Effects of genistein on melanosis and microbial quality of Litopenaeus vannamei during ice storage

Utilization of genistein as a natural inhibitor was studied alone and in combination with conventional treatments on melanosis and microbial quality of fresh L. vannamei during 10 days ice storage. Treatments were as followed: A (dipping samples in distilled water), B (dipping in 1.25 % sodium metabisulphite solution), C (dipping in 0.01 % genistein + 2% glycerol solution), D (dipping in 0.1 % genistein + 2% glycerol solution), E (dipping in 1% NaCl + 0.05 % EDTA + 0.5 % ascorbic acid + 0.5 % lactic acid solution), F (dipping in 0.01% genistein + 2 % glycerol + 1 % NaCl + 0.05 % EDTA + 0.5 % ascorbic acid + 0.5 % lactic acid solution) and G (dipping in 0.1 % genistein + 2 % glycerol + 1 % NaCl + 0.05 % EDTA + 0.5 % ascorbic acid + 0.5 % lactic acid solution). Results showed that G treatment was more affective on inhibiting of melanosis in L. vannamei. Mesophilic and psycrophilic bacterial counts in G treatment were lower than other treatments during ice storage

An investigation of a Ɣ-type MTD Stirling engine prototype

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from UKACM via the link in this recordAlthough thermal efficiency of moderate temperature differential (MTD) Stirling engines is higher than low temperature (LTD) engines, the complexity of design of MTD engines has led to the lack of research in this field. In this work, a prototype of Ɣ-type moderate-temperature differential Stirling engine was manufactured, evaluated and structurally optimised. A mathematical evaluation was carried out based on a finite-dimension thermodynamics approach. The swept volume ratio was optimised based on the temperature difference of 450 . 0 . A computer program was thus written to simulate the Stirling engine performance under the assumed working conditions. Based on the mentioned temperature difference, the swept volume ratio of the engine was found to be 3. The engine dimensions were then adjusted to fulfil the computed swept volume ratio. The bore and stroke for power piston were chosen as 60 mm and 40 mm, respectively. For the displacer, they were selected as 90 mm and 60 mm, respectively based on the chosen swept volume ratio

Inhibition of Drosophila Wg Signaling Involves Competition between Mad and Armadillo/β-Catenin for dTcf Binding

Precisely regulated signal transduction pathways are crucial for the regulation of developmental events and prevention of tumorigenesis. Both the Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ)/Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Wnt/Wingless (Wg) pathways play essential roles in organismal patterning and growth, and their deregulation can lead to cancers. We describe a mechanism of interaction between Drosophila Wg and BMP signaling in which Wg target gene expression is antagonized by BMP signaling. In vivo, high levels of both an activated BMP receptor and the BMP effector Mad can inhibit the expression of Wg target genes. Conversely, loss of mad can induce Wg target gene expression. In addition, we find that ectopic expression in vivo of the Wg transcription factor dTcf is able to suppress the inhibitory effect caused by ectopic Mad. In vitro binding studies revealed competition for dTcf binding between Mad and the Wnt effector β-catenin/Armadillo (Arm). Our in vivo genetic analyses and target gene studies support a mechanism consistent with the in vitro binding and competition studies, namely that BMP pathway components can repress Wg target gene expression by influencing the binding of Arm and dTcf

Quantifying the pathway and predicting spontaneous emulsification during material exchange in a two phase liquid system

Kinetic restriction of a thermodynamically favourable equilibrium is a common theme in materials processing. The interfacial instability in systems where rate of material exchange is far greater than the mass transfer through respective bulk phases is of specific interest when tracking the transient interfacial area, a parameter integral to short processing times for productivity streamlining in all manufacturing where interfacial reaction occurs. This is even more pertinent in high-temperature systems for energy and cost savings. Here the quantified physical pathway of interfacial area change due to material exchange in liquid metal-molten oxide systems is presented. In addition the predicted growth regime and emulsification behaviour in relation to interfacial tension as modelled using phase-field methodology is shown. The observed in-situ emulsification behaviour links quantitatively the geometry of perturbations as a validation method for the development of simulating the phenomena. Thus a method is presented to both predict and engineer the formation of micro emulsions to a desired specification

Anti-amnesic activity of Citrus aurantium flowers extract against scopolamine-induced memory impairments in rats

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder that mostly affects the elderly population. Learning and memory impairment as the most characteristic manifestation of dementia could be induced chemically by scopolamine, a cholinergic antagonist. Cholinergic neurotransmission mediated brain oxidative stress. Citrus aurantium (CA) has traditionally been used for the treatment of insomnia, anxiety and epilepsy. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Citrus aurantium on scopolamine-induced learning and memory deficit in rats. Forty-two Wistar rats were divided into six equal groups. (1) Control (received saline), (2) SCOP (scopolamine at a dose of 1 mg/kg for 15 days), (3) and (4) SCOP + CA (scopolamine and CA extract at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg per day for 15 days), (5) and (6) intact groups (CA extract at 300 and 600 mg/kg per day for 15 days, respectively). Administration of CA flower extract significantly restored memory and learning impairments induced by scopolamine in the passive avoidance test and also reduced escape latency during trial sessions in the Morris water maze test. Citrus aurantium flower extract significantly decreased the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Citrus aurantium flower extract has repairing effects on memory and behavioral disorders produced by scopolamine and may have beneficial effects in the treatment of AD

Sensible Heat Balance Estimates of Transient Soil Ice Contents

Soil ice content is an important component for winter soil hydrology. The sensible heat balance (SHB) method using measurements from heat pulse probes (HPPs) is a possible way to determine transient soil ice content. In a previous study, in situ soil ice content estimates with the SHB method were inaccurate, due to thermal conductivity errors and the use of relatively long time steps for calculations. The objective of this study is to reexamine the SHB method for soil ice content determination. A soil freezing and thawing laboratory experiment was performed with soil columns and heat exchangers. Transient soil ice contents in the soil columns during soil freezing and thawing were determined with the SHB method. The SHB method was able to determine dynamic changes in soil ice contents during initial freezing and final thawing for soil temperatures between −5 and 0°C when latent heat values associated with ice formation or with thawing were relatively large. During an extended freezing period, when soil temperatures were below −5°C, the small associated latent heat fluxes were below the sensitivity of the SHB method, and the SHB method did not provide accurate estimates of ice contents with time. However, the soil ice contents during the extended freezing period could be estimated well from changes in volumetric heat capacity (C) determined with HPP. Thus, combining the SHB method for initial freezing and final thawing, with a change in Cmethod for extended freezing periods, allowed determination of dynamic soil ice contents for the entire range of freezing and thawing soil temperatures investigated. HPPs were able to measure soil ice contents