Focused–type ultrasound extraction of phenolic acids from Q.Infectoria galls: process modelling and sequential optimization

Phenolic acids from Q.Infectoria (QI) galls were extracted using focused–type ultrasound extraction method and further optimized using sequential optimization by response surface methodology (RSM). Different independent variables of sonication time, A (6–10 h), solvent concentration, B (0.05–0.15 M), ratio, C (1:05–1:15), duty cycle, D (30–50 %) and temperature, E (60–80 °C) were first screened via full factorial design (FFD) and the obtained results indicated that sonication time, ratio and temperature were the most significant variables in attaining higher yields. The significant curvature from focused–type ultrasound performance provides insights to a subsequent optimization of the factorial model via face–centred central composite design (FCCCD). The later results revealed that temperature highly impacted the yield with highest contribution percentage of 56.76 %. Notably, maximum extraction yield of 4119.77 mg/g was achieved at optimum condition of 9 h sonication time, ratio of 1:6 and temperature of 75 °C. Besides, Fick’s model successfully promotes diffusivity and appropriately foreseen that temperature factor governed the extraction process from QI galls. Relevant activation energy of 83.39 J/mol, along with the thermodynamic factors which include activation enthalpy (ΔH*) and activation Gibbs free energy (ΔG*), affirmed the extraction process was endothermic and non-spontaneous in identity

Effects of Honey-Spices Marination on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Heterocyclic Amines Formation in Gas-Grilled Beef Satay

The effects of honey-spices marination on simultaneous formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HCAs) in gas-grilled beef satay were investigated at different grilling temperatures (150 °C, 250 °C, and 350 °C). Beef satay samples used in this study were prepared using two types of honey-spices marination (Apis mellifera-spices and Trigona sp.-spices). Quantifications of fifteen PAHs using high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) and nine HCAs using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) were performed with gradient programme. Results on PAHs and HCAs in marinated samples were compared with control. Highest concentrations (p < 0.05) of PAHs (marinated beef satay) and HCAs (control) were detected at 350 °C. The most prominent PAH and HCA were phenanthrene (24.61–84.36 ng/g) and 9H-pyrido-[4,3-b]indole (Norharman) (2.67–393.89 ng/g). Marination significantly (p < 0.05) reduced naphthalene, fluorene, pyrene, 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (AαC), 1-methyl-9H-pyrido-[4,3-b]indole (Harman), and Norharman in gas-grilled beef satay across all temperatures. Overall, inverse quantitative profiles of PAHs and HCAs formation were observed in marinated gas-grilled beef satay

Socializing One Health: an innovative strategy to investigate social and behavioral risks of emerging viral threats

In an effort to strengthen global capacity to prevent, detect, and control infectious diseases in animals and people, the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) PREDICT project funded development of regional, national, and local One Health capacities for early disease detection, rapid response, disease control, and risk reduction. From the outset, the EPT approach was inclusive of social science research methods designed to understand the contexts and behaviors of communities living and working at human-animal-environment interfaces considered high-risk for virus emergence. Using qualitative and quantitative approaches, PREDICT behavioral research aimed to identify and assess a range of socio-cultural behaviors that could be influential in zoonotic disease emergence, amplification, and transmission. This broad approach to behavioral risk characterization enabled us to identify and characterize human activities that could be linked to the transmission dynamics of new and emerging viruses. This paper provides a discussion of implementation of a social science approach within a zoonotic surveillance framework. We conducted in-depth ethnographic interviews and focus groups to better understand the individual- and community-level knowledge, attitudes, and practices that potentially put participants at risk for zoonotic disease transmission from the animals they live and work with, across 6 interface domains. When we asked highly-exposed individuals (ie. bushmeat hunters, wildlife or guano farmers) about the risk they perceived in their occupational activities, most did not perceive it to be risky, whether because it was normalized by years (or generations) of doing such an activity, or due to lack of information about potential risks. Integrating the social sciences allows investigations of the specific human activities that are hypothesized to drive disease emergence, amplification, and transmission, in order to better substantiate behavioral disease drivers, along with the social dimensions of infection and transmission dynamics. Understanding these dynamics is critical to achieving health security--the protection from threats to health-- which requires investments in both collective and individual health security. Involving behavioral sciences into zoonotic disease surveillance allowed us to push toward fuller community integration and engagement and toward dialogue and implementation of recommendations for disease prevention and improved health security

Hubungan antara Kemahiran Membuat Keputusan dan Daya Tahan dalam Kalangan Pelajar Pintar Berbakat

Isu sosial dan emosi dan pelajar pintar berbakat (PPB) tidak dapat dipisahkan. Bimbingan bagi menguruskan isu sosial dan emosi dalam kalangan PPB sangat penting untuk membantu perkembangan pelajar secara optimum serta merangsang kecemerlangan negara. Kajian ini adalah bertujuan untuk mendedahkan mengenai keperluan meningkatkan kemahiran membuat keputusan dan daya tahan dalam kalangan PPB yang juga merupakan pendekatan yang berstrategik bagi membantu golongan ini menguruskan isu sosial dan emosi. Dalam pada itu, kaunselor merupakan agen yang tepat dan perlu memainkan peranan penting dalam membantu PPB meningkatkan kemahiran dan kebolehan tersebut seterusnya membantu mereka menangani isu sosial dan emosi

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles in green binarysolvent for degradation of 2,4-d herbicide:optimization and kinetic studies

In this study, well-dispersed and diminutive Ag nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized in binary solvent of Orthosiphon stamineus (OS) leaves extract and ionic liquids (ILs) via electrochemical method. ILs namely [BMIM Tf2N], [BMIM BF4] and [EMIM EtSO4] were used as solvent in the synthesis process to produce AgTf2N, AgBF4, and AgEtSO4. The characterization of Ag nanoparticles revealed that the particle size of the silver nanoparticles can be easily altered depending on the size of IL alkyl chain and anion, to produce ultrafine particles ranging from 8 to 25 nm. Meanwhile, the photocatalytic activity of AgTf2N nanoparticles effectively degraded the highest amount of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) herbicide at 65.61%. The optimized model gave high removal percentage of 2,4-D at 97.80% (pH = 3.24; catalyst dosage = 0.009 g/L; 2,4-D concentration = 8.15 mg L−1) with validation experiments of 1.28% error. Investigation of kinetic reaction showed the applicability of pseudo-first order kinetic to the process of 2,4-D degradation (R2 > 0.98) which positively predicted the constant elimination amount of 2,4-D throughout the photocatalytic process. Overall, the studies construed the crucial role of binary solvent in synthesizing and controlling the size of Ag nanoparticles for pollutant degradation