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Background: Sesame cake extract is the by-product left behind after sesame oil extraction including almost 30% of protein and phytochemicals, which possess free radical scavenging activity. In this study, antioxidant activity of sesame cake extract on the quality of refined sesame oil has been evaluated under 60 °C during storage time. Methods: After extraction of ethanolic extract, sesame oil was treated with concentrations of 0, 20, 50, and 100 ppm of sesame cake extract and stored at 60 °C for 30 days. The sesame cake and refined sesame oil were taken from Yazd province and extracted with ethanol. Total Phenolic Content (TPC) (at the beginning of the study) and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity (30 days after inoculation) were evaluated. The antioxidant activity of various dilution of the Sesame Cake Ethanol Extract (SCEE) was assessed by measuring, rancimat analysis, Peroxide Value (PV), and Thiobarbituric Acid (TBA) assay, and also evaluation of the TPC. Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) as a synthetic antioxidant was used. Experiments were carried out in triplicates and data were processed with ANOVA test by SPSS Software. Results: Radical-scavenging capabilities of SCEE were significantly larger than the group without SCEE but it was detected to be lower than the BHA group. The induction period (IP) of sesame oil raised as the concentration of SCEE increased. All concentrations of SCEE were able to decline the PV and TBA value. Also, the group containing BHA and 100 µg/ml of SCEE significantly showed the same antioxidant activity (p≤0.05). Conclusion: The SCEE as a natural substance can prevent lipid oxidation of the refined sesame oil like synthetic antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freezing can adversely affect the quality of liquid egg through complex inter-particle interactions of egg micro-particles. The effect of pectin, PG-Alginate (PGA), Arabic Gum, maltodextrin and defrost temperature on the rheological properties, microstructure and color of frozen egg was studied. The fresh sample exhibited a light yellow color with high values of L and positive values of a and b. Freezing resulted in a reduced L value with slight changes in a and b. The additives could enhance the lightness with the closest values of L to that of the fresh sample detected for PGA and pectin. Fresh egg with a low viscosity exhibited near-Newtonian flow behavior. However, the freezing-thawing significantly increased the viscosity. Accordingly, the flow behavior index of the frozen samples was decreased significantly along with a sharp increase in the consistency index, revealing a pseudo-plastic behavior. All frozen samples exhibited higher viscosities than the fresh sample. Fresh samples contained evenly distributed micro-particles ranging from 0.05 to 5.50 µm centering at 1.27 µm. Freezing resulted in aggregated particles with significantly larger sizes. Maltodextrin significantly reduced the particle size. Further reduction was achieved by the addition of pectin, PGA, and Arabic gum. Smallest particle size distributions were achieved at pectin and PGA concentrations of 0.25 and 0.1%, respectively. The results of this study can be employed for the development of new products based on frozen egg with no added sugar or salt, while maintaining the physical and functional properties of the final product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were employed for the data reduction of a numerically simulated extraction process of sugar in an industrial RT2 extractor. The numerical model developed in OpenFOAM library was first validated using actual plant data and its stability and sensitivity to the processing variables was tested. Then, the model was used to generate data of juice and pulp sugar concentrations as affected by the main processing parameters including draft, Silin number, and capacity. The data were modelled using RSM and ANN. Both RSM and ANN were able to predict the data accurately, however, R² values obtained for ANN were slightly higher. Since the numerical model can be time consuming to be solved for all data ranges, the regression equation obtained by the RSM method or the network created according to the ANN model can be utilized as fast and ready to use tools to optimize the extractor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an account of the Library and Information Science (LIS) education in Iran. It briefly reviews the growth and development of the LIS education in the periods: 1939-1978, as the Pre- Islamic Revolution period, and 1979- 2007, as the Post -Islamic Revolution period. The paper covers an up-todate list of the 29 universities in Iran offering various LIS programs including Post-Diploma / Associate Diploma; Bachelor of Library and Information Science; Master of Library and Information Science and Ph.D., and the establishment of the LIS departments in a chronological order (84 depts.). It also emphasizes the re-designing of the curriculum based on the emerging needs to match the new technological age. It highlights the current trends in the last 10 years. The paper concludes that Post Islamic-Revolution LIS education witnessed more progress comparing to the Pre-Islamic Revolution period, particularly in the last decade (1997- 2007). At the end, some suggestions are given for improving the LIS education in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a novel voltammetry taste sensor array (VTSA) using pencil graphite electrode, screen-printed electrode, and glassy carbon electrode was used to identify heavy metals (HM) including Cad, Pb, Sn and Ni in soybean and rapeseed oils. HMs were added to edible oils at three concentrations of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.25 ppm, and then, the output of the device was classified using a chemometric classification method. According to the principal component analysis results, PG electrode explains 96% and 81% of the variance between the data in rapeseed and soybean edible oils, respectively. Additionally, the SP electrode explains 91% of the variance between the data in rapeseed and soybean oils. Moreover, the GC electrode explains 100% and 99% of the variance between the data in rapeseed and soybean edible oils, respectively. K-nearest neighbor exhibited high capability in classifying HMs in edible oils. In addition, partial least squares in the combine of VTSA shows a predict 99% in rapeseed oil. The best electrode for soybean edible oil was GC., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Soils in arid and semi-arid regions like Iran have suffered greatly from low organic matter content and low water availability. Traditional tillage and the overuse of chemical fertilizers are accelerating the problems in the region. So, sensible and sustainable strategies such as conservation tillage and natural organic inputs are becoming increasingly important to enhance organic matter and humidity in the soil and grow high-quality crops in agroecosystems. Thus, in 2019 and 2020, a split-split plot arrangement within a randomized complete block design was conducted in Iran to assess the effects of irrigated conditions, tillage systems, and biochar on the aforementioned traits. There were two irrigation conditions (irrigated and dryland) as the main plots, three tillage methods (conventional, minimum, and no-tillage) as sub-plots, and two application rates for biochar (0 and 15 ton ha -1 ) as sub-sub plots. The findings indicated that biochar application enhanced grain yield across all tillage methods under both irrigation conditions. Biochar with minimum tillage improved oil yield by 23% and 29% compared to those that did not use biochar under the dryland and irrigated conditions, respectively. Moreover, oil yield was higher in 2020 than in 2019 for all tillage systems and biochar rates. The main components of Nigella sativa L. oil belong to linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acids. Minimum tillage with biochar under irrigated conditions in 2020 and no-tillage without biochar under dryland conditions in 2019 had the most (59%) and the least linoleic acid (53%), respectively. Conventional, minimum, and no-tillage with biochar in dryland conditions significantly increased linoleic acid by 2%, 3%, and 5% compared to those without biochar in 2020, respectively. In general, adopting biochar with minimum tillage produced the best outcomes for Nigella sativa L. yield, and grain oil quality under both irrigation conditions. It is recommended that farmers incorporate these practices to produce high-quality Nigella sativa L. in sustainable agricultural systems., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The purpose of this work was to use a controlled wet-heating process to promote Maillard reaction (MR) between grass pea protein (GPPI) and xanthan gum (XG), and then analyse structural, functional and antioxidant properties of the conjugate (GPPI-XGCs). During heating, the degree of glycation of all conjugated samples was raised (up to 37.43 %) and, after heating for 24 h, the lightness of the samples decreased by 24.75 %. Circular dichroism showed changes in secondary structure with lower content of α-helix and random coil in conjugates. XRD patterns showed that MR destroyed the crystalline structure of the protein. In addition, Lys and Arg content of the produced conjugates decreased by 16.94 % and 6.17 %, respectively. Functional properties including foaming capacity and stability were increased by 45.17 % and 37.17 %, and solubility reached 98.88 %, due to the protein unfolding driven by MR. GPPI-XGCs showed significantly higher antioxidant activities with maximum ABTS-RS value of 49.57 %. This study revealed how MR can improve GPPI's properties, which can aid the food industry in producing a wide range of plant-based foods. Especially, among other characteristics, the foaming properties were significantly improved and the final product can be introduced as a promising foaming agent to be used in food formulation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

In this study, the protein and oleosomes of sesame seeds were extracted individually and used to prepare a gel composed of gelatin, protein, and oleosomes. Mixtures of gelatin and sesame seeds protein were prepared, and oleosomes with different percentages (0, 10, 20 and 30% of their weight) were used. Different amounts of oleosomes in the composite gel samples were examined for their morphological, rheological, and textural properties. The results of the viscoelastic properties of different composite gel samples indicated that a higher percentage of oleosomes would increase the storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G″), and complex viscosity (η*). The storage modulus of all gel samples was greater than the loss modulus, suggesting a solid behavior. So, in the sample with 30% oleosome, the storage modulus and the loss modulus reached 143,440 Pascals and 44,530 Pascals. The hardness and breaking force in samples containing 30% oleosome reached 1.29 ± 0.02 and 0.17 ± 0.02, respectively. In general, it can be said that composite gels based on gelatin-sesame seed protein modified with oleosome can be used as a part of food components in various dairy products, gelatin desserts, lean meat products and the production of useful products.

This study attempted to determine the best point of basil seed oxidation by applying response surface methodology (RSM) with 3 factors of temperature (35-45 °C), pH (3-7) as well as time (3-7 h), at 3 levels. The produced dialdehyde basil seed gum (DBSG) was collected and its physicochemical properties were determined. Fitting of quadratic, linear polynomial equations was subsequently done by considering the insignificant lack of fit, as well as highly considerable R 2 , in order to probe the probable relationship existing between these considered variables as well as the obtained responses. So the considered optimal related test conditions, which included pH = 3, T = 45 °C as well as Time = 3 h, were specified to produce the highest percentage of aldehyde (DBSG32), optimal (DBSG34) and the (DBSG74) samples with the highest viscosity. The results obtained by FTIR and aldehyde content determination provided the indication that dialdehyde groups were formed in a way that was in equilibrium with the considered the hemiacetal form which was dominant. Furthermore, AFM investigation related to the considered DBSG34 sample displayed over-oxidation as well as depolymerization; this might be due to the enhanced hydrophobic qualities, as well as the decreased viscosity. While the DBSG34 sample had the most dialdehyde factor group with a particular tendency for the combination having the proteins' amino group, DBSG32 and DBSG74 samples could be desirable for industrial uses owing to no overoxidation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We hereby declare that the present research is an original study; also, it is not under consideration for publication. We wish to provide the confirmation that there are no particular known interest conflicts in relation to this work and there has not been any considerable financial aid in regard the present research work which would have impacted the obtained outcomes., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: ST3GAL3-related developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE-15) is an autosomal recessive condition characterized by intellectual disability, language and motor impairments, behavioral difficulties, stereotypies, and epilepsy. Only a few cases have been reported, and the epilepsy phenotype is not fully elucidated., Methods: A retrospective chart review of two siblings with ST3GAL3-related DEE was completed. In addition, we reviewed all published cases of ST3GAL3-related congenital disorder of glycosylation., Results: Two brothers presented with global developmental delay, motor and language impairment, hypotonia, and childhood-onset seizures. Seizures started between 2.5 and 5 years and had tonic components. Both siblings had prolonged periods of seizure freedom on carbamazepine. Tremor was present in the younger sibling. Whole exome sequencing revealed two novel pathogenic variants in ST3GAL3, (a) c.302del, p.Phe102Serfs*34 and (b) c.781C>T, p.Arg261*, which were inherited in trans. Magnetic resonance imaging showed T2 hyperintensities and restricted diffusion in the brainstem and middle cerebellar peduncle in the older sibling, also described in two reported cases. A review of the literature revealed 24 cases of ST3GAL3-related CDG. Twelve cases had information about seizures, and epilepsy was diagnosed in 8 (67%). The median age of seizure onset was 5.5 months. Epileptic spasms were most common (67%). Four children were diagnosed with Infantile Epileptic Spasms syndrome and Lennox Gastaut syndrome (57%). Most children (n = 6, 75%) had seizures despite anti-seizure medication treatment., Significance: Seizures related to ST3GAL3-related DEE often occur in infancy and may present as epileptic spasms. However, seizure onset may also occur outside of infancy with mixed seizure types and show good response to treatment with prolonged seizure freedom. Tremor may also be uniquely observed in this condition., (© 2023 The Authors. Epilepsia Open published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International League Against Epilepsy.)

Due to the large number of industrial applications of transparent conductive oxides (TCOs), this study focuses on one of the most important metal oxides. The RF-magnetron sputtering method was used to fabricate NiO thin films on both quartz and silicon substrates at room temperature under flow of Argon and Oxygen. The sputtered samples were annealed in N 2 atmosphere at 400, 500, and 600 °C for 2 hours. Using the AFM micrographs and WSXM 4.0 software, the basic surface parameters, including root mean square roughness, average roughness, kurtosis, skewness, etc., were computed. Advanced surface parameters were obtained by the Shannon entropy through a developed algorithm, and the power spectral density and fractal succolarity were extracted by related methods. Optical properties were studied using a transmittance spectrum to achieve the optical bandgap, absorption coefficient, Urbach energy, and other optical parameters. Photoluminescence properties also showed interesting results in accordance with optical properties. Finally, electrical characterizations and I-V measurements of the NiO/Si heterojunction device demonstrated that it can be used as a good diode device., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Nondairy fermented probiotic powder was developed based on stabilized wheat germ through mixed fermentation ( Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum ) and electrospraying process. In the first step, the effect of mixed fermentation on lipase and lipoxygenase activity of wheat germ was investigated. The results showed a significant reduction in the activity of both enzymes (82.72% for lipase and 72% for lipoxygenase), therefore, mixed fermentation effectively stabilizes the wheat germ. In the next step, after the preparation of the solutions for drying process and investigating the physical properties (surface tension, electrical conductivity, and viscosity) of the solutions , the electrosprayability of the samples was evaluated at different conditions and revealed that 18 kV applying voltage, 0.3 flow rate, and 12 cm distance between tip to collector was the best for electrospraying the 20% solution of fermented wheat germ with morphologically most semi-uniform particles. Finally, the viability of the probiotics after drying process and during the storage at 25°C was examined. The number of initial cells counted as 14.48 ± 0.2 log cfu/g and the viability studies showed 0.55 log cfu/g decrease in the number of viable bacteria from initial count as a result of the electrospraying process. Furthermore, 7.86 ± 0.03 log cfu/g in freeze-dried and 9.05 ± 0.45 log cfu/g in electrosprayed samples survived after 70 days of storage., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Acid-casein production generates waste streams that are rich in nitrogen (in the form of protein and nitrate) and phosphate. This makes this type of waste very difficult to treat using conventional techniques resulting in a high amount of operating cost and costly investment. In this research, the application of single culture or consortium of microalgae for uptake of nitrogen and phosphate in the wastewater of an acid-casein factory was investigated. The waste was a 1:1 mixture of nanofiltered whey permeate and dairy processing wastewater. Monocultures of Chlorella vulgaris, Tetradesmus obloquus, Nonnochlropsis ocenica and a consortium of the three microalgae were analyzed. The results showed that the consortium exhibited more efficient nitrogen and phosphate removal compared to the individual species. The consortium was able to rapidly hydrolyse exogenous protein present in the waste medium, removing 88% of protein and breaking down complex protein molecules into simpler compounds (such as nitrate) for assimilation into the biomass. In the first fourteen days of cultivation, the rate of nitrate assimilation by the consortium biomass was lower than that of nitrate formation from protein degradation, leading to a net increase in nitrate concentration in the medium. As protein source was depleted and biomass concentration increased, however, the rate of nitrate assimilation began to exceed that of nitrate formation allowing for net removal of nitrate. The microalgae consortium was shown to successfully bioremediate all nitrates by day 21. It was indicated that Chlorella and Nannochloropsis species were responsible for nitrogen removal in monocultures. Phosphate, on the other hand, was efficiently removed by Tetradesmus. The results indicated that a consortium cultivation of three species of microalgae led to effective elimination of both nitrogen and phosphate. Combined flow-cytometry and microscopy analyses revealed that Chlorella overtook Tetradesmus and Nannochloropsis to emerge as the dominant population in the consortium by the end of the cultivation cycle. It can be concluded that the application of microalgae consortium for simultaneous recovery of nitrogen and phosphate is a promising approach for treating acid-casein wastewater., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Sesame protein concentrate is a by-product of sesame processing with great nutritional and functional value. In the present study, sesame protein concentrate and a conjugated form of the protein with maltodextrin were applied to improve stability and texture of sesame paste. The rheological properties of samples were studied using dynamic measurement, controlled rate and controlled stress rheological analysis, and creep analysis to investigate the sesame paste structure and to illustrate the mechanism of their stability against oil separation., Results: Samples containing the conjugate showed good stability, low average droplet size and uniform microstructure. Creep analyses showed as the conjugate was added to sesame paste, μ 0 and μ 1 values (corresponding dashpot viscosities) were higher than that of G 0 and G 1 (shear moduli of Maxwell and Kelvin-Voigt springs). Dynamic shear test exhibited increased storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G″) by the increase in frequency and elastic structure of sesame paste converted to viscose behavior with the contribution of conjugate., Conclusion: Particle interaction in sesame protein concentrate (SPC)-maltodextrin conjugate (SMC), may be overcome by steric repulsion force. Furthermore, impression of a weak network structure can be observed. These phenomenon could resolve the phase separation problem of traditional sesame paste. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.)

In this study, a novel approach was investigated to improve the stability of anthocyanin compounds (AC) by encapsulating them in nanoliposomes resulting from rapeseed lecithin alongside chitosan coating. The results indicate that the particle size, electrophoretic mobility, encapsulation efficiency, and membrane fluidity of nanoliposomes containing anthocyanin compounds were 132.41 nm, -3.26 µm·cm/V·S, 42.57%, and 3.41, respectively, which changed into 188.95 nm, +4.80 µm·cm/V·S, 61.15%, and 2.39 after coating with chitosan, respectively. The results also suggest improved physical and chemical stability of nanoliposomes after coating with chitosan. TEM images demonstrate the produced particles were spherical and had a nanoscale, where the existence of a chitosan layer around the nanoparticles was visible. Shear rheological tests illustrate that the flow behavior of nanoliposomes was altered from Newtonian to shear thinning following chitosan incorporation. Further, chitosan diminished the surface area of the hysteresis loop (thixotropic behavior). The oscillatory rheological tests also show the presence of chitosan led to the improved mechanical stability of nanoliposomes. The results of the present study demonstrate that chitosan coating remarkably improved encapsulation efficiency, as well as the physical and mechanical stability of nanoliposomes. Thus, coating AC-nanoliposomes with chitosan is a promising approach for effective loading of AC and enhancing their stability to apply in the pharmaceutic and food industries.

Background and Purpose: In regard to the biosynthesis of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) by some bacteria, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of solid-state fermentation based on soybean pressed cake (SPC) to produce CLA and EPA by Bifidobacterium lactis . The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of solid-state fermentation based on SPC to produce CLA and EPA by B. lactis ., Methods: Process conditions including humidity, inoculation level, and temperature parameters were optimized by adopting the response surface methodology (RSM) method (response surface method) and the design expert software. Accordingly, a homogeneous SPC paste substrate at 60, 70, and 80% humidity was prepared with different inoculation levels at 30, 37, and 44°C to assess the strain behavior. The introduced SPC consisted of 60% humidity, 2% inoculation level at 37°C, and 60% humidity, and 4% inoculation level at 30 and 44°C; it also included 6% inoculation level at 37°C, 70% humidity at 2% inoculation level, at 30 and 44°C, and 4% inoculation level at 37°C. Also, SPC with 80% humidity at 2% and 4% inoculation levels, and at 30 and 44°C was obtained. To confirm the accuracy of the conditions, an experiment was conducted according to the defined requirements., Results: The results were compared with the predicted data, which showed a significant difference. Under optimized conditions, with an inoculation level of 4% on the SPC medium with 70% humidity and at 37°C, B. lactis strains could yield 9 cis- , 11 trans- linoleic and eicosapentaenoic at 0.18 and 0.39% of the total fatty acids., Conclusion: So, the potential benefits of using SPC as an inexpensive substrate for the commercial production of CLA and EPA should be noted., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Azari, Hojjatoleslamy, Mousavi, Kiani and Jalali.)

Infectious plant diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, phytoplasma, and nematodes. Plant diseases have a significant effect on the plant quality and yield and they can destroy the entire plant if they are not controlled in time. To minimize disease-related losses, it is essential to identify and control pathogens in the early stages. Plant disease control is thus a fundamental challenge both for global food security and sustainable agriculture. Conventional methods for plant diseases control have given place to electronic control (E-monitoring) due to their lack of portability, being time consuming, need for a specialized user, etc. E-monitoring using electronic nose (e-nose), biosensors, wearable sensors, and 'electronic eyes' has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Detection, identification, and quantification of pathogens based on electronic sensors (E-sensors) are both convenient and practical and may be used in combination with conventional methods. This paper discusses recent advances made in E-sensors as component parts in combination with wearable sensors, in electronic sensing systems to control and detect viruses, bacteria, pathogens and fungi. In addition, future challenges using sensors to manage plant diseases are investigated., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Accurate and rapid detection of Aflatoxins as one of the most hazardous compounds in foodstuffs is very important. In this study, a label-free electrochemical aptasensor was developed to identify aflatoxin M1 using a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-based pencil graphite electrode (PGE). The morphological characteristics of the electrode surface were investigated using SEM and rGO functional groups were confirmed by FTIR. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques were used to characterize various stages of electrode modification. In order to optimize the impedimetric response of the aptasensor, aptamer immobilization time, aptamer concentration, and binding aflatoxin M1 with aptamer time were optimized. Under optimal conditions, the linear concentration range of 0.5-800 ng/L and limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3 ng/L were obtained for aflatoxin M1 by measuring the resistance charge transfer data. Finally, the fabricated aptasensor was successfully used to measure AFM1 compared to HPLC method., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Nasal septal deviation causes the obstruction of the nasal lateral wall and sinus cavities as well as bringing some respiratory problems. Furthermore, the obstruction of the upper airway tract can cause changes in normal breathing process, which itself has an important effect on the normal development of both the mandibular and facial areas. This study aimed to assess the dimensions of airway in patients suffering from nasal septal deviation as well as comparing them with healthy individuals through CBCT images. This descriptive analytical study was performed on 127 patients (classified into two groups: with septal deviation (n=93) and without this deviation (n=34). In each patient, the presence and severity of nasal septal deviation as well as upper airway dimensions were examined from sagittal and coronal views. The obtained data were then analyzed using independent t-test and Mann-Whitney test.no significant difference was observed between the mean age of the two study groups (P=0.208). Among those subjects with and without nasal septal deviation, no significant difference was observed in the lateral view in nasopharynx (P=0.653), oropharynx (P=0.828), and hypopharynx (P=0.693) areas in terms of the anteroposterior airway dimensions. As well, no significant difference was observed in the transversal dimensions in coronal view in nasopharynx (P=0.098), oropharynx (P=0.438), and hypopharynx (P=0.676) areas. There was no significant difference in terms of anteroposterior airway dimensions in the lateral view as well as regarding transverse dimensions in coronal view in nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx areas., Competing Interests: None., (AJNMMI Copyright © 2022.)

This study aimed at the fabrication of licorice extract (LE)-loaded microparticles by complex coacervation, using chickpea protein isolate (CPI) and soluble fraction of Persian gum (SFPG). The LE-loaded microparticles with the highest encapsulation efficiency (97.87%) and loading capacity (11.35%) were obtained at pH 3 and CPI: SFPG ratio, core: coating ratio, and polymer concentration of 2, 1.5, and 2, respectively. The LE-loaded microparticles (2-15 μm) possessed heterogeneous microstructure, and the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy data confirmed the pronounced effect of electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding. The thermostability, amorphous structure, and color of the LE-loaded microparticles were significantly enhanced, compared to free LE. The sensory evaluation of the model beverages containing LE-loaded microparticles revealed that the microencapsulation was able to mask the bitter aftertaste and color of the extract. Thus, the results of this research confirm the potential of CPI-SFPG complex coacervates for the efficient delivery of glycyrrhizin via incorporation into functional food products., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The oil was extracted from sesame seed with two extraction methods. Traditional (Ardeh oil) and industrial method (cold pressing method: virgin and refined sesame oil) oil extraction was studied to compare the quality and heavy metal content of extracted oils. The chemical properties (fatty acid composition, peroxide, anisidine, acid values, and TOTOX) and heavy metal contents were investigated. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) of heavy metal intakes were calculated. The results demonstrated that the predominant fatty acid in oil samples was oleic, linoleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. It was indicated the peroxide, anisidine, acid values, and TOTOX of oil samples were as the order of Ardeh oil > virgin sesame oil > refined sesame oil. The reduction pattern of Pb > Zn >Cu > Cd >As was reported in sesame seed. Although the oil refining had been greatly reduced the Pb of oil sample, but it had yet been much higher than the permissible levels set by Codex Alimentarius. The HQ and HI of all heavy metals were less than one, but they were higher in Ardeh oil compared to others. It is necessary to monitor the presence of heavy metal contaminants and the quality of imported sesame seeds prior to oil preparation., Competing Interests: There is no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

In the present study, nanoliposomes composed of rapeseed lecithin were used for the encapsulation of anthocyanin compounds (AC). The nanoliposomes were prepared using hydration and ultrasound combined method, and the effect of AC concentration (4.5, 6.75, 9% w / w ) on the characteristics of nanoliposomes including particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of nanoliposomes with and without AC were studied. The results suggested the fabricated nanoliposomes had a size range of 141-196 nm, negative zeta potential and narrow particle size distribution. Further, the samples containing 9% extract had the maximum EE (43%). The results showed elevation of AC concentration resulted in increased particle size, PDI, EE, and surface charge of nanoparticles. The presence of AC extract led to diminished membrane fluidity through the hydrophobic interactions with the hydrocarbon chain of fatty acids. TEM images suggested that the nanoliposomes were nearly spherical and the AC caused their improved sphericity. Further, in vitro biocompatibility tests for human mesenchymal (MSC) and fibroblast (FBL) cells indicated nanoparticles were not toxic. Specifically, the best formulations with the maximum compatibility and bioavailability for MSC and FBL cells were AC-loaded nanoliposomes with concentrations of 0.5 mL/mg and 10.3 mL/µg and, respectively.

Salmonella contamination has been always regarded as one of the main issues in different food products especially fresh meat, while its detection time is normally beyond the shelf life of fresh products. In this paper, a 16S RNA based FISH method was developed for the detection of Salmonella in minced lamb meat. The parameters affecting the method including temperature, probe, salt and formamide concentrations, were optimized for FISH efficiency. Then the method was used to detect Salmonella in culture media and in minced lamb samples at the presence or absence of other pathogenic bacteria. The optimized condition included the probe concentration of 50 micromolar, salt concentration of 0.464 M, formamide concentration of 35%, and temperature of 60 °C. The optimized method could successfully reveal the presence of Salmonella in samples with a complex environment. The study showed that FISH could be a reliable method for the rapid and accurate detection of Salmonella in minced lamb, provided that the method parameters are at their optimal values. This method can be suggested as a convenient, rapid, and reliable method for safety assurance of fresh meat., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cloud and sediment formation is a major problem in juices and drinks. Barberry juice, as a functional and healthy product, is faced with the sedimentation problem, as an emerging issue. The present study was carried out to identify the sediment forming agents in barberry juice concentrate. The sediment was characterized by a range of different analytical techniques including FTIR, UV spectrophotometry, HPLC and LC-MS analysis. The findings of this research revealed that sugar derived organic acids, which were present in high amounts in barberry juice, were mainly responsible for sedimentation of barberry juice concentrate during cold storage. It was reported that such sugar derived acids with active carboxylic groups could cause instability in products rich in these compounds. The isolated sediment could re-crystalize at different juice concentrations with different shapes and sizes as affected by nucleation and crystal growth rates., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)