The effect of varying extrusion conditions on the functional properties of hulless barley-mung bean (70:30) extruded snacks was investigated using response surface methodology with feed moisture (FM), barrel temperature (BT), and screw speed (SS) as process variables. Results revealed significant impacts on functional characteristics with varying extrusion conditions. Bulk density (BD) of extruded snacks ranged from 0.24 to 0.42 g/cm3, showing that lower FM and higher BT results in lower BD while it increased with increasing FM, SS, and BT. The expansion ratio (ER) of extruded snacks ranged between 2.03 and 2.33, showing BT and SS had a desirable positive effect, whereas increasing FM led to decreased ER. Increasing BT and SS depicted a negative effect on water absorption index, whereas FM showed positive effect, which ranged between 4.21 and 4.82 g/g. A positive effect on water solubility index was depicted by BT and SS, which ranges between 9.01% and 13.45%, as higher SS and BT led to starch degradation and increased solubility suggesting better digestibility. The hardness of extruded snacks ranged from 32.56 to 66.88 Newton (N), showing increasing FM increased hardness, whereas higher SS and BT resulted in lowering the hardness. Scanning electronic microscope (SEM) analysis revealed structural changes in extrudates in comparison with nonextruded flour, indicating starch gelatinization and pore formation affected by varying processing parameters. Shifts in absorption bands were observed in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), suggesting structural changes in starch and protein. Understanding the effects of extrusion parameters on product properties can help tailored production to meet consumers\' preferences and the development of functional snacks with improved nutritional quality.

Diapausing embryos encased within cladoceran ephippia result from sexual reproduction and increase genetic diversity. They are also important means by which species bypass harsh environmental conditions and disperse in space and time. Once released, ephippia usually sink to the benthos and remain there until hatching. Using the Sars\' method (incubating sediments to identify cladoceran hatchlings), ephippial egg bank biodiversity can be evaluated. Yet, even when samples are incubated under a variety of conditions, it is not possible to warrant that all have hatched. Few keys are available that facilitate the identification of cladocerans by using only ephippial morphology. Our goal was to analyze some cladoceran ephippia from Mexico, to develop a means to identify them using easily recognizable characteristics. Ephippia of 23 cladoceran species from waters in Aguascalientes (México) in 11 genera (Alona, Biapertura, Ceriodaphnia, Chydorus, Daphnia, Dunhevedia, Ilyocryptus, Macrothrix, Moina, Pleuroxus, and Simocephalus) were analyzed. In our analysis six morphological features were selected that permitted the identification of ephippia to species(-group) level. The results demonstrate that with a proper catalog of features, some ephippia can be identified.

Dried-bonito (Katsuobushi) exhibits a unique uniform \"glass-like\" texture after traditional smoke-drying. Herein, we developed a novel processing method for dried-bonito and elucidated the mechanism of transformation of loose muscle into a \"glass-like\" texture in terms of texture, microstructure, and protein properties. Our findings showed that the unfolding and aggregation of proteins after thermal induction was a key factor in shaping the \"glass-like\" texture in bonito muscle. During processing, myofibrils aggregated, the originally alternating thick and thin filaments contracted laterally and aligned into a straight line, and protein cross-linking increased. Secondary structural analysis revealed a reduction in unstable β-turn content from 26.28% to 15.06%. Additionally, an increase in the content of SS bonds was observed, and the conformation changed from g-g-t to a stable g-g-g conformation, enhanced protein conformational stability. Taken together, our findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanism of formation of the uniform \"glass-like\" texture in dried-bonito.

The study aimed to conduct in vitro biological assessments of hydantoin and thiohydantoin compounds against mature Schistosoma mansoni worms, evaluate their cytotoxic effects and predict their pharmacokinetic parameters using computational methods. The compounds showed low in vitro cytotoxicity and were not considered hemolytic. Antiparasitic activity against adult S. mansoni worms was tested with all compounds at concentrations ranging from 200 to 6.25μM. Compounds SC01, SC02, and SC03 exhibited low activity. Compounds SC04, SC05, SC06 and SC07 caused 100% mortality within 24h of incubation at a concentration of 100 and 200μM. Thiohydantoin SC04 exhibited the highest activity, resulting in 100% mortality after 24h of incubation at a concentration of 50μM and IC50 of 28µM. In the ultrastructural analysis (SEM), the compound SC04 (200µM) induced integumentary changes, formation of integumentary blisters, and destruction of tubercles and spicules. Therefore, the SC04 compound shows promise as an antiparasitic against S. mansoni.

In this work, the diversity of the genus Orbiniella in the Nordic Seas and the North Atlantic waters south of Iceland is studied based on the analyses of molecular markers (mitochondrial COI, 16S rDNA and nuclear ITS2) and morphological characters. Our results showed the presence of at least five genetic lineages in the studied material which could also be morphologically identified by their segmental annulation patterns, the number and the shape of acicular spines, and the length and the shape of pygidial lobes. The species name Orbiniellapetersenae is assigned to one of the lineages restricting its geographical and vertical distribution to the deep-sea areas north of Iceland and Jan Mayen, and three lineages are described as new species (i.e., Orbiniellagriegi Meca & Budaeva, sp. nov., Orbiniellamayhemi Meca & Budaeva, sp. nov., and Orbiniellaparapari Meca & Budaeva, sp. nov.) elevating the number of known species in the genus to 25. Three deep-sea species of Orbiniella in our study are reported only north of the Greenland-Iceland-Scotland Ridge, one deep-sea species found south of the ridge. A single shallow-water species is distributed along the ridge and on the Norwegian shelf.

This study was carried out to investigate the macroanatomical, morphometric, histological, and electron microscopic characteristics of the uropygial gland in adult male and female turkeys (Meleagris gallapovo).
This study was carried out to investigate the macroanatomical, morphometric, histological, and electron microscopic characteristics of the uropygial gland in adult male and female turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). The glandula uropygialis of 13 adult turkeys (6 males and 7 females) were used for this study. It was determined that this glandular structure located dorsal to the last caudal vertebrae was heart‐shaped and consisted of two lobes and a papilla system. As a result of statistical evaluation, significant differences were found between the sexes in the parameters of lobe length, papilla width and papilla height (p < .05). Also, papilla uropygialis index (PUI) value had a statistically significant difference (p < .05). Tissue samples taken to determine the histological structure of the gland were stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin, Crossman\'s triple, periodic acid Schiff (PAS), diastase, and orcein. Histological examination revealed that the gland had a two‐lobed structure surrounded by a capsule composed of connective tissue. It was determined that the gland had a tubular structure and the epithelial layer consisted of cellular layers as a germinative layer, intermediate layer, secretory layer, and degenerative layer from the periphery to center. In the scanning electron microscope examination, the lobe structure of the gland consisted of different shaped follicles protruding from the surface. It was observed that these glandular follicle structures were gathered together in different ways or mostly disorganized. As a result of the study, it was determined that the morphological and histological structure of the uropygial gland in turkeys was similar to that of other bird species, but showed some species‐specific and habitat‐dependent differences in general. Arıcan RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The uropygial gland consisted of a system of two lobes and one papilla in each of male and female turkeys. The glandular lobes consisted of follicles surrounded by connective tissue, while the follicles were connected to each other by interfollicular septae. The results obtained in morphometric measurements revealed statistical differences between male and female birds. Histological examination showed periodic acid Schiff (PAS) (+) reaction in the basal membranes of tubule epithelial cells and secretion. Lymphoid cell communities were found in both connective tissue and intertubular regions. The fact that the reaction was not glycogen‐induced was determined by the observation of PAS positivity as a result of staining with the PAS‐diastase technique.

This research tries to investigate the dynamic link between higher education institution (HEIs) transformational leaders (TFL) and follower\'s outcome innovative work behavior (IWB) and Task Performance) through Knowledge sharing (KNS) in Pakistan. Using quantitative design an adopted construct was used to obtain response from HEIs leaders and employees behavior. The obtained information was analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM) technique via Smart PLS. Results depict that direct link between University Transformational leadership and employees Innovative work behavior as well as Task Performance. The results further postulate that KNS mediate the relationship between Transformational leadership and employees TSP in the context of HEIs. Surprisingly, KNS could not evident to become a mediating variable to strengthen the relationship between transformational Leadership and employees IWB in the HEIs sector of Pakistan. In addition to enhancing the theoretical comprehension of higher education leadership, the outcomes of this article provide that promoting knowledge sharing culture is valuable asset for both existing and future HEIs leaders in order to promote the culture of innovation and creativity. Although recent studies investigate the role of KNS as a mediator, however the current study use KNS as contemporaneous intervening variable for IWB and Task Performance for the first time. The study also confirms theoretical underpinning of social exchange mechanism in strengthening the relationship between leader member\'s continuum.

The article presents the results of the characterization of the geometric structure of the surface of unalloyed structural steel and alloyed (martensitic) steel subjected to chemical processing. Prior to phosphating, the samples were heat-treated. Both the surfaces and the cross-sections of the samples were investigated. Detailed studies were made using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), XRD, metallographic microscopy, chemical composition analysis and fractal analysis. The characteristics of the surface geometry involved such parameters as circularity, roundness, solidity, Feret\'s diameter, watershed diameter, fractal dimensions and corner frequencies, which were calculated by numerical processing of SEM images.

This study investigates the influence of the sample inherent temperature on the line-scan profile for a silicon trapezoid line with different sidewall angles by Monte-Carlo simulation. This study demonstrates that the profile varies with temperature, particularly focusing on the \'shoulder\', which becomes more pronounced with larger sidewall angles. The contrast of the secondary electron profile increases at low primary electron energy but decreases at relatively high PE energy as the temperature rises. The trend of the backscattering electron profile is similar but less noticeable. The underlying mechanism is discussed in detail. This study has potential to provide valuable insights into thermometry in nanostructures using SEMs.

Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), six Salsola species from Iran were examined for their epidermis, seed, and fruit micromorphology. Among them were S. brachiata from section Heterotricha, S dendroides, S. incanescens, and S. orientalis from section Caroxylon, S. kali from section Kali, and S. turcomanica from section Physurus. Epidermal cells are divided into three types. There were diamond, irregular, and polygonal cells, as well as straight and undulated walls. Studied species of Salsola have smooth or sculptured fruit surfaces, and there are three main types of fruit surface ornamentation. There is a significant difference between these species based on the type of hair and density of the fruit. Seed shape and color have little systematic significance. The seed epidermis is composed of polygonal, elongated polygonal, irregular, and diamond cells. Although polygonal and irregular testa cells are most common, their size and shape can provide additional information and useful diagnostic characteristics at both specific and infraspecific levels. For taxonomic separation, the current study provides novel insights at micromorphological levels. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: This article reports halophyte are shown as models for adaptation to extreme habitats. These plants are placed among the ecological communities of xerophytes. Here, for the first time, the microstructural analysis of Salsola has been investigated. Additionally, it provides new insights into plant species\' response to extreme conditions, as well as possible adaptation strategies at the micromorphological level.