Recovery of Sugars From Cane Molasses by Continuous Simulated Moving Bed Ion-Exclusion Chromatography.

Present investigation was undertaken to determine the feasibility of using a Simulated Moving Bed (SMB) Ion Exclusion Chromatographic system for the recovery of sugars from molasses. The recovery of sugars from molasses is complicated because of the presence of high concentration of salts of K, Ca, Mg, etc. The presence of these salts in the molasses prevents sucrose to crystallize. SMB Ion Exclusion Chromatography has been shown to be successful to recover sugars from beet molasses, and to separate sugars from each other in High Fructose Corn Syrup industry. The basis of the ion exclusion is that the sorbent used in the column prevents the salts from being adsorbed whereas the sugars are adsorbed on the resin. The adsorbed sugars in the resin are recovered by elution with water. The efficiency of the SMB Ion Exclusion system for separation of sugar and non-sugars is affected by variables such as concentration of ionic material in the molasses, flow rates in different zones of the system, concentration of the molasses etc. In the first phase, equilibria and kinetics of the system were studied for proper modelling and design of the SMB operation. In the second phase, properly treated cane molasses were used as feed for SMB pilot plant with parameters obtained from best simulation data. Two products, Extract (high sugars; low non-sugars) and Raffinate (high non-sugars; low sugars) were obtained. The quality of the extract is very promising for recovery of sucrose in crystalline form as it contained 81% sucrose, (96% total sugars) and only 4% non-sugars. The raffinate, with 36% total sugars, still has enough caloric value to be used as cattle feed. SMB recovery of 88% sucrose (80% in crystalline form) and 79% of total sugars achieved warrants a potential increase in total recovery of sucrose by 11%

Studies on the metabolism of glutamine

Glutamine has been found by several workers to be present as the free amino acid in all animal tissues but little is known of its functions and the way it accumulates in the cells. The existence of the enzyme, glutamine synthetase which catalyses the synthesis of glutamine from glutamate and ammonia in the presence of ATP and a divalent cation, has been well established in brain, liver and kidney, but it is much less certain whether it occurs in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Hormones play an important role in the regulation of the activity of several enzymes in various tissues. Although the growth hormone is known to stimulate protein synthesis, very few studies have been made on its effect in the regulation of glutamine synthesis, although glutamine may be thought of as a reservoir and transport form of amino -N, in tissues, and is essential for nucleic acid synthesis. The present studies were carried out as part of an investigation into the origin and function of glutamine in skeletal and cardiac muscles and to explore the effect of growth hormone, if any, on its synthesis in these tissues. Since glutamine synthetase activity is already known to exist in kidney, this tissue was also studied in parallel with skeletal and cardiac muscle, so as to be able both to check the efficiency of the methods employed and to see whether the enzyme if it existed in the skeletal and cardiac muscles would be similar to the kidney enzyme. Glutamine synthetase can be assayed by making use of the fact that hydroxylamine will serve as second substrate in place of ammonia. The product of the reaction is y-glutamylhydroxamic acid, which can be quantitatively determined through the colour of the complex which it forms with ferric ions. In order to make sure that the colour produced was due to the enzyme activity and to obtain a preparation giving maximum activity, it was necessary to study extraction methods before determining optical density. This was achieved by employing a dialysed high -speed supernatant, the activity of which was found to be about 3 - 4 times greater than that found in the homogenate. On average 183.2 ± 65.1 units glutamine synthetase activity/g. wet tissue was found in kidney by the hydroxamate method using dialysed high-speed supernatants; 19.1 ± 10.3 units/g. were found in skeletal muscle and 2'5 ± 0'8 in heart. In the case of cardiac muscle, no activity could be detected in some of the extracts by the hydroxamate method, and the activity could also not be measured by the NADH oxidation method (see below). These results have been compared with those of others and the possible reasons for the differences in results have been discussed. Inorganic phosphate was found to be an inhibitor of the enzyme, both in kidney and muscle extracts. In order to study the kinetics of the phosphate inhibition, a method for freeing the extracts from most of the interfering ATP -ase, and a more sensitive assay method, in which ADP does not accumulate, iwere developed. The enzyme was separated from ATP -ase by precipitation with l.5 M and 1.8 M ammonium sulphate for muscle and kidney respectively. The assay method, measures glutamine synthetase activity by measuring the rate of ADP production. This is coupled to oxidation of NADH by pyruvate and lactic dehydrogenase. Adenosine diphosphate is re- phosphorylated with phosphoenol -pyruvate and pyruvate kinase; adenylate kinase was also added to remove traces of adenosine monophosphate which interfered with the assay. Inorganic phosphate was found to be a competitive inhibitor of ATP for the muscle enzyme and a noncompetitive inhibitor for the kidney enzyme. Possible reaction mechanisms which would account for these findings have been discussed. Several differences in the properties of the enzymes in muscle and kidney extracts were found (including this difference in inhibition by phosphate) and it is suggested that the enzyme in muscle is an isoenzyme of that found in kidney. Bovine growth hormone both in vivo as well as in vitro was found to have no significant effect on the synthesis of glutamine in any of the tissues studied. The type of inhibition in the two tissue enzymes was also not affected

Composing of Municipal Solid Waste and Its Use as Fertilizer

The high generation of waste in Pakistan (estimated at 55,000 tons/day) has resulted in serious environmental problems. Collected solid waste material are left in depressions and on vacant plots, buried, burned, and dumped in the ocean. To improve this situation, the material was composted and evaluated as a fertilizing material and its effect on the environment. Composting of these waste resulted in the production of good quality materials that can be used as soil amendments and source of plant nutrients. Large amounts of N and K are usually generated and very effective in crop production. Leaching of nutrients was less when compost was applied than mineral fertilizer. The composting of solid municipal waste was observed to be a better option to open disposition

Psychological Adjustment and Academic Achievement among Adolescents

This study was studied that emotional and behavioural problems of young students who are directly related to their academic achievement and thus play a vital role in the development of young learners carrier. This study helped to fill a gap by conducting an exploration of psychological adjustment and academic achievement among adolescents. It also examined the gender differences on psychological adjustment and academic achievement. Purposive sampling technique was used in this study with sample size of one hundred and twenty (N=120) students, sixty female (N=60) and sixty (N=60) male, age ranged between 12-19 years, who had passed O’ level. The Reynolds Adolescents Adjustment Screening Inventory (RAASI) was used to measure psychological adjustment. Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version-20 (SPSS-20) was used for statistical analysis. First of all reliability of the scale was determined. Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Independent Sample T-Test were applied to find the quantitative facts of the study. Results revealed that there is negative correlation between psychological adjustment and academic achievement of students who passed O’ level. Independent Sample t-test revealed that there is significant difference on psychological adjustment among students who passed O’ level. The results also showed that female have more psychological adjustment as compared to male. Keywords: Psychological Adjustment; Academic Achievemen

Agency, aspirations and citizenship: Non‐formal education from the perspective of children in street situations in Pakistan

This paper explores an NGO‐based non‐formal education (NFE) intervention in Pakistan from the perspective of its recipients, children in street situations. Recognizing children as agential beings, we draw on participant observation and in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with 20 children, aged 10–19 years. Young people discussed the impact of the intervention on their self‐worth and future aspirations. They also reflected on their growing awareness of civic issues and citizenship rights. The study emphasizes the importance of NFE in providing opportunities to the most marginalized and those without adequate documentation, particularly in a context when state support can be lacking

Determinants of the Declining Share of Agricultural Labour Force to Total Labour Force in Pakistan

The agricultural labour force in Pakistan has been increasing rapidly due to population growth as well as a declining mortality rate. However, the share of the agricultural labour force to total labour force has been decreasing. The objective of this paper is to search for the factors responsible for this decline. The period covered is from 1959•60 to 1986-87. The development process is characterised as one which brings about a fundamental change in the structure of an economy. In this process, labour is shifted from low productivity areas, such as agriculture, to high productivity areas, such as the manufacturing, construction and transport sectors. The share of value added of agriculture in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has declined from 46 percent in 1959- 60 to 25 percent in 1986-87. Hence, the key determinant of declining share of agricultural labour force to total labour force (RA LF) appears to be some measure of economic development

Effect of Irrigation on Chickpea Varieties Sown on Different Dates on Irrigated Fields of Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

This study was conducted to examine the impact of irrigation on chickpea yield, to select a variety/ varieties best suited for irrigated farming in irrigated region and to standardize the production technology package of irrigated chickpea. The experiment was conducted at ARS Bannu, in Randomized Complete Block Design with split plot arrangement having three replications. Irrigations (No irrigation, pre-sowing irrigation and irrigation at flowering stage) were allotted to the main plots while varieties (Karak-1, Karak-2, Sheenghar and KC-98) and sowing dates (Oct. 1st, Oct. 15, Nov, 1, and Nov, 15) were kept in the sub plots. The sub plot size was 4 m by 1.8 m with row to row distance of 30 cm and plant to plant distance of 10 cm. It was found from the results of the above experiment that planting dates significantly affected grain yield and its components. Grain yield significantly decreased with delay in planting beyond Ist November at Bannu. Irrigation did not influence grain yield of chickpea at Bannu as well. Chickpea cultivar Karak-I produced significantly higher grain yield followed by Karak-II at Bannu. It is therefore recommended that chickpea crop may be planted in the month of October or with a maximum delay till early November at Bannu. Chickpea variety Karak-I is recommend for planting at Bannu for obtaining higher grain yield. It is concluded from the above experiment that planting dates at Bannu significantly affected grain yield and its components and higher grain yield was produced in early planting (1st October) and decline with delay in planting at Bannu. Irrigation did not influence grain yield of chickpea. Keywords: Irrigation regimes, Chickpea, Varieties, Irrigated fields

Modulation of GSK-3-catalyzed phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau by non-proline-dependent protein kinases

AbstractThe phosphorylation of bovine tau, either by GSK-3 alone or by a combination of GSK-3 and several non-proline-dependent protein kinases (non-PDPKs), was studied. GSK-3 alone catalyzed the incorporation of ∼ 3 mol 32P/mot tau at a relatively slow rate. Prephosphorylation of tau by A-kinase, C-kinase, or CK-2 (but not by CK-1, CaM kinase II or Gr kinase) increased both the rate and extent of a subsequent phosphorylation catalyzed by GSK-3 by several-fold. These results suggest that the phosphorylation of tau by PDPKs such as GSK-3 (and possibly MAP kinase, cdk5) may be positively modulated at the substrate level by non-PDPK-catalyzed phosphorylations

Role of protein phosphatase-2A and -1 in the regulation of GSK-3, cdk5 and cdc2 and the phosphorylation of tau in rat forebrain

AbstractIn Alzheimer disease brain the activities of protein phosphatase (PP)-2A and PP-1 are decreased and the microtubule-associated protein tau is abnormally hyperphosphorylated at several sites at serine/threonine. Employing rat forebrain slices kept metabolically active in oxygenated artificial CSF as a model system, we investigated the role of PP-2A/PP-1 in the regulation of some of the major abnormally hyperphosphorylated sites of tau and the protein kinases involved. Treatment of the brain slices with 1.0 μM okadaic acid inhibited ∼65% of PP-2A and produced hyperphosphorylation of tau at Ser 198/199/202, Ser 396/404 and Ser 422. No significant changes in the activities of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) and cyclin dependent protein kinases cdk5 and cdc2 were observed. Calyculin A (0.1 μM) inhibited ∼50% PP-1, ∼20% PP-2A, 50% GSK-3 and ∼30% cdk5 but neither inhibited the activity of cyclin AMP dependent protein kinase A (PKA) nor resulted in the hyperphosphorylation of tau at any of the above sites. Treatment of brain slices with 1 μM okadaic acid plus 0.1 μM calyculin A inhibited ∼100% of both PP-2A and PP-1, ∼80% of GSK-3, ∼50% of cdk5 and ∼30% of cdc2 but neither inhibited PKA nor resulted in the hyperphosphorylation of tau at any of the above sites. These studies suggest (i) that PP-1 upregulates the phosphorylation of tau at Ser 198/199/202 and Ser 396/404 indirectly by regulating the activities of GSK-3, cdk5 and cdc2 whereas PP-2A regulates the phosphorylation of tau directly by dephosphorylation at the above sites, and (ii) that a decrease in the PP-2A activity leads to abnormal hyperphosphorylation of tau at Ser 198/199/202, Ser 396/404 and Ser 422