The implementation of artificial neural networks for the multivariable optimization of mesoporous NiO nanocrystalline: biodiesel application.

In the present research, artificial neural network (ANN) modelling was utilized to determine the relative importance of effective variables to achieve optimum specific surface areas of a synthesized catalyst. Initially, carbonaceous nanocrystalline mesoporous NiO core-shell solid sphere composites were produced by applying incomplete carbonized glucose (ICG) as the pore directing agent and polyethylene glycol (PEG; 4000) as the surfactant a hydrothermal-assisted method. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) model was applied to ascertain the textural characteristics of the as-prepared mesoporous NiO catalyst.

Phylogeography of (Brachyura: Potamidae) identifies Quaternary glacial refugia within the Caucasus biodiversity hot spot.

Refugia are critical for the maintenance of biodiversity during the periods of Quaternary climatic oscillations. The long-term persistence of refugial populations in a large continuous refugium has resulted in a homogenous pattern of genetic structure among populations, while highly structured evolutionary lineages characterize the restriction of refugial populations to smaller subrefugia. These mechanisms have resulted in the identification of hot spots of biodiversity within putative glacial refugia.

Protein beverages made of a mixture of egg white and chocolate milk: Microbiology, nutritional and sensory properties.

Egg white protein and chocolate milk were used for making protein beverage. Microbiological count, sensory attributes, and pH changes were investigated during 10 days of refrigerated storage. At the tenth day, the total numbers of bacteria were between 4.

STABILITYSOFT: A new online program to calculate parametric and non-parametric stability statistics for crop traits.

Premise Of The Study: Access to improved crop cultivars is the foundation for successful agriculture. New cultivars must have improved yields that are determined by quantitative and qualitative traits. Genotype-by-environment interactions (GEI) occur for quantitative traits such as reproductive fitness, longevity, height, weight, yield, and disease resistance.

Comparison the effect of putrescine application on postharvest quality of cv. "Shah-Miveh" and "Spadona".

Role of putrescine for extending storage life of pear cv. "Shah-Miveh" and "Spadona" was evaluated. The trees were sprayed by various concentrations of putrescine (0.

Porous barriers? Assessment of gene flow within and among sympatric long-eared bat species.

Species are the basic units for measuring biodiversity and for comprehending biological interactions. Yet, their delineation is often contentious, especially in groups that are both diverse and phenotypically conservative. Three cryptic species of long-eared bats, , and , co-occur over extensive areas of Western Europe.

Promoted hydrogel formation of lignin-containing arabinoxylan aerogel using cellulose nanofibers as a functional biomaterial.

In this work, three-dimensional (3D) aerogels and hydrogels based on lignin-containing arabinoxylan (AX) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) were prepared. The effects of the CNF and the crosslinking with citric acid (CA) of various contents (1, 3, 5 wt%) were evaluated. All the aerogels possessed highly porous (above 98%) and lightweight structures.

Conversion of glucose-xylose mixtures to pyruvate using a consortium of metabolically engineered .

Two strains of were engineered to accumulate pyruvic acid from two sugars found in lignocellulosic hydrolysates by knockouts in the , , , and genes. Additionally, since glucose and xylose are typically consumed sequentially due to carbon catabolite repression in , one strain (MEC590) was engineered to grow only on glucose while a second strain (MEC589) grew only on xylose. On a single substrate, each strain generated pyruvate at a yield of about 0.

Characterization of a Digestive α-Amylase in the Midgut of Pieris brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae).

The current study deals with a digestive α-amylase in the larvae of Pieris brassicae L. through purification, enzymatic characterization, gene expression, and in vivo effect of a specific inhibitor, Acarbose. Although α-amylase activity was the highest in the whole gut homogenate of larvae but compartmentalization of amylolytic activity showed an equal activity in posterior midgut (PM) and anterior midgut (AM).

A comparative study of dried apple using hot air, intermittent and continuous microwave: evaluation of kinetic parameters and physicochemical quality attributes.

In the study, the effectiveness of intermittent (IMWD) and continuous (CMWD) microwave drying and hot air drying (HAD) treatments on apple slices were compared in terms of drying kinetics (moisture diffusivity and activation energy) and critical physicochemical quality attributes (color change, rehydration ratio, bulk density, and total phenol content (TPC) of the final dried product. The temperature, microwave power, air velocity, and pulse ratio (PR) applied in the experiments were 40-80°C, 200-600 W, 0.5-2 m/s, and 2-6, respectively.

Optimization of intermittent microwave-convective drying using response surface methodology.

In this study, response surface methodology was used for optimization of intermittent microwave-convective air drying (IMWC) parameters with employing desirability function. Optimization factors were air temperature (40-80°C), air velocity (1-2 m/sec), pulse ratio) PR ((2-6), and microwave power (200-600 W) while responses were rehydration ratio, bulk density, total phenol content (TPC), color change, and energy consumption. Minimum color change, bulk density, energy consumption, maximum rehydration ratio, and TPC were assumed as criteria for optimizing drying conditions of apple slices in IMWC.

Optimization on drying conditions of a solar electrohydrodynamic drying system based on desirability concept.

The purpose of this article was to present a new drying method for agricultural products. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) has been applied for drying of agricultural materials due to several advantages such as energy saving, low cost equipment, low drying temperatures, and superior material quality. To evaluate this method, an EHD dryer based on solar (photovoltaic) energy was designed and fabricated.

Canthaxanthin biosynthesis by Dietzia natronolimnaea HS-1: effects of inoculation and aeration rate.

The interest in production of natural colorants by microbial fermentation has been currently increased. The effects of D-glucose concentration (3.18-36.

Modeling of electrohydrodynamic drying process using response surface methodology.

Energy consumption index is one of the most important criteria for judging about new, and emerging drying technologies. One of such novel and promising alternative of drying process is called electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying. In this work, a solar energy was used to maintain required energy of EHD drying process.

Effect of midgut proteolytic activity on susceptibility of lepidopteran larvae to Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Kurstaki.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is the most effective microbial control agent for controlling numerous species from different insect orders. All subspecies and strains of B. thuringiensis can produce a spore and a crystalline parasporal body.

Effect of plant a-amylase inhibitors on sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), alpha-amylase activity.

Plant-insect interaction is a dynamic system, subjected to continual variation and change. In order to reduce insect attack, plants developed different defence mechanisms including chemical and physical barriers such as the induction of defensive proteins, volatiles that attract predators of the insect herbivores and secondary metabolites. Proteinaceous inhibitors of alpha-amylase and proteases are widely distributed in cereals, legumes and some other plants.

Seasonal occurrence and relative abundance of aphids on potato plants with classical and transgenic characters of resistance to Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say).

The seasonal abundance and dynamics of potato-infesting aphids were studied in two seasons, on potato Solanum tuberosum L. with various types of transgenic and classical resistance to primary pests, especially the Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say). The lines tested were the NewLeaf potato, a transgenic expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis CryIIIA toxin (BTT); NYL 235-4 a parental line derived from S.