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Foxtail millet is a type of minor millet that has nutritional‐rich characteristics. The bran layer in millets contains a considerable amount of antinutritional properties, and grain/flour/product spoilage occurs due to fat in the bran layer. Therefore, the removal of bran from millets can enhance their shelf life. Bran removal from foxtail millet is challenging because of its tiny size. Hence, the study targeted optimizing polishing process parameters for foxtail millet. The effect of process variables such as grain moisture content (8%–16% w.b.), emery roller speed (800–2400 rpm), and polishing time (1–8 min) on polishing characteristics (degree of polishing, head yield, middling yield, and broken content) and proximate composition (protein, fat, crude fiber, ash, and carbohydrate contents) of foxtail millets was studied using the central composite rotatable design (CCRD). Emery roller speed and polishing time significantly affected all responses (p < 0.01). In contrast, grain moisture content had a significant effect only on the degree of polishing (p < 0.05), head, and middling yields (p < 0.01). A numerical optimization technique was adopted to optimize the process parameters of the polisher. The optimum operating conditions were 10% grain moisture content, 1650 rpm of emery roller speed, and 2 min of polishing time. A validation study conducted at optimized conditions revealed no significant difference between the predicted and actual values of responses and considerably less broken content (9.26%). The results of the present study indicate that machinery modified and processes optimized during the study are fairly accepted and can be used to upscale the machine for industrial use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: From ancient times, lentil has been a prominent part of our diet. Nowadays, there is an emerging interest in lentil, as it is a potential food of plant origin having ample amount of nutrients, which contributes to numerous health benefits. Methods: The seeds of lentil (PL 8) were screened for visual impurity and deformity and sound seeds were selected for further analysis. The seeds were subjected to milling and the flour obtained was further used to analyze the physical parameters, nutritional quality, antinutrient content and cooking characteristics of the chosen variety. The impact of soaking on cooking quality was also observed. Result: It was observed that lentil (PL 8) seeds had higher content of protein, dietary fibre and anti oxidants. However, the antinutrient content as well as physical properties were comparable with the other varieties studied by various authors. It was further observed that soaking of seeds prior to cooking reduced cooking time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avi Wallerstein,1,2 Eser Adiguzel,2 Mathieu Gauvin,1,2 Nima Mohammad-Shahi,1 Mark Cohen2,3 1Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 2LASIK MD, Montreal, 3Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada Purpose: Collagen cross-linking (CXL) for post-laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) ectasia (PLE) is traditionally performed either epi-on or epi-off on the corneal surface. This study describes a novel technique in treating early PLE with under-flap CXL (ufCXL) to the stromal bed and reports on 6-month outcomes.Patients and methods: Case series of seven patients (eight eyes) with topography-diagnosed early PLE treated with ufCXL. Inclusion criteria were early, mild PLE defined as new-onset postoperative manifest refraction cylinder ≤1.50 D, with new topographic inferior steepening consistent with ectasia, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) of 20/40 or better, and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) of 20/25 or better. Existing LASIK flap was lifted, riboflavin was applied directly to the stromal bed, flap was repositioned, and 18 mW/cm2 ultraviolet light was applied for 3 minutes to the corneal surface. Post-ufCXL manifest refraction, UDVA and CDVA, corneal cylinder, Kmax, and corneal irregularity index were compared with pre-ufCXL measurements.Results: Patients had a pre-ufCXL sphere of 0.09±0.48 D and cylinder of −0.78±0.49 D. At 6 months, post-ufCXL sphere (0.06±0.8 D; P=0.89) and cylinder (−1.09±0.76 D, P=0.26) were unchanged. Cumulative post-ufCXL UDVA was unchanged, achieving 20/20, 20/30, and 20/40 in 25%, 88%, and 88%, respectively, compared with 13%, 63%, and 88% pre-ufCXL (P=0.68). Post-ufCXL CDVA was unchanged (P=0.93) with a gain of one line in two eyes, a loss of one line in one eye, and five eyes unchanged. The efficacy index (P=0.76), safety index (P=0.89), Kmax (P=0.94), and corneal irregularity index (P=0.73) were also unchanged.Conclusion: Preliminary results with ufCXL for early PLE are promising, demonstrating maintenance of visual accuracy, efficacy, safety, Kmax, and cylinder, with much quicker recovery times than surface CXL. Keywords: CXL, LASIK, ufCXL, post-LASIK ectasia, cross-linking, LASIK complications, stromal bed

Background: Leaf protein concentrate (LPC) is a cheap and feasible source of high-quality protein. Researchers found the protein quality of LPC is similar to first-class protein food. Tobacco is a protein-rich leaf but contains a high amount of nicotine. According to studies the leaf protein concentrate obtained from tobacco leaves is nicotine-free and also useful to gaining weight in malnourished rats. Methods: Fresh leaves were blended with distilled water in different leaf water ratio (1:3, 1:6, 1:9 and 1;12). The juice was filtered and coagulated at different pH (acidic, basic and neutral) with different coagulating techniques (conventional heating, Microwave and Ultrasound) to standardize the optimum procedure for leaf protein concentrate extraction. The coagulant was filtered and dried in the oven. Result: The maximum quantity of crude protein and LPC yield (62.34% and 4.7 g) was extracted with a 1:9 leaf water ratio at acidic pH by using citric acid followed by the conventional heating method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N(4) modified copper thiosemicarbazones have been extensively studied for their anticancer potency toward various cancer cells as they exhibit less toxicity, wide spectrum of activity, non-resistance behavior and a novel mechanism of action as compared to that of platinum complexes. 5-Nitroisatin -4-thiomorpholinyl-3-thiosemicarbazone(L1), 5- nitroisatin -4, 4-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone(L2), and their copper (II) complexes; CuL1 and CuL2 were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, NMR, ESI-HRMS, UV-Vis, TGA, PXRD (Le Bail fitting) and EPR techniques. PXRD analysis suggested that the copper (II) complexes possess a monoclinic crystal system with P1211 symmetry. The coordination of Cu(II) ion with thiosemicarbazones and one chloride ion suggests a distorted square planar geometry of complexes. All the compounds were screened against breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB231), skin cancer (A431) and normal prostate cell line (PNT2) in terms of cell viability and found that all the synthesized compounds exhibited in vitro antiproliferation toward the tested cancer cells. These complexes were found to be more effective on MDA-MB-231 than on A431 and MCF-7 cells. The molecule, CuL1 was found to show a better anticancer potency compared to CuL2 as CuL1 was found to be less toxic to normal PNT2 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic biomass (like rice straw) provides an alternative for depleting non-renewable energy sources through its value-added utilization (like production of biofuels and nanocellulose) owing to its abundance, renewability, polymer presence and environmental friendliness. Prior to its utilization, any lignocellulosic biomass is subjected to a timeconsuming delignification process for lignin free biomass recovery. The present study aims to reduce the time of delignification of rice straw along with enhancing the delignification percentage of biomass by use of microwave assisted sodium chlorite method. The experiments were done at two microwave power levels (640, 800 W), three bleaching solution concentrations (0.4, 1.7, 3.0 %) and three microwave treatment times (4, 8, 12 min). The delignification percentage of the rice straw for the whole experimentation varied from 24.7 to 90.12%. The results revealed that the time of delignification was greatly reduced (12 min) with a very high delignification (90.12%) percentage. The morphology of the delignified samples also revealed the deconstruction of the lignin structure. The improved method can thus be applied for the delignification of other biomasses as well for quick and effective delignification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: “Warm water lactococcosis” in farm‐reared rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) in the northern Himalayan region of India, caused by bacterium Lactococcus garvieae is described in this study. Nine bacterial isolates were recovered from the organs of haemorrhagic septicaemia rainbow trout and were subjected to biochemical and molecular identification. Cell surface characteristics and virulence of the bacterial isolates are also described. All the nine bacterial isolates had homogenous biochemical characteristics and were Gram‐positive, short chains forming (two to eight cells long), α‐haemolytic, non‐motile ovoid cocci. Partial 16S rDNA nucleotide sequence (~1,400 bp) of current isolates shared 99% identities with the 16S rDNA nucleotide sequence of L. garvieae R421, L. garvieae FMA395 and L. garvieae CAU:1730. The identity of the bacterial isolates was further confirmed by PCR amplification of L. garvieae‐specific ~1,100 bp fragment. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of one representative isolate, L. garvieae RTCLI04, indicates that the isolated strain lacks thick outer capsule and is of KG+ (non‐capsulates) phenotype. An intraperitoneal and intramuscular injection (2.6 × 105 CFU ml−1) and also immersion in bacterial suspension @ of 2.6 × 105 CFU ml−1 to healthy rainbow trout juveniles (body weight: 27.5 ± 3.7 g) with L. garvieae RTCLI04 caused 80%, 60% and 10% cumulative mortality in challenged fish, respectively, within 15 days post‐infection. The haemorrhagic septicaemic disease was reproduced experimentally. Histopathological examination of organs of experimentally infected fish revealed extensive degenerative and inflammatory changes in eye, kidney, gill and liver. PCR amplification of several putative virulence genes such as haemolysins, adhesins, LPxTG‐containing surface proteins and adhesins cluster confirms the virulence of our Indian L. garvieae isolates. To the best of our knowledge, we are reporting for the first time that L. garvieae is associated with fatal haemorrhagic septicaemia in farmed rainbow trout in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of the azo dye methyl red (MR) with dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) has been studied by the spectrometric methods through the azo-hydrazone tautomeric behaviour of MR for a series of the ethanol–water system (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 volume fractions of ethanol) at room temperature. The critical micelle concentration was determined using the conductometric technique with the increased ethanol volume, influenced by the solvent polarity and the architectural flexibility of methyl red. The azo form of methyl red brings the electrostatic interaction with the cationic surfactant through the adsorption phenomenon. The binding parameters were calculated with the aid of a modified Benesi–Hildebrand equation.