Composition physicochimique des miels algériens. Détermination des éléments traces et des éléments potentiellement toxiques

La caractérisation de cinq échantillons de miel collectés de différentes régions mellifères algériennes a été effectuée sur deux aspects : 1) propriétés physicochimiques, et 2) le niveau des éléments traces et des éléments toxiques. pH, acidité libre, humidité, conductivité électrique, hydroxymethylfurfural, sucres totaux et réducteurs, la saccharose, sont les paramètres physicochimiques analysés pour chaque échantillon de miel. Le niveau des éléments traces (Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cr, Ni) et des éléments toxiques (Pb, Cd, As) ont été déterminés par spectrométrie d’émission optique couplée à un plasma inductif (ICP-OES). Les résultats obtenus ont montré une variabilité de la composition chimique des miels. Les concentrations en éléments traces ont varié de 8,02-14,51 mg/Kg, 2,50-3,49 mg/Kg, 1,95- 6,37 mg/Kg et 2,72-3,22 mg/Kg pour le Zn, Mn, Fe et Cr, respectivement. Alors que les concentrations moyennes du chrome (0,024 mg/kg) et nickel (0,32 mg/kg) sont faibles et très similaires pour les différentes variétés de miel. Les éléments toxiques (Pb, Cd, As) sont présent à l’état de trace. Le zinc est l’élément le plus abondant dans les miels algérien analysés.Mots-clés : miel, propriété physicochimique, éléments toxiques, éléments traces

Effect of heat treatment on polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activities in Algerian stored dates

Effect of heat treatment (55°C/20 min) on polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities and total phenolic compounds was investigated in Algerian dates (Deglet Nour variety) at Tamar (fullyripe) stage and in dates stored for 5 months at ambient temperature and in cold storage (10°C). Results obtained showed a high percentage of total phenolic compounds. These compounds decreased weaklyas the fruit advanced in storage at ambiant temperature, whereas, they are still higher in heat treated and cold stored dates. Heat treatment did not show a significant effect on phenolic compounds variation. Deglet Nour dates showed that there was a decrease in both POD and PPO activities during storage for either heat treated and non-treated dates samples. Whereas, PPO activity was weaker in chilled dates comparatively to those stored at ambient temperature. Peroxidase activity showed a similar trend where a decrease was observed in all samples during storage, particularly in heat treated dates. In all cases, heat treatment seems to benefit reducing POD activity, whereas a relative stability in PPO activity was noted

Mangrove carbon stock assessment by optical satellite imagery

Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve or known as Matang Mangroves is the largest single mangroves in Peninsular Malaysia. Covering an area of about 41,000 ha, majority of this area is forest reserve. Mangroves have long been known as extremely productive ecosystem that cycle carbon (C) rapidly, but studies related to carbon in this ecosystem are limited. This study was carried out to assess the carbon stock and quantify their changes following deforestation, wood extraction and forest degradation. Landsat-TM and SPOT-5 satellite images for 1991 and 2011 respectively were utilised to identify mangroves. Vegetation index generated from the images was used as a variable to indicate carbon stock and it was correlated to forest inventory information through regression. The study showed that carbon stocks of Matang Mangroves ranged from 1.03 to 263.65 t C ha-1 and 1.01 to 259.68 t C ha-1 for the years 1991 and 2011 respectively. Total carbon stock in Matang Mangroves was estimated at about 3.04 mil t C in year 1991 and 2.15 mil t C in 2011. The study suggested that the traditional use of vegetation index from optical imagery systems is still relevant and viable in vegetative studies

Development of Best Practices for Right-of-Way Valuations and Negotiations in Transportation Projects

The valuations of properties and the negotiations with property owners are two major tasks in the right-of-way acquisition process for transportation projects. If improved, those tasks can increase the overall project delivery efficiency. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) funded a research project that aimed to recommend some best practices for successful valuations and negotiations in Texas. The authors reviewed the different strategies and procedures followed in TxDOT by conducting interviews and surveys with right-of-way personnel. Guidelines supported by recommended practices were identified for both valuation and negotiation and then reviewed and validated by experts. Lastly, implementation guides were developed

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among Working Adults in Ethiopia

Objective. To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III criteria among working East African adults. Design. This cross-sectional study of 1,935 individuals (1,171 men and 764 women) was conducted among working adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The study was conducted in accordance with the STEPwise approach of the World Health Organization. Results. According to ATP III and IDF definitions, the overall prevalence of MetS was 12.5% and 17.9%, respectively. Using ATP III criteria, the prevalence of MetS was 10.0% in men and 16.2% in women. Application of the IDF criteria resulted in a MetS prevalence of 14.0% in men and 24.0% in women. The most common MetS components among women were reduced high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (23.2%) and abdominal obesity (19.6%); whilst reduced HDL-C concentrations (23.4%) and high blood pressure (21.8%) were most common among men. Conclusion. MetS and its individual components are prevalent among an apparently healthy working population in Ethiopia. These findings indicate the need for evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs; and more robust efforts directed towards the screening, diagnosis and management of MetS and its components among Ethiopian adults

Recent development in binderless fiber-board fabrication from agricultural residues: a review

The manufacturing of fiberboard from wood fiber with the help of adhesive is highly developed and widely commercialized technique. However, with an increasing concern over health issues and biomass conservation, the fiberboards from agriculture residues with or without using adhesives are under intensive investigation. In last three decades, several researches have been done various methods and technique dealing the development of binderless fiber boards such as wet process and dry process. This review article also covered pretreatments of fiber which helps to find out optimum criteria for fabrication of fibreboards. Fibre sizes in fibreboard were studied and found that the dimensions of fibres effect the physical, mechanical and thermal properties. The pressing time and temperature influence the internal bonding of binderless fibreboards. The mechanical and thermal properties of binderless fibresboard were discussed on various pressing time and temperature and compared with different type fibreboards. Effect of hygrothermal properties on the physical, mechanical and thermal behavior of binderless were also discussed. This review summarized various aspects of self-bonding mechanism in binderless fibresboard with a focus on agriculture residues based raw materials. Various aspects of binderless fiberboard manufacturing such as raw material suitability, effects of pretreatments and manufacturing process on physical, mechanical and thermal properties are discussed. The chemical changes in fiber during pretreatments and hot pressing is also discussed in detail. These binderless fiberboard showed the suitability in use for indoor applications due to its non-toxic characteristics

Community structure, diversity and biomass of trees in two forest subtypes of Pekan Forest Reserve, Pahang, Malaysia.

Two one-ha ecological plots representing Kempas-Ramin-Durian and Durian-Nyatoh forest subtypes were established in Compartment 156 and Compartment 200, respectively at Pekan Forest Reserve, Pahang to determine community structure, diversity and biomass of trees. All trees of 10 cm diameter at breast height and above were enumerated in the plots. Results showed that although tree stocking was almost similar in the two forest subtypes, the basal area, volume and total tree biomass were higher in the Kempas-Ramin-Durian subtype. Shannon-Weiner diversity index, H′ obtained in the Durian-Nyatoh subtype was however, significantly higher (p<0.05) than Kempas-Ramin Durian subtype. Morisita's Index of Dispersion (Id) showed a random distribution pattern for both forest subtypes

How-to: scoping review?

Scoping reviews are a type of evidence synthesis that aims to identify and map the breadth of evidence available on a particular topic, field, concept, or issue, within or across a defined context or contexts. Scoping reviews can contribute to clinical practice guideline development, policy making, reduce research waste by eliminating duplication of research effort, and be a precursor to a systematic review. This paper aims to provide a brief introduction of how to conduct and report scoping reviews, their role and value of within the evidence synthesis ecosystem, the differences and similarities between these reviews and other types of evidence syntheses such as systematic reviews, mapping reviews, evidence and gap maps and overviews and how to overcome common challenges often associated in the conduct, reporting and dissemination of scoping reviews

Pseudorapidity dependence of long-range two-particle correlations in pPb collisions at root sNN=5.02 TeV

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