Optimal Temperature Conditions Research Articles

Impact of Temperature on the Bioactive Compound Content of Aqueous Extracts of Humulus lupulus L. with Different Alpha and Beta Acid Content: A New Potential Antifungal Alternative

Hops contain a wide variety of polyphenolic compounds with diverse antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of temperature on the bioactive components of samples of aqueous extracts of hops with different characteristics. A central compound rotating design model was used in order to obtain optimal conditions of temperature and extract concentration to inhibit Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria solani. At intermediate temperatures according to the design of experiments, significant effects on antifungal activity were observed. The optimal conditions with antifungal activity were at a concentration of 160 mg/mL and a temperature of 65 °C to obtain mycelial diameters ≤ 25 mm. The bioactive compounds were shown in the FT-IR spectrum after each heat treatment of both samples; significant changes were observed in the bands between 2786 to 3600 cm−1 and 1022 to 1729 cm−1. The content of total phenols and flavonoids showed a concentration increase of 4.54 to 6.24 mg GAE/g and 6.21 to 8.12 mg QE/g from an initial evaluation temperature of 25 °C to 57.5 °C, respectively, benefited by the heating temperature, enhancing antifungal activity. However, when increasing the temperature ≥90 °C, a tendency to decrease the concentration of bioactive compounds was observed, probably due to their denaturation due to the effect of temperature and exposure time, being non-thermolabile compounds at high temperatures. These aqueous extracts are an alternative to effective natural antifungals.

Performance assessment and process optimization of a sulfur recovery unit: a real starting up plant

Sulfur recovery units (SRU) have an important role in the industrial production of elemental sulfur from hydrogen sulfide, whereas the generated acidic gas emissions must be controlled and treated based on local and international environmental regulations. Herein, Aspen HYSYS V.11 with Sulsim software is used to simulate the industrial and treatment processes in a refinery plant in the Middle East. In the simulation models, in temperature, pressure, flow, energy, and gas emissions were monitored to predict any expected change that could occur during the industrial processes. The simulation models were validated by comparing the obtained data with actual industrial data, and the results showed low deviation values. The simulation results showed that the current process temperature conditions can work efficiently for sulfur production without causing any environmental consequences. Interestingly, the simulation results revealed that sulfur can be produced under the optimized temperature conditions (20° less than design temperatures) with a total amount of steam reduction by 1040.12 kg/h and without any negative impact on the environment. The steam reduction could have a great economic return, where an average cost of 7.6 $ per ton could be saved with a total estimated cost savings by 69,247.03 $ per year. The simulation revealed an inaccurate production capacity calculated by real data in the plant during the performance test guarantee (PTG) where the real data achieved around 1 ton/h higher capacity than the simulation result, with an overall recovery efficiency of 99.96%. Based on this significant result, a solution was raised, and the level transmitters were calibrated, then the test was repeated. The simulation models could be very useful for engineers to investigate and optimize the reaction conditions during the industrial process in sulfur production facilities. Hence, the engineers can utilize these models to recognize any potential problem, thereby providing effective and fast solutions. Additionally, the simulation models could participate in assessing the performance test guarantee (PTG) calculations provided by the contractor.

A heterogeneous double chamber electro-Fenton with high production of H2O2 using La–CeO2 modified graphite felt as cathode

Hydrogen peroxide synthesis by electro-reduction of O 2 to substitute the current anthraquinone process has attracted a great deal of attention. Low oxygen utilization rate and low hydrogen peroxide production remain obstacles to electro-Fenton application. In situ H 2 O 2 generated by electrochemical reaction depends on the electrochemical performance of the cathode and the structure of the reactor. Here, novel graphite felt (GF) modified by La-doped CeO 2 (La–CeO 2 ) was developed as a cathode. A new double chamber electro-Fenton reactor was proposed, where an organic ultrafiltration membrane was used to prevent H 2 O 2 from spreading to the anode. The effects of hydrothermal temperature, time and urea concentration on the electrochemical properties of graphite felt were investigated. The accumulated concentration of H 2 O 2 on the modified cathode reached 218.4 mg·L –1 in 1 h when the optimal conditions of hydrothermal temperature 120 °C and urea concentration 0.55% (mass) in 24 h. The degradation rate of methyl orange reached 98.29%. The new electro-Fenton reactor can efficiently produce hydrogen peroxide to degrade various organic substances and has a high potential for treating wastewater in the chemical industry.

Antioxidant Activity of Andrographolide from Andrographis paniculataleaf and Its Extraction Optimization by using Accelerated Solvent Extraction

Andrographis paniculata is widely used as a medicinal plant in many countries and andrographolide is the major bioactive compound extracted from A. paniculata leaf. This study purposely to optimize statistical andrographolide extraction using the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) technique. The Box Behnken design (BBD) was chosen to determine the optimum ASE conditions for the extraction temperature (ºC), cycle number, and extraction time (min) to achieve the highest yield of andrographolide. The optimum ASE conditions were identified as: extraction temperature of 60 ºC, using 3 cycles and 5 min extraction time, with maximum conversion yield as high as 335.2 ± 0.2 mg/g determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with the squared correlation coefficients (R2) of 0.97. The findings revealed the ASE method significantly enhanced andrographolide extraction and agreed closely with the predicted value at 337.5 mg/g. Andrographolide was isolated by preparative HPLC technique. A. paniculata leaf extract and extracted andrographolide displayed moderate radical scavenging activity in 2, 2−Diphenyl−1−picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) assay with IC50 of 0.883 ± 1.597 mg/ml and 0.514 ± 0.285 mg/ml respectively as IC50 for ascorbic acid was 0.048 ± 0.004 mg/ml. A. paniculata extract and andrographolide inhibited the tyrosinase enzyme with IC50 of 0.749 ± 0.293 μg/ml and IC50 of 2.441 ± 2.026 μg/ml indicated stronger tyrosinase inhibition abilities than kojic acid, IC50 of 19.985 ± 0.557 μg/ml. These results suggest that A. paniculata leaf extract and andrographolide have greater potential as sources of biochemical compounds that can be used as skin depigmentation solutions.

SYNTHESIS AND THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER-SOLUBLE BLOCKED O-TOLYLISOCYANATE

Synthesis of latent reagents, in particular isocyanates, in a water-soluble form is a promising direction of chemical research. The replacement of isocyanates with their blocked analogues allows solving several problems: increasing safety in the use and storage of such toxic compounds as isocyanates, facilitating multi-stage synthesis in active media, increasing the selectivity of the main reaction, reducing the toxicity of reagents. In addition, due to the possibility of carrying out the blocking reaction of isocyanates in an aqueous media, the environmental safety of the process of their production is increased and the yield of the product is improved. In order to synthesize a water-soluble latent monoisocyanate for the modification of polymer systems, including water-soluble biopolymers, water-soluble sodium 6-(o-tolylcarbamoylamino)hexanoate was synthesized by the interaction of ortho-tolyl isocyanate with an aqueous solution of sodium salt of 6-aminohexanoic acid. The optimal temperature conditions for the synthesis of water-soluble blocked ortho-tolyl isocyanate were determined. The structure of the reaction product was proved using methods of IR- spectroscopy with Fourier transform and NMR 1H spectroscopy. According to the data of thermogravimetric analysis in dynamic mode and pyrolytic mass spectrometry the temperature range of the thermal dissociation of water-soluble ortho-tolyl isocyanate blocked by the sodium salt of 6-aminohexanoic acid ranges from 100 to 140°C and is wider than the temperature range of the thermal dissociation of the hydrophobic compound - ortho- tolyl isocyanate blocked by ε- caprolactam.

Eight Channel Temperature Monitoring using Thermocouple Sensors (type K) Based on Internet of Thing using ThinkSpeak Platform

A laboratory incubator is a device used to incubate a breed. a very important condition in the procedure Incubator is the optimal temperature conditions for microorganisms to grow. The incubator is equipped with a temperature controller so that the temperature can be adjusted according to the breed to be raised. Incubators use an oven like dry heat. The purpose of this study was to test and analyze the accuracy of the thermocouple sensor with incubator media in a laboratory incubator calibrator. The main design method uses the 8 MAX 6675 module, the 8 K type Thermocouple module, Arduino Mega, and SD Card data storage. Temperature measurements were measured with a Type K thermocouple sensor. The thermocouple sensor has 8 channels which function to measure the temperature at each camber point of the incubator. The temperature will be stored on the SD card for data analysis and the data can be processed in graphical form. Benchmarking is done using a temperature data logger. This is done so that the design results are below the standard comparison tool. The measurement results on the module compared to the comparison tool obtained the largest error value, namely 3.98%, namely on channel T6 at 35°C with ordinary incubator media and the smallest error on ordinary incubator media at point T6 at 37°C, which is 0.06 % and at 35 C the temperature of the incubator fan has the largest error of 2.98% and the smallest error of 0.86%. the module can perform well by testing the comparison tool at every point

Design and characterization of an artificial two-strain bacterial consortium for the efficient biodegradation of deoxynivalenol

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a trichothecene mycotoxin mainly produced by various Fusarium species which cause Fusarium head blight in cereals. DON accumulation in grains not only poses a serious health threat to human and animals but also causes economic loss in the food and livestock industries. Here we reported the construction of an artificial bacterial consortium comprising of Devosia sp. A8 and Paracoccus yeei A9 isolated from an enriched bacterial culture, which shows effective degradation capability towards DON. The optimal conditions for temperature, pH and initial inoculum volume for DON degradation were 35 °C, pH 8–9 and 0.5 %, respectively. The degradation product was identified as 3-keto-DON by LC-MS/MS and 1H NMR spectra. Devosia sp. A8 played the major role in DON degradation, but the enhancement of the DON degradation activity by adding NADPH or riboflavin suggested that Paracoccus yeei A9 provided electrons for Devosia sp. A8 to degrade DON. Moreover, other trichothecenes including 15-acetyl DON, 3-acetyl DON and T-2 toxin were also degraded by the consortium. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about a Devosia species capable of degrading DON when co-cultured with Paracoccus yeei. The results demonstrated that the artificial bacterial consortium is a potential candidate for DON biodegradation as well as other trichothecene mycotoxins in a safe and eco-friendly manner.

Isolation and characterization of the 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid-degrading bacterium Agrobacterium sp. strain YJ-5.

2,5-Pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,5-PDA), a natural N-heterocyclic compound and a substitute for production in plastics, was widely distributed in industrial wastewater. However, the biodegradation of 2,5-PDA has been rarely reported. In this study, strain YJ-5, which could utilize 2,5-PDA as the sole carbon source for growth was isolated from pesticide-contaminated soil. Based on the comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain YJ-5 was identified as Agrobacterium sp. 2,5-PDA was completely degraded within 7 d and the optimal growth conditions of temperature, pH, and substrate concentration were 30°C, 7.0, and 0.6 mmol-1, respectively. A new intermediate 6-hydroxy-2,5-PDA was determined by UV/VIS spectroscopy and liquid chromatograph coupled time of flight mass spectrometry. When the electron acceptor (2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol) was employed, the 2,5-PDA could be converted by cell extracts of strain YJ-5 cells into 6-hydroxy-2,5-PDA. These results provided new insights for biodegradation on pyridine dicarboxylate.

Predicting the future climate-related prevalence and distribution of crop pests and diseases affecting major food crops in Zambia

Environmental factors determine the suitability of natural habitats for crop pests and often facilitate their proliferation and that of the crop diseases they carry. Crop pests and diseases damage food crops, significantly reducing yields for these commodities and threatening food security in developing, predominantly agricultural economies. Given its impact on environmental factors, climate change is an important determinant of crop pest and disease distribution. This study uses Targeting Tools, a climate suitability analysis and mapping toolkit, to explore the potential impact of climate change on select environmental factors linked to crop pest and associated diseases’ proliferation. Based on the existing literature, prediction modeling was performed on 21 key pests and diseases that impact the major food crops for Zambian consumption. Future changes in habitat suitability for these crop pests and diseases were mapped based on their optimal temperature and relative humidity conditions for proliferation. Results project that there will be an overall increased geographical spread of suitable habitats for crop pests (and as follows, crop diseases) that thrive in warmer environments. By the 2030s, crop pests and diseases will increasingly spread across Zambia, with a higher likelihood of occurrence projected under RCPs 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5. Crop pests and diseases that thrive in cooler environments will experience decreasing habitat suitability in the 2030s, but will transition to a slower decrease in the 2050s under RCPs 2.6 and 4.5. Overall crop pest and disease habitat suitability will continue to rise slowly in the 2050s; RCP 8.5 shows an increased habitat suitability for crop pests and diseases that thrive in warm environments, with a decreased likelihood of occurrence for crop pests and diseases that thrive in cooler environments. The results highlight the need for future-facing, long-term climate adaptation and mitigation measures that create less suitable microclimates for crop pests and diseases.

Isolation and Screening of Amylase Producing Bacteria from Soil and Production of Amylase

Amylase falls under class of hydrolytic enzymes catalysing breakdown of starch into monosaccharide units. There are various biological sources of enzymes viz. plants, fungi and bacteria. But the preferred one is microbial source due to ease of bulk production and stability of enzymes to work at extreme environmental conditions. This study reports isolation of amylase producing bacteria from sorghum cultivated farm soil and using them for production of amylase enzyme. During the course of the study three isolates viz. AP- 1, AP-2 and AP-3 were obtained which were identified as Bacillus cereus, Bacillus alvei and Bacillus licheniformis, respectively on the basis of morphological and biochemical characters. Amongst three isolates highest yield was obtained from Bacillus alvei which was 17.6 U/ml. Optimum conditions of pH, temperature and substrate concentration were determined for enzymatic activity. Crude enzyme samples obtained from all three isolates found to work best at 1.5% starch concentration and slightly acidic to neutral pH. The enzyme produced by B. alvei and B. cereus was found to be thermostable working best at 50 oC. In view of applications and demands of amylases in various fields further extension of study is needed for qualitative and quantitative enhancements

METHODS OF ACCOUNTING FOR TEMPERATURE AND STRAIN RATE VARIATION IN MULTILEVEL CONSTITUTIVE MODELS OF METAL DEFORMATION (ANALYTICAL REVIEW)

Technological metal forming processes involving hot and superplastic deformation are sensitive to temperature and strain rate. This is because inelasticity mechanisms operate in different ways under different conditions, leading to the formation of different structures and therefore different effective physical and mechanical properties of the material. Optimal temperature and strain rate conditions for the forming process which provide improved performance characteristics of the resulting products with acceptable energy consumption (or, conversely, minimum energy consumption with acceptable performance characteristics) can be most effectively determined by mathematical modeling. The key elements of the latter are constitutive models for describing the behavior of the material (physical equations), which can account for the influence of temperature and strain rate on various mechanisms of inelastic deformation. Such constitutive models can be most effectively developed using a multilevel approach based on the introduction of internal variables, crystal plasticity, and an explicit description of the material structure and physical deformation mechanisms. There are many works that propose multilevel mathematical models of metals that somehow explicitly account for the temperature and strain rate effects on inelastic deformation. Based on physical considerations, this analytical review defines the most promising approach to constructing multilevel constitutive models with comprehensive consideration of the temperature and strain rate effects.

Optimized Conditions for Preparing a Heterogeneous Biocatalyst via Cross-Linked Enzyme Aggregates (CLEAs) of β-Glucosidase from Aspergillus niger

This study mainly aims to find the optimal conditions for immobilizing a non-commercial β-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger via cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) by investigating the effect of cross-linking agent (glutaraldehyde) concentration and soy protein isolate/enzyme ratio (or spacer/enzyme ratio) on the catalytic performance of β-glucosidase through the central composite rotatable design (CCRD). The influence of certain parameters such as pH and temperature on the hydrolytic activity of the resulting heterogeneous biocatalyst was assessed and compared with those of a soluble enzyme. The catalytic performance of both the soluble and immobilized enzyme was assessed by hydrolyzing ρ-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (ρ-NPG) at pH 4.5 and 50 °C. It was found that there was a maximum recovered activity of around 33% (corresponding to hydrolytic activity of 0.48 U/mL) in a spacer/enzyme ratio of 4.69 (mg/mg) using 25.5 mM glutaraldehyde. The optimal temperature and pH conditions for the soluble enzyme were 60 °C and 4.5, respectively, while those for CLEAs of β-glucosidase were between 50 and 65 °C and pH 3.5 and 4.0. These results reveal that the immobilized enzyme is more stable in a wider pH and temperature range than its soluble form. Furthermore, an improvement was observed in thermal stability after immobilization. After 150 days at 4 °C, the heterogeneous biocatalyst retained 80% of its original activity, while the soluble enzyme retained only 10%. The heterogeneous biocatalyst preparation was also characterized by TG/DTG and FT-IR analyses that confirmed the introduction of carbon chains via cross-linking. Therefore, the immobilized biocatalyst prepared in this study has improved enzyme stabilization, and it is an interesting approach to preparing heterogeneous biocatalysts for industrial applications.

Syngas Production for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis from Rubber Wood Pellets and Eucalyptus Wood Chips in a Pilot Horizontal Gasifier with CaO as a Tar Removal Catalyst.

This research aims to investigate steam biomass gasification in a pilot horizontal gasifier using rubber wood pellets (RWPs) and eucalyptus wood chips (EWCs) for producing syngas with an H2/CO ratio range of 1.8 to 2.3 for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The study was divided into two parts. One was carried out in a lab-scale reactor to determine the effect of temperature and CaO on the gas product composition and the efficiency of tar removal. Another part was determined by investigating the effect of the steam/biomass (S/B) ratio on the produced H2/CO ratios in the pilot horizontal gasifier, which used the optimum conditions of temperature and % loading of CaO for tar removal according to the optimal conditions from the lab-scale gasifier. The lab-scale gasifier results showed that H2 and CO2 increased with temperature due to primary and secondary water gas reactions and hydrocarbon reforming reactions. The water gas shift and hydrocarbon reforming reaction depressed the CO and CH4 contents with increasing temperature, respectively. The optimum gasifying temperature was 900 °C, which obtained H2/CO ratios of 1.8 for both RWPs and EWCs. The tar yield decreased with increasing temperature and was less than 0.2 wt % when using CaO as a tar-cracking catalyst. The operation of the pilot horizontal gasifier at the operating condition of 900 °C and a S/B ratio of 0.5 using 0.2 wt % loading of CaO for tar removal also produced a H2/CO ratio of 2.0. The supply of an external heat source stabilized the gasifying temperature, resulting in a stable syngas composition and production rate of 2.5 and 2.7 kg/h with H2/CO ratios of 1.8 and 1.9 for the RWPs and EWCs, respectively. In summary, the horizontal gasifier is another effective designed gasifier that showed high-performance operation.

Analysis of The Accuracy of Temperature Sensors at The Calibrator Incubator Laboratory are equipped with data storage base on Internet of Thing

A laboratory incubator is a tool used to incubate or incubate a breed. Incubators provide optimum temperature conditions for microorganisms to grow. The incubator has a temperature regulator so that the temperature can be adjusted according to the breed to be incarnated. Incubators utilize hot-dry like ovens. The purpose of this study is to conduct testing and analyze the accuracy of thermocouple sensors with incubator media in laboratory incubator calibrator tools. The contribution of the research is to know the level of accuracy of the sustainable sensor for sensing the temperature in the lab incubator. The main Design consists of 8 MAX 6675 Standards, 8 Thermocouple type K, Arduino Mega, and SD Card Standards. The temperature not in the incubator device is measured by a Type K thermocouple sensor. Thermocouple sensor numbers 8 channels that measure the temperature at each incubator camber point. The temperature will be stored on the SD card to analyze the data and the data can be processed into the form of a graphic. Benchmarking is done using a data logger temperature tool. This is done to make the Design results are under the standards of the Standard. After comparing with the Standard get the largest error value is 3.98%, at channel T6 temperature 35 °C with ordinary incubator media and the smallest error in ordinary incubator media point T6 temperature 37 ° C which is 0.06 % and in fan incubator temperature 35 C has the largest error which is 2.98 % and the smallest error 0.86%. The conclusion of this study is that the design can work well in measuring the temperature of the incubator, as well as the system for storing readings using the SD card Design and sending data using the internet network can work well.

Isolation and Characterization of Bacillus velezensis from Lake Bogoria as a Potential Biocontrol of Fusarium solani in Phaseolus vulgaris L.

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a significant vegetable crop, grown because it is a rich source of protein, carbohydrates, and vitamin B complex. Fusarium solani and Rhizoctonia solani are the most widely known pathogens contributing to large yield losses for this crop. The use of cultural and chemical control practices has been ineffective. Therefore, a sustainable, affordable, and effective control method is urgently required. In this study, we aimed to isolate and characterize Bacillus velezensis from Lake Bogoria as a potential biocontrol agent for Fusarium solani. Bacteria were isolated from soil and sediments using the serial dilution technique. Molecular characterization was performed using the 16S rRNA gene. A total of 13 bacteria were isolated from soil and sediments. Based on the partial sequences, BLAST analysis showed two isolates, B20 (Bacillus velezensis strain QH03-23) and B30 (Bacillus velezensis strain JS39D), belonging to Bacillus velezensis. Other isolates were identified as Bacillus tequilensis, Brevibacillus brevis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and Bacillus licheniformis. The effectiveness of their antifungal properties was determined via co-culturing, and we found mycelial inhibition rates of 28.17% (for B20) and 33.33% (for B30) for the Fusarium solani isolates. The characterization of the Bacillus velezensis strain revealed that they were Gram-positive and grew well at pH 7.0 and 8.5, although growth was recorded at pH 5.0 and 10.0. In terms of temperature, the optimal temperature conditions were 30−35 °C, with an optimum salinity of 0–0.5 M NaCl. When these isolates were tested for their ability to produce secondary metabolites, they were found to produce phosphate, pectinase, chitinase, protease, indole -3- acetic acid (IAA), and hydrogen cyanide (HCD), making them potential biocontrol agents.

Sensitive colorimetric aptasensor based on peroxidase-like activity of ZrPr-MOF to detect Salmonella Typhimurium in water and milk

A colorimetric biosensor based on a novel metal-organic framework (MOF) composed of Zirconium (Zr) and Praseodymium (Pr) is presented as a nanozyme to detect Salmonella Typhimurium (S. typhimurium). The ZrPr-MOF poses extreme peroxidase-mimic activity, and it interacts with an aptamer. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the intense blue color is observed via the oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by ZrPr-MOF. However, the interaction of aptamer on the surface of ZrPr-MOF leads to a sharp decline in the catalytic activity of the nanozyme. The addition of S. typhimurium enhanced the produced blue color. Under optimal pH and temperature conditions, our biosensor can detect S. typhimurium in the linear range of 102–108 CFU/mL, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 37 CFU/mL. Moreover, the paper-based model of this biosensor was used successfully for point-of-care and portable analysis. Detection and measuring of S. typhimurium in a spiked milk sample revealed the potential of this platform for sensitive, selective, and rapid monitoring of S. typhimurium in real samples.

Experimental optimization of the supercritical fluid extraction of triterpenoids from Acacia dealbata Link. Leaves

Acacia dealbata Link. is an invasive species with a negative impact on forest production areas. Its removal generates large amounts of residues (biomass) that can be burned for energy production or extracted to obtain high-value compounds, such as triterpenoids of the lupane, ursane and oleanane families, with known bioactive properties. The extraction can be performed with conventional organic solvents or by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO2 which is a greener alternative. In this work, SFE of A. dealbata Link. leaves was studied in order to identify and optimize the SFE parameters (pressure: 200–300 bar; temperature: 313.15–353.15 K; and addition of ethyl acetate as cosolvent: 0–10 wt%) that enhance productivity and selectivity towards specific triterpenoids. Even though Soxhlet extraction with dichloromethane provided higher total extraction yield (ηTotal = 3.8 wt% versus 2.1–3.2 wt%, for SFE), SFE surpassed Soxhlet results in terms of individual yields and concentrations of squalene, α-tocopherol, α-amyrone, β-amyrone, and lupenone. For these five compounds the SFE yield reached 0.8043 wt% and the extract concentration reached 35.5 wt% (15.1 % and 95.1 % higher than with Soxhlet extraction, respectively). Particular emphasis should be given to lupenone, with a maximum yield of 0.4748 wt% and a concentration of 22.9 wt% in the SFE extracts obtained at 250 bar, 313.15 K and no cosolvent (ethyl acetate). The optimum conditions of pressure, temperature and ethyl acetate content depended on the response. Productivity, ηTotal, was maximized by increasing all three factors to its maximum conditions. Temperature was one of the most impactful parameters on the individual triterpenoids SFE yields with lower temperatures enhancing the selectivity.

Physiological and Molecular Responses of Barley Genotypes to Salinity Stress

Among cereals, barley is tolerant to high levels of salinity stress; however, its performance and global production are still dramatically affected by salinity. In this study, we evaluated the behavior of a set of advanced genotypes of barley with aim of assessing the physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in salinity tolerance. The experiment was conducted using a hydroponic system at optimal growing temperature and photoperiod conditions. The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant effects for salinity treatments and genotypes in terms of all measured traits. Salinity stress significantly increased the root and shoot Na+ contents and root-to-shoot Na+ and K+ translocations. In contrast, other physiological features, gas exchange-related traits, as well as root and shoot biomasses were significantly decreased due to salinity stress. Based on the results of the multi-trait genotype ideotype distance index (MGIDI) as a multiple-traits method, G12 and G14 were identified as the superior salt-tolerant advanced genotypes. In the molecular analysis, salinity stress significantly increased the mean relative expression of HvSOS1, HvSOS3, HvHKT2, HvHKT3, HvNHX1, and HvNHX3 genes by 12.87-, 3.16-, 3.65-, 2.54-, 2.19-, and 3.18-fold more than the control conditions, respectively. The results of heatmap-based correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a clear association pattern among measured traits and expression data. Indeed, these associations confirmed relationships between tolerance pathways and physiological functions. In conclusion, the genotype G14 (D10*2/4/Productive/3/Roho//Alger/Ceres362-1-1) responded well to salinity stress and showed a better expression pattern of studied genes than other genotypes. Hence, this promising genotype can be a candidate for further assessments before commercial introduction.

Rhabdomyosarcoma xenotransplants in zebrafish embryos.

Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are the most common pediatric soft tissue sarcomas. High-risk and metastatic disease continues to be associated with very poor prognosis. RMS model systems that faithfully recapitulate the human disease and provide rapid, cost-efficient estimates of antitumor efficacy of candidate drugs are needed to facilitate drug development and personalized medicine approaches. Here, we present a new zebrafish-based xenotransplant model allowing for rapid and easily accessible drug screening using low numbers of viable tumor cells and relatively small amounts of water-soluble chemicals. Under optimized temperature conditions, embryonal RMS xenografts were established in zebrafish embryos at 3h postfertilization (hpf). In proof-of-principle experiments, chemotherapy drugs with established clinical anti-RMS efficacy (vincristine, dactinomycin) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor trametinib were shown to significantly reduce the cross-sectional area of the tumors by 120hpf. RMS xenograft models in zebrafish embryos henceforth could serve as a valuable addition to cell culture and mammalian models of RMS and represent a rapid and cost-effective solution for preclinical candidate drug testing.

An efficient and clean utilization technique for red mud based on fluidized bed carbon monoxide reduction

In order to simulate the pre-reduction behavior of ore powder by coal gas produced by smelting reduction of coal-based electric furnace, an efficient and clean utilization technique for red mud based on fluidized bed carbon monoxide reduction was developed in the present study. Experimental results indicated that a metallization rate of 68.08 % and reduction degree of 78.72 was obtained under the optimal conditions of reduction temperature of 800 °C, CO concentration of 85 %, and reduction time of 30 min. Pre-reduced materials can be used as raw materials for electric furnace melting reduction. The order in which iron oxides were reduced is only related to temperature, and at 800 °C, iron oxides were reduced in the order of Fe2O3 to Fe3O4 to FeO to Fe. During different stages of prereduction, the surface structure of ore particles changes, which is related to the metallization rate of iron oxides in red mud.