Mixture Solution Research Articles

Formulation of synbiotic buttermilk powder with higher viability of probiotic cells

The present study focused on the use of trehalose (TRE), whey protein concentrate (WPC), pullulan (PUL), and calcium lactate gluconate (CAL) as a protectant in the formulation of synbiotic buttermilk powder by application of spray drying. The spray drying of the solution mixture was carried out at an inlet temperature of 150 °C, a feed flow rate of 15mL/min, and compressed air at 3 kg/cm2 while keeping the outlet temperature constant at 70 ± 5 °C. TRE4 + CAL0.5 showed good results with the viability of Bifidobacterium bifidum as 6.04 ± 0.13 after 16 weeks followed by TRE2 + CAL0.5, TRE4, CAL0.5, WPC6, PUL4, and Control. The addition of protectants and Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) as a prebiotic did not affect the powder properties. The moisture content, water activity, bulk density, hygroscopicity, solubility, particle size, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of SBMP were better than the control sample for 17 weeks. SEM results showed spherical shapes without any cracks for SBMP containing TRE4 + CAL0.5. The present work demonstrated that the formulation containing TRE4 + CAL0.5 showed excellent results in terms of the viability of probiotic cells and also physicochemical properties of powder during storage for 16 weeks at 4 ± 1 °C.

Electrochemical Selective Removal of Oxyanions in a Ferrocene-Doped Metal-Organic Framework.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOF) are a class of crystalline, porous materials possessing well-defined channels that have widespread applications across the sustainable landscape. Analogous to zeolites, these materials are well-suited for adsorption processes targeting environmental contaminants. Herein, a zirconium MOF, UiO-66, was functionalized with ferrocene for the selective removal of oxyanion contaminants, specifically NO3-, SO42-, and PO43-. Electrochemical oxidation of the embedded ferrocene pendants induces preferential adsorption of these oxyanions, even in the presence of Cl- in a 10-fold excess. Anion selectivity strongly favoring PO43- (Soxy/comp = 3.80) was observed following an adsorption trend of PO43- > SO42- > NO3- > (10-fold)Cl- in multi-ion solution mixtures. The underlying mechanisms responsible for ion selectivity were elucidated by performing ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) on the heterogeneous electrode surface postadsorption and by calculating the electronic structure of various adsorption configurations. It was eventually shown that oxyanion selectivity stemmed from strong ion association with a positively charged pore interior due to the spatial distribution of charge by oxygen constituents. While ferrocenium provided the impetus for ion migration-diffusion, it was the formation of stable complexes with zirconium nodes that ultimately contributed to selective adsorption of oxyanions.

An easily fabricated nanoporous Au membrane in drug detection with reusable functionality and high SERS performance.

Amethod for detecting methamphetamine (MET), ketamine (KET), and morphine (MOP) molecules is presentedusing a reusable substrate based on SERS. The SERS substrate was prepared by etching the Au/Ag alloy film to synthesize a nanoporous Au membrane (AuNPM). By optimizing the preparation conditions and using rhodamine 6G (R6G) as an analyte, the AuNPM exhibited good SERS performance with a limit of detection (LOD) of 10-9mol L-1. A competitive immunoassay category has been applied to the detection of MET, KET, and MOP. The MET, KET, and MOP antigens were functionalized on the surface of theAuNPM to specifically bind to the related drug antibodies. The Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) modified with 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) and antibodies against MET, KET, and MOP were used as nanotags. The 4-MBA served as the reporting molecule and drug antibodies were used to bind to free drug molecules in the target solution. The mixture of nanotags and target solution was dropped onto the antigen-modified AuNPM (antigen/AuNPM), and the free nanotags bind to the antigen/AuNPM. By comparing the SERS intensity of 4-MBA with the presence or absence of drug molecules, the drugs were qualitatively and quantitatively identified. Through this category, the LODs for detecting MET, KET, and MOP were 0.1, 1, and 1ngmL-1, respectively. This study proposes an effective method for constructing SERS-based detection of drug molecules with good potential for practical applications.

Adsorption Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Column Breakthrough Data for Aqueous Solutions of Binary-Acid and Ternary-Acid Mixtures of Acetic Acid, Butyric Acid, and Lactic Acid on IRN-78 Ion-Exchange Resin at Initial pH Levels of ∼3–7 and at 25–55 °C

Adsorption Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Column Breakthrough Data for Aqueous Solutions of Binary-Acid and Ternary-Acid Mixtures of Acetic Acid, Butyric Acid, and Lactic Acid on IRN-78 Ion-Exchange Resin at Initial pH Levels of ∼3–7 and at 25–55 °C

Far-UVC (UV222) based photolysis, photooxidation, and photoreduction of chlorophenols using a KrCl-excimer lamp: Degradation, dechlorination, and detoxification

The KrCl-excimer lamp, emitting far-UVC light at 222 nm (UV222), offers a promising alternative to conventional UVC light at 254 nm (UV254) for the photolysis of organic pollutants and the activation of radical sensitizers. This study was aimed to investigate the efficiencies of UV222 in the treatment of halogenated aromatics, focusing on its performance in degradation, dechlorination and detoxification. Chlorophenols, representative recalcitrant and toxic halogenated aromatics, were used as target pollutants. The pathways of direct photolysis, photooxidation and photoreduction under UV222 illumination were compared. UV222 outperformed UV254 in photolyzing chlorophenols (1.4−34.1 times faster), especially protonated chlorophenols, due to substantially higher UV absorption (17.1−108.0 times) and quantum yields (2.1−3.4 times). The quantum yields of chlorophenols were influenced by the inducive electron-withdrawing effect of Cl-substitutes. Moreover, UV222 improved the dechlorination of chlorophenols to 95 % compared to 60 % by UV254. The introduction of radical sensitizer (e.g., H2O2, nitrate, and sulfite) reduced 4-chlorophenol photolysis by competing for UV222 absorption, though the sensitizers partially increased radical oxidation via generating •OH or eaq−. UV222 photolysis of 4-chlorophenol increased the toxicity by 88.6 times through forming toxic intermediates (e.g., hydroquinone and resorcinol). Notably, •OH and eaq− (i.e., UV222/H2O2 and UV222/sulfite) increased the dechlorination and •OH (i.e., UV222/H2O2) detoxified the mixture solution. Moreover, UV222 photolysis remained effective for 4-chlorophenol removal in real paper-mill wastewater, indicating the potential application of KrCl* lamp UV222.

Corrosion mitigation of carbon steel in sulfuric and hydrochloric acid solutions by Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. leaf extract

It is widely recognized that corrosion has been a persistent issue throughout human history. Over time, various effective strategies have been suggested and successfully employed to combat this problem. Among them, the utilization of inhibitors stands out as a promising, versatile, and easily applicable method. Considering the drawbacks associated with previous substances such as environmental concerns and high operational expenses, plant extracts have emerged as an effective alternative. In there, Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. stands out as a popular species characterized by a high concentration of polar compounds that is crucial for the formation of a protective film layer on carbon steel. Consequently, this work centers on investigating the corrosion inhibition behavior of Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. leaf water-extract (SPWE) for carbon steel in different solutions, including 1.0 M HCl, 0.5 M H2SO4, and co-volume acidic mixture, by employing electrochemical and surface techniques. The findings reveal that 2000 ppm of SPWE proved inhibition efficiency exceeding 94.24, 66.27, and 95.02% (estimated by Tafel extrapolation) for carbon steel in 1.0 M HCl, 0.5 M H2SO4, and acidic mixture solutions, respectively. High inhibition performance was also ensured by high polarization resistances (Rp) observed on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and linear polarization resistance (LPR). Increasing corrosion resistance could be due to the protective layer formed on the inhibited samples, while severe corrosion occurred on the uninhibited steel due to extensive damage across the entire surface. Hence, the study underscores the noteworthy impact of chloride and sulfate ions on corrosive inhibition process of SPWE.

Ramosetron 3.0μg/mL Combining with Dexamethasone (0.05, 0.1, 0.2mg/mL) in Infusion Solutions: A Physicochemical Stability Study.

Dexamethasone in conjunction with type 3 serotonin receptor antagonists are being used to the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and postoperative nausea and vomiting in clinic. The present study aimed to investigates the stability of ramosetron with dexamethasone in infusions, with the goal of enhancing the safety and clinical applicability of their combined use. Ramosetron hydrochloride (3.0μg/mL) combining with dexamethasone (0.05, 0.1, 0.2mg/mL) were prepared with 0.9% sodium chloride injection and then packaged in polyolefin bags or glass bottles. The stability were investigated kept in the dark at refrigeration for 14days and at room temperature for 48h. The concentration of both drugs maintained at least 97% in the various solutions for both storage conditions with light protection. In the light exposure conditions, as the extension of storage time, the concentration of both drugs had declined. All antiemetic mixture solutions remained clear and no changes in color, turbidity, precipitation, and the pH remained stable. The insoluble particles were in line with Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Our findings suggest that combinations of ramosetron hydrochloride with dexamethasone sodium phosphate in 0.9% sodium chloride injection remain stable for 14days at 4°C and 48h at 25°C when protected from light.

Direct Synthesis of Ti-Al Compound Powders by Electrolysis in Molten LiCl-KCl

The deposition potential difference between Ti and Al is only 70 mV. The deposition reaction of Ti-Al compound happens at the potentials slightly higher than that of metallic Ti and Al. Through galvanostatic electrolysis of mixture solution of Al and Ti ions, all kinds of titanium aluminides can be directly synthesized. The composition of the product compound can be selected through adjusting the combination of Ti and Al ions in the electrolyte.

Hollow Fiber Hemodialysis Imprinted Membrane Based on Eugenol for Human Blood Filter

Kidney failure is a kidney function disorder that occurs in more than 90.00% of people in the world, especially in developing countries. In 2013, around 12.50% of the 25 million population experienced kidney failure and 78.00% had to undergo dialysis for life. In this research, a hemodialysis method was developed, namely molecularly imprinted membrane (MIM), which has high selectivity for urea molecules with high binding capacity using a membrane in the form of hollow fiber. Variations in research use urea transport concentrations such as 50, 200, and 300 ppm. The analysis using UV-vis spectrophotometry on HFHIM with a solution mixture of 50 ppm showed that the receiving phase by the membrane was 70.48% urea, 12.97% creatinine, and 9.42% vitamin B12. Meanwhile, the feed phase is 28.25% urea, 85.41% creatinine and 88.64% vitamin B12. When using HFHNIM, the receiving phase is urea 44.78%, creatinine 58.51%, and vitamin B12 31.00%. Meanwhile, the feed phase is 54.55% urea, 40.57% creatinine, 68.29% vitamin B12. The selectivity of HFHIM for urea is better than creatinine and vitamin B12 compared to HFHNIM, in the order of selectivity urea > creatinine > vitamin B12.

One-step solution processing of printable Sb2S3 nano-rods for high-performance photoconductors

Abstract Achieving large-scale, affordable, and highly dependable production of antimony sulfide is crucial for unlocking its potential in various applications, including photoconductors, solid-state batteries, thermoelectrics, and solar cells. In our study, we introduce a straightforward, economical, and catalyst-free single-step solution process for fabricating one-dimensional Sb2S3 nanostructures on flexible polyimide substrates, and we explore their use as photoconductors in the ultraviolet (UV) and visible light spectrum. The precursor solution for creating the Sb2S3 films is prepared by dissolving specified quantities of elemental Sb and S in a solution mixture of ethylenediamine and 2-mercaptoethanol. This solution is then spin-coated onto a polyimide substrate and subsequently annealed at 300 °C for several minutes. Utilizing field emission scanning electron microscopy, grazing incidence x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrate that the Sb2S3 films possess high crystallinity, uniform morphology, and a composition that is nearly stoichiometric. Additionally, through Tauc plot analysis, we determine that the films exhibit a direct bandgap of approximately 1.67 eV, which is in close agreement with the bandgap predicted by Heyd–Scuseria–Ernzerhof (HSE06) density-functional theory simulations. The metal-semiconductor–metal photoconductors fabricated with these films display a significant photoresponse to both UV and visible light. These devices achieve a UV on/off ratio of up to 160 at a light intensity of 30 mW cm−2, with brief rise and fall times of 44 ms and 28 ms, respectively.

Nanoencapsulation of citrus essential oils in systematic modified chitosan‐based nanofibers

AbstractIn this study, chitosan (CH)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hybrid nanofibers incorporating three distinct essential oils lemon, lime, and grapefruit were successfully obtained via the innovative electrospinning technique. Characteristics of the electrospinning polymeric mixture loaded with essential oils using variable ratios of CH/PVA were evaluated. The nanoencapsulation process of citrus essential oils was achieved with 47.67%–88.16% encapsulation efficiency. Notably, the thermal stability of the encapsulated essential oils experienced a significant enhancement after encapsulation. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed valuable insights, revealing that an increased amount of incorporated essential oil within the polymeric mixture solutions led to a reduction in the average fiber diameters. The resulting nanofibers demonstrated notable attributes such as antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibitory, and antibacterial activities. The present research demonstrates the ability of CH/PVA hybrid nanofibers obtained through an electrospinning process to preserve citrus essential oils properties quality and reveals a high potential application of nonencapsulated citrus essential oils in biomaterials, food packaging, and advanced cosmetic application.

Purification of a reactive dyes mixture solution by means of pre-hydrolysed coagulants in the standard tests and coagulating flow system

Reactive dyes, widely used in textiles, often leach into sewage due to incomplete bonding with fibers. Coagulation offers an effective solution, yet standard lab tests for coagulation efficiency lack realism and are significantly labour and time-consuming. To address this, a novel approach is proposed: optimizing coagulation through a prototype lab flow. This system automates solution flow, reagent dosing, coagulation, and sludge separation via sedimentation and filtration. Tests reveal effective coagulation of various reactive dyes with pre-polymerized Al coagulants, but limited efficacy with Fe(III) coagulant. The flow system demonstrates mostly better purification results than jar tests, achieving around 95% colour removal with Al coagulants. This study highlights the efficacy of coagulation and filtration in jar tests, offering a simplified yet efficient method for assessing coagulation performance.

A different application of the Aliquat® 336 loaded poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) based electrospun nanofibers disks for the preconcentration followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry detection of low-level Bi(III)

It is the first report on the potential of electrospun nanofiber disks inserted in a filtration apparatus as a preconcentration strategy for the analysis of low-level metals. The nanofibers included 60 wt% of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) and 40 wt% of ionic liquid Aliquat® 336. The electrospinning process was done by applying a voltage of 16 kV, an injection rate of 1 mL h−1, and 10 cm distance of the needle tip location from the drum collector. A circular piece of the prepared nanofiber disks was placed in a filtration apparatus, and 200 mL solution containing 1 mg of Bi(III) adjusted to 0.5 mol/L of hydrochloric acid was transmitted from inside the nanofiber disk by controlling the flowrate (3.3 mL s−1). The adsorbed Bi(III) was eluted by 10 mL of 0.2 mol/L solution of ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid and ammonium hydroxide mixture, and then was analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The introduced technique (nanofiber disks-based solid phase extraction) can be used in the bismuth concentration range of 4–2000 µg/L, with a limit of detection 1.2 µg/L. The determined inter- and intra-day relative standard deviations (3 days and n = 7) for a solution of 100 µg/L of bismuth were 1.1 % and 2.4 %, respectively. The method offers a preconcentration factor of 200-fold. The fabricated nanofiber disks were used at least in 7 consecutive preconcentration experiments. The proposed method was selective towards Bi(III) and can be used satisfactory for its determination in real samples.

Regeneration of conventional and emerging PFAS-selective anion exchange resins used to treat PFAS-contaminated waters

Anion exchange resins (AERs) have emerged as a promising separation technology to remediate PFAS-contaminated waters due to their improved selectivities and capacities in comparison to legacy activated carbon adsorbents. Presently, site managers choose between AER systems employing resins defined as being ‘regenerable’ with relatively low PFAS selectivity, and PFAS-selective resins that are marketed as ‘single-use’ media intended for disposal upon PFAS breakthrough. However, the potential for these highly-selective adsorbents to be regenerated and/or reused remains poorly characterized. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy of various regenerant solution constituents, mixtures, and operational considerations on the regenerability of both ‘regenerable’ and ‘PFAS-selective’ AERs that were loaded during a pilot treatment study of PFAS-contaminated groundwater. Batch screening of regenerant solution constituents found that both classes of resins may be effectively regenerated using combinations of salt brine and organic cosolvent, with high cosolvent fractions being necessary for PFAS-selective AERs. While neither brine-only nor solvent-only regenerant solutions led to effective PFAS desorption, the efficacy of regeneration with brine/cosolvent mixtures varied with salt type and cosolvent composition. Chloride salts outperformed sulfate and bicarbonate salts, cosolvent efficacy depended on the volume fraction and type used, and highly non-polar solutions led to optimal PFAS desorption. Continuous-flow regeneration experiments showed near-complete PFAS desorption from regenerable AERs using 10 bed volumes (BVs) of 70 % methanolic brine solutions, whereas PFAS-selective resins required more bed volumes (30) of brines with higher methanol content (90 %) or a more hydrophobic cosolvent (n-propanol); increasing regenerant empty-bed contact time had minimal effect on PFAS desorption. > 90 % methanol recovery from the resulting waste regenerant mixtures was accomplished with negligible PFAS contamination using distillation, leaving a minimal volume of a PFAS-concentrated still bottoms waste that may be further treated for PFAS destruction. Life cycle analyses revealed that groundwater treatment using PFAS-selective AERs operated in a regenerable mode have lower environmental impacts and costs than systems using conventional regenerable AERs, and lower treatment costs than systems operated using PFAS-selective resins in a single-use mode. Although counterintuitive, these findings stem from the fact that higher cosolvent requirements for regeneration of PFAS-selective resins lead to greater internal recycling of regenerant solutions and much lower volumes of residual waste still bottoms that require off-site incineration or disposal.

Chemical aging of biochar-zero-valent iron composites in groundwater: Impact on Cd(II) and Cr(VI) co-removal

Biochar (BC), zero-valent iron (ZVI), and their composites are promising materials for use in permeable reactive barriers, although further research is needed to understand how their properties change during long-term aging in groundwater. In this study, BC, ZVI and their composites (4BC-1ZVI) were subjected to the chemical aging tests in five media (deionized water, NaCl, NaHCO3, CaCl2 and a mixture of CaCl2 and NaHCO3 solutions) for 20 days. After treatment, the microscopic analysis and performance tests for the co-removal of Cd(II) and Cr(VI) were carried out. The results indicated that the removal of Cd(II) by aged 4BC-1ZVI followed a pseudo-second-order model, whereas the removal of Cr(VI) was better fitted with a pseudo-first order model. The aging mechanism of 4BC-1ZVI was primarily governed by iron corrosion/passivation, the reduction of soluble components, and the formation of carbonate minerals. Less Fe3O4/ γ-Fe2O3 was formed during aging in deionized water, NaCl and CaCl2 solutions. The corrosion products, Fe3O4/ γ-Fe2O3, FeCO3 and α/γ-FeOOH, were observed after aging in NaHCO3 and a mixture of NaHCO3 and CaCl2 solutions. The decrease in the soluble components of biochar led to a decrease in cation exchange, while carbonate minerals contributed to Cd(II) precipitation. This work provides insights into the aging processes of BC-ZVI composites for long-term groundwater remediation applications.

2-(1,1-Dicyanomethylene)rhodanine-Functionalized Oligothiophenes: A Structure-Property Investigation of Z/E Photoisomerization Behavior.

A series of oligothiophenes singly and doubly functionalized with dicyanorhodanine (RCN) units have been investigated to understand their Z/E photoisomerization behavior upon structural modulation. Monotopic RCN target molecules (1-Z-9-Z) were designed to observe the consequences of π-conjugation, solubilizing group substitution, and formylation of the thiophene units. In all cases, the Z isomer is obtained from synthesis as the thermodynamically stable isomer, whereas the E isomer is achieved through selective irradiation (including red light, λirr = 628 nm) as a Z/E mixture in solution. For the quarterthiophene entries, photoisomerization is inhibited, with photoirradiation resulting only in degradation. The result comports with concentration-dependent studies, which show that increasing π-conjugation results in greater aggregation and muted Z/E photoisomerization. Ditopic RCN targets (10-ZZ-12-ZZ), mimicking acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) oligomers relevant to OPV materials, also show evidence of photoisomerization in solution, with formation of Z,Z/Z,E mixtures at the photostationary state (PSS). Complementary ground- and excited-state DFT calculations show excellent agreement with the experimental findings. This comprehensive structure-property analysis is expected to both guide and caution the functional materials community with respect to the usage of photoisomerizable RCN-oligothiophenes for optoelectronic applications.

Use of Cannabis sativa L. for Improving Cadmium-Contaminated Mediterranean Soils—Effect of Mycorrhizal Colonization on Phytoremediation Capacity

Although the phytoremediation strategy has been studied worldwide, little research data are available regarding the influence of mycorrhizae on the phytoremediation capacity of various plants grown in Cd-contaminated soils in Mediterranean environments. Therefore, a pot experiment was carried out to study the possible effectiveness of hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L.) in the remediation of moderately and heavily Cd-contaminated soils and additionally to quantify the effect of Cd on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMFs). For this purpose, an alkaline clay soil collected from the Farm of Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources (North Greece) was contaminated with two levels of Cd (3 and 30 mg Cd kg−1, corresponding to Levels A and B, respectively—first factor) at two incubation times (10 and 30 days—second factor) and six treatments (Control_30d, Control_10d, CdA_30d, CdB_30d, CdA_10d, CdB_10d) were created. Soil Cd concentrations, both pseudo-total and available to plants, were determined after extraction with Aqua Regia mixture and DTPA solution, respectively, before and after the cultivation of hemp plants and after the harvesting. Cd concentrations in the aboveground and underground plant parts were also estimated after digestion with Aqua Regia, while root colonization by AMFs was determined with a microscope. The highest plant’s Cd concentration, more than 50%, was observed in its underground part, at all Cd-contaminated treatments, indicating a strong capacity for cadmium to gather up in the roots. Among different Cd levels and incubation days, significant differences were recorded in the rates of root colonization by AMFs. Among different Cd levels and incubation days, 3 mg Cd Kg−1 soil promoted AMF root colonization, particularly at 10-day incubation, while 30 mg Cd Kg−1 soil diminished it. Colonization was lower with longer incubation times at both levels of Cd. Hemp appears to be a viable option for phytostabilization in Cd-contaminated soils, enabling further utilization of AMFs to assist the phytoremediation process.

Evaluating the potential of stabilised betacyanins from fermented red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) drink: Sustainable colouration and antioxidant enhancement of stirred yoghurt

Nowadays, the wide use of synthetic food colourant, Allura Red has elevated negative perceptions among consumers. As food industry players strive towards satisfying consumers’ demands, exploring new sustainable natural colourants with multifunctional properties (like betacyanins) has emerged as a novel concept. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of a functional fruit drink, Improved-FRDFD-dH2O [contained betacyanins of fermented red dragon fruit drink stabilised by 0.4 % xanthan gum and 0.5 % carboxymethyl cellulose hydrocolloid mixture solution and 0.2 % citric acid] to serve as a sustainable and stable functional liquid colourant in yoghurt. The 8-week refrigerated storage study revealed the betacyanins content in the yoghurt added with E162 experienced the lowest stabilities in terms of betacyanins content (>30 % degradation), viscosity (>15 % reduction), pH, LAB viability and antioxidant activity. In contrast, the Improved-FRDFD-dH2O was able to maintain the yoghurt's viscosity, syneresis, pH and LAB viability without any significant change. The betacyanins of Improved-FRDFD-dH2O had excellent stability in the yoghurt (<5 % degradation), showing only a minimal difference (ΔE<1.5) in total colour changes and being able to retain >86 % of the initial antioxidant activity by the end of storage. These findings support the Improved-FRDFD-dH2O as a sustainable functional colourant with antioxidant properties for producing beneficial yoghurt.

Biochemical approaches for decoding the information stored with metabolites

Molecular data storage is an emerging supplement to conventional information storage methods. In addition to the information storage with DNA or synthetic polymers, a recently proposed strategy that uses small molecule mixtures as information carriers has sparked interest since it is a synthesis-free method. Here, we demonstrate two methods for decoding digital information stored in two sets of small-molecule metabolites. The information is stored as binary code, 0 or 1, based on the absence or presence of each particular metabolite in the mixture. In the first approach, the information was encoded by five metabolites (sarcosine, cholesterol, xanthine, glucose, and galactose) and stored as mixture solutions in a 384-well microplate. The information was read out by cascade enzymatic reactions that can specifically convert the metabolites to a colorimetric product, which was then assayed by a microplate reader. We stored a 60×32-pixel picture (1920 bits) with 384 mixtures of small molecules with a reading accuracy of 96.68 %, and also demonstrated the encoding of a 220-bit text message. Alternatively, another set of six metabolites (bilirubin, uric acid, urea, creatinine, glucose, and triglyceride) was deployed to encode a 78×102-pixel picture (7956 bits) with 1326 mixtures, which was decoded automatically by a biochemistry analyzer with a 98.96 % accuracy. This work showcases that common metabolites can be used as digital molecules for information storage, and the information decoding can be done by accessible instruments in an ordinary biochemical laboratory.

ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL POTENTIAL OF SOME MIXED NON-CONVENTIONAL FEED RESOURCES IN ALIERO LGA, KEBBI STATE, NIGERIA

Use of conventional feedstuff is unavailable, scarce and the price is high for profitable livestock production in Nigeria. Thus an experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutritional potential of millet panicle husk mixed with molasses solution and different levels of poultry dung. Millet panicle husks were measured using a weighing balance and prepared in to four different samples (A, B, C and D) each weighing 100g. A solution of molasses (70cL) was prepared with water (30cL) and mixed with the samples except with sample A (control). Thereafter, dried poultry dung was mixed to each four sample of millet panicle husk at; 0%, 20%, 30% and 40% to make a ratio; 100:00, 80:20, 70:30 and 60:40 designated as treatments; A, B, C and D. Samples were replicated three times in a completely randomized design and oven dried at 650C for 48 hours and were taken to the laboratory for proximate analysis. Treatment of millet panicle husk with molasses and varying levels of poultry dung improved (p&lt;0.05) proximate composition of mixture with exception of ADF. Treatment D had higher CP, ash and NCF (19.25%, 11.00% and 43.65%) respectively and lower CF (21.54%), ADF (33.20%) and ADL (9.09%) were obtained in treatment C. Results suggested that mixture of molasses solution and poultry dung with millet panicle improved feeding value of millet panicle husk which may serves as ruminant feed during forage scarcity.