Validation of Analytical Method for Quantification of Egg Cholesterol Using Reversed Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Multiwavelength Detector

In this research, analytical method of cholesterol content in eggs by Reversed Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Multiwavelength Detector (RP-HPLC-MWD) was validated. Our experiment validated the modified method of AOAC 994.10:2012 to get a more simple and efficient analytical method of cholesterol content. The sample was saponified using 10% KOH concentration for 15 min at 80 °C, then this analytical method was validated. RP-HPLC-MWD condition was at 100% MeOH as a mobile phase, flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, detection UV at 205 nm, cholesterol was detected at 10.38±0.13 min. As a result, the coefficients of determination for instrument and method linearities reached 0.9991 and 0.9912, respectively. The limits of detection and quantification of RP-HPLC-MWD instrument were found at 5 and 10 μg/mL, respectively, while the method-detection limit and quantification limit were 250 and 500 μg/g sample, respectively. Recovery values for the cholesterol analysis ranged from 98.62% to 112.26%, with a precision of 1.05%‒3.90%. Additionally, intralab reproducibility was known to reach 3.27%. This validated method can be applied for the analysis of cholesterol in various eggs available in the market

Kondisi Penyimpanan Kacang Tanah dan Potensi Cemaran Aspergillus Flavus pada Pedagang Pengecer Pasar Tradisional di Wilayah Jakarta

Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi cemaran aflatoksin pada biji kacang tanah atau ose di wilayah Jakarta belum pernah dilaporkan. Penelitian ini dilakukan di pasar tradisional dengan 15 pedagang pengecer kacang tanah sebagai responden (n=15). Tujuan penelitian adalah mengidentifikasi dan mengevaluasi kondisi penyimpanan dan perilaku pengecer dalam menyimpan kacang tanah serta mengidentifikasi potensi cemaran Aspergillus flavus pada kacang tanah. Tahap penelitian meliputi survei di area pengecer (wawancara, pengamatan langsung dan pengukuran suhu serta kelembaban relatif (RH) di area penyimpanan) serta analisis kacang tanah (kadar air, biji cacat, dan keberadaan A. flavus). Hasil studi menunjukkan rata-rata kisaran suhu area penyimpanan kacang tanah di kios pengecer berkisar antara 29,6–31,2 °C. Hal ini tidak sesuai dengan rekomendasi Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), meskipun sebagian besar rata-rata kisaran RH area penyimpanan berkisar antara 53,6–73,1% dan kadar air kacang tanah sebesar 6,23–7,86% yang sesuai dengan rekomendasi CAC. Rata-rata biji rusak, biji keriput dan biji belah ditemukan pada kisaran, berturut-turut, 3,9-19,1%, 5,4–32,3% dan 0,2–8,8%. Rata-rata total kapang dan A. flavus pada sampel kacang tanah, masing-masing, ditemukan berkisar antara 2,5–5,6 log cfu/g dan 1,3–4,0 log cfu/g. Total kapang pada sampel kacang tanah memiliki korelasi positif yang kuat dengan biji rusak (r = 0,74), dan berkorelasi positif pada tingkat sedang dengan suhu (r = 0,41), kadar air (r = 0,42) dan perilaku pengecer dalam pembersihan langit-langit kios (r = 0,44) serta penempatan wadah simpan kacang tanah (r = 0,44). Studi ini menunjukkan bahwa keberadaan A. flavus pada sampel kacang tanah berkorelasi positif lemah dengan kelembaban relatif di area penyimpanan (r = 0,26) dan tidak memiliki korelasi secara signifikan dengan biji rusak maupun semua kondisi penyimpanan lainnya

Evaluation of Major Fatty Acids Determination in Palm Oil by Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection

The fatty acid composition of palm oil is the major factor influencing its physical and chemical properties. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the analytical performance of major fatty acids (palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid) analysis in palm oil. Triglycerides of palm oil were derivatized to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) by using boron trifluoride (BF3) in methanol. FAMEs were determined by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) using DB-23 capillary column as stationary phase. The studied parameters were instrument performance analysis, the efficiency of fatty acid derivatization, stability of derivatized analytes, accuracy, repeatability, intra-lab reproducibility, ruggedness, and method uncertainty. The evaluation results showed the instrument linearity at a working range of 5 to 40 mg/mL marked by coefficient of determination (R2) between 0.991-0.995. Instrument limits of detection (LOD) and instrument limits of quantification (LOQ) for 4 major fatty acids analysis were 26-35 µg/mLand 86-128 µg/mL, respectively. The increase of fatty acid concentration led to the decrease of derivatization efficiency in the fatty acids analysis. The result also showed that derivatized analytes were stable during 24 h storage at freeze temperature. The average recovery values by spiking method with the spiking concentration at 50 and 90 mg/g sample were at 75-94 % for stearic and linoleic acids analysis, however those for palmitic and oleic acids analysis were considered very low (<40 %), due to their low derivatization efficiency. Repeatability and intra-lab reproducibility of 4 major fatty acids analysis were at acceptable ranges, 0.45-1.38 % and 1.15-2.03 %, respectively. Determination by varying the volume of derivatizing agent showed the rugged method. Uncertainty of repeatability (Ur) and uncertainty of reproducibility (Ur) were ranged at 1.84-9.02 mg/g and 1.40-10.65 mg/g, respectively. This method was considerably reliable for the analysis of less abundance fatty acids in palm oil, stearic and linoleic acids

Динамика объемов промышленного производства в период кризиса и ее прогнозирование

Целью статьи является определение факторов, влияющих на деятельность предприятия и, выявление антикризисных мер для улучшения их состояния. Ведь проблема состоит в том, что не существует такого метода, который бы стопроцентно истребил кризис, многие научные исследования посвящены именно этой проблеме, в них присутствуют попытки выявления причин возникновения кризиса и факторов, влияющих на деятельность предприятий

Концепт «девушка» в национально-языковых картинах мира (на материале фразеологических единиц русского, украинского, польского, болгарского языков)

Данная статья является попыткой сопоставительного анализа концепта "девушка" в национально-языковых картинах мира на материале фразеологии и паремиологии некоторых славянских языков. Выделяются наиболее характерные, идентичные для разных этнокультур качества молодой девушки. Делается вывод о разной степени языковой андроцентричности в экспликации рассматриваемого концепта.Дана стаття є спробою зіставного аналізу концепту "дівчина" в національномовних картинах світу на матеріалі фразеології та пареміології деяких слов'янських мов. Виділяються найбільш характерні, ідентичні для різних етнокультур риси молодої дівчини. Авторка приходить до висновку щодо різної міри мовної андроцентричності в експлікації розглянутого концепту.The given article is an attempt to analyze the concept "Girl" in the nationallanguage world pictures based on phraseology of some Slavonic languages. The most typical features of a young girl identified for different ethnical cultures are elicited. The author finds that the androcentrical verbal expression of this concept is different, to some extent

[F-18]FDG-PET/CT to prevent futile surgery in indeterminate thyroid nodules:a blinded, randomised controlled multicentre trial

Purpose To assess the impact of an [F-18]FDG-PET/CT-driven diagnostic workup to rule out malignancy, avoid futile diagnostic surgeries, and improve patient outcomes in thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology. Methods In this double-blinded, randomised controlled multicentre trial, 132 adult euthyroid patients with scheduled diagnostic surgery for a Bethesda III or IV thyroid nodule underwent [F-18]FDG-PET/CT and were randomised to an [F-18] FDG-PET/CT-driven or diagnostic surgery group. In the [F-18]FDG-PET/CT-driven group, management was based on the [F-18]FDG-PET/CT result: when the index nodule was visually [F-18]FDG-positive, diagnostic surgery was advised; when [F-18]FDG-negative, active surveillance was recommended. The nodule was presumed benign when it remained unchanged on ultrasound surveillance. In the diagnostic surgery group, all patients were advised to proceed to the scheduled surgery, according to current guidelines. The primary outcome was the fraction of unbeneficial patient management in one year, i.e., diagnostic surgery for benign nodules and active surveillance for malignant/borderline nodules. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed. Subgroup analyses were performed for non-Hurthle cell and Hurthle cell nodules. Results Patient management was unbeneficial in 42% (38/91 [95% confidence interval [CI], 32-53%]) of patients in the [F-18] FDG-PET/CT-driven group, as compared to 83% (34/41 [95% CI, 68-93%]) in the diagnostic surgery group (p < 0.001). [F-18]FDG-PET/CT-driven management avoided 40% (25/63 [95% CI, 28-53%]) diagnostic surgeries for benign nodules: 48% (23/48 [95% CI, 33-63%]) in non-Hurthle cell and 13% (2/15 [95% CI, 2-40%]) in I-Liable cell nodules (p = 0.02). No malignant or borderline tumours were observed in patients under surveillance. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value, and benign call rate (95% CI) of [F-18]FDG-PET/CT were 94.1% (80.3-99.3%), 39.8% (30.0-50.2%), 95.1% (83.5-99.4%), 35.2% (25.4-45.9%), and 31.1% (23.3-39.7%), respectively. Conclusion An [F-18]FDG-PET/CT-driven diagnostic workup of indeterminate thyroid nodules leads to practice changing management, accurately and oncologically safely reducing futile surgeries by 40%. For optimal therapeutic yield, application should be limited to non-Hurthle cell nodules

The effect of temperature and relative humidity for Aspergillus flavus BIO 2237 growth and aflatoxin production on soybeans

Abstract Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) producing aflatoxin frequently contaminates crops such as soybeans. The growth of this mold on soybeans and other foodstuffs is affected by temperature and relative humidity (RH). The aim of this study was to measure the growth of A. flavus BIO 2237 and aflatoxin production at different temperatures and RH. Aspergillus flavus BIO 2237 was isolated from Indonesia origin foodstuffs. Aspergillus flavus BIO 2237 was inoculated in Czapek Dox Agar (CDA) and soybeans for 10 days at a temperature of 20, 30, and 40 o C with RH of 70, 80, and 90%. Aflatoxin analysis was conducted using RP-HPLC equipped with fluorescence detector and post column photochemical reactor. The limit of detection (LoD) for aflatoxin of B 1 , B 2 , G 1 , and G 2 was 0.45, 0.26, 0.05, and 0.13 ng/mL (ppb), while their limit of quantification (LoQ) was 1.50, 0.88, 0.18 and 0.43 ng/mL (ppb) respectively. The maximum growth for A. flavus BIO 2237 in CDA and soybeans was reached at a temperature of 30 o C with RH of 90%, and this was based on the highest diameter of colony and amount of cell mass formed in that condition. The maximum level of aflatoxin in contaminated soybeans was found at 999 ng/g (ppb), and this was produced at the same condition as its fungi&apos;s growth. Aspergillus flavus BIO 2237 can not grow as well as produce aflatoxin in soybeans at high temperature (40ºC) with low RH (70%). There was a significant difference (sig&lt;0.05) in aflatoxin content (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2) between temperature and RH, meanwhile the difference on the growth of A. flavus BIO 2237 in CDA and soybeans caused by RH

Can transplant renal scintigraphy predict the duration of delayed graft function? A dual center retrospective study:A dual center retrospective study

Introduction: This study focused on the value of quantitatively analyzed and qualitatively graded renal scintigraphy in relation to the expected duration of delayed graft function after kidney transplantation. A more reliable prediction of delayed graft function duration may result in a more tailored and patient-specific treatment regimen post-transplantation. Methods: From 2000 to 2014, patients with early transplant dysfunction and a Tc-99m MAG3 renal scintigraphy, within 3 days post-transplantation, were included in a dual center retrospective study. Time-activity curves of renal scintigraphy procedures were qualitatively graded and various quantitative indices (R20/3, TFS, cTER, MUC10) were combined with a new index (Average upslope). The delayed graft function duration was defined as the number of days of dialysis-based/functional delayed graft function. Results: A total of 377 patients were included, with a mean age (± SD) of 52 ± 14 years, and 58% were male. A total of 274 (73%) patients experienced delayed graft function 7 days. Qualitative grading for the prediction of delayed graft function 7 days had a sensitivity and specificity of respectively 87% and 65%. The quantitative indices with the most optimal results were cTER (76% sensitivity, 72% specificity), and Average upslope (75% sensitivity, 73% specificity). Conclusions: Qualitative renal scintigraphy grading and the quantitative indices cTER and Average upslope predict delayed graft function ≥7 days with a high sensitivity. This finding may help to support both clinicians and patients in managing early post-operative expectations. However, the specificity is limited and thus renal scintigraphy does not reliably help to identify patients in whom the course of delayed graft function is longer than anticipated