Secondary metabolites from Calotropis procera (Aiton)

Three new metabolites, 5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone-4′-O-β-glucopyranoside (1), 2β,19-epoxy-3β,14β-dihydroxy-19-methoxy-5α-card-20(22)-enolide (4) and β-anhydroepidigitoxigenin-3β-O-glucopyranoside (5), along with two known compounds, uzarigenine (2) and β-anhydroepidigitoxigenin (3), were isolated from Calotropis procera (Asclepiadaceae). The structure elucidation was accomplished mainly by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic and mass spectrometric methods. To examine putative antimicrobial or cytotoxic activities, various bioassays were performed. Uzarigenine (2) demonstrated moderate cytotoxicity

Optical Properties of Bismuth Borate Glasses Doped with Zinc and Calcium Oxides

Some bismuth-borate oxide glass' samples were prepared by the fast quenching method, where B2O3 was replaced with equal concentrations of ZnO and CaO. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to examine the internal structure and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) to identify building units and bonds throughout the studied structural matrices. XRD showed that all samples have short range order structural nature, while FTIR demonstrated some of Zn2+ acted as glass network formers and all Bi3+ acted as glass. UV-visible measurements and calculations showed a decreasing in the energy band gap from 3.83 eV to 1.73 eV with decreasing B2O3 content. Also with decreasing B2O3 content, both real refractive index and metallization factor decreased from 3.1 to 1.9 and from 0.56 to 0.71, respectively. For the studied glass' samples, density and molar volume showed inverted behaviors, where the density decreased while the molar volume increases with decreasing B2O3

Influence of Sunflower Whole Seeds or Oil on Ruminal Fermentation, Milk Production, Composition, and Fatty Acid Profile in Lactating Goats

This study aimed to investigate the effect of sunflower seeds, either as whole or as oil, on rumen fermentation, milk production, milk composition and fatty acids profile in dairy goats. Fifteen lactating Damascus goats were divided randomly into three groups (n = 5) fed a basal diet of concentrate feed mixture and fresh Trifolium alexandrinum at 50:50 on dry matter basis (Control) in addition to 50 g/head/d sunflower seeds whole (SS) or 20 mL/head/d sunflower seeds oil (SO) in a complete randomized design. Milk was sampled every two weeks during 90 days of experimental period for chemical analysis and rumen was sampled at 30, 60, and 90 days of the experiment for ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids (tVFA), and ammonia-N determination. Addition of SO decreased (p = 0.017) ruminal pH, whereas SO and SS increased tVFA (p<0.001) and acetate (p = 0.034) concentrations. Serum glucose increased (p = 0.013) in SO and SS goats vs Control. The SO and SS treated goats had improved milk yield (p = 0.007) and milk fat content (p = 0.002). Moreover, SO increased milk lactose content (p = 0.048) and feed efficiency (p = 0.046) compared to Control. Both of SS and SO increased (p<0.05) milk unsaturated fatty acids content specially conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) vs Control. Addition of SS and SO increased (p = 0. 021) C18:3N3 fatty acid compared to Control diet. Data suggested that addition of either SS or SO to lactating goats ration had beneficial effects on milk yield and milk composition with enhancing milk content of healthy fatty acids (CLA and omega 3), without detrimental effects on animal performance. (Key Words: Fatty Acid Profile, Lactating Goats, Milk Composition, Sunflower Seeds, Sunflower Oil

Eficiencia de la extracción asistida por ultrasonido de pétalos de Delonix regia como antioxidante natural en la estabilidad oxidativa del aceite de girasol

The possibility of improving the oxidative stability of sunflower oil by enriching it with carotenoids from Delonix regia petals was studied. A combination of ultrasound-assisted extraction and stirring techniques was used. The optimal conditions were material/solvent ratio of 1:20 (w/v), ultrasonic power of 30 W and extraction time of 50 min. Under these conditions, the yield of total carotenoids was 503.0 μg/g dry weight. Increasing the acoustic power density degraded carotenoids. A HPLC analysis was used for the quantification of β-carotene in the extract. The DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power of the carotenoid-rich extract were found to be superior to the standard Butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT). The enrichment of sunflower oil with carotenoid-rich extract at 67.46 mg carotenoids/kg oil improved its oxidative stability by more than 50% as measured by the Rancimat method. These results suggest that the investigated extract has the potential to be used as a bio-preservative in food products.Se estudió la posibilidad de mejorar la estabilidad oxidativa del aceite de girasol enriqueciéndolo con carotenoides de pétalos de Delonix regia. Se utilizaron técnicas combinadas de extracción asistida por ultrasonido y técnicas de agitación. Las condiciones óptimas fueron una relación material/ disolvente de 1:20 (p/v), una potencia ultrasónica de 30 W y un tiempo de extracción de 50 min. En estas condiciones, el rendimiento de carotenoides totales fue de 503,0 ?g/g de peso seco. El aumento de la densidad de potencia acústica degrada a los carotenoides. El análisis por HPLC se utilizó para la cuantificación de β-caroteno en el extracto. Se encontró que la actividad de captación de radicales DPPH y el poder antioxidante reductor férrico del extracto rico en carotenoides es superior al del butilhidroxitolueno estándar (BHT). El enriquecimiento de aceite de girasol con extracto rico en carotenoides a 67,46 mg de carotenoides/kg de aceite mejoró su estabilidad oxidativa en más del 50% según lo medido por el método de Rancimat. Estos resultados proponen que el extracto investigado tiene el potencial de ser utilizado como conservante biológico en productos alimenticios

Electricity savings potentials in the residential sector of Bahrain

Electricity is the major fuel (over 99%) used in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors in Bahrain. In 1992, the total annual electricity consumption in Bahrain was 3.45 terawatt-hours (TWh), of which 1.95 TWh (56%) was used in the residential sector, 0.89 TWh (26%) in the commercial sector, and 0.59 TWh (17%) in the industrial sector. Agricultural energy consumption was 0.02 TWh (less than 1%) of the total energy use. In Bahrain, most residences are air conditioned with window units. The air-conditioning electricity use is at least 50% of total annual residential use. The contribution of residential AC to the peak power consumption is even more significant, approaching 80% of residential peak power demand. Air-conditioning electricity use in the commercial sector is also significant, about 45% of the annual use and over 60% of peak power demand. This paper presents a cost/benefit analysis of energy-efficient technologies in the residential sector. Technologies studied include: energy-efficient air conditioners, insulating houses, improved infiltration, increasing thermostat settings, efficient refrigerators and freezers, efficient water heaters, efficient clothes washers, and compact fluorescent lights. We conservatively estimate a 32% savings in residential electricity use at an average cost of about 4 fils per kWh. (The subsidized cost of residential electricity is about 12 fils per kWh. 1000 fils = 1 Bahrain Dinar = US$ 2.67). We also discuss major policy options needed for implementation of energy-efficiency technologies

Bi-allelic GAD1 variants cause a neonatal onset syndromic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy.

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies are a heterogeneous group of early-onset epilepsy syndromes dramatically impairing neurodevelopment. Modern genomic technologies have revealed a number of monogenic origins and opened the door to therapeutic hopes. Here we describe a new syndromic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy caused by bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in GAD1, as presented by 11 patients from six independent consanguineous families. Seizure onset occurred in the first 2 months of life in all patients. All 10 patients, from whom early disease history was available, presented with seizure onset in the first month of life, mainly consisting of epileptic spasms or myoclonic seizures. Early EEG showed suppression-burst or pattern of burst attenuation or hypsarrhythmia if only recorded in the post-neonatal period. Eight patients had joint contractures and/or pes equinovarus. Seven patients presented a cleft palate and two also had an omphalocele, reproducing the phenotype of the knockout Gad1-/- mouse model. Four patients died before 4 years of age. GAD1 encodes the glutamate decarboxylase enzyme GAD67, a critical actor of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism as it catalyses the decarboxylation of glutamic acid to form GABA. Our findings evoke a novel syndrome related to GAD67 deficiency, characterized by the unique association of developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, cleft palate, joint contractures and/or omphalocele

Ion Flotation of Copper(II) and Lead(II) from Environmental Water Samples

The present study aims to develop a simple, rapid and economic procedure for copper(II) and lead(II) removal under the optimum conditions investigated. It is based on the complex formation between Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions and diphenylcarbazone (HDPC) followed by flotation with oleic acid (HOL) surfactant. The different parameters (namely: solution pH, HDPC, HOL, copper and lead concentrations, ionic strength, temperature and the presence of foreign ions) influencing the flotation process were examined. Nearly, 100% of Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions were removed from aqueous solutions at pHs 6 and 7, respectively at room temperature (~25 \ub0C). The procedure was successfully applied to recover almost copper(II) and lead(II) spiked to some natural water samples. Due to the rapid, simple and economic nature of the procedure, a flotation mechanism is suggested for metal removal in wastewater systems