Evaluation of Different Approaches for Respiratory Quotient Calculation and Effects of Nitrogen Sources on Respiratory Quotient Values of Hydrocarbon Bioremediation

Blechnum orientale L. is a traditional, medicinal fern found in China. To assess the characteristics of heavy metals and As accumulation, the fronds, roots, and the rooting soils of this fern were sampled from urban, suburban, and rural woodlands across Guangdong Province in southern China. The concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in both the fern and its rooting soils were separately detected by ICP-MS. Contamination levels of woodland rooting soils were also assessed using both a single pollution index and the Nemerow pollution index. Both the metal concentrations and the pollution index showed that soils from urban, suburban, and even rural woodlands were adversely contaminated by As, Cd, Hg, and Pb. Based on transfer factor, B. orientale had good translocation of As, Hg, and Mn, but poor translocation of Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn from the roots to the fronds. This result suggests that this fern could be an excluder to latter metals. Despite the significantly higher levels of metals in the roots as compared with the fronds, the low bioaccumulation factor suggests that this fern has a weak capacity for metal accumulation.

     

IMPROVEMENT IN YIELD AND QUALITY OF KINNOW (CITRUS DELICIOSA X CITRUS NOBILIS) BY POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION

Citrus, especially Kinnow, fruit yield and quality in Pakistan is not competitive with other countries, which could be mainly attributed to a lack of good nutrient management for citrus orchards. Many of the soils under these orchards have been reported as deficient in potassium (K). Therefore, work was initiated for improving citrus fruit yield, size, and quality through K nutrition management. Experiments were conducted in four districts of Punjab including Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, and Sargodha and four rates of potash, i.e., 0, 50, 75 and 100 kg dipotassium oxide (K₂O) ha^?1 were applied using sulfate of potash (SOP) along with recommended rates of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). Soils of all the selected sites were clay loam or sandy clay loam and deficient in K. The leaf analysis also showed that all the selected orchards were deficient in K. Application of K increased the fruit yield and quality but K at100 kg K₂O ha^?1 was more effective in increasing the fruit weight and size, and peel thickness than other K rates in all the selected orchards. Juice volume and percentage significantly increased when K was applied at 75 kg K₂O ha^?1 at all sites. Nutrient uptake like K, P, and N enhanced with the increase in K application rate, however, the highest calcium (Ca)+ magnesium (Mg) was recorded at 50 kg K₂O ha^?1. The results indicated that all rates of K application improved the fruit yield and quality and reduced fruit dropping, however, 75 kg K₂O ha^?1 rate was more effective as juice volume and percentage, total soluble solid (TSS)/acid ratio and nutrient uptake showed significant improvement.     

Effect of irrigation frequency and amount on water use efficiency and yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) under field conditions

The water-use characteristics of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) were studied in the field under furrow irrigation. Irrigation water quantities were based on pan evaporation (E_pan) from a screened class-A pan. Treatments consisted of three irrigation intervals (I₁: 7 days; I₂: 14 days, I₃: 21 days), and four pan coefficients (K_cp 1: 0.60; K_cp 2: 0.80, K_cp 3: 1.00 and K_cp 4: 1.20). Average irrigation values for each treatment varied from 467 to 857 mm in 2003 and 398 to 654 mm in 2004. The highest seasonal evapotranspiration was obtained from the I₃K_cp 4 treatment in 2004 (1019 mm); the lowest value was observed in the I₁K_cp 1 treatment in the same year (598.0 mm). Data collected in 2003 and 2004 showed that the amount of irrigation water applied significantly the affected seed yield. However, the effects of irrigation interval on yield were not significant. On average, the K_cp 3 treatment gave the highest seed yield (1.915 t ha⁻¹), whereas K_cp 1 treatment gave the lowest (1.538 t ha⁻¹). Seasonal yield response factors (k_y) were 1.01 and 0.54 in 2003 and 2004, respectively. ET/E_pan ratios for each treatment varied from 0.3 to 1.3 in 2003 and from 0.1 to 1.1 in 2004. In conclusion, the K_cp 3 plant-pan coefficient is recommended for sesame grown under field conditions in order to maximise yield.     

Characterization of the key aroma compounds in cooked grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) by application of aroma extract dilution analysis

Aroma and aroma-active compounds of wild grey mullet ( Mugil cephalus ) were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry (GC-MS-O). According to sensory analysis, the aromatic extract obtained by simultaneous distillation and extraction (SDE) was representative of grey mullet odor. A total of 50 aroma compounds were identified and quantified in grey mullet. Aldehydes were qualitatively and quantitatively the most dominant volatiles in grey mullet. Aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) was used for the determination of aroma-active compounds of fish sample. A total of 29 aroma-active compounds were detected in aromatic extract of grey mullet, of which 24 were identified. On the basis of the flavor dilution (FD) factor, the most powerful aroma active compounds identified in the extract were (Z)-4-heptenal and nonanal, which were described as the strong cooked fish and green-fruity odor, respectively.     

Investigation of serum protein profiles in sheep naturally infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus

This study was carried out to determine serum protein profiles in naturally infected sheep with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). The study material consisted of twelve healthy and 36 sheep with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). FMD had been diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings and results of serological examination. Serotypes serologically detected in the FMDV-infected sheep were as follows: O (n = 11), A (n = 8) and mixed infection with serotypes O, A and Asia-1 (n = 17).The total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations as well as Albumin/Globulin ratio were slightly different among the groups (P < 0.05). Three protein bands of 66 kDa, 45 kDa and 20 kDa were remarkable. Moderate differences were determined between healthy and infected sheep for proportion of distribution in serum proteins. In conclusion, serum protein concentrations and serum protein profiles were slightly changed and no specific serum protein profile occurred in sheep infected with either O or A or in sheep mixed infected with the O and A and Asia-1 serotypes of FMDV compared to healthy ones.     

Assessment of the cardiotoxicity of tulathromycin in rabbits

The aim of this study was to determine the cardiotoxic potency of tulathromycin. Tulathromycin (10 mg/kg, SC) was administered to ten adult male rabbits, and blood samples were obtained before and after drug administration (0 and 6 hours). Serum cardiac damage markers (troponin I, creatine kinase-MB, myoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase), routine serum biochemical values (alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, amylase, total protein, albumin, glucose, calcium, ionised calcium, sodium, potassium), white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) counts, arterial blood gas parameters (pH, partial carbon dioxide pressure, partial oxygen pressure, actual bicarbonate, standard bicarbonate, total carbon dioxide, base excess in vivo, base excess in vitro, oxygen saturation, packed cell volume, haemoglobin) and serum oxidative status (malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase, retinol, β-carotene) were measured. Increased levels of troponin I, creatine kinase-MB and creatinine, and decreased WBC counts, ionised calcium and potassium levels were observed after drug administration. Tulathromycin treatment may cause cardiotoxicity, but its effects may be less dramatic than those of other macrolide antibiotics frequently used in veterinary medicine.     

Efficacy of vitamin E + selenium and vitamin A + D + E combinations on oxidative stress induced by long-term transportation in Holstein dairy cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the stress response to long-term transportation and to analyze the effects of vitamin A + D + E and vitamin E + selenium administrations on oxidative stress induced by long-term transportation in Holstein dairy cows. Control group (n = 10) received 0.9% saline (placebo), Group I (n = 10) received vitamin A + D + E, and Group II (n = 10) received vitamin E + selenium. After the transport, adrenaline levels were high in all groups (P < 0.05). Noradrenaline level was low in Group I (P < 0.05) and tended to be low in Group II. Mean levels of serum cortisol decreased significantly in all groups (P < 0.05) when comparing pre-transport data with post-transport data. Glucose levels increased in Control group (P < 0.05) and in Groups I and II (P < 0.01). The malondialdehyde level significantly increased in the Control group (P < 0.05) after the transport and the levels were lower in Group I (P = 0.076) and Group II (P < 0.05) than in the Control group. As a result, vitamin E + selenium and vitamin A + D + E have been determined to prevent lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, associated with long-term transportation stress in cattle.     

Unraveling Wheat Grain Quality,Physiological Indices,Dry Matter Accumulation,and Attenuating Water Stress Adverse Effect Via Foliar Potassium Application at Different Growth Stages

Water resources are increasingly scarce, and in drought prone production systems, the capability of the plant to recover its adverse effects is important for yield stability. There is an urgent need to develop water-saving strategies for wheat production. Water stress at critical growth stages diminishes wheat production and has harmful effects on crop growth and development; however, regulated water deficit and potassium foliar application ameliorates its adverse effect up to a certain extent. Consequently, the water deficit effect at different growth stages of the crop with exogenous application of potassium was evaluated in a screenhouse experiment in a complete randomized design (CRD) having four repeats. Varieties of wheat, i.e. Lalma (drought resistant) and Pakhtunkhwa-2015 (drought susceptible), were sown. Water deficit, i.e. mild water stress (50% of water required for field capacity) and severe stress (no application of water), at different growth stages of the crop were imposed. Potassium (K) foliar spray (1%) from potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄) was applied at the respective stage subjected to water deficit levels. Internal water status, i.e. relative water content (RWC) and water retention capacity (WRC), were attained maximum at tillering stage under mild stress than the rest of the stages with maximum for Lalma. Conversely, water saturation deficit (WSD) and water uptake capacity (WUC) were higher under severe stress imposed at grain filling stage. Theses indices were maintained by foliar potassium application. Similarly, dry matter (DM) allocation varied for stress level imposition and translocation to other parts were improved under foliar K application. The chlorophyll indices, i.e., soil plant analysis development (SPAD) value, also decreased with the severity of water deficit. Grain yield was higher under stress imposition at grain filling stage than the rest of the stages, though severe water stress decreased yield significantly. The Potassium (K) foliar spray showed no prominent effect at grain filling. Canopy temperature increased with stress severity and was maintained under K foliar spray. Osmotic adjustment, water and turgor potential were affected by water stress and maintained with foliar K spray. Grain quality and biochemical traits of wheat were affected severely under water deficit. Potassium foliar spray was found to decrease the adverse effect of the water stress and hence maintained the quality and biochemical characters. It is concluded that application of foliar potassium decreases the adverse effects of water stress at any growth stage, minimises the stress indices drastic effect and maintains the internal water balance of the crop at different stages subjected to water deficit.

     

Effect of Salicornia herbacea on Osteoblastogenesis and Adipogenesis in Vitro

Bone-related complications are among the highest concerning metabolic diseases in the modern world. Bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture increase with age and diseases like osteoporosis. Elevated adipogenesis in bone results in osteoporosis and loss of bone mass when coupled with lack of osteoblastogenesis. In this study the potential effect of Salicornia herbacea extract against osteoporotic conditions was evaluated. Adipogenesis inhibitory effect of S. herbacea has been evidenced by decreased lipid accumulation of differentiating cells and expression levels of crucial adipogenesis markers in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. S. herbacea treatment reduced the lipid accumulation by 25% of the control. In addition, mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)α and sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)1c were inhibited by the presence of S. herbacea. Bone formation enhancement effect of S. herbacea was also confirmed in MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. The presence of S. herbacea significantly elevated the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity by 120% at a concentration of 100 μg/mL in differentiating osteoblasts. S. herbacea also significantly increased the expression of osteoblastogenesis indicators, ALP, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, osteocalcin and collagen type I (collagen-I). In conclusion, S. herbacea possess potential to be utilized as a source of anti-osteoporotic agent that can inhibit adipogenesis while promoting osteoblastogenesis.