Effect of the different encapsulation methods on the physicochemical and biological properties of Clitoria ternatea flowers microencapsulated in gelatin

Clitoria ternatea flowers are known as butterfly pea flowers which contain many bioactive compounds and can be found in tropical countries. However, the bioactive compounds are easily lost when exposed to various environmental conditions. Encapsulation technologies are introduced to provide maximum protection to the encapsulated bioactive compounds. The main objectives of this study were to determine the physicochemical properties of C. ternatea flowers encapsulated in gelatine prepared using different encapsulating methods and the microbiological properties of the best encapsulating methods for C. ternatea flowers with gelatine. In this study, the moisture contents for ultrasonic spray dried powders recorded the lowest (5.94±0.44%) while samples of convection oven recorded the highest (14.33±1.30%). However, the ultrasonic spray dried powders demonstrated the highest total flavonoid contents, but convection oven dried powders showed the lowest. The results for total anthocyanin contents were similar to total flavonoid contents. The highest encapsulation efficiency based on anthocyanin contents was found in freeze dried powders (95.75±0.24%). These results showed the same antioxidant activity (DPPH assay) with the highest percentage inhibition of freeze dried powders and the lowest percentage inhibition of ultrasonic spray dried powders. The phytochemical functional group that revealed from Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) analysis also indicate the presence of high amount of phenolic compounds in freeze dried powders although with ‘collapse building’ shape with fibrillary structure. The freeze dried powder showed the highest L* value (45.62±0.54), yet ultrasonic spray dried powders highest a*, b* and C* value. Thus, the analysis for microbial properties was carried out on freeze dried powders as freeze dryer was chosen as the best encapsulating methods. The freeze dried powders showed inhibition against gram positive and gram negative bacteria such as Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica and fungi such as Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. The current study demonstrated the potential of using gelatine to encapsulate technique to retain antioxidant compounds in gelatine encapsulated C. ternatea flowers. This finding provides useful information on the use of different encapsulated methods for the development of functional food products for gelatine encapsulated flowers of C. ternatea

Nutrigenomic and nutritional analyses reveal the effects of pelleted feeds on Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer)

As nutrition-related expenses constitute the majority of the costs for aquaculture farms, it is essential for them to use feeds that provide an ideal combination of nutrients for the species of choice. In this study, the relative effect of consuming three different pelleted feeds (B, C and D) in comparison to frozen baitfish (A; control) were compared on juvenile Asian seabass (77.3 ± 22.4g) that were selected for increased growth rate over two generations. Our objectives were: 1) to evaluate the effects of different pelleted feeds based on overall physiological changes and nutritional quality of fillets; 2) improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms with transcriptomic analysis; 3) if possible, identify the feed type that supports the growth of these fishes without substantially reducing the nutritional quality of fillet. The growth performance, fatty acid composition of fillet, hepatic histology and transcriptome of the fishes (Groups A-D) were analyzed. The majority of fatty acids of the fillets, except γ-linolenic acid (GLA, C18:3n6), correlated significantly with the respective diets. Asian seabass fed Feed C showed highest specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) with closest histology and transcriptomic profile to control, but their fillet contained the highest n6/n3 ratio. When the liver-based transcriptomes were analyzed, a complex set of differentially expressed genes were detected between groups fed pelleted feeds and controls as well as among the pellet-fed groups themselves. Significant enrichment of genes with growth-related function tallied with the morphological data measured. When compared with control (Group A), ‘Biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids’ and ‘Steroid biosynthesis’ pathways were significantly enriched in pellet-fed groups. Reduced goblet cell numbers were observed in the gut of pellet-fed fish compared to controls and fads6 was found to be a suitable candidate gene to separate wild-caught Asian seabass, from pellet-fed ones. These results provide insights for researchers on the various effects of feeds on the biochemistry and global gene expression of the fish and potentially for seabass farms to make more informed feed choices

Accounting Information Systems Genetic Algorithms for All-Optical Shared Fiber-Delay-Line Packet Switches

All-optical shared fiber-delay-line (FDL) packet switches have been studied intensively in the literature and with the literature, many scheduling genetic algorithms have been proposed. However, these genetic algorithms suffer from not being able to provide a delay bound, or require complex timing methods to compute scheduling assignments. In this paper, we propose two fast scheduling algorithms for all-optical shared-FDL packet switches. In the first algorithm, packet scheduling is formulated as a tree-searching problem. This is accomplished by breaking down the search tree into multiple smaller subsets and assigning each subset to a parallel processor. By using this method, scheduling solutions can be obtained in a shorter time. Although this approach is superior to other algorithms, its overall complexity and processing overheads are still too high to warrant its day to day use. In the second algorithm, the search tree is carefully trimmed down in order to reduce complexity and overheads. The conclusion will consider a 32 × 32 switch with 32 FDLs, and assume a processor clock rate of 200MHz for schedulers. With this new and second algorithm, a scheduling assignment can be calculated for a given packet in 30ns if 8 parallel processors are employed and we show by simulation that both algorithms can achieve a loss rate of ? 10?7 even at load 0.9, where the average delay is 11.5 timeslots

Simulation of impulsive loading on columns using an inflatable airbag technique

Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Shock and Impact Loads on Structures521-52

The protective effects of Mucuna pruriens seed extract against histopathological changes induced by Malayan cobra (Naja sputatrix) venom in rats.

Seed of Mucuna pruriens (Velvet beans) has been prescribed by traditional medicine practitioners in Nigeria as a prophylactic oral antisnake remedy. In the present studies, we investigated the protective effects of M. pruriens seed extract (MPE) against histopathological changes induced by intravenous injection of Naja sputatrix (Malayan cobra) venom in rats pretreated with the seed extract. Examination by light microscope revealed that the venom induced histopathological changes in heart and blood vessels in liver, but no effect on brain, lung, kidney and spleen. The induced changes were prevented by pretreatment of the rats with MPE. Our results suggest that MPE pretreatment protects rat heart and liver blood vessels against cobra venom-induced damages

Assessment of nasal cycle by acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry

10.1016/S0194-5998(03)00123-2Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery1284510-516OTOL

Differential transcriptomic response in the spleen and head kidney following vaccination and infection of Asian seabass with Streptococcus iniae

Vaccination is an important strategy in the protection of aquaculture species from major diseases. However, we still do not have a good understanding of the mechanisms underlying vaccine-induced disease resistance. This is further complicated by the presence of several lymphoid organs that play different roles when mounting an immune response. In this study, we attempt to elucidate some of these mechanisms using a microarray-based approach. Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) were vaccinated against Streptococcus iniae and the transcriptomic changes within the spleen and head kidney at one and seven days post-vaccination were profiled. We subsequently challenged the seabass at three weeks post-vaccination with live S. iniae and similarly profiled the transcriptomes of the two organs after the challenge. We found that vaccination induced an early, but transient transcriptomic change in the spleens and a delayed response in the head kidneys, which became more similar to one another compared to un-vaccinated ones. When challenged with the pathogen, the spleen, but not the head kidneys, responded transcriptomically at 25-29 hours post-challenge. A unique set of genes, in particular those involved in the activation of NF-κB signaling, was up-regulated in the vaccinated spleens upon pathogen challenge but not in the unvaccinated spleens. A semi-quantitative PCR detection of S. iniae using metagenomic DNA extracted from the water containing the seabass also revealed that vaccination resulted in reduction of pathogen shedding. This result indicated that vaccination not only led to a successful immune defense against the infection, but also reduced the chances for horizontal transmission of the pathogen. In conclusion, we have provided a transcriptomic analysis of how the teleost spleen and head kidneys responded to vaccination and subsequent infection. The different responses from the two organs are suggestive of their unique roles in establishing a vaccine-induced disease resistance

New mosquito species records (Diptera: Culicidae) from Singapore

Nine species of mosquitoes in eight genera are recorded for the first time in Singapore. An additional two species were overlooked in a 1986 checklist for mosquitoes in Singapore, and one was described after 1986. Location and habitat data are provided for the nine new records. With the inclusion of these new records the number of species reported from Singapore is 137

Structural and electrical properties of tantalum nitride thin films fabricated by using reactive radio-frequency magnetron sputtering

Applied Physics A: Materials Science and Processing732229-236APAM