Effect Of Ethanol Concentration Research Articles

Guidelines to optimise the sensory detection of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole in neutral spirit and whisky

Why was the work done: Guidelines are required to optimise the sensory detection of musty/stale taints in alcoholic spirits caused by 2,4,6-trichloroanisole. Early detection of the taint is necessary as the low sensory threshold can result in significant quality issues and masking the musty/stale off-note through blending is difficult. How was the work done: The standard industry practice for ‘nosing’ is to dilute samples of spirit to 20% ABV to prevent sensory fatigue. It is not known if 20% ABV is the optimal concentration for detecting 2,4,6-trichloroanisole. In this study, the effects of ethanol concentration on the detection of the taint were evaluated using a sensory panel and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The efficacy of nosing versus tasting to detect 2,4,6-trichloroanisole was investigated at different dilutions of distilled spirits. Further, the stability of this off-note at 20% ABV was determined to assess if the taint could be detected by nosing over a working day. Finally, the serving temperature of the sample was assessed in the sensory perception of the taint. What are the main findings: The recommendations to optimise the sensory detection of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole in spirit samples are (i) nose samples at 20% ABV, (ii) as soon as possible after dilution conduct sensory tests and (iii) chill the sample. Why is the work important: The limits of detection for conventional solid phase microextraction with gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy are typically above the threshold of human perception. Therefore, the industry needs to maximise the detection by sensory panellists of contaminated whisky samples to ensure the product does not go to market so as to avoid any reputational damage.

Effects of Ethanol Concentrations on Primary Structural and Bioactive Characteristics of Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharides.

Ethanol fractional precipitation can initially separate polysaccharides according to the structure, which exhibits strong correlation with the biological activities. This study aimed to investigate the impact of varying ethanol concentrations on the structural characteristics, and the antitumor and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides derived from Dendrobium officinale through ethanol fractional precipitation, as well as their internal relationships. The polysaccharides acquired by absolute alcohol additions at a final liquor-ethanol volume ratio of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4 were named DOP-1, DOP-2, and DOP-4, and the supernatant was named DOP-S. The results of the structural analysis revealed that the increase in ethanol concentrations resulted in a reduction in the molecular weights and the acetylation degree of the polysaccharides, as well as a decrease in mannose content and an increase in glucose content. In vitro experiments demonstrated that DOP-S exhibited optimal antitumor and antioxidant activities. Animal experiments further confirmed that DOP-S suppressed the growth of solid tumors significantly, enhanced lymphocytes, mediated immune ability, and improved the activity of antioxidant enzymes. These findings would establish a theoretical foundation and provide technical support for further advances and applications of polysaccharides derived from D. officinale in the fields of food and medicine.

β-Endorphin influences sedative and ataxic effects of alcohol

Beta-endorphin (β-E) is an opioid peptide linked to the behavioral effects of ethanol. For example, β-E provides negative feedback to inhibit the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) stress axis, and neuroadaptation of this system to ethanol may facilitate sex differences in disordered drinking. Locomotor sensitivity to ethanol may also influence the risk for addiction; however, the role of β-E in psychomotor effects of ethanol is not fully understood. We examined the role of β-E and sex on locomotor effects of ethanol using adult male and female wild-type C57BL/6J and β-E deficient B6.129S2-Pomctm1Low/J mice in a parallel rod floor apparatus following 0.75 or 2.0 g/kg ethanol. Beginning 15 min after intraperitoneal injection, we recorded foot slips, distance traveled, slips per meter, first instance of immobility, and total time spent off-balance (lying on the floor) over 15 min, and collected blood for analysis of ethanol concentration 60 min after injection. Overall, β-E deficient mice were more sedated and ataxic following ethanol; at the lower dose they slipped more frequently and had a higher rate of slips per meter traveled. At the higher dose, β-E deficient mice were predominantly sedated, slipping less frequently, and traveling less, as well as spending more time off-balance and becoming immobile sooner. Genotype interacted with sex in that male β-E deficient mice slipped more frequently than their female counterparts, suggesting that β-E may elicit sex-dependent effects of ethanol-induced ataxia. Blood ethanol concentration did not differ between any group, suggesting that behavioral differences result from altered sensitivity to ethanol. Our data support the contention that β-E modulates the locomotor effects of ethanol and may influence ataxia in a sex-dependent manner. These findings help elucidate the role of β-E in diverging behavioral responses to ethanol and may aid the development of targeted treatments for alcohol use disorders.

Extraction of gymnemic acid from Gymnema inodorum (Lour.) Decne. leaves and production of dry powder extract using maltodextrin

The aim of the present study was to maximize the extraction of gymnemic acid (GA) from Phak Chiang Da (PCD) leaves, an indigenous medicinal plant used for diabetic treatment in Northern Thailand. The goal was to overcome the low concentration of GA in the leaves, which limits its applications among a larger population and develop a process to produce GA-enriched PCD extract powder. The solvent extraction method was employed to extract GA from PCD leaves. The effect of ethanol concentration and extraction temperature were investigated to determine the optimum extraction conditions. A process was developed to produce GA-enriched PCD extract powder, and its properties were characterized. In addition, color analysis (L*, a*, and b*) was performed to evaluate the overall appearance of the PCD extract powder. Antioxidant activity assay was conducted to assess the ability of the PCD extract powder to neutralize DPPH free radicals. The results showed that the concentration of 50% (v/v) ethanol at 70 °C for 2 h resulted in a higher GA concentration of 8307 mg/kg from dried PCD leaves. During the drying process, the use of maltodextrin at a concentration of 0.5% (w/v) was found to produce PCD extract powder with the maximum GA concentration. The color analysis revealed that the PCD extract powder had a dark greenish tint mixed with yellow. The antioxidant activity assay showed that 0.1 g of PCD extract powder was able to neutralize 75.8% of DPPH free radicals. The results concluded that PCD extract powder could potentially be used as a source of nutraceuticals or as a functional food ingredient. These findings suggest the potential value of GA-rich PCD extract powder in various applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, or food industries.

Facile synthesis of porous cellulose aerogel beads with tunable core–shell microstructures and physical properties

Cellulose aerogel beads (CABs) have emerged as advanced biomaterials with numerous engineering applications, including chromatography and drug release. In this study, porous core–shell CABs were synthesized using a dilute ethanol solution-substitution-assisted freeze-drying. The formation mechanism of the CABs and the effect of ethanol concentration on the core–shell microstructures and physical properties were investigated. Cellulose hydrogel beads (CHBs) were formed through the exchange/neutralization of acetic acid with tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH)/urea. The cellulose chains dissolved in the cellulose–TEAOH/urea droplets regenerated from the edge to the inside of the droplet in an acetic acid bath. Notably, adding ethanol at a concentration of 10% before freeze-drying can result in core–shell CABs with non-obvious structural shrinkage, large particle size, uniform pores, and high porosity. Ethanol molecules induce ice crystal growth to form more uniform ice crystals during the freezing process. Additionally, by altering the TEAOH/urea molar ratios and cellulose concentrations of cellulose solutions, well-shaped and porous CABs were prepared, demonstrating the feasibility and availability of dilute ethanol solution-assisted freeze-drying. Consequently, the as-fabricated CABs had a dense micro-shell (1–9 μm) and loose millimetric-core with anisotropic pores (2–6 μm), exhibiting low density (0.06–0.09 g/cm3), high porosity (87.0–91.5%), and noteworthy thermal stability.

Extraction of saponins, total soluble solids and antioxidant activity from Polyscias fruticosa roots

Polyscias fruticosa is a tropical plant that has been used as medicine and food in Asian countries for centuries. The roots of Polyscias fruticosa contain a significant amount of beneficial bioactive compounds including saponins, polyphenols and flavonoids. Although a few reports on the extraction of bioactive from Polyscias fruticosa roots have been published, the literature related to the effects of extraction parameters on the recovery of saponins, the predominant bioactive group in this medicinal plant is limited. In this study, the effects of ethanol concentration, temperature, extraction time and liquid-solid ratio on the recovery of total soluble solids (TSS), saponins and antioxidant activity (AA) of extracts from Polyscias fruticosa roots were investigated. The yield of saponins, TSS and AA were significantly affected by the extraction conditions. The extraction time of 120 mins resulted in the highest yield of TSS while the extraction time of 90 mins led to the highest recovery of saponins and AA. Total saponin recovery increased along with the increase in ethanol concentration and reached a plateau at 40% of ethanol concentration. In addition, the temperature of 50oC and the liquid-solid ratio of 40/1 (mL/g) were found to be the most favourable conditions for the extraction. The results of this study were applicable for the process development on larger scales to produce saponin-rich products from Polyscias fruticosa roots.

Molecular dynamics simulations of water-ethanol droplet on silicon surface

Abstract Molecular dynamics simulations are used to explore the wetting behavior of a water-ethanol droplet on the silicon surface. The effect of ethanol concentration on the wettability of a water-ethanol droplet on the silicon surface was analysed by calculation of contact angle. At 30% ethanol concentrations, the water contact angle was 50.7°, while at 50% ethanol concentrations, it was 36°. The results showed that the contact angle of a droplet on a silicon surface decreases with increasing ethanol concentrations. The formation of hydrogen bonds (HBs) between water-water molecules was 677 for the 30% ethanol system, while at 50% ethanol concentrations, it was 141. The number of hydrogen bonds between water molecules reduces as the ethanol concentrations rise. The HBs between water molecules and the silicon surface is seen to grow as the ethanol concentration rises. The overall potential energies of pure water, 7:3 water-ethanol, and 1:1 water-ethanol systems are −74.4, −96.16, and −158.59 kcal/mol, respectively. The contact angle and number density of water molecules on the surface of the silicon revealed that at different ethanol concentrations, more water molecules are distributed on the silicon surface.

Preparation and performance evaluation of environmental-friendly, temperature-resistant and salt-resistant tea saponin foaming agent

ABSTRACT Camellia oleifera produced many wastes after being squeezed oil and the wastes were made into tea seed cake that contains rich tea saponin. A green tea saponin foam agent was developed to improve the recovery of crude oil. In this study, ethanol method was used to extract and isolate tea saponins from tea seed cake. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the tea saponin extraction process and improve production. The effect of ethanol concentration, material-to-liquid ratio, extraction temperature, and extraction time were used as independent variables. The results showed that highest yield of tea saponin was 21.55% under optimal experimental conditions of ethanol concentration (76.21%), material-to-liquid ratio (1:12.91 g/mL), extraction temperature (75.92°C), and extraction time (3.13 h). The foam properties showed that tea saponin foam had good foam stabilization and resistance to pH, temperatures, and salinity. About 0.1 wt% tea saponin foam indicated good foam performance at pH of 5–6.5, Na+ (10,000–20,000 mg/L), Ca2+ (400–800 mg/L) and Mg2+ (400–800 mg/L), long-term temperature (120°C, 96 h) still has good foam performances. Subsequently, the experiments were tested the plugging ability by researching the differential pressure of the foam agents at different saponin concentrations. Experimental results illustrated great plugging effects when the pressure reached 1.54 MPa at 0.2 wt% saponin. Saponin foam could adapt to the formation environment and had good tolerance to temperature, salinity, and acidity. In addition, tea saponin had a good application prospect in the field of EOR.

Optimisation of the Extraction Process of Naringin and Its Effect on Reducing Blood Lipid Levels In Vitro

The naringin extraction process was optimised using response surface methodology (RSM). A central component design was adopted, which included four parameters: extraction temperature (X1), material-liquid ratio (X2), extraction time (X3), and ultrasonic frequency (X4) of 74.79 °C, 1.58 h, 1:56.51 g/mL, and 28.05 KHz, respectively. Based on these optimal extraction conditions, naringin was tested to verify the model's accuracy. Naringin yield was 36.2502 mg/g, which was equivalent to the predicted yield of 36.0124 mg/g. DM101 macroporous adsorption resin was used to purify naringin. The effects of loading concentration, loading flow rate, and sample pH on the adsorption rate of naringin and the effect of ethanol concentration on the desorption rate of naringin were investigated. The optimum conditions for naringin purification using macroporous resins were determined. The optimal loading concentration, sample solution pH, and loading flow rate were 0.075 mg/mL, 3.5, and 1.5 mL/min, respectively. Three parallel tests were conducted under these conditions, and the average naringin yield was 77.5643%. Naringin's structure was identified using infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. In vitro determination of the lipid-lowering activity of naringin was also conducted. These results showed that naringin has potential applications as a functional food for lowering blood lipid levels.

Effect of Ethanol Solution Concentration in the Extraction Process of Centella asiatica L. Bioactive Components Using Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE) Method

The Pegagan plant has a scientific name in the form of Centella asiatica L. which is included in the Centella genus, Apiaceae family, and kingdom Plantae. Pegagan (Centella asiatica L.) has distinctive bioactive components, namely triterpene ester glycoside compounds in the form of asiaticoside and madecassoside, and triterpene group compounds in the form of Asiatic acid and madecassic acid. In this study, the extraction of bioactive components from pegagan was carried out using the Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE) method and will study the effect of ethanol solvent concentration in the extraction of bioactive compounds. Analysis of the extracted bioactive content was carried out by analyzing the total phenol content using the Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and ANOVA analysis. The results obtained from the study were in the form of total phenol content as an indication of the presence of bioactive compounds, namely at operating conditions of 450 watts of power, 50% ethanol concentration with a radiation time of 15 minutes which resulted in a total phenol content of 21.9244 mg AGE/g sample. In the ANOVA analysis with ethanol solvent, variables that gave a significant response to the total phenol content were microwave power, radiation time, and ethanol concentration with an R-square value of 95.31%. The effect of ethanol concentration on the total phenol content produced, namely the concentration of pure ethanol solvent will produce extracts with the smallest total phenol content, the effect of extraction time on total phenol content, namely the longer extraction time will increase the total phenol content. Maximum total phenol content using ethanol solvent that is, at operating conditions of 450 watts of power, 10% ethanol concentration with a radiation time of 15 minutes which resulted in a total phenol content of 520 mg AGE/g sample.

Inhibition of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus epidermidis mixed biofilm formation in a catheter disk model system treated with EtOH-EDTA solution.

Microbial colonization and the formation of biofilms on catheter surfaces pose a great risk for medical-related infections. We aimed (a) to evaluate polymicrobial biofilm formation of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus epidermidis and (b) to investigate the inhibition and effects of ethanol (EtOH) and EtOH-EDTA solutions on biofilms. Catheter disks were made and used as a substrate for biofilm formation. Varying concentrations of EtOH and EtOH-EDTA solutions were compared in deterring biofilm formation. The EtOH-EDTA solutions were further tested to remove mature and preformed biofilms. Compared to their monospecies counterparts, biofilm concentration significantly increases when C. albicans is co-cultured with S. epidermidis. Moreover, all treatments with EtOH-EDTA solution significantly lowered biofilm formation compared to EtOH alone (P≤0.05). Lastly, biofilm was dramatically reduced when treated with 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% EtOH-EDTA solutions (P≤0.05). Our findings suggest that biofilms become more resilient to treatment when formed by multiple organisms. Nonetheless, treatment with EtOH-EDTA is effective against these polymicrobial biofilms.

Zein-stabilized emulsions by ethanol addition; stability and microstructure

The aim of this research was to introduce a novel method to use zein protein and stabilize an ethanol-based emulsion. To study the effect of ethanol in the continuous phase of the emulsion on the stability and microstructure of the emulsions, ethanol content was tuned in the range of 50–90%v/v. Also, the effect of zein concentration on the stability of ethanol-based emulsions was examined. The microstructure and mean droplet size of emulsions were measured using static light scattering (SLS), with Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) Microscopy combined with image processing. The results showed that the effect of ethanol concentration on the interfacial tension and zein solubility plays a substantial role in the formation, stability, and microstructure of emulsions. The data indicated that 70 %v/v ethanol content resulted in the lowest interfacial tension between oil and ethanol-water mixture in the presence of 10 %w/v zein. Therefore, the minimum mean droplet size was achieved at 70 %v/v ethanol equal to around 10 μm. Furthermore, increasing zein concentration decreased oil droplet mean size and enhanced the emulsion stability against Ostwald ripening. • Zein protein can stabilize oil in aqueous ethanol emulsion. • Ethanol quantity can affect the stability of zein-stabilized emulsion drastically. • The surface activity of zein was an interplay between zein solubility and effect of ethanol on interfacial tension.

Conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde using (NiO/Al2O3) as a catalyst

The conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde in an atmospheric integral up flow reactor (inside diameter and height equal to 2.0 and 80 cm respectively)which was studied in order to find the optimum reaction temperature, the effect of ethanol concentration and flow rate according to the type of catalyst used. The proposed dehydrogenation method offers several advantages over the various production processes advantages are cheap raw (ethyl alcohol) and the reaction occur at atmospheric pressure. The (NiO/Al2O3) catalyst was prepared in laboratory using ten gram of catalyst in the reaction, the studied temperature range was 250-325° C at atmospheric pressure, the ethanol mole Concentration ranging between 90% - 100% mole and the flow rate was 1-4 ml/min Where (NiO/Al2O3) catalyst was employed the maximum yield of acetaldehyde is 43% mole and the conversion of ethyl alcohol at the optimum reaction conditions is 74% mole.

Effects of solid–liquid interaction and mixture concentration on wettability of nano-droplets: Molecular dynamics simulations

The wetting of droplets plays a critical role in engineering applications. Intensive study on nano-droplets is of great significance in revealing the wetting characteristics of droplets. The wetting behavior of ethanol/water mixture nano-droplets on a smooth substrate was investigated through molecular dynamics simulation in this paper. Five nano-droplets of the ethanol/water mixture with different mass fractions placed on a copper surface with different surface energies were simulated to equilibrium at 298.15 K. The contract angle, wetting limit (the minimum and the maximum surface tension of droplets make the surface completely wetted or completely non-wetted by the droplet), and density distribution at the solid–liquid interface of the nano-droplet were analyzed. The effects of ethanol concentration and solid–liquid interaction (corresponding to the droplet’s surface tension and the substrate’s surface energy, respectively) on droplet wettability were intensely discussed. Results revealed that the contact angle of nano-droplets decreased with the increase in ethanol concentration and the interaction between droplets and the substrate. In addition, the critical and ultimate surface tension increased with the increase in the substrate surface energy. The peak density values of the droplets were proportional to the interaction between the droplets and substrate and not related to the droplet concentration. The research also indicated that solid substrates with different surface energies and droplets with various components affected the contact angle of droplets in different ways: the former not only increased the surface tension of droplets at the solid–liquid interface but also increased the separation energy of solids and droplets, while the latter only had a great influence on the surface tension of droplets at the solid–liquid interface.

GAMBARAN PERBEDAAN KONSENTRASI EKSTRAK ETANOL DAUN KUNYIT (Curcuma longa L.) TERHADAP TOTAL FENOLIK SECARA SPEKTROFOTOMETRI VISIBEL

Turmeric leaves (Curcuma longa L.) contain secondary metabolites, one of which is a phenolic compound. The choice of solvent is important in the extraction process, ethanol is chosen because it can attract compounds that are soluble in non-polar to polar solvents. The ethanol concentrations in this study were 60, 70, 80, and 96% with the extraction method used was maceration. The screening test obtained positive results for phenolic content. This is indicated by the appearance of a fluorescent blue-black stain on the plate after being sprayed with FeCl3 reagent. TLC test obtained comparison Rf value (gallic acid) is 0.53. Rf values for ethanol concentrations of 60, 70, 80, 90 and 96% were 0.53; 0.55; 0.57; 0.60; 0.60. The method used to determine the total phenolic content is folin-ciaocalteu. Analysis with visible spectrophotometry obtained the average total phenolic content of ethanol extract concentrations of 60, 70, 80, 90 and 96%, respectively 1.078; 1.796; 1.964; 1.842; and 1.787 GAE mg/g extract. The results of statistical tests obtained data that are normally distributed but not homogeneous, there are significant differences at concentrations of 60, 80, and 96%. The conclusion was that the highest phenolic content was in the ethanol extract of turmeric leaf with a concentration of 80%, there was an effect of ethanol concentration on the total phenolic content of the turmeric leaf ethanol extract, and there were differences in the total phenolic content at each concentration of ethanol used.Keywords :Turmeric Leaves (Curcuma longa L.), Total Phenolic Level, Ethanol Concentration, Visible Spectrophotometry

Pigment of Ceiba speciosa (A. St.-Hil.) Flowers: Separation, Extraction, Purification and Antioxidant Activity.

In this work, the extraction procedure of a natural pigment from the flower of Ceiba speciosa (A. St.-Hil.) was optimized by response surface methodology. It is the first time that the extraction of the flower pigment of C. speciosa (FPCS) has been reported, along with an evaluation of its stability and biological activity under various conditions, and an exploration of its potential use as a food additive and in medicine. Specifically, the effects of ethanol concentration, solid–liquid ratio, temperature and time on the extraction rate of FPCS were determined using a Box–Behnken design. The optimum extraction conditions for FPCS were 75% ethanol with a solid–liquid ratio of 1:75 mg/mL) at 66 °C for 39 min. The purification of FPCS using different macroporous resins showed that D101 performed best when the initial mass concentration of the injection solution was 1.50 mg/mL, resulting in a three-fold increase in color value. The yield of dry flowers was 9.75% of fresh petals and the FPCS extraction efficiency was 43.2%. The effects of light, solubility, pH, temperature, sweeteners, edible acids, redox agents, preservatives and metal ions on FPCS were also investigated. Furthermore, the characteristics of FPCS were determined by spectrophotometry at a specific wavelength using the Lambert–Beer law to correlate the mass of FPCS with its absorbance value. An acute toxicological test performed according to Horne’s method showed that FPCS is a non-toxic extract and thus may be used as a food additive or in other ingestible forms. Finally, western blotting showed that FPCS prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced hippocampal oxidative stress in mice. The study suggests that FPCS may function as an antioxidant with applications in the food, cosmetics and polymer industries.

A Comparative Assessment on the Recovery of Pectin and Phenolic Fractions from Aqueous and DES Extracts Obtained from Melon Peels

This work evaluates the purification of melon peel extracts obtained by two eco-friendly methods: autohydrolysis and sodium acetate/urea/water extraction (1:3:1.6), an alkaline deep eutectic solvent (DES). For that, sequential ethanol precipitation and resin adsorption/desorption stages were proposed for the separate recovery of the pectic and phenolic fractions. In order to screen the optimal purification conditions, in a first step, the effect of ethanol concentrations (from 70 to 85%) on the precipitation of pectic oligosaccharides was assayed. Subsequently, the influence of the selected resin (Amberlite XAD4, XAD16HP and XAD7HP), liquid/resin ratios, and desorption sequences (varying ethanol concentrations and pH) on the phenolic compounds was also studied. The highest pectin yields were achieved with 85% ethanol: 16.11 and 18.05 g pectin/100 g water-insoluble solids (WIS) for autohydrolysis and DES extracts, respectively. All pectins presented a galacturonic acid content of about 45%, while autohydrolysis pectin presented a higher amount of neutral sugar side chains. The presence of low methoxyl GalA and both linear and branched OGalA with DP from 2 to 20 was also confirmed by FTIR and HPAEC-PAD analysis, respectively. Concerning the phenolic fraction, the resin adsorption and desorption steps at the selected conditions (XAD4 resin, liquid/resin ratio of 2 mL/g, eluted with 50% ethanol thrice) resulted in 79.55 and 4.08 mg GAE/g non-volatile content (NVC) for autohydrolysis and DES extracts, respectively, with improved antioxidant capacity. Moreover, some phenolic acids (protocatechuic and ferulic acids) and flavonoids (orientin, vitexin and naringenin) were quantified in the extracts by HPLC–PDA-MS/MS.

Synthesis of carbon microsphere-assisted snowflake-like ZnO nanomaterials for selective detection of NO2 at room temperature

In this paper, the snowflake-like ZnO nanomaterials were prepared by combining zinc salt impregnation and high-temperature calcination with carbon microspheres as the sacrificial template. The effects of ethanol concentration in aqueous solution on the microstructure and sensing properties of ZnO nanomaterials were investigated. The results showed that using 25 % ethanol-containing aqueous solution as impregnation solution, snowflake-like ZnO nanomaterials (ZnO-25) showed excellent sensing performance for NO2 at room temperature. It is mainly attributable to the rich channels and large specific surface area of the snowflake-like ZnO, which facilitates the rapid diffusion of the target gas. A large amount of chemisorbed oxygen can promote the surface reaction. In addition, the unremoved carbon during calcination promotes the electrical properties of ZnO. This strategy will provide a new sight on developing a type of sensitive NO2 gas sensing device working at room temperature.

Behavioral effects of ethanol in the Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii).

Alcohol abuse remains one of the primary preventable sources of mortality in the United States. Model species can be used to evaluate behavioral and other biological changes associated with alcohol and to identify novel treatments. This report describes methods for evaluating the behavioral effects of ethanol (EtOH) in crayfish. Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) were immersed in ethanol concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 molar, for 10-30 min. Studies evaluated hemolymph alcohol concentration, locomotion in an open field and anxiety-like behavior using a Light/Dark transfer approach. EtOH immersion produced dose-dependent increases in hemolymph EtOH (up to 249 mg/dL) and reductions in open field locomotion that depended on EtOH concentration or exposure duration. Untreated crayfish exhibit avoidance of the open parts of the locomotor arena and a preference for a covered portion. Acute EtOH immersion decreased time spent in the covered portion of the Light/Dark arena, consistent with a decrease in anxiety-like behavior. Daily EtOH immersion for 5 days did not alter locomotor responses, however, activity was increased 3 days after the repeated EtOH regimen. Overall, this study shows that this inexpensive, easily maintained species can be used for behavioral pharmacological experiments designed to assess the acute and repeated effects of EtOH.

Optimization of the extraction conditions of Nypa fruticans Wurmb. using response surface methodology and artificial neural network

In this study, we conducted response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) to predict and estimate the optimized extraction condition of Nypa fruticans Wurmb. (NF). The effect of ethanol concentration (X1; 0–100%), extraction time (X2; 6–24 h), and extraction temperature (X3; 40–60 °C) on the antioxidant potential was confirmed. The optimal conditions (57.6% ethanol, 19.0 h extraction time, and 51.3 °C extraction temperature) of 2,2-diphenyl-1-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid contents (TFC) resulted in a maximum value of 62.5%, 41.95 and 48.39 µM, 143.6 mg GAE/g, and 166.8 CAE/g, respectively. High-resolution mass spectroscopic technique was performed to profile phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Upon analyzing, total 48 compounds were identified in NF. Altogether, our findings can provide a practical approach for utilizing NF in various bioindustries.