μRALP and Beyond: Micro-Technologies and Systems for Robot-Assisted Endoscopic Laser Microsurgery.

Laser microsurgery is the current gold standard surgical technique for the treatment of selected diseases in delicate organs such as the larynx. However, the operations require large surgical expertise and dexterity, and face significant limitations imposed by available technology, such as the requirement for direct line of sight to the surgical field, restricted access, and direct manual control of the surgical instruments. To change this status quo, the European project μRALP pioneered research towards a complete redesign of current laser microsurgery systems, focusing on the development of robotic micro-technologies to enable endoscopic operations.

Overview of Feedstocks for Sustainable Biodiesel Production and Implementation of the Biodiesel Program in Pakistan.

The energy demand of the world is skyrocketing due to the exponential economic growth and population expansion. To meet the energy requirement, the use of fossil fuels is not a good decision, causing environmental pollution such as CO emissions. Therefore, the use of renewable energy sources like biofuels can meet the energy crisis especially for countries facing oil shortages such as Pakistan.

Towards a more efficient Hydrothermal Carbonization: Processing water recirculation under different conditions.

The use of Processing Water (PW) on the Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) of tunisian pine cones was investigated under different temperature (200 and 240 °C) and residence time conditions (3 and 20 h). Recirculating PW improved the HC (hydrochar) solid yield, without being detrimental to the carbon content of the HC. The heating value of the HCs, that with a single reaction already involved a rise of this parameter in the range 22.

Effect of glucose substitution by low-molecular weight chitosan-derivatives on functional, structural and antioxidant properties of maillard reaction-crosslinked chitosan-based films.

In this study, the effects of different temperatures, incubation times and types of reducing sugars, including glucose and different low molecular weight (Mw) chito-oligosaccharides (COS) with varying acetylation degree (AD), on the extent of Maillard reaction (MR) on chitosan-based films were studied. Interestingly, an improvement of structural and functional properties of all MR-crosslinked films was noted, which is more pronounced by heating at higher temperature and exposure time. These findings were proved through Fourier-transform infrared and X-ray diffraction analyses.

Preventive effect of Bacillus mojavensis levan against carbon tetrachloride and cisplatin toxicity: in vivo study.

This study is the first to investigate the hepato- and nephron-preventive effect of levan from Bacillus mojavensis (BM-levan) against toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl) and cisplatin. Thirty-six male albino rats weighing between 230 and 250 g were used for this experiment. The groups received multiples doses of BM-levan and were compared to the untreated group.

Production and characterization of soft Sardaigne-type cheese by using almond gum as a functional additive.

The effect of almond gum (AG), as natural polysaccharide with high nutritional value and important functional properties, on physicochemical and textural characteristics of Sardaigne-type cheese was investigated. Response surface methodology (RSM) using Box-Behnken design was applied to determine optimal levels of three selected processing variables such as coagulation temperature (25-45°C), stirring period (20-30 min), and AG concentration (0.25%-0.

Chitosan derivatives-based films as pH-sensitive drug delivery systems with enhanced antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

The purpose of this study was to develop and characterize chitosan (Ch)-based films incorporated with varying molecular weight (Mw) and acetylation degree (AD) chitosan-depolymerization-products (CDP), to be applied as drug delivery materials. As compared to Ch-film, optical and antioxidant potentials of Ch/CDP-based films were improved, particularly using low Mw and AD-CDP. Whereas, films water resistance, mechanical and antibacterial properties increased as CDP-Mw increased and AD decreased.

Effect of Different Quaternary Ammonium Groups on the Hydroxide Conductivity and Stability of Anion Exchange Membranes.

Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) are encouraging electrochemical structures for the competent and complaisant conversion of energy. Herein, the development of brominated poly(2,6-dimethyl phenylene oxide) (BPPO)-based anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with different quaternary ammonium groups for AEMFCs was reported. The successful preparation of AEMs was proved by utilizing proton nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Current Application of Chemometrics Analysis in Authentication of Natural Products: A Review.

Background: The efficiency of herbal medicinal products depends on the quantity of active ingredients in them, which can vary considerably in different contents. Hence, the quality control of herbal medicines is a critical concern.

Objective: This paper aims to provide a succinct review of recent chemometrics applications in solving the uncertainty of the authentication of herbal medicines over the last two decades.

Synthesis of DMEA-Grafted Anion Exchange Membrane for Adsorptive Discharge of Methyl Orange from Wastewaters.

This manuscript describes the synthesis of dimethylethanolamine (DMEA)-grafted anion exchange membrane (AEM) by incorporating dimethylethanolamine as ion-exchange content into the polymer matrix via the solution casting method. The synthesis of the DMEA-grafted AEM was demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The prepared DMEA-grafted AEM exhibited higher thermal stability, homogeneous morphology, water uptake (W) of 115%, and an ion exchange capacity (IEC) of 2.

Higher Acid Recovery Efficiency of Novel Functionalized Inorganic/Organic Composite Anion Exchange Membranes from Acidic Wastewater.

In this work, the synthesis of a series of the functionalized inorganic/organic composite anion exchange membranes (AEMs) was carried out by employing the varying amount of inorganic filler consist of -(trimethoxysilylpropyl)-,,-trimethylammonium chloride (TMSP-TMACl) into the quaternized poly (2, 6-dimethyl-1, 4-phenylene oxide) (QPPO) matrix for acid recovery via diffusion dialysis (DD) process. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy clearly demonstrated the fabrication of the functionalized inorganic/organic composite AEMs and the subsequent membrane characteristic measurements such as ion exchange capacity (IEC), linear swelling ratio (LSR), and water uptake (W) gave us the optimum loading condition of the filler without undesirable filler particle aggregation. These composite AEMs exhibited IEC of 2.

ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy, HPLC Chromatography, and Multivariate Analysis for Controlling Bee Pollen Quality in Some Algerian Regions.

Bee pollen collected by honeybees () is one of the bee products, and it is as valuable as honey, propolis, royal jelly, or beebread. Its quality varies according to its geographic location or plant sources. This study aimed to apply rapid, simple, and accurate analytical methods such as attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) along with chemometrics analysis to construct a model aimed at discriminating between different pollen samples.

Structure Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of a Novel Polysaccharide from Katan Seeds.

In the present work, a novel water-soluble polysaccharide (LWSP) was purified from Katan seeds. Polysaccharide was structurally characterized by NMR spectroscopic analysis, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV absorption. TLC and HPLC showed that LWSP was a polysaccharide consisted mainly of glucose, mannose, xylose, and arabinose.

Energizing periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMOS) with bismuth and cerium for photo-degrading methylene blue and methyl orange in water.

This work reported an efficient catalyst to reduce the organic pollutants by using an energetic periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMOS) supported with bismuth (Bi-PMOS) and cerium (Ce-PMOS). PMOS support was designed through co-condensation of sodium silicate and 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane on polysorbate templates. The resultant PMOSs were fabricated with bismuth and cerium oxides to formulate Bi-PMOS and Ce-PMOS, respectively.

A Novel Digestive α-Amylase from Blue Crab ( ) Viscera: Purification, Biochemical Characterization and Application for the Improvement of Antioxidant Potential of Oat Flour.

This study reports on the purification and characterization of a digestive α-amylase from blue crab () viscera designated Blue Crab Amylase (BCA). The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by ultrafiltration, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and Sepharose mono Q anion exchange chromatography, with the final purification fold of 424.02, specific activity of 1390.

Development of a cost-effective medium for Photorhabdus temperata bioinsecticide production from wastewater and exploration of performance kinetic.

This study investigates the optimization of the culture conditions for enhancing Photorhabdus temperata biopesticide production using wastewater (WS4) as a raw material. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to evaluate the effects of carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N), sodium chloride concentration and inoculum size on P. temperata biomass production and insecticidal activity.

Effect of glucose-induced Maillard reaction on physical, structural and antioxidant properties of chitosan derivatives-based films.

This work focused on studying the physicochemical and antioxidant properties changes of varying molecular weight (Mw) chitosan-depolymerization products (CDP)-based films occurring after crosslinking by heat-treatment and Maillard reaction (MR). Based on color properties and browning index, an enhancement of films properties was observed after treatment at 90 °C with a reduction in their water content, solubility and contact angle. Brown MR products were developed in heated films containing glucose thus improving their barrier properties.

Potential of Eucalyptus globulus for the phytoremediation of metals in a Moroccan iron mine soil-a case study.

The contamination left by abandoned mines demands sustainable mitigation measures. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the phytoremediator ability of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. to be used for cleaning up metal-contaminated soils from an African abandoned iron (Fe) mine (Ait Ammar, Oued Zem, Morocco).

Deep Convolutional Encoder-Decoder algorithm for MRI brain reconstruction.

Compressed Sensing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CS-MRI) could be considered a challenged task since it could be designed as an efficient technique for fast MRI acquisition which could be highly beneficial for several clinical routines. In fact, it could grant better scan quality by reducing motion artifacts amount as well as the contrast washout effect. It offers also the possibility to reduce the exploration cost and the patient's anxiety.

Enhancing the Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Juniper Berries Using the Box-Behnken Design.

Juniper berry is an important medicinal plant used in pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries thanks to its strong antioxidant potential, which is attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds. In this study, four different solvents, namely, aqueous acetone, aqueous ethanol, aqueous NaOH, and water, were used in the extraction process with a view to optimize and determine the polyphenolic contents in the juniper berry using ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry. Many experiments were performed at different solvent concentrations, time, temperature, and liquid-solid ratio.

Structural elucidation and interfacial properties of a levan isolated from Bacillus mojavensis.

A strain with high exopolysaccharide (EPS) production was isolated from soil and identified as Bacillus mojavensis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing and biochemical properties. The EPS produced simultaneously with the growth phase reached a maximum of 22 g/L after attaining a stationary phase with sucrose used as sole carbon source. B.

Multidirectional insights on polysaccharides from Schinus terebinthifolius and Schinus molle fruits: Physicochemical and functional profiles, in vitro antioxidant, anti-genotoxicity, antidiabetic, and antihemolytic capacities, and in vivo anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties.

The aim of the current study was to compare crude polysaccharides extracted from Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (PSTF) and S. molle L. (PSMF) fruits based on their structures, physicochemical characteristics, monosaccharide composition, as well as in vitro and in vivo assays.

Antioxidant and antibacterial activities, interfacial and emulsifying properties of the apo and holo forms of purified camel and bovine α-lactalbumin.

The antioxidant and antibacterial activities of camel and bovine α-lactalbumin (α-La) in both calcium-loaded (holo) and calcium-depleted (apo) forms were investigated and compared. Antioxidant assay showed that camel and bovine α-La exhibited significant Ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), ferrous iron-chelating activity (FCA) and antiradical activities especially in their apo form. Camel apo α-La also exhibited attractive antibacterial activities against Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and against fungal pathogens species (Penicillium bilaiae, Aspergillus tamari and Aspergillus sclerotiorum).

Crystal structure, spectroscopic measurement, optical properties, thermal studies and biological activities of a new hybrid material containing iodide anions of bismuth(iii).

As part of our interest in halogenobismuthate(iii) organic-inorganic hybrid materials, a novel compound named bis(4,4'-diammoniumdiphenylsulfone) hexadecaiodotetrabismuthate(III) tetrahydrate with the chemical formula (CHNOS)[BiI]·4HO, abbreviated as (HDDS)[BiI], has been prepared by a slow evaporation method at room temperature. This compound was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), spectroscopic measurements, thermal study and antimicrobial activity. The examination of the molecular arrangement shows that the crystal packing can be described as made of layers of organic [CHNOS] entities and HO molecules, between which tetranuclear [BiI] units, isolated from each other, are inserted.