Optimization of the needle punching process for the nonwoven fabrics with multiple quality characteristics by grey-based taguchi method

This study is intended for finding out the optimal processing parameters for needle punching nonwoven fabrics in order to work out its maximal strength. Taguchi method together with grey relational analysis is employed to resolve the problem as regards multiple-quality optimization, and further discover the optimal combination of processing parameters for needle punching nonwoven fabrics. Firstly, orthogonal array L₁₈(2¹×3⁷) is used to deal with the processing parameters that may exert influence over the manufacturing of needle punching nonwoven fabrics. Then grey relational analysis is applied to resolve the deficiency of Taguchi method that focus on single quality characteristic. Next, the response table of grey relational analysis is used to obtain the optimal combination of processing parameters for multiple quality characteristics. In the current experiment quality characteristic refers to the tensile strength and tear strength of the nonwoven fabrics. Additionally, signal-to-noise ratio (SN ratio) calculation and analysis of variance (ANOVA) can be adopted to explore the experimental results. Through ANOVA, the significant factors that exert comparatively significant influence over the quality characteristic of the needle punching nonwoven fabrics, that is, the control factors are determined so that the quality characteristic of the needle punching nonwoven fabrics can be effectively controlled. Finally, confirmation experiment is conducted within 95 % confidence interval to verify the experimental reliability and reproducibility.     

6-shogaol (alkanone from ginger) induces apoptotic cell death of human hepatoma p53 mutant Mahlavu subline via an oxidative stress-mediated caspase-dependent mechanism

Mahlavu cells, poorly differentiated and p53 mutants of a human hepatoma subline, are known to be highly refractory to a number of chemotherapeutic agents and radiotherapy due to their high expressions of multidrug resistance gene-1 (MDR-1) and Bcl-2 proteins. Thus, it is desirable to search for an alternative strategy for effective eradication of this type of cancer cells. We present evidence here for the first time that 6-shogaol (6-SG), an alkanone isolated from the rhizomes of ginger, can effectively induce apoptotic cell death of Mahlavu cells via an oxidative stress-mediated caspase-dependent mechanism. The cascade of events in 6-SG-induced apoptosis of these cells involved an initial overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) followed by a severe depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH) contents. Both events consequently entailed a significant drop in mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim), which ultimately activated the activities of caspases 3/7 resulting in the DNA fragmentation. Interestingly, we also found that N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant and a precursor of GSH biosynthesis, could offer a near complete protection of apoptotic cell death exerted by 6-SG. Similarly, exogenously added GSH could also provide protection with an equal efficacy. However, it was paradoxical that both Boc-Asp(OMe)-fmk (a broad caspases inhibitor) and cyclosporin A (an mitochondrial permeability transition opening inhibitor) could only partially protect these cells from 6-SG-induced apoptosis. Taking these data into consideration, it is obvious that GSH depletion is the major contributing factor in arbitrating 6-SG-induced apoptosis of Mahlavu cells. In conclusion, we provide here a novel modality that can help to eradicate a p53 mutant of human hepatoma cells by using a natural consistent isolated form of ginger. These data also provide evidence to reaffirm the notion that consumption of certain foodstuffs can be beneficial to health because some of the constituents contained in them may be anticarcinogenic.     

Salinity tolerance of Nile tilapia fry (Oreochromis niloticus), spawned and hatched at various salinities

Fertilized eggs of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) spawned in freshwater, were removed from mouthbrooding females, 1 day post-spawning and artificially incubated at elevated salinities. At 6 days post-hatching, mean survivals of 85.5, 84.4, 82.5, 56.3, 37.9, 20.0 and 0% were recorded for broods incubated at salinities of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 32 ppt, respectively. Fertilized eggs exhibited a 96-h median lethal salinity (MLS-96) of 18.9 ppt, a value identical to that of 7- to 120-day-old fry and fingerlings. Fertilized eggs exhibited a higher median survival time (ST₅₀ = 978 min) than 7- to 395-day-old fry and fingerlings (ST₅₀ = 28.8–179.0 min).The salinity tolerances of fry spawned at various salinities and fry spawned in freshwater but hatched at various salinities, were determined using the median survival time (ST₅₀), mean survival time (MST) and 96 h-median lethal salinity (MLS-96) indices. For comparative purposes, fry spawned and hatched in freshwater were acclimatized to various salinities and their salinity tolerance determined. Fry salinity tolerance progressively increased with increasing salinity of spawning, hatching, or acclimatization. However, at equivalent salinity, early exposure (spawning) produced progeny of comparatively higher salinity tolerance than those spawned in freshwater and hatched at elevated salinity. Similarly, at equivalent salinity, progeny spawned in freshwater but hatched at elevated salinity exhibited higher salinity tolerance than those spawned and hatched in freshwater, then acclimatized to an elevated salinity.The utility of these methods of early salinity exposure toward the saltwater culture of tilapias is discussed.     

植物生长调节剂对库尔勒香梨果实性状与产量的影响

为了明确植物生长调节剂在库尔勒香梨生产中的施用效果,以20年生库尔勒香梨为试材,就不同种类不同浓度的植物生长调节剂喷施处理对库尔勒香梨果实性状与产量的影响情况进行了田间试验。结果表明:与不喷施任何试剂和清水的对照处理相比,喷施植物生长调节剂PBO、PP333和复硝酚钠均可提高库尔勒香梨的坐果率、单果质量和产量,降低果柄长度和果形指数。在提高库尔勒香梨坐果率和产量方面,PBO试剂的喷施效果比PP333和复硝酚钠试剂的好,其中喷施浓度为300倍的PBO试剂的效果最佳,比对照处理的坐果率和产量分别提高8.84%与63.41%。     

Nitrogen Fertilizer Increases Seed Protein and Milling Quality of Rice

Rice grain breakage during milling is a problem in many parts of Asia. It has been suggested that nitrogen (N) fertilizer can improve the milling quality of rice. Therefore, this study investigates effects of N fertilization on grain N concentration, endosperm storage protein distribution, and milling quality of rice. Four Thai extra long grain commercial rice cultivars (KDML105, KLG1, PTT1, and CNT1) were grown at Chiang Mai University in the wet season of 2001 with 0 or 120 kg of N/ha at flowering. Anatomical sections showed that there was more storage protein accumulated in the lateral regions of polished grain of high N concentration than in grain of low N concentration. Percent (%) unbroken rice was positively correlated with relative abundance of storage protein in the lateral region of the endosperm in all cultivars. Applying N increased head rice N concentration in all cultivars, whereas % unbroken rice was increased in KLG1 and CNT1. KDML105 cultivar, on the other hand, already had high % unbroken rice and more abundant storage protein in the lateral region with the grain of low N concentration. It is hypothesized that high density of storage protein in the lateral region of the endosperm provides resilience and lessens grain breakage during milling. The additional protein may increase hardness in rice grains and thus could make the rice more resistant to breakage during milling. Furthermore, N fertilization may enhance the nutritional quality of rice grain by increasing the glutelin content, which is rich in lysine.