Plasma myeloperoxidase,NT‐proBNP,and troponin‐I in patients on CAPD compared with those on regular hemodialysis

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a hemoprotein that is released during inflammation and may lead to irreversible protein and lipid modification, increasing levels of oxidized low density lipoprotein, and promoting athrogenesis. Recently, it has been considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Similarly, the measurement of carotid intima‐media thickness gives an indication about the degree of atherosclerosis and prediction of clinical cardiovascular events. Elevated white blood cells counts may indicate a state of acute inflammation and follow its progression. Dialysis patients are at a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared with healthy subjects. The role of N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide and increased cardiac troponin in identification and prognostication of cardiovascular diseases in end‐stage renal disease patients has been investigated. The current study aimed to evaluate plasma MPO and its possible relationship with carotid intima‐media thickness, troponin I, N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP), and insulin resistance as measured by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA index) in a cohort of Saudi patients who are undergoing hemodialysis (HD) vs. continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for end‐stage renal disease. Plasma MPO was significantly higher in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) than in those on HD and in normal subjects (P<0.001). Conversely, NT‐proBNP plasma levels were significantly higher in patients on HD (both predialysis and postdialysis) than in those on CAPD (P<0.01) and than normal subjects. Similarly, plasma troponin‐I levels were significantly higher in patients on HD compared with those of CAPD and than normal subjects (P<0.001). Plasma troponin‐I and NT‐proBNP levels were positively correlated in the 3 groups namely those on CAPD, Pre‐HD, and post‐HD (r: 0.464 and P=0.047; r: 0.330 and P=0.013; and r: 0.452 and P=0.024), respectively. There was no correlation between the MPO level and carotid intima‐media thickness (P>0.05). However, plasma MPO level correlated positively with the white blood cell count in patients on CAPD and in those on HD (P<0.05). Our findings suggest an increased oxidative stress in CAPD patients compared with HD patients, while the reported difference in plasma NT‐proBNP and troponin‐I may be related to the rapid decline of residual renal function in HD and type of membrane used in the HD dialysis procedure itself.     

EFFECT OF SODIUM METABISULFITE ADDITION AND BAKING TEMPERATURE ON MAILLARD REACTION IN BREAD

ABSTRACT

In this study, the effect of sodium metabisulfite (SMBS) doses (0, 25, 50, 100 mg/kg dough) and baking temperatures (200, 230 and 250C) on the physical, chemical and sensory properties of bread were researched to reduce 5‐hydroxymethyl‐2‐furfural (HMF) and acrylamide contents. HMF and acrylamide contents of bread crust were decreased significantly by increasing SMBS dose and decreasing baking temperature. The HMF (137.29 mg/kg) and acrylamide (671.44 µg/kg) contents of bread crust were decreased by 33 and 67%, respectively by addition of 100 mg/kg SMBS. The maltol content of bread crusts were significantly affected by baking temperature, and were 7.19, 10.23 and 22.69 mg/kg in breads baked at 200, 230 and 250C, respectively. No HMF, acrylamide and maltol were detected in the bread crumb. The sulfur dioxide content of the crust and crumb of control bread was 6.99 and 10.69 mg/kg, and increased by 49 and 59%, respectively at 100 mg/kg SMBS dose. All breads were evaluated as acceptable by a sensory panel.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Since Maillard reaction products such as acrylamide and 5‐hydroxymethyl‐2‐furfural (HMF) are known as toxic compounds, mitigation of these compounds is important subject for health and nutrition. There is not an efficient method to prevent the formation of acrylamide and HMF in bread crusts comparison with potato crisps. The purpose of this research is to slow down Maillard reaction by addition of sodium metabisulfite in bread‐making process. As a result of this research, acrylamide and HMF content of bread crusts decreased by 33 and 67%, respectively with acceptable sensory evaluation.     

THE LACTIC ACID FERMENTATION OF THREE DIFFERENT GRAPE LEAVES GROWN IN TURKEY

Leaves of three different cultivars of Vitis vinifera L., Ekşikara, Hesapali and Siyah pekmezlik were fermented in 10% brine and 10% brine + 1% citric acid concentration for 5 weeks. Percent dry matter, average weight, protein and dimethyl sulfide content of fresh leaves were determined. During the fermentation time, chemical properties of brine (titratable acidity, pH, salt content) were determined at certain intervals. Fresh leaves of Ekşikara had the highest amount of dry matter (31.69%), followed by Siyah pekmezlik (27.89%) and Hesapali (25.36%).The protein content of fresh leaves decreased approximately 50% as a result of the fermentation. Fermented Hesapali leaves had the highest (2,955 kcal/100 g), while Siyah pekmezlik leaves had the lowest (2,384 kcal/100 g) energy values. Ekşikara leaves in 10% brine + 1% citric acid had the lowest pH value (2.09), while Siyah pekmezlik had the highest pH value (2.57) on the fifth week of the fermentation. The highest titratable acidity was measured in Hesapali (10% brine + 1% citric acid). Hesapali leaves in both types of brine showed the highest taste scores, while Ekşikara leaves were preferred for their more acceptable odor. Siyah pekmezlik leaves are not recommended for brining as the fermented leaves of this cultivar obtained the lowest sensory scores.     

USE OF COUNTERPROPAGATION NEURAL NETWORKS TO ENHANCE THE CONCURRENT SUBSPACE OPTIMIZATION STRATEGY

The paper explores the use of artificial neural networks in a concurrent optimization strategy that derives from a decomposition based approach to design of large-scale engineering systems. These problems are characterized by complex couplings that render parametric design methods inappropriate as solution tools. Decomposition methods reduce the large dimensionality problem into a sequence of smaller, more tractable optimization problems, each with a smaller set of design variables and constraints. The decomposed subproblems are rarely decoupled completely, and design changes in one subproblem have a profound influence on changes in another subproblem. Essential components of decomposition based design methods are strategies to identify a topology for problem decomposition, and to develop coordination strategies which account for couplings among the decomposed problems. The paper examines the effectiveness of artificial neural networks as a tool to both account for the coupling, and to develop methods to coordinate the solution in the different subproblems to a converged optimal design     

短毛柽柳不同部位多糖提取工艺及含量测定

采用超声波辅助提取技术,考察了料液比、80℃热水浸泡时间、超声时间、超声功率四因素对短毛柽柳花、嫩枝叶、茎中多糖提取率的影响。本实验条件下,短毛柽柳不同部位多糖提取的最佳工艺条件为：料液比1:60,热水浸泡时间1h,超声时间20min,超声功率300W。此时花、嫩枝叶、茎中多糖含量分别为53.06、164.90、48.01mg/g,嫩枝叶的多糖含量明显高于其他两个部位。此方法回收率为98.25%。     

CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYPHENOLOXIDASE FROM WILD PEAR (PYRUS ELAEGRIFOLIA)

Wild pear polyphenoloxidase (PePPO) was extracted and purified using a Sepharose 4B- l -tyrosine- p -amino benzoic acid affinity column. Optimum conditions for pH, temperature and heat inactivation were determined. At the optimum pH and temperature, K _M and V _max values for PePPO with catechol and pyrogallol were determined. The V _max/ K _M showed that PePPO has the greatest activity toward catechol. Optimum pH for PePPO was pH 6.0 using catechol as substrate. Optimum temperatures of PePPO for pyragallol and catechol were 65 and 35C, respectively. Enzyme activity decreased because of heat denaturation with increasing temperature. Inhibition of PePPO was investigated using p -aminobenzoic acid, ethyleneglycol, l -cysteine, l -tyrosine, sodium azide, p -aminobenzenesulfonamide, β-mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol and catechol as substrate. Competitive-type inhibition was obtained with ethyleneglycol, l -cysteine, l -tyrosine, p -aminobenzenesulfonamide and dithiothreitol. Uncompetitive inhibition was obtained with β-mercaptoethanol, sodium azide and p -aminobenzoic acid. These results show that the most effective inhibitor for PePPO was dithiothreitol and that the type of inhibition depended on the origin of PPO.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

In this present work, the properties of polyphenoloxidase in Pyrus elaegrifolia , including optimum temperature, optimum pH, substrate specificity and response to inhibitors, were studied.     

Migration of existing software systems to mobile computing platforms: a systematic mapping study

Mobile computing has fast emerged as a pervasive technology to replace the old computing paradigms with portable computation and context-aware communication. Existing software systems can be migrated (while preserving their data and logic) to mobile computing platforms that support portability, context-sensitivity, and enhanced usability. In recent years, some research and development efforts have focused on a systematic migration of existing software systems to mobile computing platforms.To investigate the research state-of-the-art on the migration of existing software systems to mobile computing platforms. We aim to analyze the progression and impacts of existing research, highlight challenges and solutions that reflect dimensions of emerging and futuristic research.We followed evidence-based software engineering (EBSE) method to conduct a systematic mapping study (SMS) of the existing research that has progressed over more than a decade (25 studies published from 1996–2017).We have derived a taxonomical classification and a holistic mapping of the existing research to investigate its progress, impacts, and potential areas of futuristic research and development.The SMS has identified three types of migration namely Static, Dynamic, and State-based Migration of existing software systems to mobile computing platforms.Migration to mobile computing platforms enables existing software systems to achieve portability, context-sensitivity, and high connectivity. However, mobile systems may face some challenges such as resource poverty, data security, and privacy. The emerging and futuristic research aims to support patterns and tool support to automate the migration process. The results of this SMS can benefit researchers and practitioners–by highlighting challenges, solutions, and tools, etc., –to conceptualize the state-ofthe- art and futuristic trends that support migration of existing software to mobile computing.     

Nanoscale scanning transmission electron tomography

Electron tomography enables the study of complex three‐dimensional objects with nanometre resolution. In materials science, scanning transmission electron microscopy provides images with minimal coherent diffraction effects and with high atomic number contrast that makes them ideal for electron tomographic reconstruction. In this study, we reviewed the topic of scanning transmission electron microscopy‐based tomography and illustrated the power of the technique with a number of examples with critical dimensions at the nanoscale.