Cosmetic,Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications of Fish Gelatin/Hydrolysates

There are several reviews that separately cover different aspects of fish gelatin including its preparation, characteristics, modifications, and applications. Its packaging application in food industry is extensively covered but other applications are not covered or covered alongside with those of collagen. This review is comprehensive, specific to fish gelatin/hydrolysate and cites recent research. It covers cosmetic applications, intrinsic activities, and biomedical applications in wound dressing and wound healing, gene therapy, tissue engineering, implants, and bone substitutes. It also covers its pharmaceutical applications including manufacturing of capsules, coating of microparticles/oils, coating of tablets, stabilization of emulsions and drug delivery (microspheres, nanospheres, scaffolds, microneedles, and hydrogels). The main outcomes are that fish gelatin is immunologically safe, protects from the possibility of transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and foot and mouth diseases, has an economic and environmental benefits, and may be suitable for those that practice religious-based food restrictions, i.e., people of Muslim, Jewish and Hindu faiths. It has unique rheological properties, making it more suitable for certain applications than mammalian gelatins. It can be easily modified to enhance its mechanical properties. However, extensive research is still needed to characterize gelatin hydrolysates, elucidate the Structure Activity Relationship (SAR), and formulate them into dosage forms. Additionally, expansion into cosmetic applications and drug delivery is needed.     

Expression and characterization of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss recombinant myoglobin

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - Recombinant expression system was established for rainbow trout myoglobin (Mb) considering its unique primary structure of having one unusual deletion and two...     

A survey of animal bites on humans in Bursa,Turkey

Animal bites are a major public health problem. The aim of this study was to conduct a survey of animal bites in Bursa, Turkey. Patients who sought medical care for animal bites over an 18-month period were included in our study (n = 1,715). Data were obtained from the registry of the Bursa State Hospital; 71.84% of the patients were men and 28.16% were women. Bites were most frequent among patients who were >18 years of age (comprising 60.83% of all bites). The anatomical site of the bite was recorded in all 1,715 cases, and 1,778 bite locations on the body were reported. The upper extremities were the most frequent sites of animal bites (53.83%), followed by the lower extremities (38.03%). Bites were most frequently inflicted by dogs (68.04%), followed by cats (28.45%), mice (2.56%), and other animals (hamsters, donkeys, horses, foxes, and rabbits together comprised 0.95% of the bites). As a result, bite incidents were mostly associated with males aged >18 years and occurred in the upper extremities. This study showed that dog bites constitute a major animal bite problem in Bursa, Turkey.     

Ganoderma boninense basidiospores in oil palm plantations: evaluation of their possible role in stem rots of Elaeis guineensis

Basidiospores are implicated in the distribution and genetic diversity of Ganoderma boninense, cause of basal stem rot (BSR) and upper stem rot (USR) of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). Measurement of aerial basidiospores within plantations in Sumatra showed continuous and high production over 24 h (range c. 2–11 000 spores m^?3) with maximum release during early evening. Basidiospores applied to cut surfaces of fronds, peduncles and stems germinated in situ. Equivalent, extensive wounds are created during plantation harvesting and management and represent potential sites for formation of infective heterokaryons following mating of haploid basidiospore germlings. Use of spore‐sized micro‐beads showed that basidiospores could be pulled up to 10 cm into severed xylem vessels, where they are relatively protected from dehydration, UV irradiation and competing microflora. Diversity of isolates from five locations on two plantations was assessed by RAMS fingerprinting. Isolates from within individual palms with USR were identical and represent single infections, but different USR infections had unique band patterns and revealed separate infections. Some BSR‐affected trees contained more than one isolate, and thus had multiple infections. There was one example of adjacent BSR palms with the same isolate, indicating vegetative spread, but there were no identical genets from BSR infections and adjacent fallen palms. Isolate diversity was as great within a plantation as between plantations. It is evident that basidiospores play a major role in spread and genetic variability of G. boninense. Evidence for direct basidiospore infection via cut fronds, indirectly through roots via colonized debris and less frequently, infection by vegetative, clonal spread is considered.     

Effects of Different Factors on Water Flow and Solute Transport Investigated by Time Domain Reflectometry in Sandy Clay Loam Field Soil

Factors affecting preferential flow and transport in the vadose zone need to be investigated by experiments and simulations to protect groundwater against surface applied chemicals. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of several factors (soil structure, initial soil water content (SWC), and application rate) and their interactions on the extent of preferential flow and transport in a sandy clay loam field soil using the time domain reflectometry (TDR) for measuring SWC and electrical conductivity (EC) in 12 treatments, modeling (by HYDRUS-1D and VS2DTI) the measured SWC and EC, and conducting statistical tests for comparing the means of the measured and modeled SWC and EC and solute transport parameters (pore water velocity and dispersion coefficient) obtained by inversely fitting in the CXTFIT program. The study results showed that the applied solution moved faster in the undisturbed, wet initial SWC, and higher application rate experimental conditions than in the disturbed, dry initial SWC, and lower application rate, respectively, based on the analysis of the changes in TDR measured SWC and EC with depth at 1, 2, 5, and 15?h of the experiments. However, the effects of interactive factors or treatments on water flow and solute transport were not clear enough. The modeling results showed that HYDRUS-1D was better than VS2DTI in the estimation of EC and especially SWC, but overall the models had relatively low performances in the simulations. Statistical test results also showed that the treatments had different flow and transport characteristics because they were divided into different groups in terms of the means of SWC and EC and solute transport parameters. These results suggest that similar experiments with more distinct interactions and modeling studies with different approaches need to be considered for better understanding the complex flow and transport processes in the vadose zone.     

N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O emission from conventional and minimum-tilled soils

In this study, we investigated N₂O emissions from two fields under minimum tillage, cropped with maize (MT maize) and summer oats (MT oats), and a conventionally tilled field cropped with maize (CT maize). Nitrous oxide losses from the MT maize and MT oats fields (5.27 and 3.64 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹, respectively) were significantly higher than those from the CT maize field (0.27 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹) over a period of 1 year. The lower moisture content in CT maize (43% water-filled pore space [WFPS] compared to 60–65%) probably caused the difference in total N₂O emissions. Denitrification was found to be the major source of N₂O loss. Emission factors calculated from the MT field data were high (0.04) compared to the CT field (0.001). All data were simulated with the denitrification decomposition model (DNDC). For the CT field, N₂O and N₂O + N₂ emissions were largely overestimated. For the MT fields, there was a better agreement with the total N₂O and N₂O + N₂ emissions, although the N₂O emissions from the MT maize field were underestimated. The simulated N₂O emissions were particularly influenced by fertilization, but several other measured N₂O emission peaks associated with other management practices at higher WFPS were not captured by the model. Several mismatches between simulated and measured \textNH₄⁺ {\text{NH}}_4^ + , \textNO₃^- {\text{NO}}_3^ - and WFPS for all fields were observed. These mismatches together with the insensitivity of the DNDC model for increased N₂O emissions at the management practices different from fertilizer application explain the limited similarity between the simulated and measured N₂O emissions pattern from the MT fields.     

Cd and Nutrient Elements Release into Various Aqueous Solutions from Synthesized K-Struvite Fertilizer

K-struvite (potassium magnesium phosphate, KMgPO₄.6H₂O) is a promising multinutrient slow-release fertilizer; however, it may contain cadmium (Cd) in significant ranges like other phosphorus (P) fertilizers. This paper focuses on dissolution of a synthesized K-struvite in water, acid solutions and complexing agents. Firstly, K-struvite was synthesized by using Cd containing phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄). After its characterization, a three-stage dissolution study was carried out. The release of nutrient elements and Cd into extracts was studied. Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) solubilities in pure water are low, not more than about 2.5% at the end of three extractions. It was found that solubility increased with the presence of mineral and organic acids. The presence of complexing agents also enhanced the dissolution of K-struvite. At the end of three extractions, citric acid (CA, C₆H₈O₇.H₂O) solution solubilized P about 38%, while dissolved K was about 35%, in cumulative. In the case of 0.001 mol/L Na₂EDTA (C₁₀H₁₄N₂Na₂O₈.2H₂O), the solubilized K-struvite was found to be about 40%, which was about 14% in a 250 mg/L Na-humate. The maximum concentrations of Cd in the third extracts of hydrochloric acid (HCl), CA, oxalic acid (OA, C₂H₂O₄) and Na₂EDTA were measured to be in the range of about 14–19 μg/L, which corresponds to a Cd solubilization more than 46% for the three successive extractions.     

Antifungal and antitermitic activities of wood vinegar from oil palm trunk

We evaluated the antifungal and antitermite activities of wood vinegars produced from oil palm trunk. The wood vinegars were produced at three different pyrolysis temperatures, 350, 400, and 450 °C. Antifungal activities of vinegars were evaluated using a Petri dish bioassay with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% (v/v) against a white-rot fungus, Trametes versicolor, and a brown-rot fungus, Fomitopsis palustris. Antitermite activities were tested using a no-choice bioassay method for Coptotermes formosanus with 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0% (v/v). All the wood vinegars exhibited antifungal activities against T. versicolor. In particular, the wood vinegar produced at 350 °C resulted in complete inhibition of T. versicolor growth at 1.0 and 1.5%. However, higher concentrations were required to obtain growth inhibition of F. palustris. All the wood vinegars exhibited antitermite activity to C. formosanus workers in the no-choice experiment at relatively high concentrations. For instance, 10% concentration was required to achieve 100% mortality against C. formosanus at all production temperatures. The lowest mass loss of the treated filter paper of 11.75% was obtained with a 350 °C—10.0% combination.     

基于TM图像的塔里木盆地北缘盐渍地亮度值分析——以渭干河-库车河三角洲绿洲为例

渭干河一库车河三角洲绿洲地处世界第二大沙漠塔克拉玛干沙漠的北缘.随着经济的快速发展,土地资源开发强度开始加大,土壤盐渍化成为渭干河一库车河三角洲可持续发展面临的主要环境问题之一.因此,准确提取土壤盐渍化信息对研究区土壤盐渍化监测和研究盐渍化动态变化具有重要意义.本文以TM卫星图像数据及野外实测的数据为数据源,选择研究区具有代表性的植被、水体、重度盐渍地、中轻度盐渍地、岩石和早地等主要地物,利用PCI软件分析了这些主要地物在TM影像不同波段上的亮度值变化规律.其中,研究区内不同程度盐渍地的信息提取是本研究的重点.本文结合研究区本底资料,在对遥感数据光谱知识充分分析,挖掘谱间结构的基础上,揭示了研宄区内不同程度盐渍地在TM影像中的亮度值变化特征及分离规则.实验表明,盐渍地总提取精度达到88.6%.其中,重度及中轻度盐浈地面积的提取精度分别达到90.8%和86.7%.本研究表明,通过利用此方法,可将盐浈地信息较为精确地提取出来.