A Closer Look at Dietary Supplements: An Exercise in Experiential Learning

undergraduate poster presentatio

Foreign Employment and its Impact on Human Resource Management for Supply Chains

Abstract - The aim of the research is to determine the impact of foreign employment on Human Resource Management for Supply Chains of labor market in Iraq, the areas in which it operates, the reasons for its recruitment, the ways in which national employment can replace foreign employment and the reduction of unemployment in the size of the labor force. The research aims at finding out the impact of foreign labor on the labor market in Iraq, the fields in which these workers work, the reasons that led to their importation, and the ways that lead to the possibility of replacing the foreign workers with the national labor force. The research found that most foreign workers are of unskilled labor with less pay and longer working hours, and this justifies their recruitment, which means that local workers with skilled skills are more affected by the increasing numbers of foreign workers. Therefore, it is necessary to protect national workers against foreign labor competition. In the labor market through the establishment of strict laws protect the local factor and restrict the work of foreign workers and contribute to the stability of wage rate

Tofu Whey-Based Media for Probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum D4 as a Halal Starter Culture

In recent years, the development of probiotic-based fermented products with halal status has been a concern. The use of growth medium has relied on de Man Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) as a relatively expensive standard medium, and its halal status is still uncertain. Extensive research has been carried out to investigate the development of low-cost halal alternative media for the cultivation of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This study aimed to develop a probiotic halal and low-cost culture medium using a tofu whey-based medium. This study used three tofu whey-based media – A (tofu whey 100%), B (tofu whey 94.5%, molasses 3%, skim milk 2.5%), C (tofu whey 92.5%, molasses 3%, cheese whey 2.5%, tomato extract 2%), and MRS broth as a standard medium. Bacterial populations, total sugars utilized, total lactic acids produced, low pH (2.0) tolerance, and high bile salt concentration (oxgall 1.5%) were assayed. The highest bacterial population after 48 h of incubation was shown by medium B compared to medium MRS (12.34 ± 0.87 and 11.48 ± 0.3 log CFU/mL). Total sugars utilized by 48.28 ± 2.89, 38.89 ± 6.94, 39.14 ± 4.24, and 76.00 ± 1.41 %; on the other hand, total lactic acids produced by 0.16 ± 0.12, 0.03 ± 0.04, 0.31 ± 0.03, and 2.25 ± 1.48 % in A, B, C, and MRS, respectively. Probiotic tolerance at low pH and the presence of bile salts of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum D4 consistently showed a high survival rate in medium B compared to MRS. Based on these results, the components and proportions used in medium B were suitable for the growth of L. plantarum D4 as a halal probiotic starter candidate

Novel, Functional Fermented Dairy Product: Preparation and Evaluation of Dried Kishk-like Products from Fenugreek Seeds with Cow’s Milk, Camel’s Milk, and Goat’s Milk

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value of dried Kishk-like products using burghal of wheat, oat, and fenugreek with cow’s milk, camel’s milk, and goat’s milk. Kishk is an artisanal product that is popular in Egypt and the Middle East. This product is made primarily with wheat; however, to our knowledge, no research has used fenugreek seeds in making it. Changes in the physicochemical, microbial, and sensory properties of Kishk samples were followed over 90 days of storage at room temperature. The proximate analysis of fenugreek–Kishk samples (CF, AF, and GF) revealed the levels of moisture content (4.05–7.86%), protein (21.49–22.66%), fat (22.07–26.07%), fiber (13.59–14.19%), carbohydrate (22.16–28.37%), and ash (8.00–9.03%), and acidity ranged from 3.00% to 5.98%. Notably, the GF sample displayed the highest a*, b*, dC*, and ΔE values, along with the lowest L* value among all samples. Counts of coliform, yeasts and molds, Staphylococci, and spore-forming bacteria were not detected at detection limit < log CFU/g for any prepared Kishk-like samples. This was due to the combined levels of organic acids, high acidity, and low moisture content in Kishk samples that resulted in a safe food with a long shelf life. The Kishk-like samples thus could provide a complementary diet for infants up to six months, as well as a suitable option for children and elderly individuals requiring specialized care, offering an alternative to commercially available extracts

Use of Dietary Supplements among Professional Athletes in Saudi Arabia

The objective of this study was to understand the usage patterns of dietary supplements among professional athletes in Saudi Arabia. The survey consisted of sixteen questions divided into four categories: use of supplements, reason for consumption of supplements, personal beliefs about supplements, and behavior. The questionnaires were given to the three teams residing in Riyadh: Al Hilal, Al Nasr, and Al-Shabab. Out of the 105 athletes surveyed, we found that only 98 are currently taking dietary supplements and the mean age and standard deviation were 25.74 ± 2.90. The survey results showed a high percentage of athletes (93.3%; = 98) using different dietary supplements throughout the season, 43.8% ( = 43) reported using supplements for performance, and 32.6% ( = 32) believed in health benefits as a reason for using dietary supplements. Our results showed that a total of 87 (88.7%), 81 (82.6%), and 51 (52.0%) athletes are consuming sports drinks, vitamin C, and multivitamins, respectively. Meanwhile, those supplements ranking among the least used included omega 6 (18.6%), creatine (16.3%), and Ginkgo biloba (10.2%). A majority of athletes indicated that their use of supplements was for the purpose of improving their health and performance

Regulation of Tumor Apoptosis of Poriae cutis-Derived Lanostane Triterpenes by AKT/PI3K and MAPK Signaling Pathways In Vitro

Poria cocos is traditionally used as both food and medicine. Triterpenoids in Poria cocos have a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as diuretic, sedative and tonic properties. In this study, the anti-tumor activities of poricoic acid A (PAA) and poricoic acid B (PAB), purified by high-speed counter-current chromatography, as well as their mechanisms and signaling pathways, were investigated using a HepG2 cell model. After treatment with PAA and PAB on HepG2 cells, the apoptosis was obviously increased (p \u3c 0.05), and the cell cycle arrested in the G2/M phase. Studies showed that PAA and PAB can also inhibit the occurrence and development of tumor cells by stimulating the generation of ROS in tumor cells and inhibiting tumor migration and invasion. Combined Polymerase Chain Reaction and computer simulation of molecular docking were employed to explore the mechanism of tumor proliferation inhibition by PAA and PAB. By interfering with phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B, Mitogen-activated protein kinases and p53 signaling pathways; and further affecting the expression of downstream caspases; matrix metalloproteinase family, cyclin-dependent kinase -cyclin, Intercellular adhesion molecules-1, Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 and Cyclooxygenase -2, may be responsible for their anti-tumor activity. Overall, the results suggested that PAA and PAB induced apoptosis, halted the cell cycle, and inhibited tumor migration and invasion through multi-pathway interactions, which may serve as a potential therapeutic agent against cancer

Immunomodulatory activity of carboxymethyl pachymaran on immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide

The effects of immunomodulatory activity of two types of carboxymethyl pachymaran (CMP-1 and CMP-2) on cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced mice were investigated. Both CMP-1 and CMP-2 were found to restore the splenomegaly and alleviate the spleen lesions and the mRNA ex-pressions of TLR4, MyD88, p65 and NF-κB in spleen were also increased. CMP-1 and CMP-2 could enhance the immunity by increasing the levels of TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, IFN-γ, Ig-A and Ig-G in serum. In addition, CMP-1 could increase the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and reduce the relative richness of Firmicutes at the phylum level. CMP-1 and CMP-2 could reduce the relative abundance Erysipelatoclostridum at the genus level. CMP-1 and CMP-2 might enhance the immune function of immunosuppression mice by regulating the gene expression in the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and changing the composition and abundance of the intestinal microbiota. The results suggested that CMP-1 and CMP-2 would be as potential immunomodulatory agents in functional foods

Endogenous bone marrow stem cell mobilization in rats: Its potential role in homing and repair of damaged inner ear

AbstractThe stem cells are widely used in the last few years in different fields of medicine, either by external transplantation or endogenous mobilization, most of these studies are still experimental on animals; few were tried on humans as in the spinal cord injury or myocardial infarction. As regards its use in the inner ear, stem cell transplantation was examined in many previous studies, while the mobilization idea is a new method to be experimented in inner ear hair cell regeneration.The aim of this work was to assess the use of GCSF to induce bone marrow SC mobilization to home and repair the damaged inner ear hair cells in rats after the damage had been inflicted by Amikacin injection.First we had to develop an animal model for damaged inner ear, so we used the well known ototoxic effect of Amikacin intra-tympanic injection till we reached complete loss of hearing function. And this can be assessed by DPOAEs. Now we have an animal model of damaged inner ear hair cells and mobilization of bone marrow SCs was induced by subcutaneous injection of G-CSF for 5days.Clinical assessment was done using DPOAEs before and after G-CSF injection also histological assessment of the inner ear was done before and after G-CSF by two methods H&E staining and Scanning Electron Microscopy.The results of histological examination of the specimens showed some promising changes that may be responsible for the improvement of hearing function in some rats that was detected by OAEs