man, and the enterprising man. Each of them is a combination of two basic paradigms in different proportions, namely, the outsider paradigm and the partnership paradigm. Obviously, the paradigmatic perspectives of management about their workers will have a significant influence on how they treat their workers, which may become especially conspicuous during recessions and other kinds of hard times. It was in this context that we designed a study to understand the human resource strategies of companies during a period of recession. Data for this study was collected through the content analysis of 46 published cases, wherein we developed the ratings of two sets of variables, namely: the external and internal environments of the company and the strategic actions taken by the respective managements. A surprising finding of the study is that the correlations between the environmental factors and the strategy factors were small and non-significant; moreover, the correlations involving the external environment were smaller than those involving the internal environment. Hence, it may be inferred that strategic actions are influenced primarily by the paradigmatic perspectives of management rather than environmental factors. In order to identify the different types of paradigmatic perspectives, we have further carried out a cluster analysis to develop a taxonomy of paradigms. The results showed that there are five sub-paradigms, which are: (1) Pacifiers, constituting 35% of the sample; (2) Modifiers, constituting 22%; (3) Molders, constituting 17%; (4) Enhancers, constituting 15%; and (5) Exploiters, constituting 11%. The limitations of the study and the implications of the findings are discussed in the concluding part.

A Study of the Effect of Beauty Consumer Sentiment after Covid-19 on Hair Salon Revisit Intention

Purpose: As social distancing continues due to the pandemic, research results show that psychologically exhausted people are willing to increase consumption despite their perception of safety due to compensation psychology. Following research results showing that the safety of beauty must be ensured due to Covid-19, it is being argued that the beauty industry, which was greatly affected by the economic downturn, should be revitalized as Covid-19 enters a phase of calming down again. Therefore, there is a need to verify what factors influence customers who visited hair salons before Covid-19 to revisit the salon. The purpose of this study is to present a positive impact as a way to stimulate the intention to revisit hair salons.
 Method: The data of this study was an online survey targeting men and women who had experience of using hair salons. we aim to analyze the effect of Beauty Consumer Sentiment after Covid-19 and its sub-factors on Hair salon Revisit Intention. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 25.0, and first exploratory factor analysis was performed to analyze the validity of the measurement tool. Reliability was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Frequency analysis and descriptive statistical analysis were performed. Independent t-test, Pearson’s correlation analysis and regression analysis were performed.
 Results: Beauty Consumer Sentiment after Covid-19 had a significant positive effect on Hair salon Revisit Intention. Among the subfactors of Beauty Consumer Sentiment after Covid-19, Safety Expectations and Psychological Compensation did not have a significant positive influence on Hair Salon Revisit Intention. Among the subfactors of Beauty Consumer Sentiment after Covid-19, service expectation had a significant positive effect on Hair salon revisit intention.
 Conclusion: As Beauty consumer sentiment improves, repeat visits increase. Among consumer psychology, it was found that service expectation had a positive influence. This can be said to be a similar result to how service quality affects repeat visits. The reason why safety expectations have not had an impact after Covid-19 is because safety is fully recognized, so safety cannot be seen as leading to repeat visits. It can be said to be a differentiated study in that it yielded different results from existing studies on safety and compensation psychology. In future research, we hope to overcome the limitations of this study and to achieve objective and clear research results by diversifying the study in more detail by region and age.

Enhanced Solubility and Increased Bioavailability with Engineered Nanocrystals

Abstract: The exploration of nanocrystal technology is currently receiving significant attention in various fields, including therapeutic formulation, clinical formulation, in-vivo and in-vitro correlation research, and related investigations. The domain of nanocrystals in pharmaceutical delivery has received significant interest as a potential solution for the difficulties associated with medications that have low solubility. The nanocrystals demonstrate promise in improving solubility and bioavailability, presenting a potential resolution to significant challenges. Significantly, nanocrystals have exhibited efficacy in the context of oral administration, showcasing prompt absorption due to their quick breakdown, hence fitting with the requirements of medications that necessitate fast commencement of action. In addition, the adaptability of drug nanocrystals encompasses several methods of administration, including oral, parenteral, ophthalmic, cutaneous, pulmonary, and targeted delivery modalities. The observed consistency can be ascribed to the increased solubility of nanocrystals of the medicine, which effectively counteracts the influence of food on the absorption of the drug. Surface modification tactics have a significant influence on insoluble medicines by enhancing hydrophilicity and reducing plasma protein adsorption on the crystal surface. The surface properties of nanocrystals are modified through the utilization of specific surfactants and polymers, which are subsequently incorporated into polymer solutions via high-pressure homogenization procedures. This article encompasses an examination of the drug distribution mechanism, the nanocrystal formulation technology, the therapeutic applications, the potential future developments, and the challenges associated with the solubility and bioavailability of tailored nanocrystals, as discussed in this article. Consequently, it possesses the capacity to provide guidance for future investigations pertaining to nanocrystal technology.

Physicochemical Characteristics and Antioxidant Activity of Some Algerian Extra Virgin Olive Oils (Olea europaea L.)

Background:: The present work was conducted to investigate the quality and antioxidant properties of some Algerian extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs). Objective:: In this paper, the physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant properties of four EVOOs of monovarietal samples (Chemlal) from East Algeria were studied. Methods:: Physicochemical characteristics, which include free acidity, peroxide index, saponification index, specific extinction coefficients, water content, refractive index, relative density, and chemical composition, in addition to their antioxidant activity, were investigated based on DPPH free radical-scavenging activity (DPPH-SA). Results:: The results of physicochemical and quality parameters proved that all samples are EVOOs with highly nutritious and health benefits for the consumer, as per the recommendation of the International Olive Council (IOC). The results showed that the olive oils from the southern arid region of Algeria (Sahara), have a high antioxidant activity than the samples from the Northern regions. Conclusion:: These findings revealed a significant influence of geographic location on the chemical characteristics and antioxidant activities of olive oil from the same cultivar (Chemlal). These olive oils from the arid Saharan region may be used as a functional food with great antioxidant potential.

Influence of Workload, Job Stress And Compensation on Employee Performance At Kopi Kampoeng Id

This study aims to determine the effect of workload, work stress and compensation on the performance of Kampoeng Id Coffee employees. This type of research is quantitative. The population in this study were Kopi Kampoeng Id employees. The sampling technique used saturated sampling technique with a sample of 30 respondents which were processed using SPSS Statistics 25 software. The data collection technique uses a questionnaire that has been tested for validity and reliability. The data analysis technique used is multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this study indicate that the three research variables have a partial effect, namely with the provisions of the influence of significance that has been tested with SPSS which shows each number in the following variables : t count > t table, namely 2.853 > 1,706 and significant level 0,028 > 0,05 variable workload partially significant effect on employee performance. t count > t table, namely 2,168 > 1,706 and significant level 0,025 > 0,05 the variable of work stress has a significant effect on employee performance. t count > t table, namely 3,355 > 1,706 and significant level 0,019 > 0,05 compensation variables have a significant effect on employee performance. Then simultaneous testing which can be seen from the F value of the variable Workload, work stress, and compensation has a significant effect on employee performance. These results is indicated by the F test obtained Fcount >Ftable, namely 5,551 > 2,98 and Sig. F 0,018 < 0,05. Test the coefficient of determination (Adjusted R Square) that the dependent variable Karuawan's performance (Y) can be explained 45.9% by the independent variables Workload (X1), Work Stress (X2), and Compensation (X3). While the remaining 54.1% is influenced by other variables not examined in this study. The multiple linear analysis test shows that the variable that has the dominant influence on workload is indicated by the greatest beta coefficient value, namely 0.534.

Impacts of Social Media Advertising on Purchase Intention and Customer Loyalty in E-Commerce Systems

The emergence of new technologies has had a noteworthy impact on communication systems, leading to the importance of conducting research in this area due to the significant influence of social media. Marketing operators must implement the necessary infrastructure to identify and fulfill customers' expectations, considering the advantages and the increasing number of users in social networks. This paper presents a comprehensive framework for evaluating the purchase intention of electronic commerce systems, taking into account the impact of social media advertising and customer loyalty. The paper aims to enhance purchase intention in e-commerce through social media advertising and examine influential factors that improve online shopping performance, including social media advertising's effectiveness on customer purchase behavior and brand loyalty. The paper develops a theoretical framework of nine hypotheses to evaluate purchase intention in e-commerce systems, with a focus on the effect of social media advertising on brand loyalty and purchase intention. To validate the proposed model and test the research hypotheses, we make use of information obtained from an international company located in China. The results demonstrate the positive effect of pleasurable motivation on purchase intention, with a significance level of 3.776 and a path coefficient of 0.279. Moreover, an investigation of the positive effect of customer loyalty on the recommended advertisement confirms the hypotheses, with a significance of 32.815 and a path coefficient of 0.788.

Biodegradation, Antibacterial Performance, and Cytocompatibility of a Novel ZK30-Cu-Mn Biomedical Alloy Produced by Selective Laser Melting.

In the present study, an antibacterial biomedical magnesium (Mg) alloy with a low biodegradation rate was designed, and ZK30-0.2Cu-xMn (x = 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 wt%) was produced by selective laser melting, which is a widely applied laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing technology. Alloying with Mn evidently influenced the grain size, hardness, and biodegradation behavior. On the other hand, increasing Mn content to 0.8 wt% resulted in a decrease of biodegradation rate which is attributed to the decreased grain size and relatively protective surface layer of manganese oxide. Higher Mn contents increased the biodegradation rate attributed to the presence of the Mn-rich particles. Taken together, ZK30-0.2Cu-0.8Mn exhibited the lowest biodegradation rate, strong antibacterial performance, and good cytocompatibility.

Investigating Industry 4.0, Blockchain Adoption, and Sustainability on Thai Finance's Operational Excellence

Purpose: This study examines the impact of Industry 4.0, blockchain adoption, and sustainability on operational excellence within the Thai finance sector. Key variables include relative advantage, top management support, openness to use innovation, blockchain technology adoption, industry 4.0 practice, sustainable operation, and operational excellence. Design/methodology/approach: Data was gathered through a survey administered to 278 participants comprising managers, IT experts, and banking and financial professionals, utilizing a quantitative methodology. Prior to data collection, the reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated via a pilot test involving 30 participants, assessing Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) index and reliability using Cronbach's Alpha. Sampling methods encompassed judgmental, convenience, and snowball techniques. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were utilized to validate model fit and test hypotheses. Findings: The study found that relative advantage, top management support, and openness to use innovation sig-nificantly influence blockchain technology adoption. Additionally, blockchain technology adoption and sustainable operation significantly impact operational excellence. However, industry 4.0 practice showed no significant influence on operational excellence. Research limitations/implications: This study sheds light on blockchain adoption and operational excellence but faces limitations. Its context-specific nature may hinder generalization to other sectors or regions, compounded by a limited sample size. Moreover, reliance on self-reported survey data introduces potential response and social desirability biases. Originality/value: The study's insights on Industry 4.0, blockchain adoption, sustainability, and operational ex-cellence in Thai finance benefit practitioners, policymakers, and academics. By intertwining these concepts, it deep-ens understanding of their impact on operational performance. The confirmation of Blockchain Technology Adoption and Sustainable Operation highlights the necessity of strategic investments in these areas.

Deep learning-based differentiation of peripheral high-flow and low-flow vascular malformations in T2-weighted short tau inversion recovery MRI.

Differentiation of high-flow from low-flow vascular malformations (VMs) is crucial for therapeutic management of this orphan disease. A convolutional neural network (CNN) was evaluated for differentiation of peripheral vascular malformations (VMs) on T2-weighted short tau inversion recovery (STIR) MRI. 527 MRIs (386 low-flow and 141 high-flow VMs) were randomly divided into training, validation and test set for this single-center study. 1) Results of the CNN's diagnostic performance were compared with that of two expert and four junior radiologists. 2) The influence of CNN's prediction on the radiologists' performance and diagnostic certainty was evaluated. 3) Junior radiologists' performance after self-training was compared with that of the CNN. Compared with the expert radiologists the CNN achieved similar accuracy (92% vs. 97%, p = 0.11), sensitivity (80% vs. 93%, p = 0.16) and specificity (97% vs. 100%, p = 0.50). In comparison to the junior radiologists, the CNN had a higher specificity and accuracy (97% vs. 80%, p < 0.001; 92% vs. 77%, p < 0.001). CNN assistance had no significant influence on their diagnostic performance and certainty. After self-training, the junior radiologists' specificity and accuracy improved and were comparable to that of the CNN. Diagnostic performance of the CNN for differentiating high-flow from low-flow VM was comparable to that of expert radiologists. CNN did not significantly improve the simulated daily practice of junior radiologists, self-training was more effective.

Experimental study and neural network model based prediction of layer thickness influence on LPBF IN625 single track geometry

The performance of interacting metal surfaces having sliding motion is enhanced by fabricating microfeatures on-top of the surfaces. Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is used to fabricate the microfeatures of IN625 on-top of a flat surface. In LPBF, geometrical characteristics of microfeatures are based on the energy supplied and the volume of material melted (layer thickness) at that instant of time. There is very few research reported in open literature on the effect of layer thickness on microfeatures geometry during LPBF. In this work, a series of single tracks is fabricated with different combinations of laser power and scanning speed for 75 μm, 100 μm, and 125 μm layer thickness and its effect on single track geometrical characteristics and microstructure was evaluated. It has been found that laser power and scanning speed have a significant influence on the track geometry irrespective of layer thickness. The minimum linear energy density of 2.5 J/mm is considered to fabricate the continuous track formation for investigated layer thickness. From statistical analysis, it is observed that the laser power and scanning speed shows higher contribution on track width and remelting depth, respectively. Whereas, layer thickness shows a higher influence on track height and contact angle of single track as compared to laser power and scanning speed. In 125 μm layer thickness, the volume of material melting is increased which encourages the gravity effect to deform the melt pool and produces larger track width compare to 100 μm layer thickness. Further, the cell spacing is gradually increased with layer thickness resulting increase in the solidification period. The shape controllability of the single track is significantly increased with layer thickness, but as keeps on increasing layer thickness due to the larger volume of molten metal, the melt pool losses ability to maintain convex shapes. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model is developed to understand the relationship between the LPBF process parameters and single track geometrical characteristics to predict the responses for a wide range of process parameters. The multiple response neural network model shows excellent agreement with experimental results with R2 value greater than 0.95.

A New Bioactive Thiazolidinone-based Azo Dye for Naked-eye Colorimetric Detection of Cyanide Ions

Abstract: A new bioactive azo dye embedding a thiazolidinone heterocyclic core was designed and synthesized for antibacterial application and colorimetric sensing of cyanide ion (CNˉ) in organic solutions. The structure of the prepared dye was elucidated from its 1H NMR, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectral data. It proved to be a fast and sensitive colorogenic sensor for detection of CNˉ. Spectroscopic studies were carried out to investigate the effect of different CNˉ concentrations on the detection efficiency. Moreover, the studies revealed no significant competition or influence of other anions on the sensitivity of CNˉ detection by the synthesized dye. A Job's plot indicated a 1:1 stoichiometry of the dye and CNˉ in their colorful complex. Further development of the method for naked-eye detection of CNˉ in low-concentration aqueous solutions was achieved by using the cellulose papers painted with the dye. The as-prepared testing paper allowed CNˉ sensing in concentrations as low as 2 μM. Evaluation of the dye for antibacterial activities using the well diffusion technique displayed that its inhibitory activity is at least as good as and in some cases superior to ampicillin against the bacterial strains employed in the zone assay. In response to CN¯, the dye changes color from yellow to reddish brown which accounts for its significant interactions with CNˉ and affords a naked-eye sensing method without resorting to any spectroscopic instrumentation.

Teamwork self-efficacy and employee satisfaction: a sequential framework to build employee cohesion

The occupational psychological health of the employees is affected by the behavior of their peers in the workplace. To reduce psychological stress and improve the well-being of employees, organizations are focusing on developing coherence through various human resources practices. In the current business scenario, it is crucial to address psychological stress by building employee cohesion. The aim of this study is to analyze how employees’ teamwork self-efficacy influences group cohesion through employee satisfaction. This study followed a quantitative approach to test the data, which comprises 228 information technology (IT) professionals, working in top IT companies in India. This study used a partial least squares structural equation modeling approach to test the hypothesis. The results revealed that employees’ teamwork self-efficacy is not directly influencing employee cohesion, whereas it has a significant positive influence on an employee’s cohesion only with the mediation effect of an employee’s satisfaction. Predominantly, an employee’s extrinsic satisfaction has a greater influence on the aforesaid relationship than an employee’s intrinsic satisfaction. The results of this study suggest human resources development practitioners place more emphasis on delivering motivational benefits and providing collaboration-oriented interventions that strengthen teamwork self-efficacy, since these factors may directly affect employee cohesion given that a large portion of the respondents were young adults.

The impact of psychospiritual program on state of depression, anxiety and stress among female juvenile delinquents

The participation of teenagers in inappropriate social actions is linked to the disregard for their mental health. This research was carried out to assess how a psychospiritual program impacts the reduction of depression, anxiety, and stress among delinquent adolescents. The study employed a quasi-experimental design, utilizing a single group for pretest-posttest evaluation. In this study, 36 delinquent adolescents who were females (N=36) and were enrolled in an Approved School in Terengganu, Malaysia, participated. The analysis was conducted through paired sample t-tests. The level of depression, anxiety, and stress before and after the psychospiritual program was assessed using the clinical scale for depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21). The results showed that the level of depression, anxiety and stress had decreased as much as 0.7619, 1.4643 and 0.7937 respectively after joining the program which was less than 0.05 (p=0.000 ≤0.05). This implies that the psychospiritual program exerts a significant influence in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress levels among adolescent delinquents. As a result, it is prudent to explore the psychospiritual approach as a potential alternative to the conventional allopathic intervention for addressing depression, anxiety, and stress problems especially among female delinquent adolescents at approved schools who have similar criterion.

NOX2 Enzyme Mimicking Nano-Networks Regulate Tumor-Associated Macrophages to Initiate Both Innate and Adaptive Immune Effects.

Macrophages, capable of both direct killing and antigen presentation, are crucial for the interplay between innate and adaptive immunity. However, strategies mainly focus on polarizing tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to M1 phenotype, while overlooking the inefficient antigen cross-presentation due to hyperactive hydrolytic protease within lysosomes which leads to antigen degradation. In light of the significant influence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on TAMs' polarization and the inhibition of phagosomal proteolysis, a novel nanosystem termed OVA-Fe-GA (OFG) is engineered, drawing inspiration from the NOX2 enzyme's role. OFG integrates ovalbumin (OVA) and a network composed of Fe-gallic acid (GA), emulating the NOX2 enzyme's sequential ROS generation process ("O2 to O2 •- to H2O2/•OH"). Furthermore, it elucidates a biological mechanism that augments antigen cross-presentation by suppressing the expression of cysteine proteases. OFG restores the innate anti-tumor functionality of TAMs and significantly amplifies their antigen cross-presentation (4.5-fold compared to the PBS control group) in B16-OVA tumor-bearing mice. Notably, the infiltration and activity of intratumoral CD8+ T cells are enhanced, indicating an adaptive immune response. Moreover, OFG exhibits excellent photothermal properties, thereby fostering a system antitumor immune response. This study provides a promising strategy for initiating both innate and adaptive immunity via TAMs activation.

Analysis of scopolamine and its related substances by means of high-performance liquid chromatography

AbstractThe retention behaviour of scopolamine (hyoscine) and its related compounds (norhyoscine, atropine, homatropine, and noratropine) was investigated on the silica-based HPLC stationary phase. The retention of investigated tropane alkaloids was interpreted by using the Soczewiński-Wachtmeister equation. A high correlation between the retention parameter (log k) and lipophilicity (log P) (R = 0.9923) confirms the significant influence of hydrophobic interactions on the retention behaviour of the aforementioned compounds. It was found that by increasing the acetonitrile fraction, a decrease in retention of the more polar epoxide derivatives (scopolamine, norhyoscine) and an increase in retention of the more lipophilic derivatives (atropine, noratropine, homatropine) is obtained. The best separation of the tropane alkaloids was achieved by a simple procedure that involved a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and 40 mM ammonium acetate/0.05% TEA, pH 6.5; 50:50 v/v. Selected conditions were assumed for the determination of scopolamine hydrochloride in the eye drops (Scopolamini hydrobromidum 0.25%). The method was validated and it was found as selective, sensitive, precise, accurate, and robust for the further qualitative analysis of the scopolamine-related compounds.

PENGARUH SELF-EFFICACY DAN PERSEPSI PROFESI GURU TERHADAP MINAT MENJADI GURU PADA MAHASISWA PENDIDIKAN EKONOMI

Objectives The participants in this study are members of the class of 2020 at Panca Sakti University Bekasi's Economic Education Research Program. The purpose of this research is to investigate the influence that one's self-efficacy and perspective of the teaching profession have on one's level of motivation to enter the teaching profession. This study employs a survey or questionnaire approach to quantitative research with an associative approach, using multiple linear regression analysis to analyze the resulting data. A total of 104 students were selected at random for this analysis. According to the results, an individual's self-efficacy had a more significant influence on their interest in entering the teaching profession than did their perception of the teaching profession itself. If a person is interested in becoming an educator, one factor that goes into the decision-making process is how they feel about themselves in relation to the teaching profession and how confident they are in their abilities.

Torque Capacity Improvement of Flux-Switching PM Machines Based on Directional Stator Permeance Design

As one type of flux modulation machines, flux-switching permanent magnet (FSPM) machines present high sensitivity to airgap structures. Therefore, both stator/rotor teeth and slot/pole combinations have significant influences on machine performance. However, the relationships between the optimal stator structure and maximum torque capability of the FSPM machine are barely investigated. Therefore, this paper is devoted to proposing a directional stator permeance design approach to achieve the maximum torque of the FSPM machines under a given rotor, and reveal the corresponding stator structure. First, the relations between torque and air-gap permeance are presented based on a constructed torque contribution equation, where amplitudes and phase angles of the stator permeance harmonics are determined. Then, main permeance harmonics are directionally optimized to enlarge positive torque, while negative contributions are inversed to be positive. Especially, two FSPMs with 6-slot/19-pole and 6-slot/13-pole are chosen as design examples, and their optimal design processes and torque performances have been deeply analyzed, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed design approach.

Piperine regulates the circadian rhythms of hepatic clock gene expressions and gut microbiota in high-fat diet-induced obese rats

The interplay between the host circadian clock and microbiota has significant influences on host metabolism processes, and circadian desynchrony triggered by high-fat diet (HFD) is closely related to metabolic disorders. In this study, the modulatory effects of piperine (PIP) on lipid metabolism homeostasis, gut microbiota community and circadian rhythm of hepatic clock gene expressions in obese rats were investigated. The Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed with normal diet (ND), HFD and HFD supplemented with PIP, respectively. After 9 weeks, rats were sacrificed with tissue and fecal samples collected for circadian analysis. Results showed that chronic PIP administration ameliorated the obesity-induced alterations in lipid metabolism and dysregulation of hepatic clock gene expressions in obese rats. The gut microbial communities studied through 16S rRNA sequencing showed that PIP ameliorated the imbalanced microbiota and recovered the circadian rhythm of Lactobacillaceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, Paraprevotellaceae, and Lachnospiraceae. The fecal metabolic profiles indicated that 3-dehydroshikimate, cytidine and lithocholyltaurine were altered, which were involved in the amino acid and fatty acid metabolism process. These findings could provide theoretical basis for PIP to work as functional food to alleviate the lipid metabolism disorder, circadian rhythm misalignment, and gut microbiota dysbiosis with wide applications in the food and pharmaceutic industries.

The Influence Of Corn Flour Substitution On The Quality Of Dry Noodles

The use of corn flour contains various essential components such as a source of plant-based vitamin A, also known as beta-carotene content, essential fatty acids, protein, carbohydrates, and high dietary fiber. However, the utilization of local corn flour is not maximized in the food industry, as it is mainly focused on supplying animal feed, even though corn is one of Indonesia's staple commodities in supporting the national food security program. The use of corn flour can replace synthetic coloring agents with a natural yellow color obtained from the use of local corn flour derived from the beta-carotene pigment contained in corn. This research aims to analyze the influence of substituting corn flour by 0% (X0), 20% (X1), and 40% (X2) on the quality of dry noodles in terms of color, aroma, texture, and taste. The research design used was a pure experiment with a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) method. The data used were obtained directly from three limited panelists using the organoleptic evaluation format for the quality of dry noodles with corn flour substitution. The collected data were then tabulated in table format, and an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was conducted. If the analysis of variance shows Fcount &gt; Ftable, then Duncan's test was carried out. The results of the research indicate a significant influence of corn flour substitution at 0% (X0), 20% (X1), and 40% (X2) on the quality of color (pale yellow), and texture (chewy). The best result was observed at the 20% substitution level (X1) with a 20% substitution of corn flour from the total amount of wheat flour used.