Biodegradation of low-density polyethylene plastics by fungi isolated from waste disposal site at district Peshawar, Pakistan

Plastics are resistant to microbial attack, which has become a major cause of environmental pollution. The current study aimed to identify the fungi, capable of the biodegradation of low-density polyethylene plastics from different waste disposal sites at Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of 15 soil samples were collected from different waste disposable sites of Peshawar. From these samples, five fungal isolates Aspergillus Niger, Aspergillus flavus, White rot, and Brown rot fungi were identified based on their colony morphology and microscopic examination. The biodegradation ability of these isolates against low-density polyethylene plastics was studied through the weight loss percentage method on 30 days of incubation. The weight loss percentage showed that Aspegillus Niger, Aspergillus flavus, Brown rot, and white rot fungi showed 22.9%, 16.1%, 18.4%, and 22.7% biodegradation, respectively. This study concluded that Aspergillus Niger, Aspergillus flavus, White rot, and Brown rot fungi are capable to degrade polyethylene plastics.Low density polyethylene, Plastics, Fungi, Biodegradation

Antagonistic Properties and Screening of Bacillus Velezensis Nhw-B72 against Wood Fungal Decay

(1) Background: Wood decay is a serious issue that results from the presence of wood-destroying fungi and has a great influence on the international wood industry. The utilization of biological control methods offers good prospects for wood preservation. (2) Methods: The plate-screening experiment, the soil block test of the Chinese stand method (GB/T 13942.1), and the characterization of wood blocks were used to achieve biological control of brown rot and white rot. (3) Results: Through isolation, screening, and identification, the antagonistic bacterium Bacillus velezensis Nhw-B72 strain was obtained. In the plate-screening experiment, the inhibition zone diameter of Nhw-B72 for Gloeophyllum trabeum was 1.68 cm and that for Coriolus versicolor was 2.33 cm. After inhibition, the morphology of mycelia was distorted, malformed, and broken. In the soil block test, the average weight loss percentage of wood blocks in the control group was 61.66%. In the treatment group, the average weight loss percentage of the wood blocks with drying was 28.18% and that of the wood blocks without drying was 34.97%. (4) Conclusions: The strain has an obvious antagonistic effect on the wood-destroying fungi and the sterile fermentative liquid can effectively inhibit wood decay. In addition, compared to the drying of wood blocks, the air-drying of blocks after impregnation with the fermentative liquid had a better inhibition effect.

Preservations, packaging materials and temperatures affected on quality changes of ready-to-eat bamboo shoot during storage

The influences of preservatives types (sodium benzoate and citric acid), storage temperatures (-10, 4 and 25 degrees Celsius) and container types (low-density polyethylene; LDPE and laminate nylon) on quality changes (physical, microbiological and sensory) of ready-to-eat trimmed and sliced bamboo shoot (slice shape) during storage were investigated. The ready-to-eat bamboo shoot treated with citric acid had good color and microbial stabilities than the control (without the preservatives) and the treated with sodium benzoate at 4th week of storage period. However, the weight loss percentage of the sodium benzoate treatment was lower than the citric acid treatment and the control. At 4 degrees Celsius of storage temperature, the bamboo shoot had the lowest of weight loss percentage compared to other treatments, which the qualities of bamboo shoot at 14 days of storage in this temperature showed an acceptable of weight loss, color, microbial and sensory qualities and could be stored up to 21 days before spoilage. While the storage at 25 degrees Celsius, the bamboo shoot had a shelf life for 7 days. The storage of bamboo shoot in 60 micron LDPE bag was comparable to the laminate nylon bag in term of all quality aspects.

Study on the kinetics of gas-solid based synergistic reduction of limonite carbon-containing pellets

The gas-solid-based synergistic reduction of pellets is an innovative and effective method for iron ore smelting. With the development and utilization of iron resources, ore reserves have been greatly depleted; therefore, as a lean mineral resource, the comprehensive utilization of limonite has become increasingly important. To study the reduction kinetics of pellets in depth, this study used coke and reducing gases (CO and H2) to study the reduction characteristics and changes occurring in carbon-containing limonite pellets. The results showed that the total weight loss percentage of pellets gradually increased with the temperature. The C/O molar ratio had a greater effect on the total weight loss percentage of pellets in a N2atmosphere, but it had no significant effect in CO or H2atmospheres. The maximum reaction rate increased with increasing temperature. The reduction reaction was the most difficult to proceed in the N2atmosphere, and the reaction was most likely to occur in the CO atmosphere. The analysis of pellets by EPMA and XRD found that the pellets reduced in the N2atmosphere had the lowest porosity, and the pellets reduced in the H2atmosphere had the highest porosity, which is more conducive to gas diffusion. Some of the unreduced Si, Al, Mn, Ca, and Fe in the pellets reduced in the N2atmosphere precipitated in the form of oxides, but when a reducing gas (CO, H2) was introduced, precipitation did not occur.

Weight-loss Percentage Improvement of PVC Artificial Leather Products in Automotive Part Industry by Six Sigma

The purpose of this research was to improve the weight-loss percentage of PVC artificial leather products manufactured by the calendering process. It was noticed that the weight-loss percentage was greater than 5% which did not pass the specification given by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Hence, the DMAIC Six Sigma methodology was applied to improve the situation. The cause-and-effect matrix and the Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) were adopted to identify the potential factors that affect the quality of the products. After that, the design of experiment (DOE) was used to determine significant factors and optimal parameter settings for the production process to prevent a recurrence. The result shown that the average weight-loss percentage was reduced to only 0.9% after applying new parameter settings.

The role of the surgical resection distance from the pylorus after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a prospective cohort study from an academic medical center in Egypt

Background Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was recently described as an effective approach for the operative treatment of obesity, but the ideal procedure remains controversial. One of the most debated issues is the resection distance from the pylorus. We conducted this study to elucidate any potential differences in the short-term outcomes between 2 and 6 cm distance from the pylorus in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Methods A prospective observational cohort study in a selected cohort of 96 patients was conducted from January 2018 to March 2019 in morbidly obese patients who had laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy performed at Suez Canal University Hospital. Outcome was expressed by excess weight loss percentage, resolution of comorbidities, improvement of quality of life, and incidence of complications after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. The morbidly obese patients (body mass index [BMI] > 40 kg/m2 or > 35 kg/m2 with obesity-related comorbidities) in the study were divided into two equal groups: (1) Group 1 (48 patients) underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with a 2 cm distance from the pylorus resection distance and (2) Group 2 (48 patients) underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with a 6 cm distance from the pylorus resection distance. Body weight, BMI, bariatric quality of life, lipid profile, and comorbidities were evaluated pre- and post-operatively for a duration of 12 months. Results Statistically, no significant differences between the two study groups regarding the excess weight loss percentage, comorbidity resolution throughout the postoperative follow-up, enhancement of the quality of life score throughout the postoperative follow-up, or incidence of complications (25% in Group 1 versus 25% in Group 2, p > 0.05) were found. Conclusion Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was an effective and safe management for morbid obesity and obesity-related comorbidities with significant short-term weight loss; it also improved weight-related quality of life and had an acceptable complication rate. The distance from the pylorus resection distance did not affect the short-term effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy regarding excess weight loss percentage, resolution of comorbidities, change in quality of life, or occurrence of complications.

The Variuous Packaging Effects of Loker Telun Berasap Chili Damage During Storage

General characteristics of fresh horticultural products like chili, is easily get damaged after harvest. The chili declining quality and loss after harvesting occur due to ongoing respiration process. Hence, the chilies become wither or rot. This damage happens due to physical, microbiological, and physiological influences. Physical damage and yield loss can be caused by packaging uses during storage. The study aimed to determine the effect of packaging use type for Locker Telun Berasap chillies on the weight loss and damage during storage. The treatments were the commonly community packaging use types which consists of: a) polyethylene plastic (PE), b) paper and c) banana leaf. Each treatment was performed two replications and stored at room temperature. Observation parameters during storage were weight loss, and physical, physiological, microbiological damages. The lowest weight loss percentage for 12 days’ storage by PE packaging was 45.5%. The total damage was 30% lower compared to paper and banana leaf packaging. Optimal freshness can be achieved until the 8th day of storage with physical damage only 1.03% on PE packaging. The results of the study showed that the dominant microbiological damage was found in the banana leaf packaging treatment.