Tocopherols (vitamin E) production and profile of mycorrhizal fungi before and after in vitro elicitation by host plant roots

Dupla diplomação com a Université Libre de TunisMycorrhizal fungi are symbiotic organisms that establish associations with the root system of plants. This special form of living implicates a recognizing process where chemical signals are involved, and oxidative stress mechanisms are most probably activated and overcome. Thus, during this process there is the release of compounds from the secondary metabolism, characterized by their bioactive potential and, therefore, compounds of interest. Tocopherols, vitamin E vitamers, are some of the molecules released during the oxidative stress process. Actually, vitamin E is the common name for a group of compounds which includes tocopherols and tocotrienols, lipophilic antioxidant compounds with important effects on the body, including aging prevention, immune system strengthening and cancer risk reduction. Mushrooms have been reported as a source of different antioxidants, among which are tocopherols. In order to better understand the establishment of the mycorrhizal symbiosis and to promote the production of compounds of interest, namely tocopherols, two species of mycorrhizal mushrooms (Clitocybe odora (Bull.) P. Kumm. and Scleroderma polyrhizum (J.F. Gmel.) Pers.) and host plants (Castanea sativa Mill.) were studied separately and in co-culture. The aim of the present work was: i) evaluate tocopherols composition of mycorrhizal mushrooms from different species/ecosystems; ii) assess tocopherols production of in vitro isolated and grown mycelia of the studied species; and iii) analyse tocopherols production of in vitro grown mycelia before and after co-culture by host roots, evaluating the effect of host root on the production and profile of tocopherols. After co-culture of both mushroom species with Castanea sativa roots, the tocopherols profile of the three species was determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FL). The results obtained showed that the studied species produce rare vitamers of tocopherol, but this mycorrhizal relationship does not cause any oxidative stress for mushrooms or roots, hence the drop in the amount of the different vitamers after the coculture.Os fungos micorrízicos são organismos simbióticos que estabelecem associações com o sistema radicular das plantas. Esta forma especial de vida implica um processo de reconhecimento onde estão envolvidos sinais químicos e os mecanismos de stresse oxidativo são ativados e superados. A vitamina E é o nome comum para um grupo de compostos que incluem tocoferóis e tocotrienóis, compostos antioxidantes lipofílicos com efeitos importantes no corpo humano, incluindo a prevenção do envelhecimento, fortalecimento do sistema imunológico e redução do risco de cancro. Os cogumelos são referidos como uma fonte de diferentes antioxidantes, entre os quais os tocoferóis. Os micélios de fungos micorrízicos produzem tocoferóis em condições de cultura in vitro e pretendemos: i) avaliar a composição de tocoferóis de fungos micorrízicos de diferentes espécies / ecossistemas; ii) avaliar a produção de tocoferóis de micélios das espécies estudadas isolados e produzidos in vitro; e iii) analisar a produção de tocoferóis de micélios cultivados in vitro antes e depois da co-cultura com raízes hospedeiras, avaliando o efeito da presença da raiz do hospedeiro na produção e perfil de tocoferóis. Após a co cultura de micélio com as raízes de Castanea sativa, foi realizada uma análise por HPLC para estudar a variação de tocoferóis em diferentes amostras ao longo do tempo. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que as espécies estudadas produzem vitâmeros raros do tocoferol, mas o estabelecimento destas relações micorrízicas não causa stress oxidativo para fungos ou raízes, daí a queda na quantidade dos diferentes vitâmeros após a co cultura

Effect of Changing Particle Diameters in Porous Media on Heat Transfer Coefficient for Three-Phase Flow in Vertical Pipe.

خصص هذا البحث لدراسة معامل انتقال الحرارة لجريان خليط ذو ثلاثة اطوار خلال وسط مسامي طوله 20 سم، وكانت المادة المستعملة كحشوة ((chrome-steel وبثلاثة اقطار (2, 6, 10) ملم خلال انبوب شفاف عمودي ذو قطر 175و3 سم وطوله الكلي 2 م تم استخدام زيت والماء والهواء كموائع تشغيل. تم استنتاج ان قيمة معامل انتقال الحرارة لحالة 2 ملم هي اعلى قيمة مقارنة مع 6,10 ملم بسبب قيمة معامل التوصيل العالية لقطر 2 ملم. كما ايضا تم ملاحظة العلاقة العكسية بين معامل انتقال الحرارة واقطار الكريات. وايضا تم ملاحظة تأثير وجود الوسط المسامي على معامل انتقال وتناقصه في هذه المنطقة بسبب الاخماد الكبير لسرعة في هذه المنطقة. الحل العددي تم باستخدام برنامج الانسزز فلونت وموديل VOF لثلاث اقطار. واخير تم اجراء مقارنه ما توصل اليه مع باحثين اخرين وكانت نسبة (04و17 %).The paper is dedicated to of study heat transfer coefficient of three-phase mixture through porous media 20 cm length, the packaging material made of chrome-steel used are 2, 6 and 10mm and its carried out in Perspex vertical pipe 3.175 cm diameter and overall length of 2 m .The gasoil, water and air used as working fluids. The heat transfer coefficient values for 2mm case is higher than 6, 10 mm cases because of higher thermal conductivity for small particle diameter. It observed the inversely relationship between the heat transfer coefficient and particle diameters. In addition, it observed that porous media region has a minimum value because damping in velocity through it. Also, it found the heat transfer coefficient  values increase with increase temperature of water phase Simulation results by using computational fluid dynamics CFD building a modeler using VOF model .The volume of fluid VOF approach is used to simulate the flow in porous media with three-sizes of particles respectively. The deviation between results with other researchers was acceptable is about 17.04 %

2D hexagonal boron nitride for solar energy conversions

The optoelectronic properties of free standing monolayer (ML) hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is investigated for potential solar energy conversion applications using the density functional theory (DFT) full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. In addition, the bulk optical properties have also been calculated for the sake of comparison. The dielectric functions, optical conductivities and the optical constants are evaluated using the relaxed structures from electronic total energy pseudopotential calculations. The results reinforce previous research on h-BN DUV optoelectronics and demonstrate the suitability of its use as a component in deep ultraviolet (DUV) and energy conversion devices

The emerging of employment gap in the Malaysian construction industry

Employment of young people is a big issue in the Malaysian construction industry. This is a common phenomenon not only in Malaysia but affected most developed and developing countries around the world. Sufficient workers are needed to cater to the robustness of the construction sector and to sustain the productivity that will boost the development demand. However, young people had difficulties to find decent employment in this industry due to lack of experience and skills among young people and some employer are more likely to hire foreign workers. The aim of this study is to examine the emerging of skill gaps in the Malaysian construction industry. The methodology adapted for this study comprise of primary and secondary data collection. The primary data had been collected from the questionnaire surveys on the professional within the construction industry. The data then were analyzed using the percentage score and the diagram such as bar chart had been used to visualize the results from the analysis. While, secondary data collected through literature review to gather information and important views from previous studies. The findings reveal that the construction industry prefer more than 30 years old skilled workers. Eventhough, the jobs could be filled by young people, but somehow, some barriers such as high risk, low wages, hard work and availability of foreign workers had distracted the involvement of young people in the construction industry

Optical properties of BN bulk and monolayer

Raw data for the dielectric functions and optical constants of the bulk and monolayer BN using FP-LAPW method.under density functional theory (DFT). </p

First Principles Investigation of the Optoelectronic Properties of Molybdenum Dinitride for Optical Sensing Applications

The electronic and optical properties of the newly synthesized molybdenum dinitride (MoN2) in the hypothetical 2H structure analogous to MoS2 is investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method and the modified Becke&ndash;Johnson (mBJ) approximation. The aim is to investigate the optoelectronic properties of this compound for potential optical sensing applications and compare with the capabilities of MoS2 in this field. As compared to MoS2, which is a semiconductor, MoN2 is found to be a semi metal from the band structure plots. The dielectric function, optical conductivity and the optical constants, namely, the refractive index, the reflectivity, the extinction and absorption coefficients, are evaluated and compared with those of MoS2 and discussed with reference to the sensing performance

Supply and demand of the industrialised building system component by the CIDB registered manufacturer

The Malaysian Construction Industry is the oldest industry in Malaysia and it is very important to improve the economic development of the country. Through the Construction Industry Transformation Plan (CITP) 2016-2020 by the government, the construction industry will be focusing on the usage IBS. The main reason is due to the construction industry is the basis of the economic structure in the growth of domestic activity in the realization of vision 2020.The construction industry is an important branch of the economy. The use of advanced technologies IBS is an effective way and the government must encourage it to be used more developers and contractors. According to the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, a lot of things that need to be taken into account before developers using the IBS include a number of demand and supply in each country. If IBS is not used by all developers, it can lead to rising construction costs. Therefore, the issue of supply and demand in the IBS will be serious. However, issues of demand and supply in the IBS currently under investigation as CIDB promote these components to drive productivity in the construction sector. Therefore, this study is necessary to answer the issues, obstacles and ways to improve the flow of supply and demand components IBS registered under CIDB

Construction industry prosecution cases under Malaysian occupational safety and health legislation

In 2015, a total of 140 construction workers, which consists of 47 locals and 93 foreigners (DOSH) suffered fatal injuries from on-site accidents. These workers are prone to be involved in mishaps due to unsafe use of tools and inexperienced handling of machines and materials in construction sites. In order to prevent industrial accidents from occurring, the Malaysian government established the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 for employers or firms to use as a guideline for them. Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA 1994) is used for employer, employee and manufacturer to put efforts in securing safety, health and welfare at work place. According to numbers of accidents occurred on construction sites, it can be assumed that the enforcement and the compliance of OSHA by both employers and employees are weak. The prosecution is the last method executed in order to penalize the violation of the act by employers. Employers often do not want to spend money to comply with safe working practices to employees. But after an accident occurs, the employer will have to spend a lot of money for compensation of accidents and penalty imposed by DOSH. So far, there is very little published data and analysis of the prosecution cases under the Malaysian OSH legislation. Thus, the objectives of this study are to analyze the most common non-compliance cases of OSH legislative provision from a collection of prosecution cases, to determine the barrier to non-compliance of OSH legislation in the construction industry and to generate ways to increase compliance to OSH legislation for the construction industry. The study was conducted through several phases. There are three phases of research methodologies to answer the three objectives. The findings assisted the study in formulating recommendations that could significantly improve the efficacy and compliance levels of OSH legislation in the construction industry in Malaysia

Argon Laser Photocoagulation For Macular Edema In Branch Vein Occlusion

The Branch Vein Occlusion Study is a multi-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial designed to answer several questions regarding the management of complications of branch vein occlusion. This report discusses the question, “Is argon laser photocoagulation useful in improving visual acuity in eyes with branch vein occlusion and macular edema reducing vision to 20/40 or worse?” One hundred thirty-nine eligible eyes were assigned randomly to either a treated or an untreated control group. Comparing treated patients to control patients (mean follow-up 3.1 years for all study eyes), the gain of at least two lines of visual acuity from baseline maintained for two consecutive visits was significantly greater in treated eyes (P = .00049, logrank test). Because of this improvement in visual acuity with argon laser photocoagulation of macular edema from branch vein occlusion, we recommend laser photocoagulation for patients with macular edema associated with branch vein occlusion who meet the eligibility criteria of this study