A Hybrid RSM-ANN-GA Approach on Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction Conditions for Bioactive Component-Rich (Bertoni) Leaves Extract.

(Bertoni) leaves consist of dietetically important diterpene steviol glycosides (SGs): stevioside (ST) and rebaudioside-A (Reb-A). ST and Reb-A are key sweetening compounds exhibiting a sweetening potential of 100 to 300 times more intense than that of table sucrose. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of SGs was optimized by effective process optimization techniques, such as response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) modeling coupled with genetic algorithm (GA) as a function of ethanol concentration (: 0-100%), sonication time (: 10-54 min), and leaf-solvent ratio (: 0.

Epidemiology of severe cases of influenza and other acute respiratory infections in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, July 2016 to June 2018.

Background: Influenza surveillance systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region have been strengthened in the past few years and 16 of the 19 countries in the Region with functional influenza surveillance systems report their influenza data to the EMFLU Network. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of circulating influenza viruses, causing SARI, and reported to the EMFLU during July 2016 to June 2018.

Methods: Data included in this study were collected by 15 countries of the Region from 110 SARI sentinel surveillance sites over two influenza seasons.