Performance Behavior of Chitosan Based Water Dispersible Polyurethanes: Physicochemical Properties

The research work was carried out to synthesize a series of novel chitosan based water dispersible polyurethanes (CS-WDPUs). The three step synthesis involves the formation of end capped PU-prepolymer was formed through the reaction between polyethylene glycol (PEG) (Mn=600 g/mole, dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) followed by the preparation of neutralized NCO terminated PU-prepolymer, which lead to the chain extension by using the chitosan. The dispersion of the obtained product was carried out by adding proper proportion of water. The synthesized CS-WDPUs were applied onto the different qualities of plain weave poly-cotton printed and dyed textile swatches by employing pad-dry-cure procedures. The textile assets of the treated and untreated textile swatches were assessed, as color fastness, pilling resistance, tear and tensile strength. The results showed that the chitosan incorporation into PU backbone has significant effect on the assets of treated textiles. These synthesized CS-WDPUs are eco-friendly bio-based finishes with potential applications for polyester/cotton textiles.     

Effect of Fruiting Branch/Square Removal on Growth and Quality of Bt Cotton under Different Potassium Rates

Removal of early fruiting branches with greater potassium doses caused more source and no sink at early stages of growth, leading to improved yield, yield components, and fiber quality traits in Bt cotton. The study used manual alteration of plant architecture (F₁, no branch removal; F₂, removal of first fruiting branch; F₃, removal of first and second fruiting branches; F₄, removal of all squares from first fruiting branch; F₅, removal of all squares from first and second fruiting branches) and potassium rates (50, 100, and 150 kg ha^?1) in a randomized complete block design and was repeated for 2 years (2011 and 2012). Increasing potassium application increased total bolls per plant and cotton yield to the greatest levels in F₃ and F₅, against lowest level in the control. Ginning out turn, fiber length, seed oil, and seed protein content were influenced by fruiting branch or square removal but the difference was less. Increasing potassium improved seed and fiber quality.     

Characterisation of Escherichia fergusonii isolates from farm animals using an Escherichia coli virulence gene array and tissue culture adherence assays

Escherichia fergusonii has been associated with a wide variety of intestinal and extra-intestinal infections in both humans and animals but, despite strong circumstantial evidence, the degree to which the organism is responsible for the pathologies identified remains uncertain. Thirty isolates of E. fergusonii collected between 2003 and 2004 were screened using an Escherichia coli virulence gene array to test for the presence of homologous virulence genes in E. fergusonii. The iss (increased serum survival) gene was present in 13/30 (43%) of the test strains and the prfB (P-related fimbriae regulatory) and ireA (siderophore receptor IreA) genes were also detected jointly in 3/30 (10%) strains. No known virulence genes were detected in 14/30 (47%) of strains. Following confirmatory PCR and sequence analysis, the E. fergusoniiprfB, iss and ireA genes shared a high degree of sequence similarity to their counterparts in E. coli, and a particular resemblance was noted with the E. coli strain APEC O1 pathogenicity island. In tissue culture adherence assays, nine E. fergusonii isolates associated with HEp-2 cells with a ‘localised adherence’ or ‘diffuse adherence’ phenotype, and they proved to be moderately invasive. The E. fergusonii isolates in this study possess both some phenotypic and genotypic features linked to known pathotypes of E. coli, and support existing evidence that strains of E. fergusonii may act as an opportunistic pathogens, although their specific virulence factors may need to be explored.     

NPK could alleviate the adverse effects of simulated acid rain in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

A study was conducted to determine the effect of macronutrients (NPK) in alleviating the adverse effects of simulated acid rain (SAR) on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). In addition to control (T₀), three different treatments, i.e., SAR (HNO₃) of pH 3 (T₁), NPK (T₂), and SAR + NPK (T₃), were applied on two sunflower cultivars, i.e., FH-37 and FH-385. The experiment was set up in CRD (completely randomized design) with four replicates of each treatment. Chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, ion contents (NPK), and gas exchange characters were determined. Acid rain remarkably reduced the chlorophyll pigments, NPK ionic content, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance, while an increase in internal CO₂ concentration and water use efficiency was noted in both the cultivars. The mixture of NPK with SAR exhibited positive impact to lessen the toxicity caused by acid. Among cultivars, FH-385 showed better performance as compared to FH-37.     

基于能值生态足迹模型的高温伏旱区生态安全研究——以重庆市江津区为例

随着全球环境恶化的速度加快,区域生态安全问题日益突出,特别是对高温伏旱区的生态安全的研究需求越来越迫切。本文利用基于能值理论改进的生态足迹模型,对重庆市江津区2002~2007年的生态安全现状做了全面评估。结果表明:(1)2002~2007年江津区均处于较安全等级,但是安全等级程度逐年下滑,因此需要密切关注;(2)在2002年之后,江津区一直处于强不可持续状态,程度呈逐渐加深的态势。     

Impact of Seasonal Fluctuations on the Sediment-Mercury, its Accumulation and Partitioning in Halimione portulacoides and Juncus maritimus Collected from Ria de Aveiro Coastal Lagoon (Portugal)

The availability of metals to plants is a complex function of numerous environmental factors. Many of these factors are interrelated, and vary seasonally and temporally. The current study intended to understand the influence of seasonal fluctuations and the vegetation of salt marsh plants (SMPs; Halimione portulacoides, Juncus maritimus) on sediment??s mercury (Hg) and its pH and redox potential (Eh), as well as their cumulative effect on the plant??s Hg-accumulation and Hg-partitioning potential. The area selected for the study was Laranjo Basin at Ria de Aveiro lagoon (Portugal) where a known Hg gradient was existed due to chlor-alkali plant discharge. Three sampling sites (L1, L2 and L3) were selected along a transect defined by the distance from the main Hg source. Samples were also collected from the Hg-free site (R). Irrespective of the plant vegetation, Hg in sediments gradually increased with a decreasing distance towards Hg-point source. The sediment colonised by J. maritimus showed more Hg concentration compared with H. portulacoides irrespective of the season. As a whole, J. maritimus accumulated Hg more than H. portulacoides at all the sampling sites, whereas in root, stem and leaf, the concentration was ranked as: L1 > L2 > L3 in both the plant species and was differentially influenced by seasonal changes. Moreover, root of both plants exhibited highest Hg concentration compared with stem and leaf. In addition, the leaf of H. portulacoides exhibited more Hg than leaves of J. maritimus. Bioaccumulation and translocation factors and dry weight were differentially influenced by seasonal changes. Taking together the results, the physico-chemical properties of sediment especially the sediment-Eh seems to be influnced by the type of plant vegetation and seasonal changes which in turn may have influenced the chemistry of sediments; thus, it enfluences the bioavalability of Hg and the Hg-retention capacity of both salt marsh sediments (SMSs) and SMPs (bioaccumulation factor). Moreover, SMSs vegetated by J. maritimus exhibited a stronger capacity for the retention and phytostabilization of Hg belowground (in sediments and/or roots) than those dominated by H. portulacoides. Conversely, those SMSs extensively vegetated by H. portulacoides are expected to translocate more Hg to aboveground parts, acting as a potential source of this metal to the marsh ecosystem. Therefore, J. maritimus and H. portulacoides may be used repectively for phytostabilization (in rhizosediments) and phytoextraction (by accumulation in aboveground plant tissue for subsequent plant removal).     

Zinc-Induced Changes in Growth Characters,Foliar Properties,and Zn-Accumulation Capacity of Pigeon Pea at Different Stages of Plant Growth

Application of zinc (Zn) [50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 μ g zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄)/g of soil] reduced the foliage and the total growth of pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Huth]. The root-shoot length ratio, varying little with age, was relatively low in the treated plants. Decrease in dry weights of stem and root was more pronounced in the late stages of plant development. The root-shoot dry weight ratio, maximum in the flowering stage, was lower in treated plants than in the control. Number of pods per plant declined, showing a positive correlation with Zn concentration. Net photosynthetic rate, declining with plant age, was significantly low in the treated plants. Density and size of stomata and trichomes, stomatal conductance, intercellular carbon dioxide concentration, quantity of green pigments, nitrate reductase activity, and the nitrate and protein contents in the leaves also declined significantly. Proportion of vascular tissues both in stems and roots increased with plant age with a concomitant reduction of pith and cortex. Under zinc stress, the relative proportion of tissues varied inconsistently. Dimensions of vessel elements and fibers in stems and roots, increasing with the plant age, were always smaller in the treated plants. The vulnerability factor and mesomorphic ratio of treated plants declined, suggesting induction of water stress due to zinc treatments. Accumulation of Zn^{2 +} in different plant parts was considerably high at each developmental stage of the treated plants, and showed a positive correlation with Zn in the soil.     

Field appraisal of herbicide potential of sunflower leaf extract against Rumex dentatus

Comparative evaluation of sunflower aqueous extracts and commercially available synthetic herbicides was carried out in field trials. Crude aqueous extract was tested in 80 and 100% concentrations in plots where wheat was grown with Rumex dentatus in a 1:1 mix. In comparison with the synthetic herbicides (Buctril-Super^® and Chwastox^®) the aqueous extract failed to kill 100% of selected weeds, but the highest tested extract concentration completely overcame weed crop competition by reducing the weed biomass and increasing wheat yield significantly. The trial confirmed the herbicidal potential of sunflower allelochemicals against broad leaf weeds.     

Zinc Ameliorates Fruit Yield and Quality of Mangoes Cultivated in Calcareous Soils

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is frequently observed in mangoes grown in calcareous soils. Inherent inability of mango to extract sufficient Zn from the soil exacerbates this situation. Therefore, mitigating effects of Zn application was investigated on flowering, fruit setting, yield and quality of mango cv. Samar Bahisht Chaunsa growing in calcareous soils. The experiment consisted of five treatments: control—no Zn, soil application of 50 and 100 g ZnSO₄ per tree and foliar application of 0.5? and 1.0?% ZnSO₄ solution. Zn was applied twice in the 2^nd week of November, 2011 and 3^rd week of March, 2012, respectively. The experiment was repeated on the same dates during the next growing season. Zn application significantly increased number of flower panicle, fruits matured panicle, leaf Zn concentrations, fruit size, peel thickness, fruit weights at harvest and after ripening and fruit yield tree, whereas it reduced malformed panicles and early fruit drop. However, flower sex ratio and fruit set remained statistically unaffected. Similarly, fruit quality in terms of total soluble solids, flesh color, aroma, flavor and overall acceptability significantly improved as compared to control. Foliar application mitigated Zn deficiency more effectively than the soil application in calcareous soils.     

Investigating potential roles of extruded flaxseed and α-tocopherol acetate supplementation for production of healthier broiler meat

1. The present study was conducted to evaluate the role of extruded flaxseed (EFS) and α-tocopherol acetate (ATA) for the enhancement of polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio (PUFA) over saturated fatty acids (SFA) in broiler meat as a source of healthier meat.

2. A total of 96 one-d-old Cobb 550 broilers were randomly divided into 8 treatments with three replicates having 4 birds in each. EFS (extruded at 155°C) at 100, 150 and 200 g/kg alone and in combination with ATA at 200 mg/kg were supplemented through normal feed from the third week onward.

3. During the 6-week growth period, body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and mortality were recorded. At slaughter, weight of liver, heart and kidney and fat content in breast and leg meat were measured. Fatty acid profiles in breast and leg meat were developed to estimate the PUFA to SFA ratio.

4. The results revealed that FI and FCR changed significantly in all groups and BWG increased in all the supplemented groups. The weight of liver, kidney and heart increased more in the supplemented group containing the maximum level of EFS with ATA compared with single supplementation of EFS.

5. The fat content in breast and leg meat decreased as the inclusion level of EFS increased. The level was low in leg meat compared with breast meat. Mortality decreased in all supplemented groups.

6. The PUFA to SFA ratio was significantly higher in leg meat (3.23) compared with breast meat (1.81) and the study therefore indicates that ATA and EFS supplementation could be used to improve the PUFA to SFA ratio in broiler meat.