Biochemical and morphological risk assessment of transgenic wheat with enhanced iron and zinc bioaccessibility

Decreased iron and zinc bioaccessibility, caused by the anti-nutrient phytic acid, is one of the leading reasons for micronutrient deficiency-related disorders. Biofortification of wheat with phytase gene to enhance iron and zinc bioaccessibility appears to be a fitting solution for this problem, especially in developing countries where most of the population belongs to the lower economic sector. However, societal views on crops, particularly crops that are genetically modified (GM) to express a new trait, needs to be changed. Risk assessment of GM crops can play a crucial role in fostering positive public perception, since it is imperative to ensure safety before allowing human consumption. The present study performed compositional and morphological risk assessment of T3 and T4 generations of phytase transgenic wheat by comparing their biochemical and morphological traits. Transgenic plants were analysed for their carbohydrate, protein, starch and phytic acid content along with iron bioaccessibility, zinc bioaccessibility and phytase enzyme activity. Morphological traits studied included plant height, seed number, seed weight and spike number. No significant differences were observed for carbohydrate, protein, starch content and for morphological traits; however, a significant increase was observed in phytase activity as well as iron and zinc bioaccessibility, which correlated with a significant decrease in phytic acid. These results demonstrate that phytase transgenic wheat is as native as local wheat varieties and can potentially increase iron and zinc bioaccessibility.     

Insights from in vitro exploration of factors influencing iron,zinc and provitamin A carotenoid bioaccessibility and intestinal absorption from cereals

Developments in genetics, agronomics and processing has positioned staple cereals as important sources of iron, zinc and provitamin A (pVA) carotenoids for nutritionally vulnerable populations. Significant effort has been placed on understanding the bioavailability of these micronutrients from cereal foods, including the exploration of underlying mechanisms by which their bioavailability can be modified. While micronutrient bioavailability is preferably assessed in clinical trials, relevant in vitro digestion and intestinal cell culture models have been applied to study effects of genetic, agronomic, post-harvest and food processing on micronutrient bioavailability. This review (1) critically assesses the application of in vitro models in the exploration of mechanisms associated with iron, zinc and provitamin A carotenoid bioaccessibility and intestinal absorption from cereal foods, and (2) identifies remaining gaps in order to frame future strategies to improve the nutritional impact of cereal foods.     

浅析等离子体催化联合脱硝机理研究

主要描述了现有等离子体催化脱硝的机理和现有催化剂的种类，通过对脱硝机理的研究和催化剂的选择，发现了其中的一些具有较好的脱硝效果的催化剂如Al2 O3负载型催化剂、分子筛催化剂（ZSM －5）等，有的甚至能达到90％以上，针对研究中发现有些方面还是空白，提出了未来等离子体催化联合脱硝的研究方向。     

Using Chlorella vulgaris and iron oxide nanoparticles in a designed bioreactor for aquaculture effluents purification

Aquaculture operations produce high volumes of wastewater containing suspended solids and nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. Treatment of water effluent from fish production ponds is essential for sustain environment. So, the present study was conducted to evaluate simultaneous use of microalgae and iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) to purify aquaculture effluents within a designed bioreactor. For designing experiment, effluent samples were collected from fish farms in Sari, Iran. Iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared from Iranian Nano Pishgaman Company. Chlorella vulgaris was captured from the environment, then purified and cultured in the laboratory. After that, NP and microalgae were transferred to the reactor space. TSS (total suspended solid), TDS (total dissolved solid), BOD (biological oxygen demand), pH (power of hydrogen), EC (electrical conductivity), NO₃ (nitrates), NO₂ (nitrite), NH₄, (ammonium) and PO₄ (phosphates) were measured during the experiment period which NH₄ (93.67 %), NO₃ (92.23 %), NO₂ (89.3 %), and PO₄ (89.25 %) showed the highest reduction percentage, respectively. Also, significant differences among the calculated parameters (except for pH) were observed during the experiment (P < 0.05). Based on the obtained results, it is concluded that the simultaneous use of microalgae and nanoparticles is desirable for purification of aquaculture wastewaters.     

铋系氧化物在光催化技术中的研究进展

总结近年铋系列半导体光催化剂的制备、种类和光催化反应机理等的研究进展,并展望了铋系列半导体光催化剂未来的发展方向.     

循环流化床中塑料粉与稻壳共燃生成NO的研究

为研究塑料与稻壳共燃的氮氧化物生成规律，在自行设计的循环流化床装置上进行了二者的共燃实验。研究了温度、塑料粉和稻壳的混合比例及过量空气系数对NO生成量的影响。实验结果表明，随温度升高，NO生成量升高；随塑料粉与稻壳混合比例增加，NO生成量呈降低趋势，且NO的生成量低于二者单独焚烧时生成量的线性叠加；随着过量空气系数增加，NO生成量降低。为寻找二者共燃NO生成的一般性规律，采用径向基神经网络建立了NO生成的预测模型，预测结果显示该模型具有很高的精度。     

Performance of peach and plum based rootstocks of different vigour on a late peach cultivar in replant and calcareous conditions

The field performance of fifteen peach and plum based rootstocks of different vigour (Adesoto, Evrica, Garnem, GF 677, HM-2, Krymsk^® 1, PAC 9801-02, PAC 960, PAC 9907-02, PAC 9917-26, PAC-MUT, PADAC 9907-23, ROOTPAC^® 40, ROOTPAC^® 70 and Tetra) grafted with ‘Calrico’ cultivar was compared after 7 years of establishment on an Armillaria infested replant site. ‘Calrico’ is a selected clone of “Calanda” late peach cultivar. Differences in parameters such as tree survival, leaf chlorophyll content, vigour, yield, cumulative yield, yield efficiency and fruit size were analyzed among rootstocks. All PAC 9801-02 and Tetra trees survived and the mortality rate was low in Evrica, PADAC 9907-23 and ROOTPAC^® 40. The rest of genotypes showed higher mortality rates. Leaf chlorophyll concentration was higher when grafted on Adesoto and Evrica and lower when grafted on PAC 9907-02 and PAC 9917-26. Garnem and PADAC 9907-23 were the most vigorous rootstocks. The highest yield efficiency was induced by Krymsk^® 1 and PAC 9801-02 due to their lower vigour. The highest fruit weight was also induced by Krymsk^® 1 but its cumulative yield was low. Other rootstocks that showed high fruit weight and cumulative yields were ROOTPAC^® 70 and Tetra. Overall, Evrica, PAC 9801-02, ROOTPAC^® 40 and Tetra were among the best adapted to soil sickness and calcareous soil showing a good agronomic performance. The first three rootstocks (Evrica, PAC 9801-02, ROOTPAC^® 40) also exhibited a high capacity to control tree vigour associated with high yield efficiency.     

Antifungal effects of iron sulfate on grapevine fungal pathogens

The present study aimed to determine the most efficient experimental conditions of iron sulfate use leading to optimal inhibition in the development of fungal pathogens. Assays have been focused on fungal species inducing severe grapevine diseases. FeSO₄ directly inhibited the in vitro mycelial growth of Botrytis cinerea, Eutypa lata, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Phaeoacremonium aleophilum, Diplodia seriata, and Neofusicoccum parvum with variable efficiency in the range of 0.5–10 mM. The development was always completely inhibited at 20 mM. This inhibitory effect was greatly increased at acidic pH values. The anionic moiety of the molecule was of importance since bromide, chloride and sulfate were highly active, whereas acetate and oxalate showed a small effect. Electron microscope observations on E. lata and B. cinerea showed that a treatment with FeSO₄ induced dramatic changes in the hyphal organization leading to cell death. No toxicity was observed on grapevine leaves following repeated FeSO₄ sprays in the antifungal concentration range. Therefore, FeSO₄ may be proposed to effectively replace the long-term pollutant use of CuSO₄ as an antifungal agent, with the additional advantage of iron being an important plant micronutrient.     

木材的变色

本文论述了木材变色的特征及其防治措施 ,介绍了有代表性色调的变色特征、除色和防变色方法 ,同时探讨了已变色木材的普通除色方法、变色木材的利用以及药液处理时应注意的事项     

Recycled iron phosphate as a fertilizer raw material for tree stands on drained boreal peatlands

Fertilization of drained peatland forests with easily soluble or slow-release apatite fertilizers can increase phosphorus (P) export to water courses, especially when the soil is low in aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) hydroxides and oxides. Application of Al and Fe together with P increases P adsorption to the soil and decreases the risk of leaching. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of recycled iron phosphate (rFePO₄) as forest fertilizer raw material from environmental and forest production perspectives. Trial fertilizers with different mixtures of rFePO₄ and Russian Kola apatite (Kap) were applied on 15 mini-catchments (area 100 m²), where the discharge at the outlet was collected, sampled and analyzed throughout the about 4-year measurement period. The foliage P content and height growth of the trees on the mini-catchments were measured. The biomass growth of the extramatrical mycorrhizal mycelia (EMM) was studied with a separate in-growth mesh bag experiment conducted on the same site. The results indicated no increase in phosphorus export to surface waters after application of rFePO₄ and 25/75 and 50/50 mixtures of rFePO₄ and Kap. In contrast to earlier studies showing a relatively high P export with different types of apatite fertilizers, the Kap fertilizer showed only minor phosphorus export. The height growth measurements and needle analyses of the juvenile Scots pine stands indicated poor P availability from pure rFePO₄, but the P availability from the 50/50 and 25/75 mixtures of rFePO₄ and Kap was similar to pure Kap. The mixtures of Kap and rFePO₄ enhanced the EMM biomass by 2- to 3-fold, whereas Kap and rFePO₄ alone, and high P availability (superphosphate) had no significant effect compared to non-P controls. The increase in EMM biomass as induced by concurrent application of Kap and rFePO₄ was not clearly reflected in tree growth and P acquisition. However, longer follow-up studies than in this one may be needed in order to verify the effect of increased EMM biomass on mycorrhizal mycelia mediated nutrient uptake and tree growth.