Lignocellulosic Biomasses from Agricultural Wastes Improved the Quality and Physicochemical Properties of Frying Oils

In this work, the effects of using natural lignocellulosic-based adsorbents from sugarcane bagasse (SC), cornstalk piths (CP), and corn cob (CC) on the physicochemical properties and quality of fried oils were studied. The properties of lignocellulosic biomasses were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Moreover, the changes in the physicochemical properties of fresh, fried oils (for 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 h) and adsorbents-treated oils were examined. The XRD results revealed that SC and CP biomasses have more amorphous regions than CC biomass, which had the highest crystallinity percentage. The results also showed that lignocellulosic biomasses enhanced the quality of the used oils. SC was the most effective biomass to enhance the properties of the used sunflower oil. For instance, the acid value of oil samples fried for 20 h reduced from 0.63 ± 0.02 to 0.51 ± 0.02 mg KOH/g oil after SC biomass treatment. For the peroxide value, the SC biomass treatment reduced it from 9.45 ± 0.56 (fried oil for 20 h) to 6.91 ± 0.12 meq O2/kg. Similarly, SC biomass adsorbent reduced the p-Anisidine Value (p-AV) of the used oil (20 h) from 98.45 ± 6.31 to 77.92 ± 3.65. Moreover, SC adsorbents slightly improved the lightness of the used oils (20 h). In conclusion, natural lignocellulosic biomasses, particularly SC, could be utilized as natural adsorbents to improve the oil quality. The results obtained from this study could help in developing sustainable methods to regenerate used oils using natural and cheap adsorbents

Effects of ammonia toxicity on growth performance, cortisol, glucose and hematological response of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Ammonia is a production limiting factor in the aquaculture media affecting fish production. A study was designed to scrutinize effects of ammonia on growth performance, survival, cortisol and hematological parameters of Tilapia fish. The study examined effects of 96 h-incubation of male and female Tilapia with 3 mg ammonium chloride per a liter of water compared to control. The study has been carried out in the physiology laboratory of the department of animal and fish production, Alexandria University. Fourteen aquaria were used (6 control and 8 ammoniated). Each aquarium contained 6 fish (half the population males and the other have females). Duration of the control reared fish was 30 days, however the duration for ammoniated group was 4 days. In all stressed fish, there found decreases in final body weight, average daily gain and specific growth rate as compared to controls. Hematological parameters revealed increases (P0.05) in total leukocyte counts in both males and females exposed to stressors. There were significant decreases (P0.05) in red blood cell, hematocrit value and hemoglobin concentration in both males and females. There were non-significant differences (P0.10) in these parameters between males and females. Exposing both male and female tilapia to ammonia, resulted in increases (P0.05) in mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) didn’t change in male tilapia, while females expressed increased MCH values in the ammonia condition. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) decreased (P0.05) under ammonia with no differences between males and females. Differential leukocyte count exhibited increases (P0.05) in neutrophils in ammonia-exposed males and females and decreases (P0.05) in eosinophils and monocytes in males, but not in females. However, lymphocytes decreased (P0.05) in both females and males exposed to ammonia. Cortisol level increased (P0.05) by about 2 folds in both sexes of fish exposed to ammonia (2.95 and 2.72 vs6.40 and 6.48 ng/ml in control males and females vs ammonia-exposed males and females).Rearing tilapia fish in media containing high level (3mg/l water) of ammonium chloride not only deteriorated growth rate but it also negatively affected the health wellbeing.

Nanofluid impingement jet heat transfer

Experimental investigation to study the heat transfer between a vertical round alumina-water nanofluid jet and a horizontal circular round surface is carried out. Different jet flow rates, jet nozzle diameters, various circular disk diameters and three nanoparticles concentrations (0, 6.6 and 10%, respectively) are used. The experimental results indicate that using nanofluid as a heat transfer carrier can enhance the heat transfer process. For the same Reynolds number, the experimental data show an increase in the Nusselt numbers as the nanoparticle concentration increases. Size of heating disk diameters shows reverse effect on heat transfer. It is also found that presenting the data in terms of Reynolds number at impingement jet diameter can take into account on both effects of jet heights and nozzle diameter. Presenting the data in terms of Peclet numbers, at fixed impingement nozzle diameter, makes the data less sensitive to the percentage change of the nanoparticle concentrations. Finally, general heat transfer correlation is obtained verses Peclet numbers using nanoparticle concentrations and the nozzle diameter ratio as parameters

Lignocellulosic Biomasses from Agricultural Wastes Improved the Quality and Physicochemical Properties of Frying Oils

In this work, the effects of using natural lignocellulosic-based adsorbents from sugarcane bagasse (SC), cornstalk piths (CP), and corn cob (CC) on the physicochemical properties and quality of fried oils were studied. The properties of lignocellulosic biomasses were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Moreover, the changes in the physicochemical properties of fresh, fried oils (for 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 h) and adsorbents-treated oils were examined. The XRD results revealed that SC and CP biomasses have more amorphous regions than CC biomass, which had the highest crystallinity percentage. The results also showed that lignocellulosic biomasses enhanced the quality of the used oils. SC was the most effective biomass to enhance the properties of the used sunflower oil. For instance, the acid value of oil samples fried for 20 h reduced from 0.63 ± 0.02 to 0.51 ± 0.02 mg KOH/g oil after SC biomass treatment. For the peroxide value, the SC biomass treatment reduced it from 9.45 ± 0.56 (fried oil for 20 h) to 6.91 ± 0.12 meq O2/kg. Similarly, SC biomass adsorbent reduced the p-Anisidine Value (p-AV) of the used oil (20 h) from 98.45 ± 6.31 to 77.92 ± 3.65. Moreover, SC adsorbents slightly improved the lightness of the used oils (20 h). In conclusion, natural lignocellulosic biomasses, particularly SC, could be utilized as natural adsorbents to improve the oil quality. The results obtained from this study could help in developing sustainable methods to regenerate used oils using natural and cheap adsorbents

Antioxidant and Anti-Diabetic Properties of Olive (<i>Olea europaea</i>) Leaf Extracts: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation

(1) Objective: The main objective of the current study was to evaluate in vitro and in vivo an antioxidant property of three genotypes of olive leaf extract (OLE) (picual, tofahi and shemlali), and furthermore to assess potential activity in the treatment and/or prevention of diabetes mellitus type II and related implications. (2) Methodology: Antioxidant activity was determined by using three different methods (DDPH assay, reducing power and nitric acid scavenging activity). In vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and hemolytic protective activity were assessed for the OLE. Five groups of male rats were used in in vivo experiment for evaluating the antidiabetic potential of OLE. (3) Results: The genotypes of the extracts of the three olive leaves exhibited meaningful phenolic and flavonoids content with superiority for picual extract (114.79 ± 4.19 µg GAE/g and 58.69 ± 1.03 µg CE/g, respectively). All three genotypes of olive leaves demonstrated significant antioxidant activity when using DPPH, reducing power and nitric oxide scavenging activity with IC50 ranging from 55.82 ± 0.13 to 19.03 ± 0.13 μg/mL. OLE showed a significant α-glucosidase inhibition activity and dose-dependent protection from hemolysis. In vivo experimentation revealed that the administration of OLE alone and the combination of OLE+ metformin clearly restored the blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin, lipid parameters and liver enzymes to the normal level. The histological examination revealed that the OLE and its combination with metformin successfully repaired the liver, kidneys and pancreatic tissues to bring them close to the normal status and maintain their functionality. (4) Conclusion: Finally, it can be concluded that the OLE and its combination with metformin is a promising treatment for diabetes mellitus type 2 due to their antioxidant activity, which emphasizes the potential use of OLE alone or as an adjuvant agent in the treatment protocol of diabetes mellitus type II

International Validation of the Immunoscore Biopsy in Patients With Rectal Cancer Managed by a Watch-and-Wait Strategy

PURPOSE: No biomarker capable of improving selection and monitoring of patients with rectal cancer managed by watch-and-wait (W&amp;W) strategy is currently available. Prognostic performance of the Immunoscore biopsy (IS ) was recently suggested in a preliminary study. METHODS: This international validation study included 249 patients with clinical complete response (cCR) managed by W&amp;W strategy. Intratumoral CD3+ and CD8+ T cells were quantified on pretreatment rectal biopsies by digital pathology and converted to IS . The primary end point was time to recurrence (TTR; the time from the end of neoadjuvant treatment to the date of local regrowth or distant metastasis). Associations between IS and outcomes were analyzed by stratified Cox regression adjusted for confounders. Immune status of tumor-draining lymph nodes (n = 161) of 17 additional patients treated by neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery was investigated by 3'RNA-Seq and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Recurrence-free rates at 5 years were 91.3% (82.4%-100.0%), 62.5% (53.2%-73.3%), and 53.1% (42.4%-66.5%) with IS High, IS Intermediate, and IS Low, respectively (hazard ratio [HR; Low High], 6.51; 95% CI, 1.99 to 21.28; log-rank = .0004). IS was also significantly associated with disease-free survival (log-rank = .0002), and predicted both local regrowth and distant metastasis. In multivariate analysis, IS was independent of patient age, sex, tumor location, cT stage (T, primary tumor; c, clinical), cN stage (N, regional lymph node; c, clinical), and was the strongest predictor for TTR (HR [IS High Low], 6.93; 95% CI, 2.08 to 23.15; = .0017). The addition of IS to a clinical-based model significantly improved the prediction of recurrence. Finally, B-cell proliferation and memory in draining lymph nodes was evidenced in the draining lymph nodes of patients with cCR. CONCLUSION: The IS is validated as a biomarker to predict both local regrowth and distant metastasis, with a gradual scaling of the risk of pejorative outcome

Association between transcatheter aortic valve replacement and subsequent infective endocarditis and in-hospital death

Importance Limited data exist on clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients who had infective endocarditis after undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Objective To determine the associated factors, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients who had infective endocarditis after TAVR. Design, Setting, and Participants The Infectious Endocarditis after TAVR International Registry included patients with definite infective endocarditis after TAVR from 47 centers from Europe, North America, and South America between June 2005 and October 2015. EXPOSURE Transcatheter aortic valve replacement for incidence of infective endocarditis and infective endocarditis for in-hospital mortality. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Infective endocarditis and in-hospital mortality after infective endocarditis. Results A total of 250 cases of infective endocarditis occurred in 20 006 patients after TAVR (incidence, 1.1% per person-year; 95% CI, 1.1%-1.4%; median age, 80 years; 64% men). Median time from TAVR to infective endocarditis was 5.3 months (interquartile range [IQR], 1.5-13.4 months). The characteristics associated with higher risk of progressing to infective endocarditis after TAVR was younger age (78.9 years vs 81.8 years; hazard ratio [HR], 0.97 per year; 95% CI, 0.94-0.99), male sex (62.0% vs 49.7%; HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.13-2.52), diabetes mellitus (41.7% vs 30.0%; HR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.02-2.29), and moderate to severe aortic regurgitation (22.4% vs 14.7%; HR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.28-3.28). Health care?associated infective endocarditis was present in 52.8% (95% CI, 46.6%-59.0%) of patients. Enterococci species and Staphylococcus aureus were the most frequently isolated microorganisms (24.6%; 95% CI, 19.1%-30.1% and 23.3%; 95% CI, 17.9%-28.7%, respectively). The in-hospital mortality rate was 36% (95% CI, 30.0%-41.9%; 90 deaths; 160 survivors), and surgery was performed in 14.8% (95% CI, 10.4%-19.2%) of patients during the infective endocarditis episode. In-hospital mortality was associated with a higher logistic EuroSCORE (23.1% vs 18.6%; odds ratio [OR], 1.03 per 1% increase; 95% CI, 1.00-1.05), heart failure (59.3% vs 23.7%; OR, 3.36; 95% CI, 1.74-6.45), and acute kidney injury (67.4% vs 31.6%; OR, 2.70; 95% CI, 1.42-5.11). The 2-year mortality rate was 66.7% (95% CI, 59.0%-74.2%; 132 deaths; 115 survivors). Conclusions and Relevance Among patients undergoing TAVR, younger age, male sex, history of diabetes mellitus, and moderate to severe residual aortic regurgitation were significantly associated with an increased risk of infective endocarditis. Patients who developed endocarditis had high rates of in-hospital mortality and 2-year mortalit