Flavonoids in in vitro cultures of Astragalus hamosus

Astragalus hamosus contains valuable biologically active compounds, incl. flavonoids. The possibility for in vitro cultivation of the species as a source of important flavonoids was studied. Shoot and callus cultures were established and successfully cultivated on different nutrition media, complemented or not with growth regulators. An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography – high-resolution electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRESIMS) qualitative and quantitative analysis of non-purified methanol extracts of these cultures was performed. It was found that the cultures produced rutin in comparable quantity. Interestingly, both shoots and callus cultures accumulated the rare triglycosides alcesefoliside and mauritianin. The quantity of mauritianin, biosynthesized in shoots, was significantly higher to that in callus cultures. Alcesefoliside, was in lower quantity, compared to mauritianin. In addition, callus cultures produced alcesefoliside trice as the shoots, besides their lower level of differentiation. These findings could serve as initial research to establish the value of in vitro cultures from A. hamosus as an alternative mean of production of pharmaceutically important flavonol glycosides.

A Field Study of Relatively Long Chopsticks Reduce Food Consumption

In this study, we examined the influence of chopstick length on diners’ food consumption in a Chinese box restaurant. Diners were randomly offered chopstick of two lengths (23 and 19 cm), and after they finished eating, their lunch boxes were weighed to measure the actual quantity of food consumed in a real dining environment. The results indicated that diners who used the long chopsticks consumed a lower quantity of food and had fewer mouthfuls than did those who used the short chopsticks, suggesting that long chopsticks can help control the quantityof food consumed without affecting diners’ satisfaction with the dining experience. Our findings and those of previous research prove that bite size is the main factor mediating the relationship between a utensil’s physical characteristics and people’s food consumption.

Anti-HTLV-1/2 IgG Antibodies in the Breastmilk of Seropositive Mothers

Background: HTLV-1/2 mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is an important route for the maintenance of HTLV-1/2 within populations and disproportionally contributes to the burden of HTLV-1-associated diseases. Avoidance of breastfeeding is the safest recommendation to prevent MTCT. Due to the benefits of breastfeeding, alternative methods that would allow seropositive mothers to breastfeed their babies are needed. There is limited knowledge about HTLV-1/2 infection and breastmilk. Methods: Paired blood and milk samples collected from HTLV-1/2 seropositive mothers were tested for HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL) quantification and for the detection of anti-HTLV-1/2 IgG. Results: All breastmilk samples had detectable anti-HTLV-1/2 IgG. HTLV-1/2 proviral DNA was detected in all samples except for one. HTLV-1 PVL and IgG binding ratio (BR) was similar in milk and plasma. However, antibody titer was significantly higher in blood (Median (95%CI): Milk:128 (32–512); Plasma:131,584 (16,000–131,584), p < 0.05). There was a strong correlation between HTLV-1 PVL, anti-HTLV-1/2 IgG BR, and titer when comparing milk and blood. PVL did not correlate with antibody BR nor titer in blood or milk. Conclusions: Anti-HTLV-1/2 IgG are present in milk in the same proportion as blood but in lower quantity. PVL in milk correlates with blood.

Garment recommendation in an e-shopping environment by using a Markov Chain and Complex Network integrated method

In the e-commerce environment, website-based recommendation systems have been developed in order to help consumers without professional fashion-related knowledge to identify the most relevant garment products satisfying their specific personalized requirements in terms of fashion and functionalities. However, there are two main drawbacks in the existing recommendation systems: (1) the existing shopping data and/or human body data-based recommendations cannot effectively deal with fashion trends; (2) the shoppers’ experience and knowledge are rarely considered in these systems. To solve these two drawbacks, we propose in this paper a new garment recommendation mechanism using a Markov Chain and Complex Network integrated method. The Markov Chain method is employed as a suitable tool permitting one to extract fashion trends from a lower quantity of shopping data. The Complex Network method is used to formalize uncertain relations between human body shapes, garment fitting effects and garment features, provided by shopping experts. Compared with other existing recommendation methods, the proposed method is validated to be more robust and more interpretable owing to its capacity of handling body types and fashion trends.

Effect of Formaldehyde on Cardiorespiratory parameters in Medical students – An observational study

Formaldehyde is extensively and commonly used in Department of Anatomy for preservation of biological specimens as well as cadavers. Formaldehyde being a noxious chemical, may cause respiratory health problems among 1st year medical students attending dissection periodically as a part of MBBS curriculum. The following study was planned to observe the effect of formaldehyde vapours on heart rate, blood pressure, percentage oxygen saturation (SpO2) and respiratory rate of 1st year medical students who are routinely exposed to formalin vapours periodically. Randomly selected fifty medical students [Mean (SD) age of 18.94 (0.65) years] were assessed within 1week of admission to college and re-examined at intervals of 1 month and 6 months. Data was entered in Microsoft Excel and was analysed using Epi Info software version 7. There was a decrease in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, SpO2 values and respiratory rate (on comparing values after 6 months with that of baseline values) but it was not statistically significant. But it may be statistically significate after 1 year of periodical exposure and it could also be due to lower quantity of formalin exposure owing to the proper ventilation of the dissection hall as per the MCI regulations. KEY WORDS: Formaldehyde, heat rate, blood pressure, SpO2, respiratory rate.

Siderurgical Aggregate Cement-Treated Bases and Concrete Using Foundry Sand

Cement-treated bases are soils, gravels or manufactured aggregates mixed with certain quantities of cement and water in order to improve the characteristics of a base or sub-base layer. Due to the exploitation of natural aggregates, it is a matter of importance to avoid shortage of natural resources, which is why the use of recycled aggregates is a practical solution. In this paper we studied the feasibility of the use of untreated electric arc furnace slags and foundry sand in the development of cement-treated bases and slag aggregate concrete with a lower quantity of cement. We analyzed the physical, mechanical and durability characteristics of the aggregates, followed by the design of mixes to fabricate test specimens. With cement-treated bases, results showed an optimal moisture content of 5% and a dry density of 2.47 g/cm3. Cement-treated bases made with untreated slag aggregate, foundry sand and 4% of cement content showed an unconfined compression strength at seven days of 3.73 MPa. For siderurgical aggregate concrete mixes, compressive strength, modulus of elasticity and flexural strength tests were made. The results showed that the mixes had good mechanical properties but durability properties could be an issue.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PSOAS MUSCLE COMPOSITION IN PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

Background Total psoas muscle cross sectional area, as identified with computed tomography (CT), has been associated with clinical outcomes in various disease states. Unfortunately, total psoas CSA does not differentiate muscle density nor fat, both of which may be abnormal in obesity. Using a novel CT method to partition psoas muscle into low and high density muscle, recent studies have demonstrated low and high attenuating psoas muscle may be superior to total psoas CSA in identifying sarcopenic obesity. The impact of varying muscle composition in patients with inflammatory bowel disease is unknown. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of IBD patients from a tertiary care center. Psoas muscle composition was determined using a novel and validated CT method. High and low attenuating bilateral psoas muscle was measured at the level of the 3rd lumbar vertebra. Clinical remission, surgery, hospitalization, and corticosteroid use were stratified by low and high density muscle and evaluated 6 weeks from the index CT. Results We identified 115 consecutive patients with a routine CT scan. Majority of patients had a greater quantity of low-density muscle (LDM), 95% had CD and 71% were not in clinical remission at the time of baseline CT. Of those with a greater quantity of LDM, 68% had history of IBD surgery and 60% were current/former smokers. The mean pre-CT body mass index (BMI) for the greater quantity LDM was significantly higher (p=0.002) than the mean pre-CTE BMI for those with low LDMC. Seventy percent with greater quantity of low-density muscle were either overweight or obese and 20% had a normal range BMI. Six months after the baseline CT, 53% in the lower quantity LDM had clinical remission, whereas 33.3% had remission in the high LDMC (p=0.05). Patients with greater quantity LDM were more likely to require corticosteroids in the 6 months after index CT, as compared to those with lower quantity LDM (p=0.02). Conclusion This observational study showed an association between greater quantity of LDM and obesity and worse IBD-related outcomes. This is the first study to evaluate the impact of muscle composition on IBD outcomes and our results offer a novel tool to risk stratify patients with IBD. Our study is limited by the retrospective nature, limited sample size, and narrow longitudinal follow-up. Larger prospective studies with greater longitudinal follow-up are needed to confirm our retrospective findings.

Enhancing Farmer Income through Value Addition to Rice in Khammam District, India

Rice is the staple food to half of world’s population providing more than one fifth of the calories consumed worldwide. Cereal grains are rich sources of phenolic compounds present in cell walls that help in combating many life style diseases occurring due to oxidative stress. Rice has been domesticated more than 10000 years ago but even today the farmers prefer selling freshly harvested paddy at a lower price. Few entrepreneurial farmers have come up with the idea of primary processing the paddy as semi polished and brown rice that can fetch them more profits along with providing health benefits. Each Kg of paddy, white, semi polished and brown rice cost Rs. 17 – 18.50, 46 – 48, 58 – 60 and 65 respectively. Similarly, one Kg of brokens get Rs. 15, bran Rs. 12 during season and Rs. 20 during off season. The rice without any processing fetched the farmer profit of about Rs. 24400 to 36000 on an average per acre. But if the farmer subjected the rice to primary processing and sold as white, semi polished or brown rice, the profits generated per acre were Rs. 57156 – 66480 Rs. Rs. 82996 – 102400and Rs. 105910 – 120400 can be generated. As can be seen the decrease in processing produced lower quantity of brokens and bran and income from them was comparatively lower than on processed rice indicating that there can be rise in income with minimal processing with added health benefits. There can an increase in profits by 4 to 5 times due to primary processing benefiting the paddy growers. The white, semi polished and brown rice can increase the income of farmer by 76.92, 127.79 and 161.58% per one bag of paddy weighing 75 Kg. There was a significant decrease in brokens and bran produced in semi polished and brown rice that actually fetch less prize than the actual produce. The growing awareness of consumers towards health foods, improved eating habits and health consciousness is expanding brown rice market at higher compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) compared to overall rice market.

Physiological characteristics of cognitive functions of cadets with military-training experience

Investigation of physiological mechanisms of cognitive functions and efficiency of cognitive activity is the major problem of military service psychophysiology. We have studied the effect of military-training experience on cognitive functions, heart rate variability and bioelectrical activity of sensorimotor cortex of cadets. Cadets with military-training experience from Suvorov Military (quantity of errors in Shulte’s test (0,16±0,57) in comparison with the cadets without military-training experience (0,54±1,08) (F=4,7; p=0,03). Cadets from Suvorov Military School had a higher quantity of false start (46,36±17,68) and lower quantity of retardation (86,39±17,44) on visual stimulus of test «Reaction on moving object». Cadets without military-training experience had quantity of false start - 38,04±18,95 (F=5,8; p=0,02) and quantity of retardation - 100,48±20,37 (F=15,1; p=0,001). Cadets with military-training experience solved a lower quantity of tasks in the test «Hours with rotation» (26,18±6,71) in comparison with the cadets without military-training experience (29,10±7,89; F=4,3; p=0,04). The maximum time of solving one task at cadets with military-training experience is more (38,07±10,66 sec) than at cadets without military-training experience (34,07±10,57 sec; F=4,0; p=0,05). Cadets with military-training experience had lower heart rate, the higher standard deviation of R-R-intervals and variation range, high level of relative power in the high-frequency spectral bound. They had high activity of sensorimotor cortex of right cerebral hemisphere in the tests with the switching of attention and had low activity of sensorimotor cortex of left cerebral hemisphere in the test with arithmetic tasks.

Performance of Marine Lecithin Supplemented Feeds for the Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) Ongrowing: Changes in Proximate Composition and Lipid Classes’ Profile

The development of artificial diets is considered vital for feasible cephalopods’ culture. Octopus vulgaris need a diet with a high protein content but also lipids are important at a lower quantity, as polar lipids and LC-PUFA are essential for development during early stages. In the present study the suitability of marine lecithin as a dietary supplement for O. vulgaris juveniles’ formulated feeds was tested for 56 days, assessing the performance, changes in proximate composition, and lipid classes’ profile in the digestive gland and carcass. Sixteen octopus were fed one of two semi-moist feeds based on dry ingredients: either CALPRO (N = 4) as control or CALPRO-LM (N = 8); which differed from the first, due to the inclusion of 20 g/kg of marine lecithin as a phospholipid dietary supplement. Results showed that marine lecithin did not enhance feed intake, growth, protein or lipid incorporation, nutrients digestibility or feed efficiency. Moreover, at this level of inclusion, the composition of tissues (digestive gland and carcass) regarding macronutrients and lipid classes’ profile presented only a small amount of differences. In conclusion, the inclusion of marine lecithin did not promote beneficial effects on performance, making necessary further research related to the nutritional requirements of common octopus.