Cardiac index is a criterion associated with cardiac output that measures the volume of blood pumped over time to the animal’s body surface area. Cardiac index is considered the reference standard parameter for targeting organ perfusion and oxygen delivery in shock.

For this purpose, ten mixed-breed male dogs ranging in age from 1.5 to 3.5 years were selected and after determination of body surface area, cardiac output was measured by Doppler echocardiography in eight stages. After induction of anesthesia and recording of vital signs, cardiac index evaluation was performed in control stage. Hypovolemic shock was induced by blood withdrawal to a mean arterial pressure of 40 to 50 mmHg within 30 minutes and then maintained for additional 30 minutes under hypovolemic condition. The dogs were then randomly divided into two equal groups, each group was resuscitated with Ringer's lactate solution (20 ml/kg) or 6% hydroxyethyl starch (5 ml/kg) over four 15-min intervals.

Hypovolemic shock caused significantly decrease in cardiac index (2.3±0.1) compared to control stage (4.8±0.6) (p < 0.05). Following resuscitation, cardiac index increased and returned to pre-shock values in both groups.

According to the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that echocardiographic evaluation of cardiac index is an easy, affordable and reliable method to diagnose hypovolemia and monitor patients' response to fluid therapy.Conflict of interest: None declared.

The present study aimed at producing bio-based superabsorbents with minimum use of polymeric materials and crosslinkers. Thus, nano-zeolites were used as high potential minerals for development of an environmentally friendly, durable, accessible, absorbent and cost-effective organic nano-hybrid composite in low amounts of crosslinkers and polymeric materials as an alternative for synthetic hydrogels. In the experimental stages, the modified heat-treated carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) powder developed in the previous research as well as the unmodified powder (control sample) were individually dispersed in distilled water and then a 3:1 ratio of nano-zeolite and hydroxyethyl cellulose together with citric acid as a crosslinker were added. The solution was then cast in a petri dish. The prepared samples were then measured and evaluated using centrifuge, absorption under load, deformation and swelling time tests. The results showed that the combination of nano-zeolite with heat-treated CMC increased absorption capacity both free and under load, fine toughness and higher absorption rate of hydrogel. In addition, thermal modification successfully decreased the need for crosslinking so that nanocomposite hydrogels had considerable mechanical hardness. Besides, this combination of hydrogels demonstrated the highest amount of absorption in centrifuge and AUL tests with the most desirable results in the swelling time. Also, the addition of nano-zeolite increased the water absorption in samples in the absence of hydroxyethyl cellulose, however, in presence of hydroxyethyl cellulose, two properties of absorption rate and toughness showed higher values.

Germination and initial growth of small seeds in field conditions can be challenging and require extra care and attention. Covering these small seeds with moisture-absorbing materials can help overcome these difficulties. Moreover, combining materials that enhance seed germination and growth with absorbents can further improve growth and production. This study aims to investigate the effects of coating German chamomile seeds with various moisture absorbents, including a control group, super absorbent A200, polyacrylate hydrogel, and hydroxyethyl cellulose absorbent. These were reinforced with different treatments: no application, treatment with hormones, treatment with nutrients, and treatment with both nutrients and plant hormones. The study assessed the percentage of green field, growth, flower production, and essential oil content. The experiment was conducted in three replications using a randomized complete block design. Results indicated that moisture absorbents positively affected all measured traits. The highest dry weight of shoots, number of flowers, and percentage of green field were observed with the polyacrylate hydrogel treatment. Conversely, the highest essential oil percentage was noted in the hydroxyethyl cellulose absorbent treatment. All types of moisture absorbers significantly and similarly increased chlorophyll content, flower diameter, and dry weight of flowers. However, the combination of plant hormones and nutrients had a more pronounced effect on all traits compared to the use of either treatment alone. Specifically, the moisture absorbent treatment combined with nutrients and plant hormones increased flower production— the medicinal and economically valuable part of chamomile— by 43%. In conclusion, due to the medicinal significance of chamomile essential oil, it is advisable to combine nutrients and plant hormones with each of the moisture absorbents (super absorbent A200, polyacrylate hydrogel, and hydroxyethyl cellulose) for optimal growth and production.

One of the most effective methods to reduce environmental pollutions caused by the accumulation of plastic materials is production andapplication of biodegradable films for food packaging. In this research, biodegradable composite films based on starch including starch-Olibanum, starch-Zein and starch-PVA were produced and all their physical, mechanical and color properties compared to starch film as control. According to the results, incorporating Olibanum, Zein and PVA into starch reduced solubility of the films in water, so that thesolubility of starch-Olibanum, starch-Zein and starch-PVA composite were determined as 35.8%, 32.8% and 47.5%, respectively in compare with 78.2% for starch film. Addition PVA to starch films caused significant increase in tensile strength (TS) of composite film. The elongation (% E) of composites film was significantly increased in compare to starch film, and starch-PVA samples showed higher elongation than others.The lowest L *, a*, b* and ΔE were seen in starch-PVA film, so it was the most transparent films among all composite. These results suggest that to overcome two major limitations of starch films include poor mechanical properties and high water solubility, Zein and PVA are suitable options to blend with starch and produce composite films.

Salad dressing is a semisolid emulsion and a colloidal system with high consumer demand. Food polysaccharides (e.g starch) are used in the formulation of salad dressing to improve its physical properties and sensory attributes. In this research, 10% mixture of wheat or maize starches were used to produce pregelatinized starches by a double drum drier, followed by milling and sieving. The pregelatinized starches (10%) were applied in the formulation of a salad dressing instead of native starch. Viscosity (at 25 and 35◦C), Hunter color parameters of the samples were evaluated and compared. Pregelatinized starches were more effective in increasing viscosity of the samples compared to corresponding native starches, and the effect of maize starch was greater than wheat starch. Significant differences were recorded in terms of color parameters of the samples. Pregelatinized starch caused higher L values (lighter samples) while the native starch samples were creamy-light yellow. In general, it can be concluded that the pregelatinized starches had better functional properties in salad dressing compared to native starches, and the produced pregelatinized starches can be used instead of native starch in the formulation of salad dressing.

Sizing is generally the use of hydrophobic materials to modify the constituent behavior to improve the physical and mechanical properties of the paper. Starch is one of the most important materials used for this purpose because of its cheapness and biodegradability. In this study, it is investigated methods of starch modification in chemical, physical and enzymatic ways, depending on its application. Then, it is stated chemical, physical and enzymatic modification of starch for paper sizing. Finally, it is stated enzymatic modification of starch with α-amylase for paper making, the advantages and limitations of enzymatic starch with α-amylase as compared to cationic starch as the most consumed type of starch for paper sizing. In general, it is preferred paper surface sizing with enzymatic starch over other types due to use of native starch at the site of consumption, lower prices of native starch and consumed α-amylase, no formation of halogenated organic compounds (AOX) which is in oxidized starch preparation and no need to use lateral chemicals to modified and consumption, the use of enzymatic starch for paper surface sizing in developments countries. Therefore, it is advised to paper industries and researchers in the country to investigate these modifications.

A study has been made of the compaction properties of two experimental starches, namely yam starch obtained from Dioscorea rotundata and rice starch obtained from Oryza sativa and the mechanical properties of their tablets, in comparison with those of official corn starch. The influences of the physical and geometric properties of the starch particles on the compression properties of the starches were determined. Further analysis of the compaction properties was done using density measurements, and the Heckel and Kawakita equations. The mean particle diameter and the shape factor of the starches were directly related to the loose initial density (Do) and rearrangement at low pressures (DA) characteristics of the starches, but inversely related to the rearrangement of the particles in the early stages of compression (DB). The packed initial relative density (DI) was also directly related to the particle diameter and shape factor. The three starches deform mainly by plastic flow. The values of the mean yield pressures, which are inversely related to the onset of plastic deformation in the starches were in the rank order rice>corn>yam. Another pressure term, inversely related to the amount of plastic deformation during compression, was in the rank order yam>corn>rice. The ranking of the values of both the tensile strength and brittle fracture index of tablets made from the starches was rice>corn>yam, indicating that rice starch tablets exhibited the highest bond strength and brittleness while yam starch exhibited the lowest values. The compaction properties of the experimental starches as characterized compared well with those of official corn starch. The results obtained showed that in tablet formulations, yam starch would be more useful in minimizing the problems of lamination and capping while rice starch would be more useful when high bond strength of the tablet is desired. Thus, yam and rice starches could be useful in formulations to produce tablets with desired mechanical properties for particular purposes.

Resistant starch (RS) is part of starch, which remains unchanged and not digested after 120 minutes of incubation against digestive enzymes such as α-amylase. Among the various types of resistant starch, resistant starch type 3 has been given more attention due to its thermal stability during the heat treatment process of foods. In order to produce resistant starch type 3, the granular structure of starch should be destroyed by heating in the presence of sufficient water, followed by amylose chains re-association upon cooling. Autoclaving of starch-based products leads to retrogradation and, as a result, increases the amount of resistant starch. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various autoclaving temperatures (108, 121 and 134°C) and autoclave-cooling cycles (1 to 3 cycles) on the formation of resistant starch and its physicochemical and functional properties. The results showed that with increasing the autoclaving temperature as well as temperature cycles, the amount of resistant starch formation increased. The solubility of produced resistant starch was significantly higher than natural corn starch, while it did not change in term of apparent amylose. Also, the autoclaving-retrogradation process led to changes in starch crystalline type from A to B and V, and the degree of starch crystallinity also increased. Scanning electron micrographs showed significant changes in starch granules and formation of a sponge like texture which was due to the autoclaving process. Also, all textural properties (hardness, cohesiveness, springiness and gumminess) of resistant starch were reduced compared to natural corn starch.

Hydroxypropyl starch was synthesized by modified sago starch with hydroxypropylation reaction. Hydroxypropyl starch nanoparticles with mean particle sizes of 110 nm are obtained by controlled precipitation through the drop-wise addition of dissolved hydroxypropyl starch solution into excess absolute ethanol. Piperine was loaded onto hydroxypropyl starch nanoparticles and native starch nanoparticles via the in-situ nanoprecipitation process. Hydroxypropyl starch nanoparticles exhibited higher piperine loading capacity as compared to native starch nanoparticles with the maximum loading capacity of 0.46 and 0.33 mg.mg-1, respectively. Piperine was release from hydroxypropyl starch nanoparticles in a slow and sustained manner at pH 1.2 over the period of 24 hours. Whereas piperine was completely released from native starch nanoparticles within 16 hours.

Edible films and coatings are thin layers of biopolymers which have been used as food coatings. Due to numerous disadvantages of synthetic packaging materials including migration, environmental pollution and recycling problems, starch-based films were used because of abundance and low cost of starch. However, regarding weak mechanical properties of starch, gelatin was used for improving the properties of starch film. In this study, edible films were made using potato starch, wheat starch, and gelatin at 4:1, 1:4, and 1:1 levels and then their physical properties (thickness, elasticity resistance, and elongation), solubility in acid and water, water vapor permeability, transparency, color as well as morphological properties were measured. The results showed that as the gelatin content increased, acid solubility, elasticity resistance, elongation, water vapor permeability, and transparency of film samples significantly increased (p≤0.05) and increasing in starch content led to increased turbidity, elongation, and acid- and water-solubility. Wheat starch-based films showed higher thickness and less elongation than potato starch-based films while potato starch-based films had better elasticity and barrier properties