Investigation of Post Harvesting Time and Size Effects on Tomato Mechanical Strength under Quais-Static Loading

ABSTRACT Reduce waste maintain quality of agricultural products and the optimal design of machines and processing equipment, knowing the mechanical properties are essential. In this study, using a Texture analyzer on the fruit of tomato, Early kind of CH, mechanical stress testing within a factorial experiment in completely randomized design factors independent of fruit size (S), at three levels, time after harvest (T), as well as three levels, on the mechanical properties, force and required energy to Relaxation percent of fruit, were studied. Analysis of variance showed that with increasing size of tomatoes, compressive power and energy increases with increasing time after harvest, but energy and relaxation force at the time (t 2 ) increased, but at the time (t 3 ) decreased. The interaction results show that the more fruit size is great, the compressive force and power of fruit were also increased and this effect for investigate relaxation feature (R %) till 24 hours after harvest for the average size would be increased but with time after harvest was reduced to 72 hours

Formation and Stability of Lipid Membrane Nanotubes

Lipid membrane nanotubes are abundant in living cells, even though tubules are energetically less stable than sheet-like structures. According to membrane elastic theory, the tubular endoplasmic reticulum (ER), with its high area-to-volume ratio, appears to be particularly unstable. We explore how tubular membrane structures can nevertheless be induced and why they persist. In Monte Carlo simulations of a fluid–elastic membrane model subject to thermal fluctuations and without constraints on symmetry, we find that a steady increase in the area-to-volume ratio readily induces tubular structures. In simulations mimicking the ER wrapped around the cell nucleus, tubules emerge naturally as the membrane area increases. Once formed, a high energy barrier separates tubules from the thermodynamically favored sheet-like membrane structures. Remarkably, this barrier persists even at large area-to-volume ratios, protecting tubules against shape transformations despite enormous driving forces toward sheet-like structures. Molecular dynamics simulations of a molecular membrane model confirm the metastability of tubular structures. Volume reduction by osmotic regulation and membrane area growth by lipid production and by fusion of small vesicles emerge as powerful factors in the induction and stabilization of tubular membrane structures

Formation and Stability of Lipid Membrane Nanotubes

Lipid membrane nanotubes are abundant in living cells, even though tubules are energetically less stable than sheet-like structures. According to membrane elastic theory, the tubular endoplasmic reticulum (ER), with its high area-to-volume ratio, appears to be particularly unstable. We explore how tubular membrane structures can nevertheless be induced and why they persist. In Monte Carlo simulations of a fluid–elastic membrane model subject to thermal fluctuations and without constraints on symmetry, we find that a steady increase in the area-to-volume ratio readily induces tubular structures. In simulations mimicking the ER wrapped around the cell nucleus, tubules emerge naturally as the membrane area increases. Once formed, a high energy barrier separates tubules from the thermodynamically favored sheet-like membrane structures. Remarkably, this barrier persists even at large area-to-volume ratios, protecting tubules against shape transformations despite enormous driving forces toward sheet-like structures. Molecular dynamics simulations of a molecular membrane model confirm the metastability of tubular structures. Volume reduction by osmotic regulation and membrane area growth by lipid production and by fusion of small vesicles emerge as powerful factors in the induction and stabilization of tubular membrane structures

Energy use and sensitivity analysis of energy with economical models for rice production in Iran semi-mechanized system

The aims of this study were to investigate influences of energy inputs and energy forms on output levels and evaluation of inputs sensitivity for rice production in Mazandaran province, Iran. The sensitivity of energy inputs was estimated using the marginal physical productivity (MPP) method and partial regression coefficients on rice yield. Data were collected from 72 rice farms in September 2016. The sample volume was determined by random sampling method. Total energy input was found to be 61.23 GJ ha−1 and total energy output was calculated as 139.11 GJ ha−1. The highest average energy consumption of inputs was for Irrigation canal (40.51 GJ ha−1) which was accounted for about 66% of the total energy input. Econometric model evaluation showed that the machinery energy was the most significant input affecting the output level. Sensitivity analysis results indicate that with an additional use of 1 MJ of each machinery and Toxin energy, would lead to an additional increase in yield by 0.903 and 0.511 kg, respectively. The MPP of human labor and seeds was negative. It can be because of applying the inputs more than required or improperly applying.Uso de energía y análisis de sensibilidad de la energía con modelos económicos para la producción de arroz en el sistema semi-mecanizado de IránResumenLos objetivos de este estudio fueron investigar las influencias de los insumos energéticos y las formas de energía en los niveles de producción y la evaluación para la producción de arroz en la provincia de Mazandaran, Irán. La sensibilidad de los insumos de energía se estimó utilizando el método de productividad física marginal y los coeficientes de regresión parcial en el rendimiento del arroz. Los datos se recolectaron de 72 granjas de arroz en septiembre de 2016. El volumen de la muestra se determinó mediante un método de muestreo aleatorio. Se encontró que la entrada de energía total era de 61.23 GJ ha − 1 y la salida de energía total se calculó como 139.11 GJ ha − 1. El consumo de energía promedio más alto de los insumos fue para el canal de riego (40.51 GJ ha − 1), que representó aproximadamente el 66% del aporte energético total. La evaluación del modelo econométrico mostró que la energía de la maquinaria fue la entrada más importante que afectó el nivel de salida. Los resultados del análisis de sensibilidad indican que con un uso adicional de 1 MJ de cada maquinaria, se produciría un aumento adicional en el rendimiento en 0.903 y 0.511 kg, respectivamente. La  productividad física marginal del trabajo humano y las semillas fue negativa, ésto puede ser debido a la aplicación constante de las entradas.

Curvature-Mediated Assembly of Janus Nanoparticles on Membrane Vesicles

Besides direct particle–particle interactions, nanoparticles adsorbed to biomembranes experience indirect interactions that are mediated by the membrane curvature arising from particle adsorption. In this Letter, we show that the curvature-mediated interactions of adsorbed Janus particles depend on the initial curvature of the membrane prior to adsorption, that is, on whether the membrane initially bulges toward or away from the particles in our simulations. The curvature-mediated interaction can be strongly attractive for Janus particles adsorbed to the outside of a membrane vesicle, which initially bulges away from the particles. For Janus particles adsorbed to the vesicle inside, in contrast, the curvature-mediated interactions are repulsive. We find that the area fraction of the adhesive Janus particle surface is an important control parameter for the curvature-mediated interaction and assembly of the particles, besides the initial membrane curvature

Sustainable production of cellulose nanofiber from sugarcane trash: A quality and life cycle assessment

Developing green processes in the chemistry and engineering domains is one of the most significant challenges for sustainable production. Sugarcane trash (ST) generated during the sugar extraction process is an excellent feedstock for the production of cellulose nanofibers (CNF). Four distinct routes for CNF production from ST has been designed. The OTH procedure included an Organosolv pretreatment, TEMPO oxidation, and High-pressure homogenization; the OLH procedure included an Organosolv pretreatment followed by Lime juice hydrolysis. Alkaline pretreatment, TEMPO oxidation and High-pressure homogenization comprised the ATH. The ALH consisted of Alkaline pretreatment, lime juice hydrolysis, and High-pressure homogenization. The characterization of the CNF samples revealed excellent purity and crystallinity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterize the synthesized CNF. X-ray diffractograms (XRD) showed a crystallinity value of 64.28 %, 69.52 %, 60.54 %, and 68.81 % for OTH, OLH, ATH, and ALH, respectively. The OTH route produced the highest yield of cellulose (0.98 g/g ST) while the OTH and OLH routes produced high yields of CNF (0.34 g/g ST). Environmental parameters associated with the processes used to obtain CNF from ST were evaluated to achieve sustainable production and asses the environmental impact, including EcoScale (ES) and Life Cycle Analyses (LCA). EcoScale analysis assigned the OTH method a score of 84 and OLH, ALH, and ATH methods 74, 67, and 74, respectively. The life cycle assessment results indicated that the ATH method had a relatively low environmental impact across all impact categories. Finally, comparing CNF value to other carbon nanomaterials, the CNF derived from biomass was found to have a low environmental impactThe authors are grateful to the Research Council of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz for financial support (GN: SCU.AA99.585

Scaffolding the cup-shaped double membrane in autophagy

Autophagy is a physiological process for the recycling and degradation of cellular materials. Forming the autophagosome from the phagophore, a cup-shaped double-membrane vesicle, is a critical step in autophagy. The origin of the cup shape of the phagophore is poorly understood. In yeast, fusion of a small number of Atg9-containing vesicles is considered a key step in autophagosome biogenesis, aided by Atg1 complexes (ULK1 in mammals) localized at the preautophagosomal structure (PAS). In particular, the S-shaped Atg17-Atg31-Atg29 subcomplex of Atg1 is critical for phagophore nucleation at the PAS. To study this process, we simulated membrane remodeling processes in the presence and absence of membrane associated Atg17. We show that at least three vesicles need to fuse to induce the phagophore shape, consistent with experimental observations. However, fusion alone is not sufficient. Interactions with 34-nm long, S-shaped Atg17 complexes are required to overcome a substantial kinetic barrier in the transition to the cup-shaped phagophore. Our finding rationalizes the recruitment of Atg17 complexes to the yeast PAS, and their unusual shape. In control simulations without Atg17, with weakly binding Atg17, or with straight instead of S-shaped Atg17, the membrane shape transition did not occur. We confirm the critical role of Atg17-membrane interactions experimentally by showing that mutations of putative membrane interaction sites result in reduction or loss of autophagic activity in yeast. Fusion of a small number of vesicles followed by Atg17-guided membrane shape-remodeling thus emerges as a viable route to phagophore formation