The Combined Effect of Hot Water Treatment and Chitosan Coating on Mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. Kent) Fruits to Control Postharvest Deterioration and Increase Fruit Quality

The synergistic effect of dipping in 55 °C for 5 min of hot water (HW) and 1% chitosan coating during the storage of mango at 13 ± 0.5 °C and 85%–90% relative humidity for 28 days was investigated. The combined treatment significantly suppressed the fruit decay percentage compared with both the single treatment and the control. In addition, the specific activities of key plant defense-related enzymes, including peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), markedly increased. The increase occurred in the pulp of the fruits treated with the combined treatment compared to those treated with HW or chitosan alone. While the control fruits showed the lowest values, the combination of pre-storage HW treatment and chitosan coating maintained higher values of flesh hue angle (h°), vitamin C content, membrane stability index (MSI) percentage, as well as lower weight loss compared with the untreated mango fruits. The combined treatment and chitosan treatment alone delayed fruit ripening by keeping fruit firmness, lessening the continuous increase of total soluble solids (TSS), and slowing the decrease in titratable acidity (TA). The results showed that the combined application of HW treatment and chitosan coating can be used as an effective strategy to suppress postharvest decay and improve the quality of mango fruits.

Non-respiratory functions of lungs in experimental intracerebral hemorage during fingolimod injection

Introduction. Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is frequently accompanied by respiratory system complications. One of the correction method of post stroke complications is administration of immunosuppressive drug fingolimod. Theobjective of the study is to investigate non-respiratory lung functions in experimental ICH during fingolimod treatment. Materials and methods. Animals were divided into 3 groups: group 1 with ICH, group 2 with ICH receiving fingolimod and group 3 as reference group. Intracranial hemorrhage was modelled by 160 μl autologic blood injection into lateral brain ventricle (P=0.6; D=1.5; V=3.5). Fingolimod (FTY 720, «Sigma») was administered within 1 hour after ICH (intraabdominal, 1 mg/kg). Biochemistry and functional parameters of the lung surfactant in animals were studied. Phospholipids fractions spectrum was assessed by thin-layer chromatography, superficial surfactant activity by Wilhelmi method. Parameters of water metabolism, pulmonary blood filling were studied by gravimetric method. Level of blood nitric oxide was estimated by amount of nitrates and nitrites stable terminal metabolites. Results. We revealed that experimental ICH causes a decrease of alveolar stability index by 9 %, decrease of total alveolar phospholipids content by 25 % and change of its fraction composition, i.e. decrease of major surface active fraction (phosphatidylcholine) by 68 %, increase of phosphatidic acid amount by 151 % and increase of lisophosphatidylcholine by 163 %. Besides that, experimental ICH is followed by lung edema on the lung blood filling background and increase of blood NO. Fingolimod administration does not affect surfactant surface activity but totally corrects water balance, lung blood filling and blood NO content.

ECOLOGICAL PLASTICITY AND STABILITY OF PROSPECTIVE PEA LINES

The studies were carried out in order to assess the parameters of the adaptability of promising pea samples in terms of yield to identify the best genotypes for the conditions of middle Volga region. The work was carried out in 2018-2020 in the central zone of Ulyanovsk region. The object of the research was 10 pea samples, the standard was Ukaz variety. According to the methods of S.A. Eberhart, W.A. Russell, V.V. Khangildina and S.P. Martynova determined the adaptability of breeding samples using the following indicators: coefficient of variation (V%), homeostaticity (Hom), breeding value (Sc), stability index (Sj2), linear coefficient regression (bi), point stability estimate (Hi). On average, over three years of research, the greatest increase in yield, compared to the standard, was noted for Ulyanovskiy yubileiny variety - 0.43 t/ha. The genotypes of Ulyanovskiy yubileiny, Viridis and line 657/14 with the smallest values of the coefficients of variation - 14.6, 22.4, 23.4%, respectively, are attributed to the most stable in terms of the coefficient of variation V. The most valuable in terms of plasticity and stability were the Ukaz variety (bi=1.15 and Sj2=0.02) and line 559/11 (1.14 and 0.00 respectively). Line 621/14 (bi=1.42 and Sj2=0.15) was recognized as an intensive variety with very low phenotypic stability and line 752/14 (1.29 and 0.11 respectively), with a reduced variety. Lines 215/11, 533/14, 657/14 were distinguished by very high phenotypic stability (bi=0,91…1,07, Sj2=0,00…0,03). The highest level of homeostaticity in combination with breeding value was observed in the promising pea cultivar Ulyanovskiy Yubileiny (Hom=15.33 and Sc=1.67) and line 215/11 (Hom=7.74 and Sc=1.22). According to the point assessment of Hi stability, significant advantages were revealed in Ulyanovskiy yubileiny variety (Hi =4.22) and line 215/11 (1.33). According to the sum of the ranks of the six parameters of adaptability, the leading positions were occupied by lines 533/14 (27), 215/11 (32) and promising varieties Ulyanovskiy yubileiny (32), Viridis (32). According to the test results, two samples in 2020 were submitted for state variety testing

Effect of poloidal equilibrium flow and pressure gradient on the m/n = 2/1 tearing mode

The effect of equilibrium poloidal flow and pressure gradient on the m/n = 2/1 (m is the poloidal mode number and n is the toroidal mode number) tearing mode instability for tokamak plasmas is investigated. Based on the condition of ≠0 ( is plasma pressure), the radial part of motion equation is derived and approximately solved for large poloidal mode numbers (m). By solving partial differential equation (Whittaker equation) containing second order singularity, the tearing mode stability index Δ′ is obtained. It is shown that, the effect of equilibrium poloidal flow and pressure gradient has the adverse effect on the tearing mode instability when the pressure gradient is nonzero. The poloidal equilibrium flow with pressure perturbation partially reduces the stability of the classical tearing mode. But the larger pressure gradient in a certain poloidal flow velocity range can abate the adverse influence of equilibrium poloidal flow and pressure gradient. The numerical results do also indicate that the derivative of pressure gradient has a significant influence on the determination of instability region of the poloidal flow with pressure perturbation.

Can the incorporation of different concentrations of buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) oil change the rheological properties of filmogenic solutions? A factorial experimental design approach

Background: Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) oil has high economic potential because it contains monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids with high antioxidant potential and high carotenoid content, making it an excellent source of pro-vitamin A. Objective: The objective of this work was to evaluate the rheological properties of filmogenic solutions incorporated with different buriti oil concentrations. Methods: Buriti oil (0.15 to 0.45 % w/v) and emulsifier (Tween®20) (0.02 to 0.04 % w/v) were combined using a factorial experimental design 22 with 3 central points for the preparation of filmogenic solutions with cassava starch (3%, w/v) and glycerol (0.06%, w/v). Rheological properties, static and centrifugation emulsion stabilities, and pH value of filmogenic solutions were evaluated. Results: Filmogenic solutions with lower emulsifier concentration showed increased flow resistance and non-Newtonian and pseudoplastic behavior (n<1). Central point formulation (E, F, and G) remained stable (no particle agglomeration) throughout the test period as well as pH value close to neutrality. In centrifugation stability index at 3500 rpm, only formulation C did not show phase separation. Conclusion: It was possible to develop a mixture of a filmogenic solution containing buriti oil that could be applied as an eco-friendly coating in food.

Develop an integrating coagulation and RO systems to treat highly turbid water using synthesized coagulants

In the present study coagulation process was used as pretreatment for the RO membrane with turbid raw water collected from Bisalpur Dam, Rajasthan, India. To optimize coagulation performance, three kinds of coagulants, namely, Alum (commercially available), synthesized inorganic polymeric coagulant-medium basicity (IPC-M), and inorganic polymeric coagulant-ultra high basicity (IPC-UH) were examined for turbidity removal with varying operating parameters. It was observed that in the optimum pH range of 6–7, the IPC-UH resulted as the best performing coagulant with 0.99 mg/L equivalent Al2O3 dose revealing 2 NTU residual turbidity and residual aluminium of 0.001 mg/L. Moreover, Langelier saturation index and Ryznar stability index values were evaluated at optimum conditions of all the three coagulants proclaiming negligible scaling potential. Furthermore, the coagulant-treated water (100 L) was fed to the RO membrane, and the performance was noted in terms of flux, pressure, and TDS. It was observed that IPC-UH has the lowest reduction in permeate flux of 0.78 L/min/m2 compared to commercially available coagulant alum (0.90 L/min/m2). Also, the increased feed pressure was observed for all the coagulants treated water with the lowest value of 2.3 kg/cm2 for IPC-UH, which was 2.5 kg/cm2 for Alum (commercially available coagulant). Henceforth, integration of coagulation before the RO system resulted in effective pretreatment of turbid water with very minute scaling.

Application of AIRS Soundings to Afternoon Convection Forecasting and Nowcasting at Airports

In Taiwan, the frequency of afternoon convection increases in summer (July and August), and the peak hour of afternoon convection occurs at 1500–1600 local solar time (LST). Afternoon convection events are forecasted based on the atmospheric stability index, as computed from the 0800 LST radiosonde data. However, the temporal and spatial resolution and forecast precision are not satisfactory. This study used the observation data of Aqua satellite overpass near Taiwan around 1–3 h before the occurrence of afternoon convection. Its advantages are that it improves the prediction accuracy and increases the data coverage area, which means that more airports can use results of this research, especially those without radiosondes. In order to determine the availability of Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) in Taiwan, 2010–2016 AIRS and radiosonde-sounding data were used to determine the accuracy of AIRS. This study also used 2017–2018 AIRS data to establish K index (KI) and total precipitable water (TPW) thresholds for the occurrence of afternoon convection of four airports in Taiwan. Finally, the KI and TPW were calculated using the independent AIRS atmospheric sounding (2019–2020) to forecast the occurrence of afternoon convection at each airport. The average predictive accuracy rate of the four airports is 84%. Case studies at Hualien Airport show the average predictive accuracy rate of this study is 81.8%, which is 9.1% higher than that of the traditional sounding forecast (72.7%) during the same period. Research results show that using AIRS data to predict afternoon convection in this study could not only increase data coverage area but also improve the accuracy of the prediction effectively.

The effects of ankle Kinesiotaping on postural control in healthy taekwondo athletes

Background and Study Aim. Although Kinesiotape is widely used by athletes, information about its effect is unclear. Its effect on postural control might directly affect an athlete's performance. In this study, it is aimed to find out whether ankle Kinesiotaping in taekwondo athletes affects postural control. Material and Methods. Twenty-four healthy university students – taekwondo athletes (12 females, 12 males) were included in the study voluntarily (Age 21.00 ± 1.53 years; height 173.33 ± 7.29 cm; body weight 63.41 ± 9.41 kg). Kinesiotape was carried out to the dominant ankle of the participants. Kinesiotape was applied supportively to peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, and tibiofibular ligament. All participants were taken to postural control measurements twice with Kinesiotape (KT) and without KT. Postural control was measured using the Biodex Balance System with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). Overall Stability Index (OSI), anterior-posterior sway (AP) and medio-lateral sway (ML) scores were used in the evaluation of postural control. Wilcoxon test was used to compare balance scores under EO condition, and the t-test was used for dependent groups to compare balance scores under EC condition. Results. In EO condition, no significant difference was found between OSI, AP, and ML scores of the taekwondo athletes with KT and without KT (p > 0.05). In EC condition, no significant difference was found between OSI, AP, and ML scores of male taekwondo athletes with KT and without KT (p > 0.05). It was found that Kinesiotape in EC condition decreased OSI and AP sway scores in female taekwondo athletes (p < 0.05). Conclusions. It was determined that ankle Kinesiotaping of taekwondo athletes did not change the postural balance in EO condition. In EC condition it did not change the postural sway of male taekwondo athletes, but it improved the postural control performances of female taekwondo athletes.

Goldenberry (Physalis peruviana L.) seed oil: press extraction, optimization, characterization, and oxidative stability

In order to optimize the screw-press extraction conditions of oil from goldenberry (Physalis peruviana L.) seeds obtained from nectar processing waste, a face centered design was applied. The oil was extracted at different temperatures (60, 80, and 100°C) and seed moisture contents (8, 10, and 12%). Oil recovery (OR) increased and residual oil in the cake decreased significantly as moisture content and temperature were reduced; oil moisture and volatile matter as well as acid value, K232, K268, and p-anisidine, respectively, decreased proportionally with the moisture extraction. Thus, the highest OR (86.4%) and the best quality were obtained at 8% moisture content and 60°C pressing temperature. Under these conditions, the extracted oil presented high linoleic acid (76.0%), iodine value (140.0 mg I2/g), and refractive index (1.4769). The oil stability index, measured by Rancimat, varied from 3.65 h (120°C) to 14.87 h (100°C); the predicted shelf life at 25°C was 120.4 days and the activation energy was 85.6 kJ/mol. The results highlighted that screw-pressing of goldenberry seeds provides quality oil without employing polluting and hazardous solvents.