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Abstract Background Antipsychotic drugs may have adverse effects on the components of metabolic syndrome. Previous studies have shown that changes in the intestinal microbiome are associated with metabolic disturbances in patients with schizophrenia. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of synbiotics on the components of metabolic syndrome as primary outcomes in patients with schizophrenia. Secondary outcomes were HbA1c, insulin resistance, LDL-c, and anthropometric measurements. Methods In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, seventy patients with schizophrenia receiving antipsychotic drugs who had at least two criteria of metabolic syndrome were randomly divided into two groups to receive either two capsules of a synbiotic supplement or a placebo daily for 8 weeks. Anthropometric indices and biochemical parameters were measured at baseline and after the intervention. Results Fifty-five patients completed the study. The synbiotic supplement significantly decreased waist circumference and HbA1C compared to placebo (-2.66 ± 4.20 vs. 3.03 ± 4.50 and − 0.26 ± 0.54 vs. 0.20 ± 0.75, respectively). Although BMI did not change significantly in the synbiotic + antipsychotic group, it increased in the placebo + antipsychotic group (-0.37 ± 1.00 vs. 0.61 ± 1.09 P

Abstract The primary cause of anemia worldwide is due to poor diet and iron deficiency. Iron (Fe) enriched yeast can be the most effective way to manage anemia because of the capability for biotransformation of mineral to organic and bioavailable iron. To overcome the low richness of yeast, the use of siderophore as cellular iron carriers is a new approach. In this research, for the first time the potential of siderophore in increasing the Fe enrichment of Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii), which is important because of its probiotic properties and resistance to different stresses, has been investigated to produce of potential iron supplements. For this purpose, siderophore was produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Siderophore impact, along with ten other independent process variables, has been studied on the efficiency of iron biotransformation by the Plackett–Burman design (PBD). The results showed that the highest biotransformation yield was 17.77 mg Fe/g dry cell weight (DCW) in the highest biomass weight of 9 g/l. Iron concentration is the most important variable, with contributions of 46% and 70.79% for biomass weight and biotransformation, respectively, followed by fermentation time, agitation speed, and KH2PO4 concentration. But increasing the level of siderophore and zinc led to a significant negative effect. siderophore inefficiency may be attributed to the absence of membrane receptors for pyoverdine (Pvd) and pyochelin (Pch) siderophores. Also, the steric hindrance of the cell wall mannan, the stickiness and sediment ability of the yeast, can create limitations in the absorption of elements. Such yeast can be used as a potential source of iron even for vegetarians and vegans in the form of medicinal and fortified food products to improve the treatment of anemia. It is recommended that further research be focused on increasing the iron enrichment of yeast by overcoming the structural barrier of the cell wall, investigating factors affecting membrane permeability and iron transport potential of other types of siderophores.

This paper aims to investigate the impact of small-group student-led discussion as a pre-writing task on the writing performance of Iranian intermediate EFL learners. To this end, a quasi-experimental study design was employed in which 80 Iranian intermediate EFL learners were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups, with the former being required to engage in small-group student-led discussions prior to writing paragraphs on a predetermined topic. Their paragraphs were subject to analysis focussed on the components of vocabulary, grammar, content, writing mechanics, and organization. Results indicated that, following the treatment, learners' writing performance improved significantly according to raters' holistic evaluation, as well as specifically in relation to the elements of content and vocabulary. Our study indicates that the socially negotiated nature of learners' interactions can help them engage with and develop a more wide-ranging and in-depth understanding of written content.

Freedom of association is one of the most important human rights of human beings, which also plays a serious role in the demand and realization of other human rights. In many cases, these rallies are held to protest participants against the government's policies. The peaceful holding of rallies and the important role played by the police and other security forces in securing them are among the important issues that need to be addressed. In some cases, some participants in peaceful rallies may resort to violence and the police may be forced to use force to maintain order and security. The fundamental question of this article is what are the powers and obligations of governments, especially in the use of force to control peaceful assembly? The research method of this research is analytical-descriptive and the method of collecting information is library. The results of this study show that Iran's domestic regulations are generally in line with human rights standards, but in some cases, there is a conflict between these regulations. In Law on the Use of Weapons by Armed Forces Officers, the police appear to use weapons to control illegal assemblies if other means are not effective, but in the human rights system, police can use force only in cases of legitimate self-defense.

To properly formulate diets, the ability to accurately estimate feed intake is critical as the amount of feed consumed will influence the amount of nutrients delivered to the animal. Inaccurate intake estimates may lead to under- or over-feeding of nutrients to the animal. Individual differences in equine forage intake are well-known, but predictive equations based on animal and nutritional factors are not comprehensive. The objective of the present study was to consolidate the current body of knowledge in the published literature on voluntary forage DM intake (VFDMI) in equines and conduct a meta-analysis to identify driving factors, sources of heterogeneity, and develop predictive equations. Therefore, a systematic literature search was applied and identified 61 publications which met the inclusion criteria. From each study, the outcomes of interest (e.g., forage intake), diet composition (e.g., forage information, nutrient composition), and animal factors (e.g., sex, age, breed, BW, exercise level) were extracted. Forage intake was analyzed as two different outcome variables: (1) VFDMI in kg/d and (2) VFDMI in g/kg BW. Linear mixed model analysis treating study as a random effect was applied, using a backward−stepping approach to identifying potential driving variables for VFDMI (both units) where all terms have P

Abstract About half of the 1.62 billion cases of anemia are because of poor diet and iron deficiency. Currently, the use of iron-enriched yeasts can be used as the most effective and possible way to prevent and treat anemia due to the ability of biotransformation of mineral compounds into the organic form. In this research, for the first time, Saccharomyces (S.) boulardii was used for iron enrichment with the aim that the probiotic properties of yeast provide a potential iron supplement besides improving the bioavailability of iron. Also, due to its higher resistance than other Saccharomyces strains against stresses, it can protect iron against processing temperatures and stomach acidic-enzymatic conditions. So, the effect of three important variables, including concentration of iron, molasses and KH2PO4 on the growth and biotransformation of yeast was investigated by the Box-Behnken design (BBD). The best conditions occurred in 3 g/l KH2PO4, 20 g/l molasses and 12 mg/l FeSO4 with the highest biotransformation 27 mg Fe/g dry cell weight (DCW) and 6 g/l biomass weight. Such yeast can improve fermented products, provide potential supplement, and restore the lost iron of bread, which is a useful iron source, even for vegetarians-vegans and play an important role in manage with anemia. It is recommended that in future researches, attention should be paid to increasing the iron enrichment of yeast through permeabilizing the membrane and overcoming the structural barrier of the cell wall.

ABSTRACT: Significant differences exist in the composition of current milk replacers (MR) and bovine whole milk. This study investigated how the macronutrient profile of 3 different MR formulations containing varying amounts of fat, lactose, and protein, and a whole milk powder (WP), affect postprandial metabolism and gut permeability in male Holstein calves. Sixty-four calves (45.4 ± 4.19 kg [mean ± SD] and 1.8 ± 0.62 d of age) were blocked in order of arrival to the facility and within each block, calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments. Treatments included a high-fat MR (HF: 25.0% dry matter [DM] fat, 22.5% protein, 38.6% lactose; n = 14), a high-lactose MR (HL: 44.6% lactose, 22.5% protein, 18.0% fat; n = 17), a high-protein MR (HP: 26.0% protein, 18.0% fat, 41.5% lactose; n = 17), and WP (26.0% fat, 24.5% protein, 38.0% lactose; n = 16). Calves were fed 3.0 L (135 g/L) 3 times daily at 0600, 1200, and 1800 h with a teat bucket. Milk intake was recorded daily for the first 28 d after arrival, and blood sampling and body weight measurements were performed at arrival and on d 7, 14, 21, and 27. Gut permeability was estimated from fractional urinary excretion of indigestible markers (Cr-EDTA, lactulose, and d-mannitol) administered as a single dose on d 21 instead of the morning milk meal. Digestibility was determined simultaneously from a total collection of feces over 24 h. Postprandial dynamics were measured on d 28 by sequential blood sampling over 7.5 h. Dry matter intake of MR over 28 d was slightly greater in calves fed HL and HP than in WP. Recovery of Cr-EDTA and d-mannitol over a 24-h urine collection was greater in calves fed WP and HP than HL calves. Apparent total-tract digestibility of crude ash, protein, and fat did not differ among treatments; however, DM digestibility was lower in calves fed WP than in other treatment groups. In addition, abomasal emptying, as indicated by the area under the curve (AUC) for acetaminophen, was slower in calves fed WP than in calves fed HF and HL. The AUC for postprandial plasma glucose was lower in calves fed HL than WP and HF and lower in calves fed HP than WP. The AUC for postprandial serum insulin was greater in calves fed HP than WP and HF, whereas calves fed HL did not differ from the other treatments. Postprandial triglycerides were greater in calves fed WP, and postprandial adiponectin was higher in calves fed HL than other treatments. The high content of lactose and protein in MR had a major effect on postprandial metabolism. This raises the possibility of optimizing MR formulations to maintain metabolic homeostasis and influence development.

This study explored how Iranian EFL learners and native English speakers conceptualized the impolite use of "please" in interaction. Moreover, attempts were made to examine whether Iranian EFL learners and native English speakers differ in using the impolite version of please in their communications. To this end, informal conversations of 20 Iranian EFL learners in pairs and small groups were recorded and transcribed. The impolite version of "please" in these conversations was compared with similar data from the Bergen Corpus of London Teenage Language (COLT). According to results, several functions of the 'impolite' "please" were found among Iranian EFL learners and native English speakers. Firstly, "please" was used to establish or confirm harmonious relationships between the speakers; it was used as rapport-strengthening impoliteness marker. Secondly, 'mock impoliteness' was conceptualized to bear positive meaning since it was interpreted as an amusing or entertaining remark. In teenagers' circles, entertainment skills whereby impolite "please" was employed were highly valued. Thirdly, participants adhered to 'repetition', 'reformulation', and 'escalation' in their interactions to show their creative impoliteness. Finally, it was concluded that certain functions of the impolite "please" were shared between the Iranian EFL learners and native English speakers, while some functions were not shared between these two groups.

The migration of metal ions to the food matrix has been always a challenge in the production of active food packaging films. In this study, it was tried to evaluate the idea of using hairy cellulose nanocrystals (HCNs) in controlling the migration of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) from polycaprolactone (PCL)-based films to the Tilapia fish. HCNs and the final films (integrated with various amounts of HCNs and AgNPs) were evaluated physicochemically and mechanically. Tilapia fish were packed using the films and after specific periods, the fish samples were assessed microbiologically and physiochemically. According to the results, incorporating NPs into PCL films enhanced tensile strength, elasticity, and toughness making the films more resistant to breakage and deformation under stress. The introduction of HCNs reduced the surface roughness level, decreasing AgNPs migration, but also accelerated the degradation rate. Films with [1% AgNPs +2% HCNs] and [1% AgNPs] had the lowest and highest water vapor transmission rate. The use of AgNPs (1%) + HCNs (2%) incorporated into PCL films resulted in a lower pH value, TVB-N, TBARs, and PV. It also decreased microbial activities in samples in comparison to the control. Therefore, the idea of using HCNs along with antibacterial metal-based nanoparticles can control the rate of ion migration.

Allium cepa L., known as a wild onion in Iran with different high antioxidant and antimicrobial activities in internal and outer layers. The aim of this study was to assess phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the internal and outer layers of ten Iranian onions (Allium cepa L.) landrace and compare them with three hybrid onions. Results showed that the total phenolic, flavonoid contents and the antioxidant capacity of the onions ranged 18.76–65.25 (mg GAE/g DW), 0.06–1.92 (mg/g DW) and 10.34–40.54%, respectively. The results showed higher total phenolic and flavonoid content as well as antioxidant activity and protection of pBR322 DNA in the outer layer in compare to internal ones due to higher hydroxyl radicals. Based on the results, the present study showed that red onions such as landraces originated from Azarshahr and Nowshahr included the highest quantities of phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as antioxidant activity and DNA protection values. Inhibition zone and minimum inhibitory and minimum microbicidal concentration of internal layer of onion from Kahrizak were significantly different from others (p

For years, finding ways and materials to make the learning experience for EFL learners more inspiring and fruitful has been one of the most important tasks of English teaching. The main aim of this study was to examine the effects of movies and gender on learning English idiomatic and everyday expressions among Iranian EFL learners. The sample of this study was composed of English major students of Islamic Azad University, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch. Their first language was Persian and their age ranged between 25 to 45. The participants were 30 male and female students who were chosen based on their scores on a placement test which was taken to make sure that they were in the same level of English language proficiency. A true experimental design was used in which pretest-treatment-posttest was utilized. Data collection tools were: Oxford Quick placement test, a pretest, a posttest, and the teaching material. There was a pretest on vocabulary which was followed by the treatment, the participants watched movies and vocabularies were explained by the teacher through asking the students guess the meaning or get help from the texts they had. The posttest was administered after the treatment. Paired-samples t-test and independent-samples t-test were run on the data. Results showed that movies had significant effects on learning English idiomatic and everyday expressions among Iranian EFL learners and it improved learning. Moreover, gender had no significant effects on learning English idiomatic and everyday expression among Iranian EFL learners.

Background: Oxymel is a functional beverage with a rich historical background of use in multiple societies. Various simple and compound oxymels are prescribed in certain complementary and traditional medical systems, including traditional Persian Medicine. In recent years, numerous clinical and preclinical studies have been conducted in the pharmacy and food industry to investigate the efficacy of various oxymel formulations. This article aims to systematically review and summarize interventional studies on oxymel in both clinical research and animal models. Methods: Relevant articles were searched in Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and Google Scholar from inception to July 2023 using the keyword “Oxymel” and its equivalents in other languages. Animal and human interventional studies were selected from the search results for review. Results: This review includes twenty studies, comprising twelve clinical trials, two case studies, and six animal studies. The most commonly reported actions of oxymel include positive effects on the cardiovascular system, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, compound oxymel formulations have demonstrated additional benefits depending on the inclusion of specific medicinal herbs. Conclusion: Based on our findings, oxymel appears to be a valuable functional food for healthy individuals and a potentially effective and safe treatment option for managing certain diseases such as asthma, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. However, further clinical trials with larger sample sizes and longer durations are needed to fully elucidate the potential side effects and benefits of both simple and compound oxymels in various disease states.

The scientific community is currently facing a more than exponential increase of knowledge in all areas and disciplines. In the last 10 years, the contribution of the journal Applied Food Biotechnology was eminent in distributing that knowledge by providing a tribune for researchers from different countries all over the world to share their ideas, observations, and hypotheses. With a focus on different aspects of applied and fundamental biological sciences, the journal Applied Food Biotechnology was established as a reference of the Iranian scientific community. In the last 10 years, the journal has been covering several topics related to exploring the beneficial properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their role in modern food technologies. LAB are already proven as a realization of Hippocrates' vision for the potential role of food in human and other animals' health. However, what will be the next frontier? What are the challenges in understanding the interactions between microbiota and host microorganisms? What will be the novel analytical tools, facilitating a new era of probiotic research? These were only a few research topics presented and discussed in Applied Food Biotechnology in the last decade. This editorial overview aims to celebrate the scientific contribution of Applied Food Biotechnology in the area of research associated with the beneficial properties of LAB, summarizing some of the studies published in the journal.