Synthesis of heterogeneous catalyst for the production of biodiesel from soybean oil

This study explore the comparison of a suitable heterogeneous catalyst for conversion of triglyceride into fatty acid methyl ester. A series of heterogeneous cerium, manganese, and zinc oxide catalyst supported at mixture of cinder was prepared by co-precipitation and applied for conversion of triglyceride in oil to biodiesel using methanol as solvent. Results showed that a maximum TG conversion of 99% was obtained in the transesterification reaction catalyzed by CeSO4+MnSO4+K2CO3  catalyst calcinated in 5 h at 600oC under the optimal conditions as catalyst amount of 3%, Ce:Mn:K molar ratio of 1:1:1. The catalytic activity of catalyst at 70 ºC reaction temperature was over 90% after 6h. The experimental data were satisfactorily predicted at 99% confidence level. However, due to high and efficient yield CeSO4+MnSO4+K2CO3 catalyst was identified as the most potential catalyst.Keywords: biodiesel fuel; heterogeneous; trans-esterification; rare earth metals; eco-friendly regent; used oi

Whole-genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical COVID-19

Critical COVID-19 is caused by immune-mediated inflammatory lung injury. Host genetic variation influences the development of illness requiring critical care1 or hospitalization2,3,4 after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study enables the comparison of genomes from individuals who are critically ill with those of population controls to find underlying disease mechanisms. Here we use whole-genome sequencing in 7,491 critically ill individuals compared with 48,400 controls to discover and replicate 23 independent variants that significantly predispose to critical COVID-19. We identify 16 new independent associations, including variants within genes that are involved in interferon signalling (IL10RB and PLSCR1), leucocyte differentiation (BCL11A) and blood-type antigen secretor status (FUT2). Using transcriptome-wide association and colocalization to infer the effect of gene expression on disease severity, we find evidence that implicates multiple genes—including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A), and increased expression of a mucin (MUC1)—in critical disease. Mendelian randomization provides evidence in support of causal roles for myeloid cell adhesion molecules (SELE, ICAM5 and CD209) and the coagulation factor F8, all of which are potentially druggable targets. Our results are broadly consistent with a multi-component model of COVID-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication; or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation. We show that comparison between cases of critical illness and population controls is highly efficient for the detection of therapeutically relevant mechanisms of disease

Comparative efficacy of silymarin and choline chloride (liver tonics) in preventing the effects of aflatoxin B1 in bovine calves

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus spp. which are injurious to animals and humans The aim of this study was to determine the effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on Average Daily Feed Intake (ADFI), Average Daily Weight Gain (ADWG), haematological and serum biochemical responses of Bovine Calves and to determine the comparative efficacy of two different liver tonics against AFB1. Twenty seven calves were selected from herd and divided into 3 groups. All calves were fed with 1.0 mg/kg AFB1 for a period of 10 days. After that they were fed with liver tonics: Silymarin fed at a rate of 600 mg/kg and Choline chloride 500 mg/kg for 7 days. The results indicate that the ADFI and ADWG of AFB1 treated calves decreased significantly. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine significantly increased due to AFB1. In haematology the total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC), haemoglobin concentration (HGB), haematocrit levels (HCT), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), lymphocyte %, neutrophil % and monocyte % significantly decreased in AFB1 treated calves after 10 days of feeding. Both liver tonics significantly (p<0.05) improved all the parameters, including ADFI, ADWG, hematologial and serum biochemical test. However, Silymarin comparatively more efficiently ameliorate the effects induced by AFB1 than choline chloride

Differential insecticide resistance in Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) field populations in the Punjab Province of Pakistan

The cotton whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) has a propensity for developing high-level resistance to insecticides. Management of B. tabaci in cotton grown in Pakistan depends on insecticide use, resistance monitoring has become essential to minimize the development of resistance. In this study, resistance was monitored in adult whiteflies collected from cotton fields in the Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Lodhran, Multan, and Vehari districts of the Punjab Province, Pakistan during 2017, 2018, and 2019. Resistance monitoring was carried out for two insect growth regulators (pyriproxyfen and buprofezin) four neonicotinoids acetamiprid, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, thiacloprid, and the historically used pyrethroid, bifenthrin and organophosphate, chlorpyrifos. Results based on resistance ratio (RR) showed that moderate to high level of resistance against noenicitinoids insecticides have been observed in all four districts while whiteflies exhibited very low to low resistance to pyriproxyfen and buprofezin. The RRs for acetamiprid, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, thiacloprid varied from 7.60 to 50.99, 19.32 to 65.72, 17.18 to 54.65 and 6.49–47.49-fold, respectively. Bifenthrin and chlorpyrifos showed very low toxicity against whiteflies in all districts except Faisalabad, with RRs of 12.28–50.56-fold and 7.94–26.24-fold, respectively. The results will facilitate ‘smart’ selection and guide rates of insecticide applications for whitefly management in cotton for effective whitefly management while also delaying the development of resistance. © 2022Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]