Starch modification by chemical reaction is widely used to improve the properties of native starch. Modified by citric acid, starch is characterized by specific properties resulting from the presence of citrate residues and as a result of cross-linking starch. The chemicals used for preparing starch citrates are safe for human health and the natural environment compared to the harsh chemicals used for conventional modifications. Starch citrates are traditionally produced by heating starch–citric acid mixtures in semi-dry conditions or by a heat moisture treatment. The conditions of the modification process  and the botanic source or genotype of starch determine the degree of substitution and the properties of the obtained preparations. Changes of starch properties occurring during esterification lead to reduced relative crystallinity, resulting in a decrease in the affinity for water, the gelatinization parameters, and the viscosity of starch citrate. However, one of the most important outcome of the modification is the formation of resistant starch (RS), which has increased resistance to the action of amylolytic enzymes. Currently, new methods for producing starch citrates with improved functional and rheological properties while maintaining the highest possible content of resistant starch are being sought. The article presents an overview of recent studies on the production, properties. And applicability of starch citrates with special attention paid to their role as preparations of resistant starch (RS). The use of citric acid for modification of starch is better for the technology process, while using cross-linking is better than simply using esterification. Starch is one of the most ubiquitous storage substances in nature. In its native form, starch has limited applications due to properties that are not always desirable for certain types of processing. Examples of these shortcomings include its inability to withstand the high temperature, pressure, and some strong chemical reagents use in most industrial food and pharmaceutical processes. Starch modification, which implies the alteration of the physical and chemical characteristics of native starch, is used to improve its properties. The chemical modification of starch is directly related to the reactions of the hydroxyl groups of the starch polymer. Almost all glucose residues in starch chains possess three free-hydroxyl groups capable of oxidation, etherification, and esterification. Starch modification through esterification involves starch chain reactions with inorganic and organic acids, salts of inorganic acids, and anhydrides or chlorides of organic acids. A commonly used modified starch in the food industry is acetylated distarch adipate, obtained by the esterification of starch with adipic acid and acetic anhydride . This pr6H8O7) itself is recognized as a safe food additive (GRAS) and is used widely in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries [Recently, scientists have focused a lot of attention on the preparation and testing of the properties of starch modified with citric acid. Citric acid . Furthermore, the specification, variant methods, and changes in the variety, properties, and processing of starch citrate are summarized in this article.In recent studies, processes of esterification/crosslinking with citric acid have been conducted with various starch types, including both these produced on the large industrial scale, i.e., “normal” and waxy maize starch ,34,35,36The process of starch esterification has been performed with various methods, which affected the degree of substitution and properties of the modified preparations . The mosThis method has been modified by many researchers and these modifications concerned the use of various citric acid to starch ratios (from 1 g to 60 g of citric acid per 100 g of starch) and performing this reaction at various pH values (3.5–5.5), roasting temperatures (110–140 °C), and roasting times (1–5 h).Different conditions producrf modified preparations with a substitution degree ranging from 0.01 to 0.42, which was found to depend on the type of starch material and its earlier modifications ,41,42,43“Dried” esterification was carried out not only in roasters but also in extruders. A study conducted by indicates that the molar substitution degree of the starch citrates obtained in the process of reactive extrusion ranges from 0.01 to 0.03 depending on the amount of citric acid, the temperature of extrusion, and the number of passages. The effect of the amount of citric acid added to extruded starch on the substitution degree of the modified preparation was also observed in the work by Ye et al. . The degAnother procedure of “dry” esterification was described by Kim and Min . The reaStarch esterification and crosslinking may also be induced by exposing the reaction mixture to ultraviolet irradiation and applying sodium benzoate as a photosensitizer. This method was used for film production from thermoplastic starch .The method of “dry” esterification of the starch through its roasting with citric acid was also used to produce many modified preparations of starch intended not for the food industry but for pharmaceutical or technical purposes. Preparations of this type included crosslinked starch nanocrystals potentially used as drug delivery vehicles and reinforcements for nanocomposites with a hydrophobic polymer matrix , crossliApart from the above-discussed “dry” esterification method described in a few works ,50,52,53Hernandez-Jaimes et al. demonstrated the feasibility of producing starch citrates in the aqueous medium with the electrochemical method using a triangular-shaped potential cycle, with substitution degree of the obtained preparations ranging from 0.02 to 0.12 depending on the number of cycles . The estHeating a water suspension of starch, glycerol, and citric acid to the temperature of 75 °C and 85 °C was used to produce biodegradable and not-retrogradable eco films . AuthorsThe esterification and crosslinking of starch with citric acid causes significant changes in its properties, e.g., in its granule morphology, in its rheological and thermal properties, in its susceptibility to retrogradation and syneresis, in its solubility and swelling power, and in its susceptibility to the action of amylolytic enzymes . All of The changes observed on the surface of the esterified starch granules included corrosion and fissures. These changes were noticeable in modified preparations produced with the “wet” method ,53,54, tIndependently of the changes observed on the surface of granule, internal changes were also observed in the starch structure. No changes in the crystallinity pattern were observed, but changes in the relative crystallinity were observed in the citric acid esterified starch preparations. A decrease in the relative crystallinity was observed in starches of diverse origin . The chaEsterification with citric acid influenced the affinity of modified preparations to water. The swelling power of citrates was mostly lower than that of the native starch from various sources  32,42,5,54,58,60Esterification/crosslinking with citric acid also affected the swelling power and the solubility of starch nanoparticles, the barrier properties (water vapor permeability and moisture absorption) of starch films and starch foams , and theThermal properties of starch esterified with citric acid differed from those of native starch obtained from various botanic sources . SeveralThe conditions of the esterification process with citric acid influenced rheological properties of the modified preparations. The majority of research demonstrated a significant decrease in the viscosity of pastes ,51,53,54The changes in pasting temperature caused by the esterification process varied in comparison of the native starch. Investigations conducted by Kim et al. and Falade and Ayetigbo ,51 showeRecent research reported on changes in other properties of starch esterified with citric acid, including foam capacity and foam stability , starch Most of the obtained citrates are characterized by reduced solubility and swelling power and lower viscosity and thermal characteristic compared to the native starch . StarcheNevertheless, significant influence on functional and thermal properties of starch that occur during esterification with citric acid were caused by changes in the structure of the molecule caused both by the degradation of the glucose chains and the formation of new bonds. Singh et al. demonstrated that the solubility and swelling power of starch is inhibited by cross-linking between starch chains and reactive agents . StarcheOne of the key properties of starch esterified/crosslinked with citric acid is its increased resistance to the action of amylolytic enzymes, i.e., the formation of resistant starch (RS) being a fraction of dietary fiber. This property of starch has been already mentioned in the 1970s in the first studies on starch citrates .Ruminococcus bromii, bifidobacteria, and lactobacilli) while inhibit the growth of opportunistic or pathogenic microorganisms  [The appropriate intake of the soluble and insoluble dietary fiber ensures multiple health benefits both in the prophylaxis and treatment of many diseases ,70,71,72rnidium) ,73,74.Fermentation of dietary fiber leads to the formation of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), i.e., butyric acid, propionic acid, valeric acid, isovaleric acid, and hexanoic acid ,75. A hiAccording to the WHO/FAO, a daily demand of an adult man of dietary fiber is 25 g at minimum , whereasAccording to recent research, resistant starch content in starch citrates produced with various methods and from different raw materials ranged from a few percent up to 100%. Its content was determined with the method developed by Englyst et al.  and withThe content of resistant starch in particular preparations depended on multiple factors including the raw material and the conditions of the reaction, such as temperature, pH, reagent dose, and the interactions between them.Remya et al.  concludeThe susceptibility of modified starch preparations to the action of enzymes is significantly affected by the conditions of the esterification reaction, e.g., reagent dose, pH, and roasting temperature and time.Literature data published so far ,45,46,88The increased content of resistant starch in the preparation along with an increased dose of citric acid used in the esterification reaction was also demonstrated in many studies ,42,47,58The formation of starch fraction resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis results from both esterification/crosslinking with citric acid and from other modifications of starch under the influence of high temperature and the reaction medium. This thesis is corroborated through results presented in many studies ,42,48,58The feasibility of adding starch citrate preparations to food products has already been investigated in the 1990s. Wepner et al.  demonstrRecent investigations have also addressed the effect of the addition of starch citrates as resistant starch preparation on the quality of products ,32,60.In turn, Hedagati and Niakousari  demonstrIt is also feasible to enrich dairy beverages with dietary fiber through the addition of cassava starch citrate. Beverages containing 0.5% of this preparation did not differ in their organoleptic properties from “standard” beverages, whereas these with 1.5% addition of the citrate were acceptable by consumers even though their organoleptic traits were modified .Punia et al.  determinCurrently, research is being carried out to improve the properties of starch citrates to make them more stable in the technological processes that accompany food production. Kim et al.  developeIt may be concluded that the work on starch citrate esters represent a topical and meaningful direction of investigations on modified starch preparations. The possibility of modifying starch preparations by esterification/cross-linking with citric acid allows for the production of modified starch, which can be used in the pharmaceutical, packaging, or food industries. Especially significant may be investigations of resistant starch produced via esterification with citric acid because this method produces preparations exhibiting significant resistance and, simultaneously, good functional properties, which are potentially applicable as health-promoting additives that increase the dietary fiber content of food products.


Improved recognition of factors influencing graft survival has led to better short-term kidney transplant outcomes. However, efforts to prevent long-term graft decline and improve graft survival have seen more modest improvements. The adoption of electronic health records has enabled better recording and identification of donor-recipient factors through the use of modern statistical techniques. We have previously shown in a prevalent renal transplant population that episodes of rapid deterioration are associated with graft loss.2 per year in any 1-month period) was calculated. Graft loss and mortality data was collected over a median follow-up period of 8 years. Factors associated with having an episode of rapid deterioration and associations with long-term graft loss were explored.Estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) between 3 and 27 months after transplantation were collected from 310 kidney transplant recipients. We utilised a Bayesian approach to estimate the most likely eGFR trajectory as a smooth curve from an average of 10,000 Monte Carlo samples. The probability of having an episode of rapid deterioration . In separate multivariable logistic regression models, cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus donor positive to recipient positive , CMV donor positive , and CMV recipient positive  were associated with having a greater than 0.8 probability of an episode of rapid deterioration.Early episodes of rapid deterioration are associated with long-term death-censored graft loss and are associated with cytomegalovirus seropositivity. Further study is required to better manage these potentially modifiable risks factors and improve long-term graft survival.The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12882-021-02285-2. Kidney transplant recipients rank transplant survival the most important outcome [The last three decades have seen a remarkable improvement in renal transplant survival, a product of technological advances in surgical technique and medical care. In particular, the availability of novel and potent immunosuppressive drugs has been paralleled by strategies to reduce immunosuppression-related toxicity and opportunistic infections . In addi outcome . Althoug outcome , 5. The  outcome . However outcome .The increasing adoption of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems in recent years  has resuAlthough there has been an increased interest in examining renal function trajectories in CKD , 14, theInvestigate the probability of episodes of rapid deterioration of renal function in an early period (3–27 months) post-transplantation in an unselected, incident population of kidney allograft recipients.Evaluate baseline factors associated with an episode of rapid deterioration of eGFR during the early (3–27 months) period post-transplantation.Probe whether episodes of rapid deterioration of renal function during the early (3–27 months) period post-transplantation are associated with subsequent graft loss in an extended follow-up period.The purpose of this study was threefold:We used a comprehensive database, created by data linkage between a number of EHR, of all adult patients aged 18 or over with ESRD who received a kidney-only transplant at our centre between 21st January 2007 and 31st December 2013. Data for every study participant were extracted from the Department of Health Informatics database, with manual record linkage to additional EHR: graft survival was acquired from the UK Transplant Registry held by NHS Blood and Transplant; patient survival data were obtained from the Office for National Statistics. Patients were included if they remained under our follow-up and were not repatriated to their original referring hospital post-transplantation, and were alive with a working graft 27 months after transplantation. Patients with missing donor and/or recipient CMV data were excluded. Patients were classified based on CMV serostatus: donor and recipient seronegative (D−/R−), donor seronegative and recipient seropositive (D−/R+), donor seropositive and recipient seronegative (D+/R−), and donor and recipient seropositive (D+/R+). Survival analysis was censored to event or 31st November 2018, whichever occurred first.We utilised existing ethnicity classifications as obtained from EHR, which were cross-checked against UK Transplant Registry data. Ethnicity was classified into white, black, south Asian  or other.Determination of socioeconomic deprivation was based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), a composite score encompassing multiple domains reflective of areas of socioeconomic deprivation. The IMD scores are divided into quintiles, 1 represents the most deprived and 5 represents the least deprived area.All patients received the same immunosuppression in line with the SYMPHONY protocol over the study period. Induction therapy was with basiliximab 10 mg twice/day and methylprednisolone 500 mg on the day of transplantation. Maintenance therapy included tacrolimus (target 12-h trough level: 5−8 ng/L), mycophenolate mofetil (2 g/day with tapering to 1 g/day after 6 months), and prednisolone. Patients who were deemed high risk (D+/R−) received 3 months of valganciclovir post-transplant.All eGFR values up to 27 months after transplantation were retrieved. Values in the first 3 months post-transplantation were excluded because of the intrinsic variability of renal function in the immediate post-transplantation period giving 24 months of values for analysis. We used a Bayesian smoothing technique to estimate each patient’s eGFR trajectory as a smooth curve in the observation . This te2 per year. This is the threshold conventionally used in CKD guidelines to define a rapid decline in renal function [We calculated the probability of a period of rapid deterioration of renal function as an eGFR trajectory having at least 1 month in which eGFR declined by at least 5 mL/min/1.73 mfunction . Patientt-test or Mann-Whitney U test respectively. Categorical data are presented as percentages and compared using the chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests.Continuous data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation for parametric data or median (25th–75th quartiles) for nonparametric data, and compared using Student Our outcomes of interest were having a probability of rapid deterioration of renal function ≥0.8 in the 2-year observation period (3–27 months post-transplant) and graft and patient survival during the follow-up period (27 months post-transplant until data censored). Graft failure was taken as the time from transplant to return to dialysis, graft nephrectomy, or repeat kidney transplant . Patient survival was defined as the time from transplant until death.P < 0.10 in unadjusted analyses. Closely-correlated factors  were entered one at a time into separate multivariable models. Transplant outcomes were compared using D−/R− as reference. A separate model which included only recipients with CMV seropositive donors  was analysed. Models were tested using backward and forward entry methods. Data was 100% complete for all covariates and outcomes of interest.Logistic regression analysis was used to model the binary outcome of having a probability of rapid deterioration of renal function ≥0.8 in the observation period and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used for time-to-event outcome analysis for graft loss and all-cause mortality. For graft survival and all-cause mortality, Kaplan-Meier analyses were run with Mantel-Cox (log-rank) tests used to compare patient groups and to test the proportionality hazards assumption. Covariates included in the multivariable analyses were any with Analyses were performed using R 3.5.1  and SPSS software v25.0 .Eight hundred and one incident, unselected adult ≥18 years) kidney transplants were performed in our centre over the study period. Of these, 106 (13%) lost their graft within 27 months of transplantation. Three hundred and fifty patients were repatriated to their referring unit and therefore excluded. A further 35 subjects were excluded for having incomplete CMV serostatus recorded leaving 310 patients in the analyses . Patients with a probability of rapid deterioration ≥0.8 were more likely to be CMV seropositive (CMV+) at the time of transplantation  and more likely to receive a kidney from a CMV+ donor  than patients without rapid deterioration of renal function. Using different cut-offs of probability of rapid deterioration ≥0.7 and 0.9 did not materially affect the results , Donor CMV+  and Recipient CMV+  were significantly associated with a probability ≥0.8 of having an episode of rapid deterioration of renal function, and were independent of renal function when individually adjusted for eGFR at 27 months. Results were materially unchanged if different cut-offs of probability of rapid deterioration ≥0.7 and 0.9 were used (Supplementary Table Univariable and adjusted associations with having a probability of rapid deterioration ≥0.8 are shown in Supplementary Table P = 0.071) in univariable analysis. The full univariable associations with death-censored graft loss are shown in Supplementary Table A total of 34 (10.9%) of patients lost their graft and either started dialysis or were re-transplanted during the follow-up period. The death-censored graft survival curve for patients with and without a ≥ 0.8 probability of an episode of rapid deterioration of renal function is shown in Fig. P = 0.022), eGFR at 27 months  and recipient age  were significantly associated with death-censored graft-loss. Inclusion of these factors resulted in good model fit versus null model . Model fit was not materially different if eGFR at 12 months was inserted into the model or if different cut-offs of probability of rapid deterioration ≥0.7 and 0.9 were used  . The full univariable associations with all-cause mortality are shown in Supplementary Table P = 0.578) greater than 0.8 was not associated with all-cause mortality. In multiple regression models, only recipient age  and eGFR at the beginning of the follow-up period  remained significantly associated with all-cause mortality. Results were materially unchanged using cut-offs of probability ≥0.7 or 0.9 for rapid deterioration  of patients died during the follow-up period. Of these 10 had a probability of an episode of rapid deterioration of renal function greater than 0.8 and 30 did not P = 0.89. The fWe have previously shown in a prevalent renal transplant recipient cohort that an episode of rapid deterioration of renal function is associated with subsequent graft loss . In thisWhether the donor or recipient were CMV seropositive, and especially if both were seropositive, was associated with an increased probability of having at least one episode of rapid deterioration of renal function loss between 3 and 27 months after transplantation. Having a high probability of an episode of rapid deterioration was in turn, significantly associated with death-censored graft loss. These associations persisted after adjusting for eGFR at 27 months, suggesting the relationship between episodes of rapid deterioration early in the post-transplant period and graft loss is not mediated by having a lower eGFR at the start of the observation/follow-up period. These findings also suggest that CMV seropositivity may explain the relationship between early episodes of rapid deterioration of renal function and graft loss, although the observational nature of our study cannot confirm this.+ T-cell compartment, resulting in impaired immunity to other antigens [Infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplantation . The risantigens . Therefo+CD28null T-cells were found predominantly in CMV R+ kidney transplants, which, in turn, were associated with delayed graft function and poorer allograft function at 12 months, and in vitro glomerular endothelial cell injury. This, again, highlights the detrimental immunomodulatory effects of the CMV virus. The rates of subclinical and symptomatic CMV infection were unavailable at the time of this analysis and would be an intriguing line of investigation for a future study using the Bayesian technique.An alternative explanation is that clinically symptomatic CMV infection itself, either recurrent or primary, is associated with episodes of rapid deterioration of renal function. However, rates of post-transplant symptomatic CMV infection are generally low , 23, andIn our cohort, an episode of acute rejection in the first year was not associated with having an episode of rapid decline. There were fewer patients who had acute rejection in the group who had an episode of rapid decline compared to the group who did not, although this was not statistically significant. A possible explanation may be that the Bayesian methodology smoothed out sharp declines followed by rapid, treatment-related improvement to produce averaged trajectories which did not meet the predefined criteria for an episode of rapid deterioration. An advantage of this Bayesian technique is that it smooths out short-term variations in eGFR that might arise from concurrent infectious episodes or dehydration episodes, or indeed any events that could cause short-term reductions in renal function. It, therefore, remains a possibility for CMV seropositivity to be a contributing factor leading to rapid deterioration of renal function through an episode of rejection. Several studies have demonstrated this association –32. WhilAnother potential mechanism linking CMV to graft dysfunction can be found in cardiac transplantation. Cardiac graft vasculopathy is a major determinant of long-term graft survival  and CMV In our study, D+/R+ transplants had a higher odds ratio than D+/R− transplants of having a probability of rapid deterioration ≥0.8, suggesting that D+/R− transplants would have a better graft survival outcome. This is in contrast to published evidence by Leeaphorn et al., reporting worse graft survival in D+/R− compared to other serotype pairings . This diTaken together, our findings and those of Leeaphorn et al. suggest that extending CMV prophylaxis to D−/R+ and D+/R+ pairings could potentially increase graft survival. We acknowledge, however, that our study does not provide direct evidence to support this and further evidence is required before such a change in practice is considered. Since 2014, all CMV D+ transplants in our centre have received valganciclovir prophylaxis in accordance with consensus guidelines . RepeatiOur study has some limitations. The analysis was retrospective, and the available dataset was not able to provide granular information regarding potential causes of rapid deterioration of renal function . Furthermore, because of the granularity of data required in the early observation period, patients who were repatriated to their referring centre after their successful kidney transplant could not be included in this study. This could have led to some further confounding of our study findings and needs to be explored in a larger subsequent study. Unfortunately, hospitals in the United Kingdom and indeed many other countries, have their own EHR with different levels of accessibility and granularity of data. As such, future larger studies will need to allow enough resource and time to allow data to be collected from different systems and be integrated for analysis. Until then, studies of the type presented here will be relatively small and limited to a single centre. Finally, consideration may be given for the inclusion of composite co-morbidity scores such as the Charlson comorbidity index in future studies to reduce other potential confounders not captured by the current data in all-cause mortality analysis.However, our study also has several strengths. Leveraging the power of EHR in our centre, we had numerous eGFR measurements per patient and an extended follow-up period. The use of modern Bayesian modelling has been combined with clinically relevant and recognised definition of rapid deterioration to provide a rigorous assessment of renal function trajectory. It should be recognised that there are other methods for analysing large amounts of continuous data being developed, including, but not limited to, joint mixed models . Each ofOur study further validates the utility of using novel statistical techniques to robustly model renal allograft function to improve prediction of renal transplant trajectory, and to better understand the factors influencing these trajectories. Additional efforts and larger prospective studies examining renal allograft function trajectories will be required to identify whether current efforts to manage subclinical and occult CMV are sufficient in improving long-term graft survival. The aim is to better manage patients with specific trajectories and risk factors, and to allow more timely interventions and counselling, especially if re-transplantation is a possibility.Additional file 1. Figures 1, 2a, 2b, 3 and 4.Additional file 2. Additional file containing Supplementary Tables as referenced in-text.


Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. An amphiphilic character is conferred to the starch by a chemical modification, which involves an esterification by lauroyl chloride at three modification levels. The degree of substitution (DS) after the modification ranged from 0.06 to 1.16. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of fatty acyl chains on the surface of the esterified starches. The hydrophobicity of starches was confirmed by their adsorption isotherms, which showed a decrease in the moisture adsorption of lauroylated as DS increased. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a higher crystallinity, which was observed in the two samples subjected to the highest levels of modification. A higher crystallinity is related to a higher gelatinization enthalpy. These results are in agreement with the thermal characterization obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). An inhibition of the retrogradation properties of lauroylated amaranth starches was also observed.In this paper, we consider amaranth starch extracted from the seeds of  Amaranthus spp.) is considered as an alternative crop to support food security. This crop is extremely adaptable to adverse growing conditions such as drought and low fertility, and it has the potential to well support climate changes [Amaranthus of the family Amaranthaceæ in the order Caryophyllales, and it consists of about 75 species [Amaranth  is not recommended, because these competitively react with the water instead of the hydroxyl groups on starch molecules. The reaction of the fatty acid chloride with water produces hydrochloric acid (HCl), which hydrolyzes starch chains . The degLauroyl chloride has been used for the synthesis of lauric arginate, a food-grade cationic surfactant that is accepted as a food-grade ingredient (GRAS). The relatively low toxicity of lauric arginate has been attributed to the fact that it is split into an amino acid and a free fatty acid in the gastrointestinal tract . The estIn the present work, the effect of esterification on amaranth starch at three levels of lauroyl chloride is analyzed. It is hypothesized that the higher is the level of esterification on the starch, the higher is the conferred hydrophobicity. Comparative analyses of native starch and lauroylated starches were performed by moisture adsorption isotherms to determine its hydrophobicity by determining the monolayer moisture content from the Guggenheim–Anderson de Boer model (GAB) . The surAmaranthus hypochondriacus from cultivar Nutrisol were donated by the National Research Institute in Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock, México (INIFAP). Lauroyl chloride was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Co. . The analytical grade salts NaOH, LiCl, CH3CO2K, KCl, K2CO3, Mg(NO3)2, NaCl, KCl, NaHSO3 and BaCl were purchased from J. T. Baker® .Seeds of 3 in a stone mill . The steeped mass was screened through U.S. standard sieves  and sieved in a mesh 100 of 0.149-mm opening size.Esterification of amaranth starch was carried out according to the method of Leal-Castaneda et al. : 4 g (251H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), using a Bruker Avance 750 spectrometer  operating at 750.1 MHz and equipped with a 5 mm TXI probe at 298 K. The starch samples were dissolved in deuterated dimethyl sulfoxide and placed in NMR tubes according to the methodology reported by Leal-Castaneda et al. [1H NMR spectra were obtained using the pulse program 1D NOESY-presat. DS was calculated from the ratio of the signals of the three protons of the terminal methyl group of the acyl chain and the four protons of the anhydrous glucose units, according to the following formula:The degree of substitution (DS) was determined by a et al. . 1H NMR 5.50 ppm .s, N 1s and O 1s were determined using the software AVANTAGE V5.937 by Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA.The samples were dried in high vacuum 2, NaCl, KCl and BaCl2. In this way, the water activity 2. Samples were periodically weighed until a constant weight in an analytical balance was reached. Moisture adsorption isotherms were fitted by GAB model, which is described by the formula:C is the Guggenheim’s parameter and K is a dimensionless parameter. The GAB model is applicable in the range of K parameter) in its formula. The GAB model usually fits well to the experimental data and is used to predict the monolayer moisture content.For determining the adsorption properties of unmodified and esterified amaranth starches, samples of 1 g were put into dishes. The dishes were placed into hermetically sealed jars (one dish per jar) at 25 N is the number of data points, The fitting of isotherm models to the experimental data was evaluated by means of the mean absolute percentage error that is defined as followsiability .The X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) of unmodified and esterified amaranth starches were obtained on a Rigaku Miniflex 600  diffraction instrument operating at 40 kV and 15 mA with CuK radiation wavelength of on peaks . The sofThermal properties of starches were determined in a DSC . The equipment was calibrated with indium, which has a melting point of 156.4 o et al. . The parExperiments were performed in triplicate. The software SigmaPlot Version 11.0  was used to conduct an analysis of variance (ANOVA) in order to determine differences between means of treatments. Treatment means were considered significantly different at The degree of substitution (DS) refers to the average number of the hydroxyl groups substituted per anhydrous glucose unit (AGU) in starch. The maximum possible value of DS is 3.0, according to the three free hydroxyl groups at positions C-2, C-3 and C-6 in a pyranose ring of starch ,29.1H RMN spectra of amaranth starch and its derivatives. All samples exhibit signals of the four protons in AGU at 5.50 (OH-C3), 5.40 (OH-C2), 4.58 (OH-C6) and 4.90 (OH-C4) [2–) beside the carbonyl group, and the one at 1.5 ppm is the methylene group directly before it, and the rest of the methylene groups show a signal at 1.25 ppm [1H NMR. It is observed that DS increased as the level of modification increased. The yield of esterification was 15%, 98.8% and 92.8% for ASL1, ASL2 and ASL3, respectively. Therefore, the optimal molar ratio was 5 mL of lauroyl chloride (20.8 mmol) for 4 g of starch (25 mmol AGU). (OH-C4) . For AGU1.25 ppm . Table 12H6SiO), which is a contaminant commonly found at the surfaces of some materials exposed to ambient air [2). The peak observed at the binding energy of 399.7 eV is assigned to uncharged N in amine (C–NH2) or in amide groups, which are present in amaranth proteins [+, attributed to the binding affinity with carboxylate ions [ient air . The peaient air , anhydroproteins . The peaproteins . The peaate ions .g is the number of glucose residues, a is the number of lauroyl groups, p is the number of amino acid residues, s is the number of silicon oil molecules and h is the number of hydrocarbon groups.According to 1H NMR (0.06). This suggests that the surface of ASL1 is more enriched with fatty acyl chains than the bulk. However, as DS increases (ASL2 and ASL3), the lauroyl chloride could have diffused more inside the granule and could have modified the crystalline structure of starches  pattern of the amaranth starch (AS) and amaranth starch laurates  are shown in  and 18° . The estr et al.  examinedn et al.  reportedu et al.  studied In a similar study, Winkler et al.  investigThe changes in the ice melting enthalpies of the samples are shown in After the ice melting, samples of amaranth starch showed two endothermic peaks. The endothermic peak about 38–45 olecules  and the n-OSA starch.The retrogradation of starches at 4 n et al.  observedThe adsorption isotherms of native and lauroylated amaranth starches were well fitted by the GAB model, and the monolayer moisture content derived from the model is an adequate parameter to determine the affinity of water molecules to the starch’s surface. The esterification of amaranth starch with lauroyl chloride increased its hydrophobicity given that lauroylated starches decrease their equilibrium moisture content as the degree of substitution increases. As a result of esterification, an increase in freezable water was observed as the degree of substitution increased due to the reduction of the hydrophilicity of the starches.The esterification with lauroyl chloride modified the A-type X-ray diffraction pattern of amaranth starch. When DS Based on the results obtained in this investigation, we have the hypothesis that lauroylated amaranth starch may have the potential to be used as a food-grade emulsifier, as well as for the preparation of biodegradable plastic films due to its amphiphilic properties. Of course, such hypothesis should be rigorously proved in the laboratory, which establishes a natural path to follow in this research.


Temporary labor migration is an increasingly important mode of migration that generates substantial remittance flows, but raises important concerns for migrant well-being. The migration and health literature has seen a growing call for longitudinal, binational surveys that compare migrants to relevant non-migrant counterfactual groups in the sending country, in order to answer the basic question “Is migration good for health?” This study compares the health of male international migrants, internal migrants, and non-migrants using a unique representative panel survey of the Matlab subdistrict of Bangladesh.n = 790), returned international migrants (n = 209), internal migrants , and non-migrants . Compared to non-migrants, current international migrants were younger (mean 32.9 years versus 35.8 years), had more schooling (7.6 years versus 5.8 years), and were more likely to have an international migrant father (9.7% versus 4.0%) or brother (49.1% versus 30.3%). We estimated multivariate ordinary least squares and logistic regression models controlling for a wide range of control variables measured as far back as 1982. Results show that current international migrants had substantially better health status on factors that likely relate to self-selection such as grip strength and self-rated health. Current international migrants had no excess risk of injury in the past 12 months compared to non-migrants . Compared to non-migrants, current international migrants had roughly twice the risk of overweight/obesity , obesity , and stage 1 or higher hypertension . Compared to internal migrants, current international migrants had significantly higher levels of overweight/obesity . Current international migrants showed above average levels of depressive symptoms on a 12-item standardized short-form Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale , significantly higher than internal migrants . Depressive symptoms differed significantly from those reported by non-migrants when restricting to items on negative emotions . Key limitations include the descriptive nature of the analysis, the use of both in-person and phone survey data for international migrants, the long recall period for occupational and mental health risk measures, and the coverage of a single out-migration area of origin.A cohort of 5,072 respondents born 1958–1992 were interviewed in 1996–1997, and reinterviewed in 2012–2014. Extensive migrant follow-up yielded a 92% reinterview rate. We explored health and income outcomes for respondents who at the time of the follow-up interview were current international migrants .Yet little rigorous evidence has quantified these risks, and guest workers typically migrate from highly disadvantaged sending areas where health risks might be equally high or higher.In recent years, studies of migrant well-being have recognized the need to compare migrants to relevant non-migrant counterfactual groups, in order to answer the basic question “Is migration good for your health?”n = 4,296), and classified respondents as current international migrants (n = 790), returned international migrants (n = 209), internal migrants , and non-migrants . More than 70% of international migrants worked in GCC countries.In 1996–1997, we interviewed 5,072 male respondents born 1958–1992. In 2012–2014, we successfully located 92% of surviving respondents  than non-migrants (23%) and internal migrants (38%), they had higher risk of obesity (6.9%) than non-migrants (3.4%), and they had higher risk of stage 1 or higher hypertension (13.0%) than non-migrants (7.0%). International migrants also reported a significantly higher level of depressive symptoms than non-migrants and internal migrants.Many concerns have been raised about the health and safety of guest workers, particularly those living in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Guest workers do face excess health risks compared to those who do not migrate, but these may not be the risks that draw widespread media attention.While injury and mortality risks were lower and migrants were far stronger physically, they faced higher burdens of obesity, hypertension and mental illness that may reflect both the harsh conditions of migration and some adoption of local behaviors of the host country. Temporary labor migration is an increasingly important mode of migration that generates substantial remittance flows, but has important consequences for migrant well-being ,2. Up toIn recent years, studies of migrant well-being have recognized the importance of comparing migrants to relevant non-migrant counterfactual groups, in order to answer the basic question “Is migration good for your health?” along with a host of questions relating to specific health conditions, risk factors, and structural mechanisms –10. Due Evidence on the health of migrants to the Persian Gulf region is limited due to the difficulty of collecting data in the receiving countries. Studies of occupational injuries noted rates of injury and fatality above those experienced by host populations, but did not compare rates to those in the countries of origin or in high-risk occupations in other countries –21. A reUsing 2 rounds of survey data from the Matlab Health and Socioeconomic Survey (MHSS), we compare the health and livelihoods of temporary international migrants to those of non-migrants and internal migrants interviewed in 2012–2014 who were drawn from the same representative sample initially interviewed in 1996–1997. We look at effects on injury, general health, hypertension, mental health, and risk factors such as smoking and obesity.The study used 2 rounds of panel survey data from the MHSS, with the first round, MHSS1, conducted in 1996–1997 and the second round, MHSS2, conducted in 2012–2014. The rural Matlab subdistrict is the site of the Matlab Health and Demographic Surveillance System (MHDSS), the longest-running vital registration system in the Global South, instituted by icddr,b . MHDSS provided prospective records from of all birth, death, marriage, and migration episodes in a 141-village study area. MHDSS offers numerous advantages for the collection of high-quality health survey data, including precise age data for individuals born since 1974, prospective observation of prior demographic events including migration and mortality, and long-term baseline data from censuses conducted in 1974 and 1982. In 1996–1997, MHSS1 was conducted by icddr,b, RAND, University of Pennsylvania, and partner institutions, with funding from the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. MHSS1 collected detailed health, social, demographic, and economic data for 2,637 MHDSS households, a 7% random sample of the study area. MHSS1 included data on family migration history, household assets, kinship, remittances, schooling, and cognition at baseline.Conducted from 2012 to 2014, MHSS2 followed all individuals from MHSS1. Protection of human participants during fieldwork and data analysis was ensured under icddr,b Ethical Review Committee Protocol #PR-10005. Fieldwork included an unusually long and intensive migrant follow-up effort . A migraThe analysis was carried out with support from the Research & Empirical Analysis of Labor Migration (REALM) program administered by New York University Abu Dhabi. The analysis met all requirements of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines, as shown in The follow-up rate was unusually high for a 16- to 18-year follow-up, with 92% of survivors interviewed and high rates of follow-up for non-migrants (94%), internal migrants (89%), and international migrants (90%). The resulting interview sample of 4,545 respondents was 54% non-migrant, 27% internal migrant, and 19% international migrant. Of the 4,545 eligible respondents, 240  were excluded due to missing variables in 1 of the 2 rounds, yielding a sample of 4,296 respondents. Missing data were spread across a wide range of variables, primarily income and baseline variables.Statistical estimates of health and economic outcomes at MHSS2 were based on weighted ordinary least squares regression (for continuous variables) and weighted logistic regression  controlling for migration status at MHSS2, time-invariant individual characteristics , current individual characteristics measured in MHSS2, life course individual characteristics in MHSS1, parental schooling, sibling composition, father’s and brother’s migration history, and baseline characteristics measured in 1982. We report our estimates of the association of migration status with health and economic variables in terms of the marginal predicted values (for continuous variables) or marginal predicted probabilities . Along with predicted values/probabilities and confidence intervals, we report statistical tests of difference in which current international migrants are the reference category, thereby comparing international migrants to all 3 counterfactual comparison groups: non-migrants, internal migrants, and returned international migrants. Coefficient estimates for all control variables are reported in We explored how migration impacts a broad range of health outcomes. For all respondents, including phone survey respondents, we tested models of self-rated health, injury and morbidity, overweight/obesity risks based on height/weight , and a shortened 12-question version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Because there is no validated diagnostic cutoff for depression using this abridged scale, we simply estimated models for standardized depressive symptom scores. Because items relating to positive emotions  had shown lower item–overall score correlations, particularly for migrants, we also tested models separately for the 4 items relating to positive emotions and the 8 items relating to negative emotions .2), obese (BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m2), and underweight (BMI < 18.0 kg/m2). Height and weight were directly observed for in-person respondents and self-reported in the international migrant phone survey. We observed minimal differences in BMI for international migrants between in-person and phone surveys . We reestimated BMI models excluding or adjusting phone survey respondents, with no qualitative change in the results. For respondents interviewed in person , we also conducted physical examinations and measured whether a respondent had stage 1 or higher hypertension  and tesWe measured annual income and hours worked directly using a recall matrix that asked respondents to report work across a wide range of job types .The migration status measure compared current international migrants, returned international migrants, current internal migrants, and non-migrants. Migration status was identified based on current place of residence. Among respondents in Bangladesh, returned international migrants were identified based on a self-report of whether they had lived abroad in the past 5 years. Internal migrants were identified based on area of residence outside Chandpur/Comilla districts, with the majority moving for work to major cities such as Dhaka and Chittagong, and others moving to nearby towns. All remaining respondents were classified as non-migrants. For simplicity of presentation, we assigned respondents to mutually exclusive migration status categories, with returned international migrant status superseding current residential status. The analytic sample includes 4,296 respondents, with 790 living internationally at the time of follow-up , 2,037 non-migrants, 1,260 internal migrants, and 209 returned international migrants. Of the 790 current international migrants, 515 were interviewed by phone and 275 in person.The statistical estimates reported in the main tables come from regressions that also controlled for age, education, religion, height, father and mother’s schooling (measured directly or reported by respondent), sibling composition, whether the respondent’s father and any brother ever lived abroad (based on MHDSS tracking), and 1996–1997 household assets . Religion was coded as 1 if the respondent was Hindu (9.5% of respondents) and 0 if the respondent was Muslim. Years of schooling were collected via survey, with individuals who never attended school or attended only Koranic recitation (Maktab) coded with 0 completed years. p < 0.001) and nearly 3 times more than internal migrants . Work effort was high for all groups, but current international migrants worked substantially more hours per week than non-migrants (mean 66.8 versus 48.6), though only about 10% more than internal migrants (mean 60.8). Returned international migrants earned comparable (though slightly higher) wages than non-migrants on similar hours worked.We estimated differences in earnings, hours worked, and hourly wages, shown in p < 0.001), internal migrants , and returned international migrants . Current international migrants were less likely than non-migrants, though not significantly so, to have experienced an injury in the past 12 months . We found no significant differences between current international migrants and other groups in the likelihood of having a work-related injury, and, after controlling for covariates, migrant advantages in smoking were no longer significant.2) and obese (BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m2) status, yet effects remained significant. After adjustments, mean BMI for current international migrants was 23.3 kg/m2 (95% CI 23.0–23.6), with highly significant differences from non-migrants  and internal migrants . BMI for returned international migrants was between that of current international migrants and internal migrants , with the difference from current international migrants significant only at the 10% level. International migrants remained more than twice as likely as non-migrants to be overweight/obese  or obese  than non-migrants. International migrants were also significantly more likely to be overweight/obese than internal migrants (51.7% versus 37.7%), though differences in obesity were not significant. Underweight status also varied considerably across the groups, with very few current international migrants observed as underweight , a rate significantly lower than those of all other groups.The introduction of controls also diminished the magnitude and significance of the association of migration with overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 23.0 kg/mp < 0.001) and a 0.30 SD advantage over internal migrants . Current international migrants were significantly more likely to have stage 1 or higher hypertension than non-migrants , but they were no more likely than internal migrants.Objective health measures were not included in the phone survey, and so analysis of these variables includes only the 275 current international migrants interviewed during the Eid festivals. In spite of this small sample size, we observed significant differences. Current international migrants achieved significantly higher levels of grip strength , with a 0.42 SD advantage over non-migrants , with non-migrants having a marginally significant advantage over international migrants . Looking only at the 4 items relating to positive emotions, there was little variation by migrant status, with current international migrants having an adjusted mean score of +0.098 SD and only internal migrants showing a marginally significant difference from international migrants . Variations by migrant status were highly significant for items relating to negative emotions, however. International migrants had an adjusted mean score of +0.254 SD All other groups scored significantly lower than current international migrants, with internal migrants performing best . Non-migrants, internal migrants, and returned international migrants did not significantly differ from one another.In this study, we observed that international migrants had comparable or lower injury and mortality risks compared to respondents remaining in Bangladesh, due in part to the high risks present in Bangladesh. International migrants also showed higher levels of self-rated health and physical strength, reflective of positive self-selection into migration. They had substantially higher body mass, higher risk of overweight/obesity, moderately higher risk of hypertension, and greater depressive symptoms.Guest workers represent both a highly vulnerable population and critical yet understudied participants in the machinery of global development. Up to one-third of the world’s international migrants are on temporary work visas. Several of the world’s largest economies, including most of the destination countries included in this study, are highly dependent on guest workers. The mechanisms under which guest workers are recruited, employed, and often rejected are rightly debated on legal and ethical grounds . Much ofOur results find little support for the most extreme concerns about injury and mortality. The most potent concern relates to the possibility that guest workers may face a substantial excess risk of mortality, whether in comparison to the those remaining in the sending country or to a global standard for working age populations. Mortality represents an important health outcome, and could also lead the results on non-mortality health outcomes in this paper to be biased, as the most disadvantaged guest workers are missing from the data because they died. Our results appear to reject such concerns. Our attrition analysis yielded only 4 deaths among 945 individuals whose last known location was outside Bangladesh. Yet it remains possible, however unlikely, that respondents were injured abroad only to die in Bangladesh. We therefore took advantage of the prospective migration data from the MHDSS to conduct a survival analysis of the annual risk of mortality before and after individuals’ first recorded episode abroad. We found that the annual hazard of mortality in the years following international migration was about 75% lower in years spent abroad than in years spent in Bangladesh, and comparable to average annual death probabilities for typical host country populations.Relatedly, we found no evidence of excess injury risk among international migrants, and in fact found a modest advantage relative to non-migrants. But this does not mean that injury risks were low among international migrants, but rather that the risks of injury are extraordinarily high in Matlab and throughout Bangladesh . We founYet a much clearer picture of the health burdens affecting guest workers emerges when we consider chronic disease and associated risk factors. International migrants show numerous health advantages that largely reflect the substantial force of self-selection into the physically taxing process of migration. International migrants not only come from socioeconomically advantaged households in terms of wealth and schooling, they also have substantial advantages in terms of stature and strength. Based on reports for the full sample, international workers on average are about 2 cm taller than non-migrants, have grip strength 0.4 SD higher, and are half as likely to report fair/poor self-rated health. They are also less likely to smoke, though this advantage was diminished by control variables. Each of these tendencies has been documented in studies of migrant selection using paired or matched samples from sending and host countries ,11, but 2 higher than that of their non-migrant peers (a 0.7 SD difference) and 1.3 kg/m2 higher than that of internal migrants. As a result, guest workers are twice as likely as non-migrants or internal migrants to be obese according to the Asian standard cutoff of BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m2. The 7% adjusted obesity prevalence among international migrants is still relatively low in comparison to host populations or to international migrants in other societies. Yet we observe a far more substantial attributable burden of overweight/obesity among international migrants, who have a 52% adjusted risk of being overweight or obese compared to just 23% among non-migrants and 38% among internal migrants. Given the secular trend towards rising metabolic risk in Bangladesh In light of these reviews, we will not be able to accept the manuscript for publication in the journal in its current form, but we would like to invite you to submit a revised version that fully addresses the reviewers' and editors' comments. 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Please format reference call-outs as follows: "... in 2018 .".We ask that you revisit the reference list to ensure that all citations meet journal style. Reference 41 may need additional access information to be included. Please add a completed checklist for the most appropriate reporting guideline, which might be STROBE or RECORD, as a supplementary document (referred to in your methods section). In the checklist, please refer to individual items by section  and paragraph number rather than by page or line numbers, as the latter generally change upon publication. Comments from the reviewers:*** Reviewer #1: I confine my remarks to statistical aspects of this paper. The general approach is fine, but I have a few issues to resolve before I can recommend publication.NOTE: Adding page and line numbers would have made it easier to reference my commentsGeneral comment: Why not use some sort of matching (e.g. by propensity score)? I'm not saying it's required, but was it considered? If so, why was it rejected?Abstract:It's logistic regression, not logisticsThere should only be one reference group.Introduction:"larger representative sample ..." representative of what?MethodsThe formula can probably be deleted. As written, it is incorrect in that some fo the betas are vectors, while the formula implies they are scalars. You would need one beta for each variable, not for groups of variableshttps://medium.com/@peterflom/what-happens-when-we-categorize-an-independent-variable-in-regression-77d4c5862b6cIndependent variables (e.g. BMI) should not be categorized. In *Regression Modeling Strategies* Frank Harrell lists 11 problems that this gives rise to and summarizes "nothing could be more disastrous". I wrote a blog post illustrating some of these, graphically: When listing all the IVs, they need to be given operational definitions. That is how were they measured? e.g. what were the choices for "religion"?Why were fair and poor health lumped together? This is probably a mistake.Table 5: Give mean BMI and grip strength for each group. Don't categorize. Peter Flom*** Reviewer #2: This study represents important advances in research of migrant health. There are very few studies that are able to compare migrants, non-migrants and returned migrants from the same community; this study does so using very high quality longitudinal data from a long-standing Demographic Surveillance System. The focus of the study is on migration from South Asia to the Middle East - one of the very established routes for labour migration, but also a very dangerous one for migrants, entailing brutal work conditions, lack of access to services, servitude to an employer, and high risks of death and injury.The methods and data are appropriate. I have a few questions relating to models and interpretation.1. The paper highlights higher risks of depression among migrants, but these seem to be non-significant in Table 6.2. With respect to the models, it would be useful to first estimate an interaction model, in which all respondents are pooled and migration status is interacted, for example with sadness items. This would allow the authors to directly estimate the effect of migrations status. It would also indicate where stratified analyses are needed.3. When we think about poor health of guest workers, we generally think about injuries and harm directly resulting from the labour migration. This paper does not find evidence of such problems, but instead finds evidence of overweight and hypertension . These are different types of health risks, and are not directly hazards of the work migrants are doing, but likely rather a bi-product of integration into the host society. It would be informative if the article also indicated the levels of overweight in the host country - do migrants just look like the population into which they are integrating? If so, this should be discussed as a component of integration foremost, and less so as a hazard of migration.4. The interpretation in the abstract goes further than that in the paper in describing the depletion of migrants, and seems to go beyond the findings of the paper.5. It seems there is something interesting going on with internal migrants. Either in this paper or another, it will be an interesting to examine.*** Reviewer #3: This study benefits from well described migrant vs non-migrant groups with adequate follow-up over time. That is a unique and major strength of the study. Below some feedback to constructively contribute to improve this work.MAJOR COMMENTS1. Methods: "Along with predicted values/probabilities and confidence intervals, we report statistical tests of difference in which current international migrants are the reference category, thereby comparing international migrants to all three counterfactual comparisons groups of non-migrants, internal migrants, and returned migrants." Returned migrants are not described in Table 1. The reason I mention this is because returned migrants can be internal or international returning migrants, so clarification is needed. Later on, it reads "Among respondents in Bangladesh, returned international migrants were identified based on a self-report of whether they had lived abroad in the past five years..." Best to clarify throughout the text.2. Table 1 would be better to be transformed into a Flowchart, to comply with STROBE recommendations, and in that flowchart add how many people were evaluated by what method (in-person or telephone) and how much of the actual data was measured vs self-reported.3. Depression. In methods the authors say that "Because there is no validated diagnostic cutoff for depression using this abridged scale, we estimated models for standardized depression scores." What were those scores? How do they compare or related to the existing literature? Are they comparable to other definitions of depression and the cut-offs used? Possibly, given these differences, the authors are better off not labelling this as depression (which has a gold standard definition) but as depressive symptoms. All of this should be clear in methods and also described as a limitation.4. Hypertension. Why do the authors used 130/80 mm Hg as the cut offs? Explain in the manuscript. Is that cut off applicable to Bangladesh population?5. On mortality. When the authors say, in the Discussion, that "This does not mean that injury risks were low among international migrants, but rather that the risks of injury are extraordinarily high in Matlab and throughout Bangladesh (41)", this reviewer wonders if a similar reasoning could be applied to the mortality indicator. Also, on the mortality, is is something that would require longer follow-up periods to observe differences? What if the accumulated risk factors —higher obesity, hypertension and depression scores among international migrants— would turn into higher mortality later on? Some reflection on this would be ideal.MINOR COMMENTS6. Introduction and discussion. It could benefit from more recent bibliography. See at the end some suggested references for the authors to consider.7. Some clarification of the type of location of internal migration and how much similar were they to Matlab? This is important to understand, a bit, the context of the internal migrants.8. On the reference group. See comment #1 and contrast it with this sentence from Findings: "Table 3 compares the baseline characteristics of migration status groups. On most characteristics, international and internal migrants were comparable, making internal migrants a relevant reference group." Avoid confusions.9. Typo: mich. "International migrants were mich more likely to have a father who had lived abroad."10. Consider moving Fig 1  to supplementary material and transform some of the tables in graphs for a better communication of the estimates presented.SUGGESTED REFERENCES1: Dominguez K, Penman-Aguilar A, Chang MH, Moonesinghe R, Castellanos T, Rodriguez-Lainz A, Schieber R; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vital signs: leading causes of death, prevalence of diseases and risk factors, and use of health services among Hispanics in the United States - 2009-2013. 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Epub 2018 Dec 5. PubMed PMID: 30528484; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6294735.4: Hargreaves S, Rustage K, Nellums LB, McAlpine A, Pocock N, Devakumar D, Aldridge RW, Abubakar I, Kristensen KL, Himmels JW, Friedland JS, Zimmerman C.Occupational health outcomes among international migrant workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2019 Jul;7(7):e872-e882. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(19)30204-9. Epub 2019 May 20. PubMed PMID: 31122905; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6565984.5: Juárez SP, Honkaniemi H, Dunlavy AC, Aldridge RW, Barreto ML, Katikireddi SV, Rostila M. Effects of non-health-targeted policies on migrant health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2019 Apr;7(4):e420-e435. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30560-6. Epub 2019 Mar 6. PubMed PMID: 30852188; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6418177.6: Lu Y, Qin L. Healthy migrant and salmon bias hypotheses: a study of health and internal migration in China. Soc Sci Med. 2014 Feb;102:41-8. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.11.040. Epub 2013 Nov 28. PubMed PMID: 24565140.7: Puschmann P, Donrovich R, Matthijs K. Salmon Bias or Red Herring? : Comparing Adult Mortality Risks (Ages 30-90) between Natives and Internal Migrants: Stayers, Returnees and Movers in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 1850-1940. Hum Nat. 2017 Dec;28(4):481-499. doi: 10.1007/s12110-017-9303-1. PubMed PMID: 29043501; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5662680.8: Dodd W, Humphries S, Patel K, Majowicz S, Little M, Dewey C. Determinants of internal migrant health and the healthy migrant effect in South India: a mixed methods study. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2017 Sep 12;17(1):23. doi:10.1186/s12914-017-0132-4. PubMed PMID: 28899374; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5596496.9: Hayes L, White M, McNally RJQ, Unwin N, Tran A, Bhopal R. Do cardiometabolic, behavioural and socioeconomic factors explain the 'healthy migrant effect' in the UK? Linked mortality follow-up of South Asians compared with white Europeans in the Newcastle Heart Project. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2017 Jul 25. pii:jech-2017-209348. doi: 10.1136/jech-2017-209348. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28743730.***Any attachments provided with reviews can be seen via the following link:[LINK] 13 Jan 2020AttachmentResponse to editor and reviewer comments.docxSubmitted filename: Click here for additional data file. 6 Feb 2020Dear Dr. Kuhn,Thank you very much for re-submitting your manuscript "Health and wellbeing of international migrants and non-migrants in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional followup study" (PMEDICINE-D-19-03799R1) for consideration at PLOS Medicine for our upcoming special issue on refugee and migrant health.I have discussed the paper with editorial colleagues and the guest editors for the special issue, and it was also seen again by two reviewers. I am pleased to tell you that, provided the remaining editorial and production issues are dealt with, we expect to be able to accept the paper for publication in the journal.The remaining issues that need to be addressed are listed at the end of this email. Any accompanying reviewer attachments can be seen via the link below. Please take these into account before resubmitting your manuscript:[LINK]plosmedicine@plos.org) will be in touch shortly about the production requirements for your paper, and the link and deadline for resubmission. DO NOT RESUBMIT BEFORE YOU'VE RECEIVED THE PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS.Our publications team  and your responses to reviewer comments. If eligible, we will contact you to opt in or out.***In revising the manuscript for further consideration here, please ensure you address the specific points made by each reviewer and the editors. 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Please refer to the attached STROBE checklist in the methods section of your main text. At line 475, please revisit the phrase "temporary guest worker is a diverse process" to improve readability. At line 493, we suggest rewording to "Both countries of departure and arrival ..." or similar. At line 507, we suggest removing "your"  as you are referring to migrant health.Please adopt the style "follow-up" throughout the text. Please trim the journal name for reference 42 to "Lancet". Comments from Reviewers:*** Reviewer #1: The authors have addressed my concerns and I now recommend publiicationPeter Flom*** Reviewer #2: The authors have been responsive to reviewers and have engaged very actively with the comments received - this has further improved an excellent paper.My one substantial comment:Are there differences in health-relevant characteristics among who goes to the various destinations? As you summarize the findings, are there differences in experiences of guest workers and their health outcomes depending on where they go that should be mentioned?Other thoughts for your consideration:When you say "also examined observed health measures", be clearer that you actually measured hypertension. Would be important to note when you are talking about self-reported vs. directly-measured indicators. For example, was BMI measured for some people and self-reported for others? If so, there could be systematic differences to consider.In terms of BMI, you focus on overweight/obese, but was there also underweight, eg. among non-migrants?It is really nice that you are able to compare some measures for in-person interviews vs. phone interviews, and interesting to see how these differ. Thoughts on why?The figures are a bit blurry.***Any attachments provided with reviews can be seen via the following link:[LINK] 27 Feb 2020Dear Prof. Kuhn, On behalf of my colleagues and the academic editor, Dr. Paul Spiegel, I am delighted to inform you that your manuscript entitled "Health and wellbeing of male international migrants and non-migrants in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional followup study" (PMEDICINE-D-19-03799R2) has been accepted for publication in PLOS Medicine. PRODUCTION PROCESSBefore publication you will see the copyedited word document (in around 1-2 weeks from now) and a PDF galley proof shortly after that. The copyeditor will be in touch shortly before sending you the copyedited Word document. We will make some revisions at the copyediting stage to conform to our general style, and for clarification. 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The enhancement in ionic conductivity was an implication of the increase in the polymeric amorphous region concurrent with the suppression of the starch’s crystallinity. Chemical complexation between the plasticizer, starch, and lithium salt components in the electrolyte was confirmed by FTIR spectra.A starch-resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF)-lithium triflate (LiTf) based biodegradable polymer electrolyte membrane was synthesized via the solution casting technique. The formation of RF crosslinks in the starch matrix was found to repress the starch’s crystallinity as indicated by the XRD data. Incorporation of the RF plasticizer improved the conductivity greatly, with the highest room-temperature conductivity recorded being 4.29 × 10 Ever since polymer electrolytes were identified as a potential conducting material in the application of highly advanced electrochemical devices, various synthetic polymers have been experimented on by researchers to fit the purpose ,2. HowevExtracted from renewable sources, starch, which belongs to the polysaccharide family, had been acknowledged as a promising alternative to replace the synthetic polymers in various industrial applications. The matrix-forming capacity and complete biodegradability of this low-cost agricultural commodity had motivated its application in the electrochemical field as well ,5,6.Despite its chemical, financial, and ecological virtues, starch’s high crystallinity emerges as a major constraint that hinders optimum ionic conductivity in polymer electrolytes synthesized from the biopolymer ,8,9. BeiIn order to tackle the crystallinity and retrogradation issues of native starch, the biopolymer is often incorporated with plasticizers to improve the overall flexibility and mechanical properties of the films. Typically, starch films are plasticized with polyols such as sorbitol, glycerol, and ethylene glycol or monosaccharides such as glucose, fructose, galactose, and mannose. The presence of multiple hydroxyl groups in polyols allows hydrogen bond formation with amylose and amylopectin in starch, whereas the structural similarity of monosaccharides enables better compatibility between the polymer and the plasticizer molecule . In receThis study is a unique attempt to introduce resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) polymer resin into the system as a means to suppress the crystallinity of starch arising from retrogradation. Resorcinol-formaldehyde has the unique property of forming sol-gel through condensation-polymerization reaction . The for3SO3) was chosen to be the ionic species in this study. The choice of this salt is justified by its low lattice energy, small polarizable cation, and large, singly charged anion [Lithium triflate  and Friendemann Schmidt (Germany). The ionic salt, lithium triflate, and the plasticizer’s component, resorcinol, were acquired from Sigma Aldrich (Germany), whereas glycerol and formaldehyde (37% in aqueous) were supplied by Systerm .2CO3 where the molar ratio of R:Na2CO3:F was fixed at 50:1:100. Appropriate amounts of resorcinol and sodium carbonate were weighed and dissolved with distilled water. Formaldehyde was added to this solution and stirred for 40 min at room temperature. Upon stirring, the RF solution changed from colorless to yellow, and finally to light brown.The resorcinol-formaldehyde reaction in this experiment was catalyzed by NaThe starch solution required for the fabrication of the polymer electrolyte was prepared by dissolving 0.25 g of potato starch powder in 10 mL distilled water, and this produced a cloudy solution. The starch was then gelatinized by heating the solution at 80 °C, resulting in a colorless and viscous solution. The solution was then allowed to be cooled down to room temperature before suitable amounts of lithium triflate and RF were added to it according to the composition ratio indicated in −1 at ambient temperature and a resolution of 4 cm−1.A Perkin-Elmer Spectrum 400 FTIR Spectrometer  was used to obtain the FTIR spectra for the samples via the ATR technique to identify possible chemical interactions between the components in the electrolyte. The samples were subjected to wavenumbers ranging from 4000 to 650 cmL is the thickness of the sample measured, A is the surface area of contact, and bR is the bulk resistance of the sample. The value of bR was evaluated based on the Nyquist plot.Samples incised to suitable sizes were sandwiched between spring-pressured stainless-steel electrodes with a diameter measuring 2.0 cm. The HIOKI 3532-50 LCR Hi-Tester (Japan) was used to record the impedance data of the films between 50 and 5 MHz. The thickness of each film sample was measured with a digital micrometer screw gauge. From the real and imaginary components of the impedance data, the Nyquist plots for each of the sample were constructed and their corresponding ionic conductivity was calculated by applying the equation:The plasticizing effects of RF additives on the crystallinity of the films were studied using X-ray diffraction characterization with a Panalytical X’Pert³ MRD Diffractometer  in which samples were scanned at 2θ angles between 5° and 60°.The crystallinity of starch greatly affects its physical appearance, as a highly crystalline structure results in a frail film with poor mechanical properties. As shown in As a natural food supply, starch films tend to be exposed to fungal growth, especially throughout the drying process. 2CO3, resorcinol (R) and formaldehyde (F) of 1:2 molar ratio, goes through an addition reaction to form a hydroxymethyl derivative, as indicated in In the presence of a basic medium, in this case, Na−1 were observed in the pure starch film. The absence of a carbonyl peak in pure RF affirms the complete addition reaction between resorcinol and formaldehyde forming hydroxymethyl derivatives, which are in agreement with previous studies on RF resins.The FTIR spectra of pure starch, RF, and lithium triflate are presented in −1 in the pure starch film, was found to be shifted to 3315 cm−1. A higher transition (to 3361 cm−1) occurs when the lithium triflate content was increased from 10 to 20 wt.%. The shift to higher wavenumber occurs when more associated hydroxyls become free hydroxyls as a result of restricted hydrogen bonding upon the incorporation of RF into the system [In comparison to the pure constituents, the typical spectrum of the starch/LiTf/RF sample shows drastic transitions at the hydroxyl and aromatic regions. e system . Polymer−1 in the pure starch film, was found to be shifted to 3315 cm−1. A higher transition (to 3361 cm−1) occurred when the lithium triflate content was increased from 10 to 20 wt.%. The shift to higher wavenumber occurs when more associated hydroxyls become free hydroxyls as a result of restricted hydrogen bonding upon the incorporation of RF into the system [In comparison to the pure constituents, the typical spectrum of the starch/LiTf/RF sample shows drastic transitions at the hydroxyl and aromatic regions. e system . Polymer+ ions and the nucleophilic aromatic ring causes a shift to lower wavenumber in this region, with SRF60-1 exhibiting the largest shift from 1635 (in pure RF) to 1611 cm−1. However, increasing the salt content further causes a drop in the value of transition. In SRF60-3, which has a higher lithium salt content, there is only a slight shift, indicating poor complexation between the components, probably due to ion aggregation [As shown in regation . TherefoThe X-ray diffractograms of pure starch films and selected plasticized films are presented in The electrical efficiency of the sustainable polymer electrolyte fabricated from starch-RF-lithium triflate was determined via electrochemical impedance data, and the ionic conductivity value corresponding to each sample is presented in −10 and 10−9 S cm−1 [−5 S cm−1, giving an almost five times higher order of magnitude. Previous studies of starch-based polymers with different lithium salts (LiI and LiClO4) reported an ionic conductivity up to 10−4 S cm−1 only when the salt content was as high as 30–40 wt.% [−4 S cm−1 can be achieved with only 20 wt.% LiTf. Such ability of RF plasticized starch to generate high ionic conductivity with low salt content consents the material to be more cost-effective and eco-friendly. This was achieved by the incorporation of RF, which, as supported by the XRD and FTIR analyses, suppresses the crystallinity of the starch and creates a new mode for ionic mobility. As depicted in the X-ray diffractograms earlier, a significant decline in crystallinity was observed in SRF60-1, and with the increment in salt content to 20 wt.%, the degree of crystallinity in SRF60-2 further dropped. This facilitated the segmental movements of starch chains within the film and was accompanied by the concurrent increase in the concentration of ionic species present. Ionic conductivity is the product of both mobility and number of ions in the material. Thus, in SRF60-2 film, when both these factors were elevated by the optimized addition of plasticizer and salt, the highest ionic conductivity of 4.29 × 10−4 S cm−1 was recorded compared to other starch films. The ionic conductivity attained in this study is one of the highest recorded among other plasticized starch film-based polymer electrolytes (−6 S cm−1 owing to the poor mechanical property and formation of salt aggregates [A clear rise in ionic conductivity values was noticed with the increase in RF concentration. Generally, a pure starch film is capable of producing a conductivity value in the magnitude range between 109 S cm−1 ,27. By i–40 wt.% ,23. In ttrolytes . When thgregates . FormatiEa of 0.15 eV was recorded by the electrolyte.In order to further comprehend the conducting mechanism of this polymer electrolyte system, the sample with the best mechanical stability and ionic conductivity, SRF60-2, was subjected to temperature-dependent conductivity studies. In the starch-based system, the temperature-dependent conductivity is slightly distinctive because it is governed by two antagonistic factors. Firstly, just as in a conventional polymer electrolyte, an increase in temperature promotes a higher pace of polymeric segmental motion, facilitating ion migration. Hence, conductivity typically increases with temperature. However, as starch possesses a water-absorbing quality and water contributes to charge transport, increasing the temperature will reduce the water content in the system, which, in turn, decreases conductivity. As shown in 4NO3 [4 [In preceding studies, a minimum activation energy ranging between 0.4 and 0.5 eV has been monitored in systems consisting of starch-NH4NO3 , starch-4NO3 , and sta4NO3 [4 . The val4NO3 [4 , which r4NO3 [4 . Thus, iω is the angular frequency, bR is the bulk resistance, C1 and C2 denote high- and low-frequency capacitance, respectively, p1 represents the depression of the semicircle, and p2 is the parameter related to the tilted angle of the spike. Each of these parameters are summarized in As shown in ω is the angular frequency, R and C are the resistance and capacitance, respectively, and p is the parameter related to the tilted angle of the spike. Upon plasticization up to 60 wt.%, the Nyquist plots of the films only show a tilted spike with complete disappearance of the semicircle . Such a −4 S cm−1. The inclusion of the RF plasticizer was found to repress the starch’s crystallinity as indicated by the XRD data. Therefore, the ionic conductivity was greatly enhanced as an implication of the increase in polymeric amorphous region parallel with the suppression of the starch’s crystallinity. The temperature-dependent study of the sample with the highest conductivity showed Arrhenian behavior and recorded an activation energy of 0.15 eV. Complexation between the polymer host, salt, and plasticizer in the electrolyte was confirmed by FTIR spectra.A series of starch-RF-LiTf-based polymer electrolyte membranes were synthesized by solution casting where starch:LiTf:RF with the composition of 1:1:3 weight ratio recorded the highest room-temperature conductivity of 4.29 × 10


European Journal of Midwifery would like to thank all our reviewers who have contributed to the journal in Volume 2 (2018).The editors of Cathy AshwinUnited KingdomCarrie BonsackUnited StatesSusannah BradyAustraliaJim BrigagãoBrazilIrene CalvertNew ZealandMegan CooperAustraliaAbdolreza DaraeiIranSarah DaviesUnited KingdomRafael del RosalSpainRamón EscurietSpainGracia FellmethUnited KingdomSarah FogartyAustraliaHajdu GaborHungaryMahin GheibizadehIranEnrique Gomez-PomarUnited StatesWendy HallCanadaTutik HariyatiIndonesiaCaroline HomerAustraliaHyuk ImSouth KoreaLara Jansiski MottaBrazilIngrid JepsenDenmarkGarg KamakshiIndiaAnnika KarlstromSwedenBengt KayserSwitzerlandMartina Koenig-BachmannAustriaSklempe KokicCroatiaMario LopesPortugalAidalina MahmudMalaysiaDaniel MartinganoUnited StatesRobyn MaudeNew ZealandLois McKellarAustraliaPolona MivšekSloveniaStephanie MorganUnited StatesTiina MurtoFinlandRhona O'ConnellIrelandLucinda RoperAustraliaShiri Sadeh-SharvitUnited StatesPaula SantosPortugalKirti SaxenaIndiaKatja SchrøderDenmarkElisabeth SeverinssonNorwaySusanne SimonGermanyJen StevensUnited StatesSeyed Saeed TabatabaeeIranMelania TudoseRomaniaDeborah TurnbullAustraliaJoeri VermeulenBelgiumVictoria VivilakiGreeceTherese WiegersNetherlandsXianglong XuChina


The Journal Editors and SAGE Publishing hereby issue an expression of concern for the following article:10.1177/2058738418824521.Xuefu Li, Wei Wei, Zhongquan Zhao, Shuzhen Lv (2019) Tripterine up-regulates miR-223 to alleviate lipopolysaccharide-induced damage in murine chondrogenic ATDC5 cells. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology 33: 1–11. DOI: It has been brought to SAGE’s attention that this article may have been written (and possibly submitted) by a third-party agency, and that the contents of the article may be partially or wholly fabricated. SAGE is currently conducting a thorough investigation into this to establish the most appropriate way forward.International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology. Authors, reviewers, editors and interested readers should consult the ethics section of the SAGE website and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) website for guidelines on publication ethics. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).The Editor and SAGE strive to uphold the very highest standards of publication ethics and are committed to supporting the high standards of integrity of