Possibility of using neural networks for moisture ratio prediction in dried potatoes by means of different drying methods and evaluating physicochemical properties

Potato cubes were dried by different drying methods.  After the end of drying process, the experimental data were first fitted to the four well-known drying models.  The results indicated that the logarithmic and page models performed better compared with the other models.  Also, in this study neural networks were used in order to possibly predict dried potato moisture ratio (y), based on three input variables of drying time, drying temperature and different methods.  The results revealed that, logsig function based on 10 neurons in the first hidden layer could perform as the best goodness configuration for predicting the moisture ratio.  The comparison of the obtained results of ANNs and classical modeling indicated that, the neural networks have a higher capability for predicting moisture ratio (R2 values 0.9972 and 0.996, respectively) compared with classical modeling.  Furthermore, the physicochemical properties of dried potato such as shrinkage, starch gelatinization temperature, color change, etc. were also determined.  Keywords: extraction kinetics, time constant, extract concentration, extraction yield, medicinal herbs

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements improve the cardiovascular risk profile of subjects with metabolic syndrome, including markers of inflammation and auto-immunity

OBJECTIVE Fish-oil contains high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. We have evaluated the effects of purified omega-3 fatty acid supplements on several anthropometric and biochemical parameters, including heat shock protein (Hsp) 27 antibody titres in subjects with metabolic syndrome. METHODS Subjects (n = 120) with metabolic syndrome (mean age of 52.9 +/- 11.9 years) were randomly allocated to one of two groups: sixty subjects were given 1 gram of fish oil as a single capsule, containing 180 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 120 mg docosahexaenoic acid daily for 6 months. Control subjects did not receive any supplementation over the same period. RESULTS The study was completed by 47 subjects in the intervention group and 42 subjects in the control group. Treatment with omega 3 supplements was associated with a significant fall in body weight (P < 0.05), systolic blood pressures (P < 0.05), serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.05), and total cholesterol (P < 0.05), triglycerides (P < 0.05), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (P < 0.01), and Hsp27 antibody titres (P < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the control group. CONCLUSION It appears that omega 3 improves the cardiovascular risk profile of subjects with metabolic syndrome, having effects on weight, systolic blood pressure, lipid profile and markers of inflammation and autoimmunit

Effect of selenium foliar application on oil yield, fatty acid composition and glucosinolate content of rapeseed cultivars under late-season thermal stress

To determine the possible protective and enhancer role of selenium foliar application on oil yield, fatty acid composition and glucosinolate content of rapeseed cultivars under late-season thermal stress, a factorial split-plot experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out in Karaj, Iran during the two growing seasons 2014–2015 and 2015–2016. Three sowing dates (Oct. 7 as normal planting date), (Oct. 17 as semi-late planting date), (Oct. 27 as late planting date) and two selenium foliar application (non-application as control and sodium selenate as foliar application) were factorially randomized to main plots, and rapeseed cultivars were allocated to sub-plots. Plant materials were six cultivars including three hybrids and three Iranian open pollinated varieties. Late-season thermal stress caused by late planting date reduced oil yield, oil content, oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid and increased linolenic acid, erucic acid and glucosinolate content of investigated cultivars. The results of this study demonstrated that the highest amount of oil yield, oil content, oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid and the lowest amount of erucic acid and glucosinolate content were observed in L72 cultivar in both control and selenium application treatments. This study provided new important findings about the supportive and enhancer role of selenium in the form of sodium selenate on quantity and quality of oil in rapeseed plant

Changes in body weight, fasting serum glucose and stress in the first semester’s final exams during the academic year (2011-12), Lorestan university of medical sciences students

Background : One of the most stressful situations is final exams in college courses. Stress and exposure to stressful situations can affect blood sugar levels and weight changes. The aim of this study was to determine the stress making possibility of final exams during the first academic semester (2011-12), the effectiveness exposure of stressful conditions on weight and fasting serum glucose (FBS) two months ago, a month before and at the time of final exams among students studying in Lorestan University of Medical Sciences (LUMS) and to investigate the relationship between these two. Materials and Methods: The study included 226 students studying in the first semester of the academic year (2011-12) of Lorestan university of medical sciences sampling method was a combination of class and multistage cluster respectively. Body weight with an accuracy of 0.5 kg and FBS were measured by Glucometer. Stress was examined by Kodron's life health questionnaire. Results: Being in final exam situation can be stressor (P<0.001) while at this stressor condition weight gaining in lower groups for age were significantly higher (P=0.002). FBS changes were associated with degree (P=0.034). Average weight and FBS was higher in men (P<0.001 and P=0.037 respectively). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, differences of weight changes during the final exams of Lorestan university of medical sciences were not statistically significant, however increasing at FBS levels during the exams can be seen significantly

The effects of purslane consumption on glycemic control and oxidative stress: A systematic review and dose–response meta‐analysis

Abstract Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is a herbal remedy with wide range of pharmaceutic properties. Although the beneficial effect of purslane on the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has been shown, there is an inconsistency among the results of previous studies. Therefore, this study is aimed at conducting a systematic review and meta‐analysis on the effect of purslane on glycemic profile and oxidative stress markers. A systematic search was performed in the Scopus, Web of science, PubMed and the Cochrane Library to find articles related to the effect of the purslane on Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin resistance, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA‐IR) up to September 2022. Among the 611 initial studies that were identified from searching electronic databases, 16 Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) involving 1122 participants (557 cases and 565 controls) were included for data analysis. The results of random‐effects modeling demonstrated that purslane consumption significantly reduced FBS (p < .001), MDA (p < .001) and increased TAC (p < .001). However, purslane consumption did not affect HbA1c (p < .109), fasting insulin (p = .298) and HOMA‐IR (p = .382). Meta‐analyses were performed using both the random‐ and fixed‐effects model where appropriate, and I2 index was used to evaluate the heterogeneity. This meta‐analysis study suggests that purslane has beneficial effects on oxidative stress markers and glycemic parameter. Therefore, it may be a promising adjuvant therapy in T2DM because of its benefits and negligible adverse effects