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Biology is a study of living objects and their life processes. It examines all aspects of living organisms such as their occurrence, classification, internal and external structure, nutrition, reproduction, inheritance, etc. The term “biology” is commonly replaced by the terms “life sciences” and “biological sciences.” There are dozens of branches of biology. Some of the major ones include:
Biology and Life Sciences
Abstract
Natural preservatives are a suitable alternative to chemical preservatives in the food industry. To overcome its hydrophobic nature, insolubility in water, and degradation of free essential oils, liposomal encapsulation can be applied. In this study, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of free as well as liposomal rosemary essential oils (REO) were measured using disk diffusion and serial dilution method for Escherichia (E.) coli, Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, Salmonella (S.) enterica, Lactiplantibacillus (L.) plantarum, Aspergillus (A.) niger, and Saccharomyces (S.) cerevisiae. The antimicrobial properties of free and encapsulated essential oils were compared with sodium benzoate during thirty days of storage. Also, the release pattern of REO from liposomes was studied using dialysis membranes during the 30 days of storage. The results showed that the MIC of free and encapsulated REO is in the range of 3.5–5% and 5–6.5%, respectively. Gram+ Staphylococcus aureus was identified as the most sensitive, while Escherichia coli was the most resistant among the tested microorganisms to the essential oils. During refrigerated storage, free REO and sodium benzoate did not show any significant difference in antimicrobial properties (P > 0.05), while encapsulated REO significantly reduced the number of microorganisms in stored salad dressing (P ≤ 0.05).
Abstract
A successful spray-drying encapsulation is supported by the use of suitable matrix material. This research aimed to study the properties of maltodextrin-alginate matrix solution and its encapsulated iron powder. The study was conducted using the variation of iron concentration (8–20 mg g−1 matrix) and ratio of maltodextrin-alginate (10:0; 10:0.5; 10:1; 10:1.5; 10:2; 0:2). The results showed that a higher iron concentration increased the viscosity of the matrix solution, which led to the formation of higher moisture content particles, but reduced the encapsulation efficiency. Meanwhile, an increased ratio of maltodextrin-alginate allowed an increase in the viscosity of the matrix solution, the encapsulation efficiency, and the moisture content of the particles. However, iron loading capacity improved by increasing iron and alginate concentration. All samples appeared to be amorphous materials with a faster iron release at a pH 6.8 than that at a pH 1.2. In addition, incorporation of alginate improved the particle size, thermal stability, and antioxidant activity of the encapsulated iron powder. In brief, the improvement of the encapsulation efficiency, iron release, and thermal stability of spray-dried iron powder are highlighted in this study, which are important in food fortification and processing.
Abstract
This study successfully microencapsulated bitter gourd juice (EBG) and turmeric powder (ET) using chickpea protein isolate via freeze-drying, achieving encapsulation efficiencies of 85.3% and 89.5%, respectively. Particle size analysis revealed sizes of 3.69 µm for EBG and 4.97 µm for ET. FTIR confirmed the successful entrapment of core materials within the protein matrix. Although unencapsulated samples exhibited higher activity levels, the encapsulated forms also demonstrated significant antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-lipidemic properties, with effective protection and controlled release of active components in the gastrointestinal environment. This highlights their potential as functional ingredients for managing type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidaemia in food products.
Abstract
Basil (sweet basil, Ocimum basilicum L.) is an aromatic plant known for its culinary and traditional medicinal uses.
The content of estragole (methyl chavicol), a compound associated with a potential risk to human health, was determined in the essential oils of 12 samples of basil herb by gas chromatography with flame ionisation and mass spectrometry detection (GC-FID/MS) using an external standard method. The essential oils contained estragole at various levels, from 1.85 to 561.01 mg mL−1. Regarding the chemical profile, among the eleven essential oils, the compound with the highest relative proportion was linalool (29.1–70.3%), while estragole dominated in one essential oil with a relative proportion of 45.2%. All essential oils tested correspond to the European chemotype, which is characterised by a high content of linalool or a combination of linalool and estragole.
Given the recommendation for limiting human exposure to estragole, the safety of some essential oils may be of concern due to their high levels of estragole content.
The results indicate the importance of the chemical analysis of basil herb samples and the selection of chemotypes with low estragole content.
Abstract
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are the most significant disinfectants utilised to control the contamination of Staphylococcus aureus in food establishments. S. aureus is a significant pathogen that carries genes responsible for resistance to QACs, which pose a risk to public health and food safety. The objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence of QAC genes (qacA/B, qacC, qacG, qacH, qacJ, and smr) and benzalkonium minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in S. aureus strains isolated from food products and food production facilities (n = 200). The analysis results indicated that the qacC gene was the most frequently detected, with a prevalence of 12%. The qacA/B, qacG, qacH, qacJ, and smr genes were identified at frequencies of 2%, 3%, 1%, 4.5%, and 5%, respectively. The highest MIC level was identified in the surface sample, which carried the qacG gene, at a concentration of 6.25 μg mL−1. The study's results highlight the potential risks associated with disinfectant resistance in food establishments. To prevent the transfer of disinfectant resistance genes, which have become a global risk, it is imperative that the rules of disinfectant usage are observed rigorously and that scientific research in this field is diversified.
Abstract
Bifidobacteria can maintain the ecological balance of intestinal microorganisms and are closely linked to the onset and progression of acute enteritis. Present research aimed to investigate the alleviation of DSS-induced acute enteritis by bifidobacteria. In vivo colonoscopy was performed in mice to observe the colorectal mucosa and the pathological damage of colon tissue and the colonic expression of tight junction proteins (Occludin, Claudin-1, ZO-1) and inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1b, IL-6). The colon mucosa tissue samples were collected for bacterial 16S DNA sequencing and transcriptome sequencing. The intervention of bifidobacteria could effectively alleviate the trend of weight loss and colonic trauma in mice with DSS-induced acute enteritis. The bifidobacteria effectively restored expression of tight junction proteins (Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1) and decreased expression of pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1b, IL-6). Bifidobacterium longum proved to be the most effective (P < 0.05). The altered composition of gut microbiota was reflected in the increase of the relative abundances of Dubosiella spp. in the B. longum treated group. The results suggested that bifidobacteria could repair intestinal barrier function, relieve the colon inflammation, and improve intestinal microbiota disorder; and B. longum demonstrated the best efficacy in mice with DSS-induced acute enteritis.
Soil organic carbon (SOC) levels directly affect the production and health of crops. Making use of a database of the usefulness of using the 350–2,500 nm Near Infra Red (NIR) spectroscopy data range on 200 soil samples from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh was evaluated in this study. The more sophisticated Artificial Neural Network, to choose the spectral components that were used to forecast SOC, Random Forest (RF) and Ensemble Lasso-Ridge Regression (ELRR) were utilized. In the preprocessing, the inversion derivative, logarithmic(log) derivative, and logarithmic base to 10(log10x) derivatives were employed to duplicate the spectrum wavelength. The main characteristic of spectrum wavelength for SOC were found to be within the range of 350 and 450 nm, per the results. The best accurate estimation of SOC content was obtained by combining the suggested DSANN or Dropout Sequential ANN technique with the Log10x pre-processed data. The R-squared (R2), RMSE, and RPIQ (Ratio of Performance in Inter Quartile Distance) values for the testing dataset were 0.83, 0.08, and 4.32, respectively.
Abstract
Four new Rotundabaloghia (Circobaloghia) species are described from South America and South-East Asia based on the collection of the Natural History Museum, London, UK. Rotundabaloghia (Circobaloghia) salebrosa sp. nov. was collected in Malaysia, Rotundabaloghia (Circobaloghia) bakerae sp. nov. was found in Sarawak (Malaysia), Rotundabaloghia (Circobaloghia) microseta sp. nov. is described from Guyana and Rotundabaloghia (Circobaloghia) peritremata sp. nov. was reported from Borneo (Indonesia).
Abstract
Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) autoantibody syndrome is an emerging clinical entity that has been associated with disseminated non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection (dNTM) particularly in healthy young people, a population not previously thought to be at particular risk. A 29-year-old South-East Asian man presented with several weeks of fever, cough, lymphadenopathy, and constitutional symptoms while working on an international cargo ship, deteriorating rapidly with a sepsis-like syndrome. Eventually lymph node and sputum cultures revealed a diagnosis of dNTM infection with growth of both Mycobacterium persicum and Mycobacterium abscessus. He was commenced on rituximab as well as combination anti-mycobacterial therapy with good clinical response. This case highlights some of the difficulties faced by patients with dNTM in the context of IFN-γ autoantibodies, particularly delayed diagnosis, and lack of evidence base surrounding optimal management. Further research into long-term outcomes and treatment is required as well as increased awareness among clinicians.
Abstract
Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) is a strategic agricultural product in Iran, meanwhile several pests cause damage to the crop and reduce its yield. Sowing dates and planting methods might have influence on the pest population and damages. Thus, current research was carried out for studying the planting methods and date of sugar beet sowing under field conditions. The treatments were 1) sowing direct seed (SDG1 = on time-planted in April 24th, SDG2 = delay time-planted sugar beets in June 12th), 2) planting seedling (SDG3 = June 11th).
The observations for record of data were carried out at weekly intervals from germination stage or establishment of seedling up to maturity in August 27th. Results revealed that the mean injuries of pest insects especially Agrotis segetum Schiff.; Chaetocnema tibialis Illiger; Conorhynchus brevirostris Gyllenhal; Spodoptera exigua Hübner and Scorbipalpa ocellatella Boyd. were significantly different in various sowing date and methods. The incidence of these pests was relatively low during the first season than the second one. The cultivation of transplanting seedling could significantly reduce the density of the pest insects and decrease crop injury rather than others. Overall, due to the annual increasing of the temperature as global warming and thus increasing insect pests and use of pesticides; transplanting seedling could use as a non-chemical method in management of sugar beet pest insects.
