Use Of Mushroom Extract To Enhance Quality And Health Benefits Of Dairy Products

The overall goal of this project is to develop a new technique that could be applied in the food industry to ensure food-grade probiotics that extend the viability longer, express α-galactosidase/ β-galactosidase, and overall to enhance the quality of dairy products. Specific objectives to be accomplished are as follows: 1) to investigate the effect of mushroom extract on growth of 3 bifidobacteria and lactobacillus in vitro; 2) to determine the effect of shiitake mushroom extract on the pH, titratable acidity, viability and α-galactosidase/ β-galactosidase of probiotics in milk during refrigerated storage; 3) to study the impact of mushroom extract on viability and α-galactosidase/β-galactosidase activities of probiotics in yogurt products during refrigerated storage

Epidemiology of antibiotic resistance in culture-positive hospitalized patients in selected hospitals in Khartoum, Sudan

Objective: To study the prevelence of antibiotic resistance and the prevalent bacterial isolates in hospitalized patients in Khartoum hospitals. Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional prevalence study was carried out during the period of April–November 2015 in Khartoum; 226 bacterial cultures were included. Identification of isolates using standard biochemical tests and antibiotic susceptibilities were determined using disc diffusion method. Results were interpreted according to the standards of the British society of antimicrobial chemotherapy. Results: Eight bacterial species were isolated: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas spp., Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., and Acinetobacter spp. S. aureus was the most prevalent, the majority of which were resistant to methicillin/oxacillin (MRSA). Cultures in our study were mainly from urine (36.7%), blood samples (37.2%), and wound cultures (19%). More than 90% of the tested isolates were resistant to cefuroxime; 54% and 73.8% of Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates, respectively, were resistant to ceftazidime. Furthermore, there was a high meropenem resistance among Gram-negative isolates tested. Multi-resistant Acinetobacter spp. as well as vancomycin-resistant S. aureus was isolated. Gram-negative isolates showed good susceptibilities to aminoglycosides as well as ciprofloxacin. However, the high resistance rate to these antibiotics was observed in Gram-positive isolates in these hospitals. Conclusion: Methicillin-resistant S. aureus was the most prevalent organism. Gramnegative isolates showed good susceptibilities to aminoglycosides and ciprofloxacin. There were high resistance rates to cefuroxime, ceftazidime, and meropenem. Five vancomycin-resistant S. aureus were identified

INFLUENCE OF BINDING SOLUTION CONCENTRATION, DRYING DURATION AND DRYING TEMPERATURE ON PHYSIOCHEMICAL PERFORMANCE OF NORFLOXACIN GRANULES AND TABLETS

Objective: To investigate the possible individual and joined influences that binding solution concentration, drying temperature and drying duration might have on the physiochemical attributes of granules and tablets using norfloxacin as a model drug. Methods: According to implemented 23 central composite designs, each of the investigated variables were examined at 5 different levels through different 16 formulation runs. For each formulation, obtained granules were qualified for their bulk density, tap density, Hausner ratio, percent of fine and drug content properties whereas the respective tablets were evaluated for their weight variation, drug content, friability, hardness, disintegration, and drug dissolution attributes. Results: Indicated that concentration of binder solution, as compared to drying temperature and drying duration, measured more profound influences on granules' tap density, Hausner ratio, % fine and drug content either through its individual linear and quadratic effects or through its joint effect with drying durations (p<0.05 at 95% CI for all influences). Whilst tablets' friability appeared to be noticeably influenced by the three investigated variables (P ranged 0.001-0.017 at 95% CI), tablets' hardness and disintegration were found to be considerably affected only by binder solution concentration (p = 0.001 and 0.082 at 95% CI, respectively). Moreover, none of the investigated variables has measured a significant influence on tablets' drug content or drug dissolution properties. Conclusion: The study concluded that quadratic and joint influences of variables on attributes of granule and tablet formulations shouldn't be overlooked and better to be considered in the screening design

Use of Gel Permeation Chromatography in Studies of Acacia Polyacantha Gum

Fractionation of Acacia polyacantha gums(Kakamut) using a gel permeation column coupled to a multi – detector system comprising light scattering, refractive index and UV detector gave an insight in the molecular mass of the gum molecules. The resultant chromatograms showed a high molecular weight(Mw) fraction associated with much of the protein present in the polymer molecule, a low molecular mass fraction of much lesser amount of protein and low molecular mass proteinaceous fraction. The molar mass distribution pattern produced for A. polyacantha differed from that obtained for A. senegal gum. However the patterns of the two types of gums differed in the proportion of each fraction. Comparison of three A. polyacantha  gum samples revealed that the Layoon soil samples (Layoon forest) showed, a higher Mw fraction (32%) than the  samples of the clay soil (Abugarin and Gargadah) 30% and 20%, respectively. &nbsp

An Overview and Tutorials on Modeling and Simulation

The modeling and simulation are the most important challenges to the researcher to present the system reality and study the different metrics of it. This article provides the short overview to assist the new researchers toward their goals. With aid of differ scenarios related to an engineering domain the designers have an ability to answer critical questions about modeling and simulation

Livestock Production and Economic Implications from Augmenting Degraded Rangeland with \u3ci\u3eAtriplex halimus\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eSalsola vermiculata\u3c/i\u3e in Northwest Syria

Three stocking rates (low: one sheep 2.25 ha-1, medium: one sheep 1.5 ha-1 year-1 and high: one sheep 0.75 ha-1 year-1) were studied for 7 seasons (1990/91-1996/97) on native range and on pasture over sown with fodder shrubs at Maragha, northwest Syria. There were 8 Awassi sheep in each stocking rate treatment, and the treatments were replicated 3 times in fenced paddocks. Milk yield, lamb production, live weight and supplementary feeding of the sheep were monitored. The results showed significantly higher forage availability on the range over-sown with fodder shrubs by 82% and 41% in the medium and high rainfall seasons, respectively and by 142% and 379% in the average and low rainfall seasons, compared with the native pasture. The total energy used in the supplementary feed was greater under the native pasture than that in the shrub-sown pasture in 5 out of 7 seasons, while crude protein consumption was greater in the native pasture than on the shrub-sown pasture in all 7 seasons. Milk production and lamb body mass were higher on shrub-sown pasture than those in native pasture in 4 and 6 out the 7 seasons, respectively. Benefits obtained from reduced feed costs, extra milk and lamb sales were higher on shrub-sown pasture than those in the native pasture in 5 out of the 7 seasons. Total benefits measured over the entire study period were highest under the high stocking rate, reaching about 77 US $ ha-1. We concluded that shrub plantation in west Asia could safely be utilized at stocking rate of one sheep 0.75 ha-1 year-1 for the benefits of the pasture and users