Moisture-modulated thermo-physical analysis of sweetsop seed (Annona squamosa L.): A potential biofuel feedstock plant

Sweetsop seed holds significant economic value as an oil seed, with ca. 25% oil content that finds applications as a feedstock for energy generation. The moisture-modulated thermophysical properties of the seed were determined at varying moisture contents (8.0%–32.5%). Physical properties (length [L], width [W], thickness [T], arithmetic [Amd], and geometric mean diameters [Gmd], sphericity [Sty], surface area [SA], and bulk density [ρd]) were determined using standard methods while the thermal properties (specific heat capacity [SHC], thermal conductivity [Tcd], and thermal diffusivity [Tdf]) were analyzed using a TEMPOS thermal analyzer. The results showed that the seed L, W, T, Amd, and Gmd, Sty, SA, and ρd ranged from 13.22–14.95 mm, 7.32–7.95 mm, 5.25–5.35 mm, 8.60–8.75 mm, and 7.96–8.11 mm, 0.61–0.60, 196.72–205.28 mm2, and 210.00–270.00 kg m−3, respectively. The SHC, Tcd, and Tdf ranged from 0.14–0.52 J kg−1 K−1, 0.17–0.35 W m−1 K−1, and 0.10–0.20 m2 s−1, respectively. The ANOVA results indicated that the thermo-physical properties studied were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected by moisture content. By utilizing the determined properties, engineers can develop efficient machines to harness the economic potential of sweetsop seed oil in various industries, including biofuel generation. Practical applications: The thermal and physical properties of sweetsop seed are needed by agricultural and mechanical engineers and food scientists to explore the potential application of the seed and the seed product, like oil for industrial and commercial purposes. Data obtained on the specific heat capacity of the seed would be valuable in designing of heating compartment of an oil expeller, thermal conductivity and diffusivity would be needed to design drying systems that balance efficiency and quality preservation, facilitate efficient removal of moisture from the seed while minimizing the risk of over-drying or under-drying. Thus, affects the design of the seed storage systems. Data on the seed axial dimensions, sphericity, mean diameters, surface area, and bulk density would be useful in the design and fabrication of agricultural equipment like sheller, grinder, packaging machines, discharge chute, aperture, and planter, to ensure proper seed placement, flow and to determine machine throughput capacity

Synchronous double primary lung cancers via p53 pathway induced by heavy smoking

Differences in the histological manifestation of synchronous lung cancers are rare. Synchronous multiple primary lung cancers (SMPLC) are associated with long-term tobacco use, which could independently lead to mutations in the p53 and K-ras genes. We present the case of an 82-year-old man who smoked 30 cigarettes daily for the past 60 years. CT of the chest showed a right upper lobe mass. Bronchoscopy revealed an intra-lumen nodular lesion in the right lower lobe bronchus. The diagnoses of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) of the right upper lobe and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) of the right lower lobe were confirmed by the morphologic features and the detected immunoreactivity. Immunohistochemical analyses showed a strong positive reaction for p53 in samples of the SCLC and NSCLC. The cancers had a different phenotype, but similar genetic abnormalities may have developed due to the carcinogens in the cigarettes