Search

Edible film biocomposite (EFB) is a kind of materials able to substitute the non-biodegradable plastics. This idea is one of the breakthroughs in reducing plastic waste which is not environmentally friendly. EFB is an environmentally-safe and biocompostable material. This research explores and fabricate EFB from tapioca starch, soy lecithin and sugarcane bagasse fiber (SBF). The SBF was varied by 1, 2, and 3% (from dry starch) into the cassava starch/soy lecithin matrix. The production of EFB was solution casting. A tensile machine and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observed the tensile properties and fracture surface characteristics. The results present that the highest value of tensile strength is in EFB (2% SBF) of 0.823 MPa. The tensile modulus shows a similar trend in values for this EFB of 0.523 MPa. In addition, the fracture surface provides information that a rough surface indicates a good bond between the matrix and the fiber. These two observations confirm that the matrix has successfully transferred the tensile load to the reinforcement. Meanwhile, the results of resistance to moisture resistance also experienced an increasing trend of around 4% from unreinforced specimens.

The objectives of this paper were to investigate the existence of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) in different types of cheese (Mozzarella, Thalaga, and Romy cheeses, 40 samples each) sold in Assiut dairy shops and to evalute antibacterial properties of chitosan and its nanoparticles against isolated strains. L. monocytogenes was isolated in higher percentage from Mozzarella cheese (25%) followed by Thalaga and Romy cheese samples. L. monocytogenes isolates were validated by PCR utilising the 16S rRNA gene. Zeta-sizer and TEM were used to characterise nano-chitosan. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of chitosan and nano-chitosan on L. monocytogenes were detected by MIC test. Nano-chitosan (3.125%) could prevent organism growth in cheese as early as the third week. The findings revealed that 3.125% nano-chitosan had a sufficient effect on L. monocytogenes while also providing good consumer satisfaction; therefore, nano-chitosan should be utilised as a natural food additive in Egyptian dairy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the effect of dapagliflozin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetic rats by studying the histopathological structure of the liver and detecting possible underlying mechanisms for this impact by evaluating the potential anti-inflammatory action of dapagliflozin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 100 albino rats were used in this work and divided into five equal groups: group I (Control group), group II (Control diabetic group), group III (was administered dapagliflozin, 0.75 mg/kg, p.o.), group IV (was administered dapagliflozin, 1.5 mg/kg, p.o.), and group V (was administered dapagliflozin, 3 mg/kg, p.o.). RESULTS: In our study, the total body weight, liver weight, liver index, blood glucose level, insulin level, insulin resistance, total cholesterol, triglycerides, liver enzymes, IL-1 ß, and MDA were significantly higher in the control diabetic group than the normal group. The dapagliflozin reduced all the above variables significantly in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control diabetic group (p-value = 0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Dapagliflozin may be a promising novel treatment strategy for treating T2DM-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and dyslipidemia where it possesses anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-dyslipidemic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to study the propagation of surface waves in generalized magneto-thermoelastic media under influence of magnetic field and rotation and its applications in Engineering, Geophysics, and Petroleum extracting. The governing equations are considered for generalized thermoelastic problem under magnetic field and rotation and solved to obtain the general solution in x-z plane. The Lame's potential method considering harmonic functions for the physical quantities is used to obtain the secular equation and then the velocity and attenuation coefficient for the types of waves: Stoneley, Love, and Rayleigh. The appropriate boundary conditions at an interface between two dissimilar half-spaces are satisfied with appropriate particular solutions to obtain the frequency equation of the surface wave in the medium. Some special cases as: Stoneley waves, Rayleigh and Love waves also discussed and presented graphically to show the physical meaning of the external parameters effect on the petroleum extracting phenomena and its contributions in KSA vision 2030 in crystal, Iron and steel. A comparison is made with the previous results considering LS model and the absence of rotation that deduces to the previous results as a special case from the present study. Also, if the magnetic field and rotation vanish, the results obtained in the present work are discussed. Experimentally, the results obtained agree with the labs results obtained. The results obtained indicate to a significant impact of the magnetic field and rotation on the waves propagation phenomenon that contributes on the industries and related topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was carried out during two successive seasons of 2018 / 2019 and 2019/ 2020 on 15-year-old date palm trees of Zaghloul cv. grown in sandy soil in a private orchard in El-Behira governorate, Egypt. The research aimed to investigate the effect of nitrogen and potassium nano-fertilizers on yield and fruit quality compared with conventional mineral fertilizers. Four doses of nitrogen and potassium nano-fertilizer (75, 150, 300 and 600g/ palm/ year) were applied compared to the conventional nitrogen and potassium mineral fertilizers as a control. Different fertilization treatments significantly affected palm yield and fruit quality during both seasons. Treatment of 600g of nano N and K fertilizers produced higher values of tree yield and bunch weight, fruit volume, and fruit length in both seasons. Meanwhile, 600g of nano-fertilizer and control treatments gave the highest fruit and flesh weight. The obtained results also showed fruit content of total soluble solids, total and reducing sugars was significantly increased by nano-fertilizer treatment at 600 and 300g per palm and improved significantly N, P, and K content. Whereas treatment with 75 and 150g nano-fertilizer gave higher values of total tannins and phenol contents in Zaghloul fruits in both seasons. In the presnet study, nano-fertilizers have demonstrated their remarkable ability to enhance date palm yields, elevate fruit quality, and improve nutritional richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim was to investigate the effect of dapagliflozin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetic rats by studying the histopathological structure of the liver and detecting possible underlying mechanisms for this impact by evaluating the potential anti-inflammatory action of dapagliflozin., Materials and Methods: 100 albino rats were used in this work and divided into five equal groups: group I (Control group), group II (Control diabetic group), group III (was administered dapagliflozin, 0.75 mg/kg, p.o.), group IV (was administered dapagliflozin, 1.5 mg/kg, p.o.), and group V (was administered dapagliflozin, 3 mg/kg, p.o.)., Results: In our study, the total body weight, liver weight, liver index, blood glucose level, insulin level, insulin resistance, total cholesterol, triglycerides, liver enzymes, IL-1 β, and MDA were significantly higher in the control diabetic group than the normal group. The dapagliflozin reduced all the above variables significantly in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control diabetic group (p-value = 0.001 for all)., Conclusions: Dapagliflozin may be a promising novel treatment strategy for treating T2DM-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and dyslipidemia where it possesses anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-dyslipidemic effects.