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Biochar amendment has been known as a promising strategy that improves crop productivity and physio-chemical properties of soil. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of three biochars: wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse, and rice husk at different levels 2%, 3%, and 5% (w/w) on soil properties and growth of tomato cv. "Money Maker." Results revealed that rice husk at 3% concentration showed significant improvement (+37.4–68.6%) in plant height, number of leaves, fresh and dry shoot weight, fresh and dry root weight and root length compared to control. The physiological parameters like stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, transpiration rate, and water use efficiency were also enhanced (+38–62%) in 3% RH-treated plants while chlorophyll contents were highest in 5% WS, whereas cell membrane stability was maximum in 3% WS-treated plants compared with control. Moreover, 3% RH caused a significant increase (+22.4–81.7%) in electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, organic matter, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Conclusively, 3% RH was found to be the best treatment that improved the soil properties and plant physiological traits that led to enhance overall plant growth. Therefore, RH biochar amendment of soil can be potentially utilized for improving soil properties and plant health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asia is the largest producer of shrimp, accounting for 70% of the global cultured production. The market for shrimp has a high demand and the by-products from shrimp processing make up 40–60% of the whole shrimp. The main by-products include the head, viscera, shell, pelopods, tail, cephalothorax, and exoskeleton. The trends of the future and hurdles of shrimp by-product utilization have been outlined. These by-products are a good source of protein and have anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-oxidant properties. They also enhance the immune system and have bioactive compounds that encourage their use for anti-cancerous, anti-hypertensive, and various other diseases. The waste produced can yield valuable by-products, including astaxanthin, oil, carotenoids, fortified products, nutrient-enriched chitin, protein, flavor enhancers, and composite flour. The yield of astaxanthin is 59.97 µg/g along with carotenoid is 68.26 µg/ml dw, chitosan (87%), protein (47.8%), oil extracted (88.9%) from shrimp by-products, and shrimp head is a rich source of protein (66%) and chitin (6%). These by-products can help meet the growing demand of an increasing population. The abundance of healthy ingredients found in shrimp makes it a valuable resource for scientists, entrepreneurs, and industrialists to develop new products. Additionally, utilizing shrimp waste can help reduce the burden on the earth and decrease environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, fish processing industries are much concerned to produce fish proteins for the fulfilment of the nutritive requirements of human being. More than 60% fish by-products, including liver, head, skin, roes, viscera, and bones that the richest source of proteins, and these are processed to obtain valuable food products in different industries. Numerous studies have proved that fish proteins have a great potential to reduce the risks of cancer, aging, diabetics, and cardiovascular diseases. Their functional properties such as water and oil holding, film-forming, emulsification, solubility, and gelling capacities, which have increased their importance for the development of functional foods. So, this review is focused on different kinds of sources, extraction methods, and functional properties of fish proteins, also their utilization as functional bioactive compounds in the production of fish protein-enriched food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycopene belongs to carotenoid group having lipophilic nature with strong antioxidant potential against numerous diseases. Hence, it has been used extensively in functional foods and pharmaceutical industries to harvest as many benefits from this unique gift from nature as possible. The history, chemistry, extraction techniques, isomers of lycopene and their technological and biological significance from stability to bioaccessibility point of view have been discussed in detail. Most recent advances and methodologies to solve the challenges being faced during extraction, isomerization and within human body, i.e., processing, environmental and gastrointestinal stresses of lycopene, have been highlighted in this review. The most successful extraction technique was found to be green extraction techniques. Heat-induced isomerization by conventional heating has been studied most widely by researchers; while less data are available on catalyst and microwave treated isomerization suggesting heat treated isomerization to be more reliable for research and processing point of view. Also, special compounds produced from normal food materials may stimulate the isomerization of all-trans lycopene to cis-isomers. At the end, it was found that after successfully extracting and isomerizing lycopene we can perform encapsulation by using different nanocarriers and method to enhance the stability, solubility and bioaccessibility of lycopene and its isomers. Abbreviations: GIT: Gastrointestinal tract; GRAS: Generally regarded as safe; EAE: Enzyme assisted extraction; UAE: Ultrasound assisted extraction; SFE: Super-critical fluid extraction; SC-CO2: Super critical carbon dioxide; MAE: Microwave-assisted extraction; NLCs: Lipid-based nanocarriers; SLNs: Solid lipid nanocarriers; OSA: Octenyl succinic anhydride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research is to develop the woven/knitted hybrid composites for improved in plane as well as out of plane mechanical properties. Two different type of structures and two different materials were used in this study. Firstly, the woven and knitted fabrics were developed with glass and Kevlar yarn. Secondly, the laminated composite samples were fabricated with different stacking sequence of fabric plies. The epoxy resin was used as matrix. The cured samples were characterized for impact, tensile and dynamic mechanical properties. The behavior of composite materials was then analyzed with percentages of different fiber and fabric types. The samples with higher percentages of knitted reinforcement gave better impact strength but failed to provide better tensile properties. Moreover, the samples with higher percentages of woven structure and glass materials gives better modulus values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical gowns are the shielding cloths worn by the surgical team throughout a surgery to save them from blood pathogens of the patient being operated, and to avoid bacterial infections. Barrier effectiveness of a fabric depends upon the liquid penetration resistance and pathogen resistance of the fabric. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of different weave structures and fabric thread densities on the barrier effectiveness of the woven surgical gowns. Twelve fabric samples were produced using three different weave structures, i.e. 1/1 plain, 2/2 z-twill, and 3/3 z-twill, and four different fabric constructions and then completed with a water repellent finish. Water repellency spray test and air permeability test were conducted on each of the 12 woven samples. The results of fabric samples were analyzed in Minitab statistical software. The coefficients of determinations (R2values) of the regression equations show good prediction ability of the developed statistical models. The findings of the study may be helpful in deciding appropriate manufacturing specifications of surgical gowns to attain maximum barrier effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peach (Prunus persica) is consumed in almost every part of the world due to its unique taste, flavor, and other sensorial characteristics. The peach processing industry discarded many parts of the fruit including stone, seed, and peel as “peach waste” (PW) after separating the fleshy part of the fruit. PW components are an affluent source of protein, micronutrients, bioactive compounds, hemicellulose, lignin, and cellulose. This proffer review potentially identifies nutraceutical exploitation with health benefits demonstrated by functional bioactive compounds along with their industrial applications in the field of nutraceuticals, food, feed, and cosmetics. Moreover, Wastewater treatment and biosynthetic development of practically useful products are also discussed. The use of PW for the development and designing of innovative nutraceutical and functional foods with enhanced quality could also be significant for lowering food waste and improving food security and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]