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Tomato fruit rot caused by fungi is the most common postharvest problem. The fungi are responsible for spoilage of produce between harvest and consumption. This study analyzed the distribution of tomato fruit rot using descriptive as well as geostatistical techniques and diversity of associated fungal species. Descriptive statistics indicated that the rot incidence and severity ranged from 10.22-44.17% and 0.7 - 7.10 mm. Geostatistical techniques were used to predict the spatial dependency class. Results revealed that rot incidence data had a nugget/sill ratio of 0.487 inferring moderate spatial dependence, whereas severity inferring weak spatial dependence with nugget/sill ratio of 0.221. Furthermore, geostatistical analysis was also applied to examine spatial variability within-field using semivariogram and kriged maps. The maps of current study showed spatial distribution of rot incidence and severity in the study area. These digital maps will be helpful to develop pre-and post-harvest management strategies against tomato fruit rot. A total of nine fungal species were isolated from infected tomato fruit namely; Geotrichum candidum, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Bipolaris, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Culvularia lunata and Penicillum digitatum. Aspergillus flavus was dominating species (17.02%) followed by Fusarium oxysporum (14.89%) and Alternaria alternata (12.76%), while Culvularia lunata has the least occurrence (6.38%). This study provides information about post-harvest rotting fungi of tomato to the growers, extension workers and researchers in the district Gilgit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slip velocities of unfilled and talc-filled polypropylene (PP) compounds, detectable at the die wall during pressure driven shear flow, have been determined using capillary rheometry. The presence of low molar mass, polar additives is responsible for the detection of wall slip in unmodified PP. Slip velocity increases with shear stress, beyond the critical onset condition. Increasing talc concentration in the PP compounds reduces slip velocity systematically, according to the talc volume fraction, whilst talc particle morphology appears to modify the wall slip behaviour to a greater extent than particle size. In comparison to PP-talc composites based on untreated filler, the presence of surface coatings tends to increase wall slip velocity, at any given shear stress, when the coating concentration exceeds monolayer level. These observations are explained in terms of a mechanism for wall slip in a low cohesive strength interphase, rich in low molar mass amide species, close to the flow boundary. This behaviour has also been modelled using a power law, to define wall slip parameters as a function of shear stress and talc concentration that can be used to enhance process simulation. It is demonstrated that the onset and magnitude of wall slip may be controllable by compound formulation and process conditions, creating exploitation potential to enhance process control and product properties of particle-modified PP composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current randomized controlled experimental study was carried out to investigate the beneficial effects of leaf extract of Ficus carica L. (Anjir) leaf extract in gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity. Thirty mice were divided into three groups of 10 mice each. Group A served as control and was given distilled water orally for 8 days. Group B and C were experimental and were treated with gentamicin 200 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally and gentamicin 200 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally with Ficus carica L. (Anjir) leaf extract 400 mg/kg/day orally respectively for a period of 8 days. After 24 hours of experimental period, kidneys of each mouse were dissected and processed for microscopic examination. The histological examination of group A showed normal renal architecture whereas histopathalogical examination of group B showed fragmented tubular basement membrane, tubular degeneration, tubular cast with interstitial inflammation and congestion. Histological examination of group C showed minimal change in renal histology as compared to group B. Gentamicin is a nephrotoxic drug and Ficus carica L. leaf extract has nephroprotective effects against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity due to its antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Size distribution of crude oil drops in the permeate has been predicted using the 'linear fit' approach with, and without oscillating the membrane. Without membrane oscillation (without shear rate), static and drag forces are taken into account and their balance is assumed as 100% cut-off or rejection point. With the membrane oscillation, 'inertial lift' model available in the literature is considered and in this case 100% cut-off is assumed when away migration and convection velocities becomes equal. Three types of crude oil drops with different "API values and interfacial tensions are analysed experimentally, the results are compared with the presented model and the model is an agreement with the experiments. The study has been validated with the genuine size distribution of oil drops obtained from oil companies operating at Kuwait at various locations in order to investigate the industrial applicability of the model. Overall oil concentration of the permeate can be calculated using the proposed model that provides an idea whether the concentration of oil in the permeate is within the standard set by international regulatory authorities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]