Measurement of Heat and Pressure Induced Denaturation of Whey Protein Isolate Using Reversed-Phase HPLC and FTIR-Spectroscopy

The protein molecules experience various external stresses leading to denaturation of protein during the process of transforming original whey to the concentrated whey proteins or while the concentrated proteins are used in the protein-enriched food formulation. This study was designed for a comparative assessment of the denaturation of whey protein isolate (WPI) under an important thermal stress, isothermal heat treatment (IHT), and high hydrostatic pressure treatment (HPT). The type and extent of denaturation were determined using reversed-phase HPLC and FTIR spectroscopy. The HPLC results demonstrated that the isothermal heat treatment caused higher denaturation of protein due to IHT at 80oC for 600s (88.38%) than that of HPT (58.5%). However, the infra-red spectroscopic analyses suggested that the HPT caused severe destruction of the structural conformation of WPI. The state of protein has a great impact on food formation; hence, the findings of this study would alert the concentrate protein producers and protein-enriched food manufacturers to prepare more active functional foods. HIGHLIGHTS  Heat (IHT) and pressure (HPT) stresses caused 88% and 58% WPI to denature, respectively.  Reversed phase-HPLC determined the denatured protein through aggregation. FTIR together with HPLC is required for better characterization of denatured protein

Internet use and addiction among medical students of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin,Malaysia

The use of Internet has now become indispensable, and the technology has revolutionized the medical education and practice worldwide. Currently, medical students and professionals have an enormous opportunity to keep them always updated with the exponential growth of knowledge because of potential progression of Internet throughout the world that enables them to become a lifelong learner. Internet addiction is a widespread phenomenon among students and academicians at universities in Malaysia. Students use the Internet for recreational purpose and personal and professional development. The Internet has become an integral part of day-to-day life of the university students, including medical students. The aim of the present study was to examine the Internet use and addiction among students of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Malaysia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which a questionnaire, Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire, developed by the Center for Internet Addiction, USA, was used. One hundred forty-nine medical students of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin participated in this study. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software. Results: The mean scores were 44.9±14.05 and 41.4±13.05 for male and female participants, espectively, which indicated that both the genders were suffering from mild Internet addiction. Conclusion: This study shows almost similar level of Internet usage among medical students irrespective of their socioeconomic background, with no statistically significant (p>0.05) differences, except among the years of study (p=0.007). Overall, from the research data and having worked with this cohort very closely, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin medical students can be labeled as wonted and recurring users of the Internet. Nevertheless, it is very difficult to define as Internet addicts or pathological users of the Internet because of small sample size and cross-sectional study

Biofilm Formation, Production of Matrix Compounds and Biosorption of Copper, Nickel and Lead by Different Bacterial Strains

Bacterial biofilms play a key role in metal biosorption from wastewater. Recently, Enterobacter asburiae ENSD102, Enterobacter ludwigii ENSH201, Vitreoscilla sp. ENSG301, Acinetobacter lwoffii ENSG302, and Bacillus thuringiensis ENSW401 were shown to form air–liquid (AL) and solid–air–liquid (SAL) biofilms in a static condition at 28 and 37°C, respectively. However, how environmental and nutritional conditions affect biofilm formation; production of curli and cellulose; and biosorption of copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) by these bacteria have not been studied yet. In this study, E. asburiae ENSD102, E. ludwigii ENSH201, and B. thuringiensis ENSW401 developed the SAL biofilms at pH 8, while E. asburiae ENSD102 and Vitreoscilla sp. ENSG301 constructed the SAL biofilms at pH 4. However, all these strains produced AL biofilms at pH 7. In high osmolarity and ½-strength media, all these bacteria built fragile AL biofilms, while none of these strains generated the biofilms in anaerobic conditions. Congo red binding results showed that both environmental cues and bacterial strains played a vital role in curli and cellulose production. Calcofluor binding and spectrophotometric results revealed that all these bacterial strains produced significantly lesser amounts of cellulose at 37°C, pH 8, and in high osmotic conditions as compared to the regular media, at 28°C, and pH 7. Metal biosorption was drastically reduced in these bacteria at 37°C than at 28°C. Only Vitreoscilla sp. ENSG301 and B. thuringiensis ENSW401 completely removed (100%) Cu and Ni at an initial concentration of 12.5 mg l–1, while all these bacteria totally removed (100%) Pb at concentrations of 12.5 and 25 mg l–1 at pH 7 and 28°C. At an initial concentration of 100 mg l–1, the removal of Cu (92.5 to 97.8%) and Pb (89.3 to 98.3%) was the highest at pH 6, while it was higher (84.7 to 93.9%) for Ni at pH 7. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results showed metal-unloaded biomass biofilms contained amino, hydroxyl, carboxyl, carbonyl, and phosphate groups. The peak positions of these groups were shifted responding to Cu, Ni, and Pb, suggesting biosorption of metals. Thus, these bacterial strains could be utilized to remove Cu, Ni, and Pb from aquatic environment

Foliar urea with N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide for sustainable yield and quality of pineapple in a controlled environment

In agricultural production, nitrogen loss leads to economic loss and is a high environmental risk affecting plant growth, yield, and quality. Use of the N fertilizer with a urease inhibitor is thus necessary to minimize N losses and increase the efficiency of N. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) on the growth, yield, and quality of pineapple. The experiment involved two foliar fertilizer treatments: 1% (w/v) urea solution with NBPT (2.25 mL kg−1 urea) was treated as NLU (NBPT Liquid Urea), and the same concentration of urea without NBPT served as the control. Both were applied 12 times, starting 1 month after planting (MAP) and continuing once a month for 12 months. The application of urea with NBPT notably increased the above-ground dry biomass per plant (20% and 10% at 8 and 12 MAP, respectively), leaf area per plant (23% and 15% at 8 and 12 MAP, respectively), N accumulation per plant (10%), PFPN (Partial Factor Productivity) (13%), and average fruit weight (15%) compared to the treatment with urea alone (control). The analysis of quality parameters indicated that urea with NBPT improves TSS (Total Soluble Solids) (19%), ascorbic acid (10%), and sucrose (14%) but reduces the total organic acid content (21%) in pineapple. When using urea with a urease inhibitor (NBPT), there was a significant improvement in growth, yield, quality, and nitrogen use efficiency, with the additional benefit of reduced nitrogen losses, in combination with easy handling. Hence, urea with a urease inhibitor can be used as a viable alternative for increasing pineapple yield by boosting growth with better fruit quality

Isolation of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. from sulfonamide-treated diarrheic calves

Background and Aim: The bovine industry is threatened by one of the most serious and deadly enteric diseases, calf diarrhea, particularly in developing nations like Bangladesh. In this context, bacterial resistance to antimicrobial drugs and its detrimental consequences have become a critical public health issue that is difficult to address globally. This study aimed to isolate and identify Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. with their antibiogram and antibiotic resistance gene detection from sulfonamide-treated diarrheic calves. Materials and Methods: Twelve diarrheic calves suffering from calf diarrhea in a dairy farm were selected and a total of 36 fecal samples were aseptically collected directly from rectum before, during, and at the end of treatment for each calf to determine the total viable count, total E. coli count and total Salmonella count. A polymerase chain reaction was used for the specific detection of E. coli and Salmonella genus targeting fliC and invA genes, respectively. Antibiotic sensitivity test of the isolated E. coli and Salmonella spp. were performed by the disk diffusion method for eight commonly used antibiotics. Results: A total of 36 E. coli (100%) and 12 Salmonella spp. (33%) were isolated from the samples and were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Total viable count was found to be ranged from 35 × 107 to 99 × 1010 colony-forming unit (CFU)/g fecal sample before starting sulfonamide treatment, 34 × 105 to 25 × 1010 CFU/g during treatment with sulfonamide, and 48 × 103 to 69 × 1010 CFU/g immediately after completion of sulfonamide treatment. Total E. coli count was found to be ranged from 4 × 104 to 36 × 1010 CFU/g, 24 × 104 to 23 × 108 CFU/g, and 13 × 104 to 85 × 1010 CFU/g, whereas total Salmonella count was found to be ranged from 16 × 106 to 18.5 × 1011 CFU/g, 15 × 104 to 44 × 107 CFU/g, and 13.2 × 105 to 21 × 1010 CFU/g fecal sample before starting sulfonamide treatment, during treatment with sulfonamide immediately after completion of sulfonamide treatment, respectively. The in vitro antibiotic sensitivity test showed that all the E. coli and Salmonella spp. isolated from diarrheic calves (100%) contained multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes. Escherichia coli isolates were found 100% resistant to amoxicillin (AMX), cefuroxime, cephalexin (CN), erythromycin (ERY), and tetracycline (TET); whereas 94.4%, 86.1%, and 77.8% isolates were resistant to doxycycline (DOX), moxifloxacin (MOF), and gentamycin (GEN), respectively. In case of Salmonella isolates, all were found 100% resistant to AMX, CN, and ERY; whereas 91.7% of resistance was observed for DOX, MOF, cefuroxime, GEN, and TET. Based on the molecular screening of the antibiotic resistance genes, tetA gene was present in 83.3% of the isolated E. coli and 75% of the isolated Salmonella strains, whereas 83.3% E. coli and 79.2% Salmonella isolates contained blaTEM gene. Conclusion: These findings suggest that MDR E. coli and Salmonella spp. might be responsible for calf scouring, which is challenging to treat with antibiotics or sulfonamide drugs alone. Therefore, it is important to check the antibiotic sensitivity pattern to select a suitable antibiotic for the treatment of calf scoring. A suitable antibiotic or combination of an antibiotic and sulfonamide could be effective against E. coli and Salmonella spp. responsible for calf scouring

Planting Arrangement and Effects of Planting Density on Tropical Fruit Crops—A Review

With the growing importance of fruits as valuable food resources, attention has been paid in recent years to enhance productivity and quality. Increasing productivity per unit area through agronomic management is one of the important strategies to increase the production of fruit crops. Keeping this view, this review was undertaken to improve understanding of the planting arrangement and the effect of planting density on productivity and quality of fruit crops. This review will thus provide updated and in-depth information about the influence of planting density on yield and fruit quality, which will also be useful for the growers, consumers, exporters, and processing industry. In fruit crops, the effect of plant density and planting arrangement is well documented. From the review, it is understood that yield per unit area is the product of fruit yield plant−1 and the number of plants per unit area. Fruit size increases with a decreasing planting density, while total yield increases with an increasing density at a certain level. However, fruit quality decreases with an increasing planting density