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A biomass derived carbon supported yttrium oxide catalyst (Y2O3/PKS-T700) was synthesized and evaluated in glycerol acetylation reaction using four-factor, two-level face-centred central composite design (24 CCD) of the response surface methodology (RSM). The catalyst exhibited high glycerol conversion (GC) (99.8%) and product selectivity of 11.1%, 60.2%, and 29.6% monoacetin (MA), diacetin (DA) and triacetin (TA) under optimized conditions of temperature 130 ℃, glycerol-to-acetic acid molar ratio 1:12 and catalyst loading 0.5 g in 5 h reaction time. The catalyst was synthesized via carbonization of palm kernel shell (PKS), impregnated with 15 wt% yttrium oxide (Y2O3) and calcined appropriately. The synthesized catalyst was further characterized by N2 physisorption analysis (BET surface area), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), and temperature programmed desorption-ammonia (TPD-NH3). Results revealed that the catalyst is more of mesoporous material with large surface area, good pore volume and average size distributions. It is thermally stable with good acidity and various functional groups. On subjecting the catalyst to a reusability test in three (3) reaction cycles under the optimal conditions, it was found to maintain good acetylation reaction with little degradation.

Microbial-based fertilizer has been widely used as a healthier and better alternative to agrochemical products. However, the effects of biofertilizers on the rhizospheric microbiota has rarely been investigated. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of symbiotic fungus Trichoderma asperellum SL2-based inoculant on the soil bacterial population through next generation sequencing using a metabarcoding approach. The treatment plots were treated with T. asperellum SL2 spore suspension, while the control plots were treated with sterilized distilled water. The results showed similar bacterial microbiome profiles in the soil of control and T. asperellum SL2-treated plots. In conclusion, the application of the T. asperellum SL2 inoculant had not exerted a negative impact towards the bacterial population as similar observation was reflected in control plots. Nonetheless, future research should be conducted to investigate the effects of repeated application of T. asperellum SL2 over a longer period on the rice microbiota communities., (© 2022 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Momordica charantia fruit is claimed to have healthy benefit. Despite this potential claim, the phytochemical study of this fruit is still lacking. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the antioxidants profile of Momordica charantia (Cucurbitaceae) fruit. The antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extracts of various polarities was evaluated and the metabolites that are responsible for its activity were identified using metabolomics approach. Six different mixture of ethanol in water that are 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% (v/v) was extracted using dveseeded fruit sample. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-quadrupole time of flight and multivariate data analysis was used to identify the metabolites that were either antioxidants or pro-oxidants. The 80% ethanol extract exhibited the most antioxidant activity when tested in both 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) antioxidant assays. This extract showed the most intense LC-MS signals represented to ascorbic acid, margarolic acid, brevifolincarboxylic acid, quercetin 3-O-glycoside, kuguacin H, cucurbitacin E, 3-malonylmomordicin I, and goyaglycoside G correlating to the anti-oxidant activity. This study reports for the first time the existence of brevifolincarboxylic acid in this fruit, and the antioxidant activity of 3-malonylmomordicin I and goyaglycoside G. In addition, the loading plots revealed the unknown compounds possessing the antioxidant activity which are potential to be isolated in the future study., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

Purpose: To compare the degree of tear film instability and severity of meibomian gland dysfunction between subjects who use eyeliner and those who do not use eyeliner., Methods: This cross-sectional study included 42 healthy volunteer women who had no dry eye symptoms (Ocular Surface Disease Index score < 13) and aged between 18 and 40 years. The subjects were classified into 2 groups: an eyeliner-use group (EL: regularly used eyeliner ≥3 d/wk and continuously used ≥6 mo) and a noneyeliner-use group as controls. A questionnaire for ocular surface symptoms using a visual analog scale was administered. Then, a number of eye tests were performed [grading of conjunctival inflammation, fluorescein tear breakup time, ocular surface fluorescein staining, Schirmer I, evaluation of meibomian gland (MG) function, detection of eyelid margin abnormalities, and Demodex detection]., Results: Tear breakup time was significantly lower in the EL group compared with controls (3.0 ± 1.9 vs. 5.8 ± 2.1 s, P < 0.001). MG grading was significantly higher in the EL group than in controls (P = 0.004); higher grade (grades 2-3) was found in 85.7% of EL and 47.6% of controls. Meiboscore was also higher in EL than in controls (P = 0.001). Regarding the morphological changes in lid margin, only telangiectasia was detected significantly more in EL (28.6%) compared with controls (4.8%) (P = 0.041). Conjunctival inflammation was observed 4 times more in EL (66.7%) than in controls (14.3%), P = 0.001. Other outcomes included ocular surface symptoms and fluorescein staining scores, and Schirmer I and Demodex detection were not significantly different between both groups., Conclusions: The regular use of eyeliner induces tear film instability and MG dysfunction.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare tear film changes and ocular symptoms after reading an electronic book (e-book) and a printed book., Study Design: Clinical and experimental., Methods: Crossover study was conducted in 30 healthy volunteers, some of whom read an e-book and others a printed book for 20 minutes and then switched the following week. Tear meniscus height (TMH), non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT), fluorescein break up time (FBUT), corneal and conjunctival staining score, and questionnaires about seven ocular symptoms were evaluated before and after reading by both reading methods., Results: After reading an e-book, FBUT and NIBUT were significantly decreased (p<0.001for both). Similar to printed book readers (p=0.006, p=0.04, respectively). TMH and corneal and conjunctival staining score showed no significant differences in either group. Comparing the two groups, the e-book group showed more decrease in TMH, FBUT, and NIBUT (p>0.05). Ocular symptoms were significantly increased in both groups. The e-book group showed more increase in all symptoms, but only tearing (p=0.03) and burning sensation (p=0.02) were significantly different., Conclusions: Reading an e-book affected tear film instability and significantly increased burning sensation and tearing to a larger extend than reading a printed book.

Aim: To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in the morning and evening in Thai patients with varying degrees of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS)., Methods: In this cross-sectional study, potential OSAHS patients at Siriraj Hospital underwent polysomnography to determine the severity of OSAHS and an eye examination (including best corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, and Goldmann applanation tonometry). RNFL thickness was recorded once in the morning and once in the evening, using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Thickness was expressed as an average and given for each quadrant. Patients with ocular or systemic diseases that might affect RNFL thickness were excluded., Results: Forty-one eyes of 41 patients were classified into 4 OSAHS groups. The average and mean RNFL thickness in most of the four quadrants of the severe OSAHS group trended toward being less than those in the comparable quadrants of the other groups in both the morning and evening. In the moderate OSAHS group, the average RNFL thickness and temporal and superior quadrant thickness in the morning were significantly higher than in the evening (P=0.01, P=0.01, and P=0.03, respectively). In the severe OSAHS group, the inferior quadrant thickness in the morning was significantly higher than in the evening (P=0.03)., Conclusion: The RNFL thickness in the morning was higher than in the evening in moderate OSAHS.