Defining application areas of corn husk fibre by studying its characteristics

Natural fibres have attracted more attention compared with synthetic fibre because they exhibit several benefits over synthetic fibre, such as being cost-effective, readily available, and lightweight apart from offering better mechanical properties. Corn husk fibres being a natural crop fibre have attracted more attention due to their renewability and biodegradability. Corn husk is an outer protective layer of maize which is generally discarded as waste. However, this agro-waste can be utilized exclusively for various applications with a sustainable approach by extracting fibres out of them. This paper aims to revolutionize the usage of corn husk fibres in conventional as well as technical textile industries by enlisting various application areas. A comprehensive understanding of corn husk fibre extraction techniques and their effect on various fibre properties are also discussed. These properties are compared with properties of other natural fibres, to enable the possibility of converting corn husk fibres into different textile forms such as yarn, woven and nonwoven fabric, and composites. This will fulfill the increasing demand for natural fibre along with biodegradability and reduced petroleum dependency while contributing to the purpose-driven use of agro waste.

Advances in the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of Nelumbo nucifera gaertn. Extract nuciferine

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGIC RELEVANCE

The leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Are recorded in the earliest written documentation of traditional Chinese medicinal as "Ben Cao Gang Mu", a medicinal herb for blood clotting, dysentery and dizziness. Nuciferine, one of N. nucifera Gaertn. leaf extracts, has been shown to possess several pharmacological properties, including but not limited to ameliorating hyperlipidemia, stimulating insulin secretion, inducing vasodilation, reducing blood pressure, and demonstrating anti-arrhythmic properties.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In light of the latest research findings on nuciferine, this article provides a comprehensive overview of its chemical properties, pharmacological activities, and the underlying regulatory mechanisms. It aims to serve as a dependable reference for further investigations into the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of nuciferine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Use Google Scholar, Scifinder, PubMed, Springer, Elsevier, Wiley, Web of Science and other online database search to collect the literature on extraction, separation, structural analysis and pharmacological activity of nuciferine published before November 2023. The key words are "extraction", "isolation", "purification" and "pharmacological action" and "nuciferine".

RESULTS

Nuciferine has been widely used in the treatment of ameliorating hyperlipidemia and lose weight, Nuciferine is a monomeric aporphine alkaloid extracted from the leaves of the plant Nymphaea caerulea and Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Nuciferine has pharmacological activities such as relaxing smooth muscles, improving hyperlipidemia, stimulating insulin secretion, vasodilation, inducing hypotension, antiarrhythmic effects, and antimicrobial and anti-HIV activities. These pharmacological properties lay a foundation for the treatment of tumors, inflammation, hyperglycemia, lipid-lowering and weight-loss, oxidative stress and other diseases with nuciferine.

CONCLUSION

Nuciferine has been clinically used to treat hyperlipidemia and aid in weight loss due to its effects on lipid levels, insulin secretion, vasodilation, blood pressure reduction, anti-tumor properties, and immune enhancement. However, other potential benefits of nuciferine have not yet been fully explored in clinical practice. Future research should delve deeper into its molecular structure, toxicity, side effects, and clinical pharmacology to uncover its full range of effects and pave the way for its safe and expanded clinical use.

The influences of street food vendor frying equipment on the quality of frying oil

This study was initiated to determine the quality of fresh and used oil for street vendor fried food products in Harar City, Ethiopia. Using a purposive sample technique, 12 respondents were selected for the study. The study obtained a total of 12 oil samples, categorized as fresh, in-use, and discarded, from two distinct groups of respondents. Specifically, six samples were collected from vendors utilizing an electric fryer constructed from stainless steel, while the remaining six samples were acquired from vendors employing a pan heated by wood or charcoal.The moisture content of fresh, in-use, and discarded oil samples, among other physical characteristics of the samples obtained from two types of vendors, was examined and found to vary between 0.14 and 0.44%, 0.19 and 0.52%, and 0.25 and 0.75%, respectively. Comparably, the refractive indices of oil samples that were fresh, in use, and discarded were 1.4595-1.4686, 1.4670-1.4885, and 1.4810-1.4960, in that order. Furthermore, the ranges of viscosities for fresh oil, oil samples in use, and oil samples that were discarded were 57.15-76.94, 100-196.50, and 210.22-288.50 mPa, respectively. Chemical properties, including % free fatty acid for similar samples, range from 0.22 to 1.30, 1.12 2.54, and 1.38-3.66%, respectively. Peroxide values of fresh, in-use, and discarded oil samples, have a maximum value of 11.19 meq/kg, 42.90, and 57.60 meq/kg, respectively. The iodine value showed the highest value for the fresh oil sample, while the minimum was obtained under discarded oil sample. The result indicated that they used low-quality oil. The values obtained after frying for samples collected from vendors who used a pan fryer heated with charcoal or wood fire deviated significantly from the requirements, indicating that the palm oil used by those street vendors was unsafe to consume because it could endanger the consumers' health.

Dataset on elemental composition of soils and plants under long-term application of mineral and organic fertilizers on gray forest soils in Vladimir region, Russia

Long-term application of organic and mineral fertilizers can lead to changes in the elemental composition of agroecosystem components. Both the levels of nutrients and potentially toxic elements can change, as can the potential for these elements to be available to plants through changes in soil properties. Soil and plant samples of two species (pea Pisum sativum L. and oat Avena sativa L.) were collected from plots of a long-term field experiment on the application of mineral and organic fertilizers and their combinations to gray forest soils in the Vladimir region, Russia. Soil samples from the 0-20 and 20-40 cm layers were subjected to acid digestion to determine total element content. Mobile forms of elements were extracted from topsoil samples using acetate-ammonium buffer (pH 4.8). Sample preparation of pea and oat plant organs (stems, leaves, pods/ears) included sample digestion in a microwave sample digestion system ETHOS EASY (Milestone, Italy). The elemental composition of the samples was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) using Agilent 5800 ICP-OES (Agilent Technologies, USA). The dataset includes concentration data for 34 elements, including rare earth elements, in these samples collected in 2021. The dataset also contains general agrochemical characteristics of soils of the experimental groups: pH of water and salt suspension, organic carbon content, mobile forms of phosphorus. The data can be valuable to researchers developing fertilizer application systems and modeling changes in the elemental composition of agroecosystems.

Effect of chemical treatment on physio-mechanical properties of lignocellulose natural fiber extracted from the bark of careya arborea tree

For the first time, the current work has carried out a chemical treatment of a novel ligno-cellulose fiber that is extracted from the bark of an unexplored plant of Careya arborea. Careya arborea (CA), a flowering tree known for its green berries, thrives in the Indian subcontinent and Afghanistan. This research was focused on extracting fibers from the bark of the Cary tree for the first time to corroborate the influence of chemical treatment on its different characteristics. These CA fibers have a high proportion of cellulose, consisting of 71.17 wt percent, together with 27.86 wt percent of hemicellulose, and a reduced density of 1140 kg/m3, making them a suitable candidate for creating lightweight applications in a variety of industries. Chemical treatment has done on the cay fiber with the concentrations of NaOH 5 (wt%), 10 (wt%), and 15 (wt%) solution mixture to improve their characteristics. Estimated the difference between Chemically processed and non-processed Cary fibers and corroborated in results. We performed a number of experiments, including FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDAX, AFM, and TGA, to fully comprehend the changing properties. Chemical testing showed that cellulose changed from its non-crystalline state to cellulose, proving that the treatment was successful in changing the fibre structure. Additionally, the thermo-gravimetric examination showed higher thermal stability 248 °C-325 °C and a rise in the crystallinity index, indicating the treated fibers' improved potential for high-temperature applications. The treated Cary fibers exhibited excellent surface properties, promising improved adhesion, mechanical performance, offering lightweight and sustainable solutions for diverse applications.

Effects of different aging methods on the ability of biochar to adsorb heavy metal cadmium and its physical and chemical properties

The aging process can affect the physical and chemical properties as well as adsorption capacity of biochar. This study focuses on the heavy metal cadmium (Cd) as the research object, and artificially ages biochar prepared from rice straw and corn straw through accelerated freeze-thaw cycles, alternating dry wet cycles, and ultraviolet light treatment, in order to evaluate the effects of different aging conditions on the physical and chemical properties of the two different types of biochar and on their adsorption capacities for Cd. After aging, the pH of rice and corn biochar decreased to varying degrees, respectively. The surface structure was ruptured, the average pore diameter was decreased, and the specific surface area was increased by 27.3%, 21.9%, and 9.8% (rice) and 95.4%, 27.7%, and 13.4% (corn). Ultraviolet light aging has the most significant impact on the elemental content of biochar, and the C content was decreased by 12.4% (rice) and 9.3% (corn). The O content was increased by 11.2% (rice) and 44.1% (corn), and the numbers of O/C, H/C, (O + N)/C, and oxygen-containing functional groups were increased. These results demonstrate that the aging process reduces the degree of aromatization of biochar, while enhancing its polarity and Cd adsorption capacity. Rice straw biochar (RSB) has a greater ability to adsorb Cd than corn straw biochar (CSB). In addition, ultraviolet light aging is particularly effective in increasing heavy metal adsorption.

Profiling the chemical properties of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. and its flavonoids through comprehensive LC-MS/MS to evaluate their anti-motion sickness effect

Foeniculum vulgare Mill. is a medicinal and food homologous plant, and it has various biological activities. Yet, no research has explored its anti-motion sickness effects. Chemical properties of fennel extracts (FvE) and flavonoids (Fvf) were analyzed based on UPLC-QTRAP-MS to elucidate its potential anti-motion sickness components in the present study. The mice models of motion sickness were stimulated by biaxial rotational acceleration. Behavioral experiments such as motion sickness index and open field test and the measurement of neurotransmitters were used to evaluate the efficacy of compounds on motion sickness. Results showed that FvE contains terpenes, alkaloids, flavonoids, etc. Eight flavonoids including quercetin-3β-D-glucoside, rutin, hyperoside, quercetin, miquelianin, trifolin, isorhamnetin and kaempferol were identified in the purified Fvf. FvE and Fvf significantly reduced the motion sickness index of mice by 53.2% and 48.9%, respectively. Fvf also significantly alleviated the anxious behavior of mice after rotational stimulation. Among the eight flavonoids, isorhamnetin had the highest oral bioavailability and moderate drug-likeness index and thus speculated to be the bioactive compound in fennel for its anti-motion sickness effect. It reduced the release of 5-HT and Ach to alleviate the motion sickness response and improve the work completing ability of mice and nervous system dysfunction after rotational stimulation. This study provided in-depth understanding of the anti-motion sickness bioactive chemical properties of fennel and its flavonoids, which will contribute to the new development and utilization of fennel.

Influence of starch-protein interactions on the digestibility and chemical properties of a 3D-printed food matrix based on salmon by-product proteins

This study evaluated the influence of starch-protein interactions on the chemical properties and digestibility of a 3D-printed gel based on salmon by-product protein. Changes in the starch-protein interactions of the stable cornstarch (CS, 15%) and salmon protein isolate (SPI, 4%-12%) printable gels during the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion process were studied by principal component analysis. Protein-rich printed gels increased resistant starch content by 18.05%. Changes in chemical properties and the starch-protein concentration of the gels during the digestion process were highly correlated. The CS-SPI gels in the gastric and intestinal phases exhibited lower α-helix/β-sheet ratio and fluorescence intensity values, whereas surface hydrophobicity increased. This resulted in more ordered structures with a high level of molecular interaction that inhibited enzymatic hydrolysis. This study provides crucial information about the transformations of starch-protein interactions during the digestibility of 3D-printed food matrices as an alternative source of nutrients with a high nutritional quality.

Study of relations between chemical, colour and fluorescence properties of raw and dried meat powders of cow and yak (Bos grunniens)

Gluteus medius, Longissimus thoracis, and Semitendinosus muscles from the cow and yak (Bos grunniens) reared in the Kyrgyz Republic were dried by convective (hot air) drying and freeze drying. The dried muscles were grinded into fine powders and along with raw muscles were evaluated for water activity (aW), chemical composition (moisture, fat, protein), colour characteristics (L, a, and b values), fluorescence of intrinsic fluorophores (tryptophan, vitamin A, and riboflavin). Processing of measured data tables using common components and specific weights analysis (CCSWA) showed close relations among the chemical, colour, and fluorescence data. CCSWA discriminated muscles depending on chemical composition, animal type, and drying technique applied based on the chemical properties, colour characteristics, and fluorescence spectra. The freeze drying was approved as a preferable dehydration technique comparing with convective drying as the one causing less discoloration to meat. Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) models developed using fluorescence spectra allowed accurate quantitative predicting of water activity (aW), moisture, fat, and protein contents, and colour characteristics (L, a, and b values).

Improving soil fertility through dual inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium on a eutric cambisol cultivated with forage legumes in a semi-arid region

The Sub-Saharan region of southern Africa is characterized by high temperatures, low rainfall, and poor land-use management practices such as continuous cropping without replenishment of soil nutrients. The combination of these factors has resulted in nutrient depletion and land degradation. The current study aimed at investigating the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium bacteria inoculation on soil chemical properties in field-grown forage legumes, namely, Mucuna pruriens (mucuna), Lablab purpureus (lablab) and Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), in the semi-arid region of the Eastern Cape Province (South Africa). Forage legumes were inoculated with the AMF species Paraglomus occulum and the Rhizobia bacteria species Bradyrhizobium strain and grown for 120 days. Soil samples were collected in the following sequence: prior to planting, before flowering and after harvesting the forage legumes in each of the two seasons (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) and soil chemical properties were determined using standard procedures. The results showed that the addition of dual inoculation over time greatly improved soil chemical properties when compared to the control treatment. This was advocated by the significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in soil pH, soil organic carbon, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur and iron in soils. The concentration of cation exchange capacity was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in cowpea treated with Rhizobium as compared to other treatment combinations. The control treatment of mucuna forage greatly improved the concentrations of manganese, boron, copper, molybdenum, and zinc over other treatment combinations only before the flowering stage. However, the concentrations of micronutrients were significantly higher on the treatment combination of lablab and single inoculation of AMF after harvesting. Generally, dual inoculation with AMF and Rhizobia enhanced soil properties when compared to a single inoculation or untreated control.

Research progress on rodent models and its mechanisms of liver injury

The liver is the most important organ for biological transformation in the body and is crucial for maintaining the body's vital activities. Liver injury is a serious pathological condition that is commonly found in many liver diseases. It has a high incidence rate, is difficult to cure, and is prone to recurrence. Liver injury can cause serious harm to the body, ranging from mild to severe fatty liver disease. If the condition continues to worsen, it can lead to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, ultimately resulting in liver failure or liver cancer, which can seriously endanger human life and health. Therefore, establishing an rodent model that mimics the pathogenesis and severity of clinical liver injury is of great significance for better understanding the pathogenesis of liver injury patients and developing more effective clinical treatment methods. The author of this article summarizes common chemical liver injury models, immune liver injury models, alcoholic liver injury models, drug-induced liver injury models, and systematically elaborates on the modeling methods, mechanisms of action, pathways of action, and advantages or disadvantages of each type of model. The aim of this study is to establish reliable rodent models for researchers to use in exploring anti-liver injury and hepatoprotective drugs. By creating more accurate theoretical frameworks, we hope to provide new insights into the treatment of clinical liver injury diseases.

Potential application of bee products in food industry: An exploratory review

Over the past eight years, bee products such as wax, honey, propolis, and pollen have generated intense curiosity about their potential food uses; to explore these possibilities, this review examines the nutritional benefits and notable characteristics of each product related to the food industry. While all offer distinct advantages, there are challenges to overcome, including the risk of honey contamination. Indeed, honey has excellent potential as a healthier alternative to sugar, while propolis's remarkable antibacterial and antioxidant properties can be enhanced through microencapsulation. Pollen is a versatile food with multiple applications in various products. In addition, the addition of beeswax to oleogels and its use as a coating demonstrate significant improvements in the quality and preservation of environmentally sustainable foods over time. This study demonstrates that bee products and apitherapy are essential for sustainable future food and innovative medical treatments.

Gamma radiation effect on the chemical, mechanical and thermal properties of PCL/MCM-48-PVA nanocomposite films

In this work, poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was employed to produce a Mesoporous Composition of Matter-48 Modified (MCM-48-M or MCM-48-PVA). After surface modification, MCM-48-M was used to produce nanocomposite (NC) films with polycaprolactone (PCL) as a matrix at room temperature. PCL and MCM-48 nanoparticles (NPs) were chosen due to their great biocompatibility and low toxicity. However, MCM-48-M is more compatible with PCL than MCM-48. NC films were sterilized by gamma radiation with a dose of 25 kGy and characterized by experimental techniques to investigate their chemical, mechanical (tensile) and thermal properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) results indicated that MCM-48-M exhibited a random distribution in the PCL matrix. The PCL chemical structure was preserved in NC films as described by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy as well as the tensile and thermal properties of NC films. FT-IR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed surface modification. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that crystalline symmetries were preserved and the crystallinity of NC films had small variations in all samples before and after irradiation, respectively. But, our results did not indicate major changes showing that this method is successful for the sterilization of PCL/MCM-48-PVA NC films.

Core microbes closely related with the nutrients and flavor of sweet fermented oats (whole grain food) from China

Increased attention has been given to whole grain and plant-based foods due to health concerns. Sweet fermented oats (SFOs) are such traditional fermented food from China. However, reports on their microbiota and relations with the nutrients and flavor were scarcely few, hindering their wider application. The comprehensive microbial composition, metabolic compounds and their correlations of representative SFOs from northwestern China were firstly investigated. Firmicutes predominated the microbial communities, followed by Proteobacteria. Weissella, Bacillus and Lactobacillus were dominant bacterial genera, biomarkers and core bacteria as well. GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer) identified the metabolic compounds, among which the categories fatty acids and carboxylic acids most abundant. Eighteen chemicals showed significant differences among the five SFOs, including ethyl octanoate, neryl acetate, L-sorbose, diglycerol, cellotetraose etc. Fatty acids, carboxylic acids, amino acids, peptides, oligosaccharides, and monosaccharides were the key substances responsible for the unique flavor and rich nutrients in SFOs. The core bacteria were closely related to chemical acids, esters, flavone and alcohol. Pediococcus showed a negative correlation with 2,3-butanediol. SFOs were made in the laboratory with the core bacterial strains, obtaining a high abundance of nutrient chemicals and sensory evaluation value. The research provided a foundation for the improvement, further application and industrialization of SFOs.

Evaluation of the chemical, physical, and biological properties of a newly developed bioceramic cement derived from cockle shells: an in vitro study

BACKGROUND

Tricalcium silicate is the main component of commercial bioceramic cements that are widely used in endodontic treatment. Calcium carbonate, which is manufactured from limestone, is one of the substrates of tricalcium silicate. To avoid the environmental impact of mining, calcium carbonate can be obtained from biological sources, such as shelled mollusks, one of which is cockle shell. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the chemical, physical, and biological properties of a newly developed bioceramic cement derived from cockle shell (BioCement) with those of a commercial tricalcium silicate cement (Biodentine).

METHODS

BioCement was prepared from cockle shells and rice husk ash and its chemical composition was determined by X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The physical properties were evaluated following the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9917-1;2007 and 6876;2012. The pH was tested after 3 h to 8 weeks. The biological properties were assessed using extraction medium from BioCement and Biodentine on human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) in vitro. The 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-2 H-tetrazolium hydroxide assay was used to evaluate cell cytotoxicity following ISO 10993-5;2009. Cell migration was examined using a wound healing assay. Alizarin red staining was performed to detect osteogenic differentiation. The data were tested for a normal distribution. Once confirmed, the physical properties and pH data were analyzed using the independent t-test, and the biological property data were analyzed using one way ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparisons test at a 5% significance level.

RESULTS

The main components of BioCement and Biodentine were calcium and silicon. BioCement's and Biodentine's setting time and compressive strength were not different. The radiopacity of BioCement and Biodentine was 5.00 and 3.92 mmAl, respectively (p < 0.05). BioCement's solubility was significantly higher than Biodentine. Both materials exhibited alkalinity (pH ranged from 9 to 12) and demonstrated > 90% cell viability with cell proliferation. The highest mineralization was found in the BioCement group at 7 days (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

BioCement exhibited acceptable chemical and physical properties and was biocompatible to human dental pulp cells. BioCement promotes pulp cell migration and osteogenic differentiation.

Enhancing chemical and physical stability of pharmaceuticals using freeze-thaw method: challenges and opportunities for process optimization through quality by design approach

The freeze-thaw (F/T) method is commonly employed during the processing and handling of drug substances to enhance their chemical and physical stability and obtain pharmaceutical applications such as hydrogels, emulsions, and nanosystems (e.g., supramolecular complexes of cyclodextrins and liposomes). Using F/T in manufacturing hydrogels successfully prevents the need for toxic cross-linking agents; moreover, their use promotes a concentrated product and better stability in emulsions. However, the use of F/T in these applications is limited by their characteristics (e.g., porosity, flexibility, swelling capacity, drug loading, and drug release capacity), which depend on the optimization of process conditions and the kind and ratio of polymers, temperature, time, and the number of cycles that involve high physical stress that could change properties associated to quality attributes. Therefore, is necessary the optimization of F/T conditions and variables. The current research regarding F/T is focused on enhancing the formulations, the process, and the use of this method in pharmaceutical, clinical, and biological areas. The present review aims to discuss different studies related to the impact and effects of the F/T process on the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties (porosity, swelling capacity) of diverse pharmaceutical applications with an emphasis on their formulation properties, the method and variables used, as well as challenges and opportunities in developing. Finally, we review the experimental approach for choosing the standard variables studied in the F/T method applying the systematic methodology of quality by design.

Short-term effects of post-fire soil mulching with wheat straw and wood chips on the enzymatic activities in a Mediterranean pine forest

Soils of Mediterranean forests can be severely degraded due to wildfire. However, post-fire management techniques, such as soil mulching with vegetal residues, can limit degradation and increase functionality of burned soils. The effects of post-fire mulching on soil functionality have been little studied in Mediterranean forests, and it is still unclear whether the application of straw or wood residues is beneficial. This study explores the changes in important soil chemical and biochemical properties in a pine forest of Central Eastern Spain after a wildfire and post-fire mulching with straw or wood chips. Only basal soil respiration (BSR), dehydrogenase activity (DHA), pH and water field capacity (WFC) significantly changed after the fire and mulching. In contrast, the other enzymatic activities - urease (UA), alkaline phosphatase (Alk-PA) and β-glucosidase (BGA), - total organic carbon (TOC) and electrical conductivity (EC) were not influenced by these soil disturbances. Time from fire and soil conditions (due to burning and management) were significant variability factors for BSR, pH, BGA, UA, TOC, EC. Mulching increased BSR compared to burned areas, especially in soils with straw (+30 %), thanks to addition of fresh organic residues, quickly incorporated in the soil. Soil pH showed a low variability among the four soil conditions, and TOC was higher in mulched soils (on average + 20 % compared to the burned soils), and this was correlated to the increased BSR. The role of mulching was essential with reference to WFC, as the post-fire management limited its reduction after the fire (on average from -30 % to -20 %). Finally, the Principal Component Analysis coupled to the Analytical Hierarchical Cluster Analysis confirmed the significant influence of the post-fire management on some enzymatic activities, although a sharp discrimination among the four soil conditions was only evident between unburned and burned sites, regardless of the management. Overall, it has been shown that mulching promotes conservation of fragile Mediterranean soils, indicating its effectiveness at preserving soil functionality in areas affected by forest fires.

Water sorption, water solubility, degree of conversion, elastic indentation modulus, edge chipping resistance and flexural strength of 3D-printed denture base resins

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the water sorption (w_sp), water solubility (w_sl), degree of conversion (DC), elastic indentation modulus (E_IT), edge chipping resistance (ECR) and flexural strength (FS) of 3D-printed, milled and conventionally polymerized denture base resin materials.

METHODS

Specimens (N = 540) were 3D-printed (NextDent Denture 3D+ (DEN), Fotodent Denture (FOT), Freeprint Denture (FRE), V-Print dentbase (VPR)), cut (Ivotion Base (IVO)) and molded (PalaXpress (PAL)) in three geometries. W_sp,w_sl,DC, E_IT, ECR and FS were tested initially (24 h, 37 °C, H20) and after additional aging (5000 thermal cycles, 5/55 °C). Data were analyzed with Kolmogorov-Smirnov, univariate ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's correlation (p < 0.05) RESULTS: Most 3D-printed denture base resins showed higher w_sp (25.31-37.94 μg/mm³) and w_sl (0.08-8.27 μg/mm³), but also higher E_IT (3.11-4.09 GPa) and FS (60.81-99.57N/mm²) values than the control groups. DEN and VPR showed high DC (89.36-93.53%), E_IT (3.77-4.09 GPa) and FS (79.65-99.57N/mm²), while FOT showed low w_sp (25.31-27.35 μg/mm³) and w_sl (1.01-3.87 μg/mm³) values. In all materials, the examined parameters were affected by aging.

SIGNIFICANCE

Although 3D-printed denture base resins showed promising results with regard to the observed DC and FS, only FOT and FRE surpassed the threshold values defined by the ISO norms.

A multidimensional strategy for uncovering comprehensive quality markers of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill based on pharmacodynamics and chemical properties

BACKGROUND

Quality control of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) has improved greatly, but there is still a lack of a convincing quality evaluation system for TCMs. Developing quality control markers of TCMs based on pharmacodynamics instead of content has been an attractive approach. However, on account of neglecting phytochemistry attributes of TCMs, part of effective markers might be short of specificity and inconvenient for detecting in production manufacture, which is adverse to control the quality of TCMs systematically.

PURPOSE

To build a novel and multidimensional quality assessment approach for TCMs based on pharmacodynamics and chemical properties.

METHODS

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill (S. chinensis) was used as an example and a rat depression model was built by using a chronic unpredictable mild stress procedure. For identifying the antidepressive components of S. chinensis, we elucidated its antidepressant mechanism in first-step by using quantitative RT-PCR and immunoblotting techniques. And accordingly, correlation analysis between ingredients in vivo with target proteins and anti-inflammation experiments in vitro were carried out. On the other hand, HPLC fingerprint combinations with diverse chemometrics methods were applied to analyze 14 preparations of S. chinensis to obtain its characteristic chemical information. Finally, we ascertained the quality control markers of S. chinensis by integrating the efficacious and characteristic constituents.

RESULTS

Our research indicated that S. chinensis treated depression by relieving disordered monoaminergic system and ameliorating neuroinflammation. Five effective substances (schisandrol A, schisandrin A, gomisin N, schisandrin B, and schisandrin C) were screened out according to their potential anti-depression efficacy. Besides, 21 common ingredients and 4 representative constituents of S. chinensis were identified by chemical analysis, whereas only 2 characteristic quantitative markers (schisandrol A, schisandrol B) were ultimately ascertained based on previous studies.

CONCLUSION

6 components, schisandrol A, schisandrin A, gomisin N, schisandrin B, schisandrin C, and schisandrol B, possessed efficacy, measurability, and specificity, were selected as the comprehensive markers for quality control of S. chinensis. We proposed a multidimensional strategy for identifying comprehensive quality markers for TCMs in this study.

Semi-automated harmonization and selection of chemical data for risk and impact assessment

Chemical data for thousands of substances are available for safety, risk, life cycle and substitution assessments, as submitted for example under the European Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation. However, to widely disseminate reported physicochemical properties as well as human and ecological exposure and toxicological data for use in various science and policy fields, systematic methods for data harmonization and selection are necessary. In response to this need, we developed a semi-automated method for deriving appropriate substance property values as input for various assessment frameworks with different requirements for resolution and data quality. Starting with data reported for a given substance and property, we propose a set of aligned data selection and harmonization criteria to obtain a representative mean value and related confidence intervals per chemical-property combination. The proposed method was tested on a set of octanol-water partition coefficients (K_ow) for an illustrative set of 20 substances, reported under the REACH regulation as example data source. Our method is generally applicable to any set of substances, and can assess specific distributions in quality and variability across reported data. Further research can likely extend our method for mining information from text fields and adapt it to available data reported or collected from other sources and other substance properties to improve the reliability of input data for risk and impact assessments.

Insights into the nurse effect of a native plant Ficus tikoua on Pb‒Zn tailing wastelands in western Hunan, China

Lead‒zinc (Pb‒Zn) processing and extraction activity generates large volumes of highly toxic and bare tailing (BT) wastelands which poses a potentially extreme risk to the surrounding environment. Revegetation in the Pb‒Zn tailing wastelands is usually considered a beneficial approach. Ficus tikoua is a native vine which can successfully colonize on Maoping Pb‒Zn mine tailing wastelands in western Hunan, China. This study involved examination of the nurse effect of F. tikoua on Pb‒Zn tailing wastelands, to provide insights into the potential mechanism of F. tikoua influencing soil quality and vegetation succession. The vegetation characteristics, nutrient properties, and heavy metal contents of three different types of vegetation patches associated with F. tikoua in Pb‒Zn tailing wastelands, representing different stage of succession, were investigated. The height, coverage, and aboveground and underground biomass of these vegetation patches showed an increasing trend from vegetation patch I (VP-I) to patch III (VP-III). The nutrient pool and chemical properties of these tailing wastelands gradually re-established from BT wasteland to VP-III. From VP-I to VP-III, the total heavy metal contents (i.e., Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd) and DTPA-extractable Pb, Cu, and Cd contents significantly decreased, while the DTPA-extractable Zn content remained unchanged. Our findings suggested that F. tikoua exerts a distinct nurse plant effect by increasing the essential nutrient content of soil, reducing the available heavy metal content, and subsequently increasing the number of plant species and the biomass. Therefore, F. tikoua may be used as a promising nurse plant for triggering revegetation and phytostabilization of Pb‒Zn tailing wastelands at the initial stage of remediation.

Brief dataset on chemical and mechanical properties of Corypha utan leaf fiber-reinforced composite with alkaline and silane treatment

This paper presents the chemical and mechanical properties of Corypha utan leaf fiber (CULF) subjected to different chemical treatments for reinforced composite materials. Natural fibers are currently considered as an alternative constituent for composite reinforcement due to their friendly environment character. The CULF were chemically treated during a pre-fabrication process using NaOH, and 3-(Trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate was introduced at three different concentrations of 0%, 5%, and 10%, respectively. All the chemical treatments on CULF were observed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. Furthermore, vacuum bagging method with unsaturated polyester was used to manufacture CULF as composite reinforcement. Tensile and bending tests were carried out to collect mechanical properties data of the produced CULF reinforced composites. The data obtained could support further study in the area and development of natural fiber-reinforced composite.

Antimicrobial Effect of Tea Polyphenols against Foodborne Pathogens: A Review

ABSTRACT

Food contamination by foodborne pathogens is still widespread in many countries around the world, and food safety is a major global public health issue. Therefore, novel preservatives that can guarantee safer food are in high demand. Contrary to artificial food preservatives, tea polyphenols (TPs) are getting wide attention as food additives for being "green," "safe," and "healthy." TPs come from many sources, and the purification technology is sophisticated. Compared with other natural antibacterial agents, the antibacterial effect of TPs is more stable, making them excellent natural antibacterial agents. This review includes a systematic summary of the important chemical components of TPs and the antibacterial mechanisms of TPs against various foodborne pathogens. The potential applications of TPs are also discussed. These data provide a theoretical basis for the in-depth study of TPs.

HIGHLIGHTS

Pharmaceutical-loaded contact lenses as an ocular drug delivery system: A review of critical lens characterization methodologies with reference to ISO standards

Therapeutic contact lenses for ocular drug delivery have received considerable interest as they can potentially enhance ocular bioavailability, increase patient compliance, and reduce side effects. Along with the successful in vitro and in vivo studies on sustained drug delivery through contact lenses, lens critical properties such as water content, optical transparency and modulus have also been investigated. Aside from issues such as drug stability or burst release, the potential for the commercialization of pharmaceutical-loaded lenses can be limited by the alteration of lens physical and chemical properties upon the incorporation of therapeutic or non-therapeutic components. This review outlines advances in the use of pharmaceutical-loaded contact lenses and their relevant characterization methodologies as a potential ocular drug delivery system from 2010 to 2020, while summarizing current gaps and challenges in this field. A key reference point for this review is the relevant ISO standards on contact lenses, relating to the associated characterization methodologies. The content of this review is categorized based on the chemical, physical and mechanical properties of the loaded lens with the shortcomings of such analytical technologies examined.

Streptomyces pactum and sulfur mediated the rhizosphere microhabitats of potherb mustard after a phytoextraction trial

To explore the performance of Streptomyces pactum (Act12) alone (A) and jointly with sulfur (SA) in the phytoextraction practice of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (Cd and Zn), as well as their effects on soil chemical properties and microbial community composition, this paper selected potherb mustard (Brassica juncea, Coss.) as the test plant to assess the feedback of soil-plant ecosystems. Metal uptake values in lone Act12 treatments were higher than that of Act12 + sulfur treatments, and showed dose dependent with Act12 due to the higher biomass production. According to the biochemical analyses of rhizosphere soils, Act12 inoculation significantly increased urease (20.4%) and dehydrogenase (58.5%) while reducing alkaline phosphatase (68.0%) activity. The production of soil organic acids was, in descending order, formic acid > oxalic acid > malic acid > propionic acid and indicated a stimulated variation under treatments (SA > A > control). High-throughput sequencing revealed that bacterial community compositions were consistent in both phylum and genus taxonomies, while the final overall proportions were modified. The populations of the predominant phyla Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes increased after sulfur application. The contribution of Act12 to the relative abundance of microbiota was minor compared to sulfur. Based on a redundancy analysis, soil chemical properties are the drivers of microbial activities and the main contributor to plant growth. Our results suggested Act12 inoculation may be part of an effective strategy enhancing phytoremediation of PTE-contaminated soils through chemical and biotic processes, and provided important implications for sustainable land utilization and crop production.

Influence of air oxidative and non-oxidative torrefaction on the chemical properties of corn stalk

The non-structural components (extractives and ash) in biomass can affect the torrefaction characteristics. The objective of this study was to investigate the applicability of air oxidative and non-oxidative torrefaction for corn stalk, which has higher organic extractives and lower ash contents. The raw materials were torrefied with air and nitrogen in a fluidized bed reactor at 180℃~235℃ and 200℃~280℃ for 1 h, respectively. The proximate and ultimate analysis results demonstrated that the lower ash content (3.89%) was not favorable for deoxygenation. The organic extractives, extracted materials and mixture were torrefied with nitrogen at 260℃. The results indicated that the addition of organic extractives reduced the deoxidation efficiency of structural components during torrefaction. Compared to raw materials, the moderate and severe removal of hemicellulose can be achieved through torrefaction under air and nitrogen, respectively.

Bonding behavior and chemical and mechanical properties of silver-based dental alloys

This article presents a review of silver-based dental alloys, with a focus on their bonding behavior and their chemical and mechanical properties. The most effective pretreatment for bonding silver-based alloys involves alumina air-abrasion followed by the application of a metal adhesive primer containing both the vinyl-thione monomer and a hydrophobic phosphate monomer. Silver-based alloys are readily sulfurized, making it clinically important to limit their use to cast post and core restorations to avoid direct exposure to salivary components. Fracture of the post and core restorations can be prevented by reinforcing their mechanical properties by applying the cast joining technique with tougher metals.

Analysis of differences in chemical properties of reconstructed soil under different proportions of topsoil substitute materials

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the soil substitutes in land reclamation following mining activities. This study revealed different reconstructed soil materials have different effects on the chemical properties of reconstructed soil and explored the appropriate proportions of reconstructed soil materials. Using topsoil, coal gangue, fly ash, and rock and soil stripping material from the Shengli Mining Area of Inner Mongolia in China as raw materials, potting experiments were carried out according to different proportions. The variance analysis method was used to analyze the difference in the soil pH values, soil organic matter (SOM) content, soil total nitrogen (STN) content, soil available phosphorus (SAP) content and soil available potassium (SAK) content of the reconstructed soil, and the reasons for the difference were discussed. The results showed that in the treatment group where the topsoil substitute material was coal gangue, when the coal gangue content was 30%, 40%, and 50%, the pH values of reconstructed soil were lower than that of the control scheme. When the coal gangue content exceeded 10%, the soil nutrient status was obviously improved. In the treatment group where the topsoil substitute material was fly ash, the chemical properties of reconstructed soil tended to deteriorate. In the treatment group where the topsoil substitute material was rock and soil stripping material, when the content of rock and soil stripping material exceeded 20%, the chemical properties of reconstructed soil were mostly better than those of the control scheme. The study of the different proportions of coal gangue, fly ash, and rock and soil stripping material as topsoil substitute materials provide support for reclamation work in mining areas where topsoil is scarce, as well as a reference for ecological restoration projects in grassland open-pit mining areas around the world.

An evaluation of selected chemical, biochemical, and biological parameters of soil enriched with vermicompost

The aim of this study was to assess the changes in chemical and microbial properties and enzymatic activity of soil enriched with vermicompost derived from household waste. The vermicompost was tested in the rhizosphere of Larix decidua seedlings cultivated in 10-L pots in: (i) nursery soil (as the control), (ii) soil with 10% v/v vermicompost, and (iii) with 20% v/v vermicompost. The impact of vermicompost was assessed in terms of soil C/N ratio; bacterial, fungal, and nematode counts; and enzymatic activity. It was found that vermicompost increased the C/N ratio from 21 to 32, as well as the content of nitrate from 78 to 134 mg kg^-1, of ammonium from 14 to 139 mg kg^-1, of phosphorus from 92 to 521 mg kg^-1, and of potassium from 142 to 1912 mg kg^-1, compared with the control soil. The abundance of beneficial bacteria was increased (from 8.61 × 10⁷ to 37.9 × 10⁷), along with decreases in microbiological ratios of fungi and bacteria (e.g. fungi/Bacillus from 0.18818 to 0.00425). A significant 2- to 4-fold increase was observed compared with the control in the number of beneficial nematodes belonging to bacterivorous, fungivorous, and predatory groups with no change in the abundance of plant-parasitic nematodes. Addition of vermicompost brought about a change in soil enzyme activity. Vermicompost reduced the activity of alkaline phosphatase only. Both doses of vermicompost led to an increase in the activity of acid phosphatase, inorganic pyrophosphatase, dehydrogenases, β-glucosidase, and urease. Only the higher dose had an effect on increasing the activity of o-diphenol oxidase and proteases. No significant change was observed for nitrate reductase. Also, the presence of antibiotics produced by bacteria was detected depending on the dose of vermicompost, e.g. iturin (ituC) and bacillomycin (bmyB) were found in soil with a dose of 20% v/v vermicompost. Overall, vermicompost produced from household waste can be an excellent organic fertilizer for larch forest nurseries.

An high-throughput sequencing approach to the preliminary analysis of bacterial communities associated with changes in amino acid nitrogen, organic acid and reducing sugar contents during soy sauce fermentation

Soy sauce is a traditional fermented soy food for enhancing the umami taste in Asian cuisines. In this study, 16S rRNA gene throughput sequencing analysis showed the bacterial communities and the changes in soy sauce during fermentation. Weissella, Bacillus and Lactococcus were the most abundant at genus level. The uncultured bacterium Weissella and Lactococcus had relatively high abundance at species level. Alpha diversity analysis indicated the bacterial community diversity increased at fermentation initiation, while decreased as fermentation progressed. Based on beta-diversity analysis, four clusters including cluster I (time point A-F), cluster II (G,H), cluster III (I,J) and cluster IV(K) were distinctly separated, indicating the fermentation time significantly affected bacterial community diversity. Also, close associations were found between the bacterial communities in soy sauce and its amino acid nitrogen, organic acid and reducing sugar contents during fermentation. Therefore, it will provide important information for optimization of the soy sauce production process.

Evaluation of the Inherent Toxicity Concept in Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment

Intrinsic/inherent chemical properties are characteristic, irrespective of the number of molecules present. However, toxicity is an extensive/extrinsic biochemical property that depends on the number of molecules. Paracelsus, often considered the father of toxicology, noted that all things are poisonous. Because dose magnitude (i.e., number of molecules) determines the occurrence of poisonous effects, toxicity cannot be an intrinsic/inherent biochemical property. Thus, toxicology's task is to determine case-specific risks resulting in adverse effects produced by the interaction of toxic doses/exposures, toxic mechanisms, and case-specific influencing factors. Experimental testing results are known to vary within and between chemicals, test organisms, and experimental conditions and repetitions; however, hazard-based approaches treat toxicity as a fixed and constant property. A logical alternative is the standard-risk, case-specific risk model. In this approach, testing data are defined as standard risks where the nature, magnitude, and toxicity effect is standardized to the organism, chemical, and test conditions. Interpolation/extrapolation of standard risks to site-specific conditions (i.e., case-specific risks) is challenging, requiring understanding of the influences of the complex interactions within and between differing species, conditions, and toxicity-modifying factors. Therefore, Paracelsus's paradigm is perhaps better abbreviated as "dose-causality-response", because a key interpretive requirement is establishing toxicity causality by separating mode/mechanism of toxic action from modifying factor influences in overall toxicity responses. Unfortunately, the current knowledge base is inadequate. Moving to a standard-risk-specific-risk paradigm would highlight the importance of improving the toxicity causality knowledge base. Thereby, a rationale would be provided for enhancing the design and interpretation of toxicity testing that is necessary for achieving advances in routine translation of standard-risk to specific-risk estimates-the raison d'être of regulatory risk decision making. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:2351-2360. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Potential of termite mounds and its surrounding soils as soil amendments in smallholder farms in central Uganda

Objectives

The low fertility of highly weathered soils has been a major problem for resource-constrained smallholder farmers. In central Uganda, smallholder farmers have been collecting termite mound soils anywhere around the termite mound to improve their soil fertility. However, no studies have been conducted on which sections of the termite mounds consist of high soil nutrients. This study was conducted to assess selected major soil essential plant nutrients of soils collected from the top of the mound (TPMS), and the basal part of the mound (BPMS). The surrounding soil samples were collected from five, fifteen, and thirty meters away from the mound (TMSS1, TMSS2, and TMSS3 respectively), covering ten termite mounds in five different maize fields in central Uganda.

Results

TPMS and BPMS had significant (P-value < 0.05) higher N, P, K, OC, Ca and Mg levels than TMSS1, TMSS2, and TMSS3. However, OC levels in BPMS was higher than TPMS. On the whole, termite mounds are beneficial as a source for essential plant nutrients. It will be best if smallholder farmers could collect the termite mound soils from the top and the basal part of the mound to improve the fertility of their soil.

Assessment of hydrogeochemical characteristics and quality of groundwater resources in relation to risk of gastric cancer: comparative analysis of high- and low-risk areas in Iran

The chemical quality of groundwater supplies in two high-risk area (HRA) and low-risk area (LRA) for gastric cancer in Iran was assessed through hydrogeochemical analysis and water quality indices. For this aim, Piper and Schoeller diagrams and water quality index (WQI) were applied. In addition, exposure to nitrate via drinking water and its corresponding risk were also assessed using Monte Carlo simulation technique. Data on physicochemical properties of groundwater resources were obtained from Iran Water Resources Management Company. Sampling and analysis of tap water for nitrate concentration were conducted in two cities of Shiraz (as a representative of LRA) and Ardabil (as a representative of HRA). According to Piper diagrams, the dominant hydrogeochemical facies of groundwater supplies in HRA and LRA were Na-HCO₃ (43.75%) and Ca-HCO₃ (41.77%), respectively. The predominant cations in groundwater resources of HRA were found to be Na⁺ (68.06%) and Ca²⁺ (31.94%). For LRA, the typical cations were in decreasing trend: Ca²⁺ (39.64%) > Mg²⁺ (18.35%) > Na⁺ (17.26%). For two areas, HCO₃^-, SO₄^2- and Cl^- were, respectively, the most frequent anions. Two-sample Wilcoxon test showed that there were statistically significant difference between two areas in terms of anions and cations concentrations (p value < 0.05). The mean of total hardness (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺) concentration of water supplies in LRA (528.1 mg/L) was higher than HRA (263.1 mg/L), whereas the mean of Na⁺ concentration was found to be lower in LRA (90.6 mg/L) compared with HRA (108.1 mg/L). The sum of nitrate intake and its risk in LRA was higher than HRA. WQI results showed that drinking water quality in HRA and LRA ranged from excellent to poor and most water resources were of a good quality class. Further studies are suggested to investigate the role of drinking water in the etiology of gastric cancer in Iran.

Morphological, chemical and thermal analysis of cellulose nanocrystals extracted from bamboo fibre

This work investigates the extraction of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) from bamboo fibre as an alternative approach to utilize the waste bamboo fibre. In this study, bamboo fibre was subjected to acid hydrolysis for efficient isolation of CNC from bamboo fibre. The extracted CNC's were morphologically, characterized via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The energy Dispersive X-rays (EDX) provided the elemental composition of the prepared CNC's and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) exhibited their crystallinity. The physiochemical analysis was done via Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR); and their thermal analysis was revealed by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). As from their morphological investigations, rod like structures of CNC's were observed under SEM analysis with higher carbon content as demonstrated by EDX, while needle shaped CNC's were observed from TEM and AFM studies. Acid hydrolysis for 45 min resulted into higher degree of crystallinity and higher yield of CNC's about 86.96% and 22% respectively. Owing to higher quality of CNC's obtained as a result of efficient and modified techniques, these can find potential usage in nanocomposites for biomedical and food packaging application.

Chemical characterization and comparison of two chestnut rose cultivars from different regions

Chestnut rose (Rosa roxburghii Tratt.) is a native fruit in China, rich in bioactive compounds. Chemical properties and bioactive compounds in the largest two cultivars (Gui Nong No. 5 and Golden Cili) of chestnut rose from different regions were analyzed and compared. Meanwhile, catechin, quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, ellagic acid and ellagic acid glucuronide were identified. By comparison, Guinong No. 5 showed higher SOD actitviy (5,687.67-5,797.48 U/g), ascorbic acid (1.38-1.47 g/100 g), catechin (971.67-1405.75 mg/100 g) and myricetin (851.32-876.32 mg/100 g), antioxidant capacity, while Golden Cili was characterized with higher total flavnoids (263.30-278.63 mg/100 g), β-carotene (747.31-859.21 μg/100 g) and zeaxanthin (186.03-268.78 μg/100 g), glucose (10.32-12.03 g/100 g) and arabinose (3.22-3.43 g/100 g), tartaric acid (0.20-0.52 g/100 g), quercetin (1,034.63-1,411.08 mg/100 g). The principal components analysis method can be used to separate two cultivars well and partial least squares discrimination analysis method can be used to distinguish different planting regions well.

An integrated water quality assessment of Damietta and Rosetta branches (Nile River, Egypt) using chemical and biological indices

Rosetta and Damietta are the main branches of the Nile River in Egypt. They provide the required freshwater for different usage for about 20 million people. In the present study, chemical and biological indices were used to assess the water quality and provide a full image of the environmental status in the investigated area. Generally, the chemical parameters, except the dissolved oxygen, were at higher levels in Rosetta Branch when compared to Damietta Branch. Also, Damietta Branch frequently showed the presence of the macroinvertebrate families that are bioindicators of moderate and good water quality. Contrarily, the most resistant species to pollution were frequently recorded in the Rosetta Branch. According to Canadian WQI, the water of Rosetta Branch is classified from "marginal" to "poor" for the drinking and aquatic life uses and "fair" to "good" for irrigation usage. On the other side, the water quality of Damietta Branch is classified as "fair" with respect to drinking water and "good" to aquatic life and irrigation. Based on using macroinvertebrate families as bioindicators, the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) index and the Nile Biotic Pollution Index (NBPI) indicated that the water quality of the Damietta Branch was within "moderate" class, while Rosetta Branch is categorized from "very polluted" to "extremely polluted" classes. The results proved that both BMWP and NBPI have coincided with the CWQI for the drinking and aquatic life indices (p < 0.0001) indicating the validity of BMWP and NBPI to assess the water quality of the investigated area.

Investigation of the chemical and optical properties of halogen-substituted N-methyl-4-piperidone curcumin analogs by density functional theory calculations

Halogen-substituted N-methyl-4-piperidone curcumin analog compounds were studied for their molecular structure, molecular vibration analysis, natural bond orbital, ultraviolet spectra, molecular reactivity analysis, and nonlinear optical properties. The molecules in interest were the (3E,5E)-3,5-dibenzylidene-1-methylpiperidin-4-one along with its substituted halogen (X = F- or Cl- or Br-) at the ortho, meta and para position in the phenyl ring. The calculated geometrical parameters at B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) were in good agreement with the available experimental XRD data. Using the frequency calculations, the molecular vibrational modes have been analyzed. Meanwhile, the hyperconjugative stabilization energies have been calculated using NBO analysis to address the donor and acceptor in the hyperconjugation. The calculated UV spectra at TD-CAM-B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) show strong absorption around 300 to 320 nm which corresponds to the absorption in the UV-A and UV-B region. From molecular electrostatic potential surface, CO moiety is one of the electronegative regions in the compounds where the CX moiety is the other electronegative region of the compounds. Fluoro-substituted compounds are the compounds with the most electronegativity while bromo-substituted compounds are the compounds with the least electronegativity. Calculations of average local ionization energy surfaces have been performed to obtain information related to the local reactivity of the molecules where the phenyl becomes less reactive after the substitution. The calculated first hyperpolarizability is 6 to 17 times larger than urea, the standard nonlinear optic material. These findings imply that all of the molecules considered have potential to be applied as active sunscreen material or nonlinear optic material.

Effect of pH on protein extraction from sour cherry kernels and functional properties of resulting protein concentrate

The aims of this research were to examine the effect of pH on extraction of proteins from sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) kernels, and to investigate the functional properties of the resulting protein concentrate. The optimum pH values for the protein extraction and isoelectric precipitation were determined as 10.0 and 4.5, respectively. The protein concentrate contained 4.03 ± 0.16% moisture, 3.31 ± 0.17% ash, 2.94 ± 0.36% carbohydrate, 1.93 ± 0.16% lipid, and 80.48 ± 2.38% protein. Water holding capacity, oil holding capacity and the least gelling concentration of the protein concentrate were 2.42 ± 0.09 g water/g, 1.73 ± 0.17 g oil/g and 8%, respectively. Results showed that emulsifying activity and stability indices, foaming capacity and stability of protein concentrate were 38.91 ± 2.50 m²/g, 37.49 ± 2.41 min, 35.00 ± 3.54% and 71.80 ± 7.25% (after 30 min), respectively. The functional and chemical properties of the protein concentrate indicate that it may find application as functional ingredient for various food products.

Effects of theobromine addition on chemical and mechanical properties of a conventional glass ionomer cement

In vitro effect of 1% theobromine addition on the physical and chemical properties of conventional glass ionomer (GIC) cement was investigated. Conventional GIC (GIC-C) and 1% theobromine added to GIC (GIC-THEO) specimens were compared regarding the microhardness (n = 10), sorption (n = 5), solubility (n = 5), color change (n = 10), fluoride release in saliva (n = 10) and the amount of biofilm deposition (n = 20). Compared against conventional GIC, adding 1% theobromine increased microhardness (p < 0.05), while its sorption, solubility, color and fluoride release to saliva (p > 0.05) remained unchanged. On the other hand, Streptococcus mutans biofilm amount deposited on its surface decreased statistically when theobromine was added to GIC (p < 0.05). Based on the results, it could be concluded that 1% theobromine addition to GIC can be a good strategy as it keeps some of its properties and improves microhardness and biofilm deposits strengthening its role in the preventive approach of dentistry.

Source contributions to water-soluble organic carbon and water-insoluble organic carbon in PM2.5 during Spring Festival, heating and non-heating seasons

To investigate the influences of anthropogenic activities on carbon aerosols, especially on water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), PM_2.5 samples were collected at an urban site in a northern city of China during Spring Festival (SF), heating season (HS), and non-heating season (NHS). Carbonaceous species and ions (Ca²⁺, SO₄^2-, NO₃^-, etc.) were analyzed. Mass concentrations of WSOC and WSIC exhibited higher levels in SF and HS, and high WSOC/OC ratios (67.4%) on average were found. Stronger correlations between WSOC and K⁺, Cl^- occurred in SF, which might due to contributions of firework emissions. Six major sources of PM_2.5 were quantified by PMF model, which contributed in aerosol mass differently in different periods: biomass & firework burning exhibited higher contribution (11.2%) in SF; crustal dust accounted for 19.4% during NHS; secondary particles contributed most (41.0%) in HS; during SF and HS, coal combustion devoted more to aerosol mass. Contributions to WSOC were in the order of vehicular exhaust (41.0% of WSOC) > coal combustion (29.3%) > secondary formation (17.0%) > biomass & firework burning (12.7%). The 82.0% of WIOC were from coal combustion and the rest were devoted by vehicular exhaust. Obvious peaks of firework burning contributions to WSOC were observed on SF's Eve and Lantern Festival. Coal combustion contributed to organic carbons highly in SF and HS. Results implied that anthropogenic activities contributions, like firework burning and coal combustion, significantly influenced the levels of PM_2.5 and WSOC.

Occurrence and spatial distribution of perfluorinated compounds in groundwater receiving reclaimed water through river bank infiltration

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in groundwater are of widespread concern due to their potential toxicity to human health and ecological systems. PFCs in rivers can infiltrate into groundwater through riverbank infiltration, potentially endangering the safety of drinking water and causing a deterioration in the groundwater environment. This study investigated the occurrence of PFCs in rivers and riverside groundwater from 2014 to 2017 in a city in north China. PFCs were detected in most of the groundwater samples, ranging from not detected to 64.8 ng L^-1. The predominant PFCs in both river and groundwater samples were perfluorooctane sulfonate, perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorobutane sulfonate and perfluorobutanoic acid. The PFC concentrations and major compounds were consistent in both the river and riverside groundwater samples at each site, suggesting that the adjacent river was the source of the PFCs in the riverside groundwater. The spatial distribution of the PFCs in the riverside groundwater was affected by the hydraulic connection between the groundwater and the river, the lithology of the aquifer and the properties of the compounds. The results indicated that PFCs were attenuated during riverbank infiltration and the ability of different riverbank lithologies to remove PFCs was in the order sandy clay > fine sand > sandy gravel. Perfluorooctane sulfonate concentrations decreased sharply with increasing distances from river, whereas perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorobutane sulfonate and perfluorobutanoic acid could by transported for greater distances in riverside groundwater. This study provides valuable information on PFCs in riverside groundwater affected by riverbank infiltration.

Changes in Metal Availability and Improvements in Microbial Properties After Phytoextraction of a Cd, Zn and Pb Contaminated Soil

Assessing the effects of phytoextraction on soil properties is important for successful implementation of this method. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of phytoextraction by Sedum alfredii Hance on the availability of metals and improvement of the microbial community (biomass and structure) of a Cd, Zn and Pb contaminated soil. Phytoextraction significantly decreased the acid extractable, Mn/Fe oxide and organic matter bound fractions of Cd and Zn as well as the acid extractable Pb in the rhizosphere soil. Soil microbial biomass, total, bacterial, actinomycete, fungal, AM fungal, and protozoa phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were significantly enhanced. The ratio of fungal to bacterial and gram-positive to gram-negative bacterial PLFAs were significantly changed. Redundancy analysis showed that microbial biomass and specific groups of PLFAs were negatively correlated with available metals while positively correlated with dissolved organic carbon/organic acids. In conclusion, phytoextraction by S. alfredii reduced available metal concentrations and improved soil microbial properties.

Chemical properties and colors of fermenting materials in salmon fish sauce production

This data article reports the chemical properties (moisture, pH, salinity, and soluble solid content) and colors of fermenting materials in salmon fish sauce products. The fish sauce was produced by mixing salt with differing proportions of raw salmon materials and fermenting for three months; the salmon materials comprised flesh, viscera, an inedible portion, and soft roe. Chemical properties and colors of the unrefined fish sauce (moromi), and the refined fish sauce, were analyzed at one, two, and three months following the start of fermentation. Data determined for all products are provided in table format.

The effect of nano-silver packaging in increasing the shelf life of nuts: An in vitro model

Nano packaging is currently one of the most important topics in food packaging technologies. The aim of the application of this technology in food packaging is increasing shelf life of foods by preventing internal and external corruption and microbial contaminations. Use of silver nanoparticles in food packaging has recently attracted much attention. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nano-silver packaging in increasing the shelf life packages of nuts in an In vitro model. In this experimental study, the effects of different nano-silver concentrations (0, 1, 2 and 3 percent) on biological and chemical properties of 432 samples of nuts including walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and pistachios were evaluated during 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months. In most samples, different concentrations of nano-silver (1, 2 and 3 %) significantly reduced total microbial count, mold and coliform counts compared to control group and the 3% nano-silver concentration was more effective than other concentrations (P<0.05). Moreover, using this packaging yielded an antioxidant effect especially when 2% and 3% nano-silver concentrations were used. Nano-silver also prevented growth of mold and so prevented aflatoxin production in all treatment groups. Results of chemical and biological tests showed that the silver nanoparticles had a significant effect on increasing the shelf life of nuts. The highest shelf life belonged to pistachios, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts with 20, 19, 18 and 18 months, respectively. The shelf life was associated with amount of silver nanoparticles. The highest antimicrobial activity was observed when 3% nano-silver concentration was used in pistachios. The shelf life of control groups in similar storage conditions were calculated for an average of 13 months. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of nano-silver packing in increasing shelf life of nuts. Hence, use of nano-silver packaging in food industry, especially in food packaging is recommended.

Comparison of point-source pollutant loadings to soil and groundwater for 72 chemical substances

Fate and transport of 72 chemicals in soil and groundwater were assessed by using a multiphase compositional model (CompFlow Bio) because some of the chemicals are non-aqueous phase liquids or solids in the original form. One metric ton of chemicals were assumed to leak in a stylized facility. Scenarios of both surface spills and subsurface leaks were considered. Simulation results showed that the fate and transport of chemicals above the water table affected the fate and transport of chemicals below the water table, and vice versa. Surface spill scenarios caused much less concentrations than subsurface leak scenarios because leaching amounts into the subsurface environment were small (at most 6% of the 1 t spill for methylamine). Then, simulation results were applied to assess point-source pollutant loadings to soil and groundwater above and below the water table, respectively, by multiplying concentrations, impact areas, and durations. These three components correspond to the intensity of contamination, mobility, and persistency in the assessment of pollutant loading, respectively. Assessment results showed that the pollutant loadings in soil and groundwater were linearly related (r ² = 0.64). The pollutant loadings were negatively related with zero-order and first-order decay rates in both soil (r = - 0.5 and - 0.6, respectively) and groundwater (- 1.0 and - 0.8, respectively). In addition, this study scientifically defended that the soil partitioning coefficient (K _d) significantly affected the pollutant loadings in soil (r = 0.6) and the maximum masses in groundwater (r = - 0.9). However, K _d was not a representative factor for chemical transportability unlike the expectation in chemical ranking systems of soil and groundwater pollutants. The pollutant loadings estimated using a physics-based hydrogeological model provided a more rational ranking for exposure assessment, compared to the summation of persistency and transportability scores in the chemical ranking systems. In the surface spill scenario, the pollutant loadings were zeros for all chemicals, except methylamine to soil whose pollutant loading was smaller than that in the subsurface leak scenario by 4 orders of magnitude. The maximum mass and the average mass multiplied by duration in soil greatly depended on leaching fluxes (r = 1.0 and 0.9, respectively), while the effect of leaching fluxes diminished below the water table. The contribution of this work is that a physics-based numerical model was used to quantitatively compare the subsurface pollutant loading in a chemical accident for 72 chemical substances, which can scientifically defend a simpler and more qualitative assessment of pollutant loadings. Besides, this study assessed pollutant loadings to soil (unsaturated zone) and groundwater (saturated zone) all together and discussed their interactions.

Evaluation of physical and chemical properties and their interactions in fat, oil, and grease (FOG) deposits

Fat, oil and grease (FOG) blockages in sewer systems are a substantial problem in the United States. It has been estimated that over 50% of sewer overflows are a result of FOG blockages. In this work, a thorough laboratory study was undertaken to examine key variables that contribute to FOG deposit formation under controlled conditions. Physical and chemical properties and their interactions were evaluated and conditions that generated deposits that mimicked field FOG deposits were identified. It was found that 96 of the of 128 reaction conditions tested in the laboratory formed FOG deposits with similar physical and chemical characteristics as field FOG deposits. It was also found that FOG deposits can be created through fatty acid crystallization and not just saponification. Furthermore FOG deposits were found to be more complex than previously documented and contain free fatty acids, fatty acid metal salts, triacylglycerol's, diacylglycerol's and, monoacylglycerol's. Lastly it was found that FOG deposits that only contained saturated fatty acids were on average 2.1 times higher yield strength than deposits that contained unsaturated fatty acids.

New adhesive system based in metals cross-linking methacrylate

This study evaluated the anti-antibiofilm potential of silver methacrylate (Ag) or di-n-butyldimethacrylatetin (Sn) in experimental adhesive systems. Ag and Sn methacrylates were incorporated at 0.5mol%, 1mol% and 2mol% in an adhesive resin. The anti-antibiofilm potential, degree of conversion (DC), microtensile bond strength (μTBS), water sorption/solubility (W_SR/SL), bonded interfaces pattern (SEM), cytotoxicity and leaching of Ag and Sn ions were evaluated. Data were statistically analyzed considering α = 0.05. Only Ag at 2% affected DC and μTBS. Ag at 1% and 2% and Sn at 1% and 2% showed anti-biofilm potential against Mutans streptococci. Ag at 1% and 2% and Sn at 2% showed a statistically significant difference to the control in W_SR/SL (p < 0.05). The additions of metal methacrylate did not affect cell viability, being the adhesive resins statistically similar to controls. Leached metals of Ag were more than 100x higher than for Sn. Between the concentration tested, Ag and Sn methacrylate at 1% presented an anti-biofilm effect without altering the mechanical properties evaluated.

Valorisation of chicken feathers: Characterisation of chemical properties

The characterisation of the chemical properties of the whole chicken feather and its fractions (barb and rachis), was undertaken to identify opportunities for valorizing this waste product. The authors have described the physical, morphological, mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of the chicken feathers and related them to potential valorisation routes of the waste. However, identification of their chemical properties is necessary to complete a comprehensive description of chicken feather fractions. Hence, the chicken feathers were thoroughly characterised by proximate and ultimate analyses, elemental composition, spectroscopic analyses, durability in different solvents, burning test, and hydrophobicity. The proximate analysis of chicken feathers revealed the following compositions: crude lipid (0.83%), crude fibre (2.15%), crude protein (82.36%), ash (1.49%), NFE (1.02%) and moisture content (12.33%) whereas the ultimate analyses showed: carbon (64.47%), nitrogen (10.41%), oxygen (22.34%), and sulphur (2.64%). FTIR analysis revealed that the chicken feather fractions contain amide and carboxylic groups indicative of proteinious functional groups; XRD showed a crystallinity index of 22. Durability and burning tests confirmed that feathers behaved similarly to animal fibre. This reveals that chicken feather can be a valuable raw material in textile, plastic, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, biomedical and bioenergy industries.

Are grape juices more erosive than orange juices?

AIMS

To evaluate the chemical characteristics of grape and orange juices, and their erosive potential in the decrease of microhardness and the loss of enamel structure.

METHODS

Five grape and orange juices were evaluated for pH, titratable acidity, calcium, phosphate, and fluoride concentration. De-ionised water and Cola soft drink were used as a negative and positive control, respectively. Twelve specimens of bovine enamel were immersed in beverages for 10 min at 37 °C, 3 times/day for 7 days. Erosive potential was quantified using microhardness and loss of enamel structure. Anova One Way, Student's t test, Multiple Regression and Spearman Correlation (p < 0.05) were used to analyse the results.

RESULTS

Powdered grape juice showed the lowest pH (3.18 ± 0.03) and pure grape juice presented the highest titratable acidity (5.48 ± 0.06 mL NaOH/100 mL). Fresh orange juice and soya-based grape juice revealed the lowest calcium (0.77 ± 0.12 mmol/L) and phosphate concentrations (0.35 ± 0.06 mmol/L), respectively. Among juices, powdered orange juice caused the greatest decrease in surface microhardness (SMH) (127.99 ± 40.47 ΔSMH) and grape juice from concentrate caused the greatest loss of enamel structure (13.30 ± 3.56 μm).

CONCLUSIONS

All of the evaluated juices contributed to dental erosion. Grape juices presented greater erosive potential than orange juices. Pure, powdered and concentrated grape juices showed similar loss of enamel structure to the Cola soft drink. The erosive potential of beverages was statistically correlated to pH, titratable acidity, calcium, phosphate and fluoride concentrations.

Reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration for recovery and reuse of larval rearing water in Anopheles arabiensis mass production: Effect of water quality on larval development and fitness of emerging adults

BACKGROUND

Countries around the world are showing increased interest in applying the sterile insect technique against mosquito disease vectors. Many countries in which mosquitoes are endemic, and so where vector control using the sterile insect technique may be considered, are located in arid zones where water provision can be costly or unreliable. Water reuse provides an alternate form of water supply. In order to reduce the cost of mass rearing of Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes, the possibility of recycling and reusing larval rearing water was explored.

METHODS

The used rearing water ('dirty water') was collected after the tilting of rearing trays for collection of larvae/pupae, and larvae/pupae separation events and underwent treatment processes consisting of ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis. First-instar An. arabiensis larvae were randomly assigned to different water-type treatments, 500 larvae per laboratory rearing tray: 'clean' dechlorinated water, routinely used in rearing; dirty water; and 'recycled' dirty water treated using reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration. Several parameters of insect quality were then compared: larval development, pupation rate, adult emergence, body size and longevity. Water quality of the samples was analyzed in terms of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, sulphate, dissolved oxygen, chloride, and phosphate concentrations after the larvae had all pupated or died. Surface water temperatures were also recorded continuously during larval development.

RESULTS

Pupation rates and adult emergence were similar in all water treatments. Adult body sizes of larvae reared in recycled water were similar to those reared in clean water, but larger than those reared in the dirty larval water treatment, whereas the adult longevity of larvae reared in recycled water was significantly increased relative to both 'clean' and 'dirty' water. Dirty larval water contained significantly higher concentrations of ammonium, sulfate, phosphate and chloride and lower levels of dissolved oxygen than clean water. These parameters significantly varied during the period of larval development. After dirty water was recycled by ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis, all the parameters measured were the same as those in clean water.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated the potential for using recycled larval rearing water to supplement clean dechlorinated water supplies. Recycling used water improved its quality and of the reared mosquitoes. As water demands and environmental pressures grow, recycling of larval rearing water will improve the sustainability and affordability of mosquito mass-rearing.