Innovative foods : the future food supply, nutrition and health

In the coming decades, feeding the growing world population is going to become a global food-supply challenge for our existing food systems. At present, the global food-supply chain has been severely affected due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and political conflicts. These disruptions have led to substantial increases in food prices (e.g., FAO cereal Price Index increased by about 25 points and vegetable oil Price Index increased by more than 60 points in March 2022, https://www. statista.com/chart/20165/un-global-food-price-index/, accessed on 22 February 2023). The global food-production crisis and lack of sustenance affordability can create further regional food-security and political disruptions and trigger further socioeconomical injustice among various nations. Innovations to reshape global food systems through improving local food-production capabilities, enabling infrastructure for agricultural innovation, and facilitating knowledge flow as well as technology dissemination are necessary to curb food shortages and security. Developing and applying new and emerging technologies, including synthetic biology and artificial intelligence, to modernize food production and processing would strengthen efforts to overcome supply challenges in the future

Functional probiotic foods development : trends, concepts, and products

Functional foods offer positive effects on health beyond basic nutrition. Functional foods are considered to promote optimal health and help reducing the risk of illness. The Food and Drug Administration regulates the functional foods claims that manufacturers can make about nutrient content, effects on disease, health, or body function. Probiotics are live microorganisms, which exert positive health effects when consumed in sufficient amounts. According to a definition given by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), probiotics are “Live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host” [1]. Microorganisms, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, L. reuteri, bifidobacteria, and certain strains of L. casei or the L. acidophilus group, have been characterized for their probiotic properties, and they are commonly used in probiotic foods, particularly fermented milk products. Several other microorganisms, including Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917, Enterococcus faecium SF68, and Saccharomyces boulardii, have shown therapeutic applications. Well documented health benefits attributed to probiotic microorganisms include modulation of the intestinal microflora, immune system boosting, and alleviation of complaints due to lactose intolerance

Boundary layer flow of an Eyring–Powell model fluid due to a stretching cylinder with variable viscosity

AbstractThe present investigation consists of an analytical treatment of a steady boundary layer flow of an Eyring–Powell model fluid due to a stretching cylinder with temperature dependent variable viscosity. The heat transfer analysis is also taken into account. Using usual similarity transformations the governing equations have been transformed into non-linear ordinary differential equations and are solved by a powerful technique; the homotopy analysis method. Two models of variable viscosity, namely, Reynolds’ and Vogel’s are considered. The convergence is carefully checked by plotting h-curves. The emerging parameters intrinsic to the problem are discussed through graphs

Role of fibreoptic bronchoscopy in the management of immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infiltrates

Immunocompromised patients are prone to develop various pulmonary complications. The range of diagnostic possibilities is wide, infection being the commonest cause. Non-invasive diagnostic tests are often unrewarding. In this study, we have evaluated the diagnostic efficacy and safety of fibreoptic bronchoscopy in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infiltrates. Patients tolerated the procedure well. This technique identified the etiology in up tp 75% of cases. After treatment based on the result of bronchoscopy, 63% patients improved and were discharged

EVALUATING THE EFFECT OF INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS ON CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SOIL IN VILLAGE DINGI, DISTRICT HARIPUR

The present report is an outcome of research work conducted in Dingi village, District Haripur in 2012. The research aimed to assess and analyze the effects of industrial effluents on the soil fertility of the village, investigate contributing factors responsible for soil pollution and underlying causes creating the problems. Data analysis revealed that area had problems pertaining to water and soil quality. The key factors affecting soil fertility were the careless discharge of the untreated industrial effluents from Hattar Industrial Estate (HIE) into the natural stream passing through village. The results were compared with the soil standards set by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and European Committee Commission (ECC) and all of these were exceeding the permissible limits and affecting the soil fertility. The soils were found not fit for agriculture. The investigation highlighted the need to take some effective steps to manage the monitoring program set for checking of industries by the government according to set rules and regulation

Toxoplasma gondii in the food supply

Toxoplasmosis is caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Infections are usually either asymptomatic or develop mild symptoms that are self-limited, but infections in immunosuppressed persons can be severe. Infections in pregnant women can cause serious health problems in the child such as mental retardation and blindness. Infection with T. gondii in immunocompetent adults can lead to impaired eyesight. Toxoplasmosis has ranked very highly in two studies of death and disability attributable to foodborne pathogens. The consumption of raw or undercooked meat containing T. gondii tissue cysts and the consumption of raw vegetables or water contaminated with T. gondii oocysts from cat feces is most frequently associated with human illness. The risk of acquiring a Toxoplasma infection via food varies with cultural and eating habits in different human populations

Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment practices of private physicians in Karachi, Pakistan

In a densely populated urban area of Karachi, Pakistan, a questionnaire survey was made of the knowledge and practices of 120 private general practitioners about the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB). The majority knew that cough, fever and weight loss were the main symptoms of TB, but less than half knew that blood in sputum, poor appetite and chest pain were associated with the disease. Only 58.3% of physicians used sputum microscopy for diagnosing TB and 35.0% used it as a follow-up test. Only 41.7% treated TB patients themselves, the remaining referring their patients to specialists. Around 73.3% of the doctors were aware of the 4 first-line anti-TB drugs. Efforts to improve the knowledge of private practitioners, and strategies to enhance public-private collaboration forTB control in urban areas are urgently required

Extremely low profile flexible antenna for medical body area networks

Medical Body Area Networks (MBAN) are widely used in healthcare systems employing in- and on-body applications. An extremely low profile patch antenna for the MBANs is presented in this paper. The antenna consists of two flexible printed circuit boards (FPCB) separated by an air gap and uses a rectangular radiating patch with four slots. Two variants of the antenna having single and dual band operation are discussed. The single band antenna operates at 2.4 GHz while the dual band antenna works at frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 4.3 GHz. Both versions of the proposed antenna offer good bandwidth, high gain and radiation coverage for the MBAN applications

Case Reports: Peritoneal hydatidosis in a young girl

We report a case of peritoneal hydatidosis that occurred post laparotomy. Patient was diagnosed nine months after she had laparotomy for suspected acute appendicitis. The whole peritoneal cavity was studded with cysts. In view of diffuse involvement, patient was managed conservatively and showed response to medical therapy