A Mini Literature Review of Probiotics: Transforming Gastrointestinal Health Through Evidence-Based Insights.

As our understanding of the intricate interaction between gut bacteria and human health continues to expand, so too has interest in the ability of probiotics to manage gut microbiota and confer multiple health benefits to the host. The mini literature review focuses on the expanding potential of the use of probiotics in GI health, with a focus on probiotics' potential therapeutic advantages in a variety of gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses. Probiotics play a significant role in managing diarrhea and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) by modulating gut microbial communities.

Microfluidic Device-Based Virus Detection and Quantification in Future Diagnostic Research: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The global economic and healthcare crises experienced over the past three years, as a result of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has significantly impacted the commonplace habits of humans around the world. SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) phenomenon, has contributed to the deaths of millions of people around the world. The potential diagnostic applications of microfluidic devices have previously been demonstrated to effectively detect and quasi-quantify several different well-known viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza, and SARS-CoV-2.

Review of instrumental texture measurements as phenotypic tool to assess textural diversity of root, tuber and banana food products.

Roots, tubers and bananas (RTBs) contribute immensely to food security and livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America. The adoption of RTB genotypes in these regions relies on the interplay among agronomic traits, ease of processing and consumer preference. In breeding RTBs, until recently little attention was accorded key textural traits preferred by consumers.

Numerical Modeling and Simulation of Non-Invasive Acupuncture Therapy Utilizing Near-Infrared Light-Emitting Diode.

Acupuncture is one of the most extensively used complementary and alternative medicine therapies worldwide. In this study, we explore the use of near-infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to provide acupuncture-like physical stimulus to the skin tissue, but in a completely non-invasive way. A computational modeling framework has been developed to investigate the light-tissue interaction within a three-dimensional multi-layer model of skin tissue.

Label-Free Cyanobacteria Quantification Using a Microflow Cytometry Platform for Early Warning Detection and Characterization of Hazardous Cyanobacteria Blooms.

The eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems caused by rapid human urbanization has led to an increased production of potentially hazardous bacterial populations, known as blooms. One of the most notorious forms of these aquatic blooms are cyanobacteria, which in sufficiently large quantities can pose a hazard to human health through ingestion or prolonged exposure. Currently, one of the greatest difficulties in regulating and monitoring these potential hazards is the early detection of cyanobacterial blooms, in real time.

Anticoagulation and bleeding in the cancer patient.

Cancer patients have an increased risk of bleeding compared to non-cancer patients with anticoagulant therapy. A bleeding risk assessment before initiation of anticoagulation is recommended. Currently low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are the mainstays of treatment for cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Integrated Microfluidic-Based Platforms for On-Site Detection and Quantification of Infectious Pathogens: Towards On-Site Medical Translation of SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostic Platforms.

The rapid detection and quantification of infectious pathogens is an essential component to the control of potentially lethal outbreaks among human populations worldwide. Several of these highly infectious pathogens, such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), have been cemented in human history as causing epidemics or pandemics due to their lethality and contagiousness. SARS-CoV-2 is an example of these highly infectious pathogens that have recently become one of the leading causes of globally reported deaths, creating one of the worst economic downturns and health crises in the last century.

Advancing undergraduate synthetic biology education: insights from a Canadian iGEM student perspective.

The last two decades have seen vigorous activity in synthetic biology research and the ever-increasing applications of these technologies. However, pedagogical research pertaining to teaching synthetic biology is scarce, especially when compared to other science and engineering disciplines. Within Canada, there are only three universities that offer synthetic biology programs, two of which are at the undergraduate level.

Identification of critical versus robust processing unit operations determining the physical and biochemical properties of cassava-based semolina (gari).

The gari-making process involves several unit operations (U.O.), some of which strongly influence the quality of the end product.

Role of dewatering and roasting parameters in the quality of handmade gari.

Gari is a common cassava precooked dried semolina in sub-Saharan Africa. Our study investigated the role of process parameters and mash water content on gari quality during traditional roasting stage. The statistical analysis for eight quality criteria revealed that gari quality is highly influenced by the process parameters adopted by the operators.

Correlation of cooking time with water absorption and changes in relative density during boiling of cassava roots.

Consumers prefer cassava roots that cook quickly during boiling. Current methods to evaluate cooking time (CT) are slow and labour-intensive. This article describes improved protocols for assessing CT in roots.

Sensory and physicochemical profiling of traditional and enriched gari in Benin.

Gari is a roasted fermented granular product made from cassava in many African countries. It is consumed raw, or added with water, or cooked into a paste. Up to now, gari enriched with palm oil and/or soybean is not available on Beninese markets.

Kinetic and Kinematic Analysis of Dogs Suffering from Hip Osteoarthritis and Healthy Dogs Across Different Physical Activities.

Objective:  The purpose of this study was to investigate mobility performance in dogs suffering from hip osteoarthritis secondary to hip dysplasia using kinesiology.

Materials And Methods:  Twenty dogs with a radiographical diagnosis of bilateral hip dysplasia and hip osteoarthritis and 20 healthy dogs were submitted to kinetic and kinematic analysis while climbing upstairs, walking down a slope, sitting down, standing up, and walking. Dogs were also scored by two blind examiners using a visual analog scale (VAS).

Tumor-on-a-chip platforms for assessing nanoparticle-based cancer therapy.

Cancer has become the most prevalent cause of deaths, placing a huge economic and healthcare burden worldwide. Nanoparticles (NPs), as a key component of nanomedicine, provide alternative options for promoting the efficacy of cancer therapy. Current conventional cancer models have limitations in predicting the effects of various cancer treatments.

Evolutionary analysis for the functional divergence of the Spo0A protein: the key sporulation control element.

Sporulation involves inducing scores of genes in a temporally and spatially coordinated cell development programme. Its initiation is controlled by an expanded two-component signal transduction system, termed a phosphorelay. The Spo0A response regulator is the master control element in the decision to sporulate, consisting of a receiver or phosphoacceptor domain and an effector or transcription activation domain having a high degree of sequence conservation.

Classifying glycerol dehydratase by its functional residues and purifying selection in its evolution.

Glycerol dehydratase (GD) catalyses glycerol reductive conversion to 3-hydroxypropanaldehyde (3-HPA), this being the first step required for the microbial conversion of glycerol to 1, 3 -propanodiol. GD has been functionally characterised to date and two main groups have been determined, one of them being vitamin B(12)-dependent and the other B(12)-independent. GD evolutionary history has been described and an exhaustive analysis made for detecting the functional residues responsible for type I divergence.

Evolutionary origin of the protozoan parasites histone-like proteins (HU).

The histone-like proteins (HU) belong to a family of DNA architectural proteins that stabilize nucleoprotein complexes. We found a putative HU protein (TgGlmHMM_3045) in Toxoplasma gondii genome that was homologous to the bacterial HU protein. This putative sequence was located in the scaffold TGG_995361 of the chromosome 10.

Molecular evolution of serine/arginine splicing factors family (SR) by positive selection.

The serine-rich (SR) protein family is involved in the pre-mRNA splicing process and the DNA sequences of the corresponding genes are highly conserved in the metazoan organisms. The mammalian SR proteins consist of one or two characteristic RNA binding domains (RBD), containing the signature sequences RDAEDA and SWQDLKD and a RS (arginine/serine-rich) domain. We used the amino acid and nucleotide sequences deposited in GenBank and Swiss-Prot databases to perform a phylogenetic analysis using bioinformatics tools.