Physicochemical and antioxidant properties of Apis cerana honey from Lombok and Bali Islands

Limited honey production worldwide leads to higher market prices, thus making it prone to adulteration. Therefore, regular physicochemical analysis is imperative for ensuring authenticity and safety. This study describes the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of Apis cerana honey sourced from the islands of Lombok and Bali, showing their unique regional traits. A comparative analysis was conducted on honey samples from Lombok and Bali as well as honey variety from Malaysia. Moisture content was found slightly above 20% in raw honey samples from Lombok and Bali, adhering to the national standard (SNI 8664:2018) of not exceeding 22%. Both honey types displayed pH values within the acceptable range (3.40-6.10), ensuring favorable conditions for long-term storage. However, Lombok honey exhibited higher free acidity (78.5±2.14 meq/kg) than Bali honey (76.0±1.14 meq/kg), surpassing Codex Alimentarius recommendations (≤50 meq/kg). The ash content, reflective of inorganic mineral composition, was notably lower in Lombok (0.21±0.02 g/100) and Bali honey (0.14±0.01 g/100) compared to Tualang honey (1.3±0.02 g/100). Electric conductivity, indicative of mineral content, revealed Lombok and Bali honey with lower but comparable values than Tualang honey. Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) concentrations in Lombok (14.4±0.11 mg/kg) and Bali (17.6±0.25 mg/kg) were slightly elevated compared to Tualang honey (6.4±0.11 mg/kg), suggesting potential processing-related changes. Sugar analysis revealed Lombok honey with the highest sucrose content (2.39±0.01g/100g) and Bali honey with the highest total sugar content (75.21±0.11 g/100g). Both honeys exhibited lower glucose than fructose content, aligning with Codex Alimentarius guidelines. The phenolic content, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were significantly higher in Lombok and Bali honey compared to Tualang honey, suggesting potential health benefits. Further analysis by LC-MS/MS-QTOF targeted analysis identified various flavonoids/flavanols and polyphenolic/phenolic acid compounds in Lombok and Bali honey. The study marks the importance of characterizing the unique composition of honey from different regions, ensuring quality and authenticity in the honey industry.

Antidiabetic Property Optimization from Green Leafy Vegetables Using Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction to Improve Cracker Production

Here we test a method of incorporating of plant extracts into popular snack foods to help control diabetes. Since some fresh vegetables contain antidiabetic compounds, ultrasound-assisted extraction was used to optimize their extraction of from spring onions, bunching onions, and celery for later incorporation into crackers. We compared various concentrations of ethanol used during extraction, after which they were exposed to an ultrasound processor whose amplitude and sonication time were also varied. The optimal extraction conditions were found to be an ethanol concentration of 44.08%, an amplitude of 80%, and a sonication time of 30 min. This resulted in the highest level of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (i.e., 1,449.73 mmol ACE/g) and the highest extraction yield (i.e., 24.16%). The extract produced from these optimum conditions was then used as a constituent component of crackers at 0.625%, 1.25%, or 2.5% w/w. These biscuits were then produced at baking temperatures of 140°C, 150°C, or 160°C. We then measured the physical characteristics and bioactivities of sample biscuits from each treatment. We found that biscuits containing 2.5% vegetable combination extract and baked at 140°C had the highest total phenolic content, the strongest antioxidant performance, and showed the most substantial antidiabetic and antiobesity effects. Here we establish conditions for the effective extraction of antidiabetic functional ingredients via ultrasound from green leafy vegetables. We also provide a method of using these ingredients to prepare crackers with the aim of developing a functional antidiabetic snack food.

Green honey of Banggi Island: A preliminary anti-diabetic study on zebrafish model

Zebrafish is a developing vertebrate model with several advantages, including its small size, and high experimental efficiency. Malaysia exhibit one of the highest diabetes rates in the Western Pacific and incurring an annual cost of 600 million US dollars. The objective of the study is to determine the antidiabetic properties of green honey (GH) using a zebrafish model. Adult zebrafish, aged 3-4 months, were subjected to overfeeding and treated with streptozotocin (STZ) through intraperitoneal injection (IP) on days 7 and 9. The study assessed the oral sucrose tolerance test (OSTT) and the anti-diabetic effects of green honey. The evaluation was conducted at three time points: 30, 60, and 120 min after treatment and sucrose administration. The study utilised a model with a sample size of 5. The study was performed in six groups. These groups are (1) Normal control (non-diabetic, no intervention), (2) Normal control + GH (non-diabetic, supplemented with GH 3 μl), (3) DM control (diabetic, no intervention), (4) DM Gp1 (diabetic, 3 μL GH), (5) DM Gp2 (diabetic, 6 μ L GH), (6) DM Acarbose (diabetic, treated with acarbose). Fasting blood glucose levels for non-diabetic (non-DM) and diabetic (DM) groups were evaluated before and after the 10 days of diabetic induction. DM groups (excess of food and two injections of STZ) have caused a significant increment in the fasting blood glucose to 11.55 mmol/l (p < 0.0001). Both GH treatments effectively decreased postprandial blood glucose levels and the area under the curve in the oral glucose tolerance test (OSTT). Based on these results, it is concluded that green honey could play a role in hyperglycemia management and show potential as a natural alternative to conventional diabetes therapy. The underlying mechanisms need to be clarified, and their potential use in human diabetes therapy needs to be investigated.

The mediating role of coping styles in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and mental health problems: a cross-sectional study among nurses

Fear of being infected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could trigger mental health problems among nurses at the frontline. In such a situation, coping strategies are needed to deal with the imminent threat. The purpose of this study was to test the mediating effects of coping on relationships of fear of COVID-19 with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic syndrome among nurses who were in contact with COVID-19 patients. A cross-sectional and correlational research design was used to recruit a sample of 278 nurses who treated COVID-19 patients in four government referral hospitals in Indonesia. A bootstrap resampling procedure was used to test the significance of the total and specific indirect effects of coping on relationships of Fear of COVID-19 with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic syndrome. The nurses reported moderate levels of fear of COVID-19, considerable anxiety and depression, and a moderate level of coping. We found coping to be significantly negatively correlated with the reported levels of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic syndrome (p < 0.001). Coping mediated relationships of fear of COVID-19 on depression, anxiety and post-traumatic syndrome after controlling for relevant confounders for each dependent variable. This shows that enacting coping mechanisms is important to achieve an adaptive effect on nurses' mental health. Proper assessments and interventions should be tailored and implemented for nurses who have contact with COVID-19 patients to facilitate their use of coping strategies when needed in stressful situations.

Baseline amplicon sequencing data for the ITS2 region in the green honey of Banggi Island, Sabah

Green honey, was discovered on Banggi Island, Sabah, showing high in essential amino acids and chlorophyll derivatives. Despite its lucrative market potential owing to its distinctive color, uncertainties persist regarding its nature. This study leverages amplicon sequencing by targeting micro- and macro-organisms present in honey environmental DNA (eDNA) using Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) region, enabling the identification of floral and microorganism sources that represent the honey's composition. The investigation into green honey from Banggi Island concerns the prevalence of honey adulteration and authenticity for economic gain. Adulteration methods, such as the addition of sugar syrups, compromise honey purity. Using a sequencing approach would help in determining the geographic origin and verifying the authenticity of the honey. The study aims to identify plant species or microorganisms in honey's eDNA. To authenticate honey, we utilized ITS2 with Illumina sequencing, exploring the diversity of green honey samples. Raw sequence reads obtained for the green honey sample revealed 1,438,627 raw reads, with a GC average of 49.22 %. A total of 44 amplicon sequence variances (ASVs) were identified, including three genera: Zygosaccharomyces with two species, Fraxinus with three species, and the genus Ficaria with only one species. Their respective relative abundances were 98.55%, 0.94%, and 0.51%. Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and Zygosaccharomyces mellis were identified as the pre-dominant yeast species in honey, while the Fraxinus and Ficaria genus represent common plant species in Sabah, particularly in Banggi Island. The dominance of Zygosaccharomyces species aligns with their known prevalence in honey, affirming the reliability of our findings. The presence of Fraxinus and Ficaria in the honey sample correlates with its abundance in the local environment. This amplicon sequencing approach not only contributes to our understanding of green honey composition but also serves as a valuable resource for authenticating honey origin in Malaysia, particularly for green honey from Banggi Island, Sabah. Our study pioneers the application of ITS2 amplicon sequencing for green honey amplicon sequencing, providing valuable insights into its composition and origin. This methodology, with a focus on eDNA, contributes to the authentication and quality determination of honey in Malaysia, addressing the pressing concerns of adulteration and variability in production practices.

Chitosan/aloe vera gel coatings infused with orange peel essential oils for fruits preservation

Continuous fruit waste poses significant environmental and economic challenges, necessitating innovative fruit coating technologies. This research focuses on harnessing discarded orange peels to extract essential oil (OPEO), which is then integrated into a chitosan/aloe vera (CTS/AVG) matrix. The study comprehensively characterised the coating in terms of its physicochemical properties, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial efficacy. The investigation involved an analysis of particle size and distribution in the coating solutions, highlighting changes induced by the incorporation of orange peel essential oil (1 %, 2 % and 3 % v/w) into the chitosan/aloe vera (4:1 v/v) matrix, including particle size reduction and enhanced Brownian motion. The study quantifies a 33.21 % decrease in water vapour transmission rate and a reduction in diffusion coefficient from 9.26 × 10-11 m2/s to 6.20 × 10-11 m2/s following the addition of OPEO to CTS/AVG. Assessment of antioxidant potential employing DPPH radical scavenging assays, revealed that CTS/AVG/3 %OPEO exhibited notably superior radical scavenging activity compared to CTS/AVG, CTS/AVG/1 %OPEO, and CTS/AVG/2 %OPEO, demonstrated by its IC50 value of 17.01 ± 0.45 mg/mL. The study employs the well diffusion method, demonstrating a higher susceptibility of gram-negative bacteria to the coating solutions than gram-positive counterparts. Remarkably, CTS/AVG/3 %OPEO displayed the most pronounced inhibition against Escherichia coli, generating an inhibitory zone diameter of 14 ± 0.8 mm. The results collectively emphasised the potential of CTS/AVG/3 %OPEO as a viable natural alternative to synthetic preservatives within the fruit industry, attributed to its exceptional antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease: a prespecified secondary analysis from the empa-kidney trial

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce progression of chronic kidney disease and the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a wide range of patients. However, their effects on kidney disease progression in some patients with chronic kidney disease are unclear because few clinical kidney outcomes occurred among such patients in the completed trials. In particular, some guidelines stratify their level of recommendation about who should be treated with SGLT2 inhibitors based on diabetes status and albuminuria. We aimed to assess the effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease both overall and among specific types of participants in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial.

METHODS

EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA), and included individuals aged 18 years or older with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or with an eGFR of 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher. We explored the effects of 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily versus placebo on the annualised rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR slope), a tertiary outcome. We studied the acute slope (from randomisation to 2 months) and chronic slope (from 2 months onwards) separately, using shared parameter models to estimate the latter. Analyses were done in all randomly assigned participants by intention to treat. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110.

FINDINGS

Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and then followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5-2·4). Prespecified subgroups of eGFR included 2282 (34·5%) participants with an eGFR of less than 30 mL/min per 1·73 m2, 2928 (44·3%) with an eGFR of 30 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, and 1399 (21·2%) with an eGFR 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2 or higher. Prespecified subgroups of uACR included 1328 (20·1%) with a uACR of less than 30 mg/g, 1864 (28·2%) with a uACR of 30 to 300 mg/g, and 3417 (51·7%) with a uACR of more than 300 mg/g. Overall, allocation to empagliflozin caused an acute 2·12 mL/min per 1·73 m2 (95% CI 1·83-2·41) reduction in eGFR, equivalent to a 6% (5-6) dip in the first 2 months. After this, it halved the chronic slope from -2·75 to -1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (relative difference 50%, 95% CI 42-58). The absolute and relative benefits of empagliflozin on the magnitude of the chronic slope varied significantly depending on diabetes status and baseline levels of eGFR and uACR. In particular, the absolute difference in chronic slopes was lower in patients with lower baseline uACR, but because this group progressed more slowly than those with higher uACR, this translated to a larger relative difference in chronic slopes in this group (86% [36-136] reduction in the chronic slope among those with baseline uACR <30 mg/g compared with a 29% [19-38] reduction for those with baseline uACR ≥2000 mg/g; ptrend<0·0001).

INTERPRETATION

Empagliflozin slowed the rate of progression of chronic kidney disease among all types of participant in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial, including those with little albuminuria. Albuminuria alone should not be used to determine whether to treat with an SGLT2 inhibitor.

FUNDING

Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly.

Impact of primary kidney disease on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease: secondary analyses of the EMPA-KIDNEY trial

BACKGROUND

The EMPA-KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population.

METHODS

EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA). Patients were eligible if their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher at screening. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily or matching placebo. Effects on kidney disease progression (defined as a sustained ≥40% eGFR decline from randomisation, end-stage kidney disease, a sustained eGFR below 10 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or death from kidney failure) were assessed using prespecified Cox models, and eGFR slope analyses used shared parameter models. Subgroup comparisons were performed by including relevant interaction terms in models. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110.

FINDINGS

Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5-2·4). Prespecified subgroupings by primary kidney disease included 2057 (31·1%) participants with diabetic kidney disease, 1669 (25·3%) with glomerular disease, 1445 (21·9%) with hypertensive or renovascular disease, and 1438 (21·8%) with other or unknown causes. Kidney disease progression occurred in 384 (11·6%) of 3304 patients in the empagliflozin group and 504 (15·2%) of 3305 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·62-0·81]), with no evidence that the relative effect size varied significantly by primary kidney disease (pheterogeneity=0·62). The between-group difference in chronic eGFR slopes (ie, from 2 months to final follow-up) was 1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (95% CI 1·16-1·59), representing a 50% (42-58) reduction in the rate of chronic eGFR decline. This relative effect of empagliflozin on chronic eGFR slope was similar in analyses by different primary kidney diseases, including in explorations by type of glomerular disease and diabetes (p values for heterogeneity all >0·1).

INTERPRETATION

In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression, including a wide range of non-diabetic causes of chronic kidney disease, empagliflozin reduced risk of kidney disease progression. Relative effect sizes were broadly similar irrespective of the cause of primary kidney disease, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors should be part of a standard of care to minimise risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease.

FUNDING

Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and UK Medical Research Council.

Metagenomic analysis and biodiversity of bacteria in traditional fermented fish or Budu from West Sumatera, Indonesia

Objective

This research aims to investigate the microbial diversity of Budu prepared from fresh and frozen fish from the Pariaman and Pasaman districts in West Sumatra Province, Indonesia, as well as provide basic information about Budu quality.

Materials and methods

To obtain the bacterial microbial composition, deoxyribonucleic acid extraction was carried out using amplicon-sequencing of the 16S-rRNA gene in the V3-V4 region from two types of Budu and carried out in duplicate.

Results

Budu prepared with fresh (Pariaman) or frozen (Pasaman) fish was dominated by Firmicutes (78.455%-92.37%) and Proteobacteria (6.477%-7.23%) phyla. The total microbial species in Budu from Pariaman were higher (227 species) than in Pasaman (153 species). The bacterial species found are Lentibacillus kimchi (1.878%-2.21%), Staphylococcus cohnii (0.597%-0.70%), Peptostreptococcus russeli (0.00%-0.002%), Clostridium disporicum (0.073%-0.09%), Clostridium novyi (0.00%-0.01%), Nioella sediminis (0.00%-0.001%), and Shewanella baltica (0.00%-0.003%). Lentibacillus kimchi, S. cohnii, and C. disporicum are found in both Budu. Nioella sediminis and S. baltica are found in Budu Pariaman. Peptostreptococcus russeli and C. novyi were found in Budu Pasaman.

Conclusion

Metagenomic analysis of Budu from different fish, Pariaman (fresh fish) and Pasaman (frozen fish) showed that the biodiversity of bacteria was barely different. Both Budu found lactic acid bacteria from the Enterococcaceae family, genus Vagococcus, and pathogenic bacteria, such as S. cohnii, P. russeli, C. disporicum, and S. baltica. The discovery of various species of pathogenic bacteria indicates that development is still needed in the Budu production process to improve Budu quality.

Effects of Music Therapy on Spiritual Well-Being among Patients with Advanced Cancer in Palliative Care: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

PURPOSE

Patients with advanced cancer in palliative care often experience physical and psychological symptoms that negatively impact their quality of life (QoL) and spiritual well-being. Music therapy can be used for symptom management in these patients. However, the effectiveness is uncertain. To determine the effectiveness of music therapy on spiritual well-being, QoL, pain, and psychological distress using randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

DATA SOURCE

A systematic search was conducted in EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the ClinicalTrial.gov registry up to September 2022.

CONCLUSION

The meta-analysis included seven RCTs with a total of 747 advanced cancer patients. Music therapy was found to significantly improve spiritual well-being with a mean difference of 0.43 (95% CI: 0.25 to 0.61, P < .001) in the intervention group compared to the control group. However, no significant group differences were found between the intervention and control groups for QoL (SMD: 0.53, 95% CI: -0.12 to 1.13, P = .11), pain (MD: -0.81, 95% CI: -2.06 to 0.44, P = .20), and psychological distress (SMD: -0.05, 95% CI: -0.41 to 0.32, P = .81). Music therapy can effectively improve the spiritual well-being of palliative care patients. However, its beneficial effects on QoL, pain, and psychological distress were minimal.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Music therapy interventions can be introduced to help patients deal with spiritual/existential needs. Future studies should identify optimal characteristics of music therapy interventions to aid in enhancing the quality of palliative care for patients with advanced cancer.

Effects of Walking Combined With Resistance Band Exercises on Alleviating Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common symptom, and exercise has shown potential in alleviating CRF. However, there is a need for diverse exercise options tailored to individual patient needs.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the overall effects of a combined walking and resistance band exercise intervention in relieving CRF among cancer patients through randomized controlled trials.

METHODS

Comprehensive searches were conducted in multiple databases to identify relevant studies up until March 2023. Inclusion criteria required the intervention to involve walking combined with elastic band training, with a clear exercise protocol description. The primary outcome was CRF, and secondary outcomes included walking steps, distance, mood distress, and quality of life. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models.

RESULTS

Ten trials were included. The intervention group showed significant improvements in CRF (SMD, -0.40; 95% CI, -0.60 to -0.20), mood distress (SMD, -0.30; 95% CI, -0.53 to -0.07), and daily walking steps (SMD, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.07-0.96) compared with the control group. Although the 6-Minute Walk Test and quality of life did not show significant differences, a trend toward improvement was observed in the intervention group. Adverse events related to the intervention were infrequent.

CONCLUSION

A combined walking and resistance band exercise intervention can effectively alleviate CRF and improve mood distress and daily walking steps among cancer patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This exercise option may provide an additional strategy to manage CRF. Further research is needed to explore the optimal exercise prescription for individual patients.

The first ITS2 sequence data set of eDNA from honey of Malaysian giant honeybees (Apis dorsata) and stingless bees (Heterotrigona itama) reveals plant species diversity

OBJECTIVES

Pollen is a useful tool for identifying the provenance and complex ecosystems surrounding honey production in Malaysian forests. As native key pollinators in Malaysia, Apis dorsata and Heterotrigona itama forage on various plant/pollen species to collect honey. This study aims to generate a dataset that uncovers the presence of these plant/pollen species and their relative abundance in the honey of A. dorsata and H. itama. The information gathered from this study can be used to determine the geographical and botanical origin and authenticity of the honey produced by these two species.

RESULTS

Sequence data were obtained for both A. dorsata and H. itama. The raw sequence data for A. dorsata was 5 Mb, which was assembled into 5 contigs with a size of 6,098,728 bp, an N50 of 15,534, and a GC average of 57.42. Similarly, the raw sequence data for H. itama was 6.3 Mb, which was assembled into 11 contigs with a size of 7,642,048 bp, an N50 of 17,180, and a GC average of 55.38. In the honey sample of A. dorsata, we identified five different plant/pollen species, with only one of the five species exhibiting a relative abundance of less than 1%. For H. itama, we identified seven different plant/pollen species, with only three of the species exhibiting a relative abundance of less than 1%. All of the identified plant species were native to Peninsular Malaysia, especially the East Coast area of Terengganu.

DATA DESCRIPTION

Our data offers valuable insights into honey's geographical and botanical origin and authenticity. Metagenomic studies could help identify the plant species that honeybees forage and provide preliminary data for researchers studying the biological development of A. dorsata and H. itama. The identification of various flowers from the eDNA of honey that are known for their medicinal properties could aid in regional honey with accurate product origin labeling, which is crucial for guaranteeing product authenticity to consumers.

The potential of lactic acid bacteria isolated from ikan budu (fermented fish) to inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungi and detoxify aflatoxin B1

Background and Aim

Market demand for safe feed and food supply and consumer preferences for safe and healthy products are increasing. Control measures to counter threats to the feed supply need to be implemented as early as possible to prevent economic losses. Mycotoxins produced by certain groups of fungi are a problem that can disrupt the feed supply or pose a threat to the health of animals and humans. Biological control to detoxify contaminated feed ingredients can be carried out on a large scale economically. For example, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can act as biological agents for eliminating mycotoxins. This study aimed to clarify the value of screening LAB to inhibit Aspergillus flavus growth and detoxify aflatoxin B1 (AFB1).

Materials and Methods

In this study, using a completely randomized design with three replications, five isolates of LAB (LA.1, LA.6, LA.8, LA.12, and LA.22) along with their supernatants were tested qualitatively and quantitatively for their ability to counter mycotoxins using A. flavus and corn kernels. The isolates with the best activity were identified by sequencing 16S rDNA.

Results

The results showed that the five LAB isolates can inhibit the growth of A. flavus and detoxify AFB1. Among these isolates, LA.12 showed the best performance, followed by LA.22, LA.8, LA.6, and then LA.1. The sequencing results confirmed that LA.12 was Lactobacillus harbinensis strain 487.

Conclusion

All of the isolates in this study have the potential as biological agents for detoxifying AFB1, with isolate LA.12 appearing to be the most promising biodetoxification agent for feed (AFB1 in corn) based on its ability to inhibit pathogenic fungi.

Role of Ommaya Reservoir in Pediatric Hydrocephalus: Experience in Bangladesh Medical College Hospital from 2019-2021

The goal of this study was to analyze the efficacy of the Ommaya reservoir within all the different types of hydrocephalus in pediatric patients. At the same time, it's safe for repeated aspirations or long-term retention of the reservoir in the body. This retrospective, cross-sectional study was performed from January 2019 to December 2021, 33 consecutive cases of reservoir implantation were taken into the study irrespective of the etiology of hydrocephalus in the Neurosurgery Department of Bangladesh Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. These were mostly placed along with endoscopic third ventriculostomy and some were placed as an intermediary procedure to combat shunt complications in emaciated infants. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) aspiration was done in case of failed endoscopic third ventriculostomy and the frequency of aspiration depended upon the production of cerebrospinal fluid. Acetazolamide was routinely administered in each patient to reduce the frequency of aspiration. Most of the patients required ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt while they had sufficient body weight and few required no surgery. The average age at presentation was 76.88 days. All the neonates and infants had less weight in terms of their age. 42.4% of babies needed aspiration 2 times per week. Among all cases, 9.1% developed reservoir complications. Complications were not related to the number and volume of aspiration or duration of the reservoir in the body. Two (2) patients died after one year of reservoir implantation due to unknown etiology. Out of the 31 survivors, 3 patients did not need any further aspiration and 19 patients needed a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, but the reservoir was kept in situ for a future emergency. The rest of them is waiting for a definitive shunt procedure. Other findings include low socioeconomic group was more prone to low birth weight and they carried the burden of congenital hydrocephalus and meningomyelocele. Most affected babies had their prenatal period in arsenic-affected areas in Bangladesh. Overall folic acid supplementation was started after the formation of the neural tube irrespective of socioeconomic status. Ommaya reservoir placement along with endoscopic third ventriculostomy plays a vital role in delaying shunt in endoscopic third ventriculostomy failure. It is a 'time buying' procedure until the baby has sufficient weight for successful shunt surgery. It has been found very effective intermediary intervention for managing shunt infection and it also helps revive a channel in shunt obstruction.

Effects of phosphate and two-stage sous-vide cooking on textural properties of the beef semitendinosus

Comparing the effects of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) concentrations of 0.2% and 0.4% on beef semitendinosus is the objective of the current investigation. The samples were cooked at varied temperatures (45+60°C and 45+70°C) and times (1.5+1.5 h and 3+3 h) using staged cooking. The colour properties, cooking loss, water retention, shear force, water-holding capacity, sarcoplasmic, and myofibrillar solubility, and total collagen were investigated. The cooking time and temperature affected the water-holding capacity, cooking loss, CIE L*, CIE a*, CIE b*, myofibrillar, and sarcoplasmic solubility, with lower temperature and short time having the lower detrimental effect. However, the significant effect can be intensified after the addition of STPP with higher water-holding capacity and tender meat obtained with 0.4% phosphate concentration at any cooking conditions. The STPP lowered the collagen content and increased the protein solubility of myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic, which this degradation is used as a good indicator of tenderness.

Type I Collagen from the Skin of Barracuda (Sphyraena sp.) Prepared with Different Organic Acids: Biochemical, Microstructural and Functional Properties

This study was carried out to compare the extractability and characteristics of barracuda (Sphyraena sp.) skin collagen using various organic acids. Acetic-solubilized collagen (ASBS), lactic-solubilized collagen (LSBS) and citric-solubilized collagen (CSBS) yielded 6.77 g/100 g, 10.06 g/100 g and 8.35 g/100 g, respectively, and those yields were significantly different (p < 0.05). All acid-solubilized collagens were considered as type I because of their two alpha chains (α1 and α2) detected in acrylamide gel after electrophoresis. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) analysis confirmed that ASBS, LSBS and CSBS had similar absorption peaks (230.5 nm) and the results were in accordance with other fish collagens. Under infrared (IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the triple helical structure of type I collagens extracted from barracuda skin was maintained. From a thermostability study, all type I collagens showed a higher maximum transition temperature (T_max = 40.16 to 41.29 °C) compared to other fish skin collagens. In addition, the functional properties of the extracted collagens revealed the ASBS had higher water and oil absorption capacities than the CSBS and LSBS samples. The highest level of the emulsion ability index (EAI) (>200 m²/g) was detected under acidic conditions (pH 4), while lower EAIs were recorded under the alkaline (pH 10) and neutral treatments (pH 7). All type I collagens had a higher relative solubility (>60%) at a low pH test but the solubility level sharply decreased at a neutral pH. In addition to this, a lower concentration of NaCl (0-20 g/L) showed the higher percentage of solubility (>60%) while adding over 30 g/L of NaCl decreased solubility (>40%). From a microstructural test, all type I samples had an irregular and dense flake structure with random coiled filaments. Overall, collagen extracted from the barracuda skin may be applied as an alternative collagen from an industry perspective.

Application of Poultry Gelatin to Enhance the Physicochemical, Mechanical, and Rheological Properties of Fish Gelatin as Alternative Mammalian Gelatin Films for Food Packaging

This study aimed to describe the properties of cold water fish gelatin (FG) blended with poultry gelatin (PG) for a production of a sachet containing olive oil. To find a desirable film, the different ratio of FG-PG-based films were characterized in terms of mechanical properties. As the proportion of PG in PG-FG-based increased, the tensile strength and Young's modulus were increased, and the elongation at break and heat seal strength of the films were decreased. The 50-50 film had favorable characteristics to use as a sachet. The amount of acid index and peroxide of the oil stored in the sachets after 14 days showed that there is a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the films. The barrier properties of the films including the water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability of films were increased from 1.21 to 4.95 × 10^-11 g m^-1 Pa^-1 s^-1 and 48 to 97 cm³ mµ/m² d kPa, respectively. Dark, red, yellow, and opaque films were realized with increasing PG. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra approved a wide peak of approximately 2500 cm^-1. The rheological analysis indicated that, by adding PG, viscosity, elastic modulus (G') and loss modulus (G'') were increased significantly (p < 0.05) about 9.5, 9.32 and 18 times, respectively. Therefore, an easy modification of FG with PG will make it suitable for oil sachet packaging applications for the food industry.

Assessing Meat Freshness via Nanotechnology Biosensors: Is the World Prepared for Lightning-Fast Pace Methods?

In the rapidly evolving field of food science, nanotechnology-based biosensors are one of the most intriguing techniques for tracking meat freshness. Purine derivatives, especially hypoxanthine and xanthine, are important signs of food going bad, especially in meat and meat products. This article compares the analytical performance parameters of traditional biosensor techniques and nanotechnology-based biosensor techniques that can be used to find purine derivatives in meat samples. In the introduction, we discussed the significance of purine metabolisms as analytes in the field of food science. Traditional methods of analysis and biosensors based on nanotechnology were also briefly explained. A comprehensive section of conventional and nanotechnology-based biosensing techniques is covered in detail, along with their analytical performance parameters (selectivity, sensitivity, linearity, and detection limit) in meat samples. Furthermore, the comparison of the methods above was thoroughly explained. In the last part, the pros and cons of the methods and the future of the nanotechnology-based biosensors that have been created are discussed.

Antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and nutrient composition of Chayote shoot (Sechium edule, Jacq. Swartz) from Kundasang, Sabah

The chayote (Sechium edule) plant is believed to have significant nutritional importance due to its medicinal functions. It has been widely cultivated in Kundasang, Sabah for vegetable consumption. This study was carried out to determine the health benefits of this vegetable, especially the upper 3-foot of the shoot portion, in terms of antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and nutrient composition. It was divided equally into three parts, each a foot long and classified as: upper tier, middle tier and lower tier and amongst them, which tier gives rise to the best health benefits or will the traditional consumption of the whole 3-foot shoot be better for overall health well-being. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) and Folin Ciocalteu test were used to determine antioxidant activity and Total Phenolic Content (TPC), respectively. The results showed that the upper tier of shoot parts had the highest value for antioxidant activity, with the lowest of IC50 value (245.12 ± 9.24 μg/ml). The lower part of the plant also shows the highest value for TPC with a value of 355.66 ± 5.84 mg/g GAE. Minerals, Ca, Mg, P, Mo, Fe and Al were the highest value in the middle tier portion. The proximate analyses showed that the upper tier of the shoot has the highest fat, crude protein, and carbohydrate contents. Crude ash has the highest value in the middle tier part. On the other hand, the moisture content and the crude fiber were high at the lower tier of the shoot portion. The upper tier of the shoot is recommended to be consumed for health benefits because it is high in antioxidant activity and proximate content and also rich in minerals. However, the traditional practice is to consume the whole 3-foot long of this vegetable is very welcome

Extraction and Characterization of Type I Collagen from Parrotfish (Scarus sordidus Forsskål, 1775) Scale solubilized with the Aid of Acetic Acid and Pepsin

Waste from marine fish processing is an important source of valuable products. Fish collagen is considered a alternative biomaterial due to its excellent properties, and it is widely used for industrial purposes. Thus, this present study aimed to characterize acid and pepsin-soluble collagens from the waste of parrotfish (Scarus sordidus Forsskål, 1775) scales. The yields (p > 0.05) of acid-soluble collagen (ASC-PFS) and pepsin-soluble collagen (PSC-PFS) were 1.17 g/100 g and 1.00 g/100 g, respectively. Both collagen samples were categorized as type I owing to the presence of two alpha chain subunits (α1 and α1) after being confirmed by a sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Under the fourier transform infrared (FTIR) test, the triple helical structure of type I collagens from the ASC-PFS and PSC-PFS was maintained. Moreover, the study of UV visible spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed the similarity of collagens derived from different fish species, and the thermostability (T _max) evaluation of all extracted collagens was in the range of 36.22-37.78°C, and their values were comparable to previous research on the fish scale collagens. The effect of various pH and sodium chloride (NaCl) treatments on solubility exhibited that the ASC-PFS and PSC-PFS were highly soluble in an acidic condition (pH < 5.0) and low concentration of sodium chloride (<30 g/L). Taken together, collagens extracted from parrotfish scale waste can be an alternative source for industries.

Psychometric properties and cross-cultural adaptation of the Indonesian version of the Brief COPE in a sample of advanced cancer patients

The Brief COPE Inventory has been proven as acceptable psychometric properties to examine coping strategies among cancer patients. However, most psychometric testing studies have been carried out in Western countries, raising concerns about the properties' relevance and applicability in other cultural contexts. This study aimed to present psychometric properties of the Brief COPE in a sample of patients with advanced cancer in Indonesia. Specifically, we intended to examine the factorial structure and the measure's validity and reliability. This study included 440 patients from the original study who completed the Indonesian version of Brief COPE. We used exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to assess factor structure and evaluate the structural model fit, respectively. Reliability was demonstrated by internal consistency represented by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The factor analysis identified a 21-items scale with 5-factors (avoidance, religion and acceptance, social support coping, problem solving and distraction). Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a good model fit. For the whole scale and its subscales Cronbach's alpha coefficients were acceptable signifying good reliability. Convergent, divergent validity and contrast group comparison were evidenced by significant correlations among subscales and the other instruments used. This study shows that the Indonesian version of Brief COPE is a reliable and valid instrument to measure coping in advanced cancer patients and is ready for use amongst this population in the Indonesian cultural context.

Pelatihan Komputer atau Aplikasi untuk Karang Taruna di Desa Rambutan Kecamatan Rambutan Kabupaten Banyuasin

Tujuan yang ingin di capai dari di laksanakan Pelatihan Komputer atau aplikasi dalam komputer bagi karang taruna,siswa atau remaja di Desa Rambutan,Kecamatan Rambutan,Kabupaten Banyuasin ini adalah:Mengenalkan Kepada karang tarun,siswa dan remaja Desa Rambutan Pelatihan Dasar Komputer pentingnya penguasaan Teknologi Komputer saat ini serta mengajarkan bagaimana menggunakan aplikasi di dalam Komputer yang dapat di gunakan untuk Belajar.Metode yang di guanakan pada kegiatan ini adalah Pelatihan Dasar Komputer Bagi karang taruna dan remaja,siswa di Desa Rambutan penyampaian Materi dan Pelatihan tentang penggunaan aplikasi pada Komputer.Hasil dari Kegeiatan ini adalah memberikan implikasi wawasan kepada karang taruna,siswa dan remaja Desa Rambutan tentang Dasar Komputer dan aplikasi di dalam Komputer,Kegiatan ini di laksanakan secara Offline sehingga karang taruna dan remaja Desa Rambutan dapat mengikuti Pelatihan Dasar Komputer.Hal ini terlihat dari hasil evaluasi yang di lakukan sebelum dan setelah di adakanya kegiatan Pelatihan Dsar Komputer.Dimana terdapat peningkatan pemahaman dan sebelum dan setelah dilaksanakannya kegiatan Pelatihan Dasar Komputer.

Nitrites in Cured Meats, Health Risk Issues, Alternatives to Nitrites: A Review

Nitrite is one of the most widely used curing ingredients in meat industries. Nitrites have numerous useful applications in cured meats and a vital component in giving cured meats their unique characteristics, such as their pink color and savory flavor. Nitrites are used to suppress the oxidation of lipid and protein in meat products and to limit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms such as Clostridium botulinum. Synthetic nitrite is frequently utilized for curing due to its low expenses and easier applications to meat. However, it is linked to the production of nitrosamines, which has raised several health concerns among consumers regarding its usage in meat products. Consumer desire for healthier meat products prepared with natural nitrite sources has increased due to a rising awareness regarding the application of synthetic nitrites. However, it is important to understand the various activities of nitrite in meat curing for developing novel substitutes of nitrites. This review emphasizes on the effects of nitrite usage in meat and highlights the role of nitrite in the production of carcinogenic nitrosamines as well as possible nitrite substitutes from natural resources explored also.

Tea Polyphenols and Their Preventive Measures against Cancer: Current Trends and Directions

Cancer is exerting an immense strain on the population and health systems all over the world. Green tea because of its higher simple catechin content (up to 30% on dry weight basis) is greatly popular as an anti-cancer agent which is found to reduce the risks of cancer as well as a range of other diseases. In addition, several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that green tea possesses copious health benefits like anti-diabetic, anti-obese, anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective, cardio-protective, etc. This review highlights the anti-carcinogenic effects of green tea catechins integrating the recent information to gain a clear concept. Special emphasis was given to the effectiveness of green tea polyphenols (GTP) in the prevention of cancer. Overall, green tea has been found to be effective to reduce the risks of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer, oral cancer, etc. However, sufficient information was not found to support that green tea consumption reduces the risk of lung cancer, esophageal cancer, or stomach cancer. The exciting data integrated into this article will increase interest in future researchers to garner more fruitful information on the relevant topics.

Physicochemical and Microstructural Analyses of Pepsin-Soluble Collagens Derived from Lizardfish (Saurida tumbil Bloch, 1795) Skin, Bone and Scales

Reducing food waste is critical for sustainability. In the case of fish processing, more than sixty percent of by-products are generated as waste. Lizardfish (Saurida tumbil Bloch, 1795) is an economically important species for surimi production. To address waste disposal and maximize income, an effective utilization of fish by-products is essential. This study aims to isolate and characterize pepsin-soluble collagens from the skin, bone and scales of lizardfish. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in the yields of collagen were noted with the highest yield recorded in pepsin-soluble skin collagen (PSSC) (3.50 ± 0.11%), followed by pepsin-soluble bone collagen (PSBC) (3.26 ± 0.10%) and pepsin-soluble scales collagen (PSCC) (0.60 ± 0.65%). Through SDS−polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the presence of two alpha chains were noted and classified as type I. From Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, the triple-helix structure of the collagen was maintained. The X-ray diffraction and UV visible spectra characteristics of the lizardfish collagens in this study are similar to the previously reported fish collagens. In terms of thermostability, PSSC (Tmax = 43.89 °C) had higher thermostability in comparison to PSBC (Tmax = 31.75 °C) and PSCC (Tmax = 30.54 °C). All pepsin-soluble collagens were highly soluble (>70%) in acidic conditions (particularly at pH 4.0) and at low sodium chloride concentrations (0−30 g/L). Microstructural analysis depicted that all extracted collagens were multi-layered, irregular, dense, sheet-like films linked by random coiled filaments. Overall, pepsin-soluble collagens from lizardfish skin, bone and scales could serve as potential alternative sources of collagens.

Optimization of Biocomposite Film Based on Whey Protein Isolate and Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Pineapple Crown Leaf Using Response Surface Methodology

This study employed response surface methodology to optimize the preparation of biocomposites based on whey protein isolate, glycerol, and nanocrystalline cellulose from pineapple crown leaf. The effects of different concentrations of nanocrystalline cellulose as a filler and glycerol as a plasticizer on the thickness, the tensile strength, and the elongation at break on the resulting biocomposite films were investigated. The central composite design was used to determine the optimum preparation conditions for biocomposite films with optimum properties. The regression of a second-order polynomial model resulted in an optimum composition consisting of 4% glycerol and 3.5% nanocrystalline cellulose concentrations, which showed a desirability of 92.7%. The prediction of the regression model was validated by characterizing the biocomposite film prepared based on the optimum composition, at which the thickness, tensile strength, and elongation at break of the biocomposite film were 0.13 mm, 7.16 MPa, and 39.10%, respectively. This optimum composition can be obtained in range concentrations of glycerol (4–8%) and nanocrystalline cellulose (3–7%). Scanning electron microscope images showed that nanocrystalline cellulose dispersed well in the pure whey protein isolate, and the films had a relatively smooth surface. In comparison, a rough and uneven surface results in more porous biocomposite films. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that nanocrystalline cellulose and glycerol showed good compatibility with WPI film by forming hydrogen bonds. The addition of nanocrystalline cellulose as a filler also decreased the transparency, solubility, and water vapor permeability and increased the crystallinity index of the resulting biocomposite film.

The possibility of a halal mix probiotic medium for the cultivation of Lactobacillus plantarum N16 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This study aimed to determine the effects of interaction between media type (halal mix preparation) and culture mixtures of Lactobacillus plantarum N16 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (probiotics). A completely randomised factorial design (CRFD) consisting of 2 factors and three replications was used, where factor A was a mixture of Lactobacillus plantarum N16 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae at a ratio of 1:1 (A1); 1:2 (A2) and 2:1 (A3) and factor B was the type of growth media, that is, control (B1), whey tofu, molasses, and fish waste flour (B2), and coconut water, onggok flour and shrimp waste flour (B3). The variables measured were viability, cell biomass, and pH. The results showed interactions between factors A and B, which were significantly different (p <0.05) in terms of viability, cell biomass, and pH. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the mixture of Lactobacillus plantarum N16 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae at a ratio of 2:1 (A3), using coconut water, onggok flour, and shrimp waste flour (B3) as medium and incubated at 36 °C for 24 hours was the best medium. It had a 2.37 viability, 42.33 mg/ml biomass cell, and a pH of 2.37.

Physicochemical Properties of a New Green Honey from Banggi Island, Sabah

Green honey is exclusively available on the island of Banggi in Sabah, and its uniqueness sees the commodity being sold at a high market price. Therefore, green honey is prone to adulteration by unscrupulous individuals, possibly compromising the health of those consuming this food commodity for its curative properties. Moreover, an established standard for reducing sugar in green honey is unavailable. Ipso facto, the study aimed to profile green honey’s physical and chemical properties, such as its pH, moisture content, free acidity, ash content, electroconductivity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, DPPH, colour, total sugar content, total protein content, and heavy metals as well as volatile organic compounds, the data of which are profoundly valuable in safeguarding consumers’ safety while providing information for its quality certification for local consumption and export. The results revealed that the honey’s physicochemical profile is comparable to other reported kinds of honey. The honey’s naturally green colour is because of the chlorophyll from the nectar from various flowers on the island. The raw honey showed free acidity between 28 and 33 Meq/100 g, lower than the standard’s 50 Meq/100 g. The hydroxymethylfurfural content is the lowest compared to other reported honey samples, with the total phenolic content between 16 and 19 mg GAE/100 g. The honey’s reducing sugar content is lower (~37.9%) than processed ones (56.3%) because of water removal. The protein content ranged from 1 to 2 gm/kg, 4- to 6-fold and 2-fold higher than local and manuka honey, respectively. The exceptionally high content of trans-4-hydroxyproline in raw honey is its source of collagen and other healing agents. Interestingly, low levels of arsenic, lead, nickel, cadmium, copper, and cobalt were detected in the honey samples, presumably due to their subterranean hives. Nevertheless, the honey is fit for general consumption as the concentrations were below the maxima in the Codex Alimentarius Commission of 2001.

Development and Characterization of the Biodegradable Film Derived from Eggshell and Cornstarch

In the current study, cornstarch (CS) and eggshell powder (ESP) were combined using a casting technique to develop a biodegradable film that was further morphologically and physicochemically characterized using standard methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the morphology of the ESP/CS film, and the surface of the film was found to have a smooth structure with no cracks, a spherical and porous irregular shape, and visible phase separation, which explains their large surface area. In addition, the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis indicated that the ESP particles were made of calcium carbonate and the ESP contained carbon in the graphite form. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy indicated the presence of carbonated minerals in the ESP/CS film which shows that ESP/CS film might serve as a promising adsorbent. Due to the inductive effect of the O–C–O bond on calcium carbonate in the eggshell, it was discovered that the ESP/CS film significantly improves physical properties, moisture content, swelling power, water solubility, and water absorption compared to the control CS film. The enhancement of the physicochemical properties of the ESP/CS film was principally due to the intra and intermolecular interactions between ESP and CS molecules. As a result, this film can potentially be used as a synergistic adsorbent for various target analytes.

Microstructural and Physicochemical Analysis of Collagens from the Skin of Lizardfish (Saurida tumbil Bloch, 1795) Extracted with Different Organic Acids

Marine fish collagen has attracted considerable attention due to its characteristics, including its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and weak antigenicity, and is considered a safer material compared to collagen from terrestrial animals. The aim of this study was to extract and characterize collagen from the skin of lizardfish (Saurida tumbil Bloch, 1795) with three different acids. The yields of acetic acid-extracted collagen (AESkC), lactic acid-extracted collagen (LESkC), and citric acid-extracted collagen (CESkC) were 11.73 ± 1.14%, 11.63 ± 1.10%, and 11.39 ± 1.05% (based on wet weight), respectively. All extracted collagens were categorized as type I collagen with mainly alpha chains (α₁ and α₂) detected and γ and β chains to some extent. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed an intact triple-helical structure in the AESkC, LESkC, and CESkC. UV-vis spectra and X-ray diffraction further demonstrated the similarity of the extracted collagens to previously reported fish skin collagens. AESkC (T_max = 40.24 °C) had higher thermostability compared to LESkC (T_max = 38.72 °C) and CESkC (T_max = 36.74 °C). All samples were highly soluble in acidic pH and low concentrations of NaCl (0-20 g/L). Under field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) observation, we noted the loose, fibrous, and porous structures of the collagens. The results suggest that the lizardfish skin collagens could be a potential alternative source of collagen, especially the AESkC due to its greater thermostability characteristic.

Physical and functional properties of fish gelatin-based film incorporated with mangrove extracts

Background

The fishery processing industry produces a remarkable number of by-products daily. Fish skin accounts for one of the significant wastes produced. Fish skin, however, can be subjected to extraction to yield gelatine and used as the primary raw material for edible film production. To increase the functionality of edible films, bioactive compounds can be incorporated into packaging. Mangroves produce potential bioactive compounds that are suitable as additional agents for active packaging. This study aimed to create a fish gelatine-based edible film enriched with mangrove extracts and to observe its mechanical and biological properties.

Methods

Two mangrove species (Bruguiera gymnorhiza and Sonneratia alba) with four extract concentrations (control, 0.05%, 0.15%, 0.25%, and 0.35%) were used to enrich edible films. The elongation, water vapour transmission, thickness, tensile strength, moisture content, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the resulting packaging were analysed.

Results

The results showed that the mangrove species and extract concentration significantly affected (p < 0.05) the physical properties of the treated films such as elongation (16.89-19.38%), water vapour transmission (13.31-13.59 g/m²), and active packaging-antioxidant activities (12.36%-60.98%). The thickness, tensile strength, and water content were not significantly affected. Potent antioxidant activity and relatively weak antimicrobial activity of this active gelatine packaging were observed.

Exploring the genome of Lactobacillaceae spp. Sy-1 isolated from Heterotrigona itama honey

Background

Honey produced by Heterotrigona itama is highly preferred among consumers due to its high-value as a functional food and beneficial lactic acid bacteria (LAB) reservoir. Fructophilic lactic acid bacteria (FLAB) are a group of LAB with unique growth characteristics and are regarded as promising producers of bioactive compounds. Hence, it is not surprising that LAB, especially FLAB, may be involved with the excellent bioactivity of H. itama honey. With the trending consumer preference for H. itama honey coupled with increasing awareness for healthy food, the genomic background of FLAB isolated from this honey must, therefore, be clearly understood. In this study, one FLAB strain designated as Sy-1 was isolated from freshly collected H. itama honey. Its FLAB behavior and genomic features were investigated to uncover functional genes that could add value to functional food.

Methods

The fructophilic characteristics of strain Sy-1 were determined, and the genome was sequenced using Illumina iSeq100 and Oxford Nanopore. The average nucleotide identity and phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA, 92 core genes, and whole-genome sequence were performed to unravel the phylogenetic position of strain Sy-1. NCBI Prokaryotic Genome Annotation Pipeline annotated the genome, while the EggNOG-mapper, BLASTKoala, and GHOSTKoala were used to add functional genes and pathways information.

Results

Strain Sy-1 prefers D-fructose over D-glucose and actively metabolizes D-glucose in the presence of electron acceptors. Genomic annotation of strain Sy-1 revealed few genes involved in carbohydrate transport and metabolism, and partial deletion of adhE gene, in line with the characteristic of FLAB. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain Sy-1 showed the highest similarity to unknown LAB species isolated from the gut of honeybees. The phylogenetic analyses discovered that strain Sy-1 belonged to the Lactobacillaceae family and formed a separate branch closer to type strain from the genera of Acetilactobacillus and Apilactobacillus. The ANI analysis showed the similarity of the closest relative, Apilactobacillus micheneri Hlig3^T. The assembled genome of Sy-1 contains 3 contigs with 2.03 Mbp and a 41% GC content. A total of 1,785 genes were identified, including 1,685 protein-coding genes, 68 tRNA, and 15 rRNA. Interestingly, strain Sy-1 encoded complete genes for the biosynthesis of folate and riboflavin. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis further confirmed the high production of folic acid (1.346 mg/L) by Sy-1.

Discussion

Based on phylogenetic and biochemical characteristics, strain Sy-1 should be classified as a novel genus in the family of Lactobacillaceae and a new member of FLAB. The genome information coupled with experimental studies supported the ability of strain Sy-1 to produce high folic acid. Our collective findings support the suitable application of FLAB strain Sy-1 in the functional food and pharmaceutical industries.

Biochemical analysis of collagens from the bone of lizardfish (Saurida tumbil Bloch, 1795) extracted with different acids

Background

Lizardfish (Saurida tumbil Bloch, 1795) bone is a fish by-product generated during industrial surimi processing. This by-product is an important source of collagen production since the use of terrestrial animal-based collagens no longer sought due to concern regarding the transfer of infectious diseases and religious issues. Hence, this study was carried out to determine the biochemical analysis of collagens from the bone of lizardfish extracted with different acids.

Methods

Lizardfish bone collagens were extracted with various acids (i.e., acetic, lactic and citric acids). All extraction processes were conducted in a chiller room (4 °C). The extracted collagens were biochemically characterized, such as hydroxyproline content, Ultraviolet (UV) absorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra (FTIR), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and solubility in different pH values and NaCl concentrations.

Results

The yield of extracted collagens ranged between 1.73% and 2.59%, with the highest (p < 0.05) observed in citric acid-extracted collagen (CaEC). Protein patterns confirmed that all-collagen samples had two identical subunits, α1 and α2, representing type I collagen. The highest whiteness value was found in acetic acid-extracted collagen (AaEC), but there was no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) compared to lactic acid-extracted collagen (LaEC). UV absorption and XRD analysis reflected the characteristics of the collagen, as reported in the literature. For the FTIR, all acid-extracted collagen samples presented a triple helical structure. The thermal transition temperature (T _max = 77.92-89.04 °C) was in accordance with collagen extracted from other fish species. All extracted collagens were highly soluble in acidic pH and low concentrations of NaCl (0-20 g/L). In conclusion, collagens extracted from lizardfish bone may be used as alternative sources of collagen in industrial settings, and AaEC would be considered superior in terms of the characteristics evaluated in this study.

Accelerating COVID-19 Contact Tracing Capacity through Multi-Sectoral Collaboration Training in Indonesia

Purpose

Contact tracing is a pivotal component for containing an outbreak to stop the spread of COVID-19. As the 4^th most populous country in the world, contact tracing in Indonesia is resource intensive. There was an insufficient human resources to undertake the reporting task with surveillance staff already overburdened with sample and data collection. Participation of various stakeholders is critical in providing an effective capacity surge in tracing. This paper describes how multi-sectoral collaboration training can contribute to accelerate contact tracing capacity in Indonesia.

Methods & Materials

A series of contact tracing training program in Indonesia was held through the various stakeholder collaboration, including the Ministry of Health, COVID-19 National Task Force, Ministry of Education and Culture, Universities, and international partners. Not only primary healthcare officers, the training engaged community volunteers, young professional, and university students to enable them performing COVID-19 contact tracing and data management across Indonesia. Descriptive statistics and paired t-test analysis were taken to measure the effectiveness of the pre- and post-test training, and evaluation questionnaires to improve participants’ knowledge.

Results

A total of 2,513 community volunteers and young professional from 10 provinces and 2,005 university students from 268 universities across Indonesia have been trained from January - July 2021. 4 batches of trainings have produced 64 data managers in all 34 provinces. At the beginning of the training, only 33% of participants reached satisfactory score. Post-training scores increased significantly to 66% participants reached satisfactory score with p-value = 0.000 (CI: 95%). 82% participants rated the effectiveness of training as good, and 90% stated that the training responded to their needs. The training has successfully increased the number of tracers in Indonesia as and improved the national tracing data collection. Surveillance data showed that from January to July 2021, the national tracing data has increased from 261,482 to 785.711 COVID-19 close contact traced.

Conclusion

Multi-sectoral participation and collaborative contact tracing training has helped the Government of Indonesia to increase human resource numbers and capacity in providing an effective capacity surge of tracing for the country. This will enable to support COVID-19 mitigation and intervention program and policy.

Response Surface Methodology for Optimization of Rotating Biological Contactor Combined with External Membrane Filtration for Wastewater Treatment

A large amount of wastewater is directly discharged into water bodies without treatment, causing surface water contamination. A rotating biological contactor (RBC) is an attached biological wastewater treatment process that offers a low energy footprint. However, its unstable removal efficiency makes it less popular. This study optimized operating parameters in RBC combined with external membrane filtration (RBC-ME), in which the latter acted as a post-treatment step to stabilize the biological performance. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the biological and filtration performance by exploiting three parameters, namely disk rotation, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and sludge retention time (SRT). Results show that the RBC-ME exhibited superior biological treatment capacity and higher effluent quality compared to stand-alone RBC. It attained 87.9 ± 3.2% of chemical oxygen demand, 45.2 ± 0.7% total nitrogen, 97.9 ± 0.1% turbidity, and 98.9 ± 1.1% ammonia removals. The RSM showed a good agreement between the model and the experimental data. The maximum permeability of 144.6 L/m2 h bar could be achieved under the optimum parameters of 36.1 rpm disk rotation, 18 h HRT, and 14.9 d SRT. This work demonstrated the effective use of statistical modeling to enhance RBC-ME system performance to obtain a sustainable and energy-efficient condition.

Improvement of Functional Properties of Jack Bean (Canavalia ensiformis) Flour by Germination and Its Relation to Amino Acids Profile

Jack bean as a source of vegetable protein had not been popular. Seed germination had been known to improve its nutritional quality, especially protein and amino acid profile. This study determined the effect of germination on the color, beany flavor, protein content, functional properties, and amino acid profile of jack bean flour. A complete randomized design was used for this experiment. Germination was carried out for 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours. The seed (control) and germinated jack bean flours were analyzed for oil absorption, water absorption, emulsifying and foaming capacities, as well as the soluble protein content to determine the best germination time. Furthermore, the amino acid profile of the jack bean flour produced from the best germination time was analyzed. The results of this study indicated that the total and soluble protein of the seed and germinated jack bean seeds for 0, 24, 48, 60, and 72 hours were 23.30 and 5.95; 22.61 and 7.61; 21.18 and 10.68; 23.26 and 10.22; 23.98 and 10.81%, respectively. Germination of jack bean improved the functional properties. A germination time of 72 hours increased the oil capacity, water absorption capacity, foaming capacity and decreased the emulsion capacity significantly. The hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids of the germinated jack bean flour increased to 3.21 and 2.12% of the seed flour, respectively. The increase of the foaming capacity was related to the increase in hydrophobic amino acids of germinated jack bean flour compared to seed flours, that were glycine 1.23 and 1.01; alanine 1.29 and 1.01; valine 1.16 and 1.00; leucine 1.84 and 1.09%, respectively. Germination of jack bean for 72 hours increased significantly the essential amino acids, namely: leucine, lysine, and valine.

Optimalisasi Alat Praktek Air Conditioning (AC Trainer) pada SMK Ibnu Khaldun Balikpapan

Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan (SMK) merupakan lembaga pendidikan formal yang menitikberatkan pada keterampilan siswa. Lulusan SMK dituntut memiliki keterampilan unggul sehingga mampu bersaing di dunia kerja. Ketersediaan peralatan praktek di SMK sangat penting untuk mewujudkan siswa yang berkompeten. Tidak berfungsinya peralatan air conditioning (AC) trainer di sekolah Ibnu Khaldun Balikpapan menjadi latar belakang dilaksanakannya kegiatan Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat (PKM) Politeknik Negeri Balikpapan (Poltekba). Kegiatan yang dilaksanakan adalah pengoptimalisasian peralatan AC trainer dengan melakukan pergantian dan perbaikan komponen AC trainer. Secara garis besar rangkaian kegiatan PKM terdiri dari obervasi lokasi, penentuan solusi penyelesaian, pelaksanaan, pengujian dan serah terima alat. Hasil akhir dari kegiatan PKM Poltekba adalah telah dioptimalkannya peralatan AC trainer pada SMK Ibnu Khaldun Balikpapan. Peralatan AC trainer yang telah dapat difungsikan akan membantu siswa untuk mencapai kompetensi pada pelaksanaan praktek AC. Selain itu, juga dihasilkan alat peraga pembelajaran dari komponen AC trainer yang sudah rusak. Komponen yang digunakan sebagai alat peraga pembelajaran adalah compressor dan filter. Alat peraga ini akan membantu siswa untuk mengenal dan mengetahui internal dari kedua komponen.

Properties of Biocomposite Film Based on Whey Protein Isolate Filled with Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Pineapple Crown Leaf

Among the main bio-based polymer for food packaging materials, whey protein isolate (WPI) is one of the biopolymers that have excellent film-forming properties and are environmentally friendly. This study was performed to analyse the effect of various concentrations of bio-based nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) extracted from pineapple crown leaf (PCL) on the properties of whey protein isolate (WPI) films using the solution casting technique. Six WPI films were fabricated with different loadings of NCC from 0 to 10 % w/v. The resulting films were characterised based on their mechanical, physical, chemical, and thermal properties. The results show that NCC loadings increased the thickness of the resulting films. The transparency of the films decreased at higher NCC loadings. The moisture content and moisture absorption of the films decreased with the presence of the NCC, being lower at higher NCC loadings. The water solubility of the films decreased from 92.2% for the pure WPI to 65.5% for the one containing 10 % w/v of NCC. The tensile strength of the films peaked at 7% NCC loading with the value of 5.1 MPa. Conversely, the trend of the elongation at break data was the opposite of the tensile strength. Moreover, the addition of NCC produced a slight effect of NCC in FTIR spectra of the WPI films using principal component analysis. NCC loading enhanced the thermal stability of the WPI films, as shown by an increase in the glass transition temperature at higher NCC loadings. Moreover, the morphology of the films turned rougher and more heterogeneous with small particle aggregates in the presence of the NCC. Overall, the addition of NCC enhanced the water barrier and mechanical properties of the WPI films by incorporating the PCL-based NCC as the filler.

Isolation and Characterization of Nanocrystalline Cellulose Isolated from Pineapple Crown Leaf Fiber Agricultural Wastes Using Acid Hydrolysis

Pineapple crown leaf fiber (PCLF) is one of the major biomass wastes from pineapple processing plants. It consists mostly of carbohydrate polymers, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. It can be further processed to form a more valuable and widely used nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). This study investigates the effect of hydrolysis time on the properties of the produced NCC. The acid hydrolysis was conducted using 1 M of sulfuric acid at hydrolysis times of 1–3 h. The resulting NCCs were then characterized by their morphology, functional groups, crystallinity, thermal stability, elemental composition, and production yield. The results show that the NCC products had a rod-like particle structure and possessed a strong cellulose crystalline structure typically found in agricultural fiber-based cellulose. The highest NCC yield was obtained at 79.37% for one hour of hydrolysis. This NCC also displayed a higher decomposition temperature of 176.98 °C. The overall findings suggest that PCLF-derived NCC has attractive properties for a variety of applications.

Physicochemical Properties of Membrane Adsorber from Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (PEFB) by Acid Activation

A membrane adsorbent was successfully made from palm empty fruit bunches (PEFB), which was pyrolysed as physical activation. The effect of adding the impact of one-step catalyst (hydrochloric acid) and differences in the concentration on the characteristics and structure and deconvolution are investigated in this study. The results of the research have been successfully created and characterised using Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) isotherm, and membrane morphology using SEM test. Membrane performance testing was carried out using a biogas flame test. The adsorber membrane was made by adding NH₄Cl as a cationic surfactant, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) with a ratio of 1:3. The FTIR test has a functional group: O-H; C-H stretch; C=C-C; Arly O-Strech; C-O. Adsorbent membrane with the addition of 0.5 M HCl catalyst had the highest ratio of O-H/C=C-C relative area of 4.33. The diffractogram shows an amorphous structure with (002) and (100) graph planes. Adsorber membrane with a concentration of 1.5 M HCl has formed amorphous structured fibre. The adsorber membrane with a concentration of 0.5 HCl activator gave a surface area of 0.5345 m² g⁻¹ and a pore volume of 0.000983 cm³ g⁻¹.

The effect of raw pearl millet flour inclusion on the quality and formulation cost of beef sausages

This study investigated the sensory, nutritional, and physicochemical characteristics as well as formulation cost of beef sausages formulated with raw pearl millet flour (RaPMF) as an extender. Four treatments were formulated with 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% RaPMF. Ash, carbohydrate, fat, and protein contents of the beef sausages were not influenced (p <0.05) by the RaPMF. The calcium, magnesium, potassium, and pH contents were highest (p <0.05) in the 15% RaPMF beef sausages. Cooking loss was at least (p <0.05) for the 15% RaPMF beef sausages. Formulation of beef sausages with RaPMF did not affect (p >0.05) the sensory properties (week 1), water holding capacity, peroxide value, lightness (week 1), and yellowness (week 1). The formulation cost was least for 15% RaPMF beef sausages and highest for 0% RaPMF beef sausages. As a general conclusion, RaPMF improved the mineral composition of the beef sausages and reduced production costs without compromising its physicochemical and sensory properties.

Thermodynamic stability, in-vitro permeability, and in-silico molecular modeling of the optimal Elaeis guineensis leaves extract water-in-oil nanoemulsion

Nanoemulsion is a delivery system used to enhance bioavailability of plant-based compounds across the stratum corneum. Elaeis guineensis leaves are rich source of polyphenolic antioxidants, viz. gallic acid and catechin. The optimal E. guineensis leaves extract water-in-oil nanoemulsion was stable against coalescence, but it was under significant influence of Ostwald ripening over 90 days at 25 °C. The in-vitro permeability revealed a controlled and sustained release of the total phenolic compounds (TPC) of EgLE with a cumulative amount of 1935.0 ± 45.7 µgcm-2 after 8 h. The steady-state flux and permeation coefficient values were 241.9 ± 5.7 µgcm-2 h-1 and 1.15 ± 0.03 cm.h-1, respectively. The kinetic release mechanism for TPC of EgLE was best described by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model due to the highest linearity of R2 = 0.9961, indicating super case II transport mechanism. The in-silico molecular modelling predicted that the aquaporin-3 protein in the stratum corneum bonded preferably to catechin over gallic acid through hydrogen bonds due to the lowest binding energies of - 57.514 kcal/mol and - 8.553 kcal/mol, respectively. Thus, the in-silico study further verified that catechin could improve skin hydration. Therefore, the optimal nanoemulsion could be used topically as moisturizer to enhance skin hydration based on the in-silico prediction.

The nutritional value, bacterial count and sensory attributes of little tuna (Euthynnus affinis) floss incorporated with the banana blossom

The study aimed to evaluate the addition of banana blossom (12.5, 25, 37.5, and 50% w/w) on nutritional quality, histamine content, bacterial count, and sensory characteristic in the fish floss prepared from little tuna (Euthynnus affinis). The crude protein content, essential amino acids, lipid, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) steadily decreased (p <0.05), while the crude fibre, carbohydrate, and ash components of the tuna floss, increased significantly (p <0.05) with increasing levels of banana blossom. The contents of protein, fat, ash, fibre, carbohydrate, and moisture ranged 28.13 – 30.27%, 14.79 – 18.02%, 4.45 – 5.68%, 2.6 – 3.5%, 27.81 – 31.01, and 16.45 – 17.39%, respectively, and most of them met the Indonesian National Standard. For essential and non-essential amino acids, the level varied about 102.82 mg.g-1 to 206.76 mg.g-1 and 79.71 mg.g-1 to 138.76 mg.g-1, respectively in the treated tuna flosses. Moreover, ranging 13.72 – 16.29% of PUFA was found in all treated flosses. The most significant effect was found in the histamine levels of the tuna flosses, especially in the 50% added floss sample. Moreover, bacterial counts and heavy metals content were lower than the maximum limits regulated by the Indonesian National Standard. For sensory evaluation, the banana blossom-added samples significantly increased (p >0.05) the acceptability score for all attributes assessed. Taken together, the tuna floss added with 37.5% of banana blossom may be potentially developed as a low-histamine tuna-based product with high ffibre andEPA+DHA, as well as highly acceptable for consumers.

Association between Psychological Status and Functional Outcome in Surgically Managed Fractures around Hip in Geriatric Patients - A Prospective Study

Introduction:

Fractures around the hip in the geriatric population not only lead to functional but also psychological impairment. Psychiatric disturbances can be associated with poor participation in rehabilitation, increased risk of falling again, and higher rates of mortality. The present study was undertaken to assess the association between the psychological status and functional outcome of surgically managed elderly Indian patients who had sustained fractures around the hip.

Material and Methods:

The present study was a hospital based prospective, single centre study. One hundred and two geriatric patients who had sustained hip fracture and had been managed surgically, having no cognitive dysfunction, living independently, having unhindered walking capability before the fracture, were included in the study. They were called for follow-up at 3rd, 6th, and 12th month after the hip surgery. Psychological assessment was done by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and functional outcome by using the Harris hip score (HHS).

Results:

Our study did not show association between psychological status and functional outcome except in one sub-group. Significant correlation was observed between the psychological status and functional outcome in most of the patients in the extra-capsular group. We have identified improvement in the depression, anxiety and functional scores during the follow-up.

Conclusion:

We conclude that psychiatric disturbances in a geriatric patient after undergoing a surgery for hip fracture may lead to poor recovery. We recommend that all such geriatric patients should undergo a psychological assessment and proper therapy should be instituted to achieve good functional recovery.