The aim of the survey was to study the effect of heat stress (HS) on health lipid indices in milk of Holstein-Friesian cows. The study was conducted in a cattle farm with Holstein-Friesian cows in the region of Karnobat (Southeastern Bulgaria) in 2018. Cows were housed in semi-open free stall dairy barn, fed year-round ad libitum with a total mixed ration. The study included 22 cows on different parities studied in two periods - at thermo-neutral environment conditions and at heat stress, respectively, May and August. Extraction of milk fat was performed by the Rose-Gottlieb method. Conditions of HS lead to changes in the values of health lipid indices associated with a decrease in the values of Atherogenic index (AI), Thrombogenic index (TI), Lipid Preventive Score (LPS) and Desaturase (18) index (DI 18) and an increase in Health promoting Index (HPI), polyunsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids (PUFA/SFA), unsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids (UFA/SFA), mono unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), Desaturase (16) index (DI 16) and hypocholesterolaemic/hypercholesterolaemic ratio (h/H). Increasing the Temperature-humidity index (THI) above 72, results in a decrease in the AI values and an increase in those of the PUFA/SFA. The values of health lipid indices showed a moderate positive correlation with those of THI (PUFA/SFA - 0.36) with rectal temperature (h/H, MUFA/SFA, UFA/SFA) r_p from 0.36 to 0.37, and with respiratory rate (h/H, PUFA/SFA), r_p of 0.33 and 0.31, respectively. Under the influence of heat stress, changes in the metabolic processes occur in the body of dairy cows leading to changes in the fatty acid content of milk related to the improvement of health lipid indices in terms of human health due to an increase in UFA and reduction in SFA.

Ethyl ferulate (EF) is a ferulic acid (FA) derivative with high commercial value. It is not found naturally and is mostly synthesized from FA via esterification with ethanol. The present work aimed to synthesize the EF from γ-oryzanol, a natural antioxidant from rice bran oil via acid-catalyzed transethylation at refluxing temperature of ethanol. The reaction was optimized by central composite design (CCD) under response surface methodology. Based on the CCD, the optimum condition for the synthesis of EF from 0.50 g of γ-oryzanol was as follows: γ-oryzanol to ethanol ratio of 0.50:2 (g/mL), 12.30% (v/v) H₂SO₄, and a reaction time of 9.37 h; these conditions correspond to a maximum EF yield of 87.11%. Moreover, the optimized transethylation condition was further validated using 12.50 g of γ-oryzanol. At the end of the reaction time, distilled water was added as antisolvent to selectively crystallize the co-products, phytosterol and unreacted γ-oryzanol, by adjusting the ethanol concentration to 49.95% (v/v). The recovery yield of 83.60% with a purity of 98% of EF was achieved. In addition, the DPPH and ABTS assays showed similar antioxidant activities between the prepared and commercial EF.

We previously reported that fluid soybean lecithin (SL) undergoes heat deterioration by the newly reported pseudo-Maillard rearrangement reaction. To inhibit heat deterioration, SLs were treated with metal silicates, such as magnesium silicate and calcium silicate. When soybean fatty acid was added to SL before treatment with calcium silicate, the color index after heating improved significantly as the acid value increased from 10 to 35 mg KOH/g. To elucidate the role of soybean fatty acid, calcium silicate treatment was carried out by adding several fatty acids to SL. Although saturated fatty acids had no effect on the heat deterioration of SL, unsaturated fatty acids were significantly more effective at inhibiting heat deterioration. Furthermore, for unsaturated fatty acids, it was confirmed that the calcium concentration increased in SL. Based on these results, several fatty acid metal salts were added to confirm whether heat deterioration while heating SL could be inhibited. It was observed that the heat deterioration of SL could be inhibited with fatty acid metal salts, regardless of whether the fatty acids were saturated or unsaturated and whether the metal was monovalent, divalent, or trivalent. Therefore, in this study, we clarified that the heat deterioration of SL could be inhibited by adding fatty acid metal salts to SL. Among sodium stearate, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, barium stearate, and aluminum tristearate, the divalent fatty acid metal salts had a stronger inhibitory effect on heat deterioration than the monovalent and trivalent salts.

Sesbania cannabina (Retz.) Pers. (Dhaincha) is a member of family Fabaceae spread over several countries in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Sesbania aculeata, Sesbania drummondii, Sesbania grandiflora, Sesbania rostrata, Sesbania sesban, and Sesbania speciosa are other members of this family. The agricultural, nutritional and pharmaceutical applications of Sesbania species are known to farmers, villagers, and the tribes since ages and are well studied by researchers. However, the significance of Sesbania as an industrial crop has not been recognized till now. The objective of this study was extraction and characterization of Sesbania cannabina seed oil (SCSO) for potential engineering applications. The seed oil was extracted with hexane in a Soxhlet extractor. Yield was only 2.32% w/w due to long storage at high temperature in seed house. Sesbania cannabina seed oil methyl ester (SCSOME) was prepared via esterification and transesterification for analysis of fatty acid composition of extracted oil. SCSO has high iodine value (118 g I₂/100 g) and high saponification value (185.79 mg KOH/g) making the oil suitable for use as candle stocks or in soap making. However, these applications were ruled out on account of being insignificant for oil available in limited quantity. The oil has high viscosity index (174.19), high onset (382°C) and offset (450°C) decomposition temperatures, endothermic nature, and shear rate thickening behaviour. These properties make SCSO a good candidate for application as specialty lubricant required under severe operating conditions of high temperature and high shear rate or as insulating and cooling transformer oil.

1,2-Alkanediols are characteristic cosmetic ingredients because these moisturizers exhibit the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis). However, the antimicrobial behavior in mixed systems containing several active ingredients is unclear because previous reports focus on an antibacterial system containing only 1,2-alkanediol. In this study, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) were evaluated for 1,2-dodecanediol/lactic acid, 1,2-dodecanediol/myristic acid, 1,2-dodecanediol/methylparaben, and 1,2-dodecanediol/isopropyl methylphenol mixed systems to show the effect of the addition of other antimicrobial components to 1,2-dodecanediol. The antibacterial property of 1,2-dodecanediol/lactic acid mixed system was almost similar compared to 1,2-dodecanediol monomeric system. On the other hand, the antimicrobial activity of 1,2-dodecanediol against S. epidermidis was inhibited in the 1,2-dodecanediol/myristic acid mixed system. Because the selective antimicrobial activity of myristic acid against S. aureus was demonstrated in the mixed system. The present findings are useful for designing formulations of cosmetics and body cleansers containing 1,2-dodecanediol.

Introduction: Demodex mites are microscopic arthropods that have been shown to be responsible for chronic blepharitis. Although many reports have demonstrated positive effects of lid hygiene on demodicosis, some have produced conflicting results. We retrospectively evaluated the effect of lid margin cleansing with a novel lid hygiene detergent, Eye Shampoo, in patients with ocular demodicosis. Methods: Outpatient clinic notes recorded over a 24-month period between June 30, 2016, and June 29, 2018, at Keio University Hospital in Japan were reviewed to identify patients diagnosed with ocular demodicosis who started cleansing their lid margins with Eye Shampoo at least once daily as a lid hygiene therapy. Results: Five patients diagnosed with ocular demodicosis who started cleansing their lid margins using Eye Shampoo for lid hygiene were identified. In four cases, Demodex mites were successfully eliminated, and ocular conditions were ultimately improved with no recurrence. Active Demodex mites were still noted after 3 months of lid hygiene therapy in one case; further observation of this case was not available. There were no adverse effects of Eye Shampoo in any of these cases. Conclusion: Lid hygiene therapy using Eye Shampoo successfully eliminated Demodex mites, a common pathogen of refractory obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction.

A detailed study on the foamability, foam stability, foam liquid-carrying capacity, and foam morphology of two N-acyl amino acid surfactants with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and gelatin were performed by foam scanning. The results showed that the foamability of the mixed system increased gradually and then tended to be stable with increasing surfactant concentration. The foamability of the high-concentration BSA system was stronger than that of the low-concentration BSA system. The foamability and foam stability of sodium N-lauroyl phenylpropanoic acid (N-C₁₂P)/BSA were better than those of sodium N-lauroyl propylamino acid (N-C₁₂A)/BSA, and the foamability and foam stability of N-C₁₂A/gelatin was better than those of N-C₁₂P/gelatin. The liquid-carrying capacity of the foam initially increased and then decreased with increasing time, and the maximum liquid-carrying capacity increased with increasing surfactant concentration. When the concentration of the surfactant was 8 mM, the drainage rate of N-C₁₂A/protein was higher than that of N-C₁₂P/protein. The morphology of the bubble gradually changed from spherical to polyhedron and the number of bubbles gradually decreased with time increasing. Differences in surfactant structure and protein type had an important effect on the number and area of foam.

The leading cause of cancer-related death is colorectal cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease is a risk factor for this disease. Azoxymethane (AOM) is a potent cancer inducer widely used in rats for colon cancer. The current study was scrutinizing the chemo-protective effect of geraniin against AOM induced colorectal cancer via alteration of oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines. The rats were divided into different groups such as Group I: normal control, Group II geraniin (20 mg/kg), Group III: received AOM, Group IV-VI: AOM + geraniin (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg), respectively. All group of rats were received treatment for 16 weeks. At the end of the experimental study, the hepatic, biochemical, phase II antioxidant, antioxidant enzymes, cytokines, apoptosis and inflammatory mediators were estimated. Geraniin treatment significantly reduced tumor weight and enhanced body weight. Geraniin administration also altered the level of antioxidant parameters-superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR); phase I enzymes - cytochrome B₅, cytochrome P₄₅₀; phase II enzymes - Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), UDP-Glucuronyl transferase (UDP-GT) respectively. Obtained results also demonstrate that geraniin treatment reduced the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-2, IL-1α, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17A, IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, G-CSF, and GM-CSF. Geraniin also reduced the expression of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, G-CSF, and GM-CSF. On the basis of result we can conclude that geraniin reduced the colorectal cancer via inflammatory pathway.

In the current study, via utilizing H₅L (H₅L = 2,4-di(3′,5′-dicarboxylphenyl)benzoic acid), the symmetrical rigid polycarboxylic acid ligand with V-shape geometry, two new coordination polymers containing Cu(II) and Co(II) have been produced, and their chemical formulae respectively are {[Co₅(L)₂(H₂O)₁₂]·6H₂O} _n (1) and {[H₂N(Me)₂][Cu₂(L)(H₂O)]·DMF·H₂O} _n (2), leading to a variety kinds of coordination patterns of H₅L and multifunctional skeletons. Their inhibitory activity on the insulin resistance of colon cancer patients was assessed. In addition, the detailed mechanism of the compound was also investigated. Firstly, the detection of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was carried out and the Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) level and the Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) level was detected. Then, the glucose concentration was determined with blood glucose meter. Next, the insulin receptor expression levels of β cells were determined with the real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. Ultimately, the cytotoxicity of compounds 1 and 2 was determined with Cell Counting Kit-8 assay.

The current study was carried out to estimate the protective effect of methanolic extract of Chaetomorpha gracilis (MECG) against High Cholesterol Diet (HCD) induced erythrocyte damage in mice. The results of the in vitro assay showed that MECG have higher antioxidant capacities in the DPPH, TAC, ABTS, NBT, NO^. inhibition assays. The HPLC analysis confirmed that this potential antioxidant seems to be due to the active compounds, in particular polyphenols, flavonoids. HCD promoted oxidative stress with a rise the level of malonaldehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) levels and a significant decrease of the Vitamin C content, as well the antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. In addition, HCD treatment caused significant lipid profile disorders via increase the cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL levels and reduction HDL-Ch level. A statistically significant decrease of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ATPase activities accompanied with a severe damage in the erythrocytes structure and hematological parameters alterations were also noted in hypercholesterolemic mice. Pre-treatment with MECG significantly restored biochemical markers and pathological lesions. It can be suggest that supplementation of MECG displays high potential to quench free radicals and attenuates high cholesterol diet induced erythrocytes oxidative stress and related damages.

Calcium is a dynamic mineral. Recent discoveries designate that low intake of calcium generates deficiencies and path to other diseases. Food fortification could play a key role to overcome this problem. To cope with this deficiency problem, jellies were formulated with food-grade calcium salts and chicken eggshell powder. In the present study, three different concentrations of calcium salts, as well as eggshell powder were used to formulate jellies. The results of the sensory evaluation indicated that the two jelly products (A&D) in the current study were suitable for consumers. Results of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer revealed Jelly A and jelly D had 151±0.05 ppm and 133±0.06 ppm calcium concentration, respectively. Proximate analysis of Jelly A showed that it has 6.0±0.01% ash, 9.2±0.1% moisture, 0.4±0.01 g crude protein, 82.79±0.001 g crude fiber, and 0.61±0.001 g crude fat, while the jelly D that was made with chicken eggshell powder exhibited 6.0±0.01% ash, 10.1±0.1% moisture, 0.5±0.01 g protein, 84.54±0.01 g crude fiber and 1.61±0.01 g crude fat. Therefore, these two jelly A & D were greatly appreciated among other attributes. In spite of naturally available calcium-rich sources, calcium-fortified jellies can be consumed by individuals who are incapable to take sufficient calcium from their diet.

The leaf of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. frutescens (egoma) is a rich source of polyphenolic compounds, including rosmarinic acid. However, there is still a lack of detailed information concerning the content of phenolic compounds in these leaves. Since some flavonoids were found as a conjugated form, leaves were used untreated or hydrolyzed using β-glucuronidase for analysis. Enzymatic hydrolysis method successfully identified some polyphenols, which have not been reported before. Scutellarin, a flavone glucuronide with a molecular mass similar to that of luteolin 7-O-glucuronide, was present in egoma leaves. Scutellarin was the second most abundant polyphenolic compound, after rosmarinic acid. Egoma leaves at the top of the plant contained a higher amount of rosmarinic acid and scutellarin compared to that in the leaves below. The difference in plant growth stage also influenced the rosmarinic acid and scutellarin contents, while the time of harvesting during the day did rosmarinic acid contents only. This is the first time that scutellarin, a traditional Chinese medicine, widely used for the treatment of cerebrovascular disease, was quantitatively determined in egoma leaves. The present study may help adding value to egoma leaves, developing dietary supplements, functional foods, and cosmetics.

In this work, we fabricated a fiber-stiffened soft actuator with PEDOT/PSS films as electrode. Embedding nylon fibers in the soft actuator successfully suppressed twisting deformations, resulting in a large and persistent actuation displacement. We evaluated the effects of the fiber spacing (1, 2, 3 and 4 mm) on the displacement and assessed the actuation displacement as a function of applied voltage (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 V) and frequency (0.2 and 1 Hz) with an actuation time of 500 s. We demonstrated that the fiberstiffened actuator with 2 mm fiber spacing exhibited steady actuation cycles (4.2 mm average displacement) in comparison with those with different spacings (1, 3, and 4 mm) and that without the fiber.

The neurotrophic hypothesis of depression, that is, a deficiency in hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) leads to depression, has gained widespread acceptance. BDNF is synthesized in various peripheral tissues such as the lung, kidney, liver, heart and testis, besides the brain. Peripheral BDNF can traverse the blood-brain barrier and reach the hippocampus; accordingly, substances that upregulate BDNF production in peripheral tissues may be useful in the treatment of depression. The Mediterranean diet, containing high amounts of whole grains including unrefined wheat, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and olive oil, reportedly reduces the risk of depression. The association between the high consumption of unrefined wheat in the Mediterranean diet and BDNF production in peripheral tissues is unclear. In this study, we investigated the BDNF production capacity of human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 and the effect of wheat on BDNF production in the cells. Methanol extracts of whole-wheat flour and wheat bran, which are forms of unrefined wheat, increased the BDNF level in the culture medium of A549 cells. However, methanol extract of wheat endosperm had no effect on the BDNF level in these cells. Our findings suggest that wheat bran contains ingredients that upregulate BDNF production in peripheral tissues, and unrefined wheat potentially contributes to the elevation in peripheral BDNF level.