QUALITY OF LIFE (BANJA LUKA) - APEIRON

Optimization of Oil Extraction Process from White Mustard Seeds Using Response Surface Methodology

Martin Stojchevski — 2024-02-21

In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was used for the determination of the effect of two process parameters (extraction temperature and extraction time) and their interaction on the yield of the total extract from white mustard seeds (Sinapis alba l.), as well as the creation of a mathematical model, 3D response surface, and the establishment of an optimal extraction region. Ethanol 96% as a green solvent was employed to separate biological compounds from white mustard (Sinapis alba l.) seeds by applying ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). UAE was performed at the temperature of 25, 30, and 35℃ for a duration of 30, 60, and 90 min. UAE as a modern extraction technique showed great performance, while the ethanol solvent provided a high yield of compounds. The utilized RSM design adequately fit the experimental data with a high coefficient of determination (R2=0.9365) and low mean absolute error (MAE=1.12242). Estimated effects for the yield of the total extract showed that the extraction time, the temperature, and the interaction between time and temperature influenced positively, while the time-squared and the temperature-squared influenced negativity on the yield of the total extract. Analysis of variance showed that 2 effects have P-values less than 0.05. The optimal yield of the total extracted oil was 15.19% at the temperature of 35℃ for a duration of 70.3 min.

Indoor Air Quality Monitoring in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Francis Olawale Abulude — 2024-02-21

Using the Canāree A1, a low-cost monitoring device made by Piera System, Canada, variations in Particle Count (PC) and Particulate Matter were observed in a building residence of five rooms in Akure, Nigeria (two living rooms, two bedrooms, and one kitchen) in both January and February 2022. The average PM2.5 and PM10 levels in all rooms were above the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for 2021, which were: PM2.5 - Annual (5 µg/m3), 24 h (15 µg/m3), and PM10 - Annual (15 µg/m3), 24 h (45 µg/m3). Rooms A (the first sitting room) and C (the kitchen) were found to have greater PC and PM values than the other rooms. Room A had the greatest PC1.0 level, however, PC5.0 was also discovered to be high. Based on the volume of activities, PM10, PM5.0, and PM2.5 were the main air pollutants in Akure. These results indicate considerable effects from both indoor and outdoor activity, two key sources. During the duration of the study, certain residents of the building frequently complained of having a cough, a running nose, and other ailments. These results indicate considerable impacts from both indoor as well as outdoor activities. During the duration of the study, certain residents of the residence often reported having a cough, a running nose, and other ailments.

Modeling of Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Lycopene from Tomato Peels

Stefan Kuvendziev — 2024-02-21

Dry tomato peels were investigated as a natural source of lycopene in this study. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was used for the isolation of bioactive compound of interest. The MAE was performed at a microwave power of 120, 230, and 385 W for a duration of 2, 5, 8, and 10 min. The concentration of lycopene in the separated extract with n-hexane was quantified by UV/Vis spectrophotometer. The absorbance at 501 nm was selected for the determination of lycopene content and the calculation of lycopene yield (mg/100 g). An adequate feedforward artificial neural network (ANN) model with architecture 2-10-1, trained by the Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) backpropagation algorithm was developed for modeling the MAE process and for the prediction of the lycopene yield. The model predicted lycopene yield with a high coefficient of determination R2=0.9957 and low mean squared error MSE=0.475. The response surface methodology (RSM) was successfully applied and combined with the ANN model to optimize the MAE process with R2=0.9477 and a low mean absolute error MAE=1.84507. The analysis of variance showed that extraction time and time-squared have statistically significant effects on the lycopene yield. The created 3D response surface showed that the optimum lycopene yield was 27.25 mg/100g of tomato peels at the microwave power of 324 W and extraction time of 8.6 min.

The Influence of Physical Activity on Body Mass Index Values in Adolescents

Radojka Bijelić — 2024-02-21

Physical activity as an important factor of proper growth and development today, under the influence of modern technologies, is causing a decline in the interest of young people, which results in an increase in BMI and the development of obesity. The goal. The aim of the work was to examine the influence of physical activity on BMI values in adolescents. Methods. The respondents were students from the first to the third grade of the Bihać secondary medical school, of both sexes. The time of data collection is November 2022. There were a total of 120 respondents. They were divided into two groups, working and control, with 60 students each. The working group consisted of students who did not engage in any physical activity, while the control group consisted of students who engaged in physical activity 1x-3x a week. Results. The mean value of BMI in the working group of students was 29.14 kg/m² compared to the mean value of BMI of the control group, 21.75 kg/m² (p= 0.044). BMI values among students from the first to the third grade of the working group were equal, without statistical significance (p= 2.785). In the control group, the BMI values were also equal, but lower compared to the BMI values of the working group. According to gender, the boys of the working group had a mean BMI of 29.26 kg/m², compared to the boys of the control group, BMI of 21.71 kg/m² (p= 0.000). The same is true for girls, the mean BMI of the working group was 29.08 kg/m², while the BMI of the control group was 21.70 kg/m² (p=0.000). Conclusion. The absence of physical activity has a significant effect on the increase of BMI in adolescents and is a risk factor for obesity. The promotion of healthy lifestyle habits, proper nutrition and physical activity should be key features of the lives of children and adolescents.

Influence of Modified Diet and Low Grade Physical Activity on Serum Lipids in Patients With Type IIa and IIb dyslipoproteinaemia

Jasmina Krehić — 2024-02-21

Dyslipoproteinaemia, a common name for different types of serum lipid disorders, plays one of the crucial roles in the etiology of atherosclerosis. Complications of atherosclerosis, primarily coronary heart disease (CHD), in early life lead to significant disability and are the worldwide leading cause of death. Treatment of dyslipoproteinaemia, as a separate disease, is carried out as a part of the treatment of CHD, and includes non-pharmacological and pharmacological measures. Recognizing an underestimated value and role of dietary modifications in everyday life of patients with hypercholesterolaemia, we decided to actualize our investigation from 2000, as we witness that lipid lowering drugs are prescribed almost as soon as elevated serum lipid levels are detected. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of a hypolipemic diet and low grade physical activity on serum lipid/lipoprotein levels in twenty patients with primary dyslipoproteinemia Type IIa and IIb, according to Fredrickson classification. All patients with Type IIa and IIb dyslipoproteinaemias were subjected to a hypolipemic diet that is a modification of Step I, Step II (NCEP) and the Mediterranean diet for a period of four weeks. The minimum physical activity involved a daily light walk lasting at least 1 hour. Complete lipid status has been done before and after the period of four weeks. The positive effects of our modified diet were shown as a decrease of all proatherogenic lipid/lipoprotein serum concentrations, except for β-lipoprotein. Serum concentrations of antiatherogenic α-lipoprotein increased.

Therapeutic Options for the Treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia Caused by Streptococcus Pneumoniae

Jasmina Krehić — 2024-02-21

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of community acquired pneumonia, acute otitis media, meningitis and other infections, asymptomatic colonizing nasopharynx of healthy children and adults. Since late 1970s there has been a steady decline in the susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae to various groups of antibiotics.The number of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal infections has decreased due to the success of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. In addition to vaccination, guidelines for treatment of pneumococcal disease are developed by various professional and scientific associations, intending to slow or reverse drug-resistant pneumococcal infections. The aim of this work is to provide a generated information about therapeutic options for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, based on the recommendations and statements from various guidelines developed by different proffesional and scientific associations but limited on drugs available on the market in Bosnia and Herzegovina.