Effect of short-term storage on phenolic content,o-diphenolase and peroxidase activities of cut yam tubers (Dioscorea sp)

The effect of short-term storage on the protein, phosphorus and phenolic content as well as peroxidase and o-diphenolase activities of cut, harvested Jamaican yam (Dioscorea sp) tubers (D rotundata. D alata and D cayenensis) was studied. There was an initial increase in the total phenolic content up to the third week of storage followed by a gradual decrease to the sixth week. Phenolic content was found to be highest in D cayenensis followed by D rotundata and D alata. The activities of peroxidase (EC 1. 11. 1. 7) and o-diphenolase (EC 1. 10.3.1) increased steadily up to the third week of storage and thereafter decreased to the fifth week. The intensity and rapidity of browning in tubers when cut, correlated very closely with the tuber o-diphenolase and phenolic content levels while the onset of rotting correlated with the peroxidase activity levels in the species studied.     

Capture of carbon dioxide by an ion-exchange resin: Influence of gas humidity on capture mechanisms

This paper evaluates moisture content effects on CO₂ capture of an ion-exchange resin (IER) functionalised with a primary amine group. IER capacities were determined by breakthrough with an inlet gas containing 10 vol% CO₂, nitrogen and various moisture contents. Three types of behaviour were identified according to humidity level. In saturated air conditions, the stoichiometry could be justified by carbonates and bicarbonates fixation. In dry conditions, we suspect a joint physical adsorption and reaction mechanism. For intermediate humidity, the stoichiometry of 1 CO₂ for 1 amine group is consistent with a bicarbonate fixation or carbamic acid formation.     

Broad Spectrum Anti-Bacterial Activity and Non-Selective Toxicity of Gum Arabic Silver Nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most commercialized nanomaterials and presumed to be biocompatible based on the biological effects of the bulk material. However, their physico-chemical properties differ significantly to the bulk materials and are associated with unique biological properties. The study investigated the antimicrobial and cytotoxicity effects of AgNPs synthesized using gum arabic (GA), sodium borohydride (NaBH₄), and their combination as reducing agents. The AgNPs were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The anti-bacterial activity was assessed using agar well diffusion and microdilution assays, and the cytotoxicity effects on Caco-2, HT-29 and KMST-6 cells using MTT assay. The GA-synthesized AgNPs (GA-AgNPs) demonstrated higher bactericidal activity against all bacteria, and non-selective cytotoxicity towards normal and cancer cells. AgNPs reduced by NaBH₄ (C-AgNPs) and the combination of GA and NaBH₄ (GAC-AgNPs) had insignificant anti-bacterial activity and cytotoxicity at ≥50 µg/mL. The study showed that despite the notion that AgNPs are safe and biocompatible, their toxicity cannot be overruled and that their toxicity can be channeled by using biocompatible polymers, thereby providing a therapeutic window at concentrations that are least harmful to mammalian cells but toxic to bacteria.     

Effect of low-zinc status and essential fatty acids deficiency on the activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in liver and serum of albino rats

The effects of dietary deficiencies of zinc and essential fatty acids (EFAs) or both on aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were investigated in young growing rats. Four groups of albino rats were fed diets deficient in either EFA (4% hydrogenated coconut oil) or zinc (6 ppm) or both. The control diet was adequate in EFA (4% soybean oil) and zinc (100 ppm). The feeding trial lasted eight weeks and the activities of AST and ALT were determined in the liver and serum. EFA deficiency had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on liver AST. However, zinc and the double deficiencies depressed AST activity in the organ. Deficiencies of EFA, zinc and their combination depressed ALT activity in the liver significantly (p < 0.05) with a concomitant increase recorded in the serum. The data suggested alteration in endothelial permeability of the plasma membrane and thus leakage of membrane constituents in the tissue studied. It is therefore considered that these deficient diets may affect liver tissue negatively in view of the role of these enzymes in amino acid metabolism.     

Oil composition,mineral nutrient and fatty acid distribution in the lipid classes of underutilized oils of Trilepisium madagascariense and Antiaris africana from Nigeria

Trilepisium madagascariense (TM) and Antiaris africana (AA) are two underutilized plants from Nigeria. They have been subjected to standard analytical techniques in order to evaluate the proximate composition, physico-chemical properties, mineral nutrient, fatty acid composition and distribution in the lipid classes of the seeds and seed oils. The carbohydrate composition of these seeds are high; TM is 62.73 ± 0.30% and AA is 53.97 ± 0.50%. Iodine value of TM was found to be 46.10 ± 0.70 mg iodine/g while that of AA was 88.24 ± 0.50 mg iodine/g. The mineral composition of the seeds and the oils varied with K having the highest concentration in the seed and Na the highest concentration in the oils. Linoleic acid is the dominant fatty acid in the oil of AA with the highest composition in the neutral lipids while palmitic acid is the dominant fatty acid in oil of TM. Vitamin E, Gamma-Sitosterol, α and β-Amyrin, Lupeol, Stigmast-4-en-3-one, and hydrocarbons were isolated from these oils. The results of the proximate, mineral nutrient compositions, chemical characterization and fatty acid distribution of these seeds and seed oils shows their possibility as potential resources.     

Application of the singularity function method to semi-infinite orthotropic rectangular plates on an elastic foundation

The singularity function method is applied to solve the structural problems of semi-infinite orthotropic rectangular plates on a Winker-type elastic foundation. Previous application by Selek et al. (Int. J. Mech. Sci., 25 (1983) 397) of the singularity function to plates on an elastic foundation was limited only to isotropic cases. Foundation-free orthotropic plate problems have been previously solved Adewale et al. (Int. J. Mech. Sci., 31 (1989) 853). In this paper, the singularity function method technique is extended to orthotropic rectangular plate on Winkler-type foundation. The isotropic rectangular plate results of Selek et al. (Int. J. Mech. Sci., 25 (1983) 397) and the foundation-free orthotropic rectangular plate results provided by Adewale et al. (Int. J. Mech. Sci., 31 (1989) 853) are recovered as special cases.     

Synthesis and characterization of polylactic acid-lecithin-starch bioplastic film

Plastic-induced environmental issues could be solved using biomaterials, such as polylactic acid (PLA) film. PLA film is a costly solution suggesting the need to add less expensive starch. However, PLA and starch do not mix due to their diverging water behavior. In this study, we evaluated the impact of lecithin as a compatibilizer in varying ratio of PLA and starch film. The results show that inclusion of lecithin in PLA/starch composite leads to enhanced mechanical properties compared with the composite without lecithin. All films' thermal properties were stable but the thermograph of PLA/starch display two peaks whose distance is impacted by lecithin. In addition, morphology and functional group fingerprints revealed that the addition of lecithin improved the interfacial adhesion between the two polymers. Lecithin influenced the positioning and dispersion pattern of starch granules and distinct transmittance characteristics. The improved compatibility of PLA/starch makes the resulting films less susceptible to water penetration and dissolution. This work demonstrated the possibility of using lecithin as emulsifier between PLA and starch which could expand the application of PLA/starch film especially in packaging industries and bale net wrapping.     

Titin N2A Domain and Its Interactions at the Sarcomere

Titin is a giant protein in the sarcomere that plays an essential role in muscle contraction with actin and myosin filaments. However, its utility goes beyond mechanical functions, extending to versatile and complex roles in sarcomere organization and maintenance, passive force, mechanosensing, and signaling. Titin’s multiple functions are in part attributed to its large size and modular structures that interact with a myriad of protein partners. Among titin’s domains, the N2A element is one of titin’s unique segments that contributes to titin’s functions in compliance, contraction, structural stability, and signaling via protein–protein interactions with actin filament, chaperones, stress-sensing proteins, and proteases. Considering the significance of N2A, this review highlights structural conformations of N2A, its predisposition for protein–protein interactions, and its multiple interacting protein partners that allow the modulation of titin’s biological effects. Lastly, the nature of N2A for interactions with chaperones and proteases is included, presenting it as an important node that impacts titin’s structural and functional integrity.     

Underground production scheduling with ventilation and refrigeration considerations

Underground mine production scheduling determines when, if ever, activities associated with the extraction of ore should be executed. The accumulation of heat in the mine where operators are working is a major concern. At the time of this writing, production scheduling and ventilation decisions are not made in concert. Correspondingly, heat limitations are largely ignored. Our mixed-integer program maximizes net present value subject to constraints on precedence, and mill and extraction capacities with the consideration of heat using thermodynamic principles, while affording the option of activating refrigeration to mitigate heat accumulation. In seconds to hours, depending on the problem size (up to thousands of activities and 900 daily time periods), a corresponding methodology that exploits the mathematical problem structure provides schedules that maintain a safe working environment for mine operators; optimality gaps are no more than 15% and average less than half that for otherwise-intractable instances.