Heritability Estimates of L*a*b* Color Space Values in Winter Squash (Cucurbita spp.)

Carotenoids serve as protective antioxidants, and function in normal vision, bone growth, cell division and differentiation, and reproduction. Winter squash (Cucurbita spp.) is an excellent dietary source of carotenoids. The range of colors from yellow to red in Cucurbita species indicates that increasing carotenoid levels through plant breeding is possible. The objective of this research was to determine the heritability of flesh color in winter squash in both Cucurbita moschata Duchesne and Cucurbita pepo L. Segregating families representing F2, BC1P1 and BC1P2 populations were created in two families of C. pepo (‘Table Gold Acorn’ × PI 314806 and ‘Table King Bush’ × PI 314806) and one family of C. moschata (‘Butterbush’ × ‘Sucrine DuBerry’). Broad-sense heritabilities were calculated for the F2, BC1P1, and BC1P2 populations within each of the three families. Heritabilities ranged from 0.19 to 0.82 for L*, 0.28 to 0.97 for chroma, and 0.12 to 0.87 for hue across all families. Transgressive segregation for color space values L* was identified in the ‘Table King Bush’ × PI 314806 C. pepo population. Our results indicate that it is possible to breed for improved flesh color in Cucurbita, but the population size and number of test locations for evaluation need to be increased to provide better heritability estimates. Cucurbita species are grown throughout the world and their availability and low price makes them an important potential source of carotenoids for human nutrition and health for all ages.

Automated Classification of 6-n-Propyltiouracil Taster Status with Machine Learning

Several studies have used taste sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) to evaluate interindividual taste variability and its impact on food preferences, nutrition, and health. We used a supervised learning (SL) approach for the automatic identification of the PROP taster categories (super taster (ST); medium taster (MT); and non-taster (NT)) of 84 subjects (aged 18–40 years). Biological features determined from subjects were included for the training system. Results showed that SL enables the automatic identification of objective PROP taster status, with high precision (97%). The biological features were classified in order of importance in facilitating learning and as prediction factors. The ratings of perceived taste intensity for PROP paper disks (50 mM) and PROP solution (3.2 mM), along with fungiform papilla density, were the most important features, and high estimated values pushed toward ST prediction, while low values leaned toward NT prediction. Furthermore, TAS2R38 genotypes were significant features (AVI/AVI, PAV/PAV, and PAV/AVI to classify NTs, STs, and MTs, respectively). These results, in showing that the SL approach enables an automatic, immediate, scalable, and high-precision classification of PROP taster status, suggest that it may represent an objective and reliable tool in taste physiology studies, with applications ranging from basic science and medicine to food sciences.

Media engineering in marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum employing cost-effective substrates for sustainable production of high value renewables

Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a marine diatom, and well-studied model of unicellular microalga. This diatom contains a wide range of high-value renewables (HVRs) with high commercial relevance owing to their importance in human nutrition and health. In this study, we screened P. tricornutum for biomass, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and fucoxanthin production under photoautotrophic and mixotrophic condition with various substrate combinations. Results highlights that culture supplemented with glycerol and urea lead to enhanced biomass, biochemical and HVR production. Further continuous feeding of urea in glycerol supplemented medium results in an increase in biomass yield (0.77 g L-1) by ~ 2-fold. Additionally, continuous feeding of urea channelizes the carbon flux towards biosynthesis of fatty acids increasing FAME content by ~2-fold as compared to the control conditions. Overall EPA and fucoxanthin production was 27 mg L-1 and 11 mg L-1 (~2 & 4 fold) in urea fed cultures respectively. Present study demonstrates efficient valorization of cost-effective substrates such as glycerol and urea for the production of high-value renewables in P. tricornutum.

PENGARUH PEMBERIAN SARI KURMA TERHADAP KENAIKAN HEMOGLOBN PADA REMAJA

Women have a high risk of suffering from anemia, especially in teenage girl. Anemia can affect teenage girl growth and development, the body during infancy is easily infected, decreased enthusiasm for learning. The purpose of this research is to know the effect of giving palm juice to the increase in hemoglobin levels in teenage girl who have anemia in dorm Ma’had Aly Pondok Pesantren Salafiyah Syafi’iyah Sukorejo Situbondo 2018. This study used a pre experiment design with a sample of 35 respondents who met the iclusion criteria with a total sampling technique. The treatment was given date palm juice to 35 respondents. Analysis was done using paired sample T test. Statistical test result show significant value (p< 0,05) the meaning is that there is an effecf of giving palm juice to the increase in respondents who have anemia. Giving date palm juice can increase hemoglobin levels because the nutrient content contained in date palm juice is very effective in raising hemoglobin levels in the blood. Expect that the provision of date palm juice still needs to be continued, and the need for counseling to teenage girl in order to increase knowledge about nutrition and health and food intake.

Empowering health cadres in managing maternal and child health in the Covid-19 pandemic era

The covid-19 pandemic has hampered the access of mothers and children to optimal health services. The decreasing number of visits to maternal and child health services has created new nutrition and health problems. However, the Posyandu as one of the health services for mothers and children in several locations were forced to close during the covid-19 pandemic, such as Posyandu RW 07, Cipayung Village. The purpose of this community service is to increase the capacity of the integrated services post (Posyandu) cadres to cadres for maternal and child health responses during the covid-19 pandemic. Service activities are carried out through 3 stages of activity which was starting with discussions with partners about the importance of re-activating the Posyandu for infants and toddlers during the covid-19 pandemic, then increasing the capacity of health cadres for babies and toddlers health services, then handbook creation and evaluation. The method used combines several approaches, such as discussions, socialization, workshop, and evaluation. The result is an increase in the capacity of health cadres and the guidebooks for services and the Posyandu visits during the covid-19 pandemic.