Pomegranate peels waste hydrolyzate optimization by Response Surface Methodology for Bioethanol production

Unwanted agricultural waste is largely comprised of lignocellulosic substrate which could be transformed into sugars. The production of bioethanol from garbage manifested an agreeable proposal towards waste management as well as energy causation. The goal of this work is to optimize parameters for generation of bioethanol through fermentation by different yeast strains while Saccharomyces cerevisiae used as standard strain. The low cost fermentable sugars from pomegranate peels waste (PPW) were obtained by hydrolysis with HNO₃ (1 to 5%). The optimum levels of hydrolysis time and temperature were elucidated via RSM (CCD) ranging from 30 to 60 min and 50 to 100 °C respectively. The result shows that optimum values (g/L) for reducing sugars was 61.45 ± 0.01 while for total carbohydrates was 236 ± 0.01. These values were found when PPW was hydrolyzed with 3% HNO₃, at 75 °C for one hour. The hydrolyzates obtained from the dilute HNO₃ pretreated PPW yielded a maximum of 0.43 ± 0.04, 0.41 ± 0.03 g ethanol per g of reducing sugars by both Metchnikowia sp. Y31 and M. cibodasensis Y34 at day 7 of ethanologenic experiment. The current study exhibited that by fermentation of dilute HNO₃ hydrolyzates of PPW could develop copious amount of ethanol by optimized conditions.     

纤维桩、纳米复合树脂结合氧化锆烤瓷冠对根管治疗后后牙楔状缺损患者美学效果及牙周组织的影响

摘要 目的：探讨纤维桩、纳米复合树脂结合氧化锆烤瓷冠对根管治疗后后牙楔状缺损患者美学效果及牙周组织的影响。方法：选取2018年1月至2019年3月期间我院收治的103例患者作为研究对象,按修复材料的不同分为对照组（n=52,患牙62颗）和研究组（n=51,患牙63颗）。对照组给予金属桩核、金属烤瓷冠修复,研究组给予纤维桩、纳米复合树脂结合氧化锆烤瓷冠修复。修复1年后,评价两组的修复成功率和修复效果。比较两组修复前及修复后1年的牙龈指数、菌斑指数、牙周探诊深度、龈沟液量及龈沟液中碱性磷酸酶（ALP）、天门冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）水平。结果：研究组的修复成功率比对照组高（P<0.05）。研究组修复体的表面光滑率、边缘密合性、固定良好率及颜色匹配率均明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。两组治疗后牙龈指数、菌斑指数及牙周探诊深度均明显低于治疗前（P<0.05）,龈沟液量及龈沟液中ALP、AST水平均明显低于治疗前（P<0.05）,同时研究组治疗后牙龈指数、菌斑指数及牙周探诊深度均低于对照组（P<0.05）,但两组治疗后龈沟液量及龈沟液中ALP、AST水平比较无差异（P>0.05）。结论：纤维桩、纳米复合树脂结合氧化锆烤瓷冠对根管治疗后后牙楔状缺损的修复成功率高,修复后美学效果佳,对牙周组织影响小。     

Neuroregenerative effects of olfactory ensheathing cells transplanted in a multi-layered conductive nanofibrous conduit in peripheral nerve repair in rats

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a multi-layered conductive nanofibrous hollow conduit in combination with olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC) to promote peripheral nerve regeneration. We aimed to harness both the topographical and electrical cues of the aligned conductive nanofibrous single-walled carbon nanotube/ poly (_L-lactic acid) (SWCNT/PLLA) scaffolds along with the neurotrophic features of OEC in a nerve tissue engineered approach.

Results

We demonstrated that SWCNT/PLLA composite scaffolds support the adhesion, growth, survival and proliferation of OEC. Using microsurgical techniques, the tissue engineered nerve conduits were interposed into an 8 mm gap in sciatic nerve defects in rats. Functional recovery was evaluated using sciatic functional index (SFI) fortnightly after the surgery. Histological analyses including immunohistochemistry for S100 and NF markers along with toluidine blue staining (nerve thickness) and TEM imaging (myelin sheath thickness) of the sections from middle and distal parts of nerve grafts showed an increased regeneration in cell/scaffold group compared with cell-free scaffold and silicone groups. Neural regeneration in cell/scaffold group was very closely similar to autograft group, as deduced from SFI scores and histological assessments.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that the tissue engineered construct made of rolled sheet of SWCNT/PLLA nanofibrous scaffolds and OEC could promote axonal outgrowth and peripheral nerve regeneration suggesting them as a promising alternative in nerve tissue engineering.     

Use and influence of composite indicators for sustainable development at the EU-level

Considering the on-going strive towards new, alternative indicators to measure our societal development pathways, and the fact that policy indicators remain largely enigmatic with regard to their patterns of embeddedness in institutional decision-making processes, it appears necessary to work towards reducing our lack of understanding of their interactions with policy-making. In the present paper, we focus on exploring the significance of composite indicators for policy making in the particular policy environment of the EU-institutions. Our research is underpinned by the conviction that such indicators are not systematically used directly, but have an indirect influence on policy making that needs to be better understood. Our analytical framework – in order to analyse the ways in which composite indicators enter policy processes – is characterised by the distinction between the ‘use’ and the ‘influence’ of indicators on the one hand, and on the other hand between 3 types of factors: indicator factors, policy factors and user factors. Our empirical results show that while most of the academic attention and political debate around indicators has tended to focus on ‘indicator factors’, such quality attributes actually mattered relatively little in our setting as determinants of indicator influence. This rejects the idea that the robustness of evidence would lie exclusively in its technical quality and in the independence of its producer, and instead calls attention to the processes of evidence-construction. Simultaneously, ‘user factors’ (beliefs and representations of policy actors) and ‘policy factors’ (institutional context) were crucial as explanatory factors of the policy mechanics we identified.     

The thermodynamic basis for the use of lipophilic efficiency (LipE) in enthalpic optimizations

Approaches to improve the efficiency of molecular optimizations have received great attention and numerous efficiency metrics have been introduced to assist in this effort. Optimization of properties is equally important to optimization of potency and therefore these metrics contain potency versus property calculations. Widespread use of a metric does not guarantee its accuracy and a further understanding of which, if any, metric increases the probability of success was sought. An analysis of LE, LELP and LipE based on theoretical and experimental data was performed demonstrating that LipE most strongly correlates with compound quality as defined by enthalpy-driven binding. The basis for the prioritization of LipE over other metrics in enthalpic optimizations is described.     

Synthesis of fatty acid methyl ester from palm oil (Elaeis guineensis) with Ky(MgCa)2xO3 as heterogeneous catalyst

Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were produced from palm oil using eggshell modified with magnesium and potassium nitrates to form a composite, low-cost heterogeneous catalyst for transesterification. The catalyst, prepared by the combination of impregnation/co-precipitation was calcined at 830 °C for 4 h. Transesterification was conducted at a constant temperature of 65 °C in a batch reactor. Design of experiment (DOE) was used to optimize the reaction parameters, and the conditions that gave highest yield of FAME (85.8%) was 5.35 wt.% catalyst loading at 4.5 h with 16:1 methanol/oil molar ratio. The results revealed that eggshell, a solid waste, can be utilized as low-cost catalyst after modification with magnesium and potassium nitrates for biodiesel production.     

Preparation and quality by design assisted (Qb-d) optimization of bioceramic loaded microspheres for periodontal delivery of doxycycline hyclate

PLGA (Lactic- co-glycolic acid) coated chitosan microspheres loaded with hydroxyapatite and doxycycline hyclate complex were developed in the present study for periodontal delivery. A modified single emulsion method was adopted for the development of microspheres. Formulation was optimized on the basis of particle size, drug loading and encapsulation efficiency with the central composite design using 2³ factorial design. Microspheres were optimized and electron microscopy revealed their spherical shape and porous nature. In-vitro study showed initial burst and then sustained release behavior of the formulation for 14 days. Further, in-vitro antibacterial study performed on E. coli (ATCC-25922) and S. aureus (ATCC-29213) revealed concentration dependent activity. Also, in-vitro cyto-toxicity assessment ensures biocompatibility of the formulation with the fibroblast’s cells. Overall, the quality by design assisted PLGA microspheres, demonstrated the desired attributes and were found suitable for periodontal drug delivery.     

Assessment of conditions affecting <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis> <Emphasis Type="Italic">rhizogenes</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of soybean

Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation has become a powerful tool for studying gene function and root biology due to its quick and simple methodology. This transformation method is particularly suitable for those plants, including legumes, whose transformation using Agrobacterium tumefaciens has been challenging. Although there are some reports on A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation of legumes to produce ‘composite’ plants, conditions influencing A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] have not been yet fully investigated. To better understand A. rhizogenes-mediated root transformation in soybean, we have evaluated the impact of genotype, plant age for infection, bacterial inoculating concentration, inoculation temperature, and other factors on transformation of soybean. The results have shown that there are significant differences among soybean genotypes in their susceptibility to A. rhizogenes. Soybean cv. Zigongdongdou is the most susceptible to A. rhizogenes strain K599 among 10 genotypes tested. The effects of seedling age have been evaluated, and 1-day-old plantlets are found to be optimal for hairy root induction. There are no significant differences in hairy root induction for bacterial suspension from OD₆₀₀ = 0.2 to OD₆₀₀ = 1.2. Under 16 h photoperiod, hairy roots can be induced both at 23°C/20°C and 28°C/25°C, but not at 33°C/30°C as day/night temperature regimes. Using this transformation protocol, almost 100% of the composite plants formed hairy roots within 2 weeks, and based on GUS histochemical analysis, 94.2% transformation frequency is obtained. Transgene integration has been also confirmed by Southern blot analysis. D. Cao and W. Hou contributed equally to this work.     

驼乳源益生菌对db/db鼠肠道菌群的调节作用

目的 探究驼乳来源复合益生菌对db/db鼠血糖及肠道菌群的调节作用。方法 将60只db/db鼠随机分为5组,每组12只,分别为模型组、二甲双胍组、利拉鲁肽组、低剂量复合益生菌组和高剂量复合益生菌组,12只C57BL/Ks小鼠为正常对照组。阳性药组分别灌胃0.3 mg/g二甲双胍及皮下注射0.2 μg/g利拉鲁肽,低剂量复合益生菌组灌胃乳酸菌1.0×108 CFU/d和酵母菌1.0×106 CFU/d,高剂量复合益生菌组灌胃乳酸菌1.0×1010 CFU/d和酵母菌1.0×108 CFU/d,其他组灌胃生理盐水。血糖仪检测空腹血糖（FBG）及不同时间段血糖水平。ELISA法检测糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）含量。实时荧光定量PCR检测粪便菌群含量。结果 与模型组相比,低、高剂量复合益生菌组FBG水平明显减少,改善葡萄糖耐受（OGTT）能力,降低HbA1c含量。与模型组相比,低、高剂量复合益生菌组显著降低厚壁菌门、放线菌门和大肠埃希菌属水平,增加拟杆菌门、乳杆菌属和双歧杆菌属水平,但对总菌与梭杆菌属无影响。结论 驼乳来源复合益生菌可通过调节肠道菌群降低db/db鼠血糖含量。     

空心莲子草DNA溶液浸胚处理水稻的变异系分子检测及耐旱性评价

通过SSR标记检测了以空心莲子草DNA溶液浸胚处理获得的10个农艺性状稳定遗传的水稻变异系,结果表明,10个水稻变异系均整合了供体空心莲子草DNA的部分片段。在此基础上,以8个水稻变异系及2个对照为试验材料,采用二因素裂区设计,并以主成分分析、逐步回归分析等多种统计方法分析了变异系的耐旱性。结果表明,以综合评价指标与耐旱指数相结合的复合评价体系,可增强水稻耐旱评价的可靠性。导入系H8最耐旱,H6和H7较耐旱,均优于巴西陆稻。本研究结果对水稻的耐旱性评价与耐旱品种选育具有重要意义。