Breakdown Products in the Metabolic Pathway of Anthracene Degradation by a Ligninolytic Fungus Polyporus sp. S133

Polyporus sp. S133 fungi were selected based on their ability to degrade anthracene in liquid media. The degradation efficiency of anthracene increased by adding 0.5% Tween 80 to reach 71%; agitation at 120 rev/min increased the degradation to 92% after 30?days of incubation. Enzymes such as manganese peroxidase (MnP), lignin peroxidase (LiP), laccase, 1,2-dioxygenase and 2,3-dioxgenase were produced by Polyporus sp. S133 during incubation, and the highest enzyme activity was 182.3 U l^?1 by 1,2-dioxygenase after 20?days of incubation. These results indicate that ligninolytic and dioxygenase enzymes secreted from Polyporus sp. S133 could play an important role in anthracene degradation efficiency. The metabolites detected through the degradation pathway were anthraquinone, phthalic acid, benzoic acid and catechol.     

Decolorization and Metabolism of Anthraquionone-Type Dye by Laccase of White-Rot Fungi Polyporus sp. S133

Utilization of microbes including white-rot fungi and bacterial strains for decolorization of synthetic dyes is one promising strategy of an environmentally friendly and cost-competitive alternative to physico-chemical decomposition processes for treating industrial effluents. In this study, the biodegradation ability of the white-rot fungi Polyporus sp. S133 that produce high laccase was investigated in order to decolorize anthraquinone-type dye. Parameter including pH, temperature, and non-ionic surfactant were used to comparatively study the decolorizing effects on Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR). The purified laccase totally decolorized 200 mg L⁻¹ initial concentration of RBBR dye when only 1.5 U L⁻¹ of laccase was used in the reaction mixture. The optimal decolorization rates were achieved at pH 5 and at a temperature of 50°C. N-hydroxybenzotriazole, a small molecular weight redox mediator, was found to accelerate the decolorization. Tween 20 inhibited the decolorization while Tween 80 and Brij 35 showed no inhibition effect. Two compounds were identified as the intermediates (m/z 304.3 and m/z 342.2). These results suggest that laccase from Polyporus sp. S133 is a powerful tool for the decolorization of anthraquinone dyes. A pathway for the metabolism of the RBBR by laccase of Polyporus sp S133 was proposed. These proposed pathways could contribute to a better comprehension of the mechanisms used by oxidative enzymes to transform organic compounds.     

Correlation Study between Land Use, Water Quality, and Heavy Metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn) Content in Water and Green Lipped Mussels Perna viridis (Linnaeus.) at the Johor Strait

In order to observe the variation in land use changes, satellite images from the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and the Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) for 1991, 2000, 2005, and 2008 were used to compare the differences between selected water quality parameters, including heavy metal (Cd, Pb, and Zn) content in both water and green mussels or Perna viridis (Linnaeus.) before and after the increase in land use activities beginning from 2006. The samples were collected at 11 points for water and 4 points for green mussels between the Second Link and the Causeway Link at the Johor Strait in 2009 and were analyzed for pH, temperature degrees Celsius), dissolved oxygen, ammoniacal nitrogen, and heavy metal (Cd, Pb, and Zn) content.     

Removal of Residual Oils from Palm Oil Mill Effluent by Adsorption on Natural Zeolite

The adsorption of residue oil from palm oil mill effluent using natural zeolite was investigated in this study. The adsorption was performed in batch mode, and the effect of different operational parameters such as pH, dose of adsorbent, stirring rate, contact time and initial oil concentration were explored. It was found that the pH plays a major role in the adsorption process. Isotherm data best fitted with the Freundlich model, and kinetic data followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The results obtained demonstrated that the oil removal efficiencies by natural zeolite were up to 70?% at a pH of 3.0 and 50?min of contact time. The adsorbent material also has been characterised by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy.     

Removal of Arsenic, Boron, and Selenium from Excavated Rocks by Consecutive Washing

This paper describes the leaching behavior and release mechanisms of arsenic (As), boron (B), and selenium (Se) from excavated rocks using sequential extraction for solid-phase fractionation, batch experiments with pH variation, and consecutive batch experiments with changes in the solid?Cliquid mixing ratios. Arsenic in the excavated rock was mostly found with the sulfides/organic matter fraction while majority of the leachable B and Se were associated with the exchangeable phases. The leaching of As was strongly pH dependent, Se was pH dependent only around the acidic region, and B was pH independent. Consecutive washing technique with deionized water effectively lowered the B and Se concentrations in the leachate below the drinking water standards of Japan, but was inefficient in the removal of As. Arsenic exhibited non-conservative leaching behavior and its movement was affected by processes like dissolution, precipitation, and pyrite oxidation. In contrast, B and Se behaved more conservatively, resulting in their easy removal from the excavated rock by simple washing and dilution.     

Phenolic Composition,Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Eryngium bornmuelleri leaf

Eryngium bornmuelleri Nab. (Tusî) is an endemic botanical from the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey traditionally used for preparation of herbal tea. Within this study, phenolic composition, antioxidant capacities and inhibitory activities towards selected digestive enzymes of E. bornmuelleri leaf were investigated. Sequential extracts, obtained by extraction of plant tissue by ethanol, acetone and water exhibited pronounced antioxidant capacities and in a dose-dependent manner suppressed the metabolic syndrome related enzymes: α-amylase, α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. All extracts contained high levels of phenolic compounds. Flavonoid glycosides were the main phytochemicals detected, with rutin as the major compound (70 % of total phenolics). Chlorogenic, hydroxybenzoic and caftaric acids as well as traces of caffeic, ferulic and rosmarinic acids were also detected. Correlation analysis indicated that phenolic compounds were the major sources of the enzyme-inhibitory activities. This study suggests that E. bornmuelleri leaf extracts can modulate the metabolism of sugars and fats through inhibition of the relevant digestive enzymes.     

Failure characterisation in polymer matrix composite for un-notched and notched (open-hole) specimens under tension condition

This paper presents an investigation of the influences causing failure in the materials comprising polymer matrix composites. Structures with differences in stacking sequences and design configuration are analysed. The objective of this study is to investigate and evaluate the reasons for the failure of composite lamination structures in terms of stress, strength, strain, and Young modulus within a morphology observation of composite materials. The materials selected for the study were a chopped strand mat (CSM) and a woven roving (WR) fabric. These materials are used as reinforcement and are produced by the hand lay-up technique using epoxy and polyester matrix resin. The experiment was performed using specimens made of notched (open-hole; OH) tension and un-notched (UN) shapes. The characteristics of different shapes, materials, and lamination structures are studied in this research. The results showed the failure phenomenon in the structure of the polymer matrix composite is dependent on the characteristics of the material used and the design configuration of both structures.     

Removal of Bisphenol A from Aqueous Solution by Activated Carbon Derived from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch

Land use specific deposition velocities of atmospheric trace gases and aerosols—particularly of reactive nitrogen compounds—are a fundamental input variable for a variety of deposition models. Although the concept is known to have shortcomings—especially with regard to bi-directional exchange—the often limited availability of concentration data and meteorological input variables make it a valuable simplification for regional modeling of deposition fluxes. In order to meet the demand for an up-to-date overview of recent publications on measurements and modeling studies, we compiled a database of ammonia (NH₃) deposition velocities published from 2004 to 2013. Observations from a total of 42 individual studies were averaged using an objective weighing scheme and classified into seven land use categories. Weighted average and median deposition velocities are 2.2 and 2.1 cm s^?1 for coniferous forests, 1.5 and 1.2 cm s^?1 for mixed forests, 1.1 and 0.9 cm s^?1 for deciduous forests, 0.9 and 0.7 cm s^?1 for semi-natural sites, 0.7 and 0.8 cm s^?1 for urban sites, 0.7 and 0.6 cm s^?1 for water surfaces, and 1.0 and 0.4 cm s^?1 for agricultural sites, respectively. Thus, values presented in this compilation were considerably lower than those found in former studies (e.g., VDI 2006). Reasons for the mismatch were likely due to different land use classification, different averaging methods, choices of measurement locations, and improvements in measurement and in modeling techniques. Both data and code used for processing are made available as supplementary material to this article.     

SPERMATIC GRANULOMA IN THE RAM: DIAGNOSIS BY ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS

Ultrasonographic appearance of the testis and epididymis, and seminal characteristics, with regard to localization of spermatic granuloma were studied. In rams with spermatic granuloma (n = 9), diagnosed by clinical or ultrasonographic examinations before histopathological confirmation, localization of each lesion was recorded. Epididymal granulomas, caput and cauda, were seen as anechoic or hyperechoic areas with a distinct margin with or without a hyperechoic capsule. Granulomas in the testis were microscopic and, therefore, could not be detected by ultrasonography. Enlargement in the mediastinum testis was detected in all rams when there were granulomas in the caput. Heterogeneous testis parenchyma invaded by numerous hyperechoic foci, representing testicular degeneration, was associated with granulomas both in the epididymis and testis. Ultrasonographic appearance of the lesions did not differ with regard to season. Seminal characteristics varied between rams. It was concluded that ultrasonographic evaluation may give valuable information in the diagnosis of sperm granuloma in the ram.     

Allelic segregation of sex‐linked microsatellite markers in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and validation of inheritance in YY population

Stocking of all‐male fingerling produced by direct administration of male hormone 17‐α‐methyltestosterone is the most preferred method for present‐day aquaculture of the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. However, due to the growing concern of negative impact of steroid hormone in food fish, production of ‘genetically male’ tilapia, which depends on the concrete and thorough understanding of sex determination, has long been a scientific curiosity. The objective of the present study was to identify reliable sex‐linked markers and to evaluate the applicability of those markers in terms of monosex production approach. ‘XY’ neofemales were produced by using synthetic oestrogen and identified through selective breeding and progeny testing. Three females with progeny not deviating from 3:1 sex ratio (male:female) were designated as ‘XY’ neofemales and were used subsequently to produce putative YY progeny. Among the fifteen microsatellite markers tested, marker ARO172 was most informative in differentiating male and female genotypes. Twenty‐seven F₂ fish from three families were identified as putative YY males based on marker genotyping, and four of them were crossed to produce F₃ to validate marker association by progeny testing. The YY males produced 86%–100% male progeny indicating ARO172 a unique sex‐linked marker applicable in marker‐assisted selection.