Purification of Bacillus licheniformis Lipase and its Application as an Additive in Detergent for Destaining

In this study, we aimed to optimize the nutritional and environmental conditions for the production of a novel lipase (LBL) from Bacillus licheniformis (GenBank accession no. MT118724). This strain was characterized by morphological and biochemical assays and Sanger sequencing of 16S rDNA. The crude lipolytic activity reached a maximum level 7.5 U mL⁻¹ at 40 °C and pH 8.0 using olive oil as substrate. Additionally, the crude enzyme maintained 100% of its initial activity after incubation for 1 h at 50 °C and pH 9.0. It is mandatory to note that LBL lipase displayed appreciable stability over a wide pH range and extreme temperatures. After purification, the optimal lipolytic activity was observed at pH 8.0 and 40 °C. LBL was shown to be a monomeric protein with an estimated molecular weight of 40 kDa. This novel lipase exhibited high stability and excellent compatibility compared to lipase extracted from Thermomyces lanuginosa (Lipolase® from Novozymes, Denmark) toward various detergents. Washing performance analysis revealed that it efficiently removes tomato sauce stain from cotton cloth. All these interesting enzymatic properties favor this new lipase as a potent candidate for applications in detergent formulations.     

Tracking the Genetic Susceptibility Background of B-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas from Genome-Wide Association Studies

B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) risk associations had been mainly attributed to family history of the disease, inflammation, and immune components including human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genetic variations. Nevertheless, a broad range of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have shed light into the identification of several genetic variants presumptively associated with B-cell NHL etiologies, survival or shared genetic risk with other diseases. The present review aims to overview HLA structure and diversity and summarize the evidence of genetic variations, by GWAS, on five NHL subtypes (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma DLBCL, follicular lymphoma FL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia CLL, marginal zone lymphoma MZL, and primary central nervous system lymphoma PCNSL). Evidence indicates that the HLA zygosity status in B-cell NHL might promote immune escape and that genome-wide significance variants can give biological insight but also potential therapeutic markers such as WEE1 in DLBCL. However, additional studies are needed, especially for non-DLBCL, to replicate the associations found to date.     

Slowing deforestation pace through subsidies: a differential game

This paper deals with the issue of deforestation, one of the main global environmental problems. We consider two players having different utilities for forest conservation. The first one (call it North) represents a set of countries having as an objective to maximize the size of tropical forest at a certain time horizon. The (South) second player's revenue function involves a trade-off between forest exploitation and agricultural activities. We study two scenarios. In the first one, the assumption is a laisser-faire policy, where the South solves an optimal control problem over a finite horizon. Revenue and optimal forest exploitation obtained represent a benchmark for the second scenario, where the North offers subsidies to the South to reduce the deforestation rate. The two scenarios are analyzed and compared in terms of strategies, outcomes and forest conservation.     

凝胶注模制备的铝铜坯体脱脂过程及动力学

通过凝胶注模工艺,采用非水基凝胶体系,成功地制备铝铜坯体.通过扫描电镜观察脱脂前聚合物完全包裹粉末颗粒,脱脂后金属坯体中聚合物完全脱除.通过反应机理得出聚合物三维网络结构的化学式.采用热分析手段、热重和红外连用系统分析金属坯体的脱脂过程,根据Coats-Redfern方法对非等温热失重率曲线的数据进行动力学研究,建立动力学方程.在不同的升温速率下聚合物脱脂反应级数为1,活化能在79.86-108.63 k J·mol^-1范围内,指前因子反应指数在106-107min^-1,活化能的结果表明反应对温度和动力学比较敏感.脱脂主要分为两个阶段,在240-350℃主要是聚合物链段的分解,在350-470℃主要是聚合物网状结构的解聚和解交联反应,同时脱脂阶段主要产生CO₂、CO、NO₂和H₂O挥发性气体.     

Process signatures in metal stamping: Basic concepts

The article establishes the basic concepts relating to a novel approach for representing grid analysis data termed “process signatures.” The process signature is the shape of the strain envelope, which depicts the strain state of contiguous elements in a stamping, corresponding to a given forming depth. Apart from inheriting unique process characteristics, the signatures represent the total response of a stamping to the punch and die actions. Reactions to fundamental modes of deformation constitute the building blocks of the signature. The practical importance of this concept stems from the fact that the fundamental blocks (modules) are unique and there is a one-to-one correspondence between areas of the process signature and the punch and die actions. It is further established that the signature responds in a predictable fashion to changes in material, lubricants, tooling clearances, blankholder forces, etc. and that because of this predictability it can be used as a powerful troubleshooting tool. Some practical examples are illustrated to demonstrate the applicability of this approach.     

Graphene oxide reinforced chitosan/polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer bio‐nanocomposites

Bio‐nanocomposite films based on chitosan/polyvinylpyrrolidone (CS/PVP) and graphene oxide (GO) were processed using the casting/evaporation technique. It has been found that the three components of bio‐nanocomposites can be easily mixed in controlled conditions enabling the formation of thick films with high quality, smooth surface and good flexibility. Structural and morphological characterizations showed that the GO sheets are well dispersed in the CS/PVP blend forming strong interfacial interactions that provide an enhanced load transfer between polymer chains and GO sheets thus improving their properties. It has been found that the water resistance of the CS/PVP blend is improved, and the hydrolytic degradation is limited by addition of 0.75 and 2 wt % GO. The modulus, strength, elongation and toughness of the bio‐nanocomposites are together increased. Herein, the steps to form new bio‐nanocomposite films have been described, taking the advantage of the combination of CS, PVP and GO to design the aforementioned bio‐nanocomposite films, which allow to have extraordinary properties that would have promising applications as eventual packaging materials. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 41042.     

Insecticidal activities of essential oils from leaves of Laurus nobilis L. from Tunisia,Algeria and Morocco,and comparative chemical composition

Laurus nobilis essential oils from Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco were analyzed for their chemical composition and assessed for their repellent and toxic activities against two major stored product pests: Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium castaneum. The three oils showed quantitative rather than qualitative differences in their chemical compositions. 1,8-cineole, linalool and isovaleraldehyde, were identified as the major common compounds whereas, α-pinene, α-terpineol, eugenylmethylether, β-pinene, spathulenol and β-myrcene were also well represented in all three oils. Results showed that L. nobilis essential oils were repellant and toxic to adults of R. dominica and T. castaneum. Repellent and fumigant toxicities were highly dependent upon insect species and oil origin.In filter paper tests, L. nobilis essential oil from Morocco was more effective compared to Tunisian and Algerian oils. RD₅₀ values were respectively 0.013 μl/cm², 0.036 μl/cm² and 0.033 μl/cm² for R. dominica versus 0.045 μl/cm², 0.139 μl/cm² and 0.096 μl/cm² for T. castaneum. Moreover, fumigant activity tests showed that both R. dominica and T. castaneum were more susceptible to L. nobilis essential oil from Morocco than that from Algeria or Tunisia. The corresponding LC₅₀ values were respectively 68, 99 and 113 μl/l air for R. dominica against 172, 194 and 217 μl/l air for T. castaneum. Our work clearly vindicates interest in the efficacy of essential oils from plants of Mediterranean origin both as insecticides and repellents against stored product pests.     

Polyphasic characterization of Aspergillus section Flavi isolated from animal feeds in Algeria

In Algeria, little information is available on the population structure of Aspergillus section Flavi in raw materials and resultant animal feeds. A total of 172 isolates belonging to Aspergillus section Flavi were recovered from 57 animal feeds and identified on the basis of macro and micro-morphological characters, mycotoxin production and genetic relatedness. For the molecular analysis, sequencing of the calmodulin gene (CaM) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were performed for representative isolates. Four distinct morphotypes were distinguished: Aspergillus flavus (78.5%), Aspergillus tamarii (19.2%), Aspergillus parasiticus (1.7%), and Aspergillus alliaceus (0.6%). All A. flavus isolates were of the L type and no correlation between sclerotia production and aflatoxigenicity was observed. Our results showed that 68% of the A. flavus strains produced aflatoxins B (AFB), and 72.7% were cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) producers. The three isolates of A. parasiticus were able to produce AFB and aflatoxins G but not CPA whereas, all the strains of A. tamarii produced only CPA. The obtained results revealed the presence of different species of Aspergillus section Flavi, among which were aflatoxin producers. This study provides evidence useful for considerations in aflatoxin control strategies.     

Antioxidant capacity and phenol content of selected Algerian medicinal plants

Extracts from the bark of Fraxinus angustifolia as well as the leaves of Pistacia lentiscus and Clematis flammula have been investigated for their reducing power, inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation and scavenging capacity on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and H₂O₂ using in vitro spectrophotometric methods. The results indicate that the best overall antioxidant capacity was shown by extracts of Pistacia lentiscus, followed by Fraxinus angustifolia and Clematis flammula.