Effect of starter cultures on properties of soft white cheese made from camel (Camelus dromedarius) milk

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of starter cultures on the physicochemical properties, texture, and consumer preferences of soft white cheese (SWC) made from camel (Camelus dromedarius) milk. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments [starter cultures; i.e., 1 thermophilic (STI-12), 2 blended (RST-743 and XPL-2), and 2 mesophilic (R-707 and CHN-22) cultures]. Starter cultures STI-12 and RST-743 were inoculated at 37°C, whereas XPL-2, R-707, and CHN-22 were inoculated at 30°C. Camel milk inoculated using STI-12 and RST-743 cultures resulted in faster acidification than XPL-2, R-707, and CHN-22 cultures. Camel milk SWC made using STI-12 and CHN-22 cultures gave lower pH (4.54) and titratable acidity (0.59), respectively, whereas R-707 culture resulted in high cheese yield (13.44 g/100 g). In addition, high fat (20.91 g/100 g), protein (17.49 g/100 g), total solids (43.44 g/100 g), and ash (2.40 g/100 g) contents were recorded for SWC made from camel milk made using RST-743 culture. Instrumental analysis of cheese texture revealed differences in resistance to deformation in which camel milk SWC made using RST-743 culture gave higher firmness (3.20 N) and brittleness (3.12 N). However, no significant difference was observed among camel milk SWC adhesiveness made using different starter cultures. Consumer preference for appearance, aroma, taste, and overall acceptances of SWC were affected by inoculation of starter cultures. Considering curd firmness, cheese yield, compositional quality, and textures using STI-12, RST-743, and R-707, these cultures were found to be better for the manufacture of camel milk SWC.     

Promoting GMP implementation: developing training materials for the international audience.

This paper outlines the development of a CD-ROM training package entitled: The WHO Basic Training Modules on GMP, intended to support the creation of training courses aimed particularly at government compliance officials who inspect pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. The material was created over a three-year period in collaboration with a team of external experts, WHO regional and local offices, and Drug Regulatory Authorities of participating countries. The nine training workshops and courses that contributed to the development and evaluation processes were attended by approximately 240 participants from 47 countries. To date over 5,800 copies of the CD-ROM have been distributed.     

Genotypic variation for potassium uptake and utilization efficiency in wheat

Pot and field experiments were carried out in order to study the genotypic variation in potassium uptake and utilization by winter wheat (T. aestivum L). Fifty-eight genotypes showed variation in K concentration, accumulation and potassium efficiency ratio (KER) in a field experiment. KER had significant positive correlation with grain weight per spike and harvest index (HI), and significantly negative correlation with stem K concentration at maturity. In a subsequent field experiment, three out of four genotypes, Yunmei 5, 94-18 and 94-6 differed in their KER, and had significantly higher grain yield with K application (K1) than without K application (K0). The 4th genotype Zhemei 1 showed no response to K. The yield increase due to K application was mainly due to the improvement in spike development from tillers. K concentration and accumulation in the plant varied between genotypes, K levels and plant parts. Among various plant parts, stem contained the highest K concentration and had the highest K accumulation at maturity, and changed considerably with the K level, while other plant parts remained relatively unchanged. All four genotypes had smaller KER in K1, as compared to K0, but there existed some difference in KER reduction among genotypes.     

Microglia-Derived Olfactomedin-like 3 Promotes Pro-Tumorigenic Microglial Function and Malignant Features of Glioma Cells

Under the influence of transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ), glioma-associated microglia produce molecules that promote glioma growth and invasion. Olfactomedin-like 3 (Olfml3), a novel, secreted glycoprotein, is known to promote several non-CNS cancers. While it is a direct TGFβ1 target gene in microglia, the role of microglia-derived OLFML3 in glioma progression is unknown. Here, we tested the hypotheses that microglial Olfml3 is integral to the pro-tumorigenic glioma-associated microglia phenotype and promotes glioma cell malignancy. Using an Olfml3 knockout microglial cell line (N9), we demonstrated that Olfml3 is a direct target gene of all TGFβ isoforms in murine microglia. Moreover, loss of Olfml3 attenuated TGFβ-induced restraint on microglial immune function and production of cytokines that are critical in promoting glioma cell malignancy. Importantly, microglia-derived OLFML3 directly contributes to glioma cell malignancy through increased migration and invasion. While exposure to conditioned medium (CM) from isogenic control microglia pre-treated with TGFβ increased mouse glioma cell (GL261) migration and invasion, this effect was abolished with exposure to CM from TGFβ-treated Olfml3^-/- microglia. Taken together, our data suggest that Olfml3 may serve as a gatekeeper for TGFβ-induced microglial gene expression, thereby promoting the pro-tumorigenic microglia phenotype and glioma cell malignancy.     

Analytical study of heat and mass transfer in unsteady MHD radiant flow of Williamson nanofluid over stretching sheet with heat generation and chemical reaction

This paper presents the analytical study of heat and mass transfer in a two-dimensional time-dependent flow of Williamson nanofluid near a permeable stretching sheet by considering the effects of external magnetic field, viscous dissipation, Joule heating, thermal radiation, heat source, and chemical reaction. Suitable transformations are introduced to reformulate the governing equations and the boundary conditions convenient for computation. The resulting sets of nonlinear differential equations are then solved by the homotopy analysis method. The study on the effects of relevant parameters on fluid velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles is analyzed and presented in graphical and tabular forms. Upon comparison of the present study with respect to some other previous studies, a very good agreement is obtained. The study points out that the transfer of heat can substantially be enhanced by decreasing viscoelasticity of the fluid and the transfer of mass can be facilitated by increasing permeability of the stretching sheet.     

Microglia-Derived Olfactomedin-like 3 Is a Potent Angiogenic Factor in Primary Mouse Brain Endothelial Cells: A Novel Target for Glioblastoma

Neoangiogenesis, a hallmark feature of all malignancies, is robust in glioblastoma (GBM). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has long been regarded as the primary pro-angiogenic molecule in GBM. However, anti-VEGF therapies have had little clinical efficacy, highlighting the need to explore VEGF-independent mechanisms of neoangiogenesis. Olfactomedin-like 3 (OLFML3), a secreted glycoprotein, is an established proangiogenic factor in many cancers, but its role in GBM neoangiogenesis is unknown. To gain insight into the role of OLFML3 in microglia-mediated angiogenesis, we assessed endothelial cell (EC) viability, migration and differentiation following (1) siRNA knockdown targeting endogenous EC Olfml3 and (2) EC exposure to human recombinant OLFML3 (rhOLFML3; 10 ng/mL, 48 h), and conditioned medium (CM) from isogenic control and Olfml3^−/− microglia (48 h). Despite a 70% reduction in Olfml3 mRNA levels, EC angiogenic parameters were not affected. However, exposure to both rhOLFML3 and isogenic control microglial CM increased EC viability (p < 0.01), migration (p < 0.05) and differentiation (p < 0.05). Strikingly, these increases were abolished, or markedly attenuated, following exposure to Olfml3^−/− microglial CM despite corresponding increased microglial secretion of VEGF-A (p < 0.0001). Consistent with reports in non-CNS malignancies, we have demonstrated that OLFML3, specifically microglia-derived OLFML3, promotes VEGF-independent angiogenesis in primary brain microvascular ECs and may provide a complementary target to mitigate neovascularization in GBM.     

Variation in lipid composition of niger seed (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) Samples collected from different regions in ethiopia

Niger seed samples were collected from different regions in Ethiopia for determination of oil content, and of fatty acid, tocopherol and sterol composition in the seed oil by gas-liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography methods. There was a large variation in oil content, ranging from 29 to 39%. More than 70% of the fatty acids was linoleic acid (18∶2) in all samples analyzed. The other predominant fatty acids were palmitic (16∶0), stearic (18∶0) and oleic (19∶1) at a range of 6 to 11% each. Total polar lipids recovered after preparative thin-layer chromatography comprised a small fraction of the total lipids. They had higher 16∶0 and lower 18∶2 contents than the triacylglycerols.α-Tocopherol was the predominant tocopherol in all samples, 94–96% of the total amounting to 630–800 μg/g oil. More than 40% of the total sterols wasβ-sitosterol,ca. 2000μg/g oil. The other major sterols were campesterol and stigmasterol, ranging from 11 to 14%. The Δ5- and Δ7-avenasterols were in the range of 4 to 7%. From the samples studied, no conclusion could be drawn regarding the influence of altitude or location on oil content, tocopherol and/or sterol contents. The results of the present study on niger seed oil are discussed in comparison with known data for common oils from Compositae,viz, safflower and sunflower.