Influence of micro- and nano-bubble treatment on morphological characteristics and flow properties of spray-dried milk protein concentrate powders.

This study investigated the morphological and bulk handling properties of milk protein concentrate (MPC) powders manufactured from incorporating micro- and nano-bubbles (MNB) before spray drying. Control MPC powders (C-MPC; no MNB treatment) and MNB-treated MPC powders (MNB-MPC; MPC dispersions passed through the MNB system and subsequently spray dried) were characterized in terms of particle size, shape factors, stability, variable flow rate, shear cell tests, compressibility, and wall friction. The MPC powders produced after the MNB injection process had better flowability and lower basic flow energy. Shear tests showed that C-MPC powders were more cohesive than MNB-MPC powders. The MNB-MPC powders had lower flow rate index values, lower wall friction angles, more rounded shape, and significant differences in powder compressibility compared with C-MPC powders. Overall, the results demonstrated that MNB incorporation during spray drying can produce ingredients with comparable morphological characteristics while improving the bulk powder properties.

Correlating W-Boson Mass Shift with Muon g-2 in the Two Higgs Doublet Model.

We show an interesting correlation between the recent high precision measurement of the W-boson mass by the CDF Collaboration and the muon (g-2) anomaly in the context of the two Higgs doublet model. One-loop diagrams involving the exchange of neutral scalar bosons can explain the muon (g-2), which, however, requires significant mass splittings among members of the second Higgs doublet. These splittings also generate a positive shift in the mass of the W boson, consistent with the recent CDF measurement. The charged and neutral scalars of the model cannot be heavier than about 600 GeV for a simultaneous explanation of the two anomalies. The entire parameter space of the model can be tested at the LHC by a combination of same sign dimuon signals in pp→(µ^{+}µ^{+}jj+E_{T}) and pp→(µ^{+}µ^{-}τ^{+}τ^{-}+X) signals.

Application of micro- and nano-bubbles in spray drying of milk protein concentrates.

Micro- and nano-bubbles (MNB) have unique properties and have attracted great attention in the past 2 decades, offering prospective applications in various disciplines. The first objective of this study was to investigate whether venturi-style MNB generation is capable of producing sufficient bulk MNB. A nanoparticle tracking system was used to measure the bubble concentration and particle size of MNB-treated deionized water. The MNB-treated deionized water had a bubble concentration of 3.76 × 108 particles/mL (∼350 million bubbles/mL more compared with control) and a mean particle size of 249.8 nm. The second objective of this study was to investigate the effects of MNB treatment on the microstructure and functional properties of milk protein concentrate (MPC) dispersions. Reconstituted MPC dispersions (21%, wt/wt) without air injection were considered as control (C-MPC), and MPC dispersions passed through the MNB system were considered as MNB-treated (MNB-MPC) dispersions. Control and MNB-MPC dispersions were evaluated in terms of rheological behavior and microstructure. The microscopic observations of MNB-MPC dispersions showed less aggregated microstructures and greater structural differences compared with C-MPC dispersions, therefore lowering the viscosity. The viscosity of MNB-MPC at a shear rate of 100 s-1 significantly decreased to 57.58 mPa·s (C-MPC: 162.40 mPa·s), a net decrease in viscosity by ∼65% after MNB treatment. Additionally, MPC dispersions were spray dried after the MNB treatment, and the resultant MNB-MPC powders were characterized and compared with the control MPC in terms of rehydration characteristics and microstructure. Focused beam reflectance measurement of the MNB-MPC powders indicated lower counts of large particles (150-300 µm) during dissolution, signifying that MNB-MPC powders exhibited better rehydration properties than the C-MPC powders. This study, therefore, recommends the possibility of using MNB treatment for more efficient drying while improving the functional properties of the resultant MPC powders.

Rehydration characteristics of milk protein concentrate powders monitored by electrical resistance tomography.

Electrical resistance tomography (ERT) is a robust and low-cost method offering real-time visualization of processes. In this work, we developed an ERT-based method to characterize the rehydration behavior of milk protein concentrate (MPC) powders. Circular-type and linear configurations were used to achieve high resolution in the radial and axial directions, respectively. To evaluate the rehydration profile, MPC powders were reconstituted to 2.5% (wt/wt) total solids at room temperature, and the rehydration behavior of the MPC powders [MPC with 85% protein (MPC85) and milk protein isolate with 90% protein (MPI90)] was monitored for a dissolution time of 30 min using the ERT system. The MPC powders were characterized in terms of overall mean conductivity, area under the mean conductivity curve, slope at a dissolution time of 3 min, and the relative dissolution index. Additionally, the focus beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) was used as a reference method to follow rehydration characteristics. Particle count changes from the FBRM measurements showed that MPI90 had higher larger particle counts and more resistance to dispersing in water. As the dissolution time proceeded, mineral ions and proteins were released and consequently increased the overall conductivity, confirming the transfer of water into MPC particles. At lower protein contents, the particle dispersion rate was higher and an increase in overall mean conductivity was observed, indicating better powder dissolution. Both configurations were able to effectively monitor differences in the dissolution behavior of MPC powders. In the ERT circular configuration, MPC85 and MPI90 showed maximum conductivity of 0.201 ± 0.006 and 0.162 ± 0.001 mS/cm, respectively. In the linear probe configuration, MPC85 and MPI90 showed maximum conductivity of 0.161 ± 0.001 and 0.136 ± 0.001 mS/cm, respectively, suggesting increasingly inhibited water transfer as the protein content of the powder increased. In this study, we demonstrated the capability of ERT using the circular and linear probe configurations to offer, in addition to qualitative tomographic images, reliable quantitative data by which to characterize the dissolution behavior of high-protein dairy powders.

Zee-Burst: A New Probe of Neutrino Nonstandard Interactions at IceCube.

We propose a new way to probe nonstandard interactions (NSI) of neutrinos with matter using the ultrahigh energy (UHE) neutrino data at current and future neutrino telescopes. We consider the Zee model of radiative neutrino mass generation as a prototype, which allows two charged scalars-one SU(2)_{L} doublet and one singlet, both being leptophilic, to be as light as 100 GeV, thereby inducing potentially observable NSI with electrons. We show that these light charged Zee scalars could give rise to a Glashow-like resonance feature in the UHE neutrino event spectrum at the IceCube neutrino observatory and its high-energy upgrade IceCube-Gen2, which can probe a sizable fraction of the allowed NSI parameter space.

Comparative evaluation of enamel microhardness after using two different remineralizing agents on artificially demineralized human enamel: An in vitro study.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to compare the remineralization outcomes of two agents using the Vickers microhardness test (VMHT) on artificially induced enamel subsurface lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty sound extracted premolars were selected as samples for the current study and divided into four groups of 10 teeth each: Clinpro (group 1), Remin Pro (group 2), untreated positive control (group 3), and a demineralized negative control (group 4). All the sample groups were assessed first at baseline then after demineralization and remineralization using DIAGNOdent. After the remineralization process, VMHT was performed on all sample groups to assess surface microhardness (SMH). The results obtained were then compared using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the difference in SMH. RESULTS: Vickers microhardness number values were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and samples in the experimental groups 1 and 2 showed a statistically significant difference compared to the control groups (P < 0.05). Remineralization was higher in the Remin Pro group, followed by Clinpro group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this in vitro study show that both Remin Pro and Clinpro are equally effective as remineralizing agents. Although Remin Pro tended to yield a higher microhardness, no significant differences were observed between the two agents. RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS: Enamel mineral loss leads to the degradation of the surface and subsurface structures of teeth. Natural remineralization that occurs physiologically is not sufficient to overcome the hurdles of mineral loss a tooth undergoes due to changes in food habits and lifestyle. A thought on remineralization and management such as prescribing remineralizing agents and regular professional topical fluoride applications would definitely render satisfactory results by a strong healthy enamel.

Application of front-face fluorescence spectroscopy as a tool for monitoring changes in milk protein concentrate powders during storage.

This study investigated the feasibility of front-face fluorescence spectroscopy (FFFS) to predict the solubility index and relative dissolution index (RDI) of milk protein concentrate (MPC) powders during storage. Twenty MPC powders with varying protein contents from 4 different commercial manufacturers were used in this study. The MPC powders were stored at 2 temperatures (25 and 40°C) for 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 wk. The front-face fluorescence spectra of tryptophan and Maillard products were recorded and analyzed with chemometrics to predict solubility of MPC powders. The similarity maps showed clear discrimination of the MPC samples stored at 25 and 40°C. Partial least squares regression models were developed using the fluorescence spectra of tryptophan and Maillard products to predict the solubility index and RDI measurements of MPC powders, and the prediction models were validated using an independent test set. Coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.76, 0.84, and 0.68 were obtained between fluorescence spectra (tryptophan emission, Maillard emission, and Maillard excitation, respectively) and solubility index. The R2 values for the RDI predictions were 0.58 and 0.60 for the data set of tryptophan emission and Maillard emission, respectively. The ratio of prediction error to standard deviation was >2 for Maillard emission fluorescence spectra and solubility index measurements, indicating good practical utility of the partial least squares regression prediction models. The results indicated that the solubility and dissolution behavior of MPC powders were related to their protein content and storage conditions that could be measured using FFFS. Hence, FFFS can be used as a rapid nondestructive analytical technique to predict the solubility and dissolution characteristics of MPC powders.

Gamma oscillatory activity in vitro: a model system to assess pathophysiological mechanisms of comorbidity between autism and epilepsy.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and temporal lobe epilepsy exhibit remarkable comorbidity, but for reasons not clearly understood. To reveal a common pathophysiological mechanism, we here describe and characterize an in vitro epileptiform activity in the rat hippocampus that exhibits common features with in vivo activity in rodent ASD models. We discovered the development of this activity in the CA1 region of horizontal slices after prolonged interictal-like epileptiform activity in the CA3 region that was provoked by incubation in high potassium artificial cerebrospinal fluid. The CA1 epileptiform bursts were insensitive to blockers of glutamatergic transmission, and were carried by synaptic as well as extrasynaptic, tonically activated gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptors. The bursts bear resemblance to in vivo gamma-oscillatory activity found in rat ASD models with respect to their gamma frequency spectrum, their origin (in the CA1), and their sensitivity to blockers of cation-chloride pumps (NKCC1 and KCC2), as well as to oxytocin. Considering this bursting activity as an in vitro model for studying comorbidity between epilepsy and ASD may help to disentangle the intricate interactions that underlie the comorbidity between both diseases and suggests that extrasynaptic tonic GABAergic transmission could represent a potential target for ASD.

Biological evaluation of 3-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, an extrolite produced by Aspergillus nidulans strain KZR-132.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to purify and characterize a bioactive compound from Aspergillus nidulans strain KZR-132 and its biological evaluation. METHODS AND RESULTS: A bioactive extolite was purified from A. nidulans strain KZR-132, and its chemical structure was elucidated as 3-hydroxylbenzyl alcohol (3-HBA) based on 1 H and 13 C NMR, FT-IR and mass spectroscopic analysis. The antimicrobial efficacy of 3-HBA was established against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and different Candida strains. It also showed promising antibiofilm activity against various tested microbial strains. Reactive oxygen species induced by 3-HBA treatment on different Candida strains killed most of the cells and showed necrotic effect. It also exhibited dose-dependent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. CONCLUSIONS: This bioactive extrolite produced by A. nidulans isolated from a niche habitat was demonstrated to possess significant biotechnological and pharmacological potential since it exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities which are reported for the first time. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The overall study demonstrates that 3-HBA produced by A. nidulansKZR-132 is a promising bioactive metabolite and possibly can function as a pharmacologically suitable broad-spectrum antimicrobial drug candidate against various dreaded human-related bacterial and fungal pathogens.

Performance of Sokal and Eutos Scores for Predicting Cytogenetic and Molecular Response in Newly Diagnosed Chronic Myeloid Leukemia-Chronic Phase Patients on Imatinib.

Sokal index was developed in the pre-imatinib era to predict and prognosticate the outcome of Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. In the Imatinib era, a new scoring system called EUTOS scoring system has been validated as a predictive marker in CML. The scores have shown variable correlation with complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and major molecular response (MMR). To assess the performance of Sokal score and EUTOS score as a predictive marker for CCyR and MMR for newly diagnosed CML-CP patients treated with TKIs. 273 patients with newly diagnosed CML were included in the study. They were treated with upfront imatinib. They were followed up for a median period of 3 years. Cytogenetic and Molecular response to the treatment were monitored regularly. Out of 273 patients, 174 patients (63 %) were having low EUTOS score and 99 (37 %) were having high EUTOS score. Patients with low, intermediate and high sokal scores were 237 (86.8 %), 28 (10.3 %) and 8 (2.9 %) respectively. 122 patients with low EUTOS score achieved CCyR within 18 months compared to 42 patients with high EUTOS score (p = 0.000).113 patients with low EUTOS score achieved MMR in 18 months compared to 33 patients with high EUTOS score (p = 0.000). 148, 14, 2 patients with low, intermediate and high Sokal score respectively have achieved CCyR in 18 months (p = 0.054). 133, 11, 2 patients with low intermediate and high sokal score respectively have achieved MMR in 18 months.(p = 0.06). EUTOS is better than Sokal score in predicting the outcome of patients of CML treated with imatinib.

Novel anti-cholinergics in COPD.

Anti-cholinergics have been considered the first-choice bronchodilator therapy in the routine management of stable COPD. Muscarinic cholinergic receptors are expressed on most cell types and mediate cellular signalling via the natural ligand, acetylcholine. Antagonising cholinergic receptors may not only result in bronchodilation, but also have associated localised activity. Until recently the licensed anti-cholinergics were limited to ipatropium bromide, oxitropium bromide and tiotropium bromide; the latter being the only once-daily anti-cholinergic. With the patents expired or due to expire shortly several companies have reinitiated efforts to develop safer, long-acting agents potentially improving concordance and pharmaceutical marketing opportunities. The present article reviews a number of novel anti-cholinergics that have been recently licensed and those undergoing development, some in innovative delivery devices.

B-L violating proton decay modes and new baryogenesis scenario in SO(10).

We show that grand unified theories based on SO(10) generate quite naturally baryon number violating dimension seven operators that violate B-L, and lead to novel nucleon decay modes such as n→e(-)K(+), e(-)π(+) and p→νπ(+). We find that in two-step breaking schemes of nonsupersymmetric SO(10), the partial lifetimes for these modes can be within reach of experiments. The interactions responsible for these decay modes also provide a new way to understand the origin of matter in the Universe via the decays of grand unified theory (GUT) scale scalar bosons of SO(10). Their (B-L)-violating nature guarantees that the GUT scale induced baryon asymmetry is not washed out by the electroweak sphaleron interactions. In minimal SO(10) models this asymmetry is closely tied to the masses of quarks, leptons and the neutrinos.

Top quark asymmetry and Wjj excess at CDF from gauged flavor symmetry.

We show that the scalar sector needed for fermion mass generation when the flavor symmetry of the standard model is maximally gauged can consistently explain two anomalies reported recently by the CDF Collaboration-the forward-backward asymmetry in tt pair production and the dijet invariant mass in the Wjj channel. A pair of nearly degenerate scalar doublets with masses in the range 150-200 GeV explain these anomalies, with additional scalars predicted in the mass range 100-400 GeV. Consistency of such low scale flavor physics with flavor-changing processes is shown, and expectations for the LHC are outlined.

The role of a soluble TNFalpha receptor fusion protein (etanercept) in corticosteroid refractory asthma: a double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial.

AIM: Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is a cytokine recognised as a therapeutic target in chronic inflammatory diseases. METHODS: A randomised, double blind, placebo controlled parallel group trial is reported of etanercept (an IgG1-TNF p75 receptor fusion protein), administered once weekly for 12 weeks in 39 patients with severe corticosteroid refractory asthma. Efficacy was measured by change from the pretreatment baseline in Asthma Related Quality of Life (AQLQ) and Asthma Control (ACQ) Questionnaire scores (the primary endpoints), lung function, peak expiratory flow (PEF) and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). Sputum and serum inflammatory cells and cytokines, serum albumin and C reactive protein (CRP) as biomarkers of inflammation were also assessed. RESULTS: There was a small but significant difference in reduction of ACQ scores between treatment and placebo (-1.11 (95% CI -1.56 to -0.75) and -0.52 (95% CI -0.97 to -0.07), respectively, p = 0.037). There was no significant difference in improvements in AQLQ scores, lung function, PEF, BHR or exacerbation rates between the groups. Minor adverse events, including injection site pain and skin rashes, were more frequent with etanercept. There was a significant reduction in sputum macrophages and CRP, and increases in serum TNFalpha and albumin following treatment, but not in other laboratory parameters. CONCLUSION: Etanercept therapy over 12 weeks demonstrated only a small but significant improvement in asthma control and systemic inflammation, as measured by serum albumin and CRP. Larger randomised, placebo controlled trials are required to clarify the role of TNFalpha antagonism in subjects with severe refractory asthma.

Unified TeV scale picture of baryogenesis and dark matter.

We present a simple extension of the minimal supersymmetric standard model which provides a unified picture of cosmological baryon asymmetry and dark matter. Our model introduces a gauge singlet field N and a color triplet field X which couple to the right-handed quark fields. The out-of-equilibrium decay of the Majorana fermion N mediated by the exchange of the scalar field X generates adequate baryon asymmetry for MN approximately 100 GeV and MX approximately TeV. The scalar partner of N (denoted N1) is naturally the lightest SUSY particle as it has no gauge interactions and plays the role of dark matter. The model is experimentally testable in (i) neutron-antineutron oscillations with a transition time estimated to be around 10(10)sec, (ii) discovery of colored particles X at LHC with mass of order TeV, and (iii) direct dark matter detection with a predicted cross section in the observable range.

Postsphaleron baryogenesis.

We present a new mechanism for generating the baryon asymmetry of the Universe directly in the decay of a singlet scalar field S(r) with a weak scale mass and a high dimensional baryon number-violating coupling. Unlike most currently popular models, this mechanism, which becomes effective after the electroweak phase transition, does not rely on the sphalerons for inducing a nonzero baryon number. CP asymmetry in S(r) decay arises through loop diagrams involving the exchange of W+/- gauge bosons and is suppressed by light quark masses, leading naturally to a value of eta(B) approximately 10(-10). The simplest realization of this idea which uses a six quark DeltaB=2 operator predicts colored scalars accessible to the CERN Large Hadron Collider and neutron-antineutron oscillation within reach of the next-generation experiments.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNFalpha) as a novel therapeutic target in symptomatic corticosteroid dependent asthma.

BACKGROUND: Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is a major therapeutic target in a range of chronic inflammatory disorders characterised by a Th1 type immune response in which TNFalpha is generated in excess. By contrast, asthma is regarded as a Th2 type disorder, especially when associated with atopy. However, as asthma becomes more severe and chronic, it adopts additional characteristics including corticosteroid refractoriness and involvement of neutrophils suggestive of an altered inflammatory profile towards a Th1 type response, incriminating cytokines such as TNFalpha. METHODS: TNFalpha levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of 26 healthy controls, 42 subjects with mild asthma and 20 with severe asthma were measured by immunoassay, and TNFalpha gene expression was determined in endobronchial biopsy specimens from 14 patients with mild asthma and 14 with severe asthma. The cellular localisation of TNFalpha was assessed by immunohistochemistry. An open label uncontrolled clinical study was then undertaken in 17 subjects with severe asthma to evaluate the effect of 12 weeks of treatment with the soluble TNFalpha receptor-IgG1Fc fusion protein, etanercept. RESULTS: TNFalpha levels in BAL fluid, TNFalpha gene expression and TNFalpha immunoreative cells were increased in subjects with severe corticosteroid dependent asthma. Etanercept treatment was associated with improvement in asthma symptoms, lung function, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may be of clinical significance in identifying TNFalpha as a new therapeutic target in subjects with severe asthma. The effects of anti-TNF treatment now require confirmation in placebo controlled studies.

Inhaled synthetic surfactant abolishes the early allergen-induced response in asthma.

Allergen-induced inhibition of pulmonary surfactant in asthma may promote airway oedema and consequently potentiate the severity of the asthmatic response. A randomised, single-blind, cross-over study of an inhaled synthetic phospholipid dry-powder surfactant (Pumactant) was conducted in atopic, asthmatic subjects with previously documented early and late asthmatic responses (EAR and LAR) to an inhaled allergen. This was conducted to evaluate the role of exogenous surfactant administration on EAR and LAR. A total of seven subjects had complete evaluable data and received the full dose of Pumactant. Asthmatic subjects inhaled two separate doses of 400 mg Pumactant prior to an allergen exposure. The first dose was administered 8 h in advance and the second dose 30 min in advance. The dosage occurred through a purpose-built administration device. This was followed by a standard bronchial-provocation test, and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was measured at regular intervals over a 10-h period. Pumactant was well tolerated and, surprisingly, abolished the EAR but not the LAR in all seven subjects. The mean area under the curve between 0-2 h (EAR) following bronchial provocation test was 0.08 for the Pumactant treatment group (PT) and 13.29 for the no treatment (NT) group. The maximum drop in FEV1 for EAR was 4.19% and 23.98% in the PT and the NT group, respectively. The demonstration of inhibition of the early asthmatic response by exogenous surfactant, provides the first evidence that pulmonary surfactant dysfunction may also contribute to the very early asthmatic response to allergen. Exogenous surfactant administration could serve as a useful adjunct in controlling the early allergen-induced symptoms in patients with allergic asthma.