Encapsulation of orange peel oil in biopolymeric nanocomposites to control its release under different conditions

Orange peel oil (OPO) is one of the most common flavorings used in the food industry, but it is volatile under environmental conditions (the presence of light, oxygen, humidity, and high temperatures). Encapsulation by biopolymer nanocomposites is a suitable and novel strategy to improve the bioavailability and stability of OPO and its controlled release. In this study, we investigated the release profile of OPO from freeze-dried optimized nanocomposite powders as a function of pH (3, 7, 11) and temperature (30, 60, and 90 °C), and within a simulated salivary system. Finally, its release kinetics modelling was performed using experimental models. The encapsulation efficiency of OPO within the powders, along with the morphology and size of the particles, were also evaluated by an atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis. The results showed that the encapsulation efficiency was in the range of 70–88%, and the nanoscale size of the particles was confirmed by AFM. The release profile showed that the lowest and the highest release rates were observed at the temperatures of 30 and 90 °C and in the pH values of 3 and 11, respectively, for all three samples. The Higuchi model provided the best model fitting of the experimental data for the OPO release of all the samples. In general, the OPO encapsulates prepared in this study showed promising characteristics for food flavoring applications. These results suggest that the encapsulation of OPO may be useful for controlling its flavor release under different conditions and during cooking

The Need to Share Inter-Organizational Knowledge in Smartening Information and Knowledge Organizations and Centers in Smart Cities

Introduction: The creation and development of smart cities require creating a suitable platform, infrastructure, and capacity for the sharing and using capital and knowledge assets, including data, information, and knowledge produced by citizens, the government, and various organizations in all fields. One of the main problems and obstacles to the creation and development of smart cities is that knowledge assets of different types are distributed in different sectors or even in different regions related to stakeholders, as well as their systems and the purpose of using them. These are important ethical issues that need to be addressed by stakeholders/trustees in smart cities. The current state of active information and knowledge centers in the country, related to sharing knowledge assets, has created obstacles to the smart transformation and smartening of the above centers in data-oriented and knowledge-based smart cities. The present study, while pointing to the need for inter-organizational knowledge-sharing in smartening socio-cultural organizations, including information and knowledge centers, seeks to state the problems as the factors affecting the current state of inter-organizational knowledge sharing and the importance of identifying the underlying factors, steps, processes, methods and tools and ultimately the consequences in above centers in the context of smart cities. Methodology: The present applied study has been compiled with an analytical review approach using the documentary-library method based on the literature review and related texts in the fields of knowledge management, smart cities, and cultural development of these intelligent cities focusing on cultural institutions providing information and knowledge. In the present study, by using the documentary method, after explaining the position of information and knowledge organizations and centers in the smart city on the one hand and the necessity of inter-organizational knowledge sharing in the smart city; on the other hand, the need for inter-organizational knowledge sharing in the smartening up information and knowledge organizations and centers has been discussed. Findings: Sharing inter-organizational knowledge and knowledge capital are the key issues in the creation and development of smart cities. Socio-cultural organizations, as the providers of information and knowledge, have an important role in the cultural development of smart cities in dimensions of people and smart life, although there is no effective interaction and coordination between these organizations, their resources, and actions. Under the management and sharing of existing assets between these organizations, re-employment in the production and use of data, information and knowledge are prevented by various organizations, reducing the costs and the ability to share knowledge assets is effectively utilized in terms of planning, decision-making, and smartening services. Conclusion: Smart cities will be the result of interactions between citizens, organizations, and urban functions using data, information, knowledge, and information and communication technologies. As a result, it is necessary for all the organizations that are the source of providing services to citizens in certain areas in the city, based on a series of common data, information, and knowledge and at a common point, to make their decisions and only the result of the works of several organizations should be presented to the main beneficiaries or citizens. In this regard, smart cities as new urban ecosystems using open data, information, and knowledge as well as innovation system will lead to the integration of digital information and communication technologies, knowledge assets, and, consequently, increased responsiveness to citizens and improved quality of life. On the other hand, the ultimate goal of the smart city is to provide smart services in all areas related to urban life. Activities in the field of information and knowledge are associated with significant changes in the social and cultural structure of life and intelligent citizens and open a new arena for policymakers, including cultural organizations such as information and knowledge organizations

Prooxidant-Antioxidant Balance in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Its Relationship with Clinical and Laboratory Findings

Aim. This study was aimed at evaluating prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its relationship with laboratory findings and clinical manifestations. Methods. In this case-control study, 60 patients with SLE and 60 healthy individuals were enrolled. The blood samples were collected and their sera were separated. Subsequently, the prooxidant-antioxidant balance value was evaluated using PAB assay for each sample. Results. The mean of PAB values in SLE patients was significantly higher than healthy controls (147.3±42 versus 84.8±32.2 HK, P<0.0001). Furthermore, in SLE patients, there was a positive significant correlation between the PAB and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (r=0.492, P<0.001). In addition, the PAB values in patients with alopecia, discoid rash, oral ulcers, arthritis, and nephritis were significantly higher than those without these manifestations. Conclusion. The findings of current study showed that the mean of PAB was significantly higher in SLE patients and PAB was correlated with ESR. Moreover increased PAB was found in SLE patients with alopecia, discoid rash, oral ulcers, arthritis, and nephritis. These findings suggest that the measurement of PAB may be useful to show oxidative stress condition in SLE patients

Comparing Blood Lead Level among Oral/inhaled Opium Addicts with a Non-addict Control Group in the Southeast of Iran

Background: Opium is widely used among addicts in the Middle East countries such as Iran. Recent reports suggest that opium sellers cheat their customers by adding lead to the opium. Contaminated opium can threaten the health of consumers. This study was designed to evaluate the lead concentration in blood sample of oral and inhaled opium user’s referring to Amir Al-Momenin Hospital in Zabol, Iran, during spring 2015 in comparison with those of control group.Methods: Blood lead level (BLL) of 188 subjects with a mean age of 52.06 years in three categories - including oral opium addicted (55 patients), inhaled opium addicted (55 patients), and healthy control group (n = 78) - was assessed. The BLL of all the subjects was assessed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer.Findings: Almost all participants consumed “Tariak” (99.09%). Mean ± standard deviation (SD) duration of opium addiction was 13.21 ± 10.26 years. The average blood lead concentration among oral users, inhaled users, and control group were 34.31 ± 21.54, 41.13 ± 26.40, and 9.86 ± 4.40 µg/dl, respectively (P = 0.001).Conclusion: Our study showed significant differences of BLLs between opium users and control group. We also did not find any association between blood lead concentration and method of opium consumption

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundDisorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.FindingsGlobally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.InterpretationAs the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed

Has the Basel regulations affected the European banks?

Den globala finanskrisen som startade år 2007 har lett till skärpta regleringar av banker. De internationella standarderna för bankregleringar beslutas av Baselkommittén. När den finansiella krisen bröt ut var Basel II det rådande regelverket. Det visade sig inte vara tillräcklig då bankerna bland annat hade för lite kapital för de risker de exponerades mot. Detta resulterade i att Baselkommittén reviderade det andra regelverket och Basel III antogs. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka om det ser ut som att regelverken har fungerat genom att undersöka europeiska bankers skuldsättningsgrad samt lönsamhet för två olika tidsperioder. Den första perioden avser det andra regelverket och den andra perioden avser det tredje regelverket. Lönsamhetsmåtten som undersöks är vinstmarginal och räntemarginal. Uppsatsen grundar sig i resonemanget att en ökning av kapitalet, som regleringen har som syfte att öka, bör bidrar till att vinstmarginalerna minskar eftersom det egna kapitalet utgör säkra tillgångar som inte har samma avkastning som mer riskfyllda tillgångar. Bankerna kan dock försöka höja sina utlåningsräntor för att öka sina intäkter. Resultatet visar att det finns en signifikant minskning mellan den första och andra perioden för de flesta nyckeltal som har studerats sett till alla länder som är med i studien. Detta resultat visar att det ser ut som att det tredje regelverket fungerar. Sett till bankerna i eurokrisländer finns det ingen signifikant skillnad mellan perioderna för skuldsättningsgraden. Detta är överraskande i och med att det blev tydligt under eurokrisen att banker i dessa länder hade för lite reserver. Korrelationen mellan de olika nyckeltalen är låga vilket har lett till att resonemanget om att alla dessa nyckeltal påverkar varandra inte kan påvisas statistiskt. The global financial crisis that started in 2007 led to stricter banking regulations. The international standards for bank regulations are established by the Basel Committee. Basel II was the prevailing regulatory framework when the financial crisis started. During this period banks held too little capital for the risks they were exposed to and the regulation was therefore insufficient. This resulted in the Basel Committee revising the second regulation and Basel III was adopted.The aim of this paper is to investigate whether the regulations has had sufficient and statistically significant impact on the banks. The hypothesis is tested by examining European banks debt-equity ratio and profitability for two different time periods. The first period refers to the second regulation and the second period refers to the third regulation. The profitability measures that are examined is profit margin and interest margin. The paper is based on the reasoning that an increase in capital, which the regulation has as its main purpose to increase, should contribute to a reduction in profit margins due to that equity constitutes of safe assets that does not have the same return as more risky assets. Banks can however try to raise their lending rates to increase their revenues. The results imply that there is a significant decrease in the value of most of the key figures between the first and second period for the study that included all countries. Given the results it can be concluded that the third regulation appears to work. The authors also conclude that there is no significant difference in the debt-equity ratio between the periods for countries involved in the euro crises. This result is surprising since it became clear that banks in these countries during the euro crisis had lacked reserves. The low correlation between the key figures implies that the reasoning that all the ratios affect each other cannot be proved statistically

Effect of intraductal drug delivery of orexin receptor antagonists into rat mammary gland on milk triacylglycerol level: Possible molecular interaction with Gpat1 and Gpat4 genes: Orexin receptor antagonists change milk TAG level

Although previous studies have demonstrated the importance of the orexin system in regulating enzymes involved in lipogenesis, its exact mechanism and the extent of this effect on different enzymes have remained unexplored. In this regard, this study is aimed at investigating the intra-duct injection of orexin receptor 1 and 2 antagonists (OX1RA and OX2RA) into the mammary glands. More specifically, the study probes the effect of this injection on glycerol 3-phosphate acyl transferase (Gpat1 and Gpat4) genes as well as the milk's triacylglycerol (TAG) level in lactating Wistar rats. Twenty four lactating Wistar rats were randomly divided into different experimental groups including the control group, the group receiving OX1RA and OX2RA intraductally (at doses of 5, 10, and 20 µg/kg of B.W.). Six hours after injection, the collection of milk samples were done using rat milking device, and TAG measurements were carried out. Moreover, using real time PCR, we measured target genes by a specific primer for each gene. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc tests were used to analyze the results and the level of significance was considered P&lt;0.05. The findings of the present study showed that the injection of orexin antagonists at a dose of 10 μg/kg resulted in a significant reduction in Gpat1 and Gpat4 gene expressions. In addition, the injection of antagonists with the same dose caused a significant decrease in TAG levels. Intra-ductal injection of orexin antagonists into the mammary gland decreases milk TAG levels and decreases the expression of Gpat1 and Gpat4 genes