Utilizing Adobe Illustrator's Blend and Transform in Designing Op-Art Items

Op-Art can strengthen the product image and can combine culture elements which satisfies consumers’ visual requirement. Some applications of op-art are in security prints, fashion design, packaging design, architecture, interior design, publishing media, and printing designs. The problem is the few softwares specialized in Op-Art production. These softwares are based on geometric shapes in creating visual art items. Concerning the wide facilities of blend and transform options and effects in Adobe Illustrator software, many op-art items can be investigated. The goal is to highlight the importance of these tools options and effects and its ease, efficiency, and functionality in designing countless variety of op-art items. The availability, prevalence, and ease of use of the Adobe softwares are very important advantages that encourage designers to use in most of their works. The research aims to design Op-Art items by using Illustrator's blend and transform and utilizing these items in various designs. Keywords: Op-Art, Adobe Illustrator, Blend, Transform, packaging design, Guilloche.

Investigating Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a functional food and feed ingredient

Microalgae have become recognized as excellent sources for many valuable nutrients. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a green microalga which has attracted attention as a model organism for recombinant protein and vaccine production, but its nutritional value and key functional components have not been previously assessed. Initial comparisons with species already used in this manner (Chlorella and Spirulina) indicated that microalga had potential to be added as a nutritional addition to food. C. reinhardtii was characterised by a high omega 3 fatty acids content and a good source of pigments (chlorophyll (a+b), β-carotene (provitamin A) and lutein). In-vitro digestion trials were conducted to determine the concentrations of digestive enzymes (pepsin and pancreatin) released from cells. The digestive conditions caused major changes in structure, cell shape and partially unlocked nutrients from the cells. Grinding C. reinhardtii with liquid nitrogen increased accessibility of β-carotene from 6% for intact cells to 14%, iron from 4.04% to 8.8% and inclusion of PLRP2 significantly improved lipid hydrolysis. Determining growth and other significant parameters for zebrafish fed with C. reinhardtii revealed a significant improvement when compared with zebrafish consuming a standard fish diet. Interestingly, fish on a diet containing C. reinhardtii was characterised by a significantly higher linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3) content (P≤ 0.05). Inclusion of the fatty acid hexadecatrienoic acid (C16: 4-n-3) ensured that C. reinhardtii lipid was hydrolysed and absorbed in the zebrafish intestine. A visible yellow pigmentation of zebrafish (egg in the female and skin in the male) fed with C. reinhardtii was distinct from the control, this yellow pigmentation was determined to be lutein which the zebrafish had assimilated from C. reinhardtii cells. There was a significant increase in retinol in C. reinhardtii fed fish (10 and 20%) when compared to the control. Thus, it is deducted that zebrafish was able to assimilate β-carotene and convert it to vitamin A. All things considered, C. reinhardtii displayed a great potential as a functional food and feed ingredient which is characterized by relatively good digestibility both in vivo and in vitro

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Is a potential food supplement with the capacity to outperform chlorella and spirulina

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a green microalgae used as a model organism associated with biotechnological applications, yet its nutritional value has not been assessed. This study investigates the nutritional capacity of C. reinhardtii as an additional value for this species beyond its known potential in biofuels and bio-products production. The composition of key nutrients in C. reinhardtii was compared with Chlorella and Spirulina, the species widely regarded as a superfood. The results revealed that the protein content of C. reinhardtii (46.9%) was comparable with that of Chlorella (45.3) and Spirulina (50.4%) on a dry weight basis. C. reinhardtii contained all the essential amino acids with good scores based on FAO/WHO values (0.9–1.9) as in Chlorella and Spirulina. Unsaturated fatty acids predominated the total fatty acids profile of C. reinhardtii were ~74 of which ~48% are n-3 fatty acids. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) content in C. reinhardtii (42.4%) was significantly higher than that of Chlorella (23.4) and Spirulina (0.12%). For minerals, Spirulina was rich in iron (3.73 mg/g DW) followed by Chlorella (1.34 mg/g DW) and C. reinhardtii (0.96 mg/g DW). C. reinhardtii, unlike the other two species, consisted of selenium (10 µg/g DW), and had a remarkably lower heavy metal load. Moreover, C. reinhardtii contained relatively high concentrations of chlorophyll (a + b) and total carotenoids (28.6 mg/g DW and 6.9 mg/g DW, respectively) compared with Chlorella (12.0 mg/g DW and 1.8 mg/g DW, respectively) and Spirulina (8.6 mg/g DW and 0.8 mg/g DW, respectively). This study confirms that, based on its nutrient credentials, C. reinhardtii has great potential as a new superfood or ingredient for a food supplement

Bioaccessibility of carotenoids (β-carotene and lutein) from intact and disrupted microalgae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii)

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii) has a potential as a novel source for food/feed because it contains several constituents including bioactive compounds. However, its multilayer cell wall (hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein [HRPGs]) may restrict the bioaccessibility of its nutrients. Therefore, using disruption techniques such as hydrodynamic cavitation (HDC) can be useful for assessing single cell compounds. This work aims to evaluate the impact of HDC on the bioaccessibility of carotenoids (β-carotene and lutein) from C. reinhardtii. Our results illustrated that digestive enzymes cannot fully break down the cell walls beside HDC process generates their significant change. The intact C. reinhardtii (ICR) and disrupted C. reinhardtii (DCR) have a comparable lutein bioaccessibility, in contrast, DCR decreased the biocessibility of β-carotene. HDC decreased the biocessibility of β-carotene in the small intestine although 37% of total carotenoids from DRC were absorbed

Evaluation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Microalgae as a Sustainable Feed Supplement and Fishmeal Substitute in Aquaculture with a Positive Impact on Human Nutrition

Currently, there is an urgent need for the growing aquaculture sector to rely on sustainable ingredients which can achieve optimal growth while maintaining fish’s nutritional value (especially omega-3 fatty acid content) for human consumption. Here, C. reinhardtii biomass was substituted for fishmeal in zebrafish (Danio rerio) diets in wild-type and mutant (Casper) strains. Four isonitrogenous (46% cp), isocaloric (19–21 MJ/kg DW) diets were prepared with C. reinhardtii replacing 10% (C10), 20% (C20), and 50% (C50) of the fishmeal component of the diet formulation. Over 8 weeks of feeding trials, the zebrafish showed a significant growth improvement when fed C10, C20, and C50 compared with the control (no C. reinhardtii), with C20 giving the best performance in terms of growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and specific growth rate (SGR). Interestingly, C. reinhardtii in the diet increased the levels of linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3) and hexadecatrienoic acid (C16: 4-n-3) (p ≤ 0.05) in the zebrafish. Yellow pigmentation, which was shown to be lutein, was observed in eggs and zebrafish flesh for fish fed a diet containing C. reinhardtii. Moreover, the zebrafish assimilated β-carotene from C. reinhardtii and converted it to vitamin A. Overall, while replacing 20% of fishmen in the zebrafish’s diet with C. reinhardtii biomass offers the best results, replacement with only 10% showed a significant benefit for the zebrafish. Furthermore, replacing fishmeal with 50% C. reinhardtii is still possible and beneficial, and C. reinhardtii whole cells are digestible by zebrafish, thus demonstrating that C. reinhardtii not only has the potential to serve as a feed supplement but that it can also act as a feed substitute once the production cost of microalgae becomes competitive

Vegetable oils composition affects the intestinal lymphatic transport and systemic bioavailability of co-administered lipophilic drug cannabidiol

Although natural sesame oil has been shown to facilitate the lymphatic delivery and oral bioavailability of the highly lipophilic drug cannabidiol (CBD), considerable variability remains an unresolved challenge. Vegetable oils differ substantially in composition, which could lead to differences in promotion of intestinal lymphatic transport of lipophilic drugs. Therefore, the differences in composition of sesame, sunflower, peanut, soybean, olive and coconut oils and their corresponding role as vehicles in promoting CBD lymphatic targeting and bioavailability were investigated in this study. The comparative analysis suggests that the fatty acids profile of vegetable oils is overall similar to the fatty acids profile in the corresponding chylomicrons in rat lymph. However, arachidonic acid (C20:4), was introduced to chylomicrons from endogenous nondietary sources. Overall, fatty acid composition of natural vegetable oils vehicles affected the intestinal lymphatic transport and bioavailability of CBD following oral administration in this work. Olive oil led to the highest concentration of CBD in the lymphatic system and in the systemic circulation in comparison to the other natural vegetable oils following oral administration in rats

Kafka at the West Bank checkpoint: de-normalizing the Palestinian encounter before the law

The checkpoint has emerged as a quintessential trope within the contemporary Palestinian imagination, to such an extent that “checkpoint narratives” have arguably come to assume a dangerously “normalized” status as everyday, even iconic features of Palestinian existence. Turning to the films Route 181 by Michel Khleifi and Eyal Sivan, and like twenty impossibles by Annemarie Jacir, this article explores how alternative representations (and theorizations) of checkpoint encounter might serve to “de-normalize” the checkpoint in a way that invites us to interrogate the very nature of the checkpoint apparatus in itself, including the nature of the “law” that it represents. Mobilizing the critical paradigms of the “state of exception” and “homo sacer” drawn from the theoretical work of Giorgio Agamben and the literary work of Franz Kafka, the article argues that apprehension of the enduring oddity and abnormality of the checkpoint serves as a vital mode of critical resistance to the policies of “spatio-cide”, “securitization” and colonialism exercised at the hands of the State of Israel through the checkpoint mechanism

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Investigating Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a functional food and feed ingredient

Microalgae have become recognized as excellent sources for many valuable nutrients. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a green microalga which has attracted attention as a model organism for recombinant protein and vaccine production, but its nutritional value and key functional components have not been previously assessed. Initial comparisons with species already used in this manner (Chlorella and Spirulina) indicated that microalga had potential to be added as a nutritional addition to food. C. reinhardtii was characterised by a high omega 3 fatty acids content and a good source of pigments (chlorophyll (a+b), β-carotene (provitamin A) and lutein). In-vitro digestion trials were conducted to determine the concentrations of digestive enzymes (pepsin and pancreatin) released from cells. The digestive conditions caused major changes in structure, cell shape and partially unlocked nutrients from the cells. Grinding C. reinhardtii with liquid nitrogen increased accessibility of β-carotene from 6% for intact cells to 14%, iron from 4.04% to 8.8% and inclusion of PLRP2 significantly improved lipid hydrolysis. Determining growth and other significant parameters for zebrafish fed with C. reinhardtii revealed a significant improvement when compared with zebrafish consuming a standard fish diet. Interestingly, fish on a diet containing C. reinhardtii was characterised by a significantly higher linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3) content (P≤ 0.05). Inclusion of the fatty acid hexadecatrienoic acid (C16: 4-n-3) ensured that C. reinhardtii lipid was hydrolysed and absorbed in the zebrafish intestine. A visible yellow pigmentation of zebrafish (egg in the female and skin in the male) fed with C. reinhardtii was distinct from the control, this yellow pigmentation was determined to be lutein which the zebrafish had assimilated from C. reinhardtii cells. There was a significant increase in retinol in C. reinhardtii fed fish (10 and 20%) when compared to the control. Thus, it is deducted that zebrafish was able to assimilate β-carotene and convert it to vitamin A. All things considered, C. reinhardtii displayed a great potential as a functional food and feed ingredient which is characterized by relatively good digestibility both in vivo and in vitro