scholarly journals Assessment of Functional Food Dioscorea Japonica Paste As A Thickened Liquid For Elderly With Dysphagia

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuka Konoike ◽  
Izumi Tsukayama ◽  
Mei Oji ◽  
Takayo Kawakami ◽  
Kayoko Ishii ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Lipid Mediator ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Thickened Liquids ◽  
Thickened Liquid ◽  
Freeze Dried ◽  
Dioscorea Japonica ◽  
Nutrition Intake ◽  
Novel Concept

Abstract Background: In the elderly, reduced mastication and swallowing functions result in malnutrition and deterioration in the quality of life. As individuals age in the society, the novel concept of dysphagia diet is essential in order to prevent lifestyle and chronic diseases and maintain nutrition intake. Recently, we reported that Dioscorea japonica, a wild yam, has preventive effects on chronic inflammation via the inhibition of proinflammatory lipid mediator synthesis. The paste of Dioscorea japonica showed conformable physical properties as a thickened liquid for patients with dysphagia in rheological analysis. In the present study, we focused on the unique physical properties of Dioscorea japonica paste and evaluated its stability and usefulness as a thickened liquid compared with commercially available thickened liquids. Methods: The paste prepared using a uniformly freeze-dried Dioscorea japonica powder could suitably modify the viscosity by altering the blending amount. Viscosities of the Dioscorea japonica paste, xanthan gum, and commercially available thickened liquids were measured using a cone and plate viscometer after 1 min by employing the following setting: temperature of 20°C and shear rate of 50 s−1. The effect of changes in temperature and pH, and addition of NaCl and α-amylase, on viscosity was compared among the thickened liquids. Results: Compared with the other commercially available agents, the Dioscorea japonica paste was stable in terms of viscosity on the addition of NaCl, and no change was observed on the addition of α-amylase as similar as the others. Although the Dioscorea japonica paste was relatively stable in terms of viscosity with change in pH, it was slightly unstable with change in temperature. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the Dioscorea japonica paste is useful as a novel type of thickened liquid for patients with dysphagia.

“Future Dream!” Review of The 2007 Robotics-Mechatronics Design Competition

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-251
Author(s):  
Taisuke Sakaki ◽  
◽  
Ryuichi Oguro ◽  
Shinichi Sagara ◽  
Kanta Aoki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Product Design ◽  
Interface Design ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Communication Aids ◽  
Design Competition ◽  
Novel Concept

We describe a unique competition based on the novel concept of robotics and mechatronics products that included evaluation of the products' engineering function and interface design. Fifteen teams from six universities joined the competition, whose subject was “Health, care and communication aids for the elderly.” Many of the plans presented ideas that balanced function and design, showing the results of collaboration among students studying engineering and students studying product design.

Highlighting the Correlation Between Telomere Shortening and the Susceptibility to the Novel SARS-CoV-2 Virus (COVID-19)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aml Ghanem
Keyword(s):  
Telomere Length ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Telomere Shortening ◽  
Infection Pathways ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Demographic Distribution

COVID-19 is a global crisis that requires a deep understanding of infection pathways to facilitate the development of effective treatments and vaccines. Telomere, which is regarded as a biomarker for other respiratory viral infections, might influence the demographic distribution of COVID-19 infection and fatality rates. Viral infection can induce many cellular remodeling events and stress responses, including telomere specific alterations, just as telomere shortening. In brief, this letter aims to highlight the connection between telomere shortening and susceptibility to COVID-19 infection, in addition to changes in telomeric length according to the variation of age and gender of confirmed cases with COVID-19 infection. To sum up, the correlation is revealed from the available data that connect telomere length and COVID-19 infection, demonstrated in the fact that the elderly patients and males are more susceptible to COVID-19 due to shortening in their telomere length.

scholarly journals Racism and Antiracism in the Liberal International Order

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Zoltán I. Búzás
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
Racial Inequality ◽  
Racial Diversity ◽  
International Order ◽  
Interdisciplinary Studies ◽  
Racial Equality ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Current Regime ◽  
Novel Concept ◽  
Comprehensive Framework

Abstract Formal racial equality is a key aspect of the current Liberal International Order (LIO). It is subject to two main challenges: resurgent racial nationalism and substantive racial inequality. Combining work in International Relations with interdisciplinary studies on race, I submit that these challenges are the latest iteration of struggles between two transnational coalitions over the LIO's central racial provisions, which I call racial diversity regimes (RDRs). The traditional coalition has historically favored RDRs based on racial inequality and racial nationalism. The transformative coalition has favored RDRs based on racial equality and nonracial nationalism. I illustrate the argument by tracing the development of the liberal order's RDR as a function of intercoalitional struggles from one based on racial nationalism and inequality in 1919 to the current regime based on nonracial nationalism and limited equality. Today, racial nationalists belong to the traditional coalition and critics of racial inequality are part of the transformative coalition. The stakes of their struggles are high because they will determine whether we will live in a more racist or a more antiracist world. This article articulates a comprehensive framework that places race at the heart of the liberal order, offers the novel concept of “embedded racism” to capture how sovereignty shields domestic racism from foreign interference, and proposes an agenda for mainstream International Relations that takes race seriously.

scholarly journals Using green infrastructure to stimulate discourse with and for planning practice: experiences with fuzzy concepts from a pan-European, a national and a local perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rieke Hansen ◽  
Martina van Lierop ◽  
Werner Rolf ◽  
Damjana Gantar ◽  
Ina Šuklje Erjavec ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Planning Practice ◽  
Regional Project ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
Guidance Documents ◽  
Novel Concept

AbstractConcepts such as green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and ecosystem services gained popularity in recent discourses on urban planning. Despite their recognition as innovative concepts, all of them share a degree of ambiguity. Fuzziness can be a weakness but also an opportunity to shape novel concepts together with the stakeholders that are supposed to implement them in the planning practice. The paper traces concept development processes of green infrastructure through transdisciplinary knowledge exchange in three different projects, a European and a national research project and a local city-regional project as part of an EU regional cooperation project. In all projects, the green infrastructure concept evolved in different stages. Stakeholder involvement during these stages span from consultation to co-creation. The cases reveal two different approaches: concepts that are developed “for planning practice” might be based on a plethora of insight via consultation, while those “with planning practice” foster co-creation and might result in high acceptance among the involved stakeholders. Depending on the purpose of the novel concept, each approach can be beneficial and result in practice-related and operational products, such as guidance documents or planning strategies. However, the cases also show that in any new context an exchange about fuzzy concepts is not only needed but also a chance to stimulate cooperation and joint understanding about urban challenges and how to address them.

scholarly journals CD5 costimulation induces stable Th17 development by promoting IL-23R expression and sustained STAT3 activation

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (23) ◽  
pp. 6107-6114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelle de Wit ◽  
Yuri Souwer ◽  
Astrid J. van Beelen ◽  
Rosa de Groot ◽  
Femke J. M. Muller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Th17 Cells ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Orphan Receptor ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Cd28 Costimulation ◽  
Th17 Differentiation ◽  
Novel Concept ◽  
Transcription 3 ◽  
Lymphocyte Receptors

Abstract IL-17–producing CD4+ T helper (Th17) cells are important for immunity against extracellular pathogens and in autoimmune diseases. The factors that drive Th17 development in human remain a matter of debate. Here we show that, compared with classic CD28 costimulation, alternative costimulation via the CD5 or CD6 lymphocyte receptors forms a superior pathway for human Th17-priming. In the presence of the Th17-promoting cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-23, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), CD5 costimulation induces more Th17 cells that produce higher amounts of IL-17, which is preceded by prolonged activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), a key regulator in Th17 differentiation, and enhanced levels of the IL-17–associated transcription factor retinoid-related orphan receptor-γt (ROR-γt). Strikingly, these Th17-promoting signals critically depend on CD5-induced elevation of IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) expression. The present data favor the novel concept that alternative costimulation via CD5, rather than classic costimulation via CD28, primes naive T cells for stable Th17 development through promoting the expression of IL-23R.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic Core Groups: a promising concept in search of a consistent methodological framework

Microbiome ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Pascual-García
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Microbial Ecology ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Methodological Framework ◽  
Operational Taxonomic Units ◽  
Traditional Classification ◽  
Taxonomical Classification ◽  
Novel Concept

AbstractIn this comment, we analyse the conceptual framework proposed by Aguirre de Cárcer (Microbiome 7:142, 2019), introducing the novel concept of Phylogenetic Core Groups (PCGs). This notion aims to complement the traditional classification in operational taxonomic units (OTUs), widely used in microbial ecology, to provide a more intrinsic taxonomical classification which avoids the use of pre-determined thresholds. However, to introduce this concept, the author frames his proposal in a wider theoretical framework based on a conceptualization of selection that we argue is a tautology. This blurs the subsequent formulation of an assembly principle for microbial communities, favouring that some contradictory examples introduced to support the framework appear aligned in their conclusions. And more importantly, under this framework and its derived methodology, it is not possible to infer PCGs from data in a consistent way. We reanalyse the proposal to identify its logical and methodological flaws and, through the analysis of synthetic scenarios, we propose a number of methodological refinements to contribute towards the determination of PCGs in a consistent way. We hope our analysis will promote the exploration of PCGs as a potentially valuable tool, helping to bridge the gap between environmental conditions and community composition in microbial ecology.

Performance Benefits of R718 Turbo-Compression Cycle Using 3-Port Condensing Wave Rotors

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir A. Kharazi ◽  
Pezhman Akbari ◽  
Norbert Mu¨ller
Keyword(s):  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Wave Rotor ◽  
Flash Evaporation ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Wave Rotors ◽  
Compression Cycle ◽  
Performance Map ◽  
Wave Compression ◽  
Novel Concept

A number of technical challenges have often hindered the economical application of refrigeration cycles using water (R718) as refrigerant. The novel concept of condensing wave rotor provides a solution for performance improvement of R718 refrigeration cycles. The wave rotor implementation can increase efficiency and reduce the size and cost of R718 units. The condensing wave rotor employs pressurized water to pressurize, desuperheat, and condense the refrigerant vapor — all in one dynamic process. In this study, the underlying phenomena of flash evaporation, shock wave compression, desuperheating, and condensation inside the wave rotor channels are described in a wave and phase-change diagram. A computer program based on a thermodynamic model is generated to evaluate the performance of R718 baseline and wave-rotor-enhanced cycles. The detailed thermodynamic approach for the baseline and the modified cycles is described. The effect of some key parameters on the performance enhancement is demonstrated as an aid for optimization. A generated performance map summarizes the findings.

scholarly journals Thermal, Structural, and Physical Properties of Freeze Dried Tropical Fruit Powder

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Athmaselvi ◽  
C. Kumar ◽  
M. Balasubramanian ◽  
Ishita Roy
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Average Particle Size ◽  
Average Particle ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Tropical Fruit ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Freeze Dried ◽  
Fruit Powder ◽  
Lcr Meter

This study evaluates the physical properties of freeze dried tropical (guava, sapota, and papaya) fruit powders. Thermal stability and weight loss were evaluated using TGA-DSC and IR, which showed pectin as the main solid constituent. LCR meter measured electrical conductivity, dielectric constant, and dielectric loss factor. Functional groups assessed by FTIR showed presence of chlorides, and O–H and N–H bonds in guava, chloride and C–H bond in papaya, and chlorides, and C=O and C–H bonds in sapota. Particle size and type of starch were evaluated by X-ray diffraction and microstructure through scanning electronic microscopy. A semicrystalline profile and average particle size of the fruit powders were evidenced by X-ray diffraction and lamellar/spherical morphologies by SEM. Presence of A-type starch was observed in all three fruits. Dependence of electric and dielectric properties on frequency and temperature was observed.

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