Nutritional contents of three edible oyster mushrooms grown on two substrates at Haramaya,Ethiopia, and sensory properties of boiled mushroom and mushroom sauce

The effects of wheat and bean straw growing substrates on nutrient contents of three edible oyster mushrooms and sensory properties of two mushroom foods were investigated. Moisture (fresh weight basis), crude protein, fat, fibre, ash, total carbohydrate, Fe, P and Zn (db) were ranged: 85.18–88.86%, 30.04–37.63%, 1.61–2.55%, 9.33–13.29%, 6.83–9.38%, 29.68–32.53%, 4.86–5.66 mg per 100 g, 12.39–15.36 g kg^?1 and 54.61–65.98 mg kg^?1, respectively. Moisture, fat and fibre were significantly (P < 0.01) affected by substrates, species and their interactions. Substrates showed no differences on ash, Fe and P (P > 0.05). Protein content was high for mushrooms grown on bean straw. Pleurotus sajor‐caju grown on bean straw had high protein, ash, Fe and P contents. No significant (P > 0.05) sensory acceptability differences were observed for boiled mushroom and mushroom sauce except colour of boiled mushrooms. In Ethiopia, if mushroom consumption is popularised, the support for food nutrition security is substantial.     

Extraordinary evanescent field confinement waveguide sensor for mid-infrared trace gas spectroscopy

Nanophotonic waveguides are at the core of a great variety of optical sensors.These structures confine light along defined paths on photonic chips and provide light-matter interaction via an evanescent field.However,waveguides still lag behind free-space optics for sensitivity-critical applications such as trace gas detection.Short optical pathlengths,low interaction strengths,and spurious etalon fringes in spectral transmission are among the main reasons why on-chip gas sensing is still in its infancy.In this work,we report on a mid-infrared integrated waveguide sensor that successfully addresses these drawbacks.This sensor operates with a 107%evanescent field confinement factor in air,which not only matches but also outperforms free-space beams in terms of the per-length optical interaction.Furthermore,negligible facet reflections result in a flat spectral background and record-low absorbance noise that can finally compete with free-space spectroscopy.The sensor performance was validated at 2.566μm,which showed a 7 ppm detection limit for acetylene with only a 2 cm long waveguide.     

Nano-Theranostic Modality for Visualization of the Placenta and Photo-Hyperthermia for Potential Management of Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is the leading cause of maternity-related death in the first trimester of pregnancy. Approximately 98% of ectopic implantations occur in the fallopian tube, and expedient management is crucial for preventing hemorrhage and maternal death in the event of tubal rupture. Current ultrasound strategies misdiagnose EP in up to 40% of cases, and the failure rate of methotrexate treatment for confirmed EP exceeds 10%. Here the first theranostic strategy for potential management of EP is reported using a near-infrared naphthalocyanine dye encapsulated within polymeric nanoparticles. These nanoparticles preferentially accumulate in the developing murine placenta within 24 h following systemic administration, and enable visualization of implantation sites at various gestational stages via fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging. These nanoparticles do not traverse the placental barrier to the fetus or impact fetal development. However, excitation of nanoparticles localized in specific placentas with focused NIR light generates heat (>43 °C) sufficient for disruption of placental function, resulting in the demise of targeted fetuses with no effect on adjacent fetuses. This novel approach would enable diagnostic confirmation of EP when current imaging strategies are unsuccessful, and elimination of EP could subsequently be achieved using the same nano-agent to generate localized hyperthermia resulting in targeted placental impairment.     

Life cycle assessment of an ionic liquid versus molecular solvents and their applications

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been claimed as "greener" replacements to molecular solvents. However, the environmental impacts of the life cycle phases and comparison with alternative methods have not been studied. Such a life cycle assessment (LCA) is essential before any legitimate claims of "greenness" can be made and is the subject of this paper. The model IL selected is 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim][BF4]) and its use as a solvent for the manufacture of cyclohexane and in a Diels-Alder reaction was assessed. These uses are compared with more conventional synthesis methods. The results indicate that processes that use IL are highly likely to have a larger life cycle environmental impact than more conventional methods. Sensitivity analysis shows that the result is robust to errors and variation in the data. For cyclohexane synthesis, the industrial gas phase process is the greenest, but the three solvents compared for the Diels-Alder reaction showed comparable life cycle impact. Although ILs are not the most attractive alternatives, the result may change if their separation efficiency, stability and recyclability are improved. Because there are many kinds of ILs, with many applications, two examples are not enough to reach any general conclusions about the greenness of all ILs. However, the life cycle data and approach of this study can be used for evaluating the greenness of more kinds of solvents, processes, and emerging technologies.