Dietary Supplementation of <i>κ</i>-Carrageenan to Improve the Physio-Chemical and Functional Properties of White Bread

Fiber intake improves gut health and prevents non-communicable diseases. The current study investigates the substitution of carrageenan in white bread and evaluates its effect on the physiochemical and structural characteristics of bread. The 100% wheat flour was used as control and the test sample contained 4% carrageenan. The physio-chemical analysis showed that carrageenan-substitution improved the hydration properties of the flour (WHC—1.33 g/g;SC—3.50 ml/g). Carrageen substituted bread had reduced the loaf volume. The fiber content in carrageenan-substituted bread was noticeably higher (9.4 g%) than control (3.5 g%). Crude lipid (4.6 g%) and protein (7.0 g%) content improved with carrageenan-substitution. The mineral contents (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, and Zn) were increased in carrageenan-breads. The texture profile analysis showed a decreased hardness (H1—92.3 N, H2—62.5 N) and improved springiness (5.3 mm) in carrageenan-bread.

Physio-chemical modeling of the NO_(x)-O_(3) photochemical cycle and the air pollutants’ reactive dispersion around an isolated building

A numerical physio-chemical model of the NO_(x)-O_(3) photochemical cycle in the near-wake region of an isolated residential/office building has been presented in this study.The investigation delves into the dispersion of reactive air pollutants through the lens of fluid phenomenology and its impact on chemical reactivity,formation,transport,deposition,and removal.Computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulations were conducted for the ground-point-source(GES)and roof-pointsource(RES)scenarios.Results show that the Damköhler number(Da),which quantifies pollutants’physio-chemical timescales,displays a strong inverse proportionality with the magnitude and spread of NO–increasing Da reduces human exposure to the toxic NO and NO_(2) substantially.When different wind directions were considered,the dispersion range of NO exhibited varying shrinking directions as Da increased.Furthermore,as Da increases,the concentration ratio KNO_(2)/KNO_(x),which quantifies the production of NO_(2) resulting from NO depletion,forms sharp high-low gradients near emission sources.For GES,the dispersion pattern is governed by the fluid’s phenomenological features.For RES,the intoxicated area emanates from the building’s leading-edge,with the lack of shielding inhibiting pollutant interactions in the near-wake,resulting in scant physio-chemical coupling.The NO_(2)/NO_(x) distribution follows a self-similar,stratified pattern,exhibiting consistent layering gradients and attributing to the natural deposition of the already-reacted pollutants rather than in-situ reactions.In the end,building design guidelines have been proposed to reduce pedestrian and resident exposure to NO_(x)-O_(3).

Evaluation on Soil Improvement Effects of Organic Fertilization in Honey Peach Orchard in the Longquan Mountain

Combined application of organic fertilizer is an effective measure to improve the productivity and ecological effect of newly added soil.However,the effect of organic fertilizer application in newly added orchard soil is not clear.In this project,the soil of newly built peach orchard in the Longquan Mountain of Chengdu was applied with 45 t/hm 2 of organic fertilizer.After 9 months of planting 6 varieties of honey peach(Wanhujing,Baifeng,Zhongtao 13,Huangjinmitao 1,Zhongpan 101,Zhongpan 104),the locally well developed peach orchard was taken as the control.The physical and chemical properties of soil from four topography(top slope,middle slope,lower slope and flat land)of newly built peach orchard were analyzed,and the effect of organic fertilizer on soil was evaluated.The results showed that combined application of organic fertilizer had different effects on soils from orchards with different varieties of peach and from different terrain parts of the same peach variety.Specifically,it had the best effect on soil improvement in Baifeng(local variety),Zhongpan 101 and Zhongpan 104(introduced varieties).Meanwhile,the best effect of soil improvement was found on top slope.Cluster analysis divided newly built peach orchards,uncultivated soil,and locally well developed peach orchard into four groups,indicating that the selected amount of organic fertilizer application in this study has improved the soil of peach orchards to some extent,but it was still necessary to increase the application amount.It was better for 54 t/hm 2 amount of organic fertilization on the part of top and middle slope,and 60 t/hm 2 on the lower slope and flat land.The comprehensive ecological benefit assessment of organic fertilizer should be conducted based on long-term monitoring of peach orchard ecological environment,fruit tree growth,fruit yield and quality,which would provide scientific basis for peach orchard production and management.

The adaptive significance of differences of root morphology, anatomy and physiology from three ecotypes of reed(Phragmites communis Trin.)

Reeds are widely distributed in drought and high salt conditions of northwestern China. Leaf epidermal micromorphology, anatomy, chloroplast ultrastructure and physio-chemical characteristics due to long-term adaptation in the natural habitats of common reed （Phragmites communis Trin.） contrasted considerably among three different ecotypes： dune reed （DR）, Gobi salt reed （GSR） and swamp reed （SR）. The main objective of the present study is to determine the adapting characteristics of morphology, anatomy and physiological responses of thin roots in DR, GSR and SR. The results show that root length density was higher in SR and few root hairs were observed in DR. Cross-section anatomical features show that each ecotype has an endodermis and exodermis, while cortex thickness and proportion of root cortical aerenchyma and stele in root structure varied among the three ecotypes. The stele and xylem share a larger area in DR compared to GSR and SR. GSR has a large proportion of the cortex with radialized distribution of aerenchyma cells spacing, and the cortex has a peripheral, mechanically stiff ring in the exodermis. SEM and TEM microscope images show that GSR has a scle- renchyma ring with high lignification in the exodermis. The physio-chemical parameters show that GSR had a higher level of stress tolerance than DR. These findings indicate that developed water-absorbing tissues were largely distributed in the root structure of DR, and a main framework with supporting function spacing with aerenchyma was dominant in GSR in the long term adaptation to their natural habitats, respectively.

Groundwater Quality Analysis of Safidon and Julana Blocks of District Jind, Haryana, India

We present an extensive investigation of physico-chemical parameters of water samples of Julana and Safidon blocks of District Jind, Haryana, India. Water samples were collected from different localities in cleaned polythene bottles and were analyzed for the different physico-chemical parameters like pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), calcium, magnesium, total alkalinity (TA), carbonate, bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, chloride, sulphate and fluoride. The analyzed parameters were compared with the standard desirable limits prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO), Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) standards of drinking water quality parameters. For the identification of the highly correlated and interrelated water quality parameters, the correlation coefficients were calculated between different parameters and the t-test was applied for checking significance. The results showed significant variations in water quality parameters in the study areas.

New insights into the evaluation of anaerobic properties of sludge:Biodegradability and stabilization

Evaluating anaerobic biodegradability of sludge and then identifying the stabilization of digestate is necessary in sludge treatment and disposal.48 sludge samples from 24 typical waste water treatment plants(WWTPs)in 11 provinces in China were selected to investigate the relationship between Biochemical Acidogenic Potential(BAP)test and Biochemical Methane Potential(BMP)test.The volatile fatty acid(VFA)production obtained from BAP tests was found linearly related to the ultimate methane production from corresponding BMP tests.Satisfying results were obtained with Pearson correlation coefficient as 0.929 and R^2 value as 0.76.Furthermore,the physio-chemical characteristics(FCI,SUVA254,E 4/E 6)of supernatant,which were associated with humic-like substances(HS),were investigated before and after BMP tests.Through which a new criterion(FCI>1.50,SUVA 254>1.10,E 4/E 6<4.0)was proposed to evaluate the stabilization level of anaerobic digested sludge.