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Aims and objectives: In this study, an attempt was made to synthesize, characterize, and develop many applications of functionalized rare metal oxide nanoparticles. Herein, a new strategy for drug delivery is developed to functionalize magnetite nanoparticles to improve their performances in the delivery of celecoxib. Materials and methods: Magnetite Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles are synthesized by the sol-gel method. The surface of the hydroxyl groups was extended by treating with cerium nitrate salt; finally, sodium hydroxide was anchored to the surface hydroxyl groups to produce cerium oxidefunctionalized Fe3O4@SiO2@CeO2 magnetic nanoparticles (FSC). The synthesized sample was characterized by FT-IR, FESEM, VSM, TGA, and XRD. Afterward, the functionalized nanoparticles were examined in the delivery of celecoxib as an active drug model involving cerium oxide and hydroxyl functional groups. Results: For this purpose, the amount of loading/release of the drug was investigated in different amounts of nanocomposite and pH values. Conclusion: The results of the present investigation indicate that the formulations (mFSC=5 mg, pH=3.3) can be considered as best among various formulations with respect to particle size, entrapment efficiency, and in-vitro successful drug release.

Introduction: This research was conducted to assess the effect of myo-inositol (MYO) in the freezing extender on the semen quality and oxidative stress parameters of frozen–thawed bull sperm. Mater...

This paper develops a four-step copper-chlorine cycle for hydrogen production with conceptual modification through flash vaporization and evaluates its economic and environmental performances through exergy approach. The flash vaporization method is employed as a new approach for realizing the anolyte separation under vacuum conditions for reducing the thermal requirement of the anolyte separation step and consequently of the overall cycle. A flash vaporization is usually employed commercially for seawater desalination purposes. However, its utilization in a thermochemical hydrogen production process has not been considered previously which is really one of primary novelties of this investigation. The obtained results for the exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental analyses of the conceptually modified cycle are also compared with those of the existing integrated cycle at the Ontario Tech University. The exergoeconomic analysis of the cycle has also been carried out for the cycle operating with and without waste heat recovery. In this regard, waste heat recovery from a steel furnace has been considered for supplying the required thermal energy for the hydrolysis step. The cost assessment of the cycle is carried out in the Aspen-plus. Compared with the existing cycle, the cycle with the proposed modification results in a lower unit cost of hydrogen. Moreover, a significant reduction in the unit cost of hydrogen is observed when waste heat recovery is considered for the modified cycle. The average unit hydrogen cost for the modified version of the cycle is evaluated to be 4.7 $/kg which reduces to 2 $/kg with incorporation of waste heat recovery. Furthermore, the overall environmental impact of the existing cycle can be potentially minimized by considering the proposed modification through flash vaporization.

Growing concern about the supply of goods under the COVID pandemic due to border restrictions and community lockdown has made us aware of the limitations of the global supply chain. Fertilisers are pivotal for the growth and welfare of humankind and there is more than a century history in industrial technology. Ammonia is the key platform chemical here which can be chemically diversified to all kinds of fertilisers. This paper puts a perspective on production technologies that can enable a supply of ammonia locally and on-demand in Australia, for the farmers to produce resilient and self-sustained fertilisers. To assess the validity of such a new business model, multi-objective optimisation has to be undergone, and computing is the solution to rank the millions of possible solutions. In this lieu, an economic optimisation framework for the Australian ammonia supply chain is presented. The model seeks to address the economic potential of distributed ammonia plants across Australia. Different techniques for hydrogen and related ammonia production such as thermal plasma, non-thermal plasma, and electrolysis (all typifying technology-disruption), and mini Haber-Bosch (typifying scale-disruption) are benchmarked to the central mega plant on a world-scale using conventional technology; verifying that ‘Moore’s Law’1 of growing bigger and bigger is not the only path to sustainable agriculture. Results show that ammonia can be produced at $317/ton at a regional scale using thermal plasma hydrogen generation which could be competitive to the conventional production model, if credit in terms of lead time and carbon footprint could be taken into account.

In this paper, BiVO4-Cu2O nanocomposites have been synthesized by a mechano-thermal method with a controlled composition of Bi2O3, V2O5 and Cu2O contents. The effects of milling time, heat treatment temperature and composition on the structure and microstructure of the prepared samples were studied. The optical properties and photocatalytic performance of the samples under visible light irradiation were studied by Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence (PL) and dye degradation. The BiVO4 and Cu2O contents in the nanocomposite were changed and the effects on the structural stability and photocatalytic performance were studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed that both BiVO4 and Cu2O contents were effective on the synthesis and stability of the monoclinic phase of BiVO4. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) micrographs indicated semi-spherical nanocomposite particles with an average particle size of 100 nm. The heterostructure at the interface between Cu2O and BiVO4 was shown by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and proved by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra. DRS results indicated the minimum band gap energy of 2.12 eV for BiVO4-10 wt% of Cu2O with a 10 wt% excessive V2O5 content. The PL result has shown the lowest rate of the recombination of electron-holes for this sample. Also, the maximum degradation of 97% has been obtained for methylene blue (MB) by this sample after 240 min of being irradiated in visible light region. The photocatalytic mechanism was determined using scavengers. The kinetics of MB and methyl orange (MO) degradations was compared to study the effect of pH on the photocatalytic performance.

Synthesizing nanopores which mimic the functionality of ion-selective biological channels has been a challenging yet promising approach to advance technologies for precise ion-ion separations. Inspired by the facilitated fluoride (F-) permeation in the biological fluoride channel, we designed a highly fluoride-selective TiO2 film using the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. The subnanometer voids within the fabricated TiO2 film (4 A < d < 12 A, with two distinct peaks at 5.5 and 6.5 A), created by the hindered diffusion of ALD precursors (d = 7 A), resulted in more than eight times faster permeation of sodium fluoride compared to other sodium halides. We show that the specific Ti-F interactions compensate for the energy penalty of F- dehydration during the partitioning of F- ions into the pore and allow for an intrapore accumulation of F- ions. Concomitantly, the accumulation of F- ions on the pore walls also enhances the transport of sodium (Na+) cations due to electrostatic interactions. Molecular dynamics simulations probing the ion concentration and mobility within the TiO2 pore further support our proposed mechanisms for the selective F- transport and enhanced Na+ permeation in the TiO2 film. Overall, our work provides insights toward the design of ion-selective nanopores using the ALD technique.

Doping and compositional tuning of Cs(2)AInCl(6) (A = Ag, Na) double perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) is considered a promising strategy toward the development of light-emitting sources for applications in solution-processed optoelectronic devices. Oleic acid and oleylamine are by far the most often used surface capping ligands for PNCs. However, the undesirable desorption of these ligands due to proton-exchange reaction during isolation and purification processing results in colloidal and structural instabilities. Thus, the improvement of colloidal and optical stability of PNCs represents one of the greatest challenges in the field. Here, we report a trioctylphosphine-mediated synthesis and purification method toward Sb-alloyed Cs2NaInCl6 PNCs with excellent stability and optical features. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy enabled one to explain the role of trioctylphosphine and to reveal the reaction mechanism during crystal nucleation and growth. Under the optimized reaction conditions, in situ-generated trioctylphosphonium chloride and benzoyl trioctylphosphonium chloride serve as highly reactive halide sources, while benzoyl trioctylphosphonium and oleylammonium cations together with the oleate anion serve as surface capping ligands, which are bound strongly to the PNC surface. The tightly bound ionic pair of oleylammonium oleate and benzoyl trioctylphosphonium chloride/oleate ligands allows one to obtain monodispersed bright-blue-emitting PNCs with high photoluminescence quantum yields exceeding 50% at an optimum Sb content (0.5%), which also exhibit long-term colloidal stability. The approach based on dual cationic ligand passivation of double PNCs opens the doors for applications in other systems with a potential to achieve higher stability along with superior optical properties. Web of Science 13 40 47859 47845

The performance of local plants was tested using synthetic turbid water resembling real wastewater by measuring their ability to remove turbidity. The selected plants were A. indica, S. palustris, D. linearis, S. polyanthum, M. esculenta, P. sarmentosum, and M. malabathricum which can easily be found locally. The experiment was run based on coagulant dosages varied from 0 to 10 g/L for each plant with a rapid mixing speed at 180 rpm for 3 min, slow mixing speed at 10 rpm for 20 min, and settling time for 30 min. The results demonstrated that each plant has been capable of reducing turbidity by different amounts, with an increase in the coagulant dosage. The optimum coagulant dosages achieved for A. indica, S. palustris, S. polyanthum, and D. linearis were 10 g/L with turbidity removal at 26.9%, 24.9%, 24.9%, and 17.5%, respectively. P. sarmentosum and M. esculenta attained optimum coagulant dosages at 5 g/L with turbidity removal at 24.2% and 22.2%, and lastly M. malabathricum at 0.1 g/L (12.2%). P. sarmentosum was suggested to the best natural coagulant which achieved the highest removal of turbidity with a low dosage used.

The need for renewable bio-based materials that could replace well-established synthetic composite materials is rapidly growing. For example, bio-based materials are increasingly used in applications where a lightweight design should be combined with sustainability and recyclability. However, it is often very challenging to directly transfer the excellent properties of biological materials to a product in a scalable and cost-efficient manner. In this study, we combined delignified wood layers (veneers) and a starch-based glue into bio-based high-performance composites. First, we investigated the ideal amount of starch-based glue between the layers to prevent delamination in the final composite. Then, we produced laminates in unidirectional, cross-ply, and quasi-isotropic configurations using wet processing. Laminates with tensile properties up to 40 GPa and 200 MPa in tensile stiffness and strength, respectively, were fabricated with a very high fiber volume content of up to 80%. The high fiber volume contents led to mechanical interlocks between neighboring fibers and made the need for an additional matrix unnecessary. The water-based laminate process is cost-efficient and scalable and additionally allows one to make full use of delignified wood’s formability by producing shaped parts for various applications.

Background: Eurycoma longifolia (E. longifolia) or Tongkat Ali is a tree that grows in southeast Asia, the roots of which contain bioactive components that exhibit cytotoxic properties against various cancer cell lines. However, no study has been conducted to relate the cytotoxic properties against nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a type of cancer that shows poor prognosis for metastatic disease. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the E. longifolia root extract exerts cytotoxic activity against nasopharyngeal carcinoma (ORL-115) cell lines. Materials and Method: E. longifolia root extracts were obtained through Soxhlet extraction method and by using two different solvents; ethanol and dicholoromethane. MTS assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the root extracts against ORL-115 cell line for three different incubation time which were 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour. Results: Ethanol extract was significantly more potent compared to DCM extract. Ethanol extract exhibited lower IC50 value compared to DCM extract. The IC50 of ethanol extract were 232.1 μg/ml, 66.86 μg/ml and 42.6 μg/ml. Meanwhile the IC50 of DCM extract were 678.87 μg/ml, 136.71 μg/ml, 73.72 μg/ml for 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour incubation period respectively. The cytotoxic activity of both extracts increased as the incubation time prolonged. The cytotoxic activity of ethanol extract at each incubation time was significantly different from DCM extract except at 72 hours. Conclusion: E. longifolia root extracts exerted cytotoxic activity against the nasopharyngeal carcinoma (ORL-115) cell line. Ethanol extract exhibited lower IC50 value compared to DCM extract. The cytotoxic activity of both extracts were dose dependent and time dependent. Key words: E. longifolia, Cytotoxic activity, Nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The electrochemical corrosion property of ternary Al and quaternary Zr added Bell metal in 0.1M Sodium Chloride solution has been experimentally conducted at room temperature. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method and Potentiodynamic polarization technique are used to carry out the electrochemical investigation. Microhardness test is also conducted for all three alloys and it reveals that Al addition increases the hardness of bell metal due to the formation of different intermetallic precipitates of Cu and Al. Optical Micrograph as well as Scanning Electron Micrograph have also been studied to characterize their surface condition. It is found that Zr addition refines the grain structure of the alloy and results in increase of hardness. The EIS study reveals that the corrosion resistance is seem to be augmented with the addition of ternary Al and quaternary Zr to bell metal. The potentiodynamic polarization curves disclose that both ternary Al added and quaternary Zr added alloy show better corrosion performance than the base bell metal alloy due to the formation of stable aluminium oxide film. The currentdensity (Icorr) of base bell metal showed higher value than both ternary Al added and quaternary Zr added bell metal alloys. The corrosion potential (Ecorr) and the open circuit potential (OCP) were seen to be moved to the more positive direction for the Al and Zr added alloys. Microstructure and SEM study of the alloys after corrosion revealed a formation of an oxide film on the surface of the ternary A and quaternary Zr added alloys, the probable cause of which is the presence of Al in the respective alloys.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells that are reported to be immune-privileged and immune-evasive. MSCs are capable of differentiating into specific cell types for subsequent use in cell-based therapy. They express low levels of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-ABC and no HLA-DR. Wharton’s jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) were also found to express human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G), which renders them immunosuppressive. This study aimed to determine whether cultured WJ-MSCs retain their immune-privileged and immune-evasive properties after cell differentiation, and whether these properties differ among MSCs derived from different anatomical segments of the umbilical cord. Umbilical cords of healthy pregnant mothers undergoing caesarean section were obtained and grouped by three anatomical segments: fetal, middle, and maternal segments. WJ-MSCs were isolated, culture-expanded, and differentiated into osteogenic cells. Expression of HLA-DR, HLA-ABC, and HLA-G were quantified using flow cytometry. Both undifferentiated and osteodifferentiated WJ-MSCs were subsequently co-cultured with allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells with/without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation for five days. Lymphocyte proliferation assay was performed using carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) as a tracker. Our results showed no significant difference existed in the HLA profiles among WJ-MSCs from different segments and between WJ-MSCs with and without osteogenic differentiation. Mean levels for HLA-G, HLABC, and HLA-DR were 24.82±17.64, 52.50±18.41, and 1.00±1.68%, respectively. Stimulation with LPS and WJ-MSCs increased peripheral blooc mononuclear cells (PBMC) proliferation. However, PBMC proliferation was significantly lower when PBMCs were co-cultured with osteodifferentiated WJ-MSCs (p < .05; with LPS stimulation and p < .001 without LPS stimulation) than when they were co-cultured with undifferentiated WJ-MSCs. These findings suggest that cultured WJ-MSCs stimulate lymphocyte proliferation and are not immune-privileged. Osteodifferentiated WJ-MSCs reduced the immunogenicity of WJ-MSCs, and this reduction in PBMC proliferation was even more pronounced in the presence of LPS (p < .05). In conclusion, cultured WJ-MSCs are not immune-privileged. Osteodifferentiated WJ-MSCs are less immunogenic than undifferentiated WJ-MSCs, in which case hypoimmunogenicity is more profound under LPS-stimulated conditions.

Soil salinity is a major agricultural constraint in many countries. Plants’ response to salinity depends on the species and the salt concentration in the soil. The objective of this study was to test the resistance of three leguminous plants - common bean (variety ‘El-Jadida’), broad bean (variety ‘Claro de Luna’), and alfalfa (variety ‘Diamon’) - to several salinity rates and to show which one was more resistant to salt stress. This study was carried out under controlled conditions, with six NaCl concentrations (0, 1, 3, 6, and 9 g/kg) added to a mixture of potting soil and sand. A completely randomised design was used, where the three legumes were cultivated with different salt concentrations to determine the effect of these doses on fresh biomass, dry mass, and physiological parameters (sodium and proline content). The results showed the negative effect of salinity on fresh biomass and dry mass of shoots and roots. Claro de Luna, the broad bean variety, was more adapted to salinity than alfalfa and common bean. The amount of sodium in the shoots and roots of the three species increased with increasing salinity. Alfalfa may play a role in soil desalination; at 53.33 mM NaCl, 100 mg alfalfa dry mass absorbed 4.5 mg Na per pot, which corresponded to the uptake of about 0.6 kg Na per hectare of soil. Proline content increased with increasing salt concentrations.

Introduction: To compare the optic nerve head (ONH) structure and microvasculature in patients with optic atrophy due to non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), compressive optic neuropathy (CON), methanol-induced optic neuropathy (MION), and traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) using optical coherence tomography angiography.Methods: In this comparative, cross-sectional study, 32 eyes with NAION, 18 eyes with CON, 32 eyes with MION, 23 eyes with TON, and 55 normal eyes were enrolled. Radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) vessel density, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, disc area, cup volume, and cup/disc area ratio were obtained using the RTVue XR Avanti system (Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA, USA).Results: RPC vessel density and peripapillary RNFL thickness in all patients were significantly lower than normal subjects. A positive correlation was found between the RPC vessel density and peripapillary RNFL thickness in normal subjects and all study groups. The positive correlation between the inside and outside disc RPC vessel density was only found in the NAION (r = 0.36, P = .042) and MION (r = 0.42, P = .018) groups. No significant difference was found among the groups in terms of peripapillary and inside disc vascular densities (all P > .05). Disc area and cup volume in patients with MION was larger than the values in patients with NAION (P = .018) and TON (P = .044) and normal subjects (P = .015). The discriminating features among the study groups were the larger cup volume and cup/disc area ratio in patients with MION, and lower RNFL thickness in patients with TON.Conclusions: There was a positive correlation between the RNFL thickness and peripapillary RPC vessel density regardless of the cause of optic disc pallor. Structural evaluation of the ONH seems to be a better way to differentiate the cause of optic nerve head atrophy than the microangiographic changes.

Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) is one of the important forest species dispersed in the northwest of Iran. It is one of the important spice in Iran and the Middle East because of active components containing organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins and terpenoids. This study aimed to investigate population structure and linkage disequilibrium (LD) extent within Rhus coriaria L. genotypes using ISSR markers and identify molecular markers associated with phytochemical traits using association analysis. In the molecular part of the experiment, the genetic diversity of 75 sumac genotypes from five different areas of northwest Iran was assessed by 18 ISSR primers. In the phenotypic assessment, the fruits of the sumac genotypes were analyzed using HPLC‐LC/MSMS for determining phytochemical components including maleic acid, ellagic acid, maleic acid hexoside, gallic acid, coumaric acid, quercetin, caftaric acid, and linoleic acid. The phenotypic data analysis revealed the great phenotypic diversity among and within Iranian sumac populations for the studied phytochemical traits. The studied sumac genotypes were divided into two subpopulations based on molecular marker‐based structure analysis. A significant level of LD was observed in 11.64% of the ISSR marker pairs (p, Present work was conducted to investigate population structure in a collection of Iranian sumac germplasm and identify the association of ISSR markers with phytochemical traits in the plant. A total 12 ISSR markers associated with studied traits was identified using an association mapping approach. These ISSR markers provide primary molecular information for marker‐assisted selection in sumac.

Rice which belongs to the grass family is vulnerable to water stress. As water resources get limited, the productivity of rice is affected especially in granaries located at drought prone areas. It would be even worse in granaries located in drought prone areas such as KADA that receives the lowest rainfall in Malaysia. Spermine (SPM), a polyamine compound that is found ubiquitiosly in plants is involved in adaptation of biotic and abiotic stresses. The effect of SPM on growth,grain filling and yield of rice at three main granaries namely, IADA BLS, MADA and KADA representing unlimited water, limited water and water stress conditions respectively, were tested during the main season. Additinally, the growth enhancer was also tested during off season at KADA. Spermine increased plant height, number of tillers per hill and chlorophyll content in all three granaries. Application of SPM improved yield by 38, 29 and 20% in MADA, KADA and IADA BLS, respectively. Harvest index showed 2.6, 6 and 16% increases at IADA BLS, KADA and MADA, respectively in SPM treated plants as compared to untreated. Except for KADA which showed a reduction in yield at 2.54 tha−1, SPM improved yield at MADA, 7.21 tha−1 and IADA BLS, 9.13 tha−1 as compared to the average yield at these respective granaries. In the second trial, SPM increased the yield to 7.0 and 6.4 tha−1 during main and off seasons, respectively, indicating that it was significantly higher than control and the average yield reported by KADA. The yield of SPM treatments improved by 25 and 33% with an increment of farmer’s income at main and off seasons, respectively. Stomatal width was significantly higher than control at 11.89 µm. In conclusion, irrespective of the tested granaries and rice variety, spermine mediated plots displayed increment in grain yield.

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with poor survival outcomes and treatment options are limited. These tumors lack therapeutic targets and become rapidly resistant to chemotherapy. The anti–PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab showed durable antitumor activity and manageable safety in patients with TNBC in the KEYNOTE-012, KEYNOTE-086, and KEYNOTE-119 studies. The combination of lenvatinib, an antiangiogenic multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, with pembrolizumab has shown promising clinical outcomes in early-phase clinical trials across several cancer types. LEAP-005 (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03797326) is an ongoing study evaluating the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib combined with pembrolizumab in patients with previously treated advanced solid tumors. Here, we report the first results from the TNBC cohort of LEAP-005. Methods: This ongoing, multicohort, open-label, phase 2 study enrolled patients aged ≥18 y with previously treated, histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced TNBC. PD-L1 expression was assessed at a central laboratory using the PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx assay and measured using the combined positive score (CPS; number of PD-L1–positive tumor cells, lymphocytes, and macrophages divided by total number of tumor cells x 100). Patients received lenvatinib 20 mg once daily orally plus pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks intravenously for a maximum of 35 pembrolizumab doses, then lenvatinib alone until progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR) by blinded independent central review per RECIST version 1.1 and safety. Key secondary endpoints were disease control rate (DCR; defined as best overall response of complete response [CR], partial response [PR], or stable disease [SD] per RECIST v1.1), duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Safety was monitored through 30 days after the last dose of study drug (90 days for serious AEs), with AEs graded using NCI CTCAE v4.0. Results: 31 patients have been enrolled in the TNBC cohort of LEAP-005. Median age was 56 y (range, 37 to 85), 58% had received ≥2 prior lines of therapy, and 26% had CPS ≥10 tumors. As of the April 10, 2020 data cutoff, median follow-up was 7 mo (range, 4 to 13). ORR was 29% (95% CI: 14–48), with 1 CR and 8 PRs. 9 pts had SD, and the DCR (CR + PR + SD) was 58% (95% CI: 39–76). 4 responses (1 CR and 3 PRs) were in patients with CPS ≥10 tumors (n=8) for an ORR of 50% (95% CI: 16–84), and 5 responses (all PRs) were in patients with CPS Citation Format: Hyun Cheol Chung, Esma Saada-Bouzid, Federico Longo Muñoz, Eduardo Yanez, Seock-Ah Im, Eduardo Castanon, Donna M. Graham, Javier Garcia-Corbacho, Juanita Lopez, Razi Ghori, Corina Dutcus, Alan Smith, Kevin Norwood, Carlos Gomez-Roca. Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab for previously treated, advanced triple-negative breast cancer: Early results from the multicohort phase 2 LEAP-005 study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS12-07.

This paper describes a systematic study on the hydrodynamic and mass transfer performance of drops in liquid–liquid extra This paper describes a systematic study on the hydrodynamic and mass transfer performance of drops in liquid–liquid extraction of phenol pollutant from aqueous solutions using 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, [Hmim][NTf2] ionic liquid. Cumene, as a recommenced conventional solvent, was also used for precise comparison under identical conditions. Due to heavier and lighter solvent drops, relative to the aqueous continuous phase, different setups were employed to perform experiments with falling and rising drops in the columns. Based on different criteria, the generated drops were in circulating state and terminal velocities were comparable with the Grace model. By using the same nozzles, smaller drops were generated with the ionic liquid (2.28–3.01 mm) compared to cumene (2.85–4.32 mm), which was mainly due to lower interfacial tension of the ionic liquid system. Meanwhile, the corresponding mass transfer coefficients were within (7.4–16.2) and (56.3–164.4) μm/s, respectively. The difference can be attributed to the much higher inherent viscosity of the ionic liquid. These findings imply that the ionic liquid, with environmental significance, is promising for the separation of phenol from aqueous solutions in large scale columns. Extraction of phenol pollutant from aqueous solutions using 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, [Hmim][NTf2] ionic liquid. Cumene, as a recommenced conventional solvent, was also used for precise comparison under identical conditions. Due to heavier and lighter solvent drops, relative to the aqueous continuous phase, different setups were employed to perform experiments with falling and rising drops in the columns. Based on different criteria, the generated drops were in circulating state and terminal velocities were comparable with the Grace model. By using the same nozzles, smaller drops were generated with the ionic liquid (2.28–3.01 mm) compared to cumene (2.85–4.32 mm), which was mainly due to lower interfacial tension of the ionic liquid system. Meanwhile, the corresponding mass transfer coefficients were within (7.4–16.2) and (56.3–164.4) μm/s, respectively. The difference can be attributed to the much higher inherent viscosity of the ionic liquid. These findings imply that the ionic liquid, with environmental significance, is promising for the separation of phenol from aqueous solutions in large scale columns.

Many food formulations comprise proteins and polysaccharides simultaneously, contributing in the functional properties in food systems. In this study, the effects of basil seed gum (BSG) addition to whey protein isolate (WPI) dispersions were investigated through phase behavior, steady shear flow, and small amplitude oscillatory shear tests (SAOS). The phase behavior of WPI‐BSG mixed solutions was dependent on the initial concentration of biopolymers, while the effect of BSG was predominant. Herschel–Bulkley model characterized the flow behavior of ternary mixtures, very well. Furthermore, apparent viscosity, the extent of thixotropy and viscoelastic behavior enhanced with increase in BSG concentration, significantly (p ˂ .05). Temperature sweep measurements showed a reduction in WPI gelling temperature by increase in BSG concentration. SEM results depending on BSG concentration revealed the protein continuous, bicontinuous, and polysaccharide continuous networks. Phase separation may be attributed to depletion flocculation and thermodynamic incompatibility of WPI and BSG molecules. The results confirmed the occurrence of phase separation and weak‐gel formation through mixtures, but the rate of gelation was more than the phase separation. In consequence, these results may open up new horizons in developing novel food products and delivery systems as well as utilizing as emulsifying, thickening and gelling agents in food and pharmaceutical industry., We studied the phase behavior and rheology of whey protein isolate (WPI) and basil seed gum (BSG) in the aqueous neutral pH medium. The results showed, WPI‐BSG mixtures had a Newtonian and shear‐thinning behavior depending on BSG concentration. The maximum strength of interactions in mixed gels obtained for the WPI‐BSG mixtures containing BSG >0.3%, wt. Phase separation was suppressed by formation of weak BSG gel in the mixture.

BACKGROUND: Evidence from various studies suggest that vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms are associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D); However, these results have been disputable. Here we conducted a meta-analysis to comprehensively evaluate the effect of VDR gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to T2D. METHODS: All relevant studies reporting the association between VDR gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to T2D published up to August 2020 were identified by comprehensive systematic database search in web of science, Scopus, and Medline. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to measure strength of association. The methodological quality of each study was assessed according to the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Subgroup and meta-regression analysis were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 47 case–control studies were included in this meta-analysis. The overall population results revealed a significant association between FokI, and BsmI (heterozygote model) polymorphisms and T2D in the overall analysis. However, no association was found with the TaqI and ApaI polymorphisms. Moreover, the pooled results of subgroup analysis by ethnicity suggested significant association between FokI, TaqI, and BsmI polymorphisms and T2D in some subgroups. Meta-regression analyses indicated that none of the publication year, ethnicity, and genotyping method were the source of heterogenicity in all four polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggested a significant association between VDR gene FokI, and BsmI (heterozygote model) polymorphisms and T2D susceptibility in overall population and ethnic-specific analysis. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-020-00704-z.

The recent advances in genome-wide transcriptome analysis have enabled researchers to identify new genes and manipulate the genome through novel genetic engineering methods to improve plant tolerance to different stresses. We conducted a genome-wide transcriptome analysis to determine tomato genes affecting the salt stress response. The results showed that among the 5784 genes that were responsive to salt stress, 103 genes (1.8%) encode transcription factors, of which 69 (1.2%) were upregulated and 34 (0.6%) were downregulated. The largest group of genes upregulated in response to salt stress (17 genes) is related to the ethylene response transcription factors (ERF) family. Specifically, it was found that the gene JERF1, encoding ERF in tomato, is upregulated in response to salt stress. In the present study we developed a new Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method to deliver the JERF1 gene to mature wheat embryos. It was investigated whether the factors vacuum infiltration, Agrobacterium cell density (OD600 1.0 and its dilutions 1:20, 2:20 and 3:20), the acetosyringone concentration (0, 200 and 400 μM) and the interaction between these factors affect transformation. To this end, Agrobacterium carrying pGWB14-JERF1 was injected into soaked wheat seeds, and T0 transgenic plants were obtained in the greenhouse. Molecular analysis of T0 plants was performed. The highest transformation efficiency was obtained under vacuum infiltration, 200 μM acetosyringone and 1:20 dilution. Notably, we used the in planta transformation method to overcome some of the problems of traditional wheat transformation methods e.g., sterile conditions, recalcitrant regeneration, time-constraints and somaclonal variations.

International audience; Herein, we report an efficient enantioselective cleavage of the acyl-moiety of a set of α-phenyl ethyl esters with different chain-lengths catalyzed by lipase B from Candida antarctica (CAL-B) by comparing two reactional approaches: anhydrous media with sodium carbonates and micro-aqueous medium. The deacylation is performed in organic solvent, in the presence of Na2CO3 in the first case, and by addition of a drop of phosphate buffer solution pH=7 in the second. The results show the high efficiency of the deacylation in the presence of the sodium carbonate for the enzymatic resolution of all the esters and that in term of reactivity (31% ≤ conv ≤ 50%) and selectivity (E >200). While, during the hydrolysis in micro-aqueous media, the conversion is strongly affected by the length of the acyl-chain side, the conversion decreases from conv =50% with the 1-phenylethyl acetate 1a to conv =19% with 1-phenyethyl dodecanoate 6a, and this, even if the selectivity remains high (E>89). In both conditions, the lipase CAL-B shows a high enantioselectivities in favor of (R)-1-phenyl ethanol enantiomer (conv >45%, E>200) but the reactivity is modulated by the form and the size of the acyl-chain side.

The hydrozoan Millepora dichotoma (MD) is a typical Red Sea species containing a porous skeleton in the form of aragonite crystalline calcium carbonate. Due to environmental considerations, the artificial production of coralline species under controlled conditions is pertinent and underway. Artificially grown MD was used as a raw material for the production of calcium phosphate, mainly hydroxyapatite bioceramics, to be used in the drug delivery systems as a drug carrier or in the tissue engineering such as bone graft. DTA-TGA, XRD, FT-IR, Raman, and SEM analysis were carried out to analyze both unconverted and converted artificial corals. Hydrothermally converted coral fine powders were loaded with gentamicin (Gm) antibiotic, and the drug-loaded particles were analyzed by SEM. Unconverted coral was mainly aragonite, while hydrothermally treated coral was completely converted to hydroxyapatite. Hydrothermally treated coral was showing agglomerated nodules up to 1-μm size consisting of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite platelets in the size range of less than 100 nm. The general macropore size of the coral was found to be appropriate for osteoid growth, which is 100 to 600 μm range. These artificially grown corals can be easily produced and used for bone growth and repair and other biomedical applications.

This study incorporates the design, fabrication, implementation and evaluation of soil-based Vertical Floating Bed (VFB). The VFB has contained six plots in three vertical layers, each layer having vertical distance of 0.61 m. The structural load was calculated and three water barrels were used to maintain stable floating condition. Red Amaranth was grown and the production was evaluated with horizontal farm based on no. of leaves (NoL), stem size (SS), crop weight, crop height (CH), root zone depth and total yield (Y). Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference in yield among different layers of VFB with horizontal layer. Most of the considerable yield (NoL 10 nos, CH 0.27 m, SS 12 mm, Y 1.54 kg) was achieved from the top layer of the structure (L1). The lowest production (NoL 7 nos, CH 0.19 m, SS 9 mm, Y 0.83 kg) was found in the bottom layer (L3). The elevation of different layers caused growth variances due to sunlight exposure differences. The study suggested that healthy production will be capable as insect and weed infestation was negligible. It can also be a sustainable method to grow vegetables in low-land areas.

The effect of different concentrations (i.e. 0.1% - 1%) and pH (7.0 and 4.0) on the textural/physical and rheological properties of egg albumin foams was investigated. The findings indicated that the stability and overrun of the foams were higher in the case of the foams made at pH = 4.0 and with the highest concentration of egg albumin (1%). The apparent viscosity of the albumin solution was significantly (p

Essential oils (EOs) have gained a renewed interest in many disciplines such as plant disease control and medicine. This review discusses the components of ginger EOs, their mode of action, and their potential nanotechnology applications in controlling tropical plant diseases. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), high-performance liquid chromatography, and headspace procedures are commonly used to detect and profile their chemical compositions EOs in ginger. The ginger EOs are composed of monoterpenes (transcaryophyllene, camphene, geranial, eucalyptol, and neral) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (α-zingiberene, ar-curcumene, β-bisabolene, and β-sesquiphellandrene). GC-MS analysis of the EOs revealed many compounds but few compounds were revealed using the headspace approach. The EOs have a wide range of activities against many phytopathogens. EOs mode of action affects both the pathogen cell’s external envelope and internal structures. The problems associated with solubility and stability of EOs had prompted the use nanotechnology such as nanoemulsions. The use of nanoemulsion to increase efficiency and supply of EOs to control plant diseases control was discussed in this present paper. The findings of this review paper may accelerate the effective use of ginger EOs in controlling tropical plant diseases.

Chitin, a polysaccharide that occurs abundantly in nature after cellulose, has attracted the interest of the scientific community due to its plenty of availability and low cost. Mostly, it is derived from the exoskeleton of insects and marine crustaceans. Often, it is insoluble in common solvents that limit its applications but its deacetylated product, named chitosan is found to be soluble in protonated aqueous medium and used widely in various biomedical fields. Indeed, the existence of the primary amino group on the backbone of chitosan provides it an important feature to modify it chemically into other derivatives easily. In the present review, we present the structural properties of chitin, and its derivatives and highlighted their biomedical implications including, tissue engineering, drug delivery, diagnosis, molecular imaging, antimicrobial activity, and wound healing. We further discussed the limitations and prospects of this versatile natural polysaccharide.

In this work, we developed a biphasic designer solvent system for enzymatic biotransformation, to demonstrate automatic purification and enzyme reuse, in the frame of a new process concept reported recently (solvent-enabled factory, One-Flow project). "Automatic" refers to instantaneous operation by preferential solubility between two immiscible phases, which does not require (sophisticated) process control ("automated"). The reaction studied is lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl acetate. As a designer solvent, the class of ionic liquids (ILs) has been chosen, and their usage is largely documented in the biocatalysis literature. Three ILs are chosen; all with the 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium cation and differing in their anions, being tetrafluoroborate, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-imide, and hexafluoro-phosphate. The first IL forms a monophasic system and thus was left out of consideration. The other two form the desired biphasic system, when being contacted with water, respectively. The operation of that system is hampered by foaming, that is, the formation of an interfacial emulsion layer as the third phase, which makes phase separation difficult. Therefore, we investigated in detail the phase behavior of the batch and flow-processed fluid systems under various process conditions. Batch processing, which causes tremendous foaming, needs intense stirring because of the high IL viscosity. Continuous-flow reactors provide an alternative because they stir more softly by their shear-enforced convection in their liquid slugs. As a result, they do not show foaming, and therefor; separation in phases is facile. With that issue solved, we report here for the continuous-flow biocatalytic reaction that we achieved high-level product purification and (three times) recycling of the enzyme.

In this study, an exergoeconomic analysis is performed on an integrated four-step thermochemical copper-chlorine cycle developed at the Ontario Tech. University through exergy, cost, energy, and mass (EXCEM) method. A thermodynamic model is first constructed in Aspen-plus (a process simulation software) to simulate and investigate the integrated cycle through exergy and energy analyses. The capital costs, thermodynamic loss rates, and the ratio of the thermodynamic loss rate to the capital cost of various system's components are also determined. Moreover, the average unit cost of hydrogen is evaluated and the influence of several system's parameters on the unit cost of hydrogen is analyzed. The results show that the cost of hydrogen is strongly dependent on the production capacity of the plant. Based on the analysis, our system generates hydrogen at an average unit cost of 5.54 $/kg with a plant capacity of 1619.3 kg/h considering both internal (operating and maintenance costs, etc.) and external (costs of various inputs, etc.) parameters.

The objectives of this study were to profile ginger essential oils (EOs) phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity against important phytopathogens. Ginger EOs was extracted using a modified Clevenger-type apparatus by hydro-distillation then followed by GCMS and headspace analysis of its phytochemical constituents. The phytoconstituents identified were monoterpenes and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Food poisoned and disc diffusion techniques were applied to determine the percentage inhibition of fungal mycelial and bacterial growth respectively. The EOs produced mycelial growth inhibition in all the test fungal pathogens after five days of incubation. The MIC and MFC of the EOs on the tested fungi were in the range of 1 μl/ml and 5–6 μl/ml, respectively. The bacterial growth of all the tested isolates was also affected by EOs at 100–500 µl/ml, from weak to strong antibacterial activity. The EOs affected the Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae-strain A isolate most at a higher concentration of 400–500 μl/ml with mean inhibition of 20.66 mm and 22.66 mm respectively, which are found to be effective. The MIC values on the bacterial pathogens were at100 μl/ml. The inhibition zone of positive control (streptomycin) at 15 µg/disc was 25.00 mm and appeared to be efficient. Metabolomics analysis to concurrently quantify variability among multiple compounds in the data sets and identify such compounds responsible for the X. oryzae pv. oryzae-strain-A inhibition were determined. The cross-validated PLS model has shown a strong correlation between ginger EOs and bioactivity. The action of ginger EOs on the cell structure was fully identified using SEM by observing the changes in morphology and integrity of X. oryzae pv. oryzae-strain-A cells. The DMSO treatment (control) showed a normal rod shape cell, while treatment with the ginger EOs showed irregular shape with sunken surfaces, and treatment with antibiotics display abnormal growth of the cells. These findings can, therefore, propose that the ginger EOs could be used as a new antimicrobial agent in suppressing the growth of phytopathogens and as possible new alternatives to synthetic fungicides and bactericides.

In this study the specific exergy costing (SPECO) approach is employed on a four-step integrated thermochemical copper-chlorine (Cu Cl) cycle for hydrogen production for a second-law based assessment purposes. The Cu–Cl cycle is considered as one of the most environmentally benign and sustainable options of producing hydrogen and is thus investigated in this study due to its potential of ensuring zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Several conceptual Cu–Cl cycles have been exergoeconomically examined previously, however this study aims at investigating the four-step integrated Cu–Cl cycle developed at the Clean Energy Research Laboratory (CERL) at the Ontario Tech University thereby contributing to the thermo/exergoeconomic assessments of the thermochemical hydrogen production. In this study, the cycle is first thermodynamically modeled and simulated in a process simulation software (Aspen Plus) through exergy and energy approaches. The basic principles of the SPECO methodology are applied to the system and exergetic cost balances are performed for each cycle component. The exergetic costing of each cycle stream is then performed based on the cost balance equations. The purchased equipment cost and the hourly levelized capital cost rates for each cycle component is also obtained. The exergoeconomic factor, relative cost difference and exergy destruction cost rate for various cycle components are also evaluated. Moreover, the effect of several parameters on the total and hourly levelized capital cost rates is analyzed by performing a comprehensive sensitivity analysis. Based on the analysis, the exergy cost, the unit or specific exergy cost, and the unit costs of hydrogen are evaluated to be 6407.55 $/h, 0.042 $/MJ, and 4.94 $/kg respectively.

The separation of cyclopentanone from aqueous solutions with recommended (propan-2-yl) benzene (cumene) solvent was investigated at different temperatures of 293.2, 298.2, and 308.2 K and with the ...

An investigation was conducted to assess proline anabolism and catabolism pathway genes under drought stress. Treatments were irrigation in three levels (25, 50 and 100% field capacity) at 1, 3, 6 and 12 d and two rose species (Rosa canina L. and Rosa damascene Mill.). The results showed that the potential for proline accumulation in R. damascena was higher than R. canina under drought. Simultaneous with proline accumulation, expression of P5CS and P5CR genes increased from 1 to 12 d under 50% FC whereas their expression had an increasing trends from 1 to 6 d at 25% FC and expression of both genes decreased at 12 d in both species. The highest accumulation of proline was observed under 25% FC at 12 d, but expression of genes involved in proline synthesis main pathway decreased on this day. Furthermore, expression of genes (PDH and P5CDH) involved in proline catabolism pathway decreased in 50% FC from 1 to 12 d while their expression remarkably decreased from 1 to 6 d and increased at 12 d under 25% FC. These findings showed that under conditions of 50 and 25% FC, arginine accumulation resulted in the increased expression of the ARG gene, which led to ornithine production. Furthermore, ornithine accumulation increased OAT expression. Therefore, it seems that OAT-induced P5C is transported from the mitochondria to the cytosol and reduced to proline by the P5CR.

Understanding the genetic diversity and relationships between genotypes is an effective step in designing effective breeding programs. Insertional polymorphisms of retrotransposons were studied in 75 cultivated and wild grape genotypes using retrotransposon-microsatellite amplified polymorphism (REMAP) technique. In the morphological part of work, seven pomological traits with a high breeding interest were also analyzed in the cultivated genotypes. A total of 328 markers were produced by 42 primer pairs, out of which 313 markers (95.43%) were polymorphic. Number of markers ranged from 4 in loci Tvv1Fa-873, Vine1-811, Gret1Ra-855 and Tvv1Fa-890 to 12 in locus Vine1Ra-841 with an average value of 7.45. Similarity values based on Dice's coefficient among all 75 grapevine genotypes varied from 0.41 to 0.77. Classification of genotypes using unweighted pair-group method using complete-linkage clustering led to six distinct groups. Some wild and cultivated varieties placed in the same groups. It seems there are close relationship between wild and cultivated genotypes and maybe wild genotypes are ancestor of native grapevines. Grouping of grapevine genotypes based on molecular marker data was not in agreement with clustering by agro-morphological data indicating that the most of multiplied sequences are confined to the non-coding regions of transposon elements. Results showed a substantial level of genetic diversity at molecular and pomological level and the potential of this diversity for future grape breeding programs.

Catalysis is a key component of “green chemistry”, and is a strategically vital for the efficient and eco-friendly organic transformations. Easy recovery of catalysts and their reusability is a hot...

The DNA fragmentation and failure in post-meiotic maturation of the spermatozoa because of testosterone withdrawal can affect the fertilization potential in varicocele (VCL) patients. To find out the exact mechanism of VCL-induced failure in histone-protamine replacement process and DNA fragmentation, the correlations between the levels of expression of HSP70-2a, HSP90, PCNA, TP1/2 and PCNA genes and the patterns of DNA methylation were investigated before and after testosterone administration in rats. In total, 40 mature male Wistar rats (10 in each group) were assigned between control (with no intervention), control-sham (undergone a simple laparotomy), VCL-induced (VCL-sole), and testosterone-treated VCL-induced (VCLT) groups. The HSP70-2a, HSP90, PCNA, TP1, and TP2 genes expressions and the patterns of global DNA methylation were determined in all groups. A statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction were found in the HSP70-2a, HSP90, PCNA, TP1 and TP2 genes expressions in VCL-sole group. In VCLT group, testosterone was shown to significantly (p < 0.05) up-regulate the HSP70-2a, HSP90, PCNA, and TP2expression levels, but TP1 expression has not been changed. Furthermore, the VCLT group exhibited higher DNA methylation rates compared to VCL-sole animals. In conclusion, testosterone, by up-regulating the HSP70-2a and HSP90 expressions and maintaining the pre-existing HSP70-2a and HSP90 proteins levels, may be the reason for the significant increment in TP2 expression during post-meiotic stage and can boost the global methylation rates of DNA via up-regulating the PCNA expression, suggesting that administration of testosterone can mitigate the VCL-impaired histone-protamine replacement and DNA methylation rates and protect the cellular DNA content from VCL-induced oxidative stress.

Rhodanine structural scaffolds are an important class of sulfur-containing heterocycles with a broad spectrum of applications in medicinal chemistry. Highly functionalized piperidine scaffolds have...

Two anthryl platinum(II) N,N?-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-benzenediamine Schiff base complexes were synthesized, with the anthryl attached via its 9 position (Pt-9An) or 2 position (Pt-2An) to the platinum (Pt) Schiff base backbone. The complexes show unusually small Stokes shifts (0.23 eV), representing a very small energy loss for the photoexcitation/intersystem crossing process, which is beneficial for applications as triplet photosensitizers. Phosphorescence of the Pt(II) coordination framework (?P = 11.0%) is quenched in the anthryl-containing complexes (?P = 4.0%) and shows a biexponential decay (?P = 3.4 ?s/87% and 18.2 ?s/13%) compared to the single-exponential decay of the native Pt(II) Schiff base complex (?P = 3.7 ?s). Femtosecond/nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy suggests an equilibrium between triplet anthracene (3An) and triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (3MLCT) states, with the dark 3An state slightly lower in energy (1.96 eV for Pt-9An and 1.90 eV for Pt-2An) than the emissive 3MLCT state (1.97 eV for Pt-9An and 1.91 eV for Pt-2An). Intramolecular triplet-triplet energy transfer (TTET) and reverse TTET take 4.8 ps/444 ps for Pt-9An and 55 ps/1.7 ns for Pt-2An, respectively. The triplet-state equilibrium extends the triplet-state lifetime of the complexes to 103 ?s (Pt-2An) or 163 ?s (Pt-9An), in comparison to the native Pt(II) complex, which shows a lifetime of 4.0 ?s. The complexes were used for triplet-triplet-annihilation upconversion with perylene as the triplet acceptor. The upconversion quantum yield is up to 15%, and a large anti-Stokes shift (0.75 eV) is achieved by excitation into the singlet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer absorption band (589 nm) of the complexes (anti-Stokes shift is 0.92 eV with 9,10-diphenylanthracene as the acceptor).

In this work, the extraction of phenol from aqueous solutions toward the ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide [Bmim][NTf2] and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bi...

Pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass is an inevitable step toward value-added green chemicals. There are various modes of pre-treatment method that exist with their own pros and cons. The present study focused on the utilization of the shell of groundnut as lignocellulosic biomass material. The groundnut shell has no use after the collection of nuts from it. Preliminary characterization of groundnut shell was also conducted which showed it has 48.2% cellulose and hemicellulose; the lignin content was found to be 48.67%. The ash content of the biomass was around 3.13%. The lignin content of the biomass was considered as the target response for the pre-treatment process and butanol was used as an organic solvent for the pre-treatment process. The experimental study developed a quadratic model for the entire process with respect to the change in the lignin profile within the design criteria. The study also conducted raw and pre-treated biomass characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The study revealed that the maximum amount of lignin removed was 48.67% lignin.

The interactions between sodium caseinate (NaCas) and basil seed gum (BSG) in the presence of calcium chloride (CaCl2) were investigated. The phase behavior of the mixed aqueous dispersions and their gels revealed a homogeneous mixture, obtained at the higher concentrations of both CaCl2 and BSG. The Herschel-Bulkley model sufficiently fitted the flow behavior of the mixture solution data. Apparent viscosity increased significantly (p 0.05). Furthermore, there was an increase in thixotropy due to the higher concentrations of BSG and CaCl2. Based on the frequency sweep test, at the low frequencies, a more gel-like behavior was observed in the case of the higher concentrations of either BSG or CaCl2. The rheological and SEM data suggested that the stronger structure of NaCas-BSG gel in the presence of the higher concentrations of CaCl2 was related to the induction of complex formation between the two biopolymers.

Drought is increasing prevalently, mostly due to global warming, and harmful effects associated with drought stress include a reduction in the developmental phases of the plant life cycle. Drought stress affects vital metabolic processes in plants such as transpiration, photosynthesis and respiration. The other physiological and cellular processes like protein denaturation and aggregation are also affected by drought. Drought stress severely affects the floral industry by reducing the yield of flowers and among them is chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum). In this study, we determined the critical signaling pathways, tolerance mechanism and homeostatic maintenance to drought stress in chrysanthemum. We compared the proteome of chrysanthemum leaves under drought stress. Among 250 proteins on 2DE gels, 30 protein spots were differentially expressed. These proteins were involved in major signaling pathways including, stress response, flower development and other secondary metabolism like physiological transport, circadian rhythm, gene regulation, DNA synthesis and protein ubiquitination. A reduction in a biomass, flower development, photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, PSII yield and stomatal index was also observed in our results. Moreover, the stress markers and leaf water potential were also analyzed to depict the level of stress tolerance in chrysanthemum. Our data suggested that chrysanthemum plants developed reactive oxygen species and revealed signaling pathways to cope with drought stress. These results, thus, provide crucial information about how chrysanthemum plants respond to drought stress to maintain homeostasis.

Background The currently available data with respect to the association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism and risk to urolithiasis are inconclusive and inconsistent. Hence, an exhaustive meta-analysis can solve the discrepancies and provide a hint for upcoming investigations. Herein, a meta-analysis was carried out to attain a conclusive estimate of the association between VDR gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and urolithiasis risk. Methods The major databases, including ISI Web of science, Scopus, and PubMed/MEDLINE were searched systematically from until June 2020 to retrieve all relevant studies. Association between VDR gene polymorphisms, including FokI (rs2228570), TaqI (rs731236), BsmI (rs1544410), and ApaI (rs7975232), and urolithiasis risk was evaluated using pooled odds ratio (OR) and their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Additionally, to seek for the potential source of heterogeneity, meta-regression analyses were exerted. Results Literature search led to finally finding of 33 studies evaluating the VDR gene SNPs and urolithiasis risk. It was observed that none of the four SNPs were significantly associated with urolithiasis predisposition. However, subgroup analysis confirmed higher risk of urolithiasis in East-Asian and Caucasian population with ApaI and TaqI gene polymorphism. The analyses of sensitivity acknowledged the results stability. Conclusion Although this meta-analysis did not support the association of FokI, TaqI, BsmI, and ApaI in the overall polled analysis, it suggests that ApaI and TaqI SNPs is associated with increased risk of urolithiasis in East-Asian and Caucasians populations.

Salinity adversely affects growth and yield of crop plants. Plants respond to salinity using a series of physiological and biochemical mechanisms through an orchestrated regulation of many genes. Halophyte species have attracted attention of plant biologists to explore their salinity tolerance mechanisms. This knowledge may provide novel routes to improve salinity stress tolerance in crop plants resulting in higher sustainable yields. Salicornia persica is an Iranian native halophyte species that can tolerate extreme salinity. We performed Illumina high-throughput RNA sequencing and functional annotation on shoots of S. persica under control and salinity conditions to investigate the molecular mechanisms controlling salinity adaptation in this halophyte. Over 68 million and 65 million clean reads were generated from control and salinity-treated libraries, respectively. We identified 1595 differentially expressed genes including several transcription factors, protein kinases and transporters. Functional annotation analysis suggested that energy homeostasis and synthesis of primary metabolites play key roles for salinity adaptation in S. persica. Furthermore, gene network analysis indicated that abscisic acid and calcium signaling as well as sodium compartmentalization are major components to confer tolerance to salinity in S. persica. This first report on transcriptome analysis of the halophyte S. persica provided insight into the mechanisms underlying salinity tolerance and served as a platform for future studies.