Partial Purification ofPolygalacturonase from Tomato Fruits Infected by Rhizopus arrhizus Fisher

The production of polygalacturonase during the deterioration of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) by Rhizopus arrhizus Fisher was investigated. The enzyme was partially purified by a combination of ammonium sulphate precipitation, gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. Two peaks of absorption, with molecular weight estimates of approximately 166 000 Daltons and 60 260 Daltons were obtained

Thermal diffusivity behaviour of multi-walled carbon nanotube reinforced Ti6Al4V metal matrix composites

Abstract: This study investigated the thermal diffusivity behaviours of spark plasma sintered (SPS) multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) reinforced Ti6Al4V composites containing 0, 1, 2 and 3 wt. % of the reinforcement respectively, over a range of 50 – 300 °C. The MWCNTs were dispersed into the Ti6Al4V matrices by high-energy ball milling (HEBM) technique and the milled composite powders were consolidated by SPS under a vacuum atmosphere. The sintering conditions employed were heating rate (100 °C/min), holding time at temperature (5 min), sintering temperature (850 °C) and applied pressure of 50 MPa. The relative densities of the composite discs were measured according to Archimedes’ principle while the thermal diffusivities of as-sectioned composite samples were measured using the Laser Flash equipment. Relative densities of the synthesized nanocomposites deteriorated with increase in the weight fraction of MWCNTs added to Ti6Al4V. The thermal diffusivities of the composites containing 1 and 2 wt. % MWCNTs improved with increase in temperature and weight fraction of MWCNTs contents. A reverse trend was observed in the composite containing 3 wt. % MWCNTs, as the measured thermal diffusivities continued to drop with increase in temperature. Although this composite exhibited the best thermal diffusivities compared to the other composites up to 200 °C, a significant drop in thermal diffusivity was recorded between 250 and 300 °C respectively with the values lower than that of the unreinforced Ti6Al4V alloy. However, the thermal diffusivities of MWCNTs/Ti6Al4V composites were generally not dependent on their densification as the composites with higher weight fractions of the reinforcement had higher thermal diffusivities in spite of their lower relative densities

Design and Fabrication of an Automated Low-Cost Non-Contact Temperature Scanner and Sanitizer for Covid-19 Prevention

The rate at which the novel virus Covid-19 spread across the world in an alarming rate with high rate of death of the infected persons is quite disturbing, hence the need to checkmate its spread by quickly identifying persons with the symptoms of this viral infection. This paper discusses the development of an automated low-cost non-contact temperature scanner and sanitizer. The system automatically detects a human being, scans for temperature, and sanitizes the person with no interference required. The circuit for the system comprises an Arduino microcontroller, LCD display, relays, ultrasonic sensors, temperature sensor, 12v DC pump motion sensor and a high pressure 12v DC pump. The temperature sensor (MLX90614) senses the temperature, certifies that the value is within the specified range as controlled by its ultrasonic sensor and displays the temperature on the LCD. Thereafter, an ultrasonic sensor activates the 12V DC pump to dispense the sanitizer. At the disinfectant chamber, the motion sensor will trigger the high-pressured DC pump when it senses movement, it dispenses the body sanitizer through the nozzles. C++ was used to program the Arduino in Arduino user interface. The entire process takes 60seconds and it helps to maintain personal preventive measures as well as detecting a possible symptomatic person as fever with high temperature which is one of the major symptoms of Covid-19. The device has been tested and works effectively, and it will be very useful for any organization with one or more buildings. It can be positioned at the entrance of buildings to sanitize and scan all staff and visitors against Covid-19

GC-149 - S\u27eyed\u27Kick: AI Powered Reading Assistant and Translator

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), roughly 12 million people in the United States above the age of 40 are visually impaired. In adults 18 years and older, visual impairment is one of the top 10 disabilities. It can have an enormous effect on one’s independence and quality of life. Assistive technology through artificial intelligence (AI) can support the visually impaired in everyday life functions. Our application is specifically designed for reading text such as small print. After the user selects the language for translation out of 34 choices and takes a picture of the text with the app, the text is extracted from the image. The text is converted to speech and played to the user in audio format. The text is also enlarged and displayed on the screen. Overall, this app is a benefit to society through increasing the quality of life for the visually impaired

Antibiotics resistance of a strain of Escherichia coli isolated from bore hole in Ile Ife, Osun state, Nigeria

Abstract:Escherichia coli were isolated from water from two boreholes in Ile Ife, Osun state, Nigeria. This was an indication of faecal contamination. These strains of Escherichia coli were Gram negative short rods, Catalase positive, Methyl red positive, Voges Proskaeur negative. The strains could ferment glucose galactose, sucrose, lactose, mannitol and maltose with the production of acid and gas but could not hydrolyze starch. A particular strain was resistant to sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, cephaloridine, streptomycin, carbenicillin, sulfafurazole and tetracycline but sensitive to gentamicin, colistin, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin and colistin sulphat

Cellulase activity in tomato fruits infected with Penicillium funiculosum Thom.

Within eight days of incubation at room temperature (27°C), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruits infected with Penicillium funiculosum Thom. had deteriorated. Extracts from the infected fruits exhibited cellulase activity. Uninfected fruits lacked cellulase activity. The enzyme was partially purified by a combination of gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. On separation by molecular exclusion chromatography, two peaks of absorption with molecular weight estimates of 223,800 Daltons and 89,100 Daltons were obtained. Only the components of the peak with the lighter weight exhibited cellulase activity. The enzyme showed optimum activity at pH 4.5 and 40°C. Na+ and Ca++ ions stimulated enzyme activity while EDTA and Hg++ were inhibitory. The apparent km for the hydrolysis of carboxymethylcellulose was approximately 0.53 mgml-1. The occurrence of cellulase in tomato fruits infected with P. funiculosum Thom. and its absence in uninfected fruits suggests a role of this enzyme in pathogenicity of the fungus. Cellulolytic components of the fruits are degraded, the fruits are deteriorated and lost to this post harvest pathogen. Knowledge of the conditions of growth of this fungus and properties of this enzyme will assist the farmer in optimizing production of these fruits and engaging the best conditions for preservation

Intergenerational Community-Based Research and Creative Practice: Promoting Environmental Sustainability in Jinja, Uganda

This article critically reflects on the methodological approach developed for a recent project based in Jinja, Uganda, that sought to generate new forms of environmental knowledge and action utilizing diverse forms of creative intergenerational practice embedded within a broader framework of community-based participatory research. This approach provided new opportunities for intergenerational dialogue in Jinja, generated increased civic environmental engagement, and resulted in a participant-led campaign to share knowledge regarding sustainable biomass consumption. We term this approach intergenerational community-based research and creative practice. We discuss the advantages of this model while also reflecting throughout on the challenges of the approach

Grain and seed protein functionality

Editado por Jiménez-López, José Carlos (CSIC

Robust decision making for a climate-resilient development of the agricultural sector in Nigeria.

Adaptation options that work reasonably well across an entire range of potential outcomes are shown to be preferable in a context of deep uncertainty. This is because robust practices that are expected to perform satisfactorily across the full range of possible future conditions, are preferable to those that are the best ones, but just in one specific scenario. Thus, using a Robust Decision Making Approach in Nigerian agriculture may increase resilience to climate change. To illustrate, the expansion of irrigation might be considered as a complementary strategy to conservation techniques and a shift in sowing/planting dates to enhance resilience of agriculture. However, given large capital expenditures, irrigation must consider climate trends and variability. Using historical climate records is insufficient to size capacity and can result in "regrets" when the investment is undersized/oversized, if the climate turns out to be drier/wetter than expected. Rather utilizing multiple climate outcomes to make decisions will decrease "regrets." This chapter summarizes the main results from a study titled "Toward climate-resilient development in Nigeria" funded by the Word Bank (See Cervigni et al. 2013)

PITUITARY-OVARIAN FUNCTION AFTER TUBAL-LIGATION

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