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Background. The most promising technologies for processing oil sludge are their use in the production of road construction materials. Purpose. Investigation of the composition and properties of an average sample of the total liquid phase of oil sludge and the possibility of obtaining a component of road bitumen. Methodology. The methods of physico-chemical research adopted in the technology of production of road construction materials were used. Originality. The technology of phase separation of liquid viscous oil sludge has been developed, which makes it possible to isolate a fraction from n.k. 2000C, which can be used as boiler fuel and one of the binding components for road construction purposes. Findings. During fractional distillation of oil sludge, the mass fraction of light fractions up to 200oC was 34%; up to 245oC-42%; up to 285oC - 56%. The resulting composition of the product composition is oil sludge (fraction above 200oC):gossypole resin:sulfur:calcium oxide, met the requirements of GOST 6617-76. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental contamination from petroleum refinery operations has increased due to the rapid population growth and modernization of society, necessitating urgent repair. Microbial remediation of petroleum wastewater by prominent bacterial cultures holds promise in circumventing the issue of petroleum-related pollution. Herein, the bacterial culture was isolated from petroleum-contaminated sludge samples for the valorization of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and biodegradation of petroleum wastewater samples. The bacterial strain was screened and identified as Bacillus subtilis IH-1. After six days of incubation, the bacteria had degraded 25.9% of phenanthrene and 20.3% of naphthalene. The treatment of wastewater samples was assessed using physico-chemical and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, which revealed that the level of pollutants was elevated and above the allowed limits. Following bacterial degradation, the reduction in pollution parameters viz. EC (82.7%), BOD (87.0%), COD (80.0%), total phenols (96.3%), oil and grease (79.7%), TKN (68.8%), TOC (96.3%) and TPH (52.4%) were observed. The reduction in pH and heavy metals were also observed after bacterial treatment. V. mungo was used in the phytotoxicity test, which revealed at 50% wastewater concentration the reduction in biomass (30.3%), root length (87.7%), shoot length (93.9%), and seed germination (30.0%) was observed in comparison to control. When A. cepa root tips immersed in varying concentrations of wastewater samples, the mitotic index significantly decreased, suggesting the induction of cytotoxicity. However, following the bacterial treatment, there was a noticeable decrease in phytotoxicity and cytotoxicity. The bacterial culture produces lignin peroxidase enzyme and has the potential to degrade the toxic pollutants of petroleum wastewater. Therefore the bacterium may be immobilised or directly used at reactor scale or pilot scale study to benefit the industry and environmental safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of well water within some selected residential areas of the Ajaokuta Housing Estate (A-Racca-Foam, B-Borno, CKwara, D - Lagos, and E - Abuja Estates). Water samples (six samples per estate) were collected from thirty wells in the study area, and were analyzed for physicochemical and bacteriological properties using standard techniques, and the results compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The results indicated that some physico-chemical parameters were outside the WHO acceptable limits. Notably, iron and manganese and magnesium contents exceeded the WHO in the five selected area where samples were collected, with the highest concentration at 0.54, 1.0 and 60.0 mg/L, respectively. Total hardness and total alkalinity were also above the permissible limit of 100 mg/L in all samples. Bacteriological analysis showed elevated TVC (0 to 3.0 × 103 CFU/mL) and TCC (0 to 1,200 per 100mL) especially with samples in areas B, D and E, suggesting potential faecal contamination or inadequate well maintenance. The presence of pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, further re-emphasises the public health risks posed by the water samples. Statistical analysis showed no significant discrepancies in water quality across the different wells sampled. These findings suggest that well water in the study area may not be totally safe for consumption without adequate treatment. Hence, a regular and proper thermal or chemical treatment of well water in the study area is recommended to ensure safe drinking water for the community/environs and prevent waterborne diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] To study the changes of physico-chemical characteristics and microbial community structure during natural aerobic composting under low temperature in the field, realize the resource utilization of breeding waste in low temperature season. [Method] Using pig manure and rice husk as raw materials for aerobic composting in the field, the temperature, pH, water content, NH+4-N, NO-3-N and germination index (GI) of seeds during composting process were analyzed, the bacterial 16S rDNA V3-V4 region and fungal ITS region were further selected for high-throughput sequencing. The diversity and composition of microbial communities in different stages of aerobic composting process were compared. [Result] When the environmental temperature was -6.7-6.4 ℃, the high-temperature stage of the entire composting process lasted for 11 days. After 38 days of aerobic composting treatment, the moisture content, pH, NH+4-N, NO-3-N and other indicators of the pile tended to be stable. At the end of composting, the GI reached 122.12%, indicating that the compost product was completely decomposed. The analysis of microbial communities in samples from different stages of composting under low temperature conditions showed that Acinetobacter was the dominant bacterial genus in the early and heating stages of composting, Pseudofulvimonas and Ensifer had the highest abundance in the high temperature stage of composting, and Parapedactor was the dominant bacterial genus in the late stage of composting. Ascobolus was the dominant fungal genus in the early stages of composting, while Mycothermus was the dominant microbial community in the heating, high temperature and maturation stages of aerobic composting. The predicted results of bacterial community function showed that amino acid transport and metabolism, carbohydrate transport and metabolism et al were the main metabolic functions of bacteria in composting process. The correlation analysis between physicochemical indexes and microbial diversity showed that the pH and genus abundance were highly correlated, followed by water content, temperature, NH+4-N and GI. [Conclusion] Natural aerobic compost can be carried out smoothly and completely decomposed in the field under low temperature conditions, it provide a basi for natural aerobic composting in the field under low temperature environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abundant stockpiling of food waste (FW) which leads to climate change has been a growing concern over its carbon footprint (CF) in recent years. In India, student enrollment in higher education has been increasing in recent years, reaching close to 4 billion, especially in universities. The present study aims to identify varying characteristics of FW generated in a university hostel mess due to temporal and seasonal conditions. This study evaluates consumer attitudes and behaviors concerning FW, and artificial neural networks are also used to forecast the percentage of FW streams based on various characteristics. FW characters were found to vary with time and temperature. High moisture content during autumn and winter seasons was found to decrease destructible solids content, a key parameter governing biogas generation. Statistical assay of FW quantity shows that FW generation is high during the weekdays followed by Saturdays, whereas during festivals and Sundays, the generation is highly variable, which might be due to the presence of inmates during holidays. Based on data from six months sample data set, it is projected that 716.57 kgs of food were wasted per day with 1361.48 kgs carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq.) related CF. It showed that parameters such as household wealth, meal contentment, meal days, education, sex, and food-saving efforts significantly impacted the CF of FW. The avoidable FW can be stopped nonetheless to prevent shadowed CF. It can be concluded that effective FW management can be done by varying number of collection points, where FW accumulation varies in a year, enabling an efficient source sorting process. This will help in transferring the FW to proper treatment and management process like anaerobic digestion and composting. The Anaerobic digestion pose an efficient methods of FW management due to its high potency in biogas production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PPy/GO composite materials formed of graphene oxide nanosheets and polypyrrole (PPy) were effectively prepared by polymerization fabrication method for optical energy applications. The measurements of TEM, XRD, SEM, FT-IR, and XPS showed that PPy/GO composites were successfully synthesized. The nanosheets GO were homogeneously joined into PPy as recorded by SEM images. TEM recorded that the GO nanosheets have different sizes ranging from 5 to 35 nm. The optical parameters, including the absorption edge, band gap, number of carbon clusters, and Urbach energies, were assessed by the UV–Vis method. The band gap reduced of 1.84 for PPy to 1.77 and 1.72 eV for PPy/GO-II and PPy/GO-III, and the absorption edge decreased from 1.78 for PPy to 1.60 and 1.50 eV, respectively. The optical susceptibility and refractive index were deduced for PPy and PPy/Go. Comparing the PPy/Go composites to pure PPy revealed a considerable enhancement in optical conductivity and the number of carbon clusters for PPy/Go. The outcomes of this research is the fabrication of potential flexible polymeric nanocomposite films with innovative physico-chemical properties for high-performance optoelectronics devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the popularity of plant-based milk alternatives (PBMAs). This work examined the nutritional value, antioxidant profile and physicochemical characteristics of commercial non-cocoa- and cocoa-flavoured PBMAs. The examined products were either nut or oat-based ones. In the absence of protein fortification, the products' protein content was found to be low. Fat content was also low, whereas carbohydrate and sugar contents were related to sugar addition. Oleic, linoleic and α-linolenic acids were the primary unsaturated fatty acids. PBMAs have low Atherogenicity (AI) and Thrombogenicity (TI) indices and high hypocholesterolaemic:hypercholesterolaemic fatty acid ratio (h/H). The antioxidant profile significantly differed (P < 0.001) between non-cocoa- and cocoa-flavoured PBMAs. The antioxidant profile of cocoa-flavoured PMBAs improved due to the polyphenols present in cocoa beans. The physicochemical characteristics of the analysed PBMAs demonstrated great versatility. The nutritional profile of PBMAs also showed considerable variability, influenced by factors, such as product type and ingredient formulation. Additionally, differences in the nutritional composition and physicochemical properties were observed between non-cocoa and cocoa-based PBMAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porphyrazines ( P z ) are porphyrinoids, which are macro-cyclic compounds made up of four in-dole rings. P z has various potential and practical uses in health and technology due to their distinctive optical and electrochemical characteristics. Topological descriptors are numerical values given to molecular structures that may be used to predict specific physical characteristics. In this work, we have investigated topological features of the porphyrazine and tetrakis porphyrazine structure based on degree. We have calculated the closed forms of the Zagreb, Randic, geometric-arithmetic, harmonic, augmented and atom-bond connectivity (ABC) indices of the porphyrazine and tetrakis porphyrazine structures. The present research would be beneficial for understanding the structure's biological and chemical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Despite their high potential, Tunisian virgin olive oils (VOOs) are mainly exported in bulk or blended with VOOs of other origin, hindering their international market placement. To face this situation, their valorization is needed by highlighting their unique features and by developing tools to guarantee their geographical authenticity. Compositional features of Chemlali VOOs produced in three Tunisian regions were assessed to identify suitable authenticity markers. RESULTS: Quality indices ensured the quality of the VOOs studied. Volatile compounds, total phenols, fatty acid (FA) and chlorophylls are significantly influenced by the region of origin, which was justified by the differences found in soil and climatic conditions of the three geographical regions. To explore the capabilities of these markers for the geographical authentication of Tunisian Chemlali VOOs, classification models based on partial least squares‐discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) were developed by grouping the minimum number of variables allowing the highest discrimination power, minimizing in this way the analytical procedure. The PLS‐DA authentication model based on combining volatile compounds with FA or with total phenols achieved a correct classification of 95.7% of the VOOs according to their origin, as assessed by 10%‐out cross‐validation. Sidi Bouzid Chemlali VOOs achieved 100% of correct classification, while the misclassification between Sfax and Enfidha ones did not exceed 10%. CONCLUSIONS: These results allowed to establish the most promising and affordable combination of markers for the geographical authentication of Tunisian Chemlali VOOs from distinct production regions and provide the basis to further develop authentication models based on wider datasets. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water quality and phytoplankton diversity of the Okamini Stream, Port Harcourt, Nigeria was studied between April and June 2018 at three stations. The data was used to assess the health of the system for supporting local communities. Compared to national and international standards, the stream was found to be acidic, but pH levels (5.87 ± 0.40) were similar to other systems in the New Calabar River catchment. Analysis of variance showed that there was no significant variation (p < 0.05) in water quality between the stations, with the exception of PO4 (0.82 ± 0.40 mg l-1), which was significantly higher than other local systems. A total of 26 species of plankton were recorded during the study. These species belonged to the Bacillariophyceae (n = 10), Chlorophyceae (n = 6), Cyanophyceae (n = 5), Euglenoidea (n = 3), and Chrysophyceae (n = 2), but phytoplankton density was low. The most frequently occurring phytoplankton species were indicators of organic pollution, such as Cyclotella comta, while Melosira varians was recorded at all sampling occasions. Relatively high diversity indices indicated a stable environment. We conclude that the Okamini Stream is not yet degraded, but that the water quality should be monitored, and anthropogenic activities managed to avoid potential future deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regular monitoring of the chemical status of water bodies remains crucial in countries where data on chemical fingerprints that can assist in environmental policy is still limited. The current study focused on the concentrations of 14 metals and their sources in two important South African rivers that pass through various rural areas and two semi-urban towns in the province of the Eastern Cape. Most of the essential metals were within the South African guidelines for domestic water use except for selenium and iron which reached the concentrations of 131 and 712 µg L−1 that exceed the guideline values of 20 and 200 µg L−1, respectively. Cadmium and lead were above the South African Water Quality Guidelines and World Health Organization limits of 3 and 10 µg L−1, attaining the highest concentrations of 35 and 34 µg L−1, respectively. The impact of the wastewater treatment plant effluent and the municipal dumpsite leachates on metal ion concentrations in the rivers was observed for some metals. The metals source was related to deterioration of galvanized corrugated steel sheets from scrap yards and dwellings made-out of galvanized corrugated sheets, as well as agricultural activities and natural geological processes. An overview of the current water quality status of the two rivers may serve as a basis for sink-oriented pollutant fingerprinting toward sustainable water sources for communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Macaroni is a common side dish or main dish that is served with sauces. Traditional macaroni is typically made using flour, water and eggs and is typically yellow in color. It has a high amount of starch and is deficient in fiber, minerals, vitamins and bioactive components. Material and methods. The effects of Gac aril (3, 5, 7 and 9%) and xanthan gum (1, 1.5 and 2%) on the quality characteristics of macaroni were investigated. Macaroni was evaluated for cooking quality (cooking loss, volume increase, rehydration ratio), colour, chemical (β-carotene and lycopene) and structure/microstructure to assess the impact of experimental factors. Results. The proximate composition of Gac aril was analysed and showed that Gac aril added to macaroni recipes is a food ingredient capable of enhancing bioactive compounds (β-carotene and lycopene). Studies on the combined effects of the addition of Gac aril and xanthan gum have shown that macaroni with 7% gac and 1.5% xanthan gum used resulted in a beautifully colored macaroni product (before and after cooking), good structure, high β-carotene and lycopene content (15.26 μg/g and 61.26 μg/g, respectively). The cooking quality of the macaroni was thoroughly analyzed. The rehydration rate and volume both increased with the addition of Gac aril and the xanthan gum content increased. However, the cooking loss was shown to be slightly different. The cooking loss increased as the content of Gac aril supplement was increased, while the added xanthan gum reduced the cooking loss. Conclusion. The effects of macaroni enrichment with gac and the use of xanthan gum on product quality were noted. The physicochemical components, bioactive compounds, firmness, microstructure and cooking quality of the analyzed products emphasized the role of the ingredients used in the results obtained. The microstructure of the product has also been improved and ensures the desired product quality attributes. Further studies are needed in order to be applied at an industrial scale and with high consumer acceptance of this new product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of Euglenophyceae diversity and density is very important to get current knowledge about the status of the aquatic environment because Euglenophyceae communities are abundantly found in organically polluted water bodies. In the present study, some new Phacus species (Euglenophyta), were recorded for the first time in the Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, and they were described based on their morphological features. In addition, some physico-chemical parameters were analysed such as, water temperature, рН, salinity, total dissolved solids, and dissolved oxygen during the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive oil sector witnesses an important growth due to the health benefits related to the product. However, olive oil producing countries suffer from the considerable amount of wastewater generated at the end of the process. Olive oil wastewater is a powerful pollutant. The nature of this effluent is highly variable due to various factors that should be taken into consideration. Generally, the nature of this wastewater is oily and contains a high organic load and low biodegradability due to the high content of phenols. Currently, it is discarded in the majority of countries, especially with the absence of uniform legislation for its treatment and reuse. Thus, olive mill wastewater represents a severe environmental pollution problem. Various studies suggested different types of treatment to deal with olive mill wastewater. However a low-cost and effective treatment remains a challenge on the practical part. This review aims to highlight the olive oil production with a special interest in the physico-chemical and biological characteristics of all the types of olive liquid waste, from olive washing wastewater and olive mill wastewater. In addition, the variability in olive wastewater composition based on various factors has been explored. Finally, different treatments techniques tested and applied on olive liquid waste were documented. This work will allow researchers to easily understand the variability of olive liquid waste's characteristics and factors to study when dealing with this effluent. Moreover, it will help researchers for a better knowledge related to olive liquid waste treatments and challenges faced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment was conducted to estimate the physico-chemical diversity of twelve Indian jujube cultivars. A sum of fifteen quantitative characters were explored and subjected to multivariate analyses. Significant variability was observed across the ber cultivars under study. Pearson's correlation analysis identified days to first flower initiation, a higher number of flowers per cluster and a higher number of retained fruits per cluster which could be used as the basis of selection for identification of high yielding ber cultivars. The principal component analysis (PCA) estimates 60.2% of the total variability in ber cultivars is contributed by PC1 and PC2. The scatter plot of the first two components highlights the number of retained fruits per cluster, yield per tree, pulp weight, fruit width, stone weight and number of flowers per cluster as principal characters that played a significant role in the total variability. Further, PCA also helped to identify Mehrun, Manuki and Chhuhara as superior ber cultivars which performed well with respect to the PC1 and PC2. The Mahalanobis D2 statistics grouped all the twelve ber cultivars into five clusters indicating the existence of ample genetic diversity among the cultivars. Considering the inter-cluster distance along with cluster mean it could be concluded that the cultivars of cluster II and Cluster III may be utilized to estimate the combining ability for effective exploitation of heterosis or to isolate desirable transgressive segregants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Household food waste was monitored during storage to optimize energetic utilization. • Recipe-based and reproducible samples improved comparability of experiments. • Aerobic storage reduced energy contents drastically but lowered mass of waste. • Anaerobic storage has the potential to preserve energy contents almost completely. • Reduced energy losses during storage could improve energy yields in waste digestion. Food waste (FW) from households represents a major fraction of municipal waste and it is often collected in separate biowaste bins. Until waste collection is carried out, storage conditions in the biowaste bin influence FW properties. To draw conclusions for an optimized waste utilization in anaerobic digestion (AD), the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of storage duration (20 to 40 days) and temperature (5 °C and 20 °C) on inherent energy potentials of household FW during aerobic and anaerobic storage. Therefore, physico-chemical parameters of recipe-based FW samples with reproducible initial compositions were monitored. After 20 days of aerobic storage, water contents (WC) were reduced from 61.9% to 39.5% (20 °C) and from 63.9% to 50.3% (5 °C) while organic dry matter (oDM) concentrations were lowered by 4.3% (20 °C) and 1.1% (5 °C). Increased pH-values of 6.6 (initially 5.5) were only measured for FW stored aerobically at 20 °C. In total, the energy potential was decreased by 31% (20 °C) and by 16% (5 °C). Thus, storage temperature and duration are crucial parameters for optimized aerobic FW storage leading to higher energy yields in AD. Instead, anaerobic storage of FW decreased pH-values to <5 while increasing WC in all samples (up to 67% at 20 °C). As oDM concentrations were preserved almost completely, the energy potential losses were only marginal proving that energy contents of FW could be preserved at household level. Consequently, energy yields in AD of FW could be increased through anaerobic storage conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a study of the spring "El Paraíso", located in the El Cristo town, Santiago de Cuba was carried out to evaluate its use by human consumption, as source of supply and irrigation activities for crops. Five samplings were carried out in the dry period of october 2019-february 2020 and subsequent analysis of the physicochemical and bacteriological results in conjunction with the interpretation of integrating indices. The results reflected the contamination of the spring since many parameters such as hydrogencarbonate, nitrate, total and termotolerant coliforms, are outside the established indices. Due to this, the spring waters are not apt like water drinkable, neither for provisioning, which is why necessary treatment according to the contamination degree, although recommended for animal consumption and watering of cultivations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape pomace is one of the most abundant by-products generated from the wine industry. This by-product is a complex substrate consisted of polysaccharides, proanthocyanidins, acid pectic substances, structural proteins, lignin, and polyphenols. In an effort to valorize this material, the present study focused on the influence of extraction conditions on the yield and physico-chemical parameters of pectin. The following conditions, such as grape pomace variety (Fetească Neagră and Rară Neagră), acid type (citric, sulfuric, and nitric), particle size intervals (<125 µm, ≥125–<200 µm and ≥200–<300 µm), temperature (70, 80 and 90 °C), pH (1, 2 and 3), and extraction time (1, 2, and 3 h) were established in order to optimize the extraction of pectin. The results showed that acid type, particle size intervals, temperature, time, and pH had a significant influence on the yield and physico-chemical parameters of pectin extracted from grape pomace. According to the obtained results, the highest yield, galacturonic acid content, degree of esterification, methoxyl content, molecular, and equivalent weight of pectin were acquired for the extraction with citric acid at pH 2, particle size interval of ≥125–<200 µm, and temperature of 90 °C for 3 h. FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups in the fingerprint region of identification for polysaccharide in the extracted pectin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics, moisture contents, chemical fingerprints changes and aflatoxins accumulation of Atractylodis rhizoma during storage, further to determine the optimum temperature and relative humidity conditions. Based on the suitable temperature (20–40 °C) and relative humidity (80–95%), 13 different temperature and humidity conditions were set up by the central composite design-response surface methodology (CCD-RSM) for Aspergillus flavus. After inoculation with Aspergillus flavus by artificial infection, A. rhizoma samples were stored under normal conditions and 13 different temperature and relative humidity levels. By taking the changes of characteristics, the contents of moisture, chemical fingerprints and aflatoxins as the evaluation indexes for A. rhizoma with or without Aspergillus flavus fungi to optimize the optimal storage conditions. After storage for 10 days, the color of A. rhizoma was deepened, the water content and chemical composition increased, and some unknown components were detected. The susceptible condition for aflatoxins production in A. rhizoma was identified at temperature 22–37 °C and relative humidity over 87.5%. Thus, the suitable storage conditions for A. rhizoma should be controlled at temperature below 20 °C and relative humidity less than 85%. This paper screened out the optimum temperature and humidity for the storage of A. rhizoma. Then, the storage specification for A. rhizoma was proposed, lying technical and data support for the scientific preservation of other food or herbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ice cream is one of the most popular dairy desserts in the world. In recent years, the reduction of fat and fiber intake in dietary products has received much attention. Citrus peel is a valuable source of dietary fiber that is usually discarded as waste. In this research, the fiber extracted from Citrus uranium L. peel was used as a novel fat replacer in light vanilla ice cream.3 levels of Citrus uranium L. Fiber (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) were added to low fat vanilla ice cream formulation. The physical, chemical and sensory characteristics of low fat vanilla ice cream were investigated.The results of this study showed that addition of fiber had a significant effect on the physical properties of ice cream including viscosity and overrun. As the fiber levels increased, the viscosity, melting resistance and overrun of the treatments increased. The effect of fiber on the ice cream pH was significant (P <0.05), with increasing fiber levels, the pH of treatments decreased. Data showed that the effect of citrus uranium L. fiber on all factors of ice cream sensory evaluation was significantly different (P <0.05). Based on the results obtained by increasing the percentage of fiber, the highest score in sensory tests was obtained in treatment 2 (containing 1% fiber). The lowest was for treatment 3 (containing 1.5% fiber). Overall, the results showed that fiber can be used to produce low-fat ice cream with appropriate physico-chemical and sensory properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gd2-xCoxO3-δ (where x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple chemical precipitation method. XRD data revealed the presence of a cubic crystalline structure in the samples. FTIR data showed a peak at 441 cm−1 which is due to Gd-O vibration mode. Particle size analysis indicated particles in the range of 290.5–616.6 nm. SEM studies revealed agglomeration of particles. The presence of cobalt dopant with varying compositions was further confirmed from EDX. The band gap of Gd2-xCoxO3-δwas found to be in the range of 3.57 − 4.93 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a part of the monitoring process of the main polluting tributary of Loktak, the paper analyzed the water characteristics of the main polluted stretch of Nambul river i.e. Imphal Urban region. The results showed low pH (6.23 ± 0.32), high electrical conductivity (1373 ± 50.33 µSm−1), high turbidity (25.40 ± 0.90 NTU), poor dissolved oxygen content (0.53 ± 0.24 mgL−1), high nitrate, and phosphate concentrations (9.27 ± 0.40 and 2.05 ± 0.10 mgL−1, respectively). The Water Quality Index values indicate that Nambul river is unfit for drinking. Moreover, the Sodium Percentage, Sodium Adsorption Ratio, and Kelly's Ratio revealed the unsuitable nature of the river for irrigation. Therefore, in order to clean the river water, lab scale microcosm experimentation was carried out to highlight the potential of the dominant macrophytes viz. Eichhornia crassipes (Mart) Solms and Pistia stratiotes (L.) as phytofilters. The results showed increased pH (7.6 ± 0.11 and 7.5 ± 0.1), higher dissolved oxygen content (5.87 ± 0.30 and 3.28 ± 0.30 mgL−1), less turbidity (0.60 ± 0.25 and 0.40 ± 0.15 NTU) and reduced nitrate and phosphate concentrations (0.37 ± 0.03 and 0.52 ± 0.01 mgL−1, and 0.534 ± 0.025 and 0.346 ± 0.01 mgL−1, respectively). The present study showed the deteriorating water quality of Nambul river, the main polluting source of Loktak – a Ramsar site in the Montreux records. Water Quality Index calculated was above the unsuitable level for drinking at all the sampling locations in the Imphal Urban region. Sodium percentage, sodium adsorption ratio and Kelly's ratio were above the desired limit, making the river water unfit for irrigation. Further, the microcosm experimentation showed that the dominant macrophytes viz. Eichhornia crassipes (Mart) Solms and Pistia stratiotes (L.) can control the pollution level of Nambul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerium is one of the best performing rare earth metal which comes under lanthanide series in periodic table. Cerium can exist in +3 and +4 oxidation states. Because of good physico-chemical properties, ceria based nanostructures have drawn attention in recent years. Pure and doped ceria materials have excellent catalytic, oxygen exchange and charge transport performances. Different elements, such as, gadolinium, samarium, yttrium, copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur, lanthanum, praseodymium, etc. can be doped into CeO2 nanospheres. Ceria based materials can be synthesized by different techniques, such as, homogeneous precipitation, sol-gel process, sonochemical synthesis, thermal decomposition, etc. Because of the tremendous characteristics, ceria nanostructures have been used in variety of fields. This review provides a comprehensive overview on various synthetic techniques employed to prepare ceria based nanoparticles of varying size, surface characteristics, functionalities and physico-chemical behavior. The key applications of ceria based nanoparticles have also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study evaluated the compost quality from municipal solid waste (MSW) and organic additives of coffee by-products and leaf of Millettia ferruginea. Compost sample (n = 30) was taken from fresh compost materials and MSW and different organic additive treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5). Compost treatments phytotoxicity test was conducted using lettuce seed (Lactuca Sativa L. var. crispa). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using SPSS (version 22) on major compost quality characteristics. Results: The compost Physico-chemical characteristics like temperature (26.4 °C), moisture content (45.5%), electrical conductivity (4.6 mS/cm), pH (7.9), total nitrogen (1.2%) and phosphorous content (2918 ppm) in T4 and T5 were analogous but both are significantly different from T3, T2 and T1 compost treatments. Phytotoxicity test using 100% compost treatment media showed that T4 (101%) and T5 (102%) are phytonutrient for lettuce plant. While, T3 and T2; and T1 compost treatments are non-phytotoxic and moderately phytotoxic respectively to lettuce plant. Conclusion: Therefore, compost from MSW + M. ferruginea (T4) and MSW + coffee pulp + M. ferruginea (T5) are important for improving the physico-chemical characteristics of compost and are phytonutrient for lettuce plant. Thus, for effectively management of the 75% of organic fraction of waste generated from households in the study area, recycling methods like composting with organic additives must be used at large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean and its products have been considered as functional products. Due to applying of functional properties of soy milk, a mixture of cow milk and soy milk in different proportions (zero, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% soy milk) was processed to yogurt and then liquid kashk was produced. Liquid Kashk was converted to powder by a spray dryer and their physico-chemical and sensory properties were measured.The results showed that the amount of moisture and protein in the Kashk powder increased from 3.1% to 3.96% and 29.2% to 65.57% respectively and the amount of acidity decreased from 1.72% to 0.8% in the100% soy milk sample compare to 0% soy milk Kashk (P ≤0.05). The increase in soy milk also increased the viscosity and consistency of the reconstituted Kashk. Adding soy milk up to 40% did not make a significant difference in taste and color compared to the control sample, but adding soy milk at levels higher than 40% caused a significant reduction (P ≤0.05) in taste and color score. Soy milk reduced the overall acceptance score of reconstituted Kashk, which did not significant up to 60% of soy milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable oils are a good source of high quality lipids, ω-3 and ω-6 acids, vitamin E and other biologic active components recommended to be included in a healthy diet. Based on the type of oil seeds and processing technology, the composition and physico-chemical proprieties of oils differs. For the research, we used samples of sunflower oil (pressed and refined), soybean oil, olive oils and nuts oil, which were characterized accordingly to standards, based on certain characteristics (phosphatides level, acidity index, peroxide index, saponification index, refraction index, neutralization index). The results have shown the influence of processing on the final characteristics of oils and also helped to draft and understand the recommendation regarding their storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermochemical conversion of sewage sludge has the advantage of being a ‘waste to energy option’ enabling sustainable waste disposal. Among the different methods of waste to energy conversion, the thermochemical route has many advantages over the other methods, such as high reduction in volume of feedstock and lower process time. However, sewage sludge is a non-conventional type of biomass whose characteristics and behavior under various operating conditions are quite different from the conventional type of biomasses because of its distinct composition. The various complex reactions occurring during the thermochemical conversion process depend on the physical and chemical properties of the feedstock. It is essential to have a proper understanding of the physical as well as chemical characteristics of feedstock for better processing and utilization. Accurate and reliable information about the feedstock is required for the design, operation, and optimization of the thermochemical conversion processes. Detailed studies on lignocellulosic biomasses are available in the literature, but only limited works are reported on non-lignocellulosic biomasses such as sewage sludge. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of physical and chemical characteristics of sewage sludge influencing the thermochemical conversion processes. The results for furnace-dried sludge showed that the volatile matter (49.82% by weight), fixed carbon (7.46% by weight) and higher heating value of sewage sludge (12.26 MJ/kg) samples are comparable to that of conventional biomasses. However, higher moisture and ash contents, presence of heavy metals, sulfur, and acidic oxides revealed its distinct nature and indicated the need for additional primary processing and additives for its suitability in thermochemical conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study emphasizes on physico-chemical, mineralogical, morphological, and mechanical characteristics of Coal Combustion Residues (CCRs) collected from two different thermal power plants. To determine utilization potential and valorization, specifically in the Indian cement sector more than governing guidelines of Indian Standards (IS), collected CCRs (Fly and Bottom Ash) samples were analyzed for physical, chemical, and mechanical characteristics. The characterization included pH, moisture content, acid insoluble residue, chlorides, reactive silica, LOI, carbon, Blaine fineness, XRF, SEM, XRD, FTIR, initial and final setting time, consistency and soundness, lime reactivity, and compressive strength at 7, 28, and 90 days. The characteristics were analyzed and selected with a view to determine their suitability as mineral additives in the cement sector. The study showed that; collected CCR samples fulfill the requirements of the Indian standard (IS:3812) as well as ASTM C-618 for physico-chemical and mechanical characteristics and show potential for increased use in the cement industry as mineral additives. The study also highlights that; up to 30% CCRs can be used as a mineral additives during cement manufacturing, and if long-term strength is considered up to 50% replacement can be possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

•Chicken manure, alperujo, olive leaves/pruning and cereal straw were co-composted. •Lignocellulosic wastes reduced the odour emissions derived from chicken manure. •Physico-chemical, respirometric and olfactometric variables were properly monitored. •The compost obtained was stabilised, sanitised and rated as Compost type A. •The average global odour emission rate of the composting plant was 5.16 ou E /kg. Co-composting is a simple and inexpensive alternative for stabilizing and reducing jointly different biodegradable waste. In this study, the feasibility of co-composting chicken manure (CM), alperujo (AL), olive leaves/pruning (OL) and cereal straw (CS) was evaluated at full-scale. The different areas of a composting plant such as fermentation area, composting area and leachate lagoon, were evaluated from physico-chemical, respirometric and olfactometric points of view. The compostable mixture was previously subjected to anaerobic fermentative pretreatment to hydrolyse the non-easy biodegradable organic matter and favour the subsequent composting process. The physico-chemical, respirometric and olfactometric characterization of the composted mixture showed a high-quality final product characterized by a 57 % average organic matter content, an adequate metal content (Compost type A) and a suitable microbiological stability (SOUR max value of 14 mmol O 2 /kg VS h), complying with current national legislation for use as fertilizer in agriculture. Furthermore, the average global odour emission rate of the composting plant was 5.16 ou E /kg, considering the total mass of the compostable mixture and the time required to be treated. Finally, the leachate collected from different treatments of the compostable mixture was found to be a stabilized organic liquid waste with a high nutrient content, useful for wetting composting piles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaf of Moringa oleifera (Lam) Moringaceae, is globally accepted in ethnomedicine and particularly used to tackle malnutrition and enhance breast milk production in resource-limited settings. It is reported to be laden with a wide array of interesting bioactive plant metabolites. However, its safety at conception and during pregnancy has not been well reported notably in Nigeria. This work investigated the in vitro and in vivo uteroactive and contraceptive potentials of cold and hot aqueous extracts of M. oleifera leaves (MOL) commonly used in Nigerian Traditional Medicine. In addition, we determined the physicochemical characteristics of the freeze-dried aqueous extracts and powder. Powdered MOL (100 g each, 1:10 w / v) was extracted in the cold (room temperature) and hot (boiling) distilled water. The in vitro protocol involved the dose-dependent effect of aqueous extracts of MOL on the tension produced by the isolated uteri of non-pregnant rats using organ bath. Uterine contractility and contraceptive properties of MOL were assessed in vivo using female Wistar rats (150–170 g). Particle morphology, size, polydispersity index and zeta potential of MOL were determined. The in vitro administration of cold and hot aqueous extracts of MOL significantly (p <.05) produced uterine contractility with varying intensities. Contractile effect of cold MOL aqueous extract (89.7%) was higher than that of hot MOL (50.6%). In vivo , MOL cold aqueous extracts administered before and after mating, respectively produced 100% and 80% inhibition of conception, while 96.6% and 58% effect was comparatively produced by hot aqueous extracts of MOL. This work has provided useful data on MOL, a commonly consumed medicinal preparation/food supplement and the possible implications of its intake before conception, at conception and during pregnancy. • M. oleifera leaves may not be safe at conception and during pregnancy. • M. oleifera leaves growing in Nigeria prevented conception in tested rodents. • Thesame leaves induced abortions and myometrial uterine contractions in Wistar rats. • Physico-chemical characters suggest the powdered leaves are more stable. • This may account for the preference for MOL products sold in powder. Edited by NE Madala [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physico-chemical characteristics of waste, particularly fine fraction (FF), from an old crystal glass waste dump in Sweden were studied to assess recycling or disposal alternatives. Hand-sorting of the waste indicated glass content of 44.1% while sieving established the FF as a more soil-like mix of glass and other materials constituting 33.3% of all excavated waste. The FF was around neutral pH with 24.4% moisture content, low values of Total Dissolved Solids, Dissolved Organic Carbon and fluorides, but hazardous concentrations of As, Cd, Pb and Zn according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. While the FF leached metals in low concentrations at neutral pH, it leached considerably during digestion with nitric acid, implying leaching risks at low pH. Thus, the waste requires safe storage in hazardous waste class 'bank account' storage cells to avoid environmental contamination as metal recovery and other recycling strategies for the glass waste are being developed. The study could fill the information gap regarding preservation of potential resources in the on-going, fast-paced excavation and re-landfilling of heavy metal contaminated materials in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant potential of paneer, a soft cheese supplemented with various water soluble date extracts during storage. Further, the whey obtained from all the paneer samples was also investigated for its antioxidant potential. Methods: The date cultivars were evaluated for their physico-chemical characteristics and date extracts were assessed for their antioxidant potential. Physico-chemical evaluation, microbiological quality and further antioxidant potential of the prepared paneer were carried out during storage period (0 to 8 days, 5°C). Results: All the date extracts were found to have considerable antioxidant activity due to presence of total phenolics and flavonoids. Owing to the presence of phenolics and flavoinds in date extracts, supplemented paneer showed higher trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, reducing power and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity than control paneer. Paneer supplemented with Rabi extracts had the highest total phenolics (190.7 µg gallic acid equivalent/g paneer), DPPH radical scavenging activity (928.1 µmol equivalent of Trolx/g paneer) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (9.2 µmol equivalent of Trolx/g paneer). The whey obtained from control paneer showed lower values of total phenolics, total flavonoids, DPPH, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and reducing power as compared to the values of whey obtained from paneer supplemented with date extracts. Conclusion: Paneer supplemented with date extracts and its whey may offer potent antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The food industry's current focus lies mainly on the diversification of products and the substitution of imports. The objective of the following research work was to prepare a spiced pasta cheese using Bioyogur ferment at the "Sierra Maestra" Cheese Factory in Santiago de Cuba. For which two different Bioyogur ferments were used, the physico-chemical characteristics (fat, fat in dry extract, % moisture, total solids and pH) were determined and the microbiological parameters were evaluated to the final product in order to estimate the quality of it. The results of the physical-chemical study indicated that it is possible to obtain a spiced pasta cheese using Bioyogur ferment with optimum quality since comparable results were obtained with the commercial product obtained using thermophilic ferment. The pasta filata cheese maintained microbiological quality because no growth of undesirable microorganisms was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Palmiet Estuary is a small, rural estuary in the Western Cape that only closes briefly during dry summers. The system was previously surveyed during 1979 to 1980 and we repeated the survey in April 2015 (mouth closed) and September 2015 (mouth open). Salinity, temperature, pH and oxygen saturation were measured, and invertebrate and fish faunas surveyed. Physico-chemical characteristics have undergone little directional change, apart from an apparent increase in pH, possibly as a result of changes in land use and application of fertilisers and pesticides in the catchment. Invertebrate species richness increased from 31 to 40 species, despite lower sampling effort in 2015. Most changes were among rare species, or were readily explained by changes in mouth condition and water chemistry. We also confirmed a substantial range extension of the tropical crab, Varuna litterata, rediscovered the locally endemic amphipod, Quadrivisio aviceps, and reported several new distribution records. Gastropods had virtually disappeared from the system, whereas the previously unreported bivalve, Brachidontes virgilae, had become abundant. Overall, fish diversity dropped from 19 to 11 species, but this can largely be ascribed to differ- ences in sampling frequency, season and mouth state. Comparisons of samples from like months showed the fish assemblage to have remained fairly stable, despite changes in inflowing water chemistry and infection of fish by the pathogenic water mould, Aphanomyces invadans. Bird abundance and diversity increased substantially. No alien invertebrate or fish species were recorded. Accordingly, in marked contrast to other smaller estuaries in the region, the Palmiet Estuary has remains in relatively good condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A study of in vitro antifungal activity of Aloe vera gel against A. carbonarius. • The toxigenic potential of A. carbonarius was affected by the Aloe vera gel. • At the concentration 50%, a significant mycelial growth reduction was observed. • The most important reduction of OTA was unregistered at 20%. Abstract The basic objective of this study lies in determining the physico-chemical characteristics of Aloe vera gel in freshly harvested leaves, as well as evaluating its efficiency in terms of inhibiting the growth and ochratoxin A (OTA) production by Aspergillus carbonarius. The antifungal evaluation was performed by compound dissolution at the doses of 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50% in Czapek Yeast Agar medium (CYA). Our results revealed that Aloe vera gel did not display a pronounced antifungal effect on the growth of A. carbonarius. It rather showed a high anti-ochratoxigenic activity. Statistical analyses on growth rate of the fungus demonstrated that the main effect on mycelial growth was recorded at 50% of Aloe vera gel with an inhibition rate estimated at about 11.59%. At tested concentrations, Aloe vera gel could not totally inhibit the OTA production of fungus but only reduce it by 22.47–75.69% depending on concentration. However, this reduction was not positively correlated with the increase of the Aloe vera gel in the medium. The most important reduction on OTA synthesis was recorded at 20% of Aloe vera gel although no growth reduction was detected at this concentration. Overall, our results suggest that the concentration of Aloe vera gel should be between 20 and 30% to ensure an active inhibition of OTA production by A. carbonarius. This finding provides sound evidence that the use of Aloe vera gel as a biological pre-harvest treatment at the vineyard level is an effective, feasible and welcomed strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective this research was evaluate the influence of different organic compounds the cultivation of cherry tomatoes, as well as to relate field research and rural development to family farming. The experimental design was a completely randomized design, with 8 replications and 5 treatments: soil, cattle manure, bokashi, organic compost and earthworm humus, in a proportion of 20% between organic compounds and 80% of soil. Initially the seedlings were produced in tubes, then transferred to 8L pots filled with Dystrophic Red Latosol. The parameters evaluated were: titratable acidity (ATT), soluble solids (TSS), ratio, longitudinal and transverse diameter (DL and DT), number and average weight / total fruit per plant. And through questionnaires the possibilities of using these compounds were studied in small rural properties, in which family farming is practiced. The use of different organic compounds did not promote significant differences regarding SST, ATT, ratio and DT. As for the number and average / total weight the fruits per plant, DL and total productivity presented significant differences, highlighting the treatments cattle manure, bokashi and earthworm humus. Based on the interviews, there was great acceptance and interest on the part of family farmers in the alternative use of organic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Incorporation of oils in to the polymer matrix results in the improvement of physicochemical and biocompatible properties. A novel polyurethane based composite bone scaffold was fabricated by electrospinning using sunflower and neem oil for the first time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the mean fiber diameter of the electrospun nanocomposite was decreased with the addition of sunflower oil (816 ± 129.54 nm) and sunflower/neem oil (739 ± 130.922 nm) into the PU matrix (890 ± 116.9115 nm). The strong interactions between PU, sunflower oil and neem oil were observed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Contact angle analysis depicted the hydrophobic (PU/sunflower oil - 112° ± 1) nature and with the incorporation of neem oil it shifted to hydrophilic (PU/sunflower oil/neem oil - 61.67° ± 2.517) behavior. Further, the tensile strength analysis showed the improvement in the mechanical strength with the addition of sunflower oil (10.62 MPa) and sunflower/neem oil (11.67 MPa) in to the PU matrix (7.12 MPa). In addition, the developed composites exhibited reduced hemolytic index percentage and enhanced blood clotting time through coagulation studies. Moreover, the cytocompatibility investigation revealed the non-toxic nature of the fabricated nanocomposites with human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells than the pristine PU. Hence, the developed PU based composites rendering better physio-chemical and cytocompatible properties can serve as an alternate substitute for bone tissue engineering applications. Highlights • Single stage electrospun nanocomposite comprising synergistic combination of sunflower oil and neem oil was fabricated. • Nanocomposite exhibited physicochemical characteristics and mechanical strength conducive for bone tissue engineering (BTE). • Nanocomposite insinuated improved antithrombogenic and safety to the red blood cells compared to the pristine polyurethane. • Cytocompatibility analysis indicated better cell adhesion and proliferation of the fabricated nanocomposites. • Nanocomposite mimicking the extra cellular matrix structure can be successfully exploited as an alternate substitute for BTE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selected physico-chemical characteristics of industrially produced Sremska and Sudzuk sausages were studied to complement information about the quality of typical pork and beef dry fermented products in Serbia. Analysis of production processes was carried out at fi ve meat industries. Water, lipid, protein, NaCl, ash and nitrite contents and pH and water activity were determined at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the processes. The results of chemical components analyses of Sremska were uniform, while Sudzuk sausages showed greater variations. However, both types of products in all examined meat industries conformed with Serbian legislation for dry fermented sausages. The water activity and pH values showed the sausages can be considered as microbiologically stable products during the whole production process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper aims to standardize level of spent hen meat powder incorporation in whole wheat bread without affecting the bread structure.Design/methodology/approach Spent hen meat powder at 20, 30 and 40 per cent level was used for substitution of whole wheat flour.Findings The results revealed that increasing the level of meat powder brought about significant (p < 0.05) effect on physicochemical parameters, proximate composition, textural profile and instrumental colour values (except hue). The pH, baking loss, carbohydrate content, energy and moisture protein ratio decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with meat powder incorporation. Whereas, moisture, protein, fat, ash and moisture retention values increased significantly (p < 0.05) with whole wheat substitution. Meat powder addition increased all the textural profile parameters significantly (p < 0.05). Redness, yellowness and chroma values also increased significantly (p < 0.05) with replacement of whole wheat flour. Sensory evaluation showed variable effect of higher meat powder incorporation. The colour of crust, crumb and flavour evinced significant (p < 0.05) increase with level of incorporation, while porosity and texture decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The overall acceptability of 30 per cent replacement was the highest.Research limitations/implications Storage stability and preservation aspect can be further explored for better shelf life at ambient temperature.Practical implications The development of such a product would definitely be profitable to the poultry industry by opening new avenues for under-used spent hen meat and meat processors.Social implications Addition of meat not only channels better utilization of spent hen meat but also enhances economical return to farmers and the meat industry; it also helps in accomplishing protein requirement of consumers.Originality/value The addition of spent hen meat enhanced the physico-chemical and sensory attributes of the treated groups than control. It is a novel nutritionally rich alternative for regular breads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to screen the sorghum varieties (TNAU released sorghum varieties viz., K 12, CO 30 and local variety) for popping. The physico - chemical characteristics of the raw and popped sorghum varieties were analysed. To optimize the pretreatment for the preparation of popped sorghum different soaking solutions were selected and studied their effect on popping. The sorghum grains were popped by using continuous popping machine at a temperature of 230 °C for 2.5 min. The popping characteristics were analysed for sorghum varieties pretreated with different soaking solutions. From the physico - chemical and popping characteristics, it was concluded that the K 12 variety showed the maximum values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of magnetic treatment on the physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of hard waters. The scaling power of tested waters was evaluated using the rapid controlled precipitation (RCP) method. Results showed that magnetic treatment affects calcium carbonate crystallization. The RCP tests confirmed that the scaling power of the magnetically treated water was inhibited. Experimental results also indicated a significant improvement in the bacteriological quality of the treated water. Average reductions of 2.02 log Total coliforms, 0.95 log Escherichia coli and 1.06 log Faecal streptococci were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mine water in coal mines is a common problem and its availability increases with depth. The disposal of wastewater from mines is one among the most important problems associated with coal mining operations. As a result of mining, both quality and quantity of water are severely affected. The paper has been conducted to assess the quality of water sump and its subsequent utilization in mines and other purposes. It may be concluded from the above study that the pH, TDS, and TSS of water is varying from one point to another point along with other objectionable parameters. Until recently all pollution abatement efforts are aimed at controlling mine wastewater discharge into receiving waters. This paper focused on utilization and management of mine water treatment also. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study firstly proposed the use of 3D MRI images to analyze loins in a non-destructive way. For that, interpolation and reconstruction techniques are applied on 2D MRI images of loins and the computational texture algorithms were adapted to analyze the obtained 3D images. The influence of the i) MRI acquisition sequences (Spin Echo (SE), Gradient Echo (GE), Turbo 3D (T3D)), ii) 3D texture features algorithms (GLCM, NGLDM, GLRLM, GLCM + NGLDM + GLRLM), and iii) regression techniques (Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Isotonic Regression (IR)) was also evaluated. Combinations of SE or GE with any texture algorithm and any regression technique gave accurate results, with correlation coefficients higher than 0.75 and mean absolute error lower than 2. However, considering not only the accuracy of the methodology but also the computational cost, the use of GE, GLCM and IR could be proposed to determine physico-chemical parameters of loins non-destructively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudohalide metal complexes with hydrazones of the Girard T reagent are reviewed with respect to their synthesis, characterization, structures (both in solution and in the solid state), and magnetic properties. It is hoped that this micro-review might serve as a concise guide to the chemistry of pseudohalide metal complexes with hydrazones of the Girard T reagent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of pretreatments and drying methods on the chemical, physico-chemical, sensory characteristics and nutritional value of oyster mushroom. Chemical analysis of oyster mushroom (OM) showed that the values content were increased by many times when calculated on dry weight basis. Nine treatments of dried mushroom powders (DMP) were prepared using three drying methods (hot air drying, vacuum drying, and sun drying). Also, three pretreatments of each method of drying were used (untreated, blanching by steaming without or with steeped in 0.5% citric acid solution for 30 min).The results and statistical analysis revealed that, sun dried oyster mushroom samples (without pretreatments) were found to be the best. The DMP samples resulting of the sun drying had a highest physico-chemical properties, sensory evaluation scores, and contents of the mineral elements and amino acids as compared to other pretreatments and drying methods. Practical applications Fresh mushrooms have high water content, high enzymatic activity and hence are highly perishable. Thus, in this study nine treatments of dried mushroom powders (DMP) were prepared using three drying methods (hot air drying, vacuum drying and sun drying).Also, three pretreatments of each method of drying were used (untreated, blanching by steaming without or with steeped in citric acid).The DMP samples (untreated) resulting of the sun drying were better than other pretreatments and drying methods regarding quality attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice processing industry released an enormous amount of the rice bran which is underutilized. Rice bran contains various proteins that can be used for the production of bioactive peptides. These bioactive peptides might be suitable ingredients for the development of functional food products. The objective of this study was to explore the potential of rice bran-derived globulin proteins as a suitable precursor of bioactive peptides with especially reference to dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides. The various computational approaches (BLAST, BIOPEP, PeptideRanker, PepDraw, Pepcalc, and ToxinPred) were used to predict the potential of the globulin proteins. Ficain protease majorly released the DPP-IV inhibitory peptides from rice bran-derived globulin proteins as compared with other proteases used in this study. Furthermore, primary structure, physico-chemical, sensory, and allergic characteristics of the theoretically release bioactive DPP-IV inhibitory peptides were also studied. The result of this study provides a theoretical basis for the development of rice bran globulin proteins as a suitable source for the generation of bio-functional ingredients for glycaemic management and further demonstrates the usefulness of computational approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While algal blooms occur frequently in lakes and reservoirs worldwide, the effects of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from lakeside and riparian zones on bloom formation are not well understood. In this study, we characterized the molecular composition of DOM from Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (CD-DOM) and Xanthium sibiricum Patrin ex Widder (XS-DOM) and assessed their effects on the growth, physiology, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and stable carbon isotope in four bloom-forming algae species (Microcystis aeruginosa , Anabaena sp., Chlamydomonas sp., and Peridiniopsis sp.). Stable carbon isotope analysis showed that the four species were affected by DOM. Both DOM types increased the cell biomass, polysaccharide and protein contents, chlorophyll fluorescence parameter values, and VOCs release of Anabaena sp., Chlamydomonas sp. and Microcystis aeruginosa , suggesting that DOM stimulated algal growth by increasing nutrient sources, photosynthetic efficiency, and stress tolerance. And in general, these three strains exhibited better growth at higher DOM concentrations. However, DOM treatment inhibited the growth of Peridiniopsis sp., as indicated by the increases in reactive oxygen species, damage in photosystem II reaction centers, and blockage in electron transport. Fluorescence analysis showed that tryptophan-like compounds were the main DOM components that affected algal growth. Molecular-level analysis suggested that unsaturated aliphatic compounds may be the most important DOM components. The findings indicate that CD-DOM and XS-DOM promote the blue-green algal blooms formation and thus should be considered in the management of natural water quality. [Display omitted] • DOM from two herbs were characterized based on EEM and ESI-FT-ICR-MS. • DOM promoted blue-green algae growth by rising photosynthesis and stress tolerance. • DOM inhibited the growth of Peridiniopsis sp. by promoting ROS production. • Tryptophan and unsaturated aliphatic compounds in DOM affected algal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-one cultivars of cranberry fruits ( Vaccinium macrocarpon ) grown in New Zealand were analysed for their physico-chemical characteristics including average fruit weight, total soluble solids content, pH, total titratable acidity, organic acids, and total anthocyanins. In addition, the total proanthocyanidin contents of the fruit were determined using 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde assay, and the profiles were characterised using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectra. Between the different cultivars, there was a range of average fruit weight (0.75–1.84 g), total soluble solids content (9.7–12.8%), juice pH (2.61–2.86), total titratable acidity (3.74–8.77 g citric acid/L juice) and total anthocyanin content (1.63–2.87 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/g dry weight). The 21 cranberry cultivars exhibited similar high performance liquid chromatography profiles for proanthocyanidins using a diol column. The cultivars of Crowley and Howes with the higher contents were found to contain mainly A type (epi)catechin extending units. Therefore, Crowley and Howes with high proanthocyanidin contents would be the best choice of the cultivars studied for the promotion of urinary tract health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current paper, fundamental aspects of wax deposition problems in pipeline are defined, and characterization of paraffin and their solubility tendencies have been discussed. Wax deposition depends on flow rate, the temperature differential between crude and pipe surface, the cooling rate, and surface properties. The physico-chemical characterization of crude oil is determined. The experiments were carried out in “Cold Finger Apparatus.” Best pour point depressant for the selected crude oil has been found out as Lubrizol-6682 among different chemicals available that reduces the pour point from 36° to 12°. The deposition of paraffin wax, its dispersion, and inhibition were studied with available chemicals and by the optimization of suitable additives for particular well. Kinetics of crude oil in terms of time and differential temperature has also been studied and effective dispersion times are observed for particular oil. It is found that dispersion is effective within 30–60 min of starting. Kinetic study of oil with respect to differential temperature is done in two ways either by varying ambient/surface temperature or pumping/reservoir temperature. The tendencies of wax deposition on different sample with neat and treated crude are observed and ideal differential temperature for particular oil to flow is determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]