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Fruit bars are prepared by combining different ingredients which are wholesome and nutrient rich. The current study was designed to develop roselle–fig (different proportions) fruit bars and further investigate their physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant potential. Moreover, the prepared fruit bars were scrutinized for microbial and sensory characteristics to assess the appropriateness of ingredients during storage (up to 90 days). It was observed that there was gradual increase in moisture content with the passage of time, while ash, fat, fiber, and protein contents did not change significantly during storage. The pH and total soluble solid contents of these fruit bars during storage were 3.54–4.07 and 1.71–1.86 Brix, respectively. According to the mean values for sensory evaluation, T2 was preferred over other treatments. The bars received an acceptable sensory evaluation, demonstrating that they were suitable for 90 days of storage. Phytochemical quantities significantly increased in subsequent treatments, but decreased during storage in all the treatments. Similar trend was observed regarding total antioxidant and DPPH radical scavenging activities. The mineral contents increased significantly among the treatments. The microbial analysis of fruit bars exposed that the fruit were microbiologically safe. Hence, on the basis of the results obtained in this study, it may be concluded that the developed roselle–fig fruit bar would be acceptable and nutritious regarding physicochemical characteristics, microbiological quality, and antioxidant potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A topological index is a numerical parameter that represents the molecular structure of a compound based on its graph‐theoretical properties. It provides a means to describe the structure‐activity relationship, as well as the physicochemical properties of the compound. Topological indices are used in various scientific fields, including chemistry, biology, and computer science, to study and predict the behavior of molecules. In this study, we concentrate on the calculation of M‐polynomials and entropy for the allotropic form of carbon, diamond. Algebraic operations are applied to these polynomials to obtain degree‐dependent topological invariants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In localization, some specific nodes (beacon set) are selected to locate all nodes of a network, and if an arbitrary node stops working and still selected nodes remain in the beacon set, then the chosen nodes are called fault‐tolerant beacon set. Due to the variety of metric dimension applications in different areas of sciences, many generalizations were proposed, fault‐tolerant metric dimension is one of them. A resolving (beacon) set Bf$$ {B}_f $$ is fault tolerant, if Bf\ν$$ {B}_f\backslash \nu $$ for each ν∈Bf$$ \nu \in {B}_f $$ is also a resolving set; it is also known as a fault‐tolerant beacon set; the minimum cardinality of such a beacon set is known as the fault‐tolerant metric dimension of a graph G$$ G $$. In this paper, we find the fault‐tolerant beacon set of hexagonal Möbius ladder network H(α,β)$$ H\left(\alpha, \beta \right) $$ and proved that all the different variations of α$$ \alpha $$ and β$$ \beta $$ in H(α,β)$$ H\left(\alpha, \beta \right) $$ has constant fault‐tolerant metric dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversity and socioeconomic deprivation have been widely discussed as determinants of social cohesion. These two factors are considered to be a threat to social cohesion. The existing literature identifies the problem, however, the literature suggesting the solution is very limited. The most important determinant which can cure the problems of social cohesion is the better quality of institutions, however, there is hardly any literature on this aspect. The current study has investigated the impact of political institutional quality on social cohesion by employing the fixed‐effect model for estimation. The analysis is conducted for 135 countries, using five‐year average panel data. The results suggest that political institutional quality augments social cohesion, gender equality, and per capita income also augment social cohesion. Ethnic diversity, income inequality, and globalization are a threat to social cohesion. Moreover, the threat to social cohesion is greater when there are low political institutional quality and high ethnic diversity, and income inequality as compared to a situation where there are high political institutional quality and low ethnic diversity, and income inequality. The results further suggest that the harmful effects of ethnic diversity, inequality, and globalization can be, not only overcome by institutional quality but can also be put to use to enhance social cohesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent findings of diverse forms of carbon nanostructures have encouraged research on their applications in several areas. They are used as a structural material in electronic and optical devices, involving transistors, photodetectors, plastic, biological sensors, pharmaceutical and medicine, and drug delivery systems. Since the discovery of Y‐shaped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) junctions, they have drawn interest for future electron devices, for example, three‐terminal transistors, amplifiers, and switches. A topological index is a number that is used to study the physicochemical properties of chemical structures. In this paper, we are providing topological properties of CNT Y‐junctions. The results obtained for different types of Y‐junction graphs appeared with comparisons. According to the best of our knowledge and literature, this is the first report about topological indices on this class of CNT junctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing outbreak of novel Coronavirus originated from Wuhan, China, and vigorously spread throughout the globe causing serious concerns. This study aimed to appraise the community demographics, knowledge, attitudes, practices mental health, symptoms, and precautionary measures during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Pakistan. This study was a cross‐sectional and observational study. An online semi‐structured questionnaire was designed by freely available Google Forms. A Referral Sampling technique was used, a total of 439 responses were recorded and analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Regression analysis and multinomial logistic regression analysis were done to test the hypothesis. This study shows more than 63% of participants maintain social distancing at their workplaces, offices, markets, and so forth and 59% of participants stayed at their homes during the lockdown. Almost 75% of participants did not attend any gathering during COVID‐19. Most participants (75.4%) wear masks and gloves, and 85.6% of participants wash their hands with soap and using hand sanitizer regularly. This study shows that 40.8% and 36.2% of participants felt anxiety and fear due to Coronavirus. This study shows that knowledge among the population in Pakistan about COVID‐19 was low. Continued efforts are needed to address knowledge, attitudes, and practices to interrupt novel Coronavirus transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of heterosis is a promising approach for greatly increasing yield in soybean (Glycine max L.). Nuclear male sterility is essential for hybrid seed production and the utilization of heterosis. Here we report the cloning of the gene underlying the soybean male‐sterile mutant ms‐1, which has been widely used for recurrent selection in soybean breeding programs. We initially delimited the ms1 locus to a 16.15 kb region on chromosome 13, based on SLAF_BSA sequencing followed by genotyping of an F2 population segregating for the locus. Compared with the same region in fertile plants, the mutant region lacks a sequence of approximately 38.7 kb containing five protein‐coding genes, including an ortholog of the kinesin‐like protein gene NACK2, named GmMs1. The GmMs1 knockout plants generated via CRISPR/Cas‐mediated gene editing displayed a complete male‐sterile phenotype. Metabolic profiling showed that fertile anthers accumulated starch and sucrose normally, whereas sterile anthers had higher anthocyanin levels and lower flavonoid levels and lower antioxidant enzyme activities. These results provide insights into the molecular mechanisms governing male sterility and demonstrate that GmMs1 could be used to create male‐sterile lines through targeted mutagenesis. These findings pave the way for designing seed production technology and an intelligent male‐sterile line system to utilize heterosis in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of cross‐border information and production resources is facilitated by information globalization through the transfer of fresh ideas, products, technologies, and business models. This encourages information globalization's potential to achieve environmental and other technological advancements in the meantime and helps to make greener production possible through value‐added trade. Prior research, however, largely ignored this aspect of globalization in global value chains' studies. In order to anticipate carbon emissions (CO2) in BRICS economies, this novel study aims to assess the significance of participation in global value chains (GVCs) and information globalization (ING). The innovative research uses nonparametric causality‐in‐quantiles techniques on quarterly data from 1995Q1 to 2018Q4 to quantify for causality‐in‐variance and causality‐in‐mean because there might not be any causation at the first stage but there might be higher‐order interdependencies. The results show that GVC and ING had high predictive capability for carbon emissions, indicating asymmetry regarding environmental sustainability. Additionally, GVC and information globalization asserted that there is a significant interaction effect when it comes to forecasting pollution levels in chosen nations. The provision of financial and R&D assistance for energy efficiency and green production, as well as the use of mass and social media to raise awareness among the firms participating in global value chains, may assist in achieving SDG 13 and Cope26's goal of reducing pollution by 2030. The finding contributes crucial insights for policymakers and enhances the discourse on sustainable hones inside GVCs. The study proposes prioritizing information transparency, worldwide measures, and motivations for eco‐friendly advances to improve environmental sustainability in GVCs. Policymakers are encouraged to foster public–private associations for cohesive global endeavors in diminishing CO2 emanations inside GVCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review covers the significance of green banana resistant starch (RS), a substantial polysaccharide. The food industry has taken an interest in green banana flour due to its 30% availability of resistant starch and its approximately 70% starch content on a dry basis, making its use suitable for food formulations where starch serves as the base. A variety of processing techniques, such as heat‐moisture, autoclaving, microwaving, high hydrostatic pressure, extrusion, ultrasound, acid hydrolysis, and enzymatic debranching treatments, have made significant advancements in the preparation of resistant starch. These advancements aim to change the structure, techno‐functionality, and subsequently the physiological functions of the resistant starch. Green bananas make up the highest RS as compared to other foods and cereals. Many food processing industries and cuisines now have a positive awareness due to the functional characteristics of green bananas, such as their pasting, thermal, gelatinization, foaming, and textural characteristics. It is also found useful for controlling the rates of cancer, obesity, and diabetic disorders. Moreover, the use of GBRS as prebiotics and probiotics might be significantly proved good for gut health. This study aimed at the awareness of the composition, extraction and application of the green banana resistant starch in the future food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acidic soils of western Newfoundland require liming for successful production of most crops. Locally sourced paper mill waste wood ash (WA) and paper sludge (SL) have potential as cheaper alternatives to limestone (LIME). Two greenhouse experiments evaluated WA and SL as liming and soil conditioning amendments for annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) production. At 55 days after seeding, soil pH in WA (6.2 and 6.3) and wood ash and paper sludge (WASL) (6.0 and 6.3) were not different from that in LIME (6.0 and 6.5) for Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. However, pH in SL was 0.4 and 0.3 points lower than in LIME. Compared to LIME, WA, SL, and WASL produced 31%–52% and 57%–74% greater biomass yield in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. N uptake was greater in WA (60 and 129 kg N ha−1) and WASL (51 and 97 kg N ha−1) compared to LIME (40 and 85 kg N ha−1), in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. SL did not differ from LIME in Experiment 1, but reduced N uptake by 57% in Experiment 2. The results show significant potential of WA as an alternative amendment for liming and yield improvement of annual ryegrass grown in NL podzolic soils. However, SL has limited potential due to the risk of increasing N immobilization and residual soil mineral N when growing conditions are limiting. Combining SL with WA or biochar seemed to alleviate these risks. Overall, the adoption of these amendments for field production systems warrants serious consideration, following supplemental field studies to determine optimal application rates and timing. Core Ideas: The podzolic soils of Newfoundland have low pH and fertility, hence require liming.Locally sourced wastes, such as paper mill wood ash (WA) and sludge (SL), could be used as liming and nutrient sources.WA was equivalent to limestone (LIME) in improving and sustaining optimal soil pH.WA produced 52% and 74% greater annual ryegrass yield than conventional LIME application in podzolic soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rasmalai is a very popular, delicious, and nutritious indigenous sweet dish in Indo‐Pakistani civilization. It has a very short shelf life, i.e., up to 3 days. The study was designed to assess the effect of preservatives (potassium sorbate and calcium propionate) on the shelf stability of Rasmalai. Moreover, proximate composition and sensory evaluation of prepared Rasmalai were also carried out in the present study. In general, potassium sorbate and calcium propionate significantly increased the shelf life of Rasmalai. But treatment (R5) containing a combination of both potassium sorbate and calcium propionate (500 ppm each) improved its shelf life by up to 12 days by keeping good sensorial characteristics. The maximum total plate counts as well as yeast and molds were observed in control Rasmalai (without any preservatives) whereas minimum counts were found in R5 treatment containing a combination of both potassium sorbate and calcium propionate (500 ppm each). In conclusion, all the preservatives used in the present study were effective in enhancing the shelf life of Rasmalai but R5 treatment containing a combination of both potassium sorbate and calcium propionate (500 ppm each) was the most effective in enhancing shelf life without deleterious effect on sensorial characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant pathogens pose a significant threat to the food industry and food security accounting for 10–40% crop losses annually on a global scale. Economic losses from plant diseases are estimated at $300B for major food crops and are associated with reduced food availability and accessibility and also high food costs. Although strategies exist to reduce the impact of diseases in plants, many of these introduce harmful chemicals to our food chain. Therefore, it is important to understand and utilize plants' immune systems to control plant pathogens to enable more sustainable agriculture. Lipids are core components of cell membranes and as such are part of the first line of defense against pathogen attack. Recent developments in omics technologies have advanced our understanding of how plant membrane lipid biosynthesis, remodelling and/or signalling modulate plant responses to infection. Currently, there is limited information available in the scientific literature concerning lipid signalling targets and their biochemical and physiological consequences in response to plant pathogens. This review focusses on the functions of membrane lipid derivatives and their involvement in plant responses to pathogens as biotic stressors. We describe major plant defense systems including systemic‐acquired resistance, basal resistance, hypersensitivity and the gene‐for‐gene concept in this context. This review highlights the state‐of‐the‐art concerning how plant membrane lipids and their derivatives modulate immunity, disease resistance and plant response to infection. Major plant defence systems such as systemic‐acquired resistance, basal resistance, reactive oxygen species, hypersensitivity and the gene‐for‐gene concept are described in this context. Identification and detailed understanding of the molecular signalling occurring during pathogenesis can pave the way for better plant disease control which could be beneficial in enhancing food security and sustainable agr icultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root membrane lipids are important biomolecules determining plant's ability to adapt to different growing environmental or climatic conditions. Herein, we demonstrate the potential use of root membrane lipids as biomarkers to discriminate silage‐corn genotypes based on herbicide and insect/pest resistance genetic traits when cultivated on podzolic soils under short growing and moderately warm summer season in boreal climate. Lipids in root membranes of field grown silage‐corn genotypes were previously quantified at crop maturity by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography‐hydrophilic interaction chromatography‐heated electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The lipid identified and quantified in silage‐corn roots were phospholipids, glycolipids and sphingolipids. Following hierarchical cluster analysis, three groups of membrane lipids were observed to be very effective in segregating the five silage‐corn genotypes. The first group consisted of hexosylceramide (HexCer), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). The second group consisted of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA16:0) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC16:0), while the third group consisted of 37 molecular species from observed lipids (phospholipids, glycolipids, sphingolipids). Partial least squares‐discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) based on 37 membrane lipid species, as well as principal component analysis using the variables important in projection derived from the PLS‐DA segregated the five silage‐corn genotypes into three groups according to their pesticide/herbicide resistant traits. This study is second to none using root lipidomics in discriminating different silage‐corn genotypes based on their herbicide and insect/pest resistance genetic traits for cultivation in boreal climates. The segregated genotypes possess three different genetic traits for herbicide and insect/pest resistance including VT Double Pro (VT2P), VT Triple Pro Roundup Ready (VT3P/RR) and Roundup Ready‐2 corn (RR2). These findings demonstrate that root membrane lipids could serve as appropriate chemical biosignatures to identify silage‐corn genotypes based on herbicide and insect/pest resistance genetic traits suitable for cultivation in boreal climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unprecedented spin cluster‐based network architecture {[NiII2(pdaa)(OH)2(H2O)]n (H2pdaa=1,4‐phenylene diacetic acid)}, comprising 1D linear chains of NiII ions crosslinked via Ni4O4 cubanes, forms under hydrothermal conditions; this 3D coordination network exhibits magnetic ordering at 23.9 K as well as a second magnetic ordering process at 2.8 K likely associated with a structural phase transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In plants, male sterility (MS) is a specific breeding target trait. With the advancements in agriculture, utilization of heterosis breeding in hybrid production through MS lines has become the main breeding tool of various cross‐pollinated and even self‐pollinated crops. Soybean is an essential source of oil and protein; however, the low yield is a major factor limiting its development. Soybean MS mainly comprises cytoplasmic‐nuclear MS and nuclear/genic MS (NMS/GMS), which can effectively utilize heterosis to improve soybean yield. This review outlines the recent research progress on the development of new genetically MS lines, exploring the underlying molecular mechanism of MS, identification and cloning of MS and fertility restoration genes, and the application of MS lines. We further discussed and prospected the future developmental scenario direction of the soybean MS, based on the previous studies of other crops sterility system. Moreover, this review also provides comprehensive information for better application of MS to soybean breeding programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature is replete with information describing the composition of the root lipidome in several plant species grown under various environmental conditions. However, it is unknown to what extent the root membrane lipidome vary between silage‐corn genotypes, and how such variation could influence agronomic performances during field cultivation in cool climate. To address this issue, the root membrane lipidome and agronomic performance were assessed for five silage‐corn genotypes (Fusion‐RR, Yukon‐R, A4177G3‐RIB, DKC23‐17RIB, DKC26‐28RIB) cultivated under cool climatic conditions. Leaf area, plant height and biomass production were used as agronomic performance indicators. Varieties DKC26‐28RIB and Yukon‐R expressed significantly higher leaf area, plant height and biomass production compared to the other genotypes. A strong positive Spearman rank‐order correlation (P = 0.001) was observed between biomass production and root phosphatidic acid (PA). The high correlation observed between PA and agronomic performance indicates PA could potentially be used as biomarker to assist in the selection of silage‐corn genotypes with superior agronomic performance ideally suited for field cultivations in cool climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muskmelon (Cucumis melo) fruit is a best source of vitamins, minerals, and bioactive components. Ingestion of high sugary drinks leads to numerous ailments such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, and tooth decay. This study intended at formulation of intermediate moisture food with various combinations of sugar and glycerol and same levels of potassium metabisulphite, potassium sorbate, calcium chloride, and citric acid. It was observed a gradual decrease in TSS (56.53–53.28), vitamin C level in all treatments with the passage of time. The declining trend in ascorbic acid (25.49–21.63 mg/100 g) content of muskmelon chunks was increased as a function of storage. Sensory results showed that there was declining trend in the scores obtained for color parameter, that is, L* from 60.23 to 55.98. The overall results showed that combination of different additives contributed best values (T3) for flavor (7.70), taste (8.15), vitamin C (25.60 mg/100 g), and pH (5.16) as compared to other treatments. Conclusively, developed chunks of treatment 3 are physicochemical and organoleptically considered best, as it is helpful to sustain life stability of muskmelon and enhance its marketability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Development of non‐noble metal photocatalysts for hydrogen (H2) generation from renewables is important towards cost effective technology. Titania nanorods with different phase compositions and surface areas were fabricated by calcination of hydrogen titanate (H2Ti3O7) precursors obtained by treating P25 (TiO2) hydrothermally in 10 M NaOH and followed by HCl washing. Subsequently the copper and nickel hydroxides were co‐deposited over TiO2 nanorods and used to generate H2 from alcohol‐water mixtures under UV light. Among the synthesized materials, the optimized photocatalyst 0.8Cu(OH)2‐0.2Ni(OH)2/TNR130‐400 showed very high H2 production rates that are 26.6 mmol h−1g−1 in 20 vol.% ethanol‐water mixture and 35.1 mmol h−1g−1 in 5 vol.% glycerol‐water mixtures. The amount of this H2 production is even higher than obtained from noble metal supported TiO2 photocatalysts. This exceptional photocatalytic H2 production is attributed to the high synergism among nanords mophology of support and in situ formation of Cu and Ni exclusively in metallic states during photoreactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Cu(OH)2-Ni(OH)2/P25 photocatalysts was prepared by co-deposition-precipitation (total metal loading ≈1 wt %) and their performance was evaluated for H2 production. Among this series, the 0.8 Cu(OH)2-0.2 Ni(OH)2/P25 photocatalyst demonstrated very high H2 production rates in 20 vol % ethanol/water and 5 vol % glycerol/water mixtures (10 and 22 mmol h−1 g−1, respectively). Detailed analyses based on reaction kinetics, photoluminescence, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and charge carrier scavenging suggest that both working catalysts are composed of Cu and Ni metals in their active phases. Cu0 is produced directly by the transfer of electrons from the conduction band of TiO2 to surface Cu(OH)2 nanoclusters, whereas Ni0 is formed indirectly through a process of gradual dissolution of Ni(OH)2 to yield aqueous Ni2+ owing to the acidic environment of the medium, followed by Ni2+ reduction by electrons from the TiO2 conduction band. The high rates of H2 production that match those obtained with noble metals can be explained owing to a considerably less negative Δ Go of Cu oxide formation when compared with that of Ni oxide formation and higher work function of Ni than that of Cu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linum usitatsimum L. (flax) is a perennial herb with magnitude of medicinal and commercial applications. In the present study, we investigated the effects of salicylic acid (SA) on biosynthesis of lignans (secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) and lariciresinol diglucoside (LDG)) and neolignans (dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol glucoside (DCG) and guaiacylglycerol‐β‐coniferyl alcohol ether glucoside (GGCG)) in cell cultures of flax. Moderate concentration of SA (50 μM) enhanced biomass accumulation (10.98 g/L dry weight (DW)), total phenolic content (37.81 mg/g DW), and antioxidant potential (87.23%) to two‐fold than their respective controls after 72 h of exposure. However, higher levels of total flavonoid content (5.32 mg/g DW) were noted after 48 h of exposure to 50 μM of SA. HPLC analyses revealed that 50 μM SA, significantly enhanced biosynthesis of SDG (7.95 mg/g DW), LDG (7.52 mg/g DW), DCG (54.90 mg/g DW), and GGCG (16.78 mg/g DW), which was almost 2.7, 1.8, 3.88, and 3.98 fold higher than their respective controls after 72 h of exposure time, respectively. These results indicated that moderate concentrations of SA had significant effects on biosynthesis and productivity of lignans and neolignans in cell culture of L. usitatissimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This letter presents the design and analysis of a smart and low profile Ultra‐Wideband Slotted Planar Inverted Cone Antenna. The proposed slotted PICA has low profile (0.4 λ mm2 × 0.4 λ mm2) as compared to other existing designs and its operational bandwidth is from 3 GHz to 18 GHz. The simulated and measured results concur with acceptable return loss of better than 10 dB throughout the operational bandwidth. The radiation pattern of the antenna is omnidirectional and it has maximum Gain of 3.2 dB when placed close to human body, making it compatible for WBAN applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles as solid colloidal particles are extensively studied and used as anticancer drug delivery agents because of their physical properties. This current research aims to prepare water base suspension of uncoated iron oxide nanoparticles and their biodistribution study to different organs, especially the brain, by using a single photon emission computed tomography gamma camera. The water-based suspension of iron oxide nanoparticles was synthesised by a reformed version of the co-precipitation method and labelled with Tc99m for intravenous injection. The nanoparticles were injected without surface modification. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) techniques were used for characterisation. Peaks of XRD and EDS indicate that the particles are magnetite and exist in aqueous suspension. The average diameter of iron oxide nanoparticles without any surface coating determined by TEM is 10 nm. These particles are capable of evading the reticuloendothelial system and can cross the blood-brain barrier in the rabbit. The labelling efficiency of iron oxide nanoparticles labelled with Tc99m is 85%, which is good for the biodistribution study. The sufficient amount of iron oxide nanoparticles concentration in the brain as compared with the surrounding soft tissues and their long blood retention time indicates that the water-based suspension of iron oxide nanoparticles may be an option for drug delivery into the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles as solid colloidal particles are extensively studied and used as anticancer drug delivery agents because of their physical properties. This current research aims to prepare water base suspension of uncoated iron oxide nanoparticles and their biodistribution study to different organs, especially the brain, by using a single photon emission computed tomography gamma camera. The water‐based suspension of iron oxide nanoparticles was synthesised by a reformed version of the co‐precipitation method and labelled with Tc99m for intravenous injection. The nanoparticles were injected without surface modification. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) techniques were used for characterisation. Peaks of XRD and EDS indicate that the particles are magnetite and exist in aqueous suspension. The average diameter of iron oxide nanoparticles without any surface coating determined by TEM is 10 nm. These particles are capable of evading the reticuloendothelial system and can cross the blood‐brain barrier in the rabbit. The labelling efficiency of iron oxide nanoparticles labelled with Tc99m is 85%, which is good for the biodistribution study. The sufficient amount of iron oxide nanoparticles concentration in the brain as compared with the surrounding soft tissues and their long blood retention time indicates that the water‐based suspension of iron oxide nanoparticles may be an option for drug delivery into the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effects of wheat germ oil and wheat bran fiber as fat replacers on quality and stability of low‐fat beef patties. Total five treatments were prepared by employing wheat germ oil (WGO) and wheat bran fiber (WBF). WBF was used at fixed amount of 3% in all treatments except control in conjunction with varying WGO concentrations as follows: 1.5%, 3%, and 4.5%. Prepared raw and cooked beef patties were stored at 4°C, and further analyses were carried out up to 21 days of storage period with intermittent evaluation interval of 7 days. Higher values of TBARS, peroxide, and cholesterol were observed in raw and cooked beef patties in control, whereas minimum values were found in treatment of beef patties prepared with WGO 4.5% + WBF 3%. The physicochemical parameters were observed by pH and hunter color values. pH was higher in cooked patties as compared to beef patties and showed increases with increase in WGO concentration and storage intervals. The sensorial attributes were observed which included different parameters, such as appearance, texture, taste, odor, and overall acceptability. Higher score was given by the panelists to control for both raw and cooked beef patties; however, minimum score for all sensory properties was found in group treated with WGO 4.5% + WBF 3% within acceptable limit. In nutshell, raw and cooked beef patties treated with WGO 4.5% plus WBF 3% showed better quality, stability, and reduced cholesterol content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) is the least mobile nutrient in the soil as compared to other macronutrients and therefore frequently limits crop growth. During germination and early growth, seed-phytate hydrolysis and seed-P remobilization is the major P source for developing seedlings. The objective of this paper was to investigate whether seed-P hydrolysis and remobilization of nonphytate P are sufficient for seedling P nutrition during early growth stages of maize. A large part of initial maize endogenous seed P reserves are mainly in the form of phytate. Till 70 cumulated degree days after sowing, nearly all the phytate (98%) was hydrolyzed and caused an increase in nonphytate P in seeds. Phytate hydrolysis and remobilization of nonphytate P was the main source of P supply for the newly growing seedlings and was not a limiting step for seedling P nutrition during the first four weeks of early growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary concern of writing this article is to study the rheological properties of the micropolar non‐Newtonian nanofluid flowing through the porous medium along with magnetic field effects. In it, the outer boundary of the sheet is heated by applying an external heat source. The insertion of aluminum oxide nanoparticles in water turned it into a nanofluid. Together with the viscous dissipation phenomena, adding a magnetic field has another effect known as a Joule heating impact that is considered in the energy equation. To investigate the impact of viscosity and thermal conductivity on flow patterns, we considered the Koo‐Kleinstreuer‐Li model. A generalized Proudman‐Johnson equation is obtained by using similarity transformation on Navier‐Stokes equations. The well‐known classical shooting method is used to get the numerical solution to the said problem. Graphical results are portrayed for variant rheological parameters lke power law index, Reynolds number, volume fraction, Prandtl number, expansion ratio, and Hartmann number on the velocity and temperature of nanofluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover Feature: Magnetic Phase Transitions in a Ni4O4-Cubane-Based Metal-Organic Framework (Chem. Eur. J. 34/2020) Keywords: cubanes; magnetic materials; metal-organic frameworks; nickel; phase transitions EN cubanes magnetic materials metal-organic frameworks nickel phase transitions 7512 7512 1 06/22/20 20200618 NES 200618 B Four eyes see more than two b : Operando EPR, XANES/EXAFS, ATR-IR, and UV/Vis spectroscopy have been coupled in the same experiment to complete the mechanistic puzzle in selective aerobic alcohol oxidation by a copper-TEMPO catalyst. Cubanes, magnetic materials, metal-organic frameworks, nickel, phase transitions. [Extracted from the article]

One of the main motivation points in studies on inequalities is to obtain generalizations and to introduce new approaches. In this direction, the generalized fractional integral operators defined within the scope of fractional analysis are quite functional. In this paper, some new integral inequalities have been proved by using generalized fractional integral operators and some classical inequalities for integrable functions. In the proofs of the main findings, the definitions of the generalized fractional integral operator, certain classical relations, and some classical inequalities are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motivation for conducting this research is the growing awareness of  the increasing number of environmental issues on a global scale. As the world is facing the necessity of tackling environmental degradation, this study intends to uncover the fundamental links between global value chain participation, financial development, and their aggregate influence on environmental footprints in the context of the global economies (selected 60 countries) from 1996 to 2018. This study utilized a modern and novel technique known as the “Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lagged Model.” The research results revealed that, in the selected economies, more natural resource rent, better financial development, and greater participation in the global value chain all positively contributed to environmental degradation across different quantiles. This implies an increasing environmental burden because of higher financial development, enhanced global value chain participation, and rising rents for natural resources. The study's findings have important policy implications, stressing the need for authorities or policymakers to incorporate environmental concerns into economic and financial policies. The authors also recommended that governments should think about enacting laws that support environmentally conscious behavior, such as rewarding investments in eco‐friendly technology and penalizing actions that harm the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D channels generated in the supramolecular structure of complex due to 1,10‐phenenthroline enhanced the NLO effect many times as compared with simple Ca‐N‐phthaloyl carboxylate complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social entrepreneurship is a growing area of interest among practitioners. Social entrepreneurship meets and satisfies social needs and brings social change through innovative ideas. This study aims to investigate the impact of positivity and empathy of individuals on social entrepreneurial intention. This study considers the mediating role of social entrepreneurial self‐efficacy between the relationship of positivity, empathy, and social entrepreneurial intention. In addition, this study investigates perceived social support as a boundary condition between the relationship of social entrepreneurial self‐efficacy and social entrepreneurial intention. Findings show that positivity and empathy positively influence social entrepreneurial self‐efficacy, which subsequently positively influences social entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, results show that high perceived social support strengthens the relationship between social entrepreneurial self‐efficacy and social entrepreneurial intention. Discussions and implications based on the study findings are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thermal hydraulic study of convective heat transfer in 3 × 3 square array of heated vertical cylinders is carried out using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Two different CFD approaches were used, i.e., full structural details (FSD) and porous media modeling (PMM). The computational requirement in PMM declined significantly due the porous media approximation. The PMM only gives the overall flow and temperature field. In the FSD model all the geometry details are presented without any approximation. The PMM and FSD results are compared to experimental data. In general, the prediction of temperature profiles from both PMM and FSD agreed well with the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current investigation was carried out to evaluate the impact of gamma irradiation and guava leaf extract (GLE) on chicken meat patties. The effects of treatments on chicken meat patties were determined by physicochemical, stability (oxidative and microbial), and antioxidant status during different packaging (aerobic and vacuum) at storage intervals (0, 5, and 10 days). The changes in physicochemical parameters of chicken patties were observed on various treatments, storage intervals, and different packaging. The TBARS and POV were found to increase significantly (p <.05) on 2 kGy and with the passage of storage time. The results of microbial load in samples were found to decrease on gamma irradiation with and without GLE. The antioxidant profile in chicken patties was with respect to control. Slight changes were seen in sensory parameters on different treatments at storage intervals. It is concluded that gamma irradiation eliminated the microbes and different concentrations of GLE improve the stability and antioxidant profile of chicken patties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research study was designed for the development of functional drinks from wheat and barley grasses followed by their physicochemical and sensorial characterization. In 1st phase, wheatgrass and barley grass juices were prepared with different concentrations and were subjected for physicochemical analysis and sensorial evaluation. Moreover, these juices were analyzed for color indices, pH, acidity, and total soluble solids (TSS) during storage study at 0, 2, 4, and 6 days. Results showed that TSS and pH of juices were 1.321, 2.8900, 3.100, and 6.225, 6.032, 6.491 for T0, T1, and T2, respectively, whereas a slight decreasing trend in acidity was observed during storage. Furthermore, treatments and storage (days) showed nonsignificant effect on these traits; however, storage affected significantly except for a* value for color indices. Conclusively, with respect to sensory aspects, the cereal grass juices showed satisfactory indexes of acceptability and promising marketing potential. The current article elucidate about health benefits of cereal grasses such as anti‐anemic perspectives. Cereal grasses juices contain higher amount of iron content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processive cellulase (CelO) is an important modular enzyme of Clostridium thermocellum. To study the effect of the carbohydrate‐binding module (CBM3b) on the catalytic domain of CelO (GH5), four engineered derivatives of CelO were designed by truncation and terminal fusion of CBM3b. These are CBM at the N‐terminus, native form (CelO‐BC, 62 kDa); catalytic domain only (CelO‐C, 42 kDa); CBM at the C‐terminus (CelO‐CB, 54 kDa) and CBM attached at both termini (CelO‐BCB, 73 kDa). All constructs were cloned into pET22b (+) and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) star. The expression levels of CelO‐C, CelO‐CB, CelO‐BC, and CelO‐BCB were 35%, 35%, 30%, and 20%, respectively. The enzyme activities of CelO‐C, CelO‐CB, CelO‐BC, and CelO‐BCB against 1% regenerated amorphous cellulose (RAC) were 860, 758, 985, and 1208 units per μmole of the enzyme, respectively. The enzymes were partially purified from the lysate of E. coli cells by heat treatment followed by anion exchange FPLC purification. Against RAC, CelO‐C, CelO‐CB, CelO‐BC, and CelO‐BCB showed KM values of 32, 33, 45, and 43 mg⋅mL–1 and Vmax values of 3571, 3846, 3571, and 4545 U⋅min–1, respectively. CBM3b at the N‐terminus of GH5 linked through a P/T‐rich linker was found to enhance the catalytic activity and thermostability of the enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) is the 10th most cultivated crop and is a vital food source for human consumption. Genetic diversity in durum wheat is still an unexplored subject, and gene banks are filled with accessions waiting to be screened. Here, four different groups of durum wheat, Turkish and foreign cultivars, and in situ and ex situ landraces were evaluated for population structure and genetic diversity. A collection of 129 durum wheat accessions were genotyped, with a total of 6,357 markers (SilicoDArT, SNP [single‐nucleotide polymorphism], and simple sequence repeats [SSRs]). The highest mean allele number per marker (1.562) was obtained with SNP markers in ex situ landraces; the lowest mean allele number per marker (0.788) was obtained with SSR markers in the foreign cultivars. The minimum percentage of polymorphic loci was 38.70% observed with SSR markers in foreign cultivars; the maximum was 76.20% in SilicoDArT markers in ex situ landraces. According to Neighbor‐Joining analyses, the studied collection was divided into groups of cultivars and landraces, with some level of admixtures. Structure and principal coordinate analysis obtained distinct clusters for ex situ landraces and foreign cultivars, supported by Neighbor‐Joining analysis. A significant level of intergroup and intragroup variation was observed, and Turkish ex situ landraces were found as the most diverse and distinct group in the collection. Turkish landraces may be a promising source of novel allelic diversity that can be used in durum wheat breeding worldwide. Core Ideas: Turkish durum wheat landraces may provide novel allelic diversity.Turkish durum wheat cultivars released in the late 20th century has close pedigree relations with foreign cultivars.Turkish modern wheat germplasm/gene pool have experienced a bottleneck for several reasons.Turkish cultivars divide into two distinct groups: foreign related and landrace related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research work was carried out to evaluate the effect of three different varieties (NARC-II, Williams 82, Ajmeri) of soybean along with single and coculture impact of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei on fermented soymilk. The periodically microbial and antioxidative activities of fermented soymilk were analyzed during the storage of 24 days. Moreover, the effect of fermentation on rheological and structural changes was examined along with isoflavone contents in fermented soymilk. Viability of cells and antioxidative activities were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher in fermented soymilk using mixed cultures. The rheological attributes demonstrated higher viscosity in coculture fermented soymilk. Scanning electron microscopic examination indicated that the growth characteristic of L. casei has a relatively more uniform texture and smaller pore size in comparison to L. acidophilus. Nevertheless, the combination of cultures exhibited precise pore formation with stronger cross-links of soybean protein throughout the structure. Assessment of isoflavones exhibited higher values, for daidzein (20.87 ppm) in comparison to genistein (6.57 ppm), in Ajmeri-based coculture soymilk. Conclusively, L. casei and L. acidophilous exhibited considerable antioxidant potential in the development of viscous, less porous, and rich in bioactive metabolites fermented soymilk, when used in combination and among varieties Ajmeri results it was the top of all. This suggests that the process evidence in this study could be recommended for high-quality soymilk production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this present paper, we introduce the idea and concept of n‐polynomial s‐type preinvex functions. We elaborate and investigate the algebraic properties of the newly introduced definition and discuss their connections and relations with convex functions. We find the new sort of Hermite–Hadamard inequality via a newly introduced definition. Furthermore, some refinements of Hermite–Hadamard inequality are given. Finally, we investigated some applications via this newly introduced definition. The results obtained in this paper can be viewed as significant improvement of previously known results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To assess the seasonal variations in hematological disorders among patients diagnosed on the basis of bone marrow biopsy, who attended National Institute of Blood Diseases (NIBD) clinics during 2006 to 2015. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the 10‐year records of hematological disorders among patients' NIBD clinics from year 2006 to 2015. All cases of aplastic anemia (AA), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML) were categorized on the basis of the seasons in which they were diagnosed such as winter (December‐February), spring (March‐May), southwest monsoon periods (June‐September), and retreating monsoon period (October and November). Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS and STATA. Inferential statistics were explored using the chi‐square test for heterogeneity to evaluate seasonal variations. P‐value <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: A total of 1982 cases were reviewed. Men were predominantly higher (n = 1190, 60%) as compared to women (n = 792, 40%). Frequency of ALL was found to be higher (513, 25.9%), followed by ITP (504, 25.4%), AML (490, 24.7%), AA (396, 20%), while APML was observed in only 79 (4%) patients. Seasonal variations in the diagnosis of hematological disorders were observed (P‐value <.001), except in APML diagnosis (P‐value =.445). Significant seasonal variations were also detected in both genders in stratified analysis. Conclusion: The finding of this study has reported an increase in the hematological disorder during 2006 to 2015. Particularly, majority of the cases were reported in southwest monsoon period, whereas least cases were reported in retreating period. Significant seasonal and yearly variations were detected in all diagnosis except the APML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world-wide application of photovoltaic (PV) plants is a promising solution to the energy crisis. However, PV plants usually suffer from transient instability due to weakness in dynamical adaptability. This study, based on the transient stability mechanism, devises an adaptive control scheme to achieve transient stability enhancement for PV plants. The transient stability mechanism shows that the active droop factor is negatively associated with the transient stability whereas the reactive droop factor is positively associated. The transient stability enhancement is implemented by increasing the reactive droop factor and reducing the active droop factor to raise the power angle curve. The proposed control scheme adjusts the droop factors dynamically during the transient events by detecting the real-time electrical quantities. The control scheme advances in a designed activation module which is able to judge if there exist transient events. A series of simulation cases demonstrate the effectiveness of the control scheme in different transient events. Simulation results show that the control scheme adjusts droop factors adaptively and possesses better transient stability than the normal droop control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperuricemia (HUA), a disease due to an elevation of body uric acid level and responsible for various diseases such as gout, cardiovascular disorders, and renal failure, is a major ground debate for the medical science these days. Considering the risk factors linked with allopathic drugs for the treatment of this disease, the debate has now become a special issue. Previously, we critically discussed the role of dietary polyphenols in the treatment of HUA. Besides dietary food plants, many researchers figure out the tremendous effects of medicinal plants‐derived phytochemicals against HUA. Keeping in mind all these aspects, we reviewed all possible managerial studies related to HUA through medicinal plants (isolated compounds). In the current review article, we comprehensively discussed various bioactive compounds, chemical structures, and structure–activity relationship with responsible key enzyme xanthine oxidase. Purine metabolism results the formation of uric acid in human body due to catalysis of (hypoxanthine and xanthine) by xanthine oxidase enzyme. The over production of uric acid results in hyperuricemia, gout, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Plant drive bioactive compounds bind with xanthine oxidase enzyme due to their special structural features and hinder the entrance of hypoxanthine and xanthine with enzyme, thus prevent from uric acid synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid materials based on polyaniline derivative and metal nanofiller were reported for potential antibacterial applications. Polyorthochloroaniline/copper nanocomposites (POC/Cu NCs) were synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of orthochloroaniline using ammonium persulfate as oxidant, in the presence of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) and 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylamine. CuNPs were prepared through reduction of copper chloride by using sodium borohydride as reducing agent. The composition, structure, and morphology of CuNPs, POC, and their composites were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, X‐ray diffractometry, and scanning electron microscopic techniques. The antibacterial potential of nanocomposites against gram‐positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) and gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) for various loads of copper nanofiller was evaluated using viable cell counts. The outcomes showed that nanocomposites have better antimicrobial efficacy than POC under the similar testing conditions. The mechanism of the synergistic antimicrobial effect of POC/Cu NCs was also proposed. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:4524–4531, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Six new 3D lanthanide‐based organic frameworks with the formula of [Ln2(1,4‐BDC)2(ox)(H2O)4]⋅2H2O (Ln=Tb 1, Dy 2, Gd 3) and [Ln2(1,4‐BDC)2(ox)(H2O)2] (Ln=Ho 4, Er 5, Yb 6; 1,4‐H2BDC=1,4‐benzenedicarboxylate; H2ox=oxalate acid) were synthesized by hydrothermal method and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, UV–vis spectra, powder X‐ray diffraction, and TG‐DTA method, wherein compounds 1 and 4 were structurally characterized. Compounds 1–3 had been found to be isostructural and crystallized in the monoclinic crystal system with space group of P21/c possessing quasi‐square 1D channels wherein lattice water molecules were encapsulated, while the isostructural compounds 4–6 crystallized in triclinic system with P‐1 space group, while their triangular 1D channels are too small to encapsulate any solvent molecules. The significant lanthanide contraction effect is evident from the observed resulting structures of compounds 1–6 which were synthesized under the same reaction conditions. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited characteristic emissions of Tb(III) and Dy(III) ions and the luminescent lifetime of compound 1 was found to be 0.54 ms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ethnic groups that inhabit the mountainous Dir and Swat districts of northern Pakistan are marked by high levels of cultural and phenotypic diversity. To obtain knowledge of the extent of genetic diversity in this region, we investigated Y-chromosomal diversity in five population samples representing the three main ethnic groups residing within these districts, including Gujars, Pashtuns and Kohistanis. A total of 27 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) and 331 Y-chromosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (Y-SNPs) were investigated. In the Y-STRs, we observed very high and significant levels of genetic differentiation in nine of the 10 pairwise between-group comparisons ( RST 0.179-0.746), and the differences were mirrored in the Y-SNP haplogroup frequency distribution. No genetic differences were found between the two Pashtun subethnic groups Tarklanis and Yusafzais ( RST = 0.000). Utmankhels, also considered Pashtuns culturally, were not closely related to any of the other population samples ( RST 0.451-0.746). Thus, our findings provide examples of both associations and dissociations between cultural and genetic legacies. When analyzed within a larger continental-scale context, these five ethnic groups fall mostly outside the previously characterized Y-chromosomal gene pools of the Indo-Pakistani subcontinent. Male founder effects, coupled with culturally and topographically based constraints upon marriage and movement, are likely responsible for the high degree of genetic structure in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an abstract on the case study of a 17 year old girl with allergic rhinitis and house-dust mite sensitization, who was suspected to have chlorpheniramine hypersensitivity.

Water extracts obtained from the roots, shoots, and fruits of mature wild onion ( Asphodelus tenuifolius) plants and soil taken from an A. tenuifolius field were used to determine their allelopathic effects on the germination and seedling growth of chickpea ( Cicer arietinum) in the laboratory. The roots, shoots, and fruits of A. tenuifolius were soaked individually in water in a ratio of 1:20 (w/v) for 24 h to prepare the extracts. Distilled water was used as the control. The germinated seeds were taken out from the Petri dishes and counted every day for 12 days. The seeds of chickpea were also sown in sand and in each of the controlled, normal soil and the soil taken from the A. tenuifolius-infested field in Petri dishes to record the length and weight of the roots and shoots 18 days after sowing. The mean germination time reached the maximum amount for the stem and fruit extracts. The fruit extract caused the most reduction in the germination index and the germination percentage of chickpea. The different wild onion organ extracts significantly reduced the root and shoot length and biomass of the chickpea seedlings compared with the distilled water. The fruit extract of wild onion proved to be the most detrimental to the root length, shoot length, and dry weight of the chickpea seedlings. The soil beneath the A. tenuifolius plants significantly reduced the emergence, root length, shoot length, shoot dry weight, and seedling dry weight but increased the root dry weight of the chickpea seedlings. It is suggested that A. tenuifolius releases phytotoxic compound(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores a very important issue arising from the initiation of China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan, as the major impact seems to be focused towards small businesses and how they will cope in this competitive market once Chinese businesses enter in the country. According to scholars and officials, CPEC will generate several business opportunities for the local Pakistani community. However, studies related to the CPEC project are limited and only focused on the development of the CPEC project in various aspects alone. The existing study examined the local entrepreneur's attitude and intention in the context of CPEC using a sample of 255 survey questionnaires. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed hypotheses. Data were gathered from the existing business community in Karachi, Pakistan. The results validated most of the hypotheses showing positive attitude towards entrepreneurs and intention towards CPEC development project. Specifically, local transportation and accessibility of cities show a significant relationship with a positive attitude. Similarly, the attitude of entrepreneurs also shows a positive relationship with entrepreneur's intention towards CPEC development projects. Findings have important theoretical and practical implications for policymakers of CPEC in creating an overall entrepreneurial ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the stability of Bifidobacterium bifidum in the yoghurt with and without encapsulation. The B. bifidum was encapsulated with 6% sodium alginate concentration (SAC) and 0.8% Carboxymethyl‐Hexanoyl chitosan (CHC) as a single coating and then double‐coated with whey protein concentrate (WPC). After that, yoghurt was prepared with the addition of free and encapsulated probiotic (B. bifidum) along with the starter cultures and studied weekly up to 28th day of storage. Organoleptic analysis also shows higher score in encapsulated probiotic bacteria rather than free. The viable count of probiotic and yoghurt cultures was affected significantly (p < .01) during refrigerated storage of yoghurt and their survivability remained higher (8.81 ± 0.35 to 5.39 ± 0.58 log cfu/ml) in double‐coated encapsulated yoghurt. Encapsulated cells of probiotic culture have shown minimum zone of inhibition compared with free cells, and antibiotic (gentamicin) has shown maximum resistance against Salmonella. Practical applications: The present study concludes that probiotics can be used against foodborne pathogens but antibiotic has shown more resistant as compared to probiotic. The most efficient and significant technology for probiotics preservation is encapsulation against unfavorable environmental conditions. So, to improve the physical stability of alginate gels, chitosan coating material enhanced the survival of encapsulated probiotic in the yoghurt. The results of this study can be used at industrial level to claim health benefits of encapsulated probiotics for consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature and conditions of moisture after harvesting have the most important impact on fungal growth and mycotoxin production. The present study was designed to assess the presence of different mycotoxins in grains of spring and autumn varieties of maize collected from Sahiwal, district Pakistan. A total of 234 samples of maize flour, bread, and nixtamalized flour were analyzed. All samples were found to be contaminated with aflatoxin and zearalenone while ochratoxin was not detected in any sample. Bread showed the reduction in mycotoxins level for autumn and spring season as (55 and 51%) for aflatoxins (AFs) and (84 and 63% for zearalenone (ZEA) for autumn and spring season's samples. Nixtamalization also showed the reduction in mycotoxins level for autumn and spring (73 and 60%) for AFs and (72.9 and 52%) for ZEA for autumn and spring seasons sample. The probable daily intake values for aflatoxin and zearalenone in autumn and spring seasons were in the range between 0.035–0.049 and 0.350–0.336 μg/kg b.w./day. Practical applications: The potential presence of mycotoxins in maize is a major health concern for the producers as well as consumers. Mycotoxins presence in food supply chain is result of poor storage condition favoring growth of mold. The mold produces secondary metabolites, mycotoxins. Mycotoxins once become part of maize will be carried out with supply chain. Therefore, monitoring of mycotoxins is necessary to assess their concentration so that food can be made safe for the consumer. Other than quantification of mycotoxins, analysis of mycotoxins behavior toward processing or heat have significant importance for the maize processing industry. This study provides quantification and fate of mycotoxins during processing of maize and nixtamalization. Mycotoxins behavior toward processing will provide relation to their presence and possible reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]