Dynamics of broilers thighs chemical composition and energy content, under the influence of different technological temperatures during slaughter

Are the variations of temperature applied on certain key points quite significant in affecting the ultimate compositional and nutritional features of the chicken broiler meat? This was the question leading the research to further investigate three groups of carcasses (one control - CG, and two treatments - T1 and T2) in relation with the single experimental factor – temperature - variations on certain technological flow moments in the slaughterhouse: scalding station (CG:51-53⁰C,T1:53- 54⁰C,T2:55-56⁰C); chilling process (CG:1-4⁰C, T1:2-3⁰C; T2:1-2⁰C); sorting- packaging moment (CG<2⁰C; T1:8-10⁰C; T2:6-8⁰C); storage before delivery (CG:0-2⁰C; T1 and T2:0-1⁰C). The biological material comprised 150 ROSS-308 carcasses (50 per group), stored by refrigeration 1 day in slaughterhouse before shipping. Meat pieces weighing 50-100 grams, without skin, were cut around femoral bone from the thighs musculature of each carcass, in order to form homogenous samples per group; they were submitted to analytical laboratory assessment to quantify the main nutritional compounds (water, dry matter, crude ash, total lipids and protein content, nitrogen free extract) as well as gross energy value, using conventional A.O.A.C.-I.S.O. methods in 15 replications per compound. Thus, total dry matter varied between 28.34 g/100 g in CG and 28.81 g/100 g in T2 (P<0.05), while crude ash was found at 1.00g/100 g in CG, at 0.93g/100 g in T1, at 0.95 g/100 g in T2 (P<0.01 for T1, T2 vs. CG). Total lipids content was the most variable feature of thigh meat, thus in CG reached 8.00 g/100g, while in T1 was 3.25% higher (8.26 g/100 g, P<0.001 vs. CG) and in T2 was 4.88% higher (8.39 g/100 g, P<0.001 vs. CG and P<0.05 vs. T1). Total nitrogen matter slightly decreased from 18.78 g/100 g in CG till 18.59 g in T2, but the differences were not big enough to generate reaching of 95% significance threshold. The gross energy content was influenced by experimentally induced variable temperature, via lipids and nitrogen free extract differences and was calculated at 154.04 kcal/100 g meat in CG, at 156.71 kcal/100 g meat in T1 and at 157.93 kcal/100 g sample in T2, that resulted in highly significant differences between control and experimental treatments samples

Academic student satisfaction and perceived performance in the e-learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence across ten countries

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically shaped higher education and seen the distinct rise of e-learning as a compulsory element of the modern educational landscape. Accordingly, this study highlights the factors which have influenced how students perceive their academic performance during this emergency changeover to e-learning. The empirical analysis is performed on a sample of 10,092 higher education students from 10 countries across 4 continents during the pandemic’s first wave through an online survey. A structural equation model revealed the quality of e-learning was mainly derived from service quality, the teacher’s active role in the process of online education, and the overall system quality, while the students’ digital competencies and online interactions with their colleagues and teachers were considered to be slightly less important factors. The impact of e-learning quality on the students’ performance was strongly mediated by their satisfaction with e-learning. In general, the model gave quite consistent results across countries, gender, study fields, and levels of study. The findings provide a basis for policy recommendations to support decision-makers incorporate e-learning issues in the current and any new similar circumstances.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Oral microbe-host interactions: influence of β-glucans on gene expression of inflammatory cytokines and metabolome profile

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of β-glucan on the expression of inflammatory mediators and metabolomic profile of oral cells [keratinocytes (OBA-9) and fibroblasts (HGF-1) in a dual-chamber model] infected by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The periodontopathogen was applied and allowed to cross the top layer of cells (OBA-9) to reach the bottom layer of cells (HGF-1) and induce the synthesis of immune factors and cytokines in the host cells. β-glucan (10 μg/mL or 20 μg/mL) were added, and the transcriptional factors and metabolites produced were quantified in the remaining cell layers and supernatant. Results: The relative expression of interleukin (IL)-1-α and IL-18 genes in HGF-1 decreased with 10 μg/mL or 20 μg/mL of β-glucan, where as the expression of PTGS-2 decreased only with 10 μg/mL. The expression of IL-1-α increased with 20 μg/mL and that of IL-18 increased with 10 μg/mL in OBA-9; the expression of BCL 2, EP 300, and PTGS-2 decreased with the higher dose of β-glucan. The production of the metabolite 4-aminobutyric acid presented lower concentrations under 20 μg/mL, whereas the concentrations of 2-deoxytetronic acid NIST and oxalic acid decreased at both concentrations used. Acetophenone, benzoic acid, and pinitol presented reduced concentrations only when treated with 10 μg/mL of β-glucan. Conclusions: Treatment with β-glucans positively modulated the immune response and production of metabolites

Unravelling the complexity of domestication:A case study using morphometrics and ancient DNA analyses of archaeological pigs from Romania

Funding statement. This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NE/F003382/1) and the Leverhulme Trust (F/00 128/AX) Acknowledgements. Archaeozoological analyses conducted by A. Ba˘la˘s¸escu were supported by three grants from the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS UEFISCDI (PN-II-RU-TE-20113-0146, PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0982 and PN-IIID-PCE-2011-3-1015). We thank the archeologists Ca˘ta˘lin Bem, Alexandru Dragoman, Valentin Dumitras¸cu, Laura Dietrich, Raluca Koga˘lniceanu, Cristian Micu, Sta˘nica Pandrea, Valentin Parnic, George Trohani, Valentina Voinea for the material they generously provided. We thank the many institutions and individuals that provided sample material and access to collections, especially the curators of the Museum fu¨r Naturkunde, Berlin; Muse´um National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris; Muse´um d’Histoire Naturelle, Gene`ve; Museum fu¨r Haustierkunde, Halle; National Museum of Natural History, Washington; The Field Museum, Chicago and The American Museum of Natural History, New York; The Naturhistorisches Museum, BernPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Statistical study of medical recovery at the Rehabilitation Hospital in Băile-Felix

In modern society, medical rehabilitation is an area of great interest, which is in constant development. Reasons for this are easy to understand, if we consider two aspects: increasing incidence of chronic diseases and injuries, and increased numerical elder population. Medicine of rehabilitation is a logical continuation, absolutely necessary to act therapeutically; because of this fact it is called “the third medicine”, a concept that emphasizes the close connection with preventive medicine (first medicine), and therapeutic medicine (second medicine). The ultimate goal of medical rehabilitation is to optimize quality of life by increasing functional independence. Medical rehabilitation, which aims to restore individual health, is one of the two complementary aspects of the concept of individual recovery. It also includes social and professional recovery, which aims to reintegrate the individual workplace, family and society