Search

Mucus layer is the first line of defense for the innate immune system. The mucus function is closely associated with its components and physicochemical and rheological properties. From the rheological point of view mucus is a highly non-Newtonian, thixotropic, viscoelastic material. The changes in mucus׳ composition, its properties as well as glycosylation process which develops with age and depends on environmental and health conditions lead to rheological changes. Due to the complexity of mucus׳ structure and possible defensemechanisms, it is very important to determine the effects of various factors, including various types of particles, drugs, microorganisms etc. on mucus׳ functions. In this study we focused on diesel exhaust particles (DEP) and their interaction with mucus. The results show that the transport of soot aggregates through mucus is affected not only by mucus׳ apparent viscosity. It is also possible that the interaction between the DEPs, their surface type, and the components of mucus strongly influence transport as well as the mucins’ concentration and the pH level.

To describe predictors for severe carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in children due to coal stove. Patients (n = 176) were divided into two groups retrospectively: severe and mild-moderate clinical presentation. Forty-two patients received hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. No patient died. pH 20%, (AUC: 0.691) was comparable to those for pH (AUC: 0.536) and MPV (AUC: 0.639) (p > 0.05) in ROC analysis. Although COHb, pH and MPV were poor predictors for severe manifestations, performance of MPV was similar to the COHb and pH levels.

In the reduction-melting process, lead can be recovered from cathode ray tube funnel glass (PbO = 25 wt%); however, resulting glass residues still contain approximately 1–2 wt% of unrecovered lead. For environmental protection in the residue disposal or recycling, it is important to evaluate the quantities of water-soluble species among the unrecovered lead. This study examined water-soluble lead species generated in the reduction-melting process of the funnel glass and factors determining their generation. In the reduction-melting, metallic lead was generated by reducing lead oxides in the glass, and a part of the metallic lead remained in the glass residue. Such unrecovered metallic lead can dissolve in water depending on its pH level and was regarded as water-soluble lead. When 10 g Na2CO3 was added to 20 g funnel glass during reduction-melting, the resulting glass contained high concentrations of sodium. In a water leaching of the glass, the obtained leachate was alkalized by the sodium-rich glass (pH = 12.7–13.0). The unrecovered metallic lead in the glass was extracted in the alkalized leachate. The quantity of the unrecovered metallic lead (water-soluble lead) in the glass decreased when the melting time, melting temperature, and carbon dosage were controlled during reduction-melting.

Metal is common as medical devices. Stainless steel (SS316L) has low carbon composition in order to increase corrosion resistance. The release of stainless steel ions can occur due to corrosion and affect the surface roughness. This study determined the influence of pH level of saliva on the concentration of nickel ions release and the surface roughness of SS316L. Twelve specimens of SS316L sized (10x10x1)mm were divided into 3 groups (artificial saliva with pH 3, 5, and 7). Samples were stored in the incubator at 37°C for 14 days. The concentration of nickel ions released was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (ppm). The surface roughness was measured before and after the immersion using surface roughness measuring instrument (µm). The result showed the concentration of nickel ion released (ppm) were 0.099±0.023 (pH 3), 0.045±0.020 (pH 5), and 0.000±0.000 (pH 7). While the surface roughness (µm) were 0.22±0.06 (pH 3), 0.12±0.04 (pH 5), and 0.1±0.03 (pH 7). One-way ANOVA proved that the pH level of saliva significantly influenced the concentration of nickel ions and the surface roughness (p

This study aimed to create a prototype that can detect level of calcium and pH to analyse whether the urine is positive of hypercalciuria – a condition of having high amount of calcium, uric acid crystallization (pH 6.8) in urine. Five subjects were tested for their pH level and calcium level with three trials each. Results from paired t-test showed that there are no significant differences in the mean values of the prototype-tested and laboratory-tested pH level (p = 0.310) and calcium level (n = 15. p = 0.781). This indicates that values obtained from two different methods such as using prototype sensor and laboratory testing imply closely related values provided by almost zero mean differences of the two parameters used.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the meat quality of raw pork and beef by means of a gas sensor and Open Source Computer Vision for real-time pattern recognition. This is to reinforce the meat quality detection. Nowadays, people only rely on a simple test method in determining the meat quality. This includes, sensory evaluation, physical, chemical and microbiological testing are described. Lipid Oxidation is a reaction that takes place when oxygen has access to products containing fat or pigments. The main purpose of the study is to determine the quality of raw pork and beef via different but effective methods. Subsequent to this, Oxidation pattern of meat was also investigated.

As current liver perfusion machines use pH probes for monitoring the acidity level in their machine, it poses an increased risk of contamination due to the probes direct contact with the blood, which would then greatly increase the risk of transplant failure. In order to detect pH levels of blood in a liver perfusion machine with minimal contact, this study will use computer vision as a tool in detecting and the given ph. In order to determine the pH level of blood, multiple computer vision techniques with built in knowledge-based systems will be used in the study. The knowledge-based system will continue to improve overtime as more data is collected. In this study, perfusion liquid will be used as the medium for blood due to ethical concerns. The pH is regulated using fuzzy logic control from the data taken from the pH detection system. Through the data taken from the results, it shows that this system when compared to the traditional pH monitoring system is accurate and viable in determining the pH level of the blood. And the system is viable in regulating the pH level of the system effectively.

The source of the optical properties of natural melanin persists as an impressive conundrum, hindering a thorough comprehension of the complicated photo-protective contribution of these extensive natural pigments and the pragmatic design of revolutionary bioinspired materials for optoelectronic functionalities. Melanin is a natural pigment distributed in vivo, and provides protection from the sun rays, exhibiting a strong wide-band UV–visible absorption. In the present study, we investigated the optical properties of natural melanin at different pH concentrations within the framework of experimental techniques, namely, UV–visible absorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and fluorescence spectroscopies. The results indicate that the optical absorption and fluorescence of natural melanin are enhanced within the near-UV and visible regimes with an increase in the solution concentration, are dependent on the pH level, and can impact the emergence of a broad band of visible absorption. The variations in the optical absorption spectra of natural melanin solutions at various pH levels will demonstrate novel rational strategies for controlling their optical properties for potential optoelectronic applications.

Lathyrus aphaca is an aggressive dicotyledonous weed. The effect of different agroecological components/factors on the germination ecology of this weed was explored under a glasshouse and laboratory condition in 2014. The germination response of L. aphaca was lower at high temperature while maximum seed germination was found at 15/12 oC (day/night). Light significantly stimulated L. aphaca germination; nevertheless, substantial germination occurred under dark conditions. More than 86-90% of L. aphaca seeds germinated at pH level of 6.2-7.5. A significant quantity of seed germinated at 250 mM NaCl. There was no germination at -1 MPa. When the temperature was lower than 20/15 oC (day/night) initiation time of germination and germination index (GI) decreased but time to 50% germination (T50) and mean germination time (MGT) increased. Darkness resulted in increased time to start germination, T50, MGT and decreased GI in L. aphaca when compared with the 10 and 12 h photoperiods. The pH of 6 and above 7 enhanced germination time, T50, MGT but decreased GI. Salt stress above 100 mM increased time to germination, T50, MGT but reduced GI. Osmotic potential above -0.4 MPa increased initial germination time, T50 and MGT as well as decreased germination index (GI) of L. aphaca. Increased seed depth in soil lowered germination percentage and GI but enhanced initial germination time, T50, MGT. It was concluded that L. aphaca can grow over a wide range of agroecological/environmental conditions. These results may aid the development of agronomic tools and strategies for weed management in arable crops for yield enhancement. RESUMO: Lathyrus aphaca é uma planta daninha dicotiledônea agressiva. O efeito de diferentes componentes e fatores agroecológicos na ecologia da germinação dessa planta daninha foi investigado sob condições de estufa e laboratório em 2014. Foi observada menor resposta germinativa de L. aphaca em condições de alta temperatura, ao passo que a germinação máxima ocorreu a 15/12 oC (dia/noite). A luz exerceu estímulo significativo para a germinação de L. aphaca; no entanto, observou-se uma quantidade considerável de germinação em condições de pouca luz. Mais de 86-90% das sementes de L. aphaca germinaram em nível de pH entre 6,2 e 7,5. Uma quantidade significativa de sementes germinou a NaCl 250 mM. Não ocorreu germinação a -1 MPa. Quando a temperatura foi inferior a 20/15 oC (dia/noite), houve diminuição do tempo para início da germinação e do índice de germinação (IG), mas aumento do tempo para 50% de germinação (T50) e do tempo médio de germinação (TMG). A escuridão resultou em aumento do tempo para início da germinação, T50 e TMG, mas levou à diminuição do IG em L. aphaca, em comparação com os fotoperíodos de 10 e 12 horas. O pH de 6 e acima de 7 aumentou o tempo de germinação, T50 e TMG, porém diminuiu o IG. O estresse salino acima de 100 mM aumentou o tempo para germinação, T50 e TMG; no entanto, reduziu o IG. O potencial osmótico acima de -0,4 MPa aumentou o tempo inicial de germinação, T50 e TMG, assim como diminuiu o índice de germinação (IG) de L. aphaca. O aumento da profundidade das sementes no solo reduziu o percentual de germinação e o IG, mas aumentou o tempo inicial de germinação, T50 e TMG. Concluiu-se que a espécie L. aphaca tem capacidade de crescimento em uma grande variedade de condições agroecológicas/ambientais. Esses resultados podem auxiliar no desenvolvimento de ferramentas e estratégias agronômicas para o manejo de plantas daninhas em culturas agrícolas visando a melhoria do rendimento.

The pH level of Bryophillum Pinnatum leaves (BPL) is 4.25, which is a suitable amount of acid for generating electricity. When the mixture of water and the acidic juice of Bryophillum Pinnatum comes to contact with Zinc and Copper plates, forming an organic cell which generates a small amount of voltage. In this paper, improved efficiency can be observed by changing the gap between the electrodes and the mixture procedure. The surprising fact is that, after using the cell for a week, the output voltage level continues to decline. It can be improved again by reusing the previous BPL fiber and juice. This well-developed cell shows more efficiency than previous works. A cheap battery can be developed with a combination of this type of cells. Using this technology it is possible to provide electricity to the isolated community like Bandarban, Sandip of Bangladesh where free space is available for cultivating this plant. So, in this paper, electricity generation is not only the main concern but to develop a more efficient cell with maximum utilization of natural leaves. This environment-friendly, cheap and easy way will be a good solution for the isolated community.

In this chapter, the effects of soil factors and agricultural practices on the biogeography of rhizobia are discussed. Soil properties, such as pH level, significantly affect the distribution of soybean rhizobia especially in China. Further, land use and crop management have a distinct influence on the distribution of soybean rhizobia. For the rhizobia associated with medicinal legume Astragalus spp., distribution of these nodule isolates is negatively related to the application of fertilisers. Geographic separation for a long time prevents the gene exchange and recombination of rhizobia.

В данном эксперименте было проведено сравнение изменения состава зубной ткани в буферных растворах с разным уровнем pH. Доказательства, полученные в ходе исследования, могут помочь дальнейшему развитию новой самостоятельной отрасли судебной медицины — судебной стоматологии. Эти результаты также могут быть использованы стоматологами для разработок новых методов исследования состояния пародонта, так как они показывают прямую зависимость состава зубной ткани от уровня кислотности окружающей среды., When identifying a person by bone remains, dental methods, first of all, the assessment of the state of the teeth, are often the leading ones, which makes research in this field highly relevant. In my study, I compart changes in the composition of dental tissue in buffers with different pH. To determine it in buffer with different acidity (neutral, acid and alkaline) for different time I used the method of mass spectrometry on the device ENAMEL-2. So, at the first stage, I analyzed samples of a homogenized 7 solid teeth using an EMAL-2 laser mass spectrometer (the laser source was an IZ-25 laser with an active element made of neodymium doped yttrium oxide Y2O3, the integrating detectors were Ilford Q photoplates or camera roll). Each analysis allowed us to obtain information on the mass fraction and molar content of calcium Ca, silicon Si, phosphorus P, sulfur S, chlorine Cl, boron B, carbon C, nitrogen N, oxygen O, fluorine F, sodium Na, magnesium Mg, aluminum Al, potassium K, titanium Ti, vanadium V, chromium Cr, manganese Mn, iron Fe, cobalt Co, nickel Ni, copper Cu, zinc Zn, strontium Sr, yttrium Y, zirconium Zr, barium Ba. I received the results in the form of mass fractions of elements for each sample, then recalculated the average content per mg/kg and compared with the literature data. In the second stage, I used buffer solutions with pH of 1.7; 6.9 and 9.2, in three healthy teeth were withstood for 21 days. After standard preparation, I carried out elemental analysis of solid tooth on an EMAL-2 laser mass spectrometer (each analytical definition had included information on 27 elements). When selecting elements, the dynamics of the content of which may turn out to be identificationally significant, it turned out that for some of them the content changed insignificantly or did not change: vanadium (

Various clinical symptoms are attributed to extraesophageal reflux disease (EERD). Multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring (MII-pH) is considered to correlate symptoms with acid and nonacid gastroesophageal reflux (GER) events. Pharyngeal pH monitoring (Dx-pH) is considered to correlate the decrease in the pH level in the oropharynx with reported symptoms and to diagnose supraesophageal reflux. We aimed to assess the correlation between acid reflux episodes recorded by Dx-pH and GER detected via MII-pH in children with suspected EERD. The study enrolled 23 consecutive children (15 boys and 8 girls; median age 8.25 [range 3-16.5] years) with suspected EERD. MII-pH and Dx-pH were conducted concurrently in all patients. A total of 1228 reflux episodes were recorded by MII-pH. With the antimonic sensor placed inside the impedance probe, 1272 pH-only reflux episodes were recorded. Of these, 977 (76.81%) were associated with a retrograde bolus transit. Regarding GER, 630 full-column episodes extended to the most proximal pair of impedance sensors; 500 (83.33%) demonstrated an acidic character. The following acid reflux numbers were determined by the Dx-pH system: forpH<4,n=126;pH<4.5,n=136;pH<5,n=167; andpH<5.5,n=304, and for a decrease inpH>10%relative to the baseline,n=324. There was no significant correlation between the number of pharyngeal reflux episodes detected by Dx-pH and that of GERs identified by MII-pH. The proportion of oropharyngeal pH events that were temporally related to a GER episode increased with the extended pH criteria. The highest proportion was observed for a pH decrease of ≥10% from the baseline and did not exceed 5.2%. The application of the extended pH criteria in the Dx-pH system resulted in an increase in the number of diagnosed laryngopharyngeal refluxes; most were not temporally associated with GER episodes confirmed by MII-pH. Thus, the efficacy of the exclusive application of Dx-pH for supraesophageal gastric reflux diagnosis is uncertain.

Limestone and dolomite were used to treat acidic mine effluent in a lab scale study of a passive treatment. This study focused on improving pH level and reducing heavy metals concentrations of the mine effluent. Both limestone and dolomite with aggregate sizes of 10-20 mm and 30-50 mm were packed in a 40 L tank filled with acidic mine effluent. The mine effluent was sampled from an active iron ore mine in Bukit Besi, Terengganu. The experiments lasted for 10 days and the mine effluent samples were collected to measure pH, alkalinity and heavy metal concentrations at various retention time. Experimental results revealed that the limestone had shown a better performance compared to the dolomite in increasing pH and reducing metals concentrations of the mine effluent. Most heavy metals were able to be reduced successfully with only manganese (Mn) had shown a poor reduction.

Background . Knowledge of the pH level of soaps and cleansers used by patients with atopic eczema and sensitive skin is crucial, as high-alkalinity products are irritants and impair the normal skin barrier, so interfering with the adequate control of atopic eczema. Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess the pH of various bar soaps and cleansers that are usually recommended and used by patients with atopic diseases and dry, sensitive skin in South Africa. Methods . Forty-nine commercial soap bars and cleansers were randomly selected for pH analysis. The samples were prepared as 8% emulsions in tap water. Nine undiluted liquid facial cleansers were also evaluated. Deionised water was used as a negative control. The pH of each emulsion or liquid cleanser was recorded in duplicate using a Metrohm pH meter model 827 (Metrohm, Herisau, Switzerland). Results . Of the 49 samples analysed, 34 (69.4%) were alkaline with a pH ranging from 9.3 - 10.7. Two samples (4.1%) were within the acceptable range of (5.4 - 5.9), and 2 samples (4.1%) had pH levels of below 5. In total, 5 samples (10.2 %) had a pH of 4 - 6. Conclusion. The majority of soaps and cleansers analysed in this study were alkaline, with only 2 falling in the acceptable pH range of 5.4 - 5.9 and 5 within the pH range of 4 - 6, thus raising concerns regarding the optimal management of atopic eczema patients.

Introduction: The aim of this in vitro study was to assess the pH values of selected calcium-silicate root canal sealers in comparison with AH Plus resin-based root canal sealer.Materials and methods: Six root canal sealers were included in this study: BioRoot RCS (Septodont, France), GuttaFlow bioseal (Coltėne/Whaledent, Switzerland), MTA Fillapex (Angelus, Brazil), Total Fill BC Sealer (FKG, Switzerland), Well-Root ST (Vericom, Korea) and AH Plus (Dentsply, DeTrey, Germany). Materials samples (n = 6) were placed in dishes and immersed in 10 mL of distilled water (pH = 6.8). After 1, 3, 24, 48, 72, 168, 336 and 504 hrs, water pH was determined with a pH meter calibrated with a solution of known pH. Data were statistically analyzed using Student-t test (p < 0.05).Results: There were differences in the water pH between the materials tested. The highest water pHs were exhibited by Total Fill BC Sealer, Well-Root ST and BioRoot RCS (pH ~12), followed by GuttaFlow bioseal (pH ~10.5) and MTA Fillapex (pH ~9). The lowest pH was shown by AH Plus (pH ~8).Conclusions: All calcium-silicate root canal sealers studied are able to elevate the pH level, which could have biological and antimicrobial effects. The AH Plus root canal sealer has poor alkalizing properties.

Research has been carried out on the analysis of the environmental conditions of seaweed cultivation in the Pulo Raya area of Aceh Jaya Regency, Aceh Province. Aceh Province is the westernmost province of the Indonesian archipelago. Geographically, Aceh is a peninsula area of the island of Sumatra which is directly bordered by the Indian Ocean so that Aceh has several small islands. With this condition, it has the potential to be used as a place for seaweed cultivation. An analysis of environmental conditions is needed to produce good quality seaweed. Examination parameters include pH, temperature, heavy metal content, COD and salinity. Sample examination is carried out based on Standar Nasional Indonesia (SNI) No. 7578.1: 2010 and Decree of the Minister of Environment (KemenLH) No. 51: 2004. The results obtained showed a pH level of 6.22; temperature of ± 28 oC; levels of lead metal ions (Pb (II)) 0.001 ppm and copper (Cu (II) metal ions of 0.002 ppm; The COD level is 137 ppm and the salinity level is 28.75 ppm. With the results of the chemical analysis obtained, the Pulo Raya area is feasible to become a seaweed cultivation area.

For the past few years, food safety incidents often occur as a result of food poisoning from various food sources such as in schools, hospitals, night markets, street stalls and the like. When the quality of food is reduced due to the low level of freshness, cleanliness factor, safety and nutrition, it can contribute to health risks. According to World Health Organization, food poisoning ailment is a global problem and almost 1 in 10 people fall ill every year from eating degraded food and 420 000 die as a result. Factors such as cost savings, low awareness on food freshness and busy routine lifestyle aggravate the food poisoning problem. Hence it is important to at least maintain the freshness of the food mainly at the prominent area such as school and hospital. There are many methods used to test the freshness food, such as visual appearance, and also classical olfaction including normal olfactory and Scentometer, which requires trained panels to taste or smell the food samples to ensure the quality or strength of the odor. However, this method is rather subjective, because the human sense of smell and taste is different and may be influenced by the weather and experience. Conventional pH and litmus paper also are the alternatives, however the material itself is easily damaged and not suitable for the color blind person. In this paper, we presented raw meat examination using pH sensor based on food acidity. Examination of food freshness level is much easier using pH sensor since it is more practical to be used by consumers at home since it can be mobile, long lived, and accurate embedded-based application. Some testing has been conducted on sensor capability reacting with several buffer solutions on meat samples left at room temperature at various periods of time. Generally, the embedded pH sensor developed has successfully tested raw meat freshness level based on acidity level of meat.

Agriculture is heavily dependent on the weather and soil condition. Day by day the weather is getting unpredictable due to climate change, thus the soil condition gets changed. Thus the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become a key component in agriculture to improve productivity. The objective of this research is to develop an Internet of Things (IoT) system, named Smart Germination Assistant (SGA) system to improve the seed germination for different types of plants. The proposed system uses multiple sensors to measure and automatically adjust the moisture, humidity, pH level, temperature, and sunlight of a land to the standard value for each particular type of crop. The performance of the SGA system was experimentally evaluated with 300 seeds of jute leaf, where 150 seeds were sowed in SGA system and other 150 seeds were sowed in a natural environment. The experimental data was collected during 25 May to 07 June, 2018. The experimental results showed that the SGA system makes seed germination at higher rate with maximum survivability.

Traditional farming and fishkeeping have enabled human populations to produce foods, but as communities grow though, less and less agricultural and farm land is available. In addition, due to climate change, producing crops progressively is a difficult thing to do. Aquaponics address these concerns. Aquaponics is the integration of aquaculture and hydroponics in one system. The purpose of this study is to create an automated aquaponics system using Nile Tilapia and Romaine Lettuce with access and control of pH level and temperature through Internet of Things (IoT). Intel Edison is used as the microprocessor which continuously sends information of the aquaponics’ status and adjusts them if the parameters falls below their optimal levels. The system can be monitored with the use of an Internet Protocol (IP) camera. Weekly comparison of the growth of the plant and fish in automated aquaponics, and traditional fishkeeping and hydroponics are done and growth in the automated aquapponics is significantly greater than its traditional counterpart.

The composition and development of naturally occurring microbial communities are defined by a complex interplay between the community and the surrounding environment and by interactions between community members. Intriguingly, these interactions can in some cases cause synergies, where the community is able to outperform its single-species constituents. However, the underlying mechanisms driving community interactions are often unknown and difficult to identify due to high community complexity. Here, we show how opposite pH drift induced by specific community members leads to pH stabilization of the microenvironment, acting as a positive interspecies interaction, driving in vitro community synergy in a model consortium of four coisolated soil bacteria, Microbacterium oxydans, Xanthomonas retroflexus, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila, and Paenibacillus amylolyticus. We use microsensor pH measurements to show how individual species change the local pH microenvironment and how cocultivation leads to a stabilized pH regime over time. Specifically, in vitro acid production from P. amylolyticus and alkali production primarily from X. retroflexus led to an overall pH stabilization of the local environment over time, which in turn resulted in enhanced community growth. This specific type of interspecies interaction was found to be highly dependent on medium type and concentration; however, similar pH drift from the individual species could be observed across medium variants. IMPORTANCE Understanding interspecies interactions in bacterial communities is important for unraveling species dynamics in naturally occurring communities. These dynamics are fundamental for identifying evolutionary drivers and for the development of efficient biotechnological industry applications. Recently, pH interplay among community members has been identified as a factor affecting community development, and pH stabilization has been demonstrated to result in enhanced community growth. The use of model communities in which the effect of changing pH level can be attributed to specific species contributes to the investigation of community developmental drivers. This contributes to assessment of the extent of emergent behavior and members9 contributions to community development. Here, we show that pH stabilization of the microenvironment in vitro in a synthetic coisolated model community results in synergistic growth. This observation adds to the growing diversity of community interactions leading to enhanced community growth and hints toward pH as a strong driver for community development in diverse environments.

Hydroponic is one of growing plant method without soil. It uses water as the planting media. As of this writing, hydroponic method is quite popular in Indonesia because it is more hygienic, more results, more environmentally friendly at a lower cost production. Hydroponic life depends on the nutrients in the water. One of the most important of the hydroponic method is pH level of the water. The standard of pH level which used to grow a plant is in the range of 5.5 to 6.5. To balance the standard of pH level, liquid for increasing and decreasing pH level are needed, but it is difficult to measure the pH level on the standard range while adding the water. Based on this problem, this project will develop an automated device for mixing pH up and pH down liquid so the level of pH will be keep in the desire range using pH sensor and Arduino microcontroller.

In the last decades, researchers have widely discussed the effects of magnetized water on many biological and industrial aspects; many studies have also examined the effects of magnetization on water physical and chemical properties and shown a slight increase in the water pH level for the drinking water after magnetizations. This article presents a new practical model to magnetize the tap drinking water with permanent, and adjustable magnets to ensure fast and precise results. A new smart system is designed and implemented to calculate the required magnetic flux density, and the exposure time based on the difference in the measured pH level of the water at the inlet and outlet pipes. Three permanent magnets, with magnetic flux densities of 500, 1000, and 1500 Gauss (G), are installed at different pipe routes, with added to a variable magnet on the main water outlet. The results show a promising prototype that is not only processing the water efficiently but also supply much data about the water properties, which can be led to more findings in this field.

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of Manganese (Mn) mine in Supul village on the water quality of the residents' dug wells. Research method is used purposive sampling. Water sampling is required for chemical and biological analysis in the laboratory to determine the content of Fe, Mn, E. coli bacteria and pH level in the water. The results showed that the terms of threshold levels of Fe, Mn, and pH values, well water in Hamlet C (Oefenu) which is 200 to 300 meters away that is more polluted than others because those parameters are over the average threshold that required by the Ministry of Health on drinking and cleaning water quality standards. This condition is caused by very close to the mine site and the tailing Manganese. Keywords: Manganese mine, Well water quality, Supul Village

A comparative study was performed between cactus (Opuntia spp.) and alum as coagulants. Monthly samples of raw water, delivered from (Al-Mashroo Canal), were studied and analyzed for turbidity removal during the period from August 29, 2014, to July 23, 2015. The analysis was conducted to decide the optimum dose, optimum velocity gradient, and optimum flocculation time for both coagulants. The results of the study indicate the efficiency of alum over cactus and that the optimum dose of alum was larger than that of cactus. The pH level of raw water was in the range of 7.734–8.203, while the temperature of raw water was in the range of 13–35 °C during the period of the study. The reliable velocity gradient for both coagulants was 25 1/s, and the reliable flocculation time for both coagulants was 20 min. The residual turbidity for cactus was in the range of 0.0–296 NTU, while that of alum was in the range of 0.0–5.81 NTU.

Introduction: We compared the apical extrusion of Chlorhexidine delivered with a 27-G needle, and the EndoVac system (SybronEndo, Orange, CA) during the instrumentation and final irrigation of root canals. Methods: Matched paired single-canal teeth were divided into 2groups. The experimental groups were needle irrigation size #30 (NI30) , and EndoVac size #30 (EV30) Teeth were embedded in 0.2% agarose gel (pH = 7.4) containing 1 mL 0.1% m- Cresol purple (titan media), which changes color at a pH level of 9.0. Root canals were irrigated with Chlorhexidine using 2 different techniques, and the amount of irrigant was controlled. Standardized digital photographs were taken 20 minutes after the first irrigant was used and were analyzed to determine the amount of extrusion (expressed as a percentage of total pixels). Results: The amounts of apical extrusion obtained in the NI30 and EV30, were 50% (10/20), and 10% (2/20), respectively. The EndoVac group showed significantly lower extrusion values than the needle irrigation techniques in terms of the number of teeth and pixels. Conclusion: The risk of apical extrusion is significantly lower with the EndoVac in comparison with the needle irrigation techniques.

The feasibility of incorporating aronia powder (AP) as a value-added food ingredient into convenient food products was investigated using cookie as a model system. AP was incorporated into cookies at amounts of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4% (w/w) based on total weight of wheat flour. The pH level of cookie dough decreased significantly with increasing levels of AP (P 0.05). 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2"-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities were significantly elevated by AP addition, and they increased significantly as AP concentration increased in the formulation (P

The quality characteristics of seasoned pork with sauces containing different concentrations of fermented Oenothera biennis juice such as 5% (5-SP), 10% (10-SP) and 15% (15-SP) during storage for 15 days at were investigated. The pH level decreased after storage for 6 days and pH 4.83~4.90 after storage for 15 days in all tested seasoned pork. The titratable acidity increased significantly after 6 days but did not show significant differences between seasoned pork. The total bacteria of seasoned pork were (control) and (5-SP and 10-SP) after storage for 9 days. The total bacteria showed a lower 1~2 log cycle in seasoned pork with fermented Oenothera biennis juice compared to control. The volatile basic nitrogen contents of seasoned pork were 18.02 mg% (control), 15.41 mg% (5-SP), 14.47 mg% (10-SP), and 17.51 mg% (15-SP) after storage for 15 days at , respectively. The a value (red) of pork seasoned with fermented Oenothera biennis juice was higher than that of control and decreased during storage. Cooking loss and water holding capacity of 5-SP and 10-SP were better than those of control and 15-SP during storage. The 5-SP showed the best sensory score in taste (4.00), color (4.00), flavor (3.91), and overall acceptability (4.09) among various seasoned pork groups.

The addition of base NaOH and KOH solutions and the application of an air stone and a stirrer to develop turbulence in water scrubbing method were carried out to study the purification process of raw biogas. Various concentrations of the base solutions and constant stirrer speed was applied. The work results showed that the best performance in increasing CH4 content, about 70% improvement, was reached with the addition of NaOH on 2% concentration. On the other hand, about 96% and 100% improvement for CO2 and H2S respectively were obtained under 2% NaOH addition coupled with a stirrer. The addition of base solutions was very effective to increase absorbent pH level, thus maintaining absorption process in longer duration and prevented saturation of absorbent. Moreover, the application of a stirrer in packed bed column further improved the biogas quality. The improvement was resulted from the generated biogas bubble and turbulence which led to prolong contact time between absorbent and biogas.

Aim Early prediction of prognosis after out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains difficult. High blood lactate or low pH levels may be associated with poor prognosis in OHCA patients, but these associations remain controversial. We compared blood lactate and pH levels in OHCA patients transferred to our hospital to measure their prognostic performance. Methods We investigated the associations between blood lactate and pH levels on admission and neurological outcomes in 372 OHCA patients who had a return of spontaneous circulation. Results Of the 372 OHCA patients, 31 had a favorable neurological outcome. Blood lactate levels were lower in patients with a favorable outcome than in those with an unfavorable outcome, but this difference did not reach statistical significance (82 ± 49 vs. 96 ± 41 mg/dL). However, pH levels were significantly higher in patients with a favorable outcome than in those with an unfavorable outcome (7.26 ± 0.16 vs. 6.93 ± 0.19, P 7.05, respectively. Areas under receiver–operating characteristic curves were significantly larger for pH than for lactate levels (P 7.05 was an independent predictor for a favorable outcome. Conclusion After OHCA, patients with a favorable outcome had lower lactate and higher pH levels than those with an unfavorable outcome, but pH level was a much better predictor for neurological outcome than lactate levels.

Alum recovery from water treatment sludge is a promising technique applied to decrease usage of fresh coagulants in the water treatment industry. In addition, alum recovery reduces sludge volume for easy handling. The undertaken work investigated the parametric conditions for alum recovery procedure by acidification. The results show that alum recovery reaches up to 69.03%, and the reduction of sludge volume reaches its highest level at 90%. Moreover, results of the parametric investigation reveal that the mixing time of 60 minutes and mixing intensity of 150 rpm are the optimum conditions of mixing for alum recovery from water treatment sludge. The optimum pH level is 1.50 for alum recovery as indicated by maximum aluminum releasing, maximum reduction of sludge volume, and reasonable dosages of added sulfuric acid.

Bacillus sporothermodurans cells were grown in various environmental conditions to study the effects of temperature, pH, and water activity of the sporulation medium on spore inactivation by nisin and heat treatment. The obtained results showed that the modification of the sporulation conditions affected the spore properties. In fact, the resistance of B. sporothermodurans spores to heat treatment combined with nisin (treatment at 95 °C for 12 min in the presence of 125 UI/ml) increases with increasing of pH level (7–9) and decreases as the acidity of the medium increases. While the sensitivity of B. sporothermodurans spores depends on the sporulation temperature. It increases with increasing the temperature from 4 to 37 °C, but starting with 42 °C, the sensitivity decreases. In the presence of NaCl as depressor, the resistance of B. sporothermodurans spores was higher compared with standard conditions (pH 7, 37 °C without NaCl or glycerol) with an inactivation rate does not exceed 2.79 log. This is the first study which contributed to understand the relationship between the sporulation conditions (pH, temperature and water activity) and the resistance of B. sporothermodurans spores to nisin and heat treatment. It shows that the sporulation conditions, particularly sporulation temperature, must be carefully taken into account during settling sterilization processes applied in the dairy industry.

The study investigated the effect of hydrophobic, blackcurrant seed extract (Ribes nigrum L.) obtained under supercritical CO2 conditions on the anti-irritant properties of hand dishwashing liquids. A range of liquids differing in extract concentration (0–0.5 wt%) were prepared. The product prototypes were subjected to tests focusing on their anti-irritating property and functionality. Based on the zein values and measurements of changes in the pH level of the bovine albumin solution, the liquids were shown to be markedly safer to use. It was noted that an increase in extract concentration in a product leads to a deterioration of detergent and foaming properties. The highest concentration of the extract allowing the achievement of acceptable results was 0.3 wt%. The results suggest that hydrophobic plant extract, for example, from blackcurrant seed can be an interesting raw material for reducing the irritating potential of liquid agents designed for hand dishwashing.

Flow and dynamic rheological properties of thickened waters prepared with commercial food thickeners were investigated at different pH levels (3, 4, 5, 6, and 7). The commercial xanthan gum (XG)-based thickener (thickener A) and starch-based thickener (thickener B), which have been commonly used in a domestic hospital and nursing home for patients with swallowing difficulty (dysphagia) in Korea, were selected in this study. Thickened samples with both thickeners at different pH levels showed high shear-thinning flow behaviors (n=0.08~0.22). Thickened samples at pH 3 showed higher n values and lower consistency index (K) values when compared to those at other pH levels. The K values of thickener A increased with an increase in pH level, while the n values decreased, showing that the flow properties greatly depended on pH. There were no noticeable changes in the K values of thickener B between pH 4 and 7. At pH 3, the thickened water with thickener A showed a higher storage modulus (G') value, while that with thickener B showed a lower G'. These rheological parameters exhibited differences in rheological behaviors between XG-based and starch-based thickeners, indicating that the rheological properties of thickened waters appear to be greatly influenced by the acidic condition and the type of food thickener. Appropriately selecting a commercial food thickener seems to be greatly important for the preparation of thickened acidic fluids with desirable rheological properties for safe swallowing.

Purpose Colorfastness properties of dyed degummed and dyed stannic chloride weighted silk fiber were studied as a function of exposure to sunlight in air, washing with soap solution and spotting with alkalis. Design/methodology/approach Improved multi-voltine variety of degummed silk fibers was weighted with the treatment of stannic chloride at the varying pH level. Maximum weighting of silk fiber was achieved at the optimum SnCl4 concentration, pH of the solution, time and temperature. The degummed (un-weighted) and weighted silk fibers were then dyed with Direct Blue 1 and Direct Red 28 dyes at the optimized dying conditions. Findings The role of base (Na2CO3) on dyeing of weighted silk fiber with Direct Red 28 was found very influential. The loss in tenacity of degummed silk fiber was higher than that of SnCl4 weighted silk fiber when they were exposed to sunlight in air. Originality/value The colorfastness of weighted dyed silk was comparatively higher than that of un-weighted dyed silk.

Gel for enamel remineralization was standardized with respect to authenticity, quantitative drug contents, pH level, and microbiological purity using chemical and physicochemical methods modified to account for specific dosage forms. All techniques were tested on laboratory batches of gel, showed well-reproduced results, and could be recommended for inclusion in regulations on the technology and quality control of gel for enamel remineralization.

Today, artificial tears containing hyaluronic acid are the first choice remedy in dry eye syndrome treatment. This is due to unique properties of hyaluronan, such as mucoadhesion, high hydrophilia, adaptive viscoelasticity depending on pH level, composition similar to the native tear, an ability to stimulate migration and proliferation of epitheliocytes, to affect cell diffusion, to have a protective and antioxidative effect on the cells, etc. However, while choosing artificial tear drops we have to take account not only of the presence of hyaluronan as the main ingredient, but also ofthe qualitative characteristics of its molecules, type and concentration of the buffer, presence of a preservative agent, and other factors that can weaken hyaluronan beneficial features, cause an allergy, worsen the viscoelastic properties of the solution, etc. // Russian Ophthalmological Journal, 2016; 4: 94-104. doi: 10.21516/2072-0076-2016-9-4-94-104.

Efficiency of technologies using ultrasonic waves superimposed with hydrogen peroxide for the removal of Bisphenol A (BPA) from the aqueous solution was well studied and investigated. BPA is a non-biodegradable antioxidant, which was highly resistant to the biological and chemical breakdown; the non-biodegradability of the dye made it noxious and hazardous material for the both aquatic flora as well as fauna. Tests were done at two levels i.e. ultrasonic power 300 and 500 W; frequencies of 35 and 130 kHz respectively and at the optimum pH levels of 3, 7 and 11. Hydrogen peroxide levels were tested at concentrations of 5, 15 and 30 mg/l. Obtained results demonstrated that the efficiency of BPA breakdown using a process combining ultrasonic waves assisted by hydrogen peroxide was more effective than separately applied processes. The highest rate of decomposition was achieved at the frequency of 130 kHz and 500 W assisted by 30 mg/l H 2 O 2 at pH level 11. The removal efficiency of BPA in natural samples decreased compared to efficiency in synthetic samples.

A balneabilidade é um instrumento de verificação de parâmetros que determinam se a água da praia tem qualidade para a recreação de contato primário. O objetivo da pesquisa foi verificar a balneabilidade e as condições da qualidade ambiental do balneário da Fazendinha em Macapá. A metodologia contou com uma pesquisa descritiva, com análise de dados primários e secundários de qualidade da água considerando um período de 2 anos. As informações sobre o monitoramento realizado foram pesquisadas junto ao Instituto do Meio Ambiente e de Ordenamento Territorial do Estado do Amapá – IMAP. Os resultados mostraram valores de E. coli e pH satisfatórios para o balneário da Fazendinha. O estudo foi ampliado para outros balneários no sentido de comparar esses parâmetros. Os demais balneários mostraram resultados alterados para o pH, em não conformidade com a legislação. Foram encontrados valores de pH = 4,4 no Curiaú, pH = 5,82 do Perpétuo Socorro, pH = 5,89 no Santa Inês e pH = 5,5 no Ariri. Essas alterações reforçam a necessidade de se intensificar períodos de monitoramento que é feito uma vez ao ano. Na Fazendinha, 42% dos entrevistados identificaram que o balneário é utilizado em outros meses não monitorados. O estudo reforça a importância da comunicação por parte do órgão responsável quanto à qualidade da água para maior satisfação e segurança aos usuários. Palavras-chave: Qualidade da água, resolução CONAMA 274/2000, qualidade ambiental. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18561/2179-5746/biotaamazonia.v5n4p110-118

Представлены результаты стандартизации геля для реминерализации эмали по показателям подлинности и количественного содержания лекарственных средств, уровня рН и микробиологической чистоте. В работе использовали химические и физико-химические методы, модифицированные с учетом специфики лекарственной формы. Все методики, апробированные на лабораторных сериях геля, показали хорошо воспроизводимые результаты и могут быть рекомендованы для включения в нормативную документацию, регламентирующую технологию и контроль качества геля для реминерализации эмали.

The objective of the current study is to identify the influence of acidity on ohmic heating compared to conventional heating for inactivation of food-borne pathogens in orange juice. For conventional heating, the heating rate was not significantly different (P > 0.05) regardless of pH and pathogens were inactivated more effectively at lower pH. However, different patterns were observed for ohmic heating. Although temperature and electrical conductivity were not greatly affected by lowering pH, temperature increased more rapidly with increasing pH due to higher electrical conductivity. Also, the inactivation patterns were significantly different (P

To evaluate the effects of cherry silverberry (Elaegnus multiflora) juice on sulgidduk, rice cakes were prepared using different quantities of cherry silverberry juice (0%, 33%, 66%, and 100%). The pH level of the control group was higher than that of other groups with cherry silverberry juice. The moisture content of the control group was higher than that of other groups with cherry silverberry juice. In terms of color, the L-value were significantly higher in the control group than in other groups, whereas the a-value and the b-value were significantly lower in the control group than in other groups (p

Leaching of slag must be limited when slag is used in other areas than landfill. As slag is composed of different minerals, the properties of slag, inter alia the dissolution, depend on these minerals. If the leaching properties of each mineral are known, counter measurements can be taken to prevent the leaching of unwanted elements. In this study, the dissolution of three common slag minerals will be examined. The three minerals; boron-stabilised β-dicalcium silicate, pseudowollastonite and monticellite were synthesised. The dissolution was measured by setting pH to 4, 7 or 10 and adding 0.05 g mineral in the size range 20-38 mm and the HNO3 consumption required to maintain the pH level was recorded during 40 h. As expected, the dissolution increases for all minerals when pH decreases. The boron-stabilised β-dicalcium silicate was the only mineral fully dissolved at all pH levels, while pseudowollastonite and monticellite only dissolved completely at pH 4.On doit limiter le lessivage de la scorie lorsqu'...

Swimming pools have the potential to cause health problems if not properly maintained, one of them is by maintaining the swimming pool water pH. pH is very important as a parameter of water quality, the acidity is called neutral if the pH value is 7, the value of pH 7.8 contains bases. therefore designed a pool level pH control tool based on light intensity and rainfall. This tool aims to produce a neutral outdoor swimming pool water pH, able to design water pH measuring devices using light intensity sensors and rainfall sensors based on ATmega32 microcontroller and analyze the effect of swimming pool water quality on health. Tests carried out with aquarium prototype and measurements carried out for 1 day continuously. The test results show that this tool is able to neutralize the pH of swimming pool water by producing pH 6.8 and 7.1.Thus, the tool designed is efficient in providing information on the acidity of swimming pool water pH and can neutralize pH levels.

Biomass is a renewable energy that attracted the global attention. Biochar is a product of pyrolysis of agricultural biomass under limited oxygen condition and the fire is lit at the top of the biomass. There was a variety of method or technique to produce biochar. A simple, practical and affordable unit of pyrolysis kiln was designed and fabricated to ease the small farmer to produce the biochar efficiently at low cost. Biochar samples were prepared from the pyrolysis process by using waste wood from the harvest site. Furthermore, pH level, surface area and other biochar characterization had been studies through laboratory test. Surface area of biochar observed through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Gas emission was observed during the trial run of the pyrolysis kiln. The portable biochar kiln can be constructed easily by the small farmer by using available metal. This is one of the methods which utilises the biomass efficiently and use it as soil nutrient supplement. This approach is more environmental friendly compare to open burning of waste wood at the harvest site. The general performance of the portable biochar kiln is satisfactory and is suitable for burning the waste biomass to produce biochar.