Utilization of Fruit Waste for Bioethanol Production by Co-cultures of Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The purpose of this research was to study the effectiveness of simultaneous fermentation of fruit waste with co-cultures of Aspergillus niger TISTR 3063 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae TISTR 5606 in production of ethanol. The effect of fermentation temperature on ethanol yield was also observed. Pomelo and banana peels were selected as substrates and prepared by chopping into small rectangular pieces. Fermentation of batches of fruit waste was carried out using a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask with glucose as a control. Analysis of the composition of the fruit waste included sugar, pH, TS, VS, ash, moisture, COD and TKN. From the results, it was found that maximum yields of 90.71% and 104.90% for pomelo and banana peel, respectively, were achieved at a temperature of 40°C within 24 h. The analysis also showed that fermentation temperature affected ethanol yield. When the fermentation temperature was raised from 30°C to 40°C, maximum ethanol yield from pomelo peel fermentation with 10% of inoculum was increased from 73.86% to 90.71%, significant at p-0.05 Maximum yield from banana peel fermentation showed a similar trend. This study establishes the potential for upgrading fruit wastes such as pomelo and banana peels as high value substrates for ethanol production. Pomelo peel in particular shows high potential as a substrate for ethanol fermentation at 40°C for 24 h, with inoculum of 10% (w/w) of each fungus and yeast

MODEL OF DIGITAL LITERACY DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUTHS IN BANGKOK, THAILAND

Model of Digital Literacy Development for Youths in Bangkok aims to develop digital literacy for youths in Bangkok by manipulating Research and Development with following research tools: 1) a 5-level-rating scale, which collected data from 1,500 participants in the related sample. The result of research shows that the group of samples had medium level of digital literacy and the most answer from them is that students used these ICT devices to play online games with the mean 4.86, while the least answer from them is that students had fundamental knowledge about legality and security of internet usage with the mean 1.20. 2) Evaluation Form for Model Suitability, which collected data from 18 experts with the mean between 4.52-5.00 that showing this model is the most suitable. For the tool of Qualitative research is the record of group discussion, that collected data from 8 related main informants and the conclusion is that overall of model is good, suitable and possible in practice. It can be applied with complete model and no need to be adjusted.  Article visualizations

Threshold amounts of nutrients and the relationship with chlorophyll a during eutrophication phenomenon in small-scale artificial reservoirs

This study aimed at determining the relationship of chlorophyll a (Chl a) and the nutrients in two reservoirs of different sizes, namely Bueng Si Than and Bueng Thung Sang, which are located in Khon Kaen Province in Thailand. The evaluation of the trophic state index and the estimated threshold amounts of nutrients was consequently considered. Water samples were collected during both the dry and rainy seasons with twenty-seven sampling points in each reservoir. Parameters indicating water quality and nutrients were based on the APHA method. The results showed a significant difference in the average physicochemical properties and nutritional parameters of the water in a smaller proportion, with Bueng Si Than having more than Bueng Thung Sang (p < 0.05). Nutrient factors (TP, TKN) showed the impact on the occurrence of eutrophication during both the dry season and the rainy season. Average ratios of nutrients and Chl a together with the trophic state index revealed the occurrence of hypertrophic conditions in both reservoirs. The high value of Chl a:TP signaled that the algal growth in these reservoirs could be controlled by TP. The Pearson correlation analysis indicated a strong positive relationship of Chl a and TP in Bueng Si Than. Moreover, the obtained results from the simulation were achieved using MATLAB R2022a, and were performed with the fourth order polynomial equation, which indicated the boundary values of 28.25–29.42 μg/L and 4.15-4.19 mg/L for the threshold amounts of TP and TKN prior to Eutrophic occurrence, ascertain further eutrophication management in small-scale artificial reservoirs

Species Diversity of Plankton in Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Samut Songkhram Campus

The study of phytoplankton and zooplankton in Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Samut Songkram Campus by collecting the samples following the seasons: the cool season (December, 2012), the hot season (March, 2013) and the rainy season (June, 2013). The plankton samples were collected from 5 stations by using 70 micrometers mesh size of plankton net and examined the water quality. The results showed that, in total, there are plankton in 48 genera, 77 species which consist of 36 genera, 58 species of the phytoplankton, and 12 genera, 19 species of the zooplankton. The phytoplankton: Class Bacillariophyceae was the dominant group and the most diverse was the genus Chaetoceros (8 species). The zooplankton: Phylum Sarcomastigophora had the most species diversity and most diverse zooplankton was the genus Ceratium (5 species). The cool season was the season when the greatest species diversity of the plankton could be found and the water temperature average was 27.79 ° C. The pH average was 7.82. The dissolved oxygen average was 6.21 mg/l. The salinity average was 24 ppt. These conditions are the appropriate environment for these living aquatic organisms

Decreased nitrite reductase activity of deoxyhemoglobin correlates with platelet activation in hemoglobin E/ß-thalassemia subjects.

Nitric oxide (NO) can be generated from nitrite by reductase activity of deoxygenated hemoglobin (deoxyHb) apparently to facilitate tissue perfusion under hypoxic condition. Although hemoglobin E (HbE) solutions have been shown to exhibit decreased rate of nitrite reduction to NO, this observation has never been reported in erythrocytes from subjects with hemoglobin E/ß-thalassemia (HbE/ß-thal). In this study, we investigated the nitrite reductase activity of deoxyHb dialysates from 58 non-splenectomized and 23 splenectomized HbE/ß-thal subjects compared to 47 age- and sex-matched normal subjects, and examined its correlation with platelet activity. Iron-nitrosyl-hemoglobin (HbNO) was measured by tri-iodide reductive chemiluminescence as a marker of NO generation. HbNO produced from the reaction of nitrite with deoxyHb dialysate from both non-splenectomized and splenectomized HbE/ß-thal subjects was lower than that of normal (AA) hemoglobin subjects. P-selectin expression, a marker of platelet activation, at baseline and in reactivity to stimulation by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), were higher in HbE/ß-thal subjects than normal subjects. HbNO formation from the reactions of nitrite and deoxyHb inversely correlated with baseline platelet P-selectin expression, HbE levels, and tricuspid regurgitant velocity (TRV). Nitrite plus deoxygenated erythrocytes from HbE/ß-thal subjects had a lower ability to inhibit ADP-induced P-selectin expression on platelets than erythrocytes from normal subjects. We conclude that deoxyHb in erythrocytes from HbE/ß-thal subjects has a decreased ability to reduce nitrite to NO, which is correlated with increased platelet activity in these individuals