DETERMINATION OF ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C) CONTENT IN GLUTEN FREE PASTA ENRICHED IN BIOACTIVE COMPUNDS

In this study, total ascorbic acid (TAA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) and ascorbic acid (AA) content of gluten free pasta enriched in bioactive compounds were analysed using HPLC system. In lucerne powder and S3 pasta sample were determined the major concentration of TAA, DHA and AA. Ascorbic acid content was determined by HPLC system. All pasta samples contained higher amount of TAA, DHA, AA compared with the control sample. The obtained results revealed that lucerne (Medicago Sativa) powder is rich in bioactive value

Inulin, Choline and Silymarin in the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation—Randomized Case-Control Study

(1) Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disease, with multiple pathophysiological mechanisms involved. A single treatment for all the patients with IBS is not possible. Prebiotics may have a beneficial effect on IBS patients with constipation. (2) Methods: A randomized cross-over case-control study was conducted, including patients with IBS and constipation (IBS-C), who were randomized into two groups receiving a specific constipation diet with or without a food supplement containing inulin, choline and silymarin (Stoptoxin®, Fiterman Pharma, Iasi, Romania). Patients were evaluated at baseline, after four and eight weeks, using a questionnaire to assess IBS symptoms. (3) Results: 51 IBS-C patients were included, of which 47 patients finished the trial (33 women, mean age 52.82 years). Adding Stoptoxin® to a diet for constipation brought extra benefits. Abdominal pain severity improved by 68.3% after the diet and Stoptoxin® (p = 0.004) and abdominal bloating severity parameter improved by 34.8% (p = 0.040). The stool number per week and the stool consistency according to the Bristol scale were improved, but without statistical significance between groups (p > 0.05). (4) Conclusions: The combination of inulin, choline and silymarin associated with a specific-constipation diet had obvious clinical beneficial effects on IBS-C patients in terms of bowel movement, abdominal pain and bloating

Corporate Attitudes towards Big Data and Its Impact on Performance Management: A Qualitative Study

This paper investigates the organizational challenges raised by Big Data and its impact on the business environment with a focus on performance management. We investigate managers’ perceptions, understanding, and attitudes relating to Big Data and its analytics, in terms of opportunities, extent, limitations, challenges, and implications, with specific reference to performance management. The research methodology we adopt is grounded theory: we develop a reflection guide based on research questions covering the impact and challenges of a data-driven culture on business, and the impact on performance management and the decision-making process. The results obtained from senior executives from 21 Romanian companies leads to a conceptual model that distils the major areas arising from the responses and the interrelationships between them. These reveal several key areas of managerial relevance and suggest fruitful action. In particular, we find that the most critical areas requiring intervention lie in the area of awareness and understanding, goal setting, assessing benefits and limitations, learning to trust data, and commitment to an embedded data-driven culture. In addition to changes within organizations themselves, there are also implications for other stakeholders, such as education providers

Reframing business reporting in a Big Data world

This paper investigates the challenges raised by the “datafication” of the business environment in the area of performance management. Big Data and its powerful analytics are now essential elements of the business landscape, and the mindset of managers and decision-makers has a crucial impact on how the opportunities offered by these new technologies can be capitalised. Our focus is on how and to what extent business performance management models need to be reviewed and reframed in this era of Big Data. We propose a model, called Balanced ScoreCard System Thinking, that may insure an integrative, highly dynamic and agile construction. This “top-down-bottom-up” approach assess the way in which every segment of the Balance Score Card is affected by Big Data and Business Analytics. These findings may enable business leaders to develop a more agile and forward-looking approach to performance management, which is only made possible through these new technologies of data analytics

Inulin, Choline and Silymarin in the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation—Randomized Case-Control Study

(1) Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disease, with multiple pathophysiological mechanisms involved. A single treatment for all the patients with IBS is not possible. Prebiotics may have a beneficial effect on IBS patients with constipation. (2) Methods: A randomized cross-over case-control study was conducted, including patients with IBS and constipation (IBS-C), who were randomized into two groups receiving a specific constipation diet with or without a food supplement containing inulin, choline and silymarin (Stoptoxin®, Fiterman Pharma, Iasi, Romania). Patients were evaluated at baseline, after four and eight weeks, using a questionnaire to assess IBS symptoms. (3) Results: 51 IBS-C patients were included, of which 47 patients finished the trial (33 women, mean age 52.82 years). Adding Stoptoxin® to a diet for constipation brought extra benefits. Abdominal pain severity improved by 68.3% after the diet and Stoptoxin® (p = 0.004) and abdominal bloating severity parameter improved by 34.8% (p = 0.040). The stool number per week and the stool consistency according to the Bristol scale were improved, but without statistical significance between groups (p > 0.05). (4) Conclusions: The combination of inulin, choline and silymarin associated with a specific-constipation diet had obvious clinical beneficial effects on IBS-C patients in terms of bowel movement, abdominal pain and bloating

DETERMINATION OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND FATTY ACIDS OF BLACKTHORN FRUITS (PRUNUS SPINOSA) GROWN NEAR CLUJ-NAPOCA, NW ROMANIA

The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition and the fatty acids in blackthorn fruits (Prunus spinosa) in order to valorize them as sources of nutrients. Different analyses, such as dry matter, protein, fatty acids, ash and mineral contents (Na, K, Ca, Mg and P) were performed. The blackthorn fruits were sampledfrom wild-grownbushes, near Cluj-Napoca, NW Romania. After sampling, the fruits were washed and freeze dried. The following analyses were investigated: (i) dry matter and ash contents by gravimetric methods, (ii) mineral content by inductively coupled plasma optical mission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after microwave-assisted acid digestion, (iii) protein content using Flash EA 2000 CHNS/O analyzer and (iv) fatty acids by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). It was reported that blackthorn fruits are rich in minerals and fatty acids. In blackthorn fruits, polyunsaturated fatty acids predominated over monounsaturated fatty acids due to the abundance of oleic acid (C18:1). These fruits also contain high levels of linoleic acid and lower amounts of α-linolenic acid. The obtained results revealed good nutritional properties of blackthorn fruit. Therefore, blackthorn fruits can constitute a source for products of great pro-healthy properties(tincture, wines, and teas)