Temporal expert finding through generalized time topic modeling

This paper addresses the problem of semantics-based temporal expert finding, which means identifying a person with given expertise for different time periods. For example, many real world applications like reviewer matching for papers and finding hot topics in newswire articles need to consider time dynamics. Intuitively there will be different reviewers and reporters for different topics during different time periods. Traditional approaches used graph-based link structure by using keywords based matching and ignored semantic information, while topic modeling considered semantics-based information without conferences influence (richer text semantics and relationships between authors) and time information simultaneously. Consequently they result in not finding appropriate experts for different time periods. We propose a novel Temporal-Expert-Topic (TET) approach based on Semantics and Temporal Information based Expert Search (STMS) for temporal expert finding, which simultaneously models conferences influence and time information. Consequently, topics (semantically related probabilistic clusters of words) occurrence and correlations change over time, while the meaning of a particular topic almost remains unchanged. By using Bayes Theorem we can obtain topically related experts for different time periods and show how experts’ interests and relationships change over time. Experimental results on scientific literature dataset show that the proposed generalized time topic modeling approach significantly outperformed the non-generalized time topic modeling approaches, due to simultaneously capturing conferences influence with time information.     

Knowledge discovery through directed probabilistic topic models: a survey

Graphical models have become the basic framework for topic based probabilistic modeling. Especially models with latent variables have proved to be effective in capturing hidden structures in the data. In this paper, we survey an important subclass Directed Probabilistic Topic Models (DPTMs) with soft clustering abilities and their applications for knowledge discovery in text corpora. From an unsupervised learning perspective, “topics are semantically related probabilistic clusters of words in text corpora; and the process for finding these topics is called topic modeling”. In topic modeling, a document consists of different hidden topics and the topic probabilities provide an explicit representation of a document to smooth data from the semantic level. It has been an active area of research during the last decade. Many models have been proposed for handling the problems of modeling text corpora with different characteristics, for applications such as document classification, hidden association finding, expert finding, community discovery and temporal trend analysis. We give basic concepts, advantages and disadvantages in a chronological order, existing models classification into different categories, their parameter estimation and inference making algorithms with models performance evaluation measures. We also discuss their applications, open challenges and future directions in this dynamic area of research.     

Concept of double salt fortification; a tool to curtail micronutrient deficiencies and improve human health status

Fortification of food with micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals is one of the main strategies used to combat micronutrient deficiencies. Fortification in common salt is a fruitful strategy because of the daily consumption of 5–12 g salt per person globally. Therefore double fortification of salt with iodine and iron could be a reasonable approach to prevent both iodine and iron deficiencies. It is reckoned that about two billion people are iodine‐deficient worldwide. Iodine deficiency during pregnancy may affect the health status of both mother and fetus and increase infant mortality. Deficiencies of both these micronutrients during childhood affect somatic growth and cognitive and neurological function. Thyroid metabolism is negatively affected by iron deficiency and reduced effectiveness of iodine prophylaxis in areas of endemic goiter. High prevalence of iron deficiency among children may be reduced by the application of effective iodized salt programs. However, ensuring the stability and bioavailability of both iron and iodine as double‐fortified salt is difficult. Iodine present in iodide or iodate form in dual‐fortified salt is oxidized to free iodine in the presence of ferrous ions and oxygen and consequently loses its characteristics. Moreover, ferrous iron is more bioavailable but is readily oxidized to the less bioavailable ferric form. However, both forms of iron may lead to discoloration of the final product, which can be reduced by providing a physical barrier around the iron. Salt encapsulation is one of the best tools to provide a physical barrier for undesirable reactions and interactions during storage. In this review the concept of dual salt fortification, the impact of fortification on curing various life‐threatening maladies, latest assessments of mineral deficiencies and the choice of fortificants are discussed. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Reduction of Cyanogenic Compounds in Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Meal Using Thermal Treatment

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) provides multiple nutritional benefits, including high quality protein, dietary fiber, and is the most abundant source of α-linolenic acid (C_18:3). However, the presence of anti-nutritional factors, such as cyanogenic compounds, restricts flaxseed's consumption as a food or feed. This study investigated the reduction of cyanogenic compounds, measured as hydrocyanic acid (HCN), in full-fat flaxseed using extrusion processing without a die by following the response surface methodology. The ranges of processing variables selected were: barrel exit temperature of 76.3–143.6°C; screw speed of 59.6–160.5 rpm; and feed rate of 26.4–93.6 kg/h. The experimental values of HCN reduction obtained were from 60.8 to 86.6%. Optimum extrusion conditions of barrel exit temperature, screw speed, and feed rate were found to be 143.6°C, 133.5 rpm, and 57.8 kg/h for maximum (89.1%) reduction of HCN. This effect was mainly dependent on barrel exit temperature, whereas screw speed and feed rate had no or minimal effect. The mutual interaction effect of barrel exit temperature and screw speed was found to be significant (p ≤ 0.01). The degree of correlation (R²) for HCN reduction was 97.2%, which showed the validity of applied second-order response model. The results of this study demonstrated that significant reduction of HCN in flaxseed can be achieved commercially using an extruder without a die.     

Fatty acids,mineral composition ond functional (bread and chapati) properties of high protein and high lysine barley lines

Six barley lines derived from corsses involving Hiproly (SV 73608×Mona⁵) and Riso 1508 with higher yield recipients V 43-42 and V 5681, along with the four parents, were analyzed for faty acids and mineral composition. Dough properties, bread and chapaties were charcterized by blending barley line (B82503) at 2.5-25% with bread wheat flour (pak 81). Fatty acid contents were myristic acid, 0.60-1.16%; palmitic acid, 16.68-20.84%; stearic acid, 1.30-3.33% and degree of unsaturation 1.40-1.50%. The derived lines contained similar amounts of essential fatty acids. Significant variation for magnesium, copper, zinc, phosphorus and potassium was observed but overlapped among the lines and parents. The calciu, iron, and manganese showed non-significant differences among lines and parents. Blending up to 10% barley flour with bread wheat flour gave farinograph characteristics comparable to those of pure wheat flour, but increasing the proportion of barley beyond this decreased the mix time and dough stability. Breadbaking tests verfied that up to 10% barley could be mixed with wheat without adversely affecting loaf volume and other quality attributes. For chapati making up to 20% barley could be blended into the wheat, yet yield acceptable quality.     

Food fortification strategy--preventing iron deficiency anemia: a review

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a significant challenge in developing countries. It increases the risk of premature delivery and low birth weight. In children, IDA retards growth, impairs cognitive performance, and reduces physical activity. It also accelerates the mortality and morbidity rate in women. The key factors responsible include dietary elevated iron demand, socioeconomic, and disease status. To overcome IDA, disease control measures, dietary diversification, supplementation and iron fortification in food have been adopted. Iron fortification in food is considered a long term and sustainable strategy in the present scenario. For an efficient fortification program, the combination of iron fortificants and food vehicle must be safe, acceptable, and consumed by the target population. Moreover, it should not adversely affect acceptability and stability of the end product.     

Antioxidant proteins and peptides to enhance the oxidative stability of meat and meat products: A comprehensive review

Lipid oxidation is among the major flaw-grounding processes in meat and meat-based products that can affect interactions among lipids and proteins, leading to critically undesirable changes. Therefore, it is imperative to control lipid oxidation in meat allied products to enhance consumer acceptability. Moreover, lipid oxidation is somber dilemma visage by the meat processing industry, affects food constituents, leading to detrimental alterations that can impart the deleterious effects on human health upon consumption. Various synthetic (butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ)) and natural antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin A, tocopherols, especially vitamin E, flavonoids particularly quercetin, proteins, and peptides) as well as preservatives are employed to extend the storability of meat and resultants products; however, great consideration is paid to the utilization of natural antioxidants due to the harmful side effects imparted by synthetic counterparts. Recently, bioactive peptides are claimed to thwart lipid oxidation in meat and other products; in addition, these antioxidant peptides have also been reported to possess substantial health-promoting potential besides controlling oxidation. Therefore, the present review is intended to emphasize the sources, production methods, and applications of antioxidant proteins and peptides to control oxidative degradation in meat products and the potential health benefits of bioactive peptides. Furthermore, the techniques available for the extraction, characterization, and assessment of the antioxidant capability of bioactive peptides are discussed critically in this review.     

Nutritional assessment of cookies supplemented with defatted wheat germ

Replacement of wheat flour with defatted wheat germ (DFWG) at levels of 0–25% was investigated for its effect on functional and nutritional properties of cookies. The crude protein content of DFWG was as high as 27.8% with a highly valuable amino acid profile, rich in essential amino acids, especially lysine (2.32 g/100 g). The physicochemical and sensory evaluation of cookies, revealed that up to 15% substitution of wheat flour with DFWG produced acceptable cookies similar to the control (100% wheat flour) cookies. The protein quality of the cookies was assessed through weanling albino rats by feeding a diet of cookies for 10 days, which was formulated to supply 10% protein, with a casein diet as a control. The cookies containing 15% DFWG, were best regarding protein bioavailability in rats. The protein efficiency ratio (PER), net protein utilization (NPU), biological value (BV) and true digestibility (TD) differed significantly among diets containing cookies with 0–10% DFWG, and casein diet when fed to rats. Diets containing 15% DFWG have values, of these parameters, similar to the casein diet.