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Lignin is a complex biopolymer in lignocellulosic biomass. It is a promising feedstock for producing various products, including chemicals and biofuels. Lignin extraction can be achieved viadifferent routes such as organosolv, acid, alkaline, ionic liquids (ILs), and low transition temperature mixtures (LTTMs). LTTM is attractive for its biocompatibility, biodegradability, more straightforward synthesis procedure, lower precursor price, and toxicity than the aforementioned options. In this work, we report the use of an LTTM made from a combination of sucrose-malic acid-water (SMAW) to harvest lignin from four oil palm residues (i.e. empty fruit bunch (EFB), trunk (OPT), mesocarp fibre (MSF), and kernel shell (PKS)). There is still a knowledge gap on the applicability of SMAW to extract lignin from different oil palm residues. Limited studies have examined the properties of the SMAW-extracted lignin, particularly the lignin purity and thermal behaviour. Our results indicated SMAW as a sustainable LTTM solvent for lignin extraction for these four oil palm residues. EFB harvested the highest SMAW LTTM-extracted lignin yield of 27.23% with a lignin purity of 74.93%. TGA curves and DTG curves implied that the extracted lignin was thermally more reactive than alkaline lignin and served as an attractive precursor for thermochemical conversion processes.

The primary purpose of this paper is to develop, analytically, the inverse of the covariance matrix for the mixed analysis-of-variance model with balanced data. The use of this matrix in the identification of minimal sufficient statistics and in developing the likelihood equations is illustrated.

‘Sweetheart’ cherries were sealed in perforated or nonperforated polyethylene bags and stored for 6 weeks in air at 0C. Samples were removed after 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks of storage and evaluated for fruit and sensory quality. Volatile analyses were done on samples kept in storage for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9 weeks. Atmospheres after 6 weeks of storage were approximately 4.6% O2and 10% CO2for the perforated bags (1993) and 6.6% O2and 3.5% CO2for the non‐perforated bags (1994). Fruit brightness (L* value), firmness and titratable acidity declined during storage. Skin color (hue angle) decreased slightly in redness over the 6‐week storage period. Sensory evaluation in 1993 showed a decline in fruit appearance and flavor with storage duration. Texture and juiciness did not change. Acceptability remained high for the first 4 weeks of storage. Twenty‐seven volatiles were identified by head‐space analysis (1993). Little change occurred in volatile production except for acetaldehyde which increased sharply from week 2 to 4 and ethanol which increased sharply between week 8 and week 9. Butyl acetate behaved much like acetaldehyde. Modified atmosphere packaging maintained high fruit luster and green stems. No differences in fruit quality were observed with bag type, but storage appears to be limited to 4 weeks for ‘Sweetheart’ cherries because of flavor loss.

AbstractA technique is presented that requires no direct measurement of gallery length to estimate the total gallery length. Required to obtain the estimate are: (1) an appropriate model for time of year, sample period, and host, (2) tree diameter at breast height, (3) length of infested bole, (4) total tree height, and (5) inner bark thickness. The technique is accurate, less time consuming, and less expensive than direct estimation techniques.

The fusion of NS-1 myeloma cells with spleen cells from mice chronically infected with Leishmania tropica resulted in nine clones of hybridomas producing monospecific antibodies to membrane antigens of L. tropica. One of the antibodies (L-5-85) bound specifically to the promastigote form of the parasite, and the remaining eight recognized antigens shared by the promastigote and amastigote of L. tropica. Four of the antibodies (L-5-16, L-5-34, L-5-44, and L-2-3F11) detected parasite antigens on the surface of L. tropica-infected macrophages. Common antigens shared by L. tropica, L. mexicana, and L. donovani were identified as well as one antigen apparent on most Leishmania spp. and present also in Crithidia fasciculata. Two monoclonal antibodies (L-5-27 and L-5-41) were found to bind only to strains of L. tropica from simple cutaneous leishmaniasis. A special property shared by these two antibodies was the inhibition of parasite growth in macrophages in vitro.

The Frasnian back-reef Pillara Limestone from Guppy Hills, Lennard Shelf, northwestern Australia consists of 267 m of biostromal limestone. Seven facies are described and these form seventy-six interpreted shallowing-upward cycles, with an average thickness of 3.47 metres. These cycles differ only slightly from cycles described from Menyous Gap, but more markedly from those described from Windjana Gorge. The duration of the Guppy Hills cycles is estimated to be between 26 and 33 ka. This estimate is not well constrained, but falls in the band for estimated Milankovitch frequencies, and is probably influenced by precession. The Menyous Gap and Windjana Gorge cycle durations also fall into Milankovitch frequencies, but are thought to be influenced by obliquity. A Fischer plot for the Guppy Hills cycles, shows a negative shift, suggesting an overall shallowing trend. However, there is evidence of a rapid deepening implying contemporaneous tectonic activity. Correlation between this plot and one of a similar age from the Frasnian of Canada suggests part of the plot may be recording a third-order eustatic fluctuation.

AbstractNine sampling units for estimating southern pine beetle population within a tree are compared according to unit size, strata size, and number and type of sampling allocation. As a measure of performance of different sampling schemes or different unit sizes the ratio of the variances of the estimate is used, i.e. relative efficiency.Relative efficiency decreases as unit size increases, where equal surface area is sampled. Unequal stratification, which allocates smaller area to the upper and lower strata, results in higher relative efficiencies than equal stratification. Thus, unequal stratification is recommended. Samples should be allocated to these strata according to the optimal sampling ratios.

AbstractA small microenvironment cabinet was constructed to facilitate studies on the influence of temperature, humidity, and light on the efficacy of chemical pesticides. The semi-jacketed system operated in the ranges of 4°–36 °C, 20–90% relative humidity, and 0–180 ft-c.

Background: Hepatic artery chemotherapy (HAC) and cryoablation are treatments for unresectable liver metastases from colorectal carcinomas. Our centre has previously published data that describe survival statistics of patients after each of these treatments. It has also been established that serial serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) concentrations may be used to monitor disease progress, and that the magnitude of fall is prognostic for both treatments. The pattern of fall of CEA following cryotherapy and regional chemotherapy has not previously been compared.

Non-linear and linear models were compared to determine how well they described the within-tree distribution of egg gallery constructed by the southern pine beetle attacking short leaf pine. The model which resulted in the best description, i.e., smallest root mean squared error and highest R2, was y = a + bx + cx2 + d1 IBTm + d2R + d3A, where y is the gallery length per 100 cm2, x is the height of infestation, IBTm is the innerbark thickness at mid-bole, R is the ratio of infested bole length to tree height and A is representative of infested area computed by multiplying infested bole length by diam at breast height.