Response surface methodology approach for methyl orange dye removal using optimized Acacia mangium wood activated carbon

The existing approach of response surface methodology was extended to study the adsorption of methyl orange dye on optimized Acacia mangium wood-based activated carbon with a Brunauer, Emmett and Teller surface area of 1,767 m²/g. The experiments were carried out in a batch system, and the optimal condition was determined by means of the face-centered central composite design of response surface methodology. The effect of activated carbon dose, temperature and contact time on the adsorption capacity and percentage removal of methyl orange dye molecules were optimized. The experimental results indicated that the optimal conditions for the maximum adsorption capacity were 0.515 g/L, 55.0 °C and 24 h for adsorbent dose, temperature and contact time, respectively. Under these conditions, the maximum adsorption capacity and percentage removal were found to be 181 mg/g and 90.5 %, respectively. At optimized conditions of methyl orange dye removal, studies of the kinetic and thermodynamic behavior of adsorption revealed that it followed the pseudo-second-order rate model and was spontaneously endothermic in nature.     

Use of Lignocellulolytic Microbial Consortium and pH Amendment on Composting Efficacy of Rice Straw

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted at the Composting Unit, Universiti Putra Malaysia to determine the physico-chemical changes, microbial dynamics, and enzyme activities during microbial composting of rice straw at different pH conditions. Different treatments comprising of composting substrates (A), substrates with microbial consortium (B), substrates, microbial consortium, and acetic acid (C), substrates, microbial consortium, and sodium hydroxide (D) were used to enhance the composting process of rice straw. In inoculated treatments, the temperature increased rapidly to higher than 50°C by day 5 and remained above 40°C up to day 17, while in the control the temperature increased slowly and peaked (46°C) at day 9 and remained above 40°C until day 23. The results showed that biodegradation was at its maximum in microbial-infused treatments within 14–21 days as indicated by profiles of pH, reduction of C/N ratio, lignocellulolytic (lignin peroxidase, endoglucanase, and exoglucanase) enzyme activities, and lignocellulose bioconversion. After day 21, the C/N ratio of microbial-infused treatment without any pH adjustment (B) was reduced to 17.5 from an initial value of 29.2 suggesting that there were no additive effects of pH adjustment during the microbial composting of rice straw.     

Recovery of age-dependent immunological deterioration in old mice by thyroxine treatment

On the basis that multiple interactions exist between thyroid hormones and immune system, and ageing is accompanied by changes in thyroid hormone secretion, it seems possible that thyroid hormones may be involved in the age-related immune dysfunction. The present study was conducted to evaluate in vivo and in vitro effects of thyroxine (T(4)) treatment on both cell-mediated and humoral immune responses of aged mice. In a trial to improve age-associated immune dysfunction, T(4) (0.2, 1.0 and 5.0 microg) was subcutaneously supplemented to BALB/c mice (over 18 months old) for 30 consecutive days. The present results showed that exogenous treatment of aged mice with T(4) was associated with a marked increase in serum T(4) level, and the total number of peripheral blood leukocytes as well as the total cellularity of thymus, spleen, peripheral lymph nodes (PLNs), mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and bone marrow (BM). T(4) treatment also caused a significant increase in the total and differential numbers of peritoneal exudate cells (PECs), while it caused a slight increase in macrophages' phagocytic activity of PEC. Moreover, T(4) treatment elicited a statistically significant increase in both plaque-forming cell and rosette-forming cell responses. In vitro results showed that the addition of T(4) at concentrations of 0.001, 0.005 and 0.025 microg/well substantially potentiated the ability of splenocytes from aged mice to proliferate in the presence of concanavalin-A mitogen. Histological examination of thymuses from T(4)-treated aged mice revealed that the cortex was preferentially enlarged and repopulated with immature thymocytes. The present study postulates that thyroid hormones may be involved in the observed decrease in the immune responsiveness during ageing, and that T(4) treatment to aged mice is able to restore the age-related decline of the immune efficiency.     

Net primary productivity of Bruguiera parviflora (Wight & Arn.) dominated mangrove forest at Kuala Selangor,Malaysia

The net primary productivity of Bruguiera parviflora dominated mangrove forest at Kuala Selangor, Malaysia was estimated from the average yearly biomass increment and litter production. The average yearly biomass increment in saplings and trees was 0.58 and 16.51 t ha⁻¹, respectively, and the annual amount of total litter production was 10.35 t ha⁻¹. The biomass increment in saplings and trees was not significantly different (t-test, p > 0.05) in 2 successive years and the estimated net primary productivity was 27.44 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. The ratio (2.65:1) of net primary productivity and litterfall suggests that this mangrove forest is at a juvenile stage.     

Viral disease of tomato crops (Solanum lycopesicum L.): an overview

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Global production of tomato has been hampered by the increased incidences of tomato viral disease. The high genetic heterogeneity of tomato plant viruses,...     

Biodiversity of diazotrophs associated to the plant cover of north sinai deserts: Biodiversität diazotropher assoziiert mit der pflanendecke der wüsten nordsinais

Efforts are made to record biodiversity of microflora and diazotrophs associated with the plant cover of the major agricultural development areas in north Sinai, around the El-Salam canal, a newly-constructed canal that brings Nile water westward across the Suez canal. Natural plant communities were collected from three major areas. Ectorhizosphere, endorhizosphere and phyllosphere samples were examined for total microbial population and diazotrophs. The vegetation of South Qantara (area I) is characterized by the dominance of Stipagrostis scoparia followed by Nitraria retusa, Convolvulus lanatus, Cornulaca monacantha and Filago desertorum. Rabaa-Bir El Abd (area II) is dominated by Artemisia monosperma, Panicum turgidum and Zygophyllum album. Euphorbia terracina, Oligomeris linifolia, Astragalus kahiricus, Hyoscyamus muticus and Thymelea hirsuta represent the major plants of El Ser and Al Quarir (area III). Microorganisms colonized root surfaces of all tested plants ranging from >?10⁵ to 10¹⁰ cfu g^???1. Diazotrophs were common residents (10¹⁰ cfu g^???1), invaded the root tissue and established endophytically (10²?–?10⁶ cfu g^???1). Fifty-one N₂-fixing isolates were obtained. Among the 32 bacilli isolates, Bacillus polymyxa and Bacillus circulans were more common compared to Bacillus macerans. BNF Gram-negative isolates belonged to Enterobacter agglomerans, Enterobacter gergoviae, Enterobacter amnigenus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas luteola, Pseudomonas cepacia, Agrobacterium radiobacter and Azospirillum spp.     

Polymorphism of lactoferrin gene in Egyptian goats and its association with milk composition traits in Zaraibi breed

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objectives of this study were to identify polymorphisms in the lactoferrin gene among three Egyptian goat breeds (Barki, Zaraibi, and Damascus) and to...