Agronomic evaluation and quality characteristics of three Cucurbitaceae varieties acclimated in Benin

The present study aimed to evaluate some agronomical, physical and nutritional characteristics of seeds of three species of Cucurbitaceous, namely Citrulus lanatus, Lagenaria siceraria and Cucumeropsis edulus. Agronomic experiments were investigated over a two-year period during which, some agronomic performances of the tested varieties were evaluated. The physical characteristics of the collected fruits were also determined. The nutritional composition of the seeds, in particular their moisture, oils and proteins contents were then evaluated. Finally, the physicochemical characteristics, such as acidity, peroxide index, saponification index and the composition of fatty acids present in the oils extracted from seeds were performed. Results show that the species of C. lanatus and L. siceraria germinated respectively five and seven days after sowing. The flowering was observed 36 and 42 days, respectively, after sowing while the fructification appeared 44 and 58 days after sowing. According to results obtained during the two years of experimentation, the three species of Cucurbitaceous investigated in the present study could be ranged in short-cycle species (C. lanatus and L. siceraria) and long cycle species (C. edulus). Moreover, C. lanatus could be classified as the most productive as compared to others species of Cucurbitaceous plants investigated in the present study. C. edulus seeds are the longest (1.76 and 1.83 cm) in opposition to the seeds from C. lanatus (1.33 and 1.49 cm). Results of physicochemical analyses revealed the presence of fat (49.5 - 51.9%), with a high protein contents (18.46 - 31.41%). The composition of the fatty acids detected in oils extracted from seeds showed a strong concentration of linoleic acid (66.65%) and the presence of oleic acid (13.76%). The high unsaturated fatty acids proportion detected in oils from L. siceraria seeds was 80.40%. The saturated fatty acids detected were C16:0 and C18:0; and were more concentrated in the species of C. lanatus.Key words: Cucurbitaceous, Citrullus lanatus, Lagenaria siceraria, Cucumeropsis edulis, oil, seeds, Benin

Total ion chromatogram and total ion mass spectrum as alternative tools for detection and discrimination (A review)

Gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) are widely used techniques in the analysis of complex mixtures due to their various advantages, such as high selectivity, reproducibility, precision, and sensitivity. However, the data processing is often complex and time-consuming and requires a great deal of experience, which might be a serious drawback in certain areas, such as quality control, or regarding research in the field of medicine or forensic sciences, where time plays a crucial role. For these reasons, some authors have proposed the use of alternative data processing approaches, such as the total ion chromatogram or total mass spectrum, allowing these techniques to be treated as sensors where each retention time or ratio m/z acts as a sensor collecting total intensities. In this way, the main advantages associated with both techniques are maintained, but the outcomes from the analysis can be reached in a faster, simpler, and an almost automated way. In this review, the main features of the GC- and MS-based analysis methodologies and the ways in which to apply them are highlighted. Moreover, their implementation in different fields, such as agri-food, forensics, environmental sciences, or medicine is discussed, highlighting important advantages as well as limitations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Transformation of PbI2, PbBr2 and PbCl2 salts into MAPbBr3 perovskite by halide exchange as an effective method for recombination reduction

Halide perovskite derivatives present unprecedented physical phenomena among those materials which are suitable for photovoltaics, such as a fast ion diffusion coefficient. In this paper it is reported how the benefits of this property can be used during the growth of halide perovskites in order to control the morphological and optoelectronic properties of the final thin film. Using a large enough halide reservoir, the nature of the halides present in the final perovskite layer can be exchanged and this depends on the initial salt used in the two-step deposition method. In particular, the preparation of a methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3) thin film is reported, using a two-step method based on the transformation of lead(II) iodide (PbI2), lead(II) bromide (PbBr2) and lead(II) chloride (PbCl2) salts into MAPbBr3 perovskite after dipping in a methylammonium bromide (MABr) solution. The films prepared from different salts present different properties in terms of morphology and optoelectronic properties, thus providing significantly different performance when they are used for the preparation of photovoltaic devices. Interestingly, the use of PbI2 and PbCl2 salts reduce the charge recombination and increase the open circuit potential obtained, especially in the former case. However, the highest photocurrent is obtained when PbBr2 is used. For PbI2 and PbCl2 salts no traces of the former salt are observed in the MAPbBr3 layer obtained after 10 minutes of dipping time, however, the presence of PbBr2 has still been detected (using X-ray diffraction) when this salt has been employed

Evaluation of the Effect of Chemical or Enzymatic Synthesis Methods on Biodegradability of Polyesters

International audienceThis work compares the biodegradability of polyesters produced by an esterification reaction between glycerol and oleic di-acid (D 18:1) issued from green chemical pathways, via either classical thermo-chemical methods, or an enzymatic method using the immobilized lipase of Candida antartica B (Novozym 435). An elastomeric polymer synthesized by enzymatic catalysis is more biodegradable than an elastomeric thermo-chemical polyester synthesized by a standard chemical procedure. This difference lies in percentage of the dendritic motifs, in values of the degree of substitution, and certainly in cross-links inducing an hyper-branched structure less accessible to the lipolytic enzymes in a waste treatment plant. However, when the elastomeric polymer synthesized by enzymatic catalysis is processed at high temperature as required for certain industrial applications, it presents an identical rate of biodegradation than the chemical polyester. The advantages of the thermo-chemical methods are greater speed and lower cost. Enzymatic synthesis appears be suited to producing polyesters, devoid of metallic catalysts, which must be used without processing at high temperature to keep a high biodegradability

Tuning optical/electrical properties of 2D/3D perovskite by the inclusion of aromatic cation

The employment of bulky aliphatic cations in the manufacture of moisture-stable materials has triggered the development and application of 2D/3D perovskites as sensitizers in moisture-stable solar cells. Although it is true that the moisture stability increases, it is also true that the photovoltaic performance of 2D/3D PVK materials is severely limited owing to quantum and dielectric confinement effects. Accordingly, it is necessary the synthesis and deep optical characterization of materials with an adequate management of dielectric contrast between the layers. Here, we demonstrate the successful tuning of dielectric confinement by the inclusion of a conjugated molecule, as a bulky cation, in the fabrication of the 2D/3D PVK material (C6H5NH3)2(CH3NH3)n1PbnI3n+1, where n = 3 or 5. The absence of excitonic states related to n Z 1 at room temperature, as well as the very low concentration of excitons after 1 ps of excitation of samples in which n Z 3, provide strong evidence of an excellent ability to dissociate excitons into free charge carriers. As consequence films with low n, presenting higher stability than standard 3D perovskites, improved significantly their performance, showing one of the highest short circuit current density (Jsc E 13.8) obtained to date for perovskite materials within the 2D limit (n o 10)

Chemical composition and the insecticidal activity of Aeollanthus pubescens leaf essential oil against Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto

Background The excessive use of synthetic insecticides is responsible for many cases of resistance in insects. Therefore, the use of natural molecules of ecological interest with insecticidal properties is an alternative approach to the use of synthetic insecticides. The aim of this study is to investigating the larvicidal and adulticidal activity and the chemical composition of the essential oil of Aeollanthus pubescens on the major malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae. Methods Three reference strains of Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (Kisumu, Kiskdr and Acerkis) were used in this study. The leaves of A. pubescens were collected in southern Benin. The standard World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for larvicide evaluation were used, and the chemical composition of the essential oil was analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Adult mosquitoes of each strain were exposed to pieces of net coated with the essential oil for 3 min using the WHO cone bioassay method. Probit regression analysis was used to determine the concentrations that would kill 50 and 95% of each test population (LC50, LC95) and the knockdown time for 50 and 95% of each test population (KDT50, and KDT95). The difference between the mortality–dose regressions for the different strains was analysed using the likelihood ratio test (LRT). The log-rank test was performed to evaluate the difference in survival between the strains. Results A total of 14 components were identified, accounting for 98.3% of total oil content. The major components were carvacrol (51.1%), thymyle acetate (14.0%) and ɣ-terpinene (10.6%). The essential oil showed larvicidal properties on the Kisumu, Acerkis and Kiskdr strains, with LC50 of 29.6, 22.9 and 28.4 ppm, respectively. With pieces of netting treated at 165 µg/cm2, the KDT50 of both Acerkis (1.71 s; Z = 3.34, P < 0.001) and Kiskdr (2.67 s; Z = 3.49, P < 0.001) individuals were significantly lower than that of Kisumu (3.8 s). The lifespan of the three mosquito strains decreased to 1 day for Kisumu (χ2 = 99, df = 1, P < 0.001), 2 days for Acerkis (χ2 = 117, df = 1, P < 0.001) and 3 days for Kiskdr (χ2 = 96.9, df = 1, P < 0.001). Conclusion Our findings show that A. pubescens essential oil has larvicide and adulticide properties against the malaria vector An. gambiae sensu stricto, suggesting that this essential oil may be a potential candidate for the control of the resistant malaria-transmitting vectors

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

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Fatty acids composition of oil extracted from Nile Perch (Lates notilicus) head

International audienceOil was extracted from Nile perch (Lates niloticus) head collected from the Victoria Lake (Uganda). Oil content was in the range 15-18% of dry weight. The predominant fatty acids found in crude oil were 14:0, 16:0, 16:1, 17:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2, 18:3, 20:4, 20:5, 22:5 and 22:6. The crude Nile perch oil contained a substantial amount of oleic acid (15.2mol%) and an appreciable level of combined n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (16.2 mol%). Comparing with the commercial production of fish oils, oil from Nile perch heads might stimulate its future use for human consumption and easily could be valorized

Evaluation of deep eutectic solvents as new media for Candida Antarctica B lipase catalyzed reactions

This study aimed at analyzing the advantages and limitations of several deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as ‘green solvents’ for biotransformation using immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B as catalyst. The transesterification of vinyl laurate was chosen as model reaction and the influence of substrate polarity was assessed using alcohols of various chain lengths. Results showed that grinding of immobilized lipase was essential parameters for good lipase activity. Moreover, in our model reaction some hydrogen-bond donor component from the DES can compete with the alcoholysis reaction. Indeed, side reactions were observed with DES based on dicarboxylic acid or ethylene glycol, leading to some limitations of their use. However, the results showed that other DESs such as choline chloride:urea and choline chloride:glycerol could exhibit high activity and selectivity making them promising solvents for lipase-catalyzed reactions. Finally, the best DES’s specific activity – and stability up to five days incubation time – were analyzed and compared with conventional organic solvents. Experiments revealed that iCALB is less influenced by the chain length of alcohol in DES than organic solvents and it is preserves its activity with minimally destructive to protein structure

Synthesis of Caffeic and Sinapic Mono and Di-esters and Evaluation of their Antioxidant Activities

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