Search Results (5)

Traditional bricks are still the most widely used building material in Madagascar. Bricks are made from clay that is fired for weeks in open-air kilns (600–750 °C) by using rice husks, peat, charcoal, coal, and wood as fuels. This process contributes significantly to environmental pollution by emitting CO₂ and particles. In addition, the intensive use of wood and charcoal is partly responsible for the deforestation that still taking place on the “Red Island”. The development of sustainable building materials is therefore of global interest. This research provided a solution by implementing the oxyacetic acid derivative of cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) as a binder to reduce energy consumption in the preparation of earthen materials. This product was obtained from cashew nut waste and was used in a proportion of 5 to 15% with the red soil of Madagascar. The materials were formulated at a much lower temperature (60 °C) compared to the traditional process for 24 to 48 hours in a custom-designed mold. The material with 10% oxyacetic binder from CNSL was a compact, hard solid with higher mechanical properties, including a twice higher compressive strength (5.6 MPa compared to 2.2 MPa) and a higher tensile strength (2.2 MPa compared to 1.6 MPa). This material also had better water resistance after 2 months of immersion; traditional clay bricks absorbed 36.65% of the water, and the material with binder only absorbed 12.62%. This research demonstrates that the utilization of local agricultural waste as a binder is a viable strategy for reducing the carbon footprint of traditional building materials while significantly improving their physico-mechanical properties. Full article

The increase in vegetable consumption has underlined the importance of minimizing the risks associated with microbiological contamination of fresh produce. The critical stage of the vegetable washing process has proven to be a key point for cross-contamination and the persistence of pathogens. In this context, the agri-food industry has widely adopted the use of disinfectants to reduce the bacterial load in the wash water. Therefore, we conducted laboratory-scale experiments in order to demonstrate the antimicrobial activity of disinfectants used in the wash tank of agro-food industries. Different wash water matrices of shredded lettuce, shredded cabbage, diced onion, and baby spinach were treated with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), chlorine dioxide (ClO₂), and per-oxyacetic acid (PAA) at recommended concentrations. To simulate the presence of pathogenic bacteria, a cocktail of E. coli O157:H7 was inoculated into the process water samples (PWW) to determine whether concentrations of disinfectants inhibit the pathogen or bring it to a viable non-culturable state (VBNC). Hereby, we used quantitative qPCR combined with different photo-reactive dyes such as ethidium monoazide (EMA) and propidium monoazide (PMA). The results indicated that concentrations superior to 20 ppm NaClO inhibit the pathogen E. coli O157:H7 artificially inoculated in the process water. Concentrations between 10–20 ppm ClO₂ fail to induce the pathogen to the VBNC state. At concentrations of 80 ppm PAA, levels of culturable bacteria and VBNC of E. coli O157:H7 were detected in all PWWs regardless of the matrix. Subsequently, this indicates that the recommended concentrations of ClO₂ and PAA for use in the fresh produce industry wash tank do not inhibit the levels of E. coli O157:H7 present in the wash water. Full article

Diclofenac (DC) [2-(2,6-Dichloroanilino)phenyl]acetic acid,) and aceclofenac (AC) 2-[2-[2-[(2,6-dichlorophenyl)amino]phenyl]acetyl]oxyacetic acid in substantia were subjected to ionizing radiation in the form of a beam of high-energy electrons from an accelerator in a standard sterilization dose of 25 kGy and higher radiation doses (50–400 kGy). We characterized non-irradiated and irradiated samples of DC and AC by using the following methods: organoleptic analysis (color, form), spectroscopic (IR, NMR, EPR), chromatographic (HPLC), and others (microscopic analysis, capillary melting point measurement, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)). It was found that a absorbed dose of 50 kGy causes a change in the color of AC and DC from white to cream-like, which deepens with increasing radiation dose. No significant changes in the FT-IR spectra were observed, while no additional peaks were observed in the chromatograms, indicating emerging radio-degradation products (25 kGy). The melting point determined by the capillary method was 153.0 °C for AC and 291.0 °C for DC. After irradiation with the dose of 25 kGy for AC, it did not change, for DC it decreased by 0.5 °C, while for the dose of 400 kGy it was 151.0 °C and 286.0 °C for AC and DC, respectively. Both NSAIDs exhibit high radiation stability for typical sterilization doses of 25–50 kGy and are likely to be sterilized with radiation at a dose of 25 kGy. The influence of irradiation on changes in molecular dynamics and structure has been observed by ¹H-NMR and EPR studies. This study aimed to determine the radiation stability of DC and AC by spectrophotometric, thermal and chromatographic methods. A standard dose of irradiation (25 kGy) was used to confirm the possibility of using this dose to obtain a sterile form of both NSAIDs. Higher doses of radiation (50–400 kGy) have been performed to explain the changes in DC and AC after sterilization. Full article

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are essential adaptors that mediate translation of the genetic code. These molecules undergo a variety of post-transcriptional modifications, which expand their chemical reactivity while influencing their structure, stability, and functionality. Chemical modifications to tRNA ensure translational competency and promote cellular viability. Hence, the placement and prevalence of tRNA modifications affects the efficiency of aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (aaRS) reactions, interactions with the ribosome, and transient pairing with messenger RNA (mRNA). The synthesis and abundance of tRNA modifications respond directly and indirectly to a range of environmental and nutritional factors involved in the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis. The dynamic landscape of the tRNA epitranscriptome suggests a role for tRNA modifications as markers of cellular status and regulators of translational capacity. This review discusses the non-canonical roles that tRNA modifications play in central metabolic processes and how their levels are modulated in response to a range of cellular demands. Full article

A number of factors can trigger amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), although its precise pathogenesis is still uncertain. In a previous study done by us, poisonous liquoral levels of hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) in sporadic ALS patients were reported. In the same study very high concentrations of H₂S in the cerebral tissues of the familial ALS (fALS) model of the SOD1G93A mouse, were measured. The objective of this study was to test whether decreasing the levels of H₂S in the fALS mouse could be beneficial. Amino-oxyacetic acid (AOA)—a systemic dual inhibitor of cystathionine-β-synthase and cystathionine-γ lyase (two key enzymes in the production of H₂S)—was administered to fALS mice. AOA treatment decreased the content of H₂S in the cerebral tissues, and the lifespan of female mice increased by approximately ten days, while disease progression in male mice was not affected. The histological evaluation of the spinal cord of the females revealed a significant increase in GFAP positivity and a significant decrease in IBA1 positivity. In conclusion, the results of the study indicate that, in the animal model, the inhibition of H₂S production is more effective in females. The findings reinforce the need to adequately consider sex as a relevant factor in ALS. Full article