Milk Cholesterol Reduction at Pilot Station Level Using Beta-Cyclodextrin

The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of cholesterol elimination from milk using beta-cyclodextrin at pilot station scale, because there is very little information considering this level of milk processing. β-cyclodextrin is a nontoxic, edible and chemically stable compound with affinity for nonpolar molecules like cholesterol, giving the opportunity for obtaining food products that can prevent the appearance of cardiovascular diseases. By applying of this procedure, the cholesterol reduction percentage was calculated as approximately 84 %, similar to the values reported by the specialty literature. Except fat and freezing point values, the other parameters values increased with an approximate percentage of 8, indicating a concentration phenomenon due to milk pasteurization. Fat concentration value decreased with 5.9 %, due to the cholesterol inclusion in the beta-cyclodextrin molecule and its elimination at the bottom of the centrifugal separator. However the variation of the parameters is insignificant, so this process could be considered efficient to be applied at a pilot station level.

Crop Selection and it’s Yield Prediction

The field of Agriculture plays a major role in the Indian economy. This sector helps to meet the basic needs of human and their civilization. Hence agriculture would be the enterprise in the globe. Considering the parameters of the agriculture, selection of crops plays a very vital role in farming. The proposed model for Crop selection and it’s yield prediction mainly focusses on the season and location to display the desired crop for cultivation . This requirement is implemented with Machine Learning algorithms like Decision tree for classification and Linear regression for yield prediction to maximize the crop yield. This model helps the farmers to know about the correct crop to be cultivated in a particular location . And also gives a approximate percentage of yield based on the data available in the dataset. Thus selecting crop for cultivation becomes a easier task for farmers because selection of correct crop for their location is precisely implemented using this project.

Green areas in Białystok

This work contains a description of four housing estates in Białystok from different decades of the 20th century. The approximate percentage of green areas in these states was determined based on available sources. Existing development plans were analysed with a view to the records regarding greenery. Own observations allowed to define the state of green areas – their functions, accessibility, quality and relation to space. The results of the analysis made it possible to discuss the observed problems and indicated the ways to solve them.

Impact of extreme cyclone events on coastal agriculture in Bangladesh

Extreme cyclone events are now occurring more frequently in Bangladesh. Bangladesh experiences severe 52 cyclones from 1960 to 2010 where, the approximate percentage of storm surge impact is 40%, the largest in the world. A severe cyclone in 1970 and 1991 caused loss of 300,000 and 200,000 lives. It is reported that 210000, 36000, and 3500 tonnes of boro rice, aus rice, and other food crops (e.g. potatoes and vegetables) were totally destroyed by 1991 cyclone. The storm surge killed huge livestock and caused loss of 100% of freshwater fish. Recently, the super cyclonic storm SIDR (2007) and AILA (2009) affected 10,000 and 300,000 people, respectively. Apart from these, cyclones NARGIS (2008) and MOHASEN (2013) are also mentionable. The crop production in the coastal regions of Bangladesh is most vulnerable by cyclones while, sea level rise by 2050 will inundate 17.7% of southern coastal areas. Tropical cyclones could become more frequent with more strength under recent climate change conditions. In this research, a new dimension of extreme weather assessment is done combining GCM and GIS technology and using tropospheric instability indices. The thermodynamic environment, vertical instability characteristics of severe cyclones are indispensable to cope with climate change conditions, and for planning, disaster management, and to reduce the risk of food insufficiency. Progressive Agriculture, Vol. 30, Suppl. 1: 33-41, 2019

Structural and Thermal Characterization of Antimony-Phosphate Glass

A new ternary glass systems of composition xSb2O3-(75-x) P2O5-25MgO, where x = 30, 40, 50 mol%; has been prepared via melt-quenching method. Synthesized glasses are characterized using XRD, FESEM, EDX, and TG/DTA measurements. The influence of varying Sb2O3 concentrations on their thermal properties and crystal structure is evaluated. The XRD patterns confirmed the amorphous nature of samples. SEM images demonstrated interesting phase formation with ribbons-like texture. Three crystalline phases were observed in this glass series which are antimony phosphate, antimony orthophosphate and cervantite. EDX spectra detected the approximate percentage of the raw elemental traces. Thermal analysis of these glasses revealed their high-molecular polymer character for Sb2O3 content at 50 mol%. Three different glass transition temperatures are achieved with three different composition each, which are (276, 381, 422 °C) at x=30 mol%, (276, 381, 470 °C) at x=40 mol% and (276, 381, 443 °C) at x=50 mol%. Furthermore, the solidus and liquidus temperature are found to decrease with increasing Sb2O3. This observation may open up new research avenues for antimony based ternary glasses.

Incidence and Prevalence of Tongue-Tie

What is the prevalence of tongue-tie (the proportion of total cases in a population)? Is the incidence (occurrence of new cases) increasing or are clinicians simply identifying it more often? The most reliable way to estimate incidence and prevalence is through population-based epidemiological studies. So far, these are limited. However, there has been some research that allows us to approximate rates. Our expert panel offers their judgment on two questions: What is the approximate percentage of babies with tongue-tie? And is incidence increasing?

Reinforcement-Dependent Thermal Properties of Reinforced Concrete Columns and Slabs

Energy efficiency aspects are rarely considered during practical structural design. In building energetic calculations, thermal conductivity values from EN ISO 10456:2008 [1] are mainly used, although the standard define concrete’s values only by taking into account the density and the approximate percentage of reinforcement. Details of the structure type (column or slab), reinforcement (e.g. direction, diameter, amount of rebar spacers) and other properties (e.g. concrete composition) are not mentioned. In this research, we uncover the possible relations between the steel content parameters and thermal properties by laboratory measurements of 1:2 scaled reinforced concrete specimens and validated finite element models of columns and slabs with different designed reinforcements. Results shows, that depending on the structure type, design and steel content, there is a difference in the structure’s equivalent thermal conductivity. Our results and experiences of this research possibly can be used in energy conscious structural design practice.

Assessment of nutritional status of gynecological cancer cases in India and comparison of subjective and objective nutrition assessment parameters

Aim: To assess the nutritional status of gynecological cancer patients using scored Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) then compare it with the body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin, serum albumin, and approximate percentage weight lost in last 1 month so as to find any one parameter that can be used in place of the comprehensive assessment tool. Materials and Methods: Sixty gynecological cancer patients were assessed for their nutritional status using BMI, serum albumin, hemoglobin, percentage weight lost in last 1 month, and scored PG-SGA. Correlation, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the former four parameters compared to scored PG-SGA were calculated. Results: 88.33% of cases were at risk of or had some degree of malnutrition according to scored PG-SGA. Serum albumin level ≤ 2 g/dl had highest specificity and positive predictive value at 1, whereas percentage weight lost in last month had better overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 0.5833, 0.9444, 0.875, and 0.7727, respectively. The Pearson′s correlation coefficient between scored PG-SGA and percentage weight lost in last 1 month was 0.784, highest among all the parameters. Conclusion: 88.33% of gynecologic cancer cases had some degree of malnutrition or were at risk of malnutrition. Approximate percentage weight lost in last 1 month, that is, ≥ 5% may be used in place of the comprehensive scored PG-SGA to triage the patients in case the latter is not used for some reason. Severe hypoalbuminemia ≤ 2 g/dl is an indicator of severe malnutrition in gynecologic cancer cases.

Effect of Language Switching on Arithmetic: A Bilingual fMRI Study

The role of language in performing numerical computations has been a topic of special interest in cognition. The “Triple Code Model” proposes the existence of a language-dependent verbal code involved in retrieving arithmetic facts related to addition and multiplication, and a language-independent analog magnitude code subserving tasks such as number comparison and estimation. Neuroimaging studies have shown dissociation between dependence of arithmetic computations involving exact and approximate processing on language-related circuits. However, a direct manipulation of language using different arithmetic tasks is necessary to assess the role of language in forming arithmetic representations and in solving problems in different languages. In the present study, 20 English-Chinese bilinguals were trained in two unfamiliar arithmetic tasks in one language and scanned using fMRI on the same problems in both languages (English and Chinese). For the exact “base-7 addition” task, language switching effects were found in the left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) and left inferior parietal lobule extending to the angular gyrus. In the approximate “percentage estimation” task, language switching effects were found predominantly in the bilateral posterior intraparietal sulcus and LIFG, slightly dorsal to the LIFG activation seen for the base-7 addition task. These results considerably strengthen the notion that exact processing relies on verbal and language-related networks, whereas approximate processing engages parietal circuits typically involved in magnitude-related processing.