Standard Methods Research Articles

Assessment of the nutritional quality of weaning food prepared from fermented blends of sorghum (Ogi) and soybean

This study investigated the nutritional quality of weaning food prepared from fermented blends of sorghum (ogi) and soybean. The raw samples were processed into flour and were mixed in ratio of 60:40 and 70:30 respectively. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from fermented ogi and were accessed for their technological properties. The pH and total titratable acidity of the ogi was accessed, proximate composition and shelf-life of the weaning blends were determined by standard methods. A total of 10 LAB isolates were obtained, characterized and identified as L. plantarum (50%), L. fermentum (30%), L. delbrueckii (10%), and L. brevi (10%). Lactic acid, diacetyl and hydrogen peroxide produced by the LAB isolates ranged from 1.203 ± 0.006 - 3.410 ± 0.010, 1.21 ± 0.02 - 3.63 ± 0.05 and 0.650 ± 0.060 - 1.910 ± 0.040 (mg/mL) respectively. The fermentation of the ogi resulted in pH reduction from 4.5 ± 0.01- 2.40 ± 0.01 and increased titratable acidity 12.49 ± 0.01 - 23.00±0.01 g/L. The 60:40 weaning blend of sorghum ogi flour and soybean improved protein, ash, crude fiber, moisture, fat, vitamin A, ascorbic acid, riboflavin, and beta carotene content compared to a 70:30 blend. The blend also showed improvements in mineral content, with a significantly higher overall nutritional value compared to the 70:30 blend. Coliforms were not observed during the shelf-life monitoring. This study concluded that these blends meet daily nutritional requirements, provide health benefits, and meet recommended standards for weaning.

Assessment of microbial properties, and heavy metals contents of surface water and ground water samples In Ureje and Ireje, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Water is everywhere, · it is the most basic and necessary element of life, as well as the most important and abundant compound in the ecosystem. Standard methods were used to evaluate the physicochemical properties, microbial properties, and heavy metal content of river and well water samples in Ekiti State, South-West Nigeria. Important parameter like pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, DO, BOD, turbidity, total alkalinity, total hardness, heavy metals and microbial properties are determined. The research work indicated that temperature, odour, pH, alkalinity, TDS, biochemical oxygen demand, DO, chloride, nitrate and turbidity were within the range of WHO permissible limits for drinking water while color, Conductivity, iron and manganese were above the WHO permissible limits. The study also indicated that the microbial contents such as total viable count, yeast/mold and coliform were above the WHO permissible limits for drinking. These results show that the water sources were slightly contaminated and unsafe for human consumption. This water must be treated before it may be consumed or used for domestic application.

Off-label use of tramadol combined with Lacasera® soft drink: A sub-acute toxicological study using Wistar rats to evaluate the effects of combination on human basic haematological parameters and weight changes

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid that is used to treat moderate to severe pain in both acute and chronic conditions. Tramadol is predominantly used off-label for premature ejaculation and euphoria among male youth in Nigeria, especially when dissolved in Lacasera® soft drink, which gives it a pleasant taste. Research has not yet examined the effects of this combination on hematological parameters, despite the fact that this type of abuse is common among young people and poses a public health risk. A 28-day subacute study was conducted with Wistar rats weighing 160-180g. The rats were separated into 8 groups of 6 each. The control groups: 1 and 2 were treated with Lacasera® and deionized water respectively. Groups 3, 4 and 5 received 35mg/kg per day, 70.7mg/kg per day and 106mg/kg per day of Tramadol dissolved in deionized water respectively. Groups 6, 7 and 8 received similar doses of Tramadol dissolved in Lacasera®. Blood samples were analyzed using auto-analyzer and standard methods. The data was analyzed using a statistical tool software (SPSS version 27). All results were presented as mean ± SD. Values were considered significant at p<0.05. Hematological analysis of groups treated with Lacasera®-Tramadol combination shows dose-dependent significant decreases (p<0.05) in PCVs, RBCs, and Hbs. WBCs and platelets increased in groups that received Lacasera®-Tramadol combination. The study concludes that regular or infrequent users of Lacasera® without Tramadol are unlikely to experience serious hematological complications. However, chronic Tramadol-Lacasera® users will experience increased toxicity over time, leading to hemolytic anemia.

Granulicatella adiacens: An uncommon pathogen in prosthetic joint infections

Granulicatella adiacens is an uncommon culprit in prosthetic joint infections, especially when predisposing factors are absent. Here, we present the case of a 78-year-old female who developed an acute surgical site infection shortly after undergoing left total knee arthroplasty. Despite initial negative cultures, subsequent analysis identified Granulicatella adiacens in the knee fluid, marking only the second reported instance in the United States and the seventh globally. This singular case highlights the considerable challenges associated with isolating this organism, emphasizing its atypical presentation and diagnostic elusiveness. Typically associated with endocarditis and bacteremia, its involvement in isolated surgical site infections is particularly unusual. Our case underscores the necessity for heightened clinical suspicion and the adoption of specialized diagnostic methodologies to accurately detect Granulicatella adiacens infections. Given its fastidious nature and nutritional requirements, standard culture methods may fail to identify this pathogen, necessitating alternative diagnostic approaches. As such, the utilization of specialized media becomes paramount in clinical diagnostics to facilitate appropriate management and optimize healthcare resource allocation. By enhancing our ability to detect and treat infections caused by Granulicatella adiacens, we can mitigate patient morbidity and reduce the burden of unnecessary interventions, thereby improving patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.

Psychological and social interventions for the promotion of mental health in people living in low- and middle-income countries affected by humanitarian crises.

Because of wars, conflicts, persecutions, human rights violations, and humanitarian crises, about 84 million people are forcibly displaced around the world; the great majority of them live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). People living in humanitarian settings are affected by a constellation of stressors that threaten their mental health. Psychosocial interventions for people affected by humanitarian crises may be helpful to promote positive aspects of mental health, such as mental well-being, psychosocial functioning, coping, and quality of life. Previous reviews have focused on treatment and mixed promotion and prevention interventions. In this review, we focused on promotion of positive aspects of mental health. To assess the effects of psychosocial interventions aimed at promoting mental health versus control conditions (no intervention, intervention as usual, or waiting list) in people living in LMICs affected by humanitarian crises. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and seven other databases to January 2023. We also searched the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify unpublished or ongoing studies, and checked the reference lists of relevant studies and reviews. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing psychosocial interventions versus control conditions (no intervention, intervention as usual, or waiting list) to promote positive aspects of mental health in adults and children living in LMICs affected by humanitarian crises. We excluded studies that enrolled participants based on a positive diagnosis of mental disorder (or based on a proxy of scoring above a cut-off score on a screening measure). We used standard Cochrane methods. Our primary outcomes were mental well-being, functioning, quality of life, resilience, coping, hope, and prosocial behaviour. The secondary outcome was acceptability, defined as the number of participants who dropped out of the trial for any reason. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence for the outcomes of mental well-being, functioning, and prosocial behaviour. We included 13 RCTs with 7917 participants. Nine RCTs were conducted on children/adolescents, and four on adults. All included interventions were delivered to groups of participants, mainly by paraprofessionals. Paraprofessional is defined as an individual who is not a mental or behavioural health service professional, but works at the first stage of contact with people who are seeking mental health care. Four RCTs were carried out in Lebanon; two in India; and single RCTs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jordan, Haiti, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the occupied Palestinian Territories (oPT), Nepal, and Tanzania. The mean study duration was 18 weeks (minimum 10, maximum 32 weeks). Trials were generally funded by grants from academic institutions or non-governmental organisations. For children and adolescents, there was no clear difference between psychosocial interventions and control conditions in improving mental well-being and prosocial behaviour at study endpoint (mental well-being: standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.17 to 0.29; 3 RCTs, 3378 participants; very low-certainty evidence; prosocial behaviour: SMD -0.25, 95% CI -0.60 to 0.10; 5 RCTs, 1633 participants; low-certainty evidence), or at medium-term follow-up (mental well-being: mean difference (MD) -0.70, 95% CI -2.39 to 0.99; 1 RCT, 258 participants; prosocial behaviour: SMD -0.48, 95% CI -1.80 to 0.83; 2 RCT, 483 participants; both very low-certainty evidence). Interventions may improve functioning (MD -2.18, 95% CI -3.86 to -0.50; 1 RCT, 183 participants), with sustained effects at follow-up (MD -3.33, 95% CI -5.03 to -1.63; 1 RCT, 183 participants), but evidence is very uncertain as the data came from one RCT (both very low-certainty evidence). Psychosocial interventions may improve mental well-being slightly in adults at study endpoint (SMD -0.29, 95% CI -0.44 to -0.14; 3 RCTs, 674 participants; low-certainty evidence), but they may have little to no effect at follow-up, as the evidence is uncertain and future RCTs might either confirm or disprove this finding. No RCTs measured the outcomes of functioning and prosocial behaviour in adults. To date, there is scant and inconclusive randomised evidence on the potential benefits of psychological and social interventions to promote mental health in people living in LMICs affected by humanitarian crises. Confidence in the findings is hampered by the scarcity of studies included in the review, the small number of participants analysed, the risk of bias in the studies, and the substantial level of heterogeneity. Evidence on the efficacy of interventions on positive mental health outcomes is too scant to determine firm practice and policy implications. This review has identified a large gap between what is known and what still needs to be addressed in the research area of mental health promotion in humanitarian settings.

A case control study investigating the methylation levels of GHRL and GHSR genes in alcohol use disorder.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a relapsing disease described as excessive use of alcohol. Evidence of the role of DNA methylation in addiction is accumulating. Ghrelin is an important peptide known as appetite hormone and its role in addictive behavior has been identified. Here we aimed to determine the methylation levels of two crucial genes (GHRL and GHSR) in ghrelin signaling and further investigate the association between methylation ratios and plasma ghrelin levels. Individuals diagnosed with (n = 71) and without (n = 82) AUD were recruited in this study. DNA methylation levels were measured through methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting (MS-HRM). Acylated ghrelin levels were detected by ELISA. The GHRL rs696217 polymorphism was analyzed by the standard PCR-RFLP method. GHRL was significantly hypermethylated (P < 0.0022) in AUD between 25 and 50% methylation than in control subjects but no significant changes of GHSR methylation were observed. Moreover, GHRL showed significant positive correlation of methylation ratio between 25 and 50% with age. A significant positive correlation between GHSR methylation and ghrelin levels in the AUD group was determined (P = 0.037). The level of GHRL methylation and the ghrelin levels showed a significant association in the control subjects (P = 0.042). GHSR and GHRL methylation levels did not change significantly between control and AUD groups. However, GHRL and GHSR methylations seemed to have associations with plasma ghrelin levels in two groups. This is the first study investigating the DNA methylation of GHRL and GHSR genes in AUD.

Ethnomedicine, antibacterial activity, antioxidant potential and phytochemical screening of selected medicinal plants in Dibatie district, Metekel zone, western Ethiopia

Abstract Background Medicinal plants play a major role in the delivery of healthcare, particularly among the rural population of Ethiopia. Plant extracts and their bioactive compounds have been utilized for the treatment of several diseases. This study was aimed at evaluating the antibacterial activity, antioxidant capacity, and phytochemical content of selected medicinal plants used in Dibatie district, western Ethiopia. Methods Study plants were collected, shade dried, pulverized, extracted by maceration in 80% ethanol, and subjected to antibacterial, antioxidant, and phytochemical tests. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using 96-well microplates and nutrient broth microdilution. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Phytochemical screening was conducted using standard test methods. Results The ethanolic extract of Polystachya steudneri Rchb.f. pseudobulbs was the most active against gram-negative Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Shigella flexneri, with MIC values of 8 ± 0, 11 ± 5, 3 ± 1, 3 ± 1, and 2 ± 0 mg/mL, respectively. The ethanolic extract of P. steudneri was also the most effective against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Enterococcus faecalis, with MIC values of 8 ± 0, 8 ± 0, 3 ± 1, and 16 ± 0 mg/mL, respectively. Ethanolic extracts of Gnidia involucrata Steud. ex A.Rich. stems and roots were effective antioxidants, with respective 50% DPPH free radical inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 168.68 and 181.79 µg/mL, followed by that of P. steudneri (IC50 = 203.11 µg/mL). The study plants contained alkaloids, anthocyanins, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, coumarins, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids. Conclusions This study confirmed the antibiotic, antioxidant, and phytochemical constituents of the investigated plants and suggested further investigations that may lead to bioactive lead compounds.

Evaluation of different machine learning algorithms for extraction decision in orthodontic treatment.

The extraction decision significantly affects the treatment process and outcome. Therefore, it is crucial to make this decision with a more objective and standardized method. The objectives of this study were (1) to identify the best-performing model among seven machine learning (ML) models, which will standardize the extraction decision and serve as a guide for inexperienced clinicians, and (2) to determine the important variables for the extraction decision. This study included 1000 patients who received orthodontic treatment with or without extraction (500 extraction and 500 non-extraction). The success criteria of the study were the decisions made by the four experienced orthodontists. Seven ML models were trained using 36 variables; including demographic information, cephalometric and model measurements. First, the extraction decision was performed, and then the extraction type was identified. Accuracy and area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve were used to measure the success of ML models. The Stacking Classifier model, which consists of Gradient Boosted Trees, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest models, showed the highest performance in extraction decision with 91.2% AUC. The most important features determining extraction decision were maxillary and mandibular arch length discrepancy, Wits Appraisal, and ANS-Me length. Likewise, the Stacking Classifier showed the highest performance with 76.3% accuracy in extraction type decisions. The most important variables for the extraction type decision were mandibular arch length discrepancy, Class I molar relationship, cephalometric overbite, Wits Appraisal, and L1-NB distance. The Stacking Classifier model exhibited the best performance for the extraction decision. While ML models showed a high performance in extraction decision, they could not able to achieve the same level of performance in extraction type decision.

Nutritional values, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of selected edible marine macroalgae: a comparative study

AbstractThe objective of this study is to assess the chemical composition, nutritional values, and bioactivities of four macroalgae from the Egyptian Red Sea coasts using standard methods. Of these, three Rhodophyceae species, Digenea simplex (D. simplex), Laurencia papillosa (L. papillosa), and Galaxaura oblongata (G. oblongata), and one Phyaeophyceae species, Turbinaria decurrens (T. decurrens), were selected. The results of proximate and chemical composition analyses based on the algal dry weight (DW) showed that carbohydrate content was the highest, ranging from 32.47 ± 1.03% to 45.5 ± 1.23%. Other algal constituents, including ash, protein, moisture, sulfate, lipid, phenolics, and flavonoids, have contents that depend on the algal species. Besides, HPLC analysis revealed that each algal extract contained varying amounts of nine phenolic acids. Atomic absorption spectrometry, the HPLC-Pico-Tag method, the ion chromatography technique, and GC/MS analyses were used to determine the chemical profiles of the elemental, amino acid, halide, and fatty acid of each algal extract. Bioactivities revealed that both the •DPPH and ABTS assays showed that all the algae studied had a significant ability to scavenge free radicals in a dosage-dependent way. They also had strong selective cytotoxic activity against HEPG-2 and HCT-116 cell lines, but only weak activity against MCF-7 and A549 cell lines. Finally, our findings suggested that the selected algae might be efficiently used as nutraceuticals and functional foods, indicating an increase in their proliferation.

Study on 13C MultiCP/MAS ssNMR Analysis of Tobacco Pectin

aims: This study aimed to analyze the content and structure of pectin in tobacco samples. background: As one of the most important economic crops, tobacco products have a long history and dominate the development of the world economy. Pectin, as a complex colloidal substance widely present in plant cell walls, its content is an important factor affecting the safety of tobacco smoking. objective: This study aimed to analyze the content and structure of pectin in tobacco samples. method: In this study, tobacco pectin was extracted by ultrasound-assisted ionic liquid extraction, and the 13C MultiCP/MAS NMR spectral analysis of pectin was conducted. result: The type of extractant, ultrasonic time, ultrasonic temperature, and solid-liquid ratio were optimized. Under the conditions of using 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim]BF4 ) as the extractant, the solid-liquid ratio of 1:20 g/mL, and the ultrasonic power of 600 w for 30 min at 30℃, a yield of 23.7% of tobacco stem pectin and a purity of 54.2% could be obtained. The optimized MultiCP sequence parameters, with 10 CP cycles of 1.0 ms and a repolarization time of 50 ms could obtain high-resolution spectra within a time of 1.0 h. The C-6 peaks of the pectin in the spectrograms were fitted using the spectral deconvolution technique and calculated the methyl-esterification (DM) of the tobacco pectin which was generally less than 50%, and belonged to the low methyl esterification pectin. The pectin content of the tobacco sample was calculated by the standard curve method with the addition of dimethyl sulfone (DMS) as an internal reference.The results of this method were consistent with the colorimetric method. conclusion: The 13C MultiCP/MAS NMR method has the advantages of being green, fast, and accurate, and provides a new technical tool for quantitative and qualitative studies of cell wall substances in tobacco samples. other: No

Occurrence Autosomal Mosaicism in Karan Fries Cattle and Murrah Buffalo with Poor Reproduction

Background: The present study was conducted at the Livestock Genome Analysis Laboratory (LGAL), ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, Haryana, India, to explore, chromosomal anomalies in reproductively inefficient animals. Chromosomal abnormalities are deviations in normal genetic architecture and lead to disorders in bearer individuals. These can be both in number and structure of autosomes or sex chromosomes, usually inflict adverse effects on anatomy, survival and reproductive performance in domestic animals. Methods: Present report is on a female Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and a Karan Fries cattle which were identified during a routine cytogenetic reproductively inefficient females at cattle yard, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. Metaphase chromosome preparations were prepared using standard lymphocyte culture method. Slides were stained with Giemsa and treated for R-banding using fluorochrome-photolysis-Giemsa technique (RB-FPG technique). Karyotypes were prepared and abnormal chromosome was identified. Result: Routine examination using Giemsa-stained slides revealed two cell lines with 60 and 61 chromosomal constitutions in cattle and 3 cell lines in buffalo. Among 182 metaphase plates examined were examined for Karan fries which revealed two types of chromosome configuration, the frequency of cells carrying 60 and 61 chromosomes was 83.5% and 16.5%, respectively. R banding technique distinguished autosome 16 responsible for mosaicism. Cytogenetic evaluation of 407 metaphase spreads of Murrah buffalo revealed three types of chromosome configurations, viz. 49, 50 and 51 all with XX and the overall frequency was 16.7, 76.7 and 6.6 per cent, respectively. The R- bandings confirmed autosome 11 both in monosomy (2n=49) and trisomy (2n=51), respectively. This unusual chromosomal number might have arisen due to non-disjunction during early stage of zygotic development of the buffalo and cattle.

Cross-validation to select the optimum rank for a reduced-rank approximation to multivariate data

ABSTRACT In this paper we consider the Gabriel form of cross-validation (CV) and we investigate how to estimate the optimum rank for lower rank approximations of any dataset that can be written in matrix form, with particular application in multivariate analysis and in the analysis of multienvironment trials. The literature related to the method suggests that it can produce overfitting and poor-quality predictions, characteristics that result in overestimation of the rank. Because of this, it is proposed to change the rank selection criterion, testing thirteen statistics both in the original method and in four proposed extensions that seek to solve the above problems. A comparison is made with two gold standard methods for CV through a simulation study and through the analysis of seventeen real datasets, two of which are general multivariate and fifteen are from experiments with genotype-by-environment interaction. It is concluded that from a predictive point of view, the highest accuracy in estimating the rank is obtained by using a regularized singular value decomposition.

Thermodynamics of Taub-NUT-AdS spacetimes

We apply the generalised Komar method proposed in [arXiv:2208.05494] to Taub-NUT-AdS spacetime in the theory of Einstein gravity plus a cosmological constant. Based on a generalised closed 2-form, we derive the total mass and NUT charge of the Taub-NUT-AdS spacetime. Together with other thermodynamic quantities calculated through standard method, we conform the first law and Smarr relation. Then, we consider charged AdS NUT spacetimes in Einstein–Maxwell theory with a cosmological constant, and show that the generalised Komar method works, too. We obtain all the thermodynamic quantities, and the first law and Smarr relation are checked to be satisfied automatically.

Label-free voltammetric screening of human blood serum

The current study presents a comprehensive voltammetric investigation into the direct analysis of untreated human blood serum in a phosphate buffer at an unmodified, graphite electrode by means of voltammetry. By employing advanced square-wave voltammetry at an edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrode (EPPGE), the basic principles were established for developing a sensitive, fast, simple, and label-free method for the simultaneous screening of uric acid, bilirubin, and albumin analytes that are present in human blood serum and are quite essential for rapid medical diagnostics. The electrochemical protocol utilizes the specific structural patterns of the EPPGE, the inherent redox and adsorption properties of the analysed analytes, and the sensitivity and rapidity of the employed advanced voltammetric technique. The methodology has been successfully applied for quantification of the considered analytes in a series of samples of human blood serum and was compared with the standard methods used in a clinical biochemical laboratory. This novel method represents a significant advancement towards the development of point-of-care devices aimed at swiftly and simultaneously quantifying uric acid, bilirubin, and albumin levels in human serum.

Effect of Culinary Treatments on Nutritional and Anti- nutritional Profils of Sesame Oilcake for Use in Fighting Protein Malnutrition

To tackle protein malnutrition, the valorization of sesame cake has been initiated. A by-product of sesame oil extraction, it is commonly used as livestock feed. However, it could be used to enrich staple foods and improve their nutritional value, particularly in rural areas where access to quality protein sources is limited. In order to highlight its nutritional richness, certain soaking, roasting and hulling treatments were used to assess their impact on nutritional quality. Then extraction of the oil from the seeds using a mechanical press to obtain sesame cake was proceeded. Standard methods were used for physicochemical characterization of nutritional, mineral and anti-nutritional compounds. The results showed that the sesame oilcake obtained from the various treatments contained significant levels of total protein (26.55- 36.72g/100g DM), residual lipids (24.19- 32.37g/100g DM), carbohydrates (10.86- 18.74g/100g DM), ash (4.32 - 6.19 g/100g DM) and fiber (10.71-20.76 g/100g DM). Similarly, evaluation of the mineral composition of these meal concentrates showed their richness in phosphorus (20.47 - 176.66 mg/100g DM), calcium (15.75 - 467.42 mg/100g DM), magnesium (13.45 - 340.33 mg/100g DM), iron (4.90-14.70 mg/100g DM), and zinc (0.71-4.39 mg/100g DM). However, these sesame cake concentrates also contained anti-nutritional factors such as oxalates (0.48 - 1.04 mg/100g DM), phytates (0.08 - 0.12 mg/100g DM), saponins (0.084 - 1.10 mg/100g DM) and tannins (0.33 - 1.36 mg/100g DM). Fortunately, these were considerably reduced by pretreatment. Indeed, a 40.07, 83.33, 64.64 and 60.95% reduction in tannins, phytates, oxalates and saponins respectively were observed. The considerable reduction in anti-nutrients in the various cakes is an advantage for the digestibility and nutrient availability of this feed. Its high protein and mineral content could therefore be considered for use in protein malnutrition.

Получение и обработка акустических откликов волн Лэмба в датчиках водных растворов базовых вкусов

In this work, the total acoustic wave losses in 128°Y-LiNbO3 wafers during liquid application due to radiation emission of waves into the liquid medium, as well as its viscosity, conductivity, density and dielectric constant of the liquid analyte are measured. Solutions with 5 basic flavors, widely used for calibration and reference creation in liquid media testing, were selected as test liquids. The measurements were performed in the range of 30...60 MHz. After the measurements, the experimental data were presented in the form of polar histograms, from the comparison of areas and shapes of which the flavor of a particular liquid was determined. Then, a principal component analysis (PCA) method was applied to the same experimental results to describe linear elastic wave deformation processes based on experimental data containing known values of physical wave measurements for different types of liquid media, which was previously used to identify gases and predict the properties of various substances from the linear response of a normal acoustic-electronic wave. In this paper, a comparative analysis of the results obtained using polar histograms and the standard PCA classification method is performed. The advantages of the latter are demonstrated. The results of this study are useful both for the development of acoustic sensors without sensor layers and for the application of machine learning methods to data in other types of sensors.

Production of Biscuits from Wheat, Almond and Pawpaw Flour Blends and Investigating It’s Physicochemical and Texture Characteristics

Biscuit, also known as a cookie is a nutritive snack produced from dough that is transformed into an appetizing product through the application of heat in an oven. This study was aimed at evaluating the quality of biscuit produced from wheat, African almond and pawpaw flour blends. From the flours, blends were made and six (6) samples, A to F formulated. Sample A (100 % wheat flour) was used as the control, B (60 % Wheat flour: 0 % Almond Flour: 40 % Pawpaw Flour), C (60 % Wheat flour: 10 % Almond Flour: 30 % Pawpaw Flour), D (60 % Wheat flour: 20 % Almond Flour: 20 % Pawpaw Flour), E (60 % Wheat flour: 30 % Almond Flour: 10 % Pawpaw Flour), F (60 % Wheat flour: 40 % Almond Flour: 0 % Pawpaw Flour). The physical, proximate, anti-nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and sensory properties of the biscuits were evaluated using standard methods. For physical parameters of the biscuit, the weight ranged from 8.86 g-10.60 g, diameter from 6.60 mm- 6.80 mm, the spread ratio from 0.58-0.61, breaking strength from 0.25 kg- 0.29 kg and thickness ranged from 11.08 mm- 11.43 mm. The anti-nutrients content of the biscuits were considerably low and within safe limits. The results showed an increase in ash, fibre, fats and protein content while the carbohydrate content of the biscuit reduced upon substitution of wheat flour with almond and pawpaw flours. The vitamin content of the biscuit was also improved especially the vitamin A content upon addition of pawpaw flour. The result for mineral composition showed a significant increase from 46.00-89.35mg/100g for sodium, potassium from 323.44-486.95 mg/100g, calcium from 189.46-356.88mg/100g, magnesium from 44.34-132.88 mg/100g and phosphorus from 155.33-428.45mg/100g.6. Antioxidant activity also increased from 2.12-3.69mgAAE/g. The biscuit samples were all rated high in terms of their sensory attributes especially samples with high proportion of almond flour. This research indicates that almond and pawpaw flours are suitable for biscuit production especially at 40% and 10% substitution for almond and pawpaw flours respectively.

PHREEQ C Modelling Tool Application to Determine the Effect of Anions on Speciation of Selected Metals in Water Systems within Kajiado North Constituency in Kenya

Heavy metals and anions in water pose a significant risk to living organisms, including humans, and must therefore be carefully monitored. There are numerous approaches and methods of analysis to choose from. Using the PHREEQ C chemical modeling technique, this study looked at the effect of certain anions on the speciation of selected metals in the water environment of Kajiado North. Twenty-five sampling points were used in the study, which covered five Kajiado North election wards. Samples were taken twice during the dry and rainy seasons, in November 2019 and March 2020. Using standard methods, physicochemical characteristics were analyzed, concentrations of selected heavy metals using the (ICP- OES) 7000 series, and selected anions using a multi parameter photometer, their concentration values compared to the specified maximum contaminant level and speciation analysis done using the Computer-based technique PHREEQ C. The range observed for pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, sulphate, chloride, fluoride, nitrate and carbonates was 7.43- 9.30, 23.0 -28.0oC, 335-1265μS/cm, 4.54-361.41mgL-1, 5.19-184.6 mgL-1, 0.01-2.90 mgL-1, 0.1-8.6 mgL-1, and 3.18-55.19 mgL-1 respectively. The range observed for heavy metals was 0.06-1.08 mgL-1 , 0.00 -0.05082 mgL-1, 0.01-0.02597 mgL-1, 0.01-0.01610 mgL-1, 0.00 -0.0327 mgL-1, 0.00-42.7842 mgL-1, and below detection limit, for Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mg, and Cd respectively. The findings revealed that Cd, Zn, Cu, Cl-, NO2-, and eElectrical cconductivity concentrations were below the WHO levels. At certain sampling points, however, SO42-, F-, Pb, Fe, and Mn were above WHO limits. In some water systems, traces of SO42-, F-, Cu, Fe, Cd, and Mn were found to pose significant health risks, according to PHREEQ C speciation analysis. Anion concentrations, pH, temperature, and metal concentrations are all important variables in modeling. Metals formed anion complexes and the total abundance of metal species was classified at the highest levels as Fe(OH)3, PbCO3, Zn(CO3)2, Cu(CO3)2, Mn+2, MgF-, and Mg+2. At a water system temperature of 25oC without anions, it was found to have the highest chemical species. CuCO3, CuNO3, and CuOH+ complexes are also formed at low pH. Based on the data for different metal species at different pH values, the bioavailability of metal species definitely depends on pH.

Expanding the Frontiers of nail product evaluation: Novel application of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for assessing crosslinking density and predicting nail brittleness and flexibility.

While modern industry advancements have expanded nail beautification options, scientific literature primarily focuses on nail biology and medicine, with limited attention on cosmetic treatments. This study aimed to investigate human nail denaturation properties, including gender impact, blending nails to enlarge the sample pool, nail sensitization through bleaching, and active effectiveness testing. The objective was to understand the DSC and bending fatigue relationship, and define the consumer relevance of the DSC test. Nail clippings were collected from adult female and male volunteers. The wet DSC was employed to validate sample preparation, explore the effects of gender, and assess the potential of using blended nails for claims substantiation testing. Nails were sensitized through bleaching using hydrogen peroxide. The effects were confirmed through DSC and nail flexure tests. Furthermore, the ability of actives to address concerns related to nail softness and brittleness was assessed using these techniques. The results confirmed the viability of equilibrating nails in water for up to 14 h as a standardized testing method. The denaturation temperature results were independent of gender and suitable for claims substantiation testing. Blending nails from different sources did not yield significant variations in denaturation properties. A preliminary study suggested that cadaver nails should be used with caution because they exhibited differences in denaturation temperature, influenced by the sampling location. Bending fatigue tests highlighted the significance of humidity, with higher humidity conditions (80%) enhancing nail flexibility and providing better resolution for claims substantiation. Sensitizing the nails with hydrogen peroxide induced alterations in both DSC and bending fatigue results. Proof-of-principle studies demonstrated an elevation in denaturation temperature and a decrease in the number of cycles to break, indicating a nail-hardening effect when formaldehyde was applied. The use of a nail softener led to an enhancement in nail fatigue resistance due to a notable reduction in nail crosslinking density. The measurement of crosslinking density proved to be a sensitive tool for assessing the effects of cosmetic treatments on nails, particularly in predicting outcomes related to nail brittleness and flexibility.

Evaluation of Water Vapour Permeability of Some Food Grain Packaging Materials

The properties of any packaging material are essential parameters to know before storage of any kind of food materials. Physical properties are prerequisites for selecting proper packaging materials to obtain the desired shelf-life during the storage and distribution chain of food commodity. At the village/household level for packaging of food grains and other Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) commodities, generally used packaging materials namely, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), earthen pot (EP), polypropylene woven sack (PPWS), and gunny sack (GS) were evaluated for their physical properties such as strengths (grammage and thickness) and water vapour permeability using the standard gravimetric method. The thickness was determined to be 0.065 mm, 0.056 mm, 0.168 mm, 3.530 mm, and 0.849 mm for LDPE, PP, PPWS, EP, and GS respectively. Similarly, grammage was found to be 6.03 x 10-5 g m-2, 4.94 x 10-5 g m-2, 9.59 x 10-5 g m-2, and 3.70 x 10-4 g m-2 for LDPE, PP, PPWS, and GS respectively. Results revealed a significant difference between the permeability of packing materials. The highest water vapour permeability of 7.26 x 10-5 kg m-2 day-1 Pa-1 was obtained for GS, whereas the lowest 1.81 x 10-5 kg m-2 day-1 Pa-1 was for LDPE at 40 ± 1°C temperature and 90 ± 1% relative humidity. The water vapour permeability of other packaging materials viz., PP, PPWS, and EP was 2.18 x 10-5 kg m-2 day-1 Pa-1, 3.63 x 10-5 kg m-2 day-1 Pa-1, and 5.03 x 10-5 kg m-2 day-1 Pa-1 respectively.