Observation of a Chemical Softener’s Effects on Stem-Specific Lignocellulosic <i>Brassica napus</i>(Type: Canola) (Cultivar: HYHEAR 3) Fiber Quality

Chemical softener (Cepreton UN) is used to soften the cellulosic fiber (cotton) in the textile industries to make clothes better to touch. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of Cepreton UN on both physical (length, aspect ratio, contact angle, and moisture regain) and mechanical (load at break, elongation at break, tensile stress, young’s modulus, and tenacity) properties of the lignocellulosic canola (HYREAR 3) fibers extracted from narrow, medium, and wide stems. ANOVA showed that fiber diameter had strong effects on elongation at break, load at break, tensile stress, young’s modulus, and aspect ratio for all fibers. Corrgram values showed that tensile stress, young’s modulus, and aspect ratio were negatively correlated to fiber diameter whereas load at break and tenacity were mostly positively correlated to fiber diameter. The fibers were treated with 2% and 10% Cepreton UN and compared with control fibers. In most cases, the fiber diameter was decreased in both 2% and 10% treated medium stem fibers. The mean values of elongation at break, load at break, tenacity, and contact angle were decreased for 10% and increased for 2% and the mean values of tensile stress, young’s modulus, and aspect ratio were decreased for 2% and increased for 10% treated medium stem fibers. Moisture regain (%) mostly decreased for 2%, and increased for 10% treated fibers. Low pH (4.5) had an almost similar effect on fibers as 2% Cepreton UN. Overall, 2% Cepreton UN treatment is found to be better than 10% to make canola fibers less stiff and low pH was found to be an alternative softener treatment strategy.

The Effect of Stem Diameter on the <i>Brassica napus</i>(Type: Canola) (Cultivar: HYHEAR 3) Fiber Quality

A matured canola plant has different types of stems based on the diameter, such as narrow (immature), medium (mature), and wide (over mature). Therefore, this study was focused on investigating the properties of the extracted canola (HYREAR 3) fibers from 3 different diameter of stems (narrow, medium and wide). The physical (average length, aspect ratio, contact angle, and moisture regain) and mechanical (load at break, elongation at break, tensile stress, young’s modulus, and tenacity) properties of fibers were measured. ANOVA showed that stem diameter had effects on all fiber properties except for average length and elongation at break. Fiber diameter also had significant effects on load at break, elongation at break, aspect ratio, tensile stress, and young’s modulus. In corrgram, it was found that tensile stress, young’s modulus, and aspect ratio were negatively correlated to fiber diameter whereas load at break and tenacity were positively associated. Mean values showed that stem diameter had effects on all fiber properties except for average length. The mean values of fiber diameter, load at break, elongation at break, tenacity, and contact angle were highest and the lowest mean values were observed for tensile stress, young’s modulus and aspect ratio in fibers of 7 - 10 mm stems (medium matured), hence found to be less stiff. Moisture regain ability showed that canola fibers isolated from ≥8 mm stem diameter were more hydrophobic whereas contact angle measurement showed relatively more hydrophobic nature of 7 - 10 mm stem fibers. Therefore, this study provided an insightful understanding of the quality of the canola fibers of different stems which will ultimately help to choose the best stem to extract different qualities of fibers for commercial uses.

Styloid Process Is the Robust Landmark for Identification of the Facial Nerve during Parotid Surgery

Objective: To identify the facial nerve trunk (FNT) very easily. quickly and accurately considering the styloid process as the robust anatomically consistent landmark during parotid surgery. Patients and Methods: This prospective study was conducted between January 2010 to December 2022 at a Tertiary care hospital. It included 130 patients: 84 (65%) males and 46 (35%) females with a mean age of 43.52 ± 15.63 years. Patients presented with pleomorphic adenoma (90), chronic sialectasis (05), parotid cyst (03), parotid sinus (01), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (28), adenoid cystic carcinoma (02) and squamous cell carcinoma (01) were subjected to superficial parotidectomy and total parotidectomy. The outcome was evaluated regarding the clinical success of facial nerve function that considered the location of the styloid process in the triangle technique for identification of the FNT during parotid surgery. Results: All 130 patients underwent superficial and total parotidectomy. The facial nerve trunk was successfully identified as the location of the styloid process in the triangle technique in all the patients with no intra-operative complications. Operative time ranged from 50 to 180 minutes with a mean time 90.70 ± 15.68 minutes. Dysfunction of the angle of the mouth due to the deficit of the marginal mandibular nerve (MMN) was noted in 5 patients (3.8%), 02 had difficulty in eye closure (1.5%). No patient reported surgical site infection, skin flap necrosis and hematoma in this series. Conclusion: Styloid process is the prominent robust landmark in the triangle technique for the identification of facial nerve trunk with relative ease, safety and accuracy in the parotid surgical procedure. This can be a very useful method to locate the FNT and minimize facial nerve injury during parotid surgery.

Ameliorating effects of Raphanus sativus leaves on sodium arsenite-induced perturbation of blood indices in Swiss albino mice

Objective: To evaluate the ameliorating effects of Raphanus sativus leaves(RSL)against sodium arsenite(Sa)-induced adverse effects through mice experiments.Methods: Swiss albino mice were divided into four equal groups: control, Sa, RSL,RSL + Sa. Sa(10 mg/kg body weight/day), and powder form of RSL(50 mg/kg body weight/day) were provided as food supplement orallty. Blood indices were measured using commercially available kits through colorimetric methods.Results: It was observed that lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase activities were significantly(P < 0.05)higher in Sa-treated mice than those in the control group. RSL significantly reduced Sainduced elevation of the activities of these enzymes in serum significantly(P < 0.05).Serum butyrylcholinesterase activity and high density lipoproteins cholesterol levels in Satreated mice were significantly(P < 0.05) lower than the control group, and the food supplementation of RSL could significantly(P < 0.05) prevent the reduction of Sa-mediated serum butyryl cholinesterase activity and high density lipoproteins cholesterol levels. RSL could also reduce the Sa-induced elevation of serum urea level significantly(P < 0.05).Conclusions: Results of this study suggest the protective or ameliorating effects of RSL on Sa-induced perturbation of blood indices are related to the hepatic, cardiovascular and kidney dysfunction. Therefore, RSL may be useful to reduce arsenic toxicity in human in the future.

In vivo analysis of toxic effect of hydrose used in food preparations in Bangladesh

Objective:To evaluate the toxic effect of hydrose used in the molasses preparation in Bangladesh.Methods:Molasses were collected from open markets in different parts of Bangladesh.The presence of hydrose in selected molasses was detected using commercial kit.To evaluate the toxic effect of hydrose.Swiss albino male mice were divided into four groups.Group Ⅰ was used as control,while Groups Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ received hydrose mixing food(5.10 and 25 g/kg food),respectively,and these supplementations were continued to the end of the study(16weeks).Blood was collected from thoracic arteries of the mice under ether anesthesia and then organs were taken.To determine the effect of hydrose on host,blood indices related to liver,heart and kidney dysfunctions were measured.Result:Creatinine and urea levels were significantly(P<0.05) increased in a dose dependent manner in hydrose treated mice,whereas calcium level was significantly decreased in hydrose exposed mice compared to control mice.Histological study of kidney showed the glomeruler inflammation,increased diameter of renal glomeruli and enlargement of proximal tubular lumen of kidneys of mice exposed to hydrose compared to that of control animals.Conclusion:The results of this study indicated that use of hydrose in molasses and other food preparations in Bangladesh may cause kidney impairment.