The effect of delactosed whey permeate on phytochemical content of canned tomatoes

The effect of delactosed whey permeate (DWP) treatment on antioxidant and phyto-chemical components of canned Irish plum tomatoes were investigated. Tomatoes were sterilised for 5 min (F₀) at 120 °C and stored for 6 months. The DWP treatment retained significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of ascorbic acid and lycopene of tomatoes. The antioxidant activity of DWP treated tomatoes was higher (7%) than the control at the end of storage. The firmness in DWP-treated fruits was around 40% higher than that in control. All the parameters decreased significantly (p < 0.05) during storage except lycopene and total phenols. Lycopene content showed no significant change and total phenols increased during storage. The changes in ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity and texture were fitted well to Weibull kinetic models with high coefficients of determination (R²) and low RMSE (root mean sum of squared error). The results clearly indicate that DWP enhanced the retention of antioxidant compounds in tomatoes during storage.     

Mitochondrial Dynamics and Mitophagy in Skeletal Muscle Health and Aging

The maintenance of mitochondrial integrity is critical for muscle health. Mitochondria, indeed, play vital roles in a wide range of cellular processes, including energy supply, Ca²⁺ homeostasis, retrograde signaling, cell death, and many others. All mitochondria-containing cells, including skeletal muscle cells, dispose of several pathways to maintain mitochondrial health, including mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial-derived vesicles, mitochondrial dynamics (fusion and fission process shaping mitochondrial morphology), and mitophagy—the process in charge of the removal of mitochondria though autophagy. The loss of skeletal muscle mass (atrophy) is a major health problem worldwide, especially in older people. Currently, there is no treatment to counteract the progressive decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength that occurs with aging, a process termed sarcopenia. There is increasing data, including our own, suggesting that accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria contributes to the development of sarcopenia. Impairments in mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy were recently proposed to contribute to sarcopenia. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the role played by mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy in skeletal muscle health and in the development of sarcopenia. We also highlight recent studies showing that enhancing mitophagy in skeletal muscle is a promising therapeutic target to prevent or even treat skeletal muscle dysfunction in the elderly.     

Effect of Flux Salts on the Recovery Extent and Quality of Metal Values from Spent Rechargeable Lead Batteries

Lead–calcium alloy containing up to 0.10% calcium was recovered from spent rechargeable sealed acid–lead batteries. Two techniques were investigated to explore the effect of flux salts on the extent and quality of the recovered alloy: pyrometallurgical and electrochemical methods. About 10 kg of the spent batteries were collected for testing. The sample was washed with hot water and dried. The plastic cases of the batteries were mechanically cut, the contents were dismantled manually, and the plastic containers were shredded for recycling. The electrode plates were freed from the loose powder and placed in SiC crucible and covered with alkali chloride salts. The loaded crucible was heated in an electronically controlled chamber furnace-type NaberthermC3 at temperatures up to 800 °C. The obtained metals were analyzed. The effect of temperature, rate of heating, atmospheric conditions, composition of the flux salts on the extent and quality of the recovered lead–calcium alloy were studied. Results revealed that the spent rechargeable batteries contain three groups of three plates of Pb–Ca grids, each packed with lead oxides. Direct heating of these plates in a silicon carbide crucible under ambient conditions produces lead metal poor in calcium content (0.07%) due to partial oxidation of the alloying calcium element. Rate of temperature increase has a considerable effect on the yield of the lead alloy composition. Thermodynamically, the activation energy of the alloying process amounts to 5366 kJ/mol. Flux sodium salts benefit the recovery process. Sodium salts are more powerful as compared to potassium salts. Lead calcium alloy meeting the standard specification has been successfully recovered from the spent rechargeable acid–lead batteries with a very competitive cost to that of the same alloy prepared from primary resources.     

The Impact of Language Variety and Expertise on Perceptions of Online Political Discussions

An experimental design was employed in the investigation of the impact of two status cues, language style and source expertise, on people's perceptions of online political discussants and their intentions and motivations to participate in local online political discussion fora. Specifically, the colloquial form of Singapore English, known as Singlish, was manipulated, together with information about the expertise of a discussant, in a 2 × 2 between-subjects factorial design, with the discussion issue manipulated as a within-subjects variable. Eighty undergraduates, 42 male and 38 female, participated in the study. Overall, the results of this study provide very limited support for the significant effects of status cues on perceptions and participation. The implications of the results of this study for theories of computer-mediated communication and linguistics in the context of the Internet are discussed.     

Influence of media characteristics on energy dissipation in filter backwashing

Effective cleaning of granular filters during backwashing processes needs maximum turbulence and maximum shear in the fluid particle field. The energy dissipation in a backwashed filter as a particulate fluidized bed arises due to the suspending and random motions of particles and turbulent fluctuations in the bed. Size, density, and sphericity of the filter materials greatly influence the fluidization behavior of the media. In this study, a new model is proposed for predicting the energy dissipation parameters namely the hydrodynamic shear stress (tau(a)), the velocity gradient (G(a)), the turbulence dissipation coefficient (C(a)), and the turbulence parameter (C(a)0.5/Re) in backwashing of filters for different types of filter materials (sand, anthracite, and glass ball). The hydrodynamic shear stress is the dominant mechanism of filter cleaning and appears to increase with increasing the density and size of the filter media particles. Using the basic set of data, a step by step procedure is developed to compute the velocity gradient G(a), the turbulence dissipation coefficient C(a), the hydrodynamic shear stress tau(a), and the turbulent parameter (C(a)0.5/ Re).     

Modeling the rate of corrosion of carbon steel using activated diethanolamine solutions for CO_2 absorption

A mechanistic model is developed to investigate the influence of an activator on the corrosion rate of carbon steel in the absorption processes of carbon dioxide(CO_2). Piperazine(PZ) is used as the activator in diethanolamine(DEA) aqueous solutions. The developed model for corrosion takes into consideration the effect of fluid flow,transfer of charge and diffusion of oxidizing agents and operating parameters like temperature, activator concentration, CO_2 loading and pH. The study consists of two major models: Vapor–liquid Equilibrium(VLE) model and electrochemical corrosion model. The electrolyte-NRTL equilibrium model was used for determination of concentration of chemical species in the bulk solution. The results of speciation were subsequently used for producing polarization curves and predicting the rate of corrosion occurring at the surface of metal. An increase in concentration of activator, increases the rate of corrosion of carbon steel in mixtures of activated DEA.     

Texture and color characteristics of swell-dried ready-to-eat Zaghloul date snacks: Effect of operative parameters of instant controlled pressure drop process

In this work, development of ready-to-eat snacks from Zaghloul date using swell-drying process was studied. Pre-dried Zaghloul date samples having 12% water content on dry basis were textured by instant controlled pressure drop technique (DIC) at different operative parameters, saturated steam pressure (p) and processing time (t), ranged from 0.2 to 0.6 MPa and from 9 to 35 s, respectively. The effect of these operative parameters on texture, color, and sensory characteristics of swell-dried (SD) Zaghloul date snacks were determined and optimized through the response surface methodology. Textural (expansion ratio, hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness) and color (L*, a*, b*, C*, and ΔE*) characteristics were significantly affected by the operative parameters of DIC. The optimized textural characteristics was identified for SD Zaghloul date at p = 0.6 MPa and t = 22 s with slight yellowness, while the best color properties were observed for texturing conditions of p = 0.2 MPa and t = 22 s. The expansion ratio ε_r was then 46% higher and the hardness was 262% lower for SD than airflow-dried date. Instrumental analysis such as texture profile analysis and Hunter's Lab color analyzer could be used to describe the texture and color changes occurred during food drying. Beside these analyses, the expansion ratio could be used to describe the texture as well. Swell-drying process, an alternative drying process, is defined as DIC-assisted hot air drying. The thermo-mechanical effects of DIC are mainly induced by the abrupt pressure drop toward a vacuum after short-time treatment (9–35 s) by saturated steam pressure (0.2 up to 0.6 MPa). The abrupt pressure drop rate induces an autovaporization of product's water immediately decreasing the product's temperature allowing it to cross the glass transition Tg border. The impact of DIC operative parameters on Zaghloul date could be observed through the expansion ratio, and the textural characteristics (hardness HA, springiness SP, cohesiveness CO, and chewiness CH).     

Microscopic investigation of pollen morphology of Brassicaceae from Central Punjab‐Pakistan

The intention of the current study is to provide an account on the palynological features of Brassicaceae from Central Punjab‐Pakistan as a basis for future studies. Different morpho‐palynological characteristics both qualitative and quantitative were analyzed during this research which includes shape of pollen, diameter of pollen, P/E ratio, exine sculpturing, thickness of exine, type of pollen, shape and size of lumens, and thickness of murus. Taxonomic keys were also constructed based on pollen morphological characters for correct identification of species. This study aims to provide detailed information of pollen diversity and their exine structure based on both qualitative and quantitative characters by using Light microscopy and Scanning electron microscopy. Shape of pollen is mostly prolate, but some species also have sub‐prolate to spheroidal prolate types. Exine ornamentation in most species was reticulate, whereas micro reticulate (one species) and coarsely reticulate (one species) exine also observed in some pollen. All the pollen mentioned in this study have tricolpate apertures. Variation found in thickness of exine and other characters proved to be helpful at generic and specific level. The results reinforced the significance of pollen morphological features of family Brassicaceae and aid for valuable taxonomic tool in plant systematics.