bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PROPAGATION OF ION ACOUSTIC WAVES IN A MAGNETIZED QUANTUM PLASMA IN THE PRESENCE OF EXCHANGE-CORRELATION EFFECTS
Authors: Khaled Mahmood A. H. , Loqman Ibrahim G. H. , Alkuhlani Kauther I.
Published: June 2022

The nonlinear propagation of ion acoustic solitary waves are studied in a magnetized quantum plasma consisting of cold inertia ions and inertialless quantum electrons and positrons, including exchange-correlation effects., A Zakharov-Kuznetsov equation is derived by using the reductive perturbation method. The effects of quantum plasma parameters on the propagation characteristics of the ion acoustic solitary waves have been investigated. It is found that the phase velocity, amplitude and width of the solitary waves are significantly affected by the presence of exchange-correlation potentials of electron and positron. Only solitary wave width effected by both quantum diffraction and magnetic field strength. The width of the solitary waves increases with the increase of both the quantum diffraction and magnetic field strength. The increase in the positron concentration causes to diminish both the solitary waves amplitude and width. The current results may be useful to understand the properties of ion acoustic waves propagating in dense space plasma environments where the quantum effects are expected to dominate.
Probing the Properties of Supermassive Black Holes
Authors: Kryukova Elena , DePorzio Nicholas , Moulton Tyler
Published: June 2022

The formation of supermassive black holes has been highly debated the past two decades, however there is still no general description of this process. This review paper discusses differences between theories in literature on how supermassive black holes formed - such as formation from the earliest stars, primordial black hole formation, and direct collapse formation - and provides some analysis of observable data which could distinguish them. While formation from the earliest stars is one of the first theories, it is unlikely to have happened due to lack of time for the stellar black hole to accrete enough mass to become a supermassive black hole. Nevertheless, we can change this theory so that either the supermassive black hole seed was massive to begin with (direct collapse formation) or there were other black holes before stellar ones (primordial black hole formation). Recently, NANOGrav caught a signal that may have come from a primordial black hole, meaning that primordial black hole formation theory is one of the main theories right now.
APPLICATION OF THE VEHICLE ALLOCATION METHOD (VAM) IN THE FLEET SIZING PROCESS OF A GERMAN COMPANY IN THE WIND SECTOR
Authors: Bosso Julia Nicolosi , Mahnic Chayne de Lima Pereira
Published: June 2022

This study sought to apply the Vehicle Allocation Method (VAM) for dimensioning light fleets and identify the results it produces in a multinational company that manufactures, installs and maintains wind turbines. For this, an quantitative research, exploratory, with characteristics of an evaluative case study, based on the documental collection from secondary sources and on the sample, which is composed of light vehicles with circulation in several Brazilian states, supported by parameters such as car life cycle, usage details, among other criteria. The analysis of data collected from an odometer, internal vehicle registration and allocation reports and reports from the supply management system was performed using electronic tabulation (Microsoft Excel). The results showed that data-based actions promote several benefits and allow the company to move towards an optimal inventory based on the adjustments resulting from the results of this study, such as the verified need to replace, reallocate or eliminate about 45% of this company's current fleet.
IMPACT OF ACCESS TO FORMAL FINANCING ON THE EMERGENCE AND GROWTH OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES IN THE CITY OF CHIBUTO (2016-2017)
Authors: Abrao Malate Gobeia Marisa Iva , Gobeia Efraime da Graca Armando , Sousa Marcelino de
Published: June 2022

This article aims to assess the impact of access to formal financial systems on the emergence and growth of small and medium-sized companies in the city of Chibuto from 2016 to 2017. The city of Chibuto was selected because it is an easily accessible location and the consequent guarantee dynamics in the information collection process. The research is descriptive, with a mixed approach (qualitative-quantitative), using non-probabilistic methods, based on intentional sampling. Interviews were conducted with the Tax Authority of Chibuto, 2 commercial banks (Millenium BIM and BCI) and 47 small and medium-sized companies were surveyed. Regarding the services offered by traditional banking, most of the interviewed entrepreneurs revealed that they do not adhere to them due to factors related to the cost of capital (high interest rates) and the required requirements. The majority of small and medium enterprises, or about 72% of them, use their own capital to finance their businesses while 28% use alternative sources of financing such as credit unions, Micro-finance, district development fund (FDD) and other unspecified sources as an alternative to traditional banking.
Pengaruh Sumber Energi yang Berbeda dalam Formulasi Pakan terhadap Pertumbuhan Pedet Jantan Sapi Bali Lepas Sapih
Authors: Dilaga Syamsul Hidayat , Putra Ryan Aryadin , Sofyan  , Yanuarianto Oscar , Amin Muhamad
Published: June 2022

Akhir-akhir ini sapi bali jantan lepas sapih sangat disukai oleh peternak untuk dijadikan bakalan untuk penggemukan. Harganya lebih mahal dibanding sapi bali betina untuk bobot badan, umur, dan kondisi tubuh yang sama. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh sumber energi yang berbeda dalam formula pakan terhadap pertumbuhan pedet jantan sapi bali lepas sapih. Ada 3 macam formula pakan yang diuji yaitu P1= lamtoro tarramba, rumput raja, jerami padi dan dedak padi, P2= lamtoro tarramba, rumput raja, jerami padi dan konsentrat komersil, serta P3= lamtoro tarramba, rumput raja, jerami padi dan jaugung giling. Ketiga macam formula tersebut diberikan kepada 15 ekor pedet dengan kisaran bobot badan 70,5-90,0 kg (82,07±6,31 kg), dan CV=8,18%. Pakan disusun iso nitrogen dan iso kalori.  Penelitian dilaksanakan menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap. Data yang diperoleh kemudian ditabulasi dan dianalisis menggunakan Analisis Sidik Ragam.  Apabila berbeda nyata dilanjutkan dengan Uji Jarak Berganda Duncan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan perbedaan nyata (P<0.05) untuk semua variabel yang diamati.  Pedet yang mendapat ransum dengan sumber energi jagung giling (P3) adalah yang terbaik.  Nilai peubah konsumsi pakan, kecernaan bahan kering, kecernaan bahan organik, pertumbuhan harian, dan income over feed cost berturut-turut sebesar 2,85% dari bobot badan, 55,46%, 58,64%, 0,32 g/hari, dan Rp 1.603.700 per 100 hari. Disimpulkan, formulasi pakan terbaik untuk penggemukan sapi bali jantan lepas sapih adalah ransum dengan campuran lamtoro, rumput raja, jerami padi, yang dipaduserasikan dengan jagung giling sebagai pakan sumber energinya.
Heart Disease Prediction Using Machine Learning Algorithms: A Systematic Survey
Authors: Tadiparthi Pavan Kumar , Kuna Vennelarani
Published: June 2022

The heart is the one of the most typical and important organ in our human body. Over few decades Cardiovascular Diseases became one of the most frequent reasons of deaths. This threatening not only in India but also the whole world. The heart was attacked by so many factors like age, sex, diet, stress, smoking etc. So there is a need to early diagnosing the disease accurately so that immediate treatment can be provided and saves millions of lives .The incorrect prediction may also cause side effects or loss of life. In the last few decades eminent researchers are proposed many approaches to predict the heart diseases. In this article, we are reviewed different types of efficient machine learning algorithms for heart disease prediction with correlation matrices; visualize the features and performance metrics like precision, recall, accuracy. In our survey the logistic regression approach gives the best accuracy result which is 81.9%.
Analysis of Various Machine Learning Approach to Detect Anomaly from Network Traffic
Authors: Pawar Sharad Laxman , Hiwarkar Tryambak
Published: June 2022

Although conventional network security measures have been effective up until now, machine learning techniques are a strong contender in the present network environment due to their flexibility. In this study, we evaluate how well the latter can identify security issues in a corporative setting Network. In order to do so, we configure and contrast a number of models to determine which one best our demands. In addition, we spread the computational load and storage to support large quantities of data. Our model-building methods, Random Forest and Naive Bayes.
A Result Analysis of Supervised Machine Learning Approach to Detect Anomaly from Network Traffic
Authors: Pawar Sharad Laxman , Hiwarkar Tryambak
Published: June 2022

Supervised Machine Learning (SML) is the quest for algorithms that reason from externally given cases to develop general hypotheses, which subsequently make predictions about future instances. Supervised categorization is one of the jobs most commonly carried out by the intelligent systems. This article presents numerous Supervised Machine Learning (ML) classification strategies, evaluates various supervised learning algorithms as well as finds the most effective classification algorithm depending on the data set, the number of instances and variables (features) (features). Seven alternative machine learning methods were considered: Decision Table, Random Forest (RF) , Naïve Bayes (NB) , Support Vector Machine (SVM), utilizing Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis (WEKA)machine learning program. To develop the algorithms, Diabetes data set was utilized for the classification with 786 cases with eight attributes as independent variable and one as dependent variable for the analysis. The findings suggest that SVM was determined to be the method with maximum precision and accuracy. Naïve Bayes and Random Forest classification algorithms were shown to be the next accurate after SVM appropriately. The research demonstrates that time spent to create a model and precision (accuracy) is a factor on one hand; while kappa statistic and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) is another element on the other side. Therefore, ML techniques demands precision, accuracy and least error to have supervised predictive machine learning.
Multiple_Window Median Filter (MWMF) for Efficient Removing Salt and Pepper Noise
Authors: Jaber Qazem M. , Alqadi Ziad A. , Taha Holwa F.
Published: June 2022

Salt and pepper noise is one of the most common types of noise that affects color and gray digital images, as this noise negatively affects the characteristics of the image and becomes blurred. And since the digital image is used in vital and important applications, it is necessary to provide an effective method that reduces the negative effects of noise. An easy and effective method will be presented that reduces the negative effects of salt and pepper noise, regardless of the noise ratio value in the digital image. In the proposed method, a set of windows will be used that is generated from the output of the affected image padding process, and these windows will be used to check the pixel is noise or not to be processed if this pixel is noise, using the specified window and applying the process of the median filter to this window. The proposed method will be implemented using various color and gray images, the quality parameters MSE and PSNR will be calculated. The obtained results for the proposed method will be compared with the results of median, MDBUT MF, MDBPT GMF, AWMF; AAMF filters to show the enhancement of the proposed method in reducing the negative effects of salt and pepper noise.
Characterisation of nutritional, physiochemical, and mineral compositions of aril and seed of longan fruit (Dimocarpus longan L.)
Authors: Yang Eun-Young , Han Young Sil , Sim Ki Hyeon
Published: June 2022

Longan (Dimocarpus longan L.) seeds are usually discarded without further utilisation in food production. In the present work, to determine the food resource value of longan seeds, their nutritional components, bioactive materials, and antioxidant activity were compared with those of the longan aril, the edible portion. The dried longan aril and seeds produced in Thailand were examined for their primary nutritional composition, organic acid composition, phenolic contents (gallic acid and ellagic acid), and antioxidant activity; including the DPPH radical-scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, and reducing power. Based on the proximate composition, the longan aril had higher moisture (9.85%) and crude ash (4.07%) contents, whereas the seed had higher crude protein (7.38%), crude lipid (4.91%), and carbohydrate (83.63%) contents. Among the minerals, calcium (122.60 mg/100 g), potassium (2.053.50 mg/100 g), phosphorus (191.21 mg/100 g), and sodium (25.24 mg/100 g) contents were higher in the longan aril, whereas magnesium (69.83 mg/100 g) and iron (2.97 mg/100 g) contents were higher in the seed. The contents of most free sugars and organic acids were higher in the longan aril than in the seed. UHPLC-MS/MS analysis showed the contents of gallic acid and ellagic acid were higher in the seed (1.54 and 1249.50 µg/g, respectively) than in the aril. The total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, which indicate the antioxidant activity, were higher in the longan seed (248.42 mg GAE/g and 6.37 mg CAE/g, respectively) than in the longan aril, whereas the seed showed higher values for all the antioxidant activities than the aril. Our findings suggest that the longan seed exhibits not only high contents of nutrients but also an outstanding antioxidant activity, thereby verifying the high value of longan seeds as a potential food resource.
A study on the microbiological and biochemical changes in flavour compounds during ripening of Xinjiang specialty cheese
Authors: Li Yu Hui , Wang Jungang , Liu Chengjiang
Published: June 2022

Xinjiang specialty cheese is produced by natural fermentation of milk. During fermentation, a complex succession of changes takes place in the milk, including pH decline, protein denaturalisation, whey discharge, and etc. The ripening process of Xinjiang specialty cheese was studied for 50 days. Microbial count showed that Lactobacillus helveticus was the dominant strain in the cheese during ripening. The contents of pH 4.6 soluble nitrogen and 12% TCA soluble nitrogen gradually increased during the ripening process of the cheese. An electrophoretogram showed that the degree of protein degradation was high after 30 days of ripening. The contents of total organic acids and free fatty acids were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the contents of total organic acids and free fatty acids in the flavour compounds increased significantly (p < 0.01). Twenty-five compounds were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), mainly alkanes, ketones, alcohols, esters, aldehydes, and acids. The sensory evaluation scores increased with ripening, and reached the highest value after 50 days.
Physical quality, amino acid contents, and health risk assessment of straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) at different maturity stages
Authors: Mohd Joha Nur Sakinah , Misran Azizah , Mahmud Tengku Muda Mohamed , Abdullah Sumaiyah , Mohamad Azhar
Published: June 2022

Volvariella volvacea, also known as straw mushroom, is an edible mushroom, and a highly nutritious food source. In Malaysia, tremendous increase in the consumption of this mushroom is due to its characteristics; short cropping duration, distinct flavour, and pleasant taste. During harvesting, the maturity of V. volvacea is vital to obtain high quality produce. As the mature stage quickly succeeds the immature stage, farmers usually collect both the immature and mature stages at harvest. Thus, the objective of the present work was to evaluate the physical quality, nutrients, and health risk assessment of V. volvacea at both maturity stages. The mushrooms were cultivated on composted empty fruit bunch (EFB), and harvested after a week at immature (button) and mature (veil opening) stages. The absence of spores at the button stage could lower the metabolic activity after harvest, thus decelerating the deterioration rate. Button stage mushrooms showed significantly higher firmness and higher content of glutamic acid. In term of safety, both stages were within the dietary intake limit for heavy metals. In conclusion, the button stage could be suitable and practical for consumption and commercialisation.
Microalgal biomass — a bio-based additive: evaluation of green smoothies during storage
Authors: Sahin Oya Irmak , Öztürk Begüm
Published: June 2022

Microalgae biomass addition to food has been studied for its nutritional fortification. The present work investigates the impact of microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris and Dunaliella salina) addition, in terms of quality characteristics, during a 28-day storage at 5°C. As much as 2.5% (w/v) of C. vulgaris and D. salina were separately added to fresh green smoothies (spinach, green apple, and cucumber) as food additive. Without any thermal application during storage at 5°C, the changes in pH, total soluble, solid contents, titratable acidity, microbial loads, phenolic contents, antioxidant activity, and sensory characteristics were determined. The addition of microalgae biomass, either Chlorella or Dunaliella, was found statistically significant, but this addition did not make a significant difference during the 28-day storage. Compared to control samples (at day 0; 163.16 mg GAE/100 g and 2.56 mmol GAE/100 g), Dunaliella biomass affected green smoothie more positively on total phenolic (at day 0; 395.79 mg GAE/100 g) and antioxidant activity (at day 0; 5.54 mmol GAE/100 g), than Chlorella biomass (at day 0; 384.21 mg GAE/100 g and 4.22 mmol GAE/100 g). Also, a shelf-life study on 28-day storage at 5°C found that Dunaliella-added smoothies were more preferred by the panellists, while Chlorella-added samples exhibited off-odour and off-flavour through storage. Smoothie supplementation with 2.5% microalgae biomass caused a decrease in the initial microbial load. Due to this reduction, it can be said that microalgae supplementation as an additive was effective, and microalgae-added samples were shown below the "microbiologically consumable level" throughout the 28-day shelf-life study.
Physicochemical and sensory properties of Manchego-type cheese fortified with nanoemulsified curcumin
Authors: Sardiñas-Valdés Mariam , Hernández-Becerra Josafat Alberto , García-Galindo Hugo Sergio , Chay-Canul Alfonso J , Velázquez-Martínez José Rodolfo , Ochoa-Flores Angelica Alejandra
Published: June 2022

The effect of incorporating nanoemulsified curcumin in Manchego-type cheese on its physicochemical and sensory properties was investigated. Nanoemulsified curcumin was prepared by the thin-film hydration-emulsification and ultrasonication methods, and added to Pelibuey sheep milk at 5, 7.5, and 10 ppm of curcumin to make enriched Manchego-type cheeses. The curcumin content of the enriched cheeses was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The average curcumin retention coefficient was 0.83 ± 0.03. The total phenolic content and antioxidant activity according to the FRAP and DPPH assays increased in the curcumin-enriched cheeses as compared to the control cheese. No significant differences were observed in the moisture, protein, fat, and ash contents, nor in water activity and yield; however, significant differences were observed in the soluble nitrogen and free fatty acid contents and colour. According to surveyed panellists, the addition of nanoemulsified curcumin to cheese modified its colour, odour, and appearance, but not its flavour, texture, and overall acceptability. The present work highlights the potential of incorporating nanoemulsified curcumin in Manchego-type cheese to enhance its beneficial health effects.
Evaluation of minor steviol glycosides effect on insulin resistance, serum triglycerides, and antioxidant capacity of diabetised Wistar rats
Authors: Díaz Canul Carolina , Coop Gamas Fibi Yenisie , Ávila Escalante María Luisa , Betancur-Ancona David , Aranda-González Irma
Published: June 2022

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of minor glycosides on the QUICKI index as a marker of insulin resistance, triglycerides (TG), and antioxidant capacity in Wistar rats induced with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). DM2 was induced in male Wistar rats (n = 35) through streptozotocin-nicotinamide. Hyperglycaemia was confirmed two weeks later, and the subjects were divided into seven experimental groups, and each group was treated as follows: (1-5) dulcoside A, steviolbioside, rebaudioside B, C, and D (20 mg/kg, respectively); (6) metformin (180 mg/kg); and (7) standard diet, orally for four weeks. Blood sample was obtained from the tail before and after the treatment. The serum was separated after clotting by centrifugation. The included parameters namely serum triglycerides (TG) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured before and after the treatments, then the changes were determined; and at the end of the treatment, the QUICKI index was determined. The analysis of one-way variance (ANOVA) was performed considering p < 0.05. No statistically significant differences were found in any of the three variables (p > 0.05); however, the rebaudioside group B had the highest QUICKI index, while the reduction of triglycerides was greater in rebaudioside D. SOD activity increased in all groups, but was higher in rebaudioside D and steviolbioside. Minor glycosides at the dose and time evaluated had no significant effects on QUICKI index, antioxidant capacity, and triglycerides concentration.
Biofunctional characteristics of banana peel dietary fibre (BPDF) and its associated in vitro antidiabetic properties
Authors: Zaidan Uswatun Hasanah , Ghani N. L. A. , Zahari Nur Syuhada , Abdul Rahim Mohd Badrin Hanizam , Abd Gani Siti Salwa
Published: June 2022

The potential applications of banana peel waste can resolve environmental issues; however, the potentials of banana peels as antidiabetic remain unexplored. Therefore, the present work was carried out to investigate the biofunctional and surface properties of banana peel dietary fibre (BPDF) and its enzyme inhibitory activities. The water holding capacity (WHC), oil holding capacity (OHC), swelling capacity (SC), and glucose absorption capacity (GAC) were measured, and the glucose retardation index (GDRI) was analysed. The inhibitory effect of BPDF against α-amylase activity was also observed. The findings showed that the WHC (0.7 g/g), OHC (0.3 g/g), SC (0.73 mL/g), GDRI (6.58 - 31.72%), and GAC (0.162 - 19.211 mmol/g) of BPDF could have the potential in regulating diabetes, and explain the physiological effects of dietary fibre. The surface morphology of BPDF was analysed using scanning electron microscope. Interestingly, BPDF hampering effects on the diffusion of glucose through α-amylase inhibitory activity with IC50 8.9 µg/mL was found to be comparable to acarbose (IC50 8.6 µg/mL), thus showing potential in lowering postprandial blood glucose (type 2 diabetes mellitus).
Microwave-assisted extraction of antioxidant phenolic compounds from artichoke (Cynara scolymus L. cv Bayrampasa): optimisation and kinetic modelling
Authors: Kayahan Seda , Saloglu Didem
Published: June 2022

The objective of the present work was to optimise an efficient alternative technique for the extraction of total phenolics and antioxidants from Bayrampasa variety artichoke by-products, and to evaluate the potential role of artichoke as a source of health-promoting phenolic compounds and antioxidants. In the present work, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was used in order to obtain phenolic compounds and antioxidants from artichoke by-products such as leaves and bracts. The obtained phenolic compounds and antioxidants were assessed in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazine (DPPH) antioxidant activity, and cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC). The highest TPC and CUPRAC values were obtained at 4 min, and the highest DPPH activity was observed at 6 min and 80°C for leaf and bract extracts; also, the TPC, DPPH, and CUPRAC values of bract extracts were significantly lower than that of leaf extracts. Modelling of MAE for the artichoke leaves and bracts mixture using the central composite design was examined for determination of solvent/solid ratio (v/w), time, and solvent/water ratio (v/v). Additionally, second order and Peleg’s kinetic models proved to be the most suitable in describing the MAE kinetics for artichoke leaves and bracts mixture.
Multiplex PCR assay for species identification of meat and dairy products from buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), cattle (Bos indicus and Bos taurus), goat (Capra hircus), and sheep (Ovis aries)
Authors: Sangthong Danai , Suwannarat Songmeung , Samipak Sompid , Sangthong Pradit
Published: June 2022

Cases of fraudulent meat and dairy products have increased worldwide, especially in developing countries. To determine the misrepresented animal species, appropriate tools in routine monitoring should be available for food inspections. In the present work, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for species identification of products from ruminants including buffalo, cattle, goat, and sheep was developed. The primer set KUMUT_cFarmSp1 was composed of five species-specific primers and a pair of positive-control primers. The primer set amplified 106-, 163-, 232-, and 308-bp specific fragments from the cytochrome b (cyt b) gene of buffalo, cattle, goat, and sheep, respectively, and 370-bp positive-control fragment from 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA). The detection limit of this PCR assay is 0.1 ng of DNA template. The developed primer set exhibited strong specificity, sensitivity, robustness, and simplicity for food verification, thus indicating its usefulness for species verification in food quality control and law enforcement.
Profiling of antioxidative proteolysate enzymatically hydrolysed from stone fish (Actinopyga lecanora)
Authors: Bordbar Sara , Chay Shyan Yea , Ebrahimpour Afshin , Zarei Mohammad , Saari Nazamid
Published: June 2022

Marine livings represent one of the richest sources of protein with valuable bioactives. The present work explores the antioxidative potential of stone fish, a sea cucumber species typically discarded as by-catch. Stone fish was enzymatically hydrolysed using papain, and the resulting proteolysate exhibited strong antioxidant activity in DPPH• radical scavenging (IC50 = 0.49 mg/mL), ABTS• (IC50 = 0.36 mg/mL) radical scavenging, and FRAP value (0.29 mM FeSO4) after 8 h of hydrolysis. Fractionation of proteolysate was then performed using three approaches namely ultrafiltration, reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography, and isoelectric focusing techniques to profile and characterise the antioxidative proteolysate. Results indicated that papain-generated proteolysate from stone fish flesh possessed considerable amount of antioxidative peptides with molecular weight of approximately 2 kDa, low hydrophobicity (< 20%), and pI = 9.
Optimisation of alginate-pectin bead formulation using central composite design guided electrospray technique
Authors: Azhar Muhammad Fitri , Haris Muhammad Salahuddin , Mohamad Izzuddin , Noor Ismadi Muhammad Nur Shafiq , Abu Yazid Anis Afiful Huda , Rahman Siti Radziah , Mohd Azlan Nur Hakimah
Published: June 2022

Alginate-pectin beads act as a carrier in improving the oral bioavailability of bioactive compounds. Electrospray technique facilitates the production of uniform size and shape of alginate-pectin beads. Interaction between key electrospray process parameters affects the size and shape of the beads. A proper model should be employed to establish these correlating interactions. In the present work, the electrospray technique was guided with a central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM). One quadratic and one linear model were obtained for size and sphericity coefficient, respectively. The CCD-RSM empirical model derived from the present work is essential to determine the significant factors and their levels in producing beads with consistent size and sphericity coefficient. The results indicated that the applied voltage had the most significant influence on size, while the alginate-pectin concentration was the most prominent factor in producing spherical beads. Spherical beads with a minimum size of 2.97 mm were obtained at an alginate-pectin concentration of 3.5%, a flow rate of 10.0 mL/h, an applied voltage of 2.4 kV, and a distance between the nozzle and the gelation bath of 16.0 cm.
Therapeutic potential of saffron, and its chemical components in the treatment of cancers and cardiovascular disorders – a review
Authors: Khan Asif , Muhamad Nur Airina , Taha Rosna Mat , Mohamad Jamaludin , Al-Shara Baker
Published: June 2022

Crocus sativus L., a medicinally important species of the Iridaceae family which produces the herb saffron, plays an effective role in combating various pathogenic disorders including cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Apart from its conventional colorant and aroma-inducing attributes, various phytochemical compounds associated with saffron are now being intensively studied. More than 300 phytochemical compounds, derived from saffron stigmas alone, belong to various classes of secondary metabolites such as carotenoids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins; and they have immense therapeutic applications. Furthermore, pharmacogenomic studies of saffron extracts have revealed promising biocompatible and anticancer potentials against various drug-resistant cell lines which reduce cellular division and proliferation of malignant cells. Keeping in view with the numerous pharmacological properties associated with saffron, the present review explicitly discusses the role of its elemental contents in the prevention and treatment of various cancers and cardiovascular ailments.
The edible apple snail [Pomacea dolioides (Reeve, 1856)]; meat yield and sensorial evaluation
Authors: Dantas Emerson de Paulo Fonseca , Sant'Anna Bruno Sampaio
Published: June 2022

The present work investigated the meat yield of the gastropod Pomacea dolioides (Reeve, 1856), and sensorially evaluated its main organoleptic properties. The average meat yield of P. dolioides was 11.9 ± 3.4%, of which 10.9 ± 3.3% was for young females, 12.5 ± 2.8% for adult females, 12.1 ± 4.2% for young males, and 12.4 ± 2.2% for adult males. No significant difference was found in meat yield between sex, but a significant difference was detected in size. A significant difference was also found in the sensory analysis, as the treatment in which the gastropods were fed with grass and ration obtained the best evaluation, reaching over 70% approval for all meat attributes. Although the meat yield of P. dolioides was low, its general quality was satisfactorily accepted by the panellists. The meat of this commercially unexploited gastropod is a source of low-cost protein for people with dietary food limitations and underprivileged populations of the Amazon region, and might constitute an alternative and supplementary source of income for local animal producers.
Characterisation of LC-MS-based low molecular weight compounds and fatty acids of four wild edible mushrooms
Authors: Xun Wen , Wang Guiying , Zhang Yingjun , Ge Changrong , Liao Guozhou
Published: June 2022

The total fatty acids and low molecular weight components were determined from four wild edible mushrooms (Tuber aetivum, Cantharellus cibarius, Boletus edulis, and Tricholoma matsutake). The fatty acids were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the low molecular weight compounds were identified by liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) combined with multivariate statistical analysis. A total of 32 fatty acids were detected. The total fatty acids content was the highest in Tub. aetivum. Linoleic acid was the highest in the four wild edible mushrooms. Besides, a total of 144 and 91 differential with 40 mutual low molecular weight compounds were identified in positive and negative ion modes, respectively, mainly including amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and vitamins. Comprehensive multivariate statistics showed that betaine, choline, and 13 other compounds were differential low molecular weight compounds of the four wild edible mushrooms. These results expand our knowledge of the nutrition and flavour precursors in wild edible mushrooms.
Effect of reducing nitrite levels on the physicochemical, microbiological, proteolytic, and volatile profile of Cantonese sausage
Authors: Gou Mengxing , Zhang Zheng , Liu Baofeng , Qu Hongye , Liu Xuejun
Published: June 2022

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of reducing nitrite content on the physicochemical, microbiological, proteolytic, and volatile properties of Cantonese sausages during fermentation and storage. The Cantonese sausages were divided into six groups based on the amount of nitrite added (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 mg/kg). Results showed that among the physicochemical parameters, moisture, weight loss, a* value, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance value, and nitrite residue levels were significantly affected (p < 0.05) along with nitrite reduction. In addition, the total viable counts and Gram-positive cocci increased with the reduction of nitrite, while lactic acid bacteria decreased. The band densities of actin (48 kDa) increased with the reduction of nitrite, while no major change in sarcoplasmic protein bands was observed. The results of volatile compounds suggested that the reduction of nitrite mainly affected compounds originating from carbohydrate fermentation, esterase activity, and lipid oxidation.
Purification of endogenous transglutaminase from daggertooth pike conger fish (Muraenesox cinerus) meat
Authors: Laksono Untung Trimo , Suprihatin  , Nurhayati ‪Tati , Romli Muhammad
Published: June 2022

Daggertooth pike conger fish (Muraenesox cinerus) has the potential to be used as a raw material for the surimi industry because it has high yield and white flesh. Surimi quality is not only influenced by the production process but also by the strength of the texture which is in turn influenced by the transglutaminase enzyme (TGase) in the fish meat. However, the activity and characteristics of TGase in the fish meat were not clearly known. The present work, therefore, aimed to characterise the TGase in daggertooth pike conger fish meat. Results showed that the crude extract of TGase had an activity of 0.240 U/mL, and increased following dialysis (0.823 U mL); in other words, the activity underwent purity boosting as much as 1.983 times. Moreover, TGase in daggertooth pike conger fish meat was found to have an optimum temperature of 40 - 50°C and pH 8, with a molecular size of around 80 kDa. It was also found that the reactivity of TGase depended on Ca2+ ions and could be increased with Mg2+ ions, but could be inhibited by Fe2+ ions.
Glycan characterisation and antioxidant activity of a novel N-linked glycoprotein from okra
Authors: Zhao Wenzhu , Xu Ge , Chen Yuejiao , Yu Zhipeng , Li Jianrong , Yu Hanjie , Liao Xiaojun
Published: June 2022

Glycoproteins are present in all living beings, and have many biological functions. The characterisation of glycan structures of plant glycoproteins has become increasingly important in biotechnology and agricultural applications. In the present work, the antioxidant activities of the okra glycoprotein were assessed. The glycan structures of the okra glycoprotein were analysed using lectin microarray combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The okra glycoprotein showed relatively strong 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-scavenging ability and reducing power. In addition, the glycan structures of the okra glycoprotein mainly contained N-acetylglucosamine, mannose, and galactose. Furthermore, complex-type N-glycans were the major type of glycan structures from the okra glycoprotein. Most of the complex N-glycans of the okra glycoprotein had terminal GalNAc and Gal N-glycan structures; the glycoprotein showed a high level of fucosylated complex-type glycans. Therefore, the okra glycoprotein is a promising antioxidant. Results of the present work might serve as a reference for a better understanding of the structural information and bioactivity of okra glycoprotein.
Validation of an analytical method for the determination of inorganic, organic, and total arsenic in fish sauce based on hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry
Authors: Le Dinh-Vu , Phan Tan-Lap , Tran Quang-Hieu
Published: June 2022

An atomic absorption spectrometric (AAS) method was performed to determine the total, inorganic, and organic arsenic in fish sauce. The total organic arsenic was calculated from the total and inorganic arsenic values quantified using the hydride generation AAS (HG-AAS). Under optimal experimental conditions at the absorbance wavelength of 193.7 nm, the concentration of inorganic arsenic in fish sauce ranged from 0.05 to 1.2 mg/L, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.015 mg/L. The detectable total arsenic concentrations varied widely, ranging from 0.03 to 2.5 mg/L with the LOD of as low as 0.01 mg/L. The practical applicability of the method was demonstrated with the recovery in the range from 97 to 102% for inorganic arsenic, and 97 to 101% for organic arsenic. The method was applied to the analysis of commercial products from Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, and Phu Quoc City, Vietnam. The total organic arsenic in fish sauce samples determined by HG-AAS was compared with the results of liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP/MS). The f-test and t-test showed null hypothesis for acceptable variance and mean at a confidence level of 95%. The results showed that the HG-AAS method had high efficiency, accuracy, and sensitivity in quantifying inorganic and total organic arsenic in fish sauce using simple instrumentation.
Antioxidant, anti-acetylcholinesterase, and anticancer activities of four Polygonum species from Istanbul
Authors: Yilmaz-Ozden Tugba , Nasabi Nina Taher , Hasbal-Celikok Gozde , Kocyigit Mine , Özhan Gül
Published: June 2022

Polygonum species are used in traditional medicine in many countries; some are also consumed as vegetables in Turkey. The ethanolic, methanolic, and chloroform extracts of four Polygonum species growing in Istanbul, namely P. aviculare, P. patulum subsp. pulchellum, P. lapathifolium, and the only endemic species P. istanbulicum were evaluated for their antioxidant, anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and anticancer potentials. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride methods, respectively. The antioxidant capacities of the extracts were determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The AChE inhibitory activities of the extracts were determined using the Ellman method. Each extract was screened for cytotoxic activity against NRK-52E and HeLa cervical cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. Among the extracts screened, ethanolic extract of P. istanbulicum showed the highest total phenolic (207.03 ± 14.12 mg GAE/g extract) and total flavonoid (124.95 ± 7.84 mg CE/g extract) contents, and antioxidant activity (DPPH EC50, 8.09 ± 0.50 mg/mL). The chloroform extract of P. lapathifolium exhibited the lowest total phenolic (22.33 ± 3.05 mg GAE/g extract) and total flavonoid (11.66 ± 0.36 mg CE/g extract) contents, and antioxidant activity (DPPH EC50, 218.44 ± 24.46 mg/mL). The extracts exhibited AChE inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner, particularly the ethanolic extract of P. istanbulicum which displayed strongest inhibition against AChE (88.2 ± 3.44%). AChE inhibition was minimal (32.19 ± 2.09 to 48.34 ± 3.41%) in the chloroform extracts. All ethanolic extracts revealed cytotoxic activity toward HeLa cells, while they were not cytotoxic toward NRK-52E cells. The ethanolic extract of P. lapathifolium showed the most potent cytotoxicity against HeLa cells (IC50, 8.70 ± 1.35 µg/mL). Results suggested that ethanol was the best solvent for extracting the phenolic, antioxidant, and anti-AChE compounds, and P. istanbulicum may be a potential source of these compounds. Further investigations are nevertheless required to identify the bioactive compounds present in Polygonum species.
Different postharvest storage conditions of Arbutus unedo L. fruits, and their physicochemical and microbiological characterisation
Authors: Domingues Joana , Goulão Manuela , Coelho Maria Teresa , Gonçalves José Carlos , Pintado Cristina Santos
Published: June 2022

Arbutus unedo L. is a species with great economic impact in rural areas, and its fruits have several food applications and beneficial properties on human health. However, the fruits are highly perishable, and little is known about their characteristics. The present work thus aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of Arbutus unedo L. during two consecutive years from four different samples. Microbiological analysis was conducted at different times of preservation (days 0, 4, 11, and 21) and temperatures (room temperature, refrigeration, and freezing). Six fungal strains as representatives of the most prevalent mycobiota in fruits were used for molecular identification. The fruits had aw values of 0.916 ± 0.01 to 0.930 ± 0.01, pH values of 3.81 ± 0.01 to 3.82 ± 0.01, and ºBrix values of 25.02 ± 0.49 to 28.52 ± 1.02. Microbiological analysis revealed that the predominant microbiota in fresh fruits were psychrotrophs (4.07 ± 0.25 log CFU/g), yeasts (3.39 ± 0.18 log CFU/g), mesophiles (3.26 ± 1.20 log CFU/g), and moulds (2.70 ± 0.55 log CFU/g). After a preservation period of 11 days, the microbial loads increased from 66 to 116% at 25 ± 1°C; while at 6.5 ± 1°C, the increase varied from 3 to 53%; except for moulds, for which a decrease was observed. The application of freezing temperature (21 days) showed a small increase for psychrotrophs and yeasts of 1.5 and 2.9%, respectively. The most prevalent moulds identified belonged to Rhizopus stolonifer var. stolonifer, Aspergillus carbonarius, and Penicillium brevicompactum, while yeasts belonged to Aureobasidium sp. and Saccothecium rubi.
Fermentation properties and potential prebiotic activity of HCl-breadfruit resistant starch type III by Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 13649 and L. brevis ATCC 8287
Authors: Hussin Napisah , Mohd Noor Siti Nuriah , Zakaria Zarinah , Raja Arief Deli Raja Nasharuddin
Published: June 2022

HCl-breadfruit resistant starch type III (HCl-BFRS3) is a type of resistant starch (RS) produced from breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis). Generally, RS is the non-digestible starch fraction that resists digestion in the gastrointestinal tract, and is completely or partially fermented in the colon which gives it beneficial physiological effects as a potential prebiotic. The present work assessed the fermentation properties of HCl-BFRS3 produced by local underutilised food crops. HCl-BFRS3 with 57.86% of RS content was analsyed for its fermentation properties. In vitro fermentability of HCl-BFRS3 with pure cultures of lactic acid bacteria, LAB (Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 13649 and L. brevis ATCC 8287), was studied. Their growth patterns, pH changes, and prebiotic activity score (PAS) along with four other different carbohydrate sources (glucose, inulin, fibersol-2, and breadfruit starch) and a control sample against Escherichia coli ATCC 11775 was evaluated after 72 h of fermentation. It was found that HCl-BFRS3 selectively supported the growth of both lactobacilli and E. coli ATCC 11775, in the range of 6.21 to 9.20 log10 CFU/mL. HCl-BFRS3 also decreased the pH from the fermentation by L. plantarum ATCC 13649 and L. brevis ATCC 8287 after 24 h. The highest PAS was obtained by L. plantarum ATCC 13649 grown on HCl-BFRS3 (+1.69) as compared to inulin and fibersol-2. In conclusion, HCl-BFRS3 could be exploited as a prebiotic that benefits human health. Nevertheless, further assessment on the suitability of HCl-BFRS3 as a prebiotic material needs to be carried out.
Enhancement of palm oil extraction yield by applying underwater shock wave pre-treatment at different voltage
Authors: Suttiprapa Paramet , Pianthong Kulachate , Seehanam Wirapan , Takayama Kazuyoshi
Published: June 2022

The present work aimed to investigate the effect of underwater shock wave (USW) on palm oil yield. Palm fruits were prepared and treated by applying USW before oil extraction. Strong USWs were generated by discharging high electric voltage into water, and varying the supplied voltage in the range of 2 - 10 kV. Following USW treatment, two methods of palm oil extraction namely screw-press and solvent extraction were used to determine the oil yield. Oil yield extraction and microstructure morphology of palm mesocarp were also investigated. It was found that at 10 kV of the USW treatment, the highest yield of palm oil extraction through screw-press method was 66.35%, while the solvent extraction method yielded 70.38%, which were 3.1 and 6.3% improvement, respectively, as compared to the untreated extraction. Microstructure analysis by scanning electron microscope (SEM) of palm mesocarp showed that the oil cells had significant cracks on the surface following treatment with USW. This confirmed that the application of USW was effective in increasing palm oil yield extraction. With a reliable strength and repetition of the treatment, USW treatment is promising for practical application in the palm oil industry and also other plant oil extraction.
Non-destructive measurement of antioxidant activity and water content in chili powder (Capsicum annuum L.) using near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Khuriyati Nafis , Sukartiko Anggoro Cahyo , Alfiani Ririn Nur
Published: June 2022

Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) is a potential source of antioxidants due to its high vitamin and lutein contents. The information on antioxidant activity and water content of chili are needed by the chili-based industries which utilise chili's natural antioxidant content for various purposes in health, food, or herbal products. These information are often obtained through destructive testing which damages the tested materials, and also requires a relatively long analysis time. Therefore, the present work aimed to non-destructively measure the antioxidant activity and water content of chili powder using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIS) combined with partial least square (PLS) analysis. A total of 84 samples of chili powder from four different colour groups were used in the present work. Approximately 70% of the samples were used for calibration, while the rest were used for validation. Samples' reflectance data were acquired using NIRFlex N500 Fiber Optic Solids Cells at wavelengths of 1000 - 2500 nm. The antioxidants activity and water content were also analysed destructively for comparison/reference data. PLS was then performed on the spectrum and reference using the Unscrambler X version 11.0 software. There were also three pre-treatments used to improve the spectrum, i.e., multiplicative scatter correction, first derivative Savitzky Golay, and de-trending. The best calibration model was successfully obtained when the antioxidant activity spectrum was processed using the de-trending pre-treatment with six PLS factors. The coefficient of determination (R2) and residual predictive deviation (RPD) values for this were 0.83 and 2.60, respectively. Additionally, the best calibration model was successfully obtained when the water content spectrum was processed using the first derivative Savitzky Golay pre-treatment with five PLS factors. The R2 and RPD values for this were 0.96 and 2.25, respectively. Both models were observed to be accurate, and have the potential to be used for measuring the antioxidant activity and water content of chili powder samples.