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This study aimed at investigating the effect of consortia of three types of indigenous bacteria (Corynebacterium sp., Sphingobacterium gobiense and Kocuria flava) and earthworm (at 5 and 10 earthworms/kg soil) and their combination on the percentage removal of chlorpyrifos from chlorpyrifos contaminated soil in Sudan. Silt soil (Gerf soil) samples were mixed with known concentration of chlorpyrifos (450 mgkg-1) and incubated for various exposure periods (3, 7, 15 and 45 days) with the bacterial consortia alone, low and high densities of earth worm and their combinations under laboratory conditions. Remaining chlorpyrifos residues were measured by gas chromatograph equipped with flame ionization detector. Degradation rates and half-lives were found to follow biphasic model with an initial fast rate of disappearance followed by a second phase of slow disappearance. All treatments caused significant (PE‚0.05) effect on the degradation rates of chlorpyrifos compared to the control. The bacterial consortia alone induced the highest effect (73.83%) on the percentage removal of chlorpyrifos, followed by the bacterial consortia plus high density of earth worm (71.22%). Earth worm alone induced the least effect on the rate degradation of chlorpyrifos (64.27 and 66.49% for the high and low concentrations respectively). Based on this finding indigenous bacterial consortia represent a promising bioremediation agent for treatment of chlorpyrifos contaminated soil and therefore may deserve further investigation under different experimental conditions as well as validation of results under real contaminated soil conditions. Key words: Sudan, earthworm, indigenous bacteria, chlorpyrifos.

Two Ficus species that are commonly used in Sudanese Traditional Medicine for the management of various ailments were screened for their phytochemical groups using chemical reagent and Thin Layer Chromatography. Qualitative phytochemical tests were used to detect the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, phenolic compounds and anthraquinones. Six compounds from F. benegalensis and seven from F. sycomorus quenching were reported from the various parts of these two plants. However , more number of compounds were found in the leaves. The data generated from this study have provided the chemical basis for wide use of F. sycomorus as therapeutic agent for treating various ailments. However, there is need to further carry out advanced hyphenated spectroscopic studies in order to elucidate the structure of these compounds. Furthermore, this data may be handy in probing of biochemistry of this plant in the future.

Soil organic phosphorus (P org ) can significantly assist in minimizing the adverse effects of chemi- cal phosphorus fertilizers on aquatic and marine resources. Success to achieve the desired last- ing transformation is primarily reliant on the drastic reduction of wasteful applications of chemical phosphorus fertilizers, thereby paving the way for proper investment of soil P org reserves. To this end, organically-bound phosphorus can be viewed as a cornerstone for the future development of agriculture. Thus, we consider it very timely to emphasize the suitability of soil P org to lead the way.

Integrated management of BT cotton pests was carried in field experiments during the seasons; 2016/2017 (Season I) and 2017/2018 (Season II) in the experimental research farm of Kassala University, Sudan. Four insecticides (imidacloprid, abamectin, profenofos and lufenuron) and three levels of soil applied nitrogen; 43.81 kgha−1, 87.62 kgha−1 and 131.43 kgha−1 were tested at recommended doses. Seven weekly counts of abundant pests (whitefly, jassid, aphid, and mealybug) were done starting 4 weeks before spraying. Post spray counts were done after 3, 10 and 17 days from spraying. Seed cotton yield of various treatments was recorded and economic analysis of the package was calculated. Results indicated that increasing the nitrogen dose result in significant increase in population of sap sucking pests during the pre-spray counts while insecticide treatments significantly reduced the infestation level in the post spray counts. Aphid was found in season I while mealybug was found in season II only in contrast to whitefly and jassid which were found in both seasons. Imidacloprid was the most effective insecticide causing reduction in the level of infestation by the various sap sucking pests in the range of 11.20% -71.66%, followed by lufenuron (with reduction in infestations level ranging between 8.12% to 69.11%) and profenofos (with infestation reduction ranging between 9.88% to 66.74%). On the other hand abamectin was the least effective treatment causing the least infestation reduction in the population of sap sucking pests (ranging between 8.38% to 66.45%). No significant interactions were found between nitrogen and insecticide treatments. Highest seed cotton yield and revenue was associated with imidacloprid combined with various nitrogen levels (causing 46%–63% increase), followed abamectin nitrogen treatments (7%–22%), profenofos and lufenuron nitrogen combinations. Generally, seed cotton yield increases by the increase of nitrogen dose, while the revenue (net benefit) depends on the price of the insecticide used.

The present study has been carried out to investigate the mechanisms of sol–gel reactions using TEOS as precursor in the presence of acid or base catalyst. The gels were prepared by hydrolysis of TEOS using hydrochloride acid or ammonium hydroxide catalyst. The obtained gels were also characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. The results of FTIR spectroscopy indicated the existence of silanol and siloxane bonds; due to the formation of hydrolyzed species as reactive intermediate compounds in initial stage converted by condensation reactions to gels as ultimate products. Accordingly, appropriate mechanisms have been proposed for sol – gel reaction using TEOS as precursor in the presence of acid or base catalyst. These mechanisms involve three-steps SN2 mechanisms for base catalyzed hydrolysis reaction of TEOS and SN1 mechanisms for acid catalyzed hydrolysis reaction of TEOS. Three mechanisms have been also proposed for condensation reaction as second stage in sol-gel process. These mechanisms include alcoxolation, oxolation and oltaion.

Algae are simple plants and most of them are aquatic and can grow in different water assets, for example, fresh water, salty water, and wastewater so they are considered as the more secure, non-focused and more effective plant. They have different pathways to fix dangerous gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) that causing climate change and converting sunlight, nitrogen and phosphorous into biomass. The objective of this article is to review the literature regarding the algae as biological alternative products and renewable energy source to throw light on a broad range of algae applications for provide some information on their related technology and industry that are financially feasible to counter balance in oil, and alleviate CO2 discharge or not. Algae have been explored for different applications as food; bioactive substances due to their high development rates, sensible developmental densities and high oil contents all that have been referred to as motivations to turn algae into biofuels. However, there are various obstacles including the sourcing of these algae, strain isolation, nutrient source, production management, harvesting, coproduct improvement, fuel extraction, refining and lingering biomass use. The use of algae as fuel might seem of no importance today, but it can gain importance tomorrow as petroleum is getting depleting day after day. The International Energy Agency expects contribution of biofuels by 6% of aggregate fuel use by 2030, yet could extend essentially if undeveloped oil fields are not gotten to or if generous new fields are not distinguished.

Thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) is useful for radiation detection for a wide range of applications with reasonable accuracy since its introduction to the clinical environment in 1954. However, the determination of uncertainty is crucial to obtain accurate measurements. This study intended to evaluate different types of expected classified errors for strontium tetraborate (SrB4O7) doped with Samarium (Sm+3) to obtain accurate electron dose using luminescence characteristics. Higher temperature solid-state reaction was used to prepare the phosphor. TL glow curves examined after irradiation with a 50 Gy single electron dose. The different causes of uncertainty for the dosimetric material under investigation were assessed. The obtained values of uncertainty were multiplied by the coverage factor two in order to get the expanded doubt at a 95% certainty level. The extended uncertainty from the different examined sources does not surpass 0.8546 nC. When SrB4O7: Sm+3 used as a TLD detector for electron beam dosimetry, the expanded uncertainty recommended to be added to the measured dose to attain the precise dose.

This study developed a suitable analytical method for kasugamycin residues in Achyranthes japonica using LC/MS/MS equipped with an amide column for polar substances. Extraction and cleanup processes were done at pH 4.5–5. Purification efficiency was assessed and confirmed step by step by selecting silica, hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB), strong cation exchange (SCX), and double (HLB and SCX) cleanup SPE cartridges. The results indicated that silica SPE cartridge exhibited overloading tendency, while HLB SPE cartridge had low cleaning efficiency. Among SPE cartridges used, double cleanup and SCX were found sufficient with respective matrix effects of –15% and +14%, respectively. The LOD and LOQ were 0.008 ng and 0.04 mg/kg, respectively. The correlation coefficient (R2) was higher than 0.99, recovery rate ranges were 86.3–97.2%, and the RSD was below 8.8%. All methods are consistent with the Codex guidelines criteria. This study developed an appropriate LC/MS/MS analytical method for kasugamycin residue analysis in A. japonica with optimized, efficient extraction and purification conditions using a single SCX SPE cartridge, which is simple and time-efficient. In addition, the HLB and SCX SPE cartridges of the double cleanup methods were identified as primary methods that can be applied for the cleanup of other medicinal herbs.

A new design of the MOSFET dosimeter is being developed in a different study to measure the dose delivered to the tissue layers. Development of zinc oxide-Lead (ZnO-Pb) of different thicknesses fabricated by chemical bath deposition were investigated to study their sensitivity following irradiation using a low absorbed dose that can be used in diagnostic and interventional radiology (9, 36.5, and 70 mGy) and high absorbed dose (1, 5, and 10 Gy) of X-ray. The morphology and structure of the as-prepared films were analysed using FESEM and XRD measurements. The device relies on sensing the changes in the local electric field arising from radiation interactions in the absorber, coupled with the semiconductor materials used in this work—ZnO-Pb as the EGFET. Then the sensitivity of all devices was examined. Generally, thin-film devices showed less sensitivity to X-ray than the disk type. The sensitivity of the thin film dropped from 6.66 mV/to 1.42 mV/Gy, while the sensitivity of the ZnO-Pb disk type was 23.3 mV/Gy, which then dropped to 6.30 6.42 mV/Gy. Furthermore, the disk type ZnO-Pb was exposed to a high absorbed dose and obtained a sensitivity value of 0.08 mV/Gy, while the ZnO-Pb thin film obtained 0.01 mV/Gy. This can be related to the influence of thickness on the sensitivity of the dosimeter. However, the device’s performance characteristics, like sensitivity to radiation exposure and operating dose area, were discovered to be strongly dependent on the materials employed, effective atomic number, and thickness of the materials. Based on the results shown above, these devices might be considered a low-cost candidate for real-time -radiation dosimetry at room temperature. Furthermore, the thickest sample of 1 mm showed better sensitivity to radiation, compared to the thinner samples.

Field assessment of integrated management of BT cotton pests was carried out in two consecutive seasons; 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 in the experimental research farm of the Kassala University, Sudan. Four insecticides (imidacloprid, abamectin, profenofos, and lufenuron) from different chemical groups and with a different mode of action and three levels (43.81 kgha-1, 87.62 kgha-1, and 131.43 kgha-1) of soil-applied nitrogen were tested in the IPM package. Insecticides were applied at the recommended doses. A total of 7 weekly counts of prevailing natural enemies [Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) and Aenasius bambawalei Hayat] were carried out for 4 weeks before spraying and 3 weeks post spraying starting the 3rd week from spraying. Results indicated that nitrogen level exerted no significant effects on the populations of prevailing natural enemies; C. carnea and A. bambawalei. Based on average post spray counts and percentage reduction over the control, all insecticide treatments significantly reduced the population of the natural enemies. Imidacloprid and profenofos exerted the highest reduction of C. carnea population followed by abamectin and lufenuron (56.03, 48.25, 07.78 and 06.61% respectively) in the first season, while profenofos, imidacloprid, lufenuron, and abamectin induced the highest reductions (55.94, 45.05, 17.57 and 17.33% respectively) in the second season. On the other hand, reductions in A. bambawalei population (abundant in season 1 only) followed the order; imidacloprid, lufenuron, abmectin, and profenofos (03.95, 02.63, 202.63, and 01.32%, respectively). Interactions between nitrogen fertilization and insecticide were not significant as measured by the population of prevailing natural enemies.

The demand for bottled drinking water in Bangladesh is becoming popular due to the lack of safe drinking water sources. The present study was carried out to assess the water quality and public health impacts of local brands of bottled drinking water and tube-well water, compared to the imported ones. Several state-of-the-art techniques were employed to determine the contents of pH, EC, salinity, chloride, nitrates, nitrites, fluoride, sulfates, phosphates, bicarbonate, turbidity, color, total hardness, and total dissolved solids in the studied water samples. The measured data show that the level of dissolved minerals in the local branded bottled water is very low (with an exception for sample codes D1 and D8), while imported brands, Zamzam water, and tube-well water contain satisfactory level of minerals and fulfill Dietary Reference Intake requirements. Total coliform, fecal coliform, and E. coli were found to be absent in local brands of bottled water and tube-well water. On the other hand, concentrations of some radionuclides 40K, 238U, 226Ra, 210Pb, 210Po, 222Rn, 137Cs, and 232Th in local bottled water and tube-well water were found to be less than the permissible level given by WHO (2011). The results reveal that local bottled drinking water manufacturing companies may not be following standard guidelines and quality control steps properly. Thus, improvement in their standard operating process is urgently needed to ensure strict compliance with guidelines set by Bangladesh standards and testing institutions.

Computerised tomography (CT) continues to be a corner stone medical and radiologic imaging modalities in radiology and radiotherapy departments. Its importance lies in its efficiency in low contrast detectability (LCD). The assessment of such capabilities requires rigorous image quality analysis using special designed phantoms with different densities as well as variation in atomic mass numbers (A) of the material. Absence of such ranges of densities and atomic mass numbers, limits the dynamic range of assessment. An example is Catphan phantom which represents only three subject contrast levels 0.3, 0.5 and 1 per cent. This project aims to present a phantom with extended range of available subject contrast to include very low-level values and to increase its dynamic scale. With this design, a relatively large number of different contrast objects (holes) can be presented for imaging by a CT scanner to assess its LCD ability. We shall thus introduce another LCD phantom to complement the existing ones, such as Catphan. The cylindrical phantom is constructed using Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), with craters (holes) having dimensions that gradually increase from 1.0 to 12.5 mm penetrated in configuration that extend from the centre to the corner. Each line of the drilled holes in the phantom is filled with contrast material of specific concentrations. As opposed to the phantom of low detail contrast used in planar imaging, the iodine (contrast material) in this phantom replaces the depth of the phantom holes. The iodine could be reduced to 0.2 l milli-Molar (mM) and can be varied for the next line of holes by a small increment depending on the required level of contrast detectability assessment required.

To determine whether senescing leaves provoke an active nitrogen (N) remobilization that results in the reduction of nitrogenase activity, 60% of Medicago truncatula lower leaves were either darkened or individually excised for two weeks. Although a considerable amount of N was remobilized, N₂ fixation activity was found to be increased to maintain the N source/sink balance, indicating an absence of the negative N‐feedback regulation of nitrogenase activity in the senescing M. truncatula.

The objective of the present study is to investigate the effect of solvent type (methanol, acetone, ethanol, n-propanol, and water), solvent-to-solid ratio (20–100 mL/g), solvent acidity (0–1.25% HCl), extraction time (60–300 min) and extraction temperature (30–70 °C) on total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and the free radical-scavenging capacity (2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ABTS radical scavenging assay) of koreeb (Dactyloctenium aegyptium) seeds using single-factor experiments. On the basis of TPC and antioxidant activity assays, the best extraction conditions were 80 mL methanol/g, 1.00% HCl, 180 min and 60 °C, as well as the results of TPC, TFC and DPPH were 32.38 mg GAE/g, 20.88 mg QE/g and 82.22%, respectively. The TPC was positively observed to be correlated with TFC, DPPH and ATBS (r = 0.89, 70 and 0.66, respectively) of koreeb seeds flour (KSF) extracts, under influence of solvent type extraction, whereas TPC and TFC were significantly correlated with DPPH (0.97 ≥ r ≥ 0.94) and ABTS (0.95 ≥ r ≥ 0.94) under the effect of extraction temperature. In general, KSF can be applied in functional foods and medicine related products for its health benefits.

Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis swingle and it is known as Foshou fruit has gained significant importance by researchers because of its large number of functional benefits. In this research we particularly focused on the evaluation of antioxidant and nutritional properties of the peel and pulp of the Foshou. The Foshou peel showed significantly higher antioxidant properties and nutritional contents than the pulp, excluding water, carbohydrate, and energy content. The water extract of Foshou peel and pulp contained 227.45 and 88.76 mg GAE/100 g fresh weight (FW) of total phenolic compounds, with IC50 DPPH·-scavenging activity 22.79 and 54.74 μg GAE/mL, respectively. The antioxidant capacity for Foshou peel and pulp was 214.81 and 71.53 mg Trolox equivalents per 100 g FW respectively. Our results indicated increased levels of pyridoxine, thiamin, riboflavin, copper, and iron in Foshou peel whereas thiamin and pyridoxine were the highest in the pulp. In this research, we found that 100 g of Foshou contribute significantly to the recommended daily intake (RDI) of nutrients. These results draw attention towards the potential use of Foshou as a source of health-enhancing compounds.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of frozen storage at -18°C for 6 months on the quality attributes of the fresh and the concentrate Cut-back strawberry juices. The obtained results showed that the concentrate Cut-back strawberry juice was more acceptable by panelists. A significant decline in titratable acidity after freezing was observed in both types of strawberry juices; it decreased from 0.85 to 0.41 and from 0.98 to 0.49% for fresh strawberry juice and concentrate Cut-back juice, respectively. After 6 months of frozen storage similar tendency was observed for their vitamin C content having 9.45 and 29.23 mg/100ml for fresh and concentrate Cut-back strawberry juice, respectively. The pH increased from 3.805 to 4.340 and from 3.604 to 4.252 for fresh strawberry juice and concentrate Cut-back juice, respectively. The concentrated Cut-back strawberry juice prior to freezing was found to be rich in ferulic acid, resorcinol and quercetin being 10.09, 0.24 and 731.98 ppm which were by respectively compared to fresh strawberry juice. Quercetin was the dominant compound, it was the only one that found in the two juices after 6 months of frozen storage. While, kaempherol was appeared after freezing for the two types of juices and showed gradual increase by increasing the duration of frozen storage. The Cut-back strawberry juice showed higher antioxidant activity and viscosity than fresh juice. A slight decrease in viscosity was observed for the two types of juice after storage at -18°C for 6 months. The colour was not stable during the frozen storage at -18°C, The colour values increased in fresh strawberry juice for L*,a*and b* from 12.73, 21.00 and 7.77 to 16.89, 25.94 and 9.91, respectively, but in Cut-back strawberry juice the value of L* was only increased from 13.23 to13.55 while, a* and b* values decreased from 25.75 and 8.11 to 22.68 and 7.00, respectively. From results, it could be concluded that the Cut-back strawberry juice had the best quality after 6 months of frozen storage.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the nutritional, physicochemical, functional and antioxidant properties of koreeb seeds (KS) exposed to fermentation, blanching, roasting, cooking, soaking, and malting treatments. The samples were milled into flour and analyzed for their nutritional, physicochemical, functional and antioxidant properties using standard methods. Fermentation significantly increased the crude protein content and water absorption capacity by 7.32% and 7.77% respectively, as well as reduced the bulk density by 15.5% and improved the lightness of koreeb seeds flour (KSF). Malting treatment alone improved the content of water-soluble vitamins contents (vitamin C and B-vitamins) and increased the lysine content by 4.48% as well. Calcium (Ca), was the dominant mineral in all KSF samples and the roasted sample revealed the highest Ca content. Overall, the results indicated that in comparison with various treatments performed, fermentation of KS could improve the nutritive quality and functional properties of these seeds.

The effects of different fermentation time (0–72 h) on rheological and thermal properties of the dough and physicochemical characteristics of kisra bread prepared from the koreeb seed flour were evaluated. The pH of the fermented kisra dough decreased, whereas titratable acidity increased. In addition, fermentation time exhibited a significant decrease in rheological moduli (G′ and G″) and an increase in rheological tangent (δ). Gelatinization temperature and degree of starch gelatinization increased, while enthalpy decreased. An increase of protein content and in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) was observed in kisra breads. Fermented kisra breads exhibited the highest acceptability scores in sensory evaluation, especially the sample fermented for 36 h compared to the control. The X-ray diffractograms of stored kisra breads showed the B-type structure with the presence of peaks at 13.5°, 17.5°, and 26.5° 2θ. In addition, all samples exhibited a peak centered at 20° 2θ, which reflects V-type crystal structure of amylose–lipid complex. Overall, the fermentation process enhanced the nutritional, sensorial and health attributes of kisra breads.

Enrichment of gluten-free bread (GFB) with mushroom polysaccharide and prebiotic is necessary to enhance its organoleptic and health attributes. This work investigated the enrichment effect of the GFB with Agaricus bisporus polysaccharide (ABP) flour and inulin. Volatile compounds, as well as the antioxidant and structural properties of the fortified GFB were evaluated. Sweet potato-glutinous rice flour was fortified with ABP flour and the same with inulin at different levels (3, 6 and 9%), besides a constant percentage of xanthan gum (0.5%) was added to all the blends. Addition of ABP flour resulted in higher levels of volatile compounds compared to inulin addition and the control. ABP flour formulation (F3) had the highest total phenolic content (19.05 mg GAE/g), reducing power (5.31 mg/mL, EC50 value), DPPH (6.85 mg/mL, EC50 value), ABTS (8.86 mg/mL, EC50 value) radical-scavenging activities, and β-carotene bleaching (13.22 mg/mL, EC50 value). Conversely, the control and inulin formulation (F1) showed the lowest levels of these activities. The micrographs of the ABP flour formulations showed polyhedral, aggregated, and some spherical granules, whereas inulin formulations revealed spherical granules bound together with deformed granules. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of the amide I band and both α- and β-glycosidic linkages. The current findings exhibited that ABP flour and inulin had good attributes to improve the antioxidant activity of GFB and modify its structural characteristics.

Products fermented by probiotics are consumed worldwide and play important roles in human nutrition and health. In this study, the effects of fermented and unfermented Agaricus bisporus polysaccharide (FABP and UABP) flours on the structural and antioxidant properties of composite gluten-free (CGF) doughs and cookies were investigated. The extracted Agaricus bisporus polysaccharide flour was subjected to fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum at 37 °C for 72 h. Incorporation of both FABP flour and UABP flour resulted in larger interconnected structures in doughs, with smoother surfaces being observed compared to the control. Moreover, FABP flour formulations showed higher total phenolic content (20.07–28.12 mg GAE/g, dwb), ABTS radical scavenging activity (82.17–86.82%) and β-carotene bleaching (68.80–83.72%), and UABP flour formulations had greater reducing power (0.61–0.83) and DPPH radical scavenging activity (78.66–91.22%), whereas less antioxidant activity was found in the control. Aggregated spherical granules were observed in all micrographs of CGF cookie formulations, and the control showed both individual and aggregated spherical granules. Several protein bands (20.1, 21.1, 32.0 and 33.1 kDa) with higher intensities were detected in all CGF cookie formulations compared to the control. Overall, the inclusion of mushroom polysaccharide flours could enhance the antioxidant attributes and alter structural characteristics of CGF cookies.

In this study, functional, rheological and physicochemical characteristics were carried out for composite gluten-free (CGF) flours, dough and biscuits, respectively fortified with fermented and unfermented Agaricus bisporus polysaccharide (FABP and UABP) flours. Addition of both FABP flour and UABP flour improved functional properties, while addition of FABP flour decreased viscosity property. Incorporation of both polysaccharide flours in CGF biscuit dough revealed a significant increase in rheological moduli (G' and G″) and a decrease in tan (δ). Supplementation of UABP flour increased thickness, whereas supplementation of FABP flour increased diameter and spread ratio. All CGF biscuit formulations exhibited lower fracture strength and hardness compared to the control. Furthermore, both UABP flour and FABP flour formulation (F3) contained the highest nutrients in terms of protein, dietary fibers, amino acids and minerals among the CGF biscuit formulations. The sensory evaluation result showed that FABP flour formulation (F1) and UABP flour F1 were most acceptable.

The main objective of the present study was to assess the effects of sulfur (S) nutrition on plant growth, overall quality, secondary metabolites, and antibacterial and radical scavenging activities of hydroponically grown lettuce cultivars. Three lettuce cultivars, namely, Pazmanea RZ (green butterhead, V1), Hawking RZ (green multi-leaf lettuce, V2), and Barlach RZ (red multi-leaf, V3) were subjected to two S-treatments in the form of magnesium sulfate (+S) or magnesium chloride (−S). Significant differences were observed under −S treatments, especially among V1 and V2 lettuce cultivars. These responses were reflected in the yield, levels of macro- and micro-nutrients, water-soluble sugars, and free inorganic anions. In comparison with the green cultivars (V1 and V2), the red-V3 cultivar revealed a greater acclimation to S starvation, as evidenced by relative higher plant growth. In contrast, the green cultivars showed higher capabilities in production and superior quality attributes under +S condition. As for secondary metabolites, sixteen compounds (e.g., sesquiterpene lactones, caffeoyl derivatives, caffeic acid hexose, 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-OCQA), quercetin and luteolin glucoside derivatives) were annotated in all three cultivars with the aid of HPLC-DAD-MS-based untargeted metabolomics. Sesquiterpene lactone lactucin and anthocyanin cyanidin 3-O-galactoside were only detected in V1 and V3 cultivars, respectively. Based on the analyses, the V3 cultivar was the most potent radical scavenger, while V1 and V2 cultivars exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus in response to S provision. Our study emphasizes the critical role of S nutrition in plant growth, acclimation, and nutritional quality. The judicious-S application can be adopted as a promising antimicrobial prototype for medical applications.

In the screening and identifying of colon and rectum malignancy, computed tomography colonography (CTC) is a highly effective imaging technique, albeit patients receiving a significant effective dose. Accordingly, patient dose evaluation is an important need, seeking to ensure benefits outweigh the projected cancer risk. Objective: For CTC procedures carried out in the Radiology Department, Medical Imaging Operation Services, King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), evaluation is done using the current American College of Radiology (ACR) imaging protocol and concomitant patient-effective doses. Study is carried out on a sample size of 55 CTC procedures, involving 25 males (45%) and 30 females (55%). The patients were classified as follows: two groups based on CT machine, four groups based on the applied protocol, and three groups based on the procedure results. All procedures were carried out using two machines, the products of two different vendors (a GE Healthcare DISCOVERY CT 750 HD 64 slices dual-energy scanner and a Philips Brilliance CT 64 slices scanner). The overall mean, standard deviation (SD), median, and range of the effective dose (in mSv) were 11.57 ± 7.75, 9.25 (2.17–31.93). Automatic tube current modulation (ATCM) shows a significant increase in CTDIvol up to 69% and effective dose (mSv) up to 95% than the manual tube current (mA) compared to the standard protocol. The CT protocol variation results in a three-fold variation in patient-effective dose. The technologist role is crucial in selecting a noise reference based on patient weight and adjusting tube current per slice to avoid overexposure during ATCM protocol.

This work aimed to investigate the effect of different shim techniques, voxel sizes, and repetition time (TR) on using theT2 and T2* sequences to determine their optimum settings to investigate the quantification of iron in transfused dependent sickle cell patients. The effect of each of these parameters was investigated on phantoms of different Gadolinium (Gd) concentrations, on 10 volunteers and 25 patients using a1 5T MRI Philips scanner. No significant difference between the three shim techniques was noticed in either T2 or T2* sequence measurements. Pixel sizes of 1 × 1 and 2 × 2 mm provided optimum results for T2 measurements. At 1 × 1 mm pixel size the T2* measurements experienced less error in measurements than the size of 2.5 × 2.5 mm used in the literature. Even though the slice thickness variation did not provide any changes in T2 measurements, the 12 mm provided optimum T2* measurements. TR variation did not yield significant changes on either T2 or T2* measurements. These results indicate that both T2 and T2* sequences can be further improved by providing more reliable measurements and reducing acquisition time.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element, which represents an integral part of glutathione peroxidase and other selenoproteins involved in the protection of cells against oxidative damage. Selenomethionine (SeMet), selenocysteine (SeCys), and methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys) are the forms of Se that occur in living systems. Se-containing compounds have been found to reduce carcinogenesis of animal models, and dietary supplemental Se might decrease cancer risk. Se is mainly taken up by plant roots in the form of selenate via high-affinity sulfate transporters. Consequently, owing to the chemical similarity between Se and sulfur (S), the availability of S plays a key role in Se accumulation owing to competition effects in absorption, translocation, and assimilation. Moreover, naturally occurring S-containing compounds have proven to exhibit anticancer potential, in addition to other bioactivities. Therefore, it is important to understand the interaction between Se and S, which depends on Se/S ratio in the plant or/and in the growth medium. Brassicaceae (also known as cabbage or mustard family) is an important family of flowering plants that are grown worldwide and have a vital role in agriculture and populations’ health. In this review we discuss the distribution and further interactions between S and Se in Brassicaceae and provide several examples of Se or Se/S biofortifications’ experiments in brassica vegetables that induced the chemopreventive effects of these crops by enhancing the production of Se- or/and S-containing natural compounds. Extensive further research is required to understand Se/S uptake, translocation, and assimilation and to investigate their potential role in producing anticancer drugs.

This work reports the use of a ternary composite that integrates p-Toluene sulfonic acid doped polyaniline (PANI), chitosan, and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) as the active sensing layer of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor. The SPR sensor is intended for application in the non-invasive monitoring and screening of diabetes through the detection of low concentrations of acetone vapour of less than or equal to 5 ppm, which falls within the range of breath acetone concentration in diabetic patients. The ternary composite film was spin-coated on a 50-nm-thick gold layer at 6000 rpm for 30 s. The structure, morphology and chemical composition of the ternary composite samples were characterized by FTIR, UV-VIS, FESEM, EDX, AFM, XPS, and TGA and the response to acetone vapour at different concentrations in the range of 0.5 ppm to 5 ppm was measured at room temperature using SPR technique. The ternary composite-based SPR sensor showed good sensitivity and linearity towards acetone vapour in the range considered. It was determined that the sensor could detect acetone vapour down to 0.88 ppb with a sensitivity of 0.69 degree/ppm with a linearity correlation coefficient of 0.997 in the average SPR angular shift as a function of the acetone vapour concentration in air. The selectivity, repeatability, reversibility, and stability of the sensor were also studied. The acetone response was 87%, 94%, and 99% higher compared to common interfering volatile organic compounds such as propanol, methanol, and ethanol, respectively. The attained lowest detection limit (LOD) of 0.88 ppb confirms the potential for the utilisation of the sensor in the non-invasive monitoring and screening of diabetes.

Levels of twenty-two commonly used pesticides were monitored three times a year (autumn, winter, and summer) in 54 water samples collected from six sites representing the main and Blue Nile. These sites were selected to reflect any attributes from main drainage canals from agricultural schemes in Sudan as well as any impact from upstream sources. Collected samples were subject to gas chromatographic analysis equipped with FID/ECD, and results were expressed in ng/l water. Analysis of Blue Nile water indicated the presence of OCs in 45% of the samples, OPs in 11%, pyrethroids in 22%, and none of the tested herbicides. Heptachlor and DDTs were the most prevalent followed by the pyrethroids. Levels detected were not high. Water of the main Nile showed the presence of OCs in 22% of the samples, pyrethroids in 4%, and none of the tested OPs and herbicides. DDT is the most prevalent followed by heptachlor. Total concentration in main Nile is relatively higher than the Blue Nile. Residues of DDD, λ cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, oxyfluorfen, HCH, and endosulfan isomers were not detected in the analyzed samples. Generally levels were least in autumn, followed by summer and winter. Sources of contamination might include some drains from agricultural lands in central Sudan and/or upstream sources. Both recent and old contaminations were indicated.

The optical constants of Para-Toluene sulfonic acid-doped polyaniline (PANI), PANIchitosan composites, PANI-reduced graphene-oxide composites and a ternary composite comprising of PANI, chitosan and reduced graphene-oxide dispersed in diluted p-toluene sulfonic acid (PTSA) solution and N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) solvent have been evaluated and compared. The optical constant values were extracted from the absorbance spectra of thin layers of the respective samples. The potential utilization of the materials as the active sensing materials of surface plasmon resonance biosensors has also been assessed in terms of the estimated value of the penetration depth through a dielectric medium. The results show a reasonable dependence of the optical constant parameters on the solvent type. Higher real part refractive index (n) and real part complex dielectric permittivity (&epsilon, &rsquo, ) values were observed for the samples prepared using PTSA solution, while higher optical conductivity values were observed for the NMP-based samples due to their relatively higher imaginary part refractive index (k) and imaginary part complex dielectric permittivity (&epsilon, &Prime, ) values. In addition, NMP-based samples show improvement in terms of the penetration depth through a dielectric medium by around 9.5, 1.6, 4.4 and 2.9 times compared to PTSA-based samples for the PANI, PANI-chitosan, PANI-RGO and the ternary composites, respectively. Based on these, it is concluded that preparation of these materials using different dispersion solvents could produce materials of different optical properties. Thus, the variation of the dispersion solvent will allow the flexible utilization of the PANI and the composites for diverse applications.

Curcumin is a chemical compound produced by Curcuma longa plants that is widely used as a coloring agent and a dietary supplement and has some therapeutic activity. Our aim is to evaluate the use of curcumin as color coating material for metronidazole tablets. Curcumin was extracted at higher yields from three different samples of turmeric plants. The extract obtained was characterized by Infrared Red Spectroscopy (IR), Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and ash content and melting point (MP). The curcumin produced has an MP content ranging from 182 ° C to 184 ° C and an ash content ranging from 1.5 to 3.17 %. Curcumin material was used as a colorful agent for the coating of metronidazole tablet pills using spray coating technology. Experimental results have shown that curcumin-coated metronidazole tablets exhibit strong color stability even at higher temperatures, and that the taste of bitterness in metronidazole pills has been reduced or has disappeared entirely.

Knowledge of clay minerals composition can be used to understand paleoenvironmental and/or paleoclimatic conditions, particularly for soils derived from volcanic parent materials that were subjected to diverse climatic conditions during pedogenesis. In this study, the clay minerals composition in soils developed from basaltic parent materials during the Cenozoic (mostly during the Early Miocene to Early Pleistocene) in the harrats region of the Arabian Shield in Saudi Arabia were investigated. Forty-seven clay samples were examined using selective dissolution analyses, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR/FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to obtain a better understanding of the clay minerals developed in basaltic parent materials, particularly under a dry-hot environment. The XRD results revealed that the clay mineralogy was dominated by smectite, kaolin (kaolinite/halloysite), and interstratified vermiculite–chlorite (Vm–Ch), with mica, pseudo-chlorite, palygorskite, and Ca–zeolites as minor components. The TEM provided strong evidence for the presence of allophane and imogolite, which is in line with numerous previous studies on soils formed from basaltic parent materials. The existence of poorly-crystalline minerals in these soils was strongly supported by the selective dissolution analysis results. The combined influence of paleoclimates and parent material is evidenced in the clay minerals in the studied soils. The formation of smectite, Vm–Ch, and chlorite minerals in the harrats soils could be attributed to the simultaneous effect of temperate paleoclimates that dominated the Pliocene and the wet transition periods that occurred through the Pleistocene into the mid-Holocene, while the minor palygorskite and Ca–zeolites could be related to the dry conditions that started in the late-Holocene and persist to the present day. Additional studies regarding the clay mineral assemblages in similar geoenvironmental settings are highly recommend and should account for paleoclimatic conditions to provide a better understanding of the relationship between clay minerals and paleoclimates.

The present study aimed to investigate the physiochemical activities of Senna occidentalis (Linn) roots and phytochemicals as insecticidal (ethyl acetate and methanol) and antidiabetic (ethanolic extract) activities. Physicochemical properties were carried out by using Association of Official Analytical Chemist methods; thin layer chromatography was carried out according to the Stahl method. Larvicidal activity and LD50 were studied against the third instar of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito larvae to detect and extract toxicity. The ethanolic extracts of the roots were orally tested at the dose 200 mg/kg for the hypoglycemic effect on induced hyperglycemia in normal rats, assessed in the ethanol extract, and were compared with diabetic control and standards glibenclamide 10 mg/kg. Physiochemical parameters showed high rate in the nitrogen-free extract (69.6%), curd fiber (14.5%), crude proteins (8.15%), ether extract (3.75%), and both ash and moisture (2%), and high concentrations values were found in potassium (43 mg/l) followed by phosphorous (28.5 mg/l), calcium (15 mg/l), sodium (3.65 mg/l), and magnesium (0.145 mg/l). In this part, phytochemical compounds showed high amount of alkaloids, triterpene, flavonoids, tannins, sugars, and few amount of anthraquinone glycosides. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) studies different colored phytochemical constituted with different Rf values. All the spots are colored under UV light, but some are localized colorless after spaying. The ethyl acetate (EtAc) extract showed eight spots, and the methanol (MeOH) extract showed thirteen spots. The larvicidal activity showed that the ethyl acetate extract was safe against mosquito larvae with an LD50 value 1412.54 (p<0.05), and the methanol extract had moderate larvicidal activity against mosquito larvae with an LD50 value 257.54 (p<0.05), while the ethanolic extract of Senna occidentalis (L.) causes a favorable hypoglycemic activity when compared to control significant reduction by [53.15%, 32.87%, and 20.94%], respectively, as well as standard glibenclamide. Based on the various data of the physicochemical parameters, TLC spots, and phytochemical compounds of Senna occidentalis root, they could be used as references standards for manufacturing units of Senna occidentalis root larvicidal and antidiabetic drugs.

Artículo con numerosos autores, sólo se mencionan el primero, los de la UAM y grupo colectivo, A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of, This work was primarily supported by grant OPP1132415 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded to S.I.H.

The main objective of the present study was to improve the oxidative stability of sunflower oil (SFO) and soybean oil (SBO). The aqueous ethanol extracts (80% ethanol) of pomegranate and Baladi orange peels were used as natural antioxidants at concentrations of 800 and 1,200 ppm in SFO and SBO in comparison to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Their antioxidant activities were estimated via the Rancimat method and over 24 days of storage at 65°C. The effect of extracts on the stability of sunflower and soybean oils during the storage period was studied by measuring the peroxide value (PV), conjugated dienes (CD) at 232 nm, conjugated trienes (CT) at 270 nm, free fatty acids (FFAs), iodine value (IV), and the refractive index (RI). A great difference in PVs was observed between the control sample and the oil samples containing natural extracts which slowed the rate of peroxide formation. Generally, the results showed that during the storage period at 65°C, the conjugated diene formation followed a similar pattern relative to PV accumulation. The PV, CD, CT, FFA, and RI values of SFO and SBO containing a pomegranate peel extract (PPE) and Baladi orange peel extract (BOPE) at concentrations of 800 and 1,200 ppm were lower than those of SFO and SBO containing 200 ppm BHT, and this trend became apparent during the storage period. The rate of reduction of IV in the control was higher than that in SFO and SBO containing both synthetic and natural antioxidants. These findings confirmed that the natural antioxidants under investigation could be used as alternatives to synthetic antioxidants to improve the oxidative stability of edible oils in the food industry.

Fortification of gluten-free bread (GFB) with natural ingredients rich in protein and dietary fiber contents can be very beneficial for celiac disease (CD) patients. The objective of this study was to prepare sweet potato/glutinous rice GFB fortified with Agaricus bisporus polysaccharide (ABP) flour and inulin as natural and novel substitutes for CD patients, as well as to evaluate their effect on rheological and thermal properties of the dough, and physicochemical and staling characteristics of the GFB. Incorporation of ABP flour in the dough exhibited a significant decrease in both rheological moduli and an increase in rheological tangent, whereas addition of inulin revealed a reversible effect. Gelatinization temperature and enthalpy of supplemented dough increased, while degree of starch gelatinization decreased. Lower values of weight loss, specific volume and lightness were obtained by high levels of addition. Hardness and chewiness of GFB increased during storage, whereas springiness and cohesiveness decreased, but inulin and ABP flour (F1) showed the highest scores in sensory evaluation. ABP flour (F3) revealed the highest protein (11.96 g/100 g), total dietary fibers (5.78 g/100 g), and total free sugars (3.88 g/100 g). The X-ray diffractograms of stored GFB crust showed the A-type structure with the presence of peaks at 15°, 17.5°, and 23° 2θ, whereas GFB crumb exhibited the B-type structure. Moreover, the relative crystallinity of aged GFB crust and crumb of ABP flour was lower than control. Overall, enrichment of GFB with ABP flour and inulin enhanced its nutritional, sensorial and health attributes.

We examined the physicochemical and functional properties of whole grain flour (WGF) treated with ozone gas at 5 g/h for 0, 5, 15, 35, and 45 min. The water and oil absorption, swelling power, and solubility all increased significantly with increasing ozonation time, while the pasting properties showed significant decreases in peak viscosity, trough, breakdown, final, and setback viscosity values (all p ≤ 0.05). Structural analysis revealed changes in the intensities of the O–H, C–H, and CH2 bending vibrations of protein side chains and lipids with increasing ozonation time. Ozone affected the mean particle size of WGF. Confocal laser scanning microscopy examination of WGF revealed remarkable differences between control and treated flours.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the capability of the bacteria Bacillus safensis strain FO-36bT isolated from pesticide-polluted soil in degrading fenthion and temphos in mineral salt media (MSM). Fenthion and temphos were incubated with the isolated bacteria. Samples were drawn at 0, 3, 7, 14, and 30 days to analyze residual fenthion and temphos content with gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. The loss of the initial pesticide concentration (400 mg/L) over time was determined and used to compute the half-lives using a biphasic model. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the major metabolites as well as to re-confirm the identity of starting material (fenthion). The results showed that the bacterium was still viable at the end of each incubation period. The biodegradation of fenthion and temphos followed a biphasic model. The half-lives of fenthion in the first and in the second phase were 0.29 and 3.69 days, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for temphos were 0.11 and 1.15 days. Only one metabolite "iso-fenthion" (O, S-dimethyl O-[3-methyl-4-(methylthio)phenyl] phosphorothioate) was detected in fenthion culture, while no metabolites were detected in temphos culture. Based on the half-lives, this bacterium was able to degrade temphos at a faster rate than fenthion. Key words: Biodegradation, fenthion, temphos, bacteria, pesticides-contaminated soil, Sudan.

The positron emitters (18F-Sodium Fluoride (NaF)) and X-rays used in Positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging have a high radiation dose, which results in a high patient dose. The present research intends to determine the radiation dose and risks associated with PET/CT- 18F-Sodium fluoride examinations in patients. The 18F–NaF PET/CT was used to investigate the doses of 86 patients. Patient exposure parameters and ImPACT software were used to calculate mean effective doses. The administered activity of 185 MBq (5.0 mCi) per procedure has a mean and range based on the patient's BMI (BMI). The range of patient effective doses per procedure was found to be 4–10 mSv, with a radiation risk of 1 × 10−5 per procedure. Patient doses are determined by the patient's size, scanner type, imaging protocol, and reconstruction method. For further dose reduction, proper justification and radiation dose optimization is required.

Acceptance testing and commission are essential elements of the quality assurance program for imaging equipment. We present the results of a performance evaluation of Flat Panel-Based Cardiovascular Fluoroscopy X-ray Systems as a part of acceptance testing and commissioning. Measurements were obtained using a calibrated dose rate meter, patient equivalent phantoms, and Leeds image quality test tools. The results were compared with the manufacturer and European acceptability criteria. The entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) rate ranged from 8.0 to 12.0 mGy min−1 in the continuous mode and from 0.01 to 0.04 mGy fr−1 in the pulsed mode of operation. Detector-input air kerma rates ranged from 0.29 to 0.39 mGy min−1 in continuous mode and from 0.02 to 0.07 µGy fr−1 in pulsed mode. Fluoroscopy device half-value layer (HVL) ranged from 2.5 to 3.0 mm Al, and the low resolution ranged from 0.9 to 1.3%. The spatial resolution limit was double that of the image intensifier (2.4 to 3.6) lp/mm. Flat-panel fluoroscopy demonstrated superior image quality and dose performance as compared to conventional image intensifier-based fluoroscopy. The quality assurance measurements presented are essential in the rapid evaluation of the imaging system for acceptance testing and commissioning.

The objective of this work was to study the effect of ozone treatment on the quality of bread and its shelf life. Flour was treated with ozone gas a rate of 5 L/min for 5, 15, 25, 35, and 45 min. Baking studies showed that bread made from flour treated with ozone for 15 min exhibited improved quality properties (in terms of specific volume, bread color, and crumb cell numbers). Exposure to ozone for shorter times did not cause obvious changes in the major volatile compounds of bread. A shelf life tests showed that ozone gas treatment influenced the extent of starch crystallinity. The relative starch crystallinity of bread made from flour treated with ozone for 15 min was lower than the control value, as were the hardness, springiness, and cohesiveness. Microscopic examination of crumb structure revealed remarkable differences between control and treated breads.Although ozone is a naturally occurring substance found in the atmosphere, ozone can also be produced synthetically. Recently, ozone has come to be regarded as a new treatment for flour. Especially in countries where the chlorination is forbidden, ozone treatment may be of a great interest if it were associated with significant and reliable changes in flour. Ozone treatment of wheat flour tends to improve bread shelf life and quality in terms of physiochemical, baking properties, X-ray diffraction data, volatile compound levels, crumb structure, and textural characteristics. Given such findings, desirable shelf life and bread qualities may be achieved when ozone is used as a flour oxidant prior to bread baking. Analyses of the effects of ozone gas on treatment of flour on bread shelf life and quality would aid the production of high quality and extend the shelf life of bread.

Butylatedhydroxytoluene (BHT) rods represent a potential dosimeter in radiation processing, with readout via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Among the possible sources of uncertainty are those associated with the performance of the dosimetric medium and the conditions under which measurements are made, including sampling and environmental conditions. Present study makes estimate of the uncertainties, investigating physical response in different resonance regions. BHT, a white crystalline solid with a melting point of between 70–73 °C, was investigated using 60Co gamma irradiation over the dose range 0.1–100 kGy. The intensity of the EPR signal increases linearly in the range 0.1–35 kGy, the uncertainty budget for high doses being 3.3% at the 2σ confidence level. The rod form represents an excellent alternative dosimeter for high level dosimetry, of small uncertainty compared to powder form.

A significant number of naturally occurring secondary metabolites from plants and microbes have been explored for their pharmacological properties and used as drugs, for example to combat infectious diseases, in human and animal health. Unfortunately, antibiotic resistance is growing faster than the discovery of new antibiotics. With this in mind, a more targeted search for lead compounds by investigating new sources and applying alternative approaches and strategies is necessary. Many recent studies confirm that most secondary metabolite gene clusters in microorganisms, especially in fungi, are silent under laboratory growth conditions. These findings lead to a better understanding of the basic principles of the chemical communication between different microorganisms in nature as they form close communities, such as interactions between fungi − bacteria, fungi − fungi, bacteria − bacteria and microorganisms existing as endophytes within their host plants. The influences of these associations in nature establish, restore and sustain the great biosynthetic potential of secondary metabolite formation. Mixed fermentation or co-cultivation represents an important approach of inducing secondary metabolism by providing appropriate physiological conditions, including competition and communication between microorganisms. This report reviews several relevant co-culturing experiments and their influences on natural product biosynthesis and methods recently used to identify the compounds afforded by co-cultivation. The medicinal importance of microbial co-cultures is also discussed.

Supplementation of composite gluten-free flour (CGFF) with functional food ingredients can be useful to improve its nutritional and health quality. In the present research, the chemical, functional, pasting, and syneresis characteristics of CGFF were studied. CGFF was prepared with different percentages of sweet potato flour (SPF), glutinous rice flour (GRF), button mushroom powder (BMP) and inulin. The xanthan gum (0.5 %) was added as a constant ingredient for all the blends. Addition of BMP to SPF-GRF increased ash (from 1.23 to 2.34 g/100 g), protein (from 5.24 to 11.74 g/100 g), fat (from 0.15 to 0.93 g/100 g), energy (from 345.71 to 350.77 kcal/100 g), and total dietary fibers (from 3.97 to 8.61 g/100 g) contents, while contents of moisture and carbohydrate decreased (from 12.53 to 11.13 g/100 g and 80.85 to 73.86 g/100 g), respectively. On the other hand, fortification of inulin led to reduces in moisture (from 12.53 to 11.07 g/100 g) and ash (from 1.23 to 0.11 g/100 g) contents, whereas carbohydrate, energy, and soluble dietary fibers increased (from 80.85 to 83.54 g/100 g, 345.71 to 355.93 kcal/100 g and 1.22 to 1.77 g/100 g), respectively. Essential and non-essential amino acids of samples containing BMP were higher than samples containing inulin. Moreover, supplementation of BMP increased macro, and micro-minerals, such as K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe and Cu, respectively. Water and oil absorption indexes, and solubility were improved as a result of BMP inclusion, while swelling power increased, and viscosity and syneresis of CGFF decreased with incorporation of inulin. It can be concluded that the incorporation of BMP and inulin improved the nutritional, functional, and syneresis properties of SPF-GRF, which can be utilized in the functional bakery products.

Biodegradation of endosulfan (α and β) and pendimethalin by Bacillus safensis strain FO-36bT, Bacillus subtilis subsp. inaquosorum strain KCTC 13429T and Bacillus cereus strain ATCC14579T isolated from pesticides-polluted soil was studied in mineral salt medium. Endosulfan and pendimethalin were incubated with the three bacterial strains with samples drawn at various intervals for GC analysis. Representative samples were subject to GC–MS analysis. The loss in the initial concentrations, 0.663 mM (α endosulfan), 0.319 mM (β endosulfan) and 1.423 mM (pendimethalin), was monitored and used to compute the half-lives following biphasic model. Removal percentage of endosulfan and pendimethalin in the media inoculated with the bacterial strains ranged from 24 to 95% (α endosulfan), 21–91% (β endosulfan) and 51–97% (pendimethalin), respectively. Despite the significant decrease in starting material in B. safensis cultures, no metabolites were detected, whereas two major metabolites of endosulfan, 1,2,3,4,7,7-hexachloro-5,6-dihydroxybicyclo{2.2.1}-2-heptene and 1,2,3,4,7,7-hexachloro-formaldehyde-6-methylbicyclo{2.2.1}-2-heptene, were detected in the B. subtilis cultures, and one metabolite of pendimethalin metabolite; N-(1-ethylpropyl)-3-methyl-2, 6-diaminobenzine, was detected in the B. cereus culture. Generally, the result indicates the potential capability of these microorganisms in complete mineralization of endosulfan and pendimethalin. Based on half-lives, the efficiency of bacterial strains can be ordered as follows: B. subtilis > B. cereus > B. safensis for endosulfan and B. cereus > B. safensis > B. subtilis for pendimethalin.

In this study, iron oxide (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles (IONs) were successfully synthesized using sol-gel method, and characterized by XRD and VSM. The potential application of the differently sized IONs (22 nm and 30 nm) as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents was investigated. The relaxation time (T2) of the IONs was measured at room temperature and concentration range of 9–84 µg/ml using fast spin echo sequence with six echoes. The size was found to affect the contrast enhancement of the MRI image, with the T2 for 22 nm sized γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles exhibiting a shorter dephasing compared to the 30 nm sized γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles. The T2 relaxivity also decreased with increasing concentration (9–84 µg/ml) of the γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles. Based on the T2-weighted analysis, a better signal (i.e. brighter image) was achieved for the 30 nm sized γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles. Thus, the use of IONs to enhance MR image contrast is dependent on the nanoparticle size and concentration of the IONs. In general, the results indicate that the synthesized γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles are promising materials for use as MRI contrast agents. Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging, Iron oxides nanoparticles, T2 relaxivity, XRD, VSM

Background Hen eggs contaminated with lead can be harmful to the health of children and adults. The objective of this pilot study was to investigate if sub-chronic treatment with ascorbic acid can reduce lead levels in the different parts of hen eggs after intentionally exposing the laying hens to a concentrated source of lead. Methods Clinically normal mixed-breed egg laying hens (n = 18) were used in this pilot study. Hens were exposed to a concentrated source of lead (200 mg/kgbody weight/day lead acetate) for 1 week. Subsequently, egg laying hens were either treated with sub-chronic doses of ascorbic acid (500 mg/kgbody weight/day) or left untreated for 4 weeks. Lead levels were assessed in egg-shell, egg-albumen, and egg-yolk samples using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results Lead levels increased significantly (p-value p-value Conclusions Findings of this pilot study showed that sub-chronic treatment of egg laying hens with ascorbic acid can reduce lead levels in different egg parts after intentional exposure to a concentrated source of lead. Supplementing feedstuffs and water with sources of ascorbic acid could be beneficial in reducing lead levels in hen egg tissues following environmental exposure. Further studies are still required to investigate if ascorbic acid can reduce lead levels in other chicken tissues.

Objectives To investigate the in vitro activity of ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam against clinical isolates of MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Qatar, as well as the mechanisms of resistance. Methods MDR P. aeruginosa isolated between October 2014 and September 2015 from all public hospitals in Qatar were included. The BD PhoenixTM system was used for identification and initial antimicrobial susceptibility testing, while Liofilchem MIC Test Strips (Liofilchem, Roseto degli Abruzzi, Italy) were used for confirmation of ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam susceptibility. Ten ceftazidime/avibactam- and/or ceftolozane/tazobactam-resistant isolates were randomly selected for WGS. Results A total of 205 MDR P. aeruginosa isolates were included. Of these, 141 (68.8%) were susceptible to ceftazidime/avibactam, 129 (62.9%) were susceptible to ceftolozane/tazobactam, 121 (59.0%) were susceptible to both and 56 (27.3%) were susceptible to neither. Twenty (9.8%) isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime/avibactam but not to ceftolozane/tazobactam and only 8 (3.9%) were susceptible to ceftolozane/tazobactam but not to ceftazidime/avibactam. Less than 50% of XDR isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime/avibactam or ceftolozane/tazobactam. The 10 sequenced isolates belonged to six different STs and all produced AmpC and OXA enzymes; 5 (50%) produced ESBL and 4 (40%) produced VIM enzymes. Conclusions MDR P. aeruginosa susceptibility rates to ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam were higher than those to all existing antipseudomonal agents, except colistin, but were less than 50% in extremely resistant isolates. Non-susceptibility to ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam was largely due to the production of ESBL and VIM enzymes. Ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam are possible options for some patients with MDR P. aeruginosa in Qatar.

Background (Problem): Indium tin oxide (ITO) is a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) thin film used as a transparent electrode. Given its high demand for the manufacture of transparent electrodes (high visible light transmittance, low resistance) in applications such as liquid crystal displays, touch screens, light emitting devices and solar cells, ITO thin films have attracted immense research interest. Objectives: This study determines the effect of grain size on the optical and electrical properties of the ITO thin films under different annealing temperatures. Materials and methods: ITO thin film was deposited at room temperature by a high frequency magnetron sputtering method using a target composed of In2O3 and SnO2. The structural, optical and electrical properties of the thin films annealed at 250 °C, 350 °C, 450 °C and 550 °C for 1 h were then analyzed. Results: The research shows the grain size of indium-tin oxide thin films is strongly related to annealing conditions. The grain size was found to increase with increasing annealing temperature, although the crystal structure did not change for all the samples. It was observed that the lowest resistivity (500 × 10−4 Ω-cm) and highest optical transmittances (90–98%) of ITO films were obtained at annealing temperature of 450 °C. At low annealing temperatures, the measured resistivity is dependent on the effect of grain size, where it decreases with increasing grain size. Conclusion: This work showed that the grain size of ITO thin films is strongly influenced by post annealing technique and conditions applied, thus providing a tool for enhancing the optical and electrical properties of the film. Keywords: ITO grain size, Annealing, Optical properties, Structure, Resistivity