Extrapolation of post-harvest soil test values in barnyard millet-based cropping sequence through multivariate analysis

The soil test value is based on the soil test-based fertilizer prescription/ recommendation equation. Each crop harvesting after the next crop is necessary to analyze the soil. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an alternative technique to predict postharvest soil tests after the harvest of every crop. For that a study was conducted in mixed black calcareous soils at Tamil Nadu agricultural University, Coimbatore to develop the post-harvest prediction equations for available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in barnyard millet cropping sequence based on a multiple regression model by considering post-harvest soil test value as the dependent variable and initial available nutrients, fertilizer doses and crop yield or crop nutrient uptake as an independent variables. The developed model was validated by computing R2 value, RMSE (root means square error), RE (relative error), and the ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) and the developed model was found to be valid.  Using the validated model, post-harvest soil test values were predicted. A fertilizer recommendation was made for blackgram based on predicted post-harvest soil test values in the barnyard millet-blackgram cropping sequence. The predicted soil test values were compared with actual soil test values and it revealed that the developed model is fairly accurate and best-fitted with more precision. The predicted post-harvest soil test values of barnyard millet could be used in order to prescribe fertilizer for desired yield targets for subsequent crops

Integrated membrane process for the concentration of anthocyanin

Many natural colorants, which have been extracted from plant/vegetable sources, have more than 90% water in addition to the low tinctorial strength. Membrane technologies offer the potential of pigment concentration. In view of this, an attempt has been made to concentrate anthocyanin, a natural red colorant from red radish using integrated membrane process, which involves ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO) and osmotic membrane distillation (OMD). The effect of anthocyanin concentration on water flux in each process was studied. Comparison of UF, RO and OMD was made when they are operated individually and in combination with each other. It was observed that, the integrated membrane processes have the advantages of achieving higher concentration of anthocyanin compared to that of the individual membrane processes. Final concentration of 26 °B (from 1 °B) was achieved; which resulted an increase in the concentration of anthocyanin from 40 mg/100 ml to 980 mg/100 ml

Aqueous two phase extraction for purification of C-phycocyanin

Aqueous two phase extraction is employed for the purification of C-phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis. A systematic approach is suggested to arrive at the optimal process parameters of aqueous two phase extraction by considering a case study of C-phycocyanin. The influence of various process parameters such as type of aqueous two phase systems, phase forming salt, molecular weight of the phase forming polymer, system pH, phase composition, phase volume ratio, and type and concentration of neutral salts on differential partitioning of C-phycocyanin is evaluated. Desirable conditions for the purification of C-phycocyanin are found in polymer–salt systems especially in polyethylene glycol (4000)/potassium phosphate system. Increase in purity of C-phycocyanin to 3.52 from initial purity of 1.18 is achieved at pH 6, tie line length of 35.53% with a phase volume ratio of 0.8 in a single step of aqueous two phase extraction. Multiple extractions resulted in further increase in purity of C-phycocyanin without loosing the yield and a maximum purity of 4.05 is achieved in third aqueous two phase extraction. The integration of ultrafiltration with aqueous two phase extraction facilitated the selective removal of polyethylene glycol from the purified C-phycocyanin. Finally, C-phycocyanin is freeze dried to obtain in powder form

Burning mouth syndrome: A review

Burning mouth syndrome is a condition characterized by chronic orofacial pain without any mucosal abnormalities or other organic disease. There are numerous synonyms for this ailment such as stomatodynia, stomatopyrosis, glossodynia, glossopyrosis, sore mouth, sore tongue, oral dysesthesia, and scalding mouth syndrome. Patients usually present with burning, stinging, or numbness on the tongue or other areas of oral mucosa. The complex etiology and lack of characteristic signs and symptoms makes the diagnosis difficult. As a result of which managing such patients become a herculean task. Moreover, lack of understanding of the disease leads to misdiagnosis and unnecessary referral of patients. In this article, the authors have described the etiopathogenesis, diagnostic algorithm and management of this confusing ailment

Clinical Utility of a Digital Therapeutic Intervention in Indian Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: 12-Week Prospective Single-Arm Intervention Study

BackgroundPatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) having elevated levels of blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) are at higher risk of macro- and microvascular complications. Nonetheless, the goal of achieving glycemic control cannot be met with the use of pharmacotherapy alone. The recent emergence of digital therapeutic tools has shown the possibility of improving the modifiable risk factors and self-management of diabetes. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the clinical utility of a digital therapeutic intervention as an add-on therapy to achieve glycemic control in patients with T2DM. MethodsThis was a 12-week prospective, single-arm digital intervention study in patients with T2DM receiving regular antidiabetic treatment. The eligibility criteria included male and female patients with HbA1c≥6.5%, functional English literacy, and a mobile phone capable of running the intervention app. Outcome measures of the study were mean changes in HbA1c, fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (PPBG), BMI, and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) index at the end of 12 weeks. ResultsA total of 128 participants completed the study period of 12 weeks. There were 54.7% (70/128) men and 45.3% (58/128) women with a mean age of 48.48 years (SD 10.27). At the end of 12 weeks, the mean change in HbA1c, FBG, PPBG, and BMI for the overall study population was –0.84% (P<.001), –8.39 mg/dl (P=.02), –14.97 mg/dl (P<.001), and –0.24 kg/m2 (P=.06), respectively. Among the participants showing improvement in the HbA1c value at the end of 12 weeks (responders), the mean change in HbA1c, FBG, PPBG, and BMI was –1.24% (P<.001), –12.42 mg/dl (P=.003), –21.45 mg/dl (P<.001), and –0.34 kg/m2 (P=.007), respectively. There was an increase in HOMA-IR values for the overall study population (0.54, P=.29). HbA1c response showed a significant association with a baseline HbA1c level ≥7.5%, no prior history of smoking, and no prior COVID-19 infection, as well as with higher levels of program engagement. ConclusionsA digital therapeutic intervention when used alongside standard medications significantly reduces HbA1c, FBG, and PPBG levels in patients with T2DM

Electrophoretic extraction of cells/particles in a counter current extractor

Electrophoretic separation is a leading method for resolving mixtures of charged macromolecules or cells. In the present work, a combination of free electrophoresis and multistage extraction called Electrophoretic Counter Current Extractor was explored. A simple mathematical model was developed to describe the mass and heat transfer during the electrophoretic separation. In order to validate the model and also to test the extractor, the extraction of fixed human Red Blood Cells and Latex particles of different sizes suspended in phosphate buffer, was performed at different electric field strengths. The experimental results were found to agree reasonably well with those predicted by the model

Method to obtain C-phycocyanin of high purity

A new approach is made for the purification of C-phycocyanin (C-PC), which is simple and more efficient than existing methods. The proposed method involves two steps: aqueous two phase extraction and ion-exchange chromatography. Crude extract of C-phycocyanin, of purity 1.18, obtained from Spirulina platensis is subjected to aqueous two phase extraction. C-phycocyanin obtained from this process showed a purity of 5.22, which is higher than the reported value till date. In order to explore the possibility of further purification, C-phycocyanin is subjected to ion-exchange chromatography and found that the purity increased from 5.22 to 6.69. The fluorescence, intactness of structure and purity of C-phycocyanin are confirmed using spectrofluorometry, circular dichroism spectra and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel, respectively

Fractionation and purification of the phycobiliproteins from Spirulina platensis

C-Phycocyanin and allophycocyanin of Spirulina platensis are fractionated and purified using a non-chromatographic method namely, aqueous two phase extraction for the first time. Optimized process parameters of aqueous two phase extraction (PEG 4000/potassium phosphate of tie line length 18.64% with a phase volume ratio 1.45) resulted in pure C-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin with a purity of 3.23 and 0.74, respectively, in a single extraction. Multiple extractions (two) improved the purity of C-phycocyanin from 3.23 to 4.02. Integration of aqueous two phase extraction with membrane process not only facilitated the separation of phase forming components from the products and also increased the purity of allophycocyanin from 0.74 to 1.5

Extraction, dealcoholization and concentration of anthocyanin from red radish

The extraction procedure is of great importance for the extraction of natural colorants. In the present study, an alternate process is reported for anthocyanin from the peels of red radish (Raphanus sativus L.). Different extracting mediums are used and the mixture of 50% ethanol and acidified water resulted in maximum anthocyanin content (37.26 mg/100 ml) with better chroma (69.03) and hue angle (44.54). Membrane pertraction is used for the first time to dealcoholize and concentrate the anthocyanin extract (from 37.26 mg/100 ml to 62.58 mg/100 ml). The extract is further concentrated using osmotic membrane distillation (485 mg/100 ml) at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure

Drop formation in aqueous two-phase systems

Extraction using aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) is a versatile technique for the downstream processing of various proteins/enzymes. The study of drop formation deals with the fundamental understanding of the behavior of liquid drops under the influence of various external body as well as surface forces. These studies provide a basis for designing of the extractions in column contactors in which liquid drops play a major role. Most of the drop formation studies reported so far is restricted to aqueous–organic systems. ATPSs, differ from aqueous–organic systems in their physical properties. In view of this, an attempt was made to develop a model for drop formation in ATPSs adopting the information available on aqueous–organic systems. In order to validate the model, experiments were performed by using polyethylene glycol (PEG)/salt systems of different phase compositions at various flow rates. At low flow rates the single stage model and at high flow rates the two stage model are able to predict the drop volume during its formation from tip of capillary. The experimental results were found to agree reasonably well with those predicted by the model