Standardization of optimum sieve size for maximizing seed quality in Amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor L.)

Vegetables have a critical function in human health and nutritional security. Vegetables are considered an essential building block of any diet. Out of the leafy vegetables, Amaranthus is the most popular and salable vegetable consumed by people all over India. Seed processing experiment was undertaken in Amaranthus tricolor (CO 2) by using the sieves placed inside the mechanical seed shaker (Gyratory sieve shaker) to improve the quality of Amaranthus seeds. The seeds of Amaranthus were size graded with seed shaker attached with various sieve size of BSS 18 X18 (R), BSS 20 X 20 (R), BSS 22 X 22 (R) and BSP 22 X 22 (P). During processing, the machine could be adjusted for 2, 3, 4 and 5 minutes with an oscillating speed of 1440 rpm. The separated seeds were evaluated for seed quality characteristics such as seed germination percentage, shoot length, root length, dry matter production, 1000 seed weight and seed recovery percentage. The results revealed that the sieve size of BSS 22 X 22 (R=retained) mesh sieve had the better quality seeds with a maximum recovery of 67.41 g and when it is operated for a period of 5 minutes. The germination percentage was improved from 77 % to 95 % with 1000 seed weight of 73.21 mg, and the observed recovery was 56 per cent with the vigour index of 1145. Hence, BSS 22 X 22 retained mesh sieve with a duration of 5 minutes could be recommended as an optimum sieve size for grading Amaranthus seeds for improving the seed quality.

Characteristics of Composite Flour (Biang fish Ilisha elongata and Sago) For the Development of Good Nutritional Food Products

Composite flour is a mixture of fish flour and sago flour to increase nutrition in food products. This study aims to increase the nutritional value of food products with sago flour as raw material. Composite flour from fish and sago flour were 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% Biang fish to the amount of sago flour. The results of the research on fish flour Ilisha elongata showed a yellowish-white color with a whiteness degree of 75.8%. Fish flour has a yield of 28.9% with a fineness level on a 100-mesh sieve. The results show the characteristics of the composite flour of Biang fish and sago, respectively, the color of the flour was white-gray to cream color; having nutritional characteristics, respectively, the moisture content is 9.62%; 9.57%; 9.55%; 9.42%; 9.26%, and 9.20%. The protein content was 0.25%; 3.58%; 4.09%; 4.99%; 5.98%, and 6.39%. The fat content was 0.41%, 0.24%, 0.29%; 0.37%; 0.40%; 0.42%. The ash contained 0.27%, 0.34%, 0.50%, 0.57%, 0.69%, and 0.76%. The carbohydrates were 89.45%; 86.27%; 85.57%; 84.65%; 83.67%, and 83.23%. The calcium content was 1130 mg/kg; 1901 mg/kg; 2687 mg/kg; 2770 mg/kg; 2827 mg/kg and 2869 mg/kg. The addition of fish flour can increase the nutritional value of composite flour made from sago flour and has the potential to develop nutritious food products.

Parameters affecting oil extraction from rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) seed

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) seed is commonly discarded as waste. This seed contains abundant fat that is a valuable source for vegetable oil production. To utilize this seed as a potential oil source for the human diet, this research investigated some technical variables in solvent extraction affecting the yield and quality of vegetable oil. The present research focused on the effect of particle seed size (48-28 mesh sieve), mixture of ethanol/ethyl acetate (1/1, 2/1, 3/1, 1/2, 1/3), solvent to solid ratio (5/1, 6/1, 7/1, 8/1, 9/1), extraction temperature (40–60 °C) and extraction time (30–90 min). Results showed that rambutan seed should be finely ground to 35 mesh sieve, soaked with ethanol/ethyl acetate (3/1, v/v) for 30 min, solvent/material ratio (7/1, v/w), extraction temperature (50 °C) in 60, 75, 90 min to obtain the high recovery efficiency (95.70±0.01 %) and medium antioxidant potential (total phenolic content: 14.97±0.01 mg GAE/g, total carotenoid content: 109.58±0.02 mg/kg); the low percentage of inhibition to radical DPPH (20.45±0.00 mg/ml), low peroxide value (1.49±0.03 mEq/kg), acid value (1.39±0.02 mg KOH/gm), iodine value (18.27±0.00 gm/100 gm), saponification value (86.15±0.03 mg KOH/gm). Comparing to TCVN 7597: 2013, the extracted rambutan seed oil had oxidative indicators within the acceptable limit. This rambutan seed oil would be a potential ingredient for cosmetic and personal health care industries.

A Comparison of Organic Cement Made from Recycled Waste Material and Portland Cement

Organic cement is an environmentally friendly alternative to Portland cement which is acquired by recycled organic waste and Mediterranean soil. Waste management is a global problem. The physical characteristic test results of the organic cement show that the weight test of fresh organic concrete is 2081kg/m³ and the dry weight of concrete is 2032kg/m³ which are smaller than Portland cement concrete's which are 2525kg/m³ and 2405 kg/m³ respectively. The fineness of alternative cement grains that passed the 200 mesh sieve is 56%, which is more than Portland cement's which is 52%. The solid weight of alternative cement is 1200kg/m3 whereas the solid weight of Portland cement is 1250kg/m3.

Use of aqueous plant extracts to reduce profenofos residues in the leaf of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) and suppression of the grasshopper population

Profenofos is an active ingredient from the organophosphate group which residue is often found in various fresh and processed vegetable products. This study aimed to assess the use of aqueous plant extracts of Sapindus rarak seeds, Luffa acutangula peel and Centella asiatica leaves to reduce profenofos residues in leaf of mustard and to evaluate their performance in suppressing the grasshopper populations. S. rarak seeds, L. acutangula peels and C. asiatica leaves were dried and filtered using a 100 mesh sieve. A total of 30 gm samples of each ingredient were mixed with 1000 ml of water and blended at 800 rpm, then filtered using 100 mesh sieve before use. The field experiment was performed by spraying profenofos pesticide with a concentration of 3 ml l-1 at a dose of 30 ml per plant. Two days after the profenofos application, the plants were sprayed with the aqueous plant extracts. Twenty-four hrs aqueous plant extracts application, pesticide residues were detected by the UPLC-MS/MS machine. The phytotoxicity test results showed that the use of aqueous plant extracts at a dose of 30 ml per plant did not cause any phytotoxic symptoms. Furthermore, in the field experiment, the control plants showed a residual value of 2407.62 ng g-1. Results of UPLC-MS/MS showed that the residual value of profenofos in PL treatment (aqueous extract of S. rarak seeds) was 1502.05 ng g-1, the recorded residual value in the PP treatment (aqueous extract of C. asiatica leaves) was 1316.27 ng g-1 and the residual value in the PG treatment (aqueous extract of L. acutangula peels) was 660.71 ng g-1. In the treated plants, the residual value decreased from 37.48% to 72.55%. Furthermore, the number of grasshoppers after the PL treatment decreased and was significantly different from the control. This study provides new information that aqueous plant extracts can reduce the residue of profenofos and suppress the population of grasshoppers in the mustard leaf.

Utilization of Powdered Cassava Stem as an Alternative Bioadsorbent for Lead (Pb2+) Removal from Aqueous Solution

Industrial waste containing heavy metals can pollute the aquatic environment. One method that can be done to manage heavy waste is the adsorption method that uses adsorbent from cassava stem powder. This research was conducted to utilize cassava stem powder waste for the adsorption of Pb2 + metal ions. Cassava stem powder was mashed until it passed 100 mesh sieve. Cassava stems have a cellulose content of 70-80%, lignin 15-20%, ADF 15-20% and cellulose can be used as an absorber of heavy metals. The adsorption process is carried out with variations in pH, time and concentration under optimum conditions. In this adsorption involves the functional groups contained therein so that the interaction between the adsorbent with the metal ion Pb2 +. Based on the research, the optimum conditions were obtained at pH 6, 180 minutes contact time and 50 ppm concentration. This test is carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS).

Use of Soil Physicochemical Properities in Assessment of Soil Erosion South; A Case Study of Agbor, South-South Nigeria

The study area is one of the areas in the south-south region of Nigeria that has been ravaged by erosion. This has lead loss of infrastructure and has also affected the livelihood of the inhabitant of the study area. In this study, the physiochemical properties of soils in Agbor and its neighboring communities was assessed in eleven different locations. A total of eleven soil samples, consisting of 5 samples each at a depth of 0 – 200 cm were taken in accordance with the clarification of different horizons. The samples were air-dried, crushed and sieved in 2mm mesh sieve then subjected to analysis for both physical and chemical properties in the laboratory. The physiochemical analysis results showed that pH value ranges from 5.0 to 6.3 indicating very strongly acidic to strongly acidic. Bulk density ranged from 1.29 to1.35 indicating a slight increase due to the presence of sand fraction. And low level of porosity which ranged from 49.4 to 50.9. The low obtained from Total Organic Matter (TOM) indicate intense rainfall and constant leaching. The low Ca, Mg, K+ and Na+ values indicate intense rainfall and leaching problems. The values obtained from Al3+, H+, EA and P revealed slight increase and cause of acidity nature across eleven soils test site. The properties showed by all soils revealed that they are vulnerable to weathering, leaching and easy removal by runoff. Therefore, there resistivity is low.

ACTIVATION OF SINABUNG MOUNT VOLCANIC ASH USING VARIOUS MINERAL ACIDS

The effect of various types of mineral acids in activating the silica of volcanic ash of Mount Sinabung has been carried out. The use of various types of mineral acids is aimed at reducing impurities in the form of metals contained in the ash so that it can increase the SiO2 content in the ash. In the treatment, volcanic ash is prepared beforehand by grinding and sieving with a 200 mesh sieve. The sieved ash was then added with mineral acids, namely HCl, HNO3 and concentrated H2SO4 and heated at 100oC for 2 hours. After that, it was neutralized with distilled water and in an oven at 120oC for 6 hours and characterized using XRF to determine the impurities that had been lost. Based on the results obtained using XRF characteristics, the SiO2 content of volcanic ash activated with HCl was 80,23%, HNO3 was 77,23% and H2SO4 was 76,89%. This shows that activation using HCl is more optimal than using HNO3 and H2SO4.

Effect of Soil Particle Sizes on Determination of pH, Oxidizable Organic Carbon and Available Phosphate

Soil analysis is integral part of present agricultural farming, where soil samples are particularly determines with 2 mm sieved soil. It is highly related that finer particles pass through 80 mesh (0.2 mm) size had better interaction with concentrated chemical solution or extractant. Total 136 number of soil sample were collected from different agricultural land of Terai region of West Bengal to conducted the study on effect of soil particle sizes passes through 20 mesh (2 mm) and 80 mesh (0.2 mm) sieve on soil pH, oxidizable organic carbon and available phosphate. Thus, each sample was portioned into two particle size classes. Such as ‘80 mesh soil particles’ and ‘20 mesh soil particles’. The pH, oxidizable organic carbon (OCC) and available phosphate contents of two particle sizes of each soil sample were determined and compared. The maximum difference of 0.2 unit was recorded in case of pH analysis with both sieve sizes. The mean organic carbon content of soil particles that passed through 20 mesh 80 mesh sieve was 0.674 and 0.683 respectively, which further signifies organic carbon content value of 80 mesh soil particle size was slightly greater than that of 20 mesh soil particle size. The value of P content by different sieve size had maximum difference 0.2 kg P2O5 ha-1 and for some soils there was no difference. The difference mean of phosphate values of two particle sizes was 0.134 only. This difference is neglected for crop production. Thus, soil sieved through two sieve sizes 20 mesh 80 mesh sieve had no effect with soil pH, little influence on OCC and negligible effect on available phosphate content.

CHEWING LICE (Phthiraptera) FROM CRESTED CARACARA (Caracara plancus, Falconidae) IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

This study was carried out to detect chewing lice species occurring on Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) in Southern Brazil between January 2014 and December 2018. For this aim, the road-kill birds were collected for parasitological studies at the Biology Institute, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology of the Federal University of Pelotas. Fourteen road-kill birds were examined for ectoparasites. The birds were washed with water and detergent for the collection of ectoparasites by filtration using a 150 μm mesh sieve. The samples were separated into pellet and supernatant and were kept in microcentrifuge tubes containing ethyl alcohol 70% for the screening procedures and identification. A total of 794 specimens of lice were collected and examined, presenting the following breakdown by Amblycera suborder: Colpocephalum flavescens (753/94.84%), Laemobothrion vulturis (9/1.13%), and Ischnocera suborder: Caracaricola chimangophilus (30/3.78%) and Lipeurus sp. (2/0.25%). It was found that all the caracara examined were parasitized by one or more species of Phthiraptera, with multiple or moderate level of infestation (101 to 1,000 lice/birds). C. flavescens was the most frequent and abundant species with 100% of the birds parasitized and an average of 53,7 lice/birds.