Growth of Penicillium expansum, an ubiquitous mould found in stored fruit globallyt, was significantly restricted by exposure to 48 h cell-free supernatant of two strains of Lactobacillus plantarum (p < 0.001). In addition, the biotransformation of patulin, a toxic secondary metabolite formed by P. expansum, on exposure to L. plantarum cells and cell-free supernatant highlights the potential of this GRAS microbe as a biocontrol agent. Up to 80% of patulin was biotransformed following a 4 h incubation with 1010 cells ml−1 (37 °C) forming E- and Z-ascladiol. The formation of these products was more pronounced at elevated pH and cell density. Exposure to cell free supernatant or sonicated cells resulted in complete patulin biotransformation

In recent decades, global obesity has increased significantly, causing a major health problem with associated complications and major socioeconomic issues. The central nervous system (CNS), particularly the hypothalamus, regulates food intake through sensing the metabolic signals of peripheral organs and modulating feeding behaviors.  The hypothalamus interacts with other brain regions such as the brain stem to perform these vital functions. The gut plays a crucial role in controlling food consumption and energy homeostasis. The gut releases orexigenic and anorexigenic hormones that interact directly with the CNS or indirectly through vagal afferent neurons. Gastrointestinal peptides (GIP) including cholecystokinin, peptide YY, Nesf

An investigation was conducted to study the concentration of hydrogen peroxide by vacuum distillation. The effect of the process variables (such as vacuum pressure, reflux ratio, time of distillation, and packing height of the column used in the distillation process) on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide were investigated. During the third stage of distillation (95 wt.%) concentration was obtained.

Box-Wilson central composite rotatable design is used to design the experimental work for the mentioned variables. It was found that the concentration of hydrogen peroxide increases with Increasing vacuum pressure, decreasing reflux ratio, increasing the time of distillation and increasing the packing height.

The second ord

Abstract. Shock chlorination is a well-known practice in swimming pools and domestic wells. One of the limitations for using this technique in drinking water purification facilities is the difficulty of quickly removing high chlorine concentrations in water distribution systems or production facilities. In order to use this method in the drinking water industry a shock de-chlorination method should be introduced for producing microorganism and biocide free water. De-chlorination using natural stagnant aeration (leaving the water to lose the chlorine naturally) is the safest known method if compared with chemical and charcoaling methods. Unfortunately, stagnant aeration is a slow process. Therefore, developing a process for accelerat

  This study investigated the effect of applying an external magnetic field on the characteristics of laser-induced plasma, such as its parameters plasma, magnetization properties, emission line intensities, and plasma coefficients, for plasma induced from zinc oxide: aluminum composite (ZO:AL) at an atomic ratio of 0.3 %. Plasma properties include magnetization and emission line intensities. The excitation was done by a pulsed laser of Nd:YAG with 400 mJ energy at atmospheric pressure. Both the electron temperature and number density were determined with the help of the Stark effect principle and the Boltzmann-Plot method. There was a rise in the amount of (n_e) and (T_e) that was produced

single and binary competitive sorption of phenol and p-nitrophenol onto clay modified with
quaternary ammonium (Hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium ) was investigated to obtain the
adsorption isotherms constants for each solutes. The modified clay was prepared from
blending of local bentonite with quaternary ammonium . The organoclay was characterized
by cation exchange capacity. and surface area. The results show that paranitrophenol is
being adsorbed faster than phenol . The experimental data for each solute was fitted well with
the Freundlich isotherm model for single solute and with the combination of Freundlich-
Langmuier model for binary system .

Two specie's of terrnitls are described as new to science from Iraq Amitermes corpnlentus sp. n. and Anacanthotermes savvensis sp. n., with two figures.

The Quantitative high-resolution planktonic foraminiferal analysis of the subsurface section in three selected wells in the Ajeel Oil Field (Aj-8, Aj-12, and Aj-15) in Tikrit Governorate, Central Iraq has revealed that Shiranish Formation deposited in Late Campanian- Latest Maastrichtian age. This formation consists mainly of marly and marly limestone yielding diverse planktonic foraminiferal assemblages and calcareous benthic foraminifera, with a total of 46 species that belong to 23 genera, Three zones and four subzones, which cover the Late Campanian to the Latest Maastrichtian, were identified based on the recorded planktonic foraminifera and their ranges. They are as follows:1. Globotruncana aegyptiaca Zone that dated to be Lat

Bioremoval of chromium from wastewater of tannery factory in Iraq was studied. The bacteria Proteus vulgaris 7E showed an enhanced capability in biosorping chromium when its concentration increased in the solution, reaching a maximum of 476,7 mg/ ml out of 492 mg/ ml under optimum conditions at pH 6 and 50°C at one hour contact time and biomass of 1 mg/ml. The present results showed that dead cells of P. vulgaris 7E biosorbed 87.41 mg/ml of chromium in comparison with91.18 mg/ml of chromium biosorbed by living cells, this indicates the insignificant effect of physiological state of cells. It was found that the above biosorption is physico-chemical process depends upon electrostatic attraction forces. The results has illustrated that the