International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

Assessment of selected cooking characteristics of prime starch and food grade fibre isolated from cassava (Manihot esculenta) pulp

Ease of separation of dietary fibre components of cassava pulp relative to other tropical root crops was the motivation for this study. Food grade fibres were isolated from cassava pulp using simple technique that consist essentially solvent mixture-separation procedure. Assessment of selectedcooking proprieties namely paste formation and swelling capacity of the fibre isolates in comparison to the prime starch showed that isolated fibres exhibited variable cooking properties that are collectively independent of fibre size as determined by sieve mesh clearance, contrast to the cooking property of the prime starch. The fibres may find usefulness as  carbohydrate food ingredients

Influence of dietary supplementation on biotransformation of locust beans (Parkia biglobosa) to condiment

Influence of four types of dietary supplements namely; cooked onion extract (COE), Iru water extract (IWE), glucose solution (GLS) and asparagine solution (ASS) on biotransformation of locust beans tocondiment was studied. Assessment of biotransformation markers: free amino acids, free total sugar and total titratable acidity showed that supplementation enhanced biotransformation comparatively tosample without supplement (COS). Biotransformation was most enhanced at Day 2 in COE and IWE in comparison to GLS, ASS and COS. Assessment of selected dietary elements revealed that someelements (P, Fe and Mg) decreased during biotraformation. The change may be associated with the necessity of the dietary elements for accomplishment of biotransformation. Analysis of sensory scores(P=0.05) indicated that supplementation (COE, IWE) conferred no adverse influence on organoleptic characteristics of the condiment

PRELIMINARY BIBLIOMETRICS OF PLANT-DERIVED HEALTH FOODS OVER THE LAST DECADE IN THE SCOPUS DATABASE

A growing interest in the medicinal values of foods can be assessed by the rapidity of research publications on foods that exert health benefits. Many foods that are of health benefit to humans, irrespective of their origin (plants, animals) and subjected level of processing (fermentation, cooking, warming, freezing, vacuumpackaging), are variously designated in scientific literature based on their biofunction. Plant-based foods’ application vagaries, momentum, and research orientation regarding their health functionality awareness are scarcely studied by bibliometrics from a global perspective. Therefore, a bibliometric search was performed on the Scopus database from 2011 (January) to 2021 (April) using a range of search keys covering reports of conceptualized consumable plant-derived foods with health-promoting potential. A total of 362,309 documents on medicinal foods of plant origin were obtained from the database. The data were obtained in comma-separated values (CSV) format and analyzed with Microsoft Excel tools. Of the total documents from the Scopus database on the study, 8.01% (29,036) were contributed by African researchers. Comparatively, lead contributors (global; Africa) by group disciplines include biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology (118,896; 8,236); pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmaceutics (104,530; 8,581); agricultural and biological sciences (99,053; 9,610), respectively. Similarly, lead contributors by country include China (73,977), India (44,898), USA (44,582), and Nigeria (4,680). This observation shows a higher research propensity towards plant-derived medicinal foods in populous nations due to factors like dietary culture, an increase in vegan and health-nutrition enthusiast populations, and the emergent concerns with the therapeutic use of synthetic pharmaceuticals. The analyzed results gave insights into the research orientation of plant-based foods that promote human health on a global stage and provide future research directions. Knowledge of the various application of plant-based foods may potentiate the United Nations Sustainable Goals initiative on responsible consumption (SDG 12), and health and wellbeing (SDG 3) among the global population

PRELIMINARY BIBLIOMETRICS OF PLANT-DERIVED HEALTH FOODS OVER THE LAST DECADE IN THE SCOPUS DATABASE

A growing interest in the medicinal values of foods can be assessed by the rapidity of research publications on foods that exert health benefits. Many foods that are of health benefit to humans, irrespective of their origin (plants, animals) and subjected level of processing (fermentation, cooking, warming, freezing, vacuumpackaging), are variously designated in scientific literature based on their biofunction. Plant-based foods’ application vagaries, momentum, and research orientation regarding their health functionality awareness are scarcely studied by bibliometrics from a global perspective. Therefore, a bibliometric search was performed on the Scopus database from 2011 (January) to 2021 (April) using a range of search keys covering reports of conceptualized consumable plant-derived foods with health-promoting potential. A total of 362,309 documents on medicinal foods of plant origin were obtained from the database. The data were obtained in comma-separated values (CSV) format and analyzed with Microsoft Excel tools. Of the total documents from the Scopus database on the study, 8.01% (29,036) were contributed by African researchers. Comparatively, lead contributors (global; Africa) by group disciplines include biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology (118,896; 8,236); pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmaceutics (104,530; 8,581); agricultural and biological sciences (99,053; 9,610), respectively. Similarly, lead contributors by country include China (73,977), India (44,898), USA (44,582), and Nigeria (4,680). This observation shows a higher research propensity towards plant-derived medicinal foods in populous nations due to factors like dietary culture, an increase in vegan and health-nutrition enthusiast populations, and the emergent concerns with the therapeutic use of synthetic pharmaceuticals. The analyzed results gave insights into the research orientation of plant-based foods that promote human health on a global stage and provide future research directions. Knowledge of the various application of plant-based foods may potentiate the United Nations Sustainable Goals initiative on responsible consumption (SDG 12), and health and wellbeing (SDG 3) among the global population

Improved mechanical and wear characteristics of hypereutectic aluminium-Silicon alloy matrix composites and empirical modelling of the wear response

For the first time, Silicon Carbide-Zinc Oxide-Graphite reinforced hypereutectic Aluminium–Silicon composites were fabricated by two-step stir casting. The mechanical properties and abrasive wear performance of the composites were experimentally tested. A multilevel factorial design of experiment was conducted to develop a numerical model for predicting the wear rate of composites and optimization of their wear performance as a function of reinforcement characteristics. The results indicated that high content of silicon carbide in the composites superlatively enhanced hardness, tensile strength and fracture toughness by 69.04%, 163.22% and 77.42%, respectively. Correspondingly, high content of graphite indicated superlative wear resistance of 95.87% reduction in wear index while high zinc oxide content revealed enhanced fracture toughness highly comparable with that observed for high silicon carbide content. Nevertheless, in comparison with the monolithic alloy, the trade-offs in the strains-to-fracture of the composites were more pronounced with high silicon carbide content. The developed 2-factor-interaction effects model strongly agrees with the experimental results after passing various model validity tests available in Design Expert Software. It revealed that the composition of reinforcing constituents influenced the model more than the volume fraction, and the interaction between the composition of reinforcement constituents and volume fraction

THE COMPARISON OF INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENTS OF ATOPIC AND NONATOPIC CHILDREN IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

Background: Atopy-related illnesses such as atopic dermatitis and asthma are chronic illnesses, and children suffering from such illnesses are subjected to frequent absenteeism from school. Studies have shown that the performance of children with asthma was comparable to their healthy counterparts despite their absenteeism at school, in contrast to findings in other chronic illnesses like epilepsy. Aim: In the present study, we investigated the association between atopy and intelligence quotient (IQ) scores in a group of Nigerian children in Ibadan, a city in southwestern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of children in an urban elementary school. Questionnaires to ascertain the presence of atopy-associated conditions such as hay fever, atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and allergic conjunctivitis were administered to the parents of 128 pupils in the 3 rd to 6 th grades of elementary school. Based on the responses to the questionnaire, pupils were categorized as being atopic and nonatopic. All the pupils underwent the Standard Progressive Matrices IQ test. The IQ scores were then compared among these two groups of children. Results: Out of the children studied, 26.6% were found to have atopy and after adjusting for factors such as age and sex, the IQ scores in this atopic group were not found to be statistically different from the scores in the nonatopic group (r = 2.122872, P = 0.009). Conclusion: IQ scores were not statistically significantly different for children with and without atopy. Thus, the presence of atopy does not appear to be associated with low IQ scores and hence, may not be related to poor school performance