A new model for the structure of lignosulphonates: Part 1. Behaviour in dilute solutions

Lignosulphonates are formed by the cleavages of the α-O-4 linkages of the “infinite” lignin network in wood, and a sulphonation of the α- and/or γ-positions of the side chains of the C₉ units. The resulting lignosulphonate molecule forms a randomly branched polyelectrolyte. The molecule coils in solution to make a more ball-shaped molecule with the sulphonate groups enriched on the surface. The scaling laws for this model of the lignosulphonate polymer as well as for other models of the lignosulphonate have been derived. The scaling laws for the randomly branched polyelectrolyte and microgel are the same for most properties except the polyelectrolyte expansion. The scaling laws are compared with literature experimental values for radii and polyelectrolyte expansion. The randomly branched polyelectrolyte model successfully accounts for the behaviour in solution. The dependence of the polyelectrolyte expansion on the molecular weight demonstrates that the lignosulphonate is not a microgel structure.     

Fishery Wastes as a Yet Undiscovered Treasure from the Sea: Biomolecules Sources,Extraction Methods and Valorization

The search for new biological sources of commercial value is a major goal for the sustainable management of natural resources. The huge amount of fishery by-catch or processing by-products continuously produced needs to be managed to avoid environmental problems and keep resource sustainability. Fishery by-products can represent an interesting source of high added value bioactive compounds, such as proteins, carbohydrates, collagen, polyunsaturated fatty acids, chitin, polyphenolic constituents, carotenoids, vitamins, alkaloids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, toxins; nevertheless, their biotechnological potential is still largely underutilized. Depending on their structural and functional characteristics, marine-derived biomolecules can find several applications in food industry, agriculture, biotechnological (chemical, industrial or environmental) fields. Fish internal organs are a rich and underexplored source of bioactive compounds; the fish gut microbiota biosynthesizes essential or short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, minerals or enzymes and is also a source of probiotic candidates, in turn producing bioactive compounds with antibiotic and biosurfactant/bioemulsifier activities. Chemical, enzymatic and/or microbial processing of fishery by-catch or processing by-products allows the production of different valuable bioactive compounds; to date, however, the lack of cost-effective extraction strategies so far has prevented their exploitation on a large scale. Standardization and optimization of extraction procedures are urgently required, as processing conditions can affect the qualitative and quantitative properties of these biomolecules. Valorization routes for such raw materials can provide a great additional value for companies involved in the field of bioprospecting. The present review aims at collecting current knowledge on fishery by-catch or by-products, exploring the valorization of their active biomolecules, in application of the circular economy paradigm applied to the fishery field. It will address specific issues from a biorefinery perspective: (i) fish tissues and organs as potential sources of metabolites, antibiotics and probiotics; (ii) screening for bioactive compounds; (iii) extraction processes and innovative technologies for purification and chemical characterization; (iv) energy production technologies for the exhausted biomass. We provide a general perspective on the techno-economic feasibility and the environmental footprint of the production process, as well as on the definition of legal constraints for the new products production and commercial use.     

根表铁膜对水稻磷素吸收影响研究进展

磷（P）对水稻生长的影响仅次于氮。P在土壤中含量丰富,但由于其难溶性及土壤的高吸附性,可被植物直接吸收利用的活性P含量很低。根表铁膜对土壤中的P有很强的吸附作用,在一定程度上是植物的营养库,铁膜中的P是植物吸收的重要P源。有关根表铁膜与水稻P吸收的关系已有很多报道,是促进还是抑制作用情况比较复杂。本文综述了水稻根表铁膜的形成原因、对P的吸附与解吸附能力以及对水稻吸收利用的影响,并对今后开展根表铁膜对水稻P吸收的调控机理研究提出几点建议,同时对根表铁膜调控水稻P吸收的应用前景进行了展望。     

Relationship between Deep Root Distribution and Root Penetration Capacity Estimated by Pot Experiments with a Paraffin and Vaseline Layer for Landraces and Recent Cultivars of Wheat

Root growth into deep soil is an important factor for stable production in wheat under drought conditions. Root penetrating capacity (RP) shown by pot experiments with a paraffin-Vaseline layer (PV layer) may be a useful indicator estimating deep rooting ability of wheat genotypes. Previously, we identified genotypes of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) and bread wheat (T. aestivum L.) with diverse RP by the pot experiments. In this study, we investigated the root distribution of three Ethiopian landraces of durum wheat with high RP, three recent cultivars of durum wheat with low RP and one Japanese cultivar of bread wheat ‘Haruyutaka’ with low RP using: (1) pots with a PV layer, (2) root boxes, (3) artificial field and (4) a normal field to analyze the relationship between RP estimated by pot experiment and root development in the field. In the pot experiments, RP was evaluated by the number of roots penetrating through the PV layer (NRP). In the root-box and field experiments, the root distribution was evaluated by the number of roots on the vertical surface of soil as the root frequency (RF: root number cm-¹ soil surface). Ethiopian landraces had a significantly larger NRP than recent cultivars in the pot experiment. The root box and field experiments showed that Ethiopian landraces tended to have a higher RF than recent cultivars in deep soil layer. We concluded that RP estimated by pot experiments with a PV layer is a useful indicator of deep rooting ability under field conditions.     

SWARD PRODUCTIVITY WITHIN MICRO-PATTERNS OF HEIGHT AND FREQUENCY OF DEFOLIATION

An experiment is described in which 10 cutting treatments were applied to plots of perennial ryegrass. In 4 treatments the swards were cut uniformly using one of the following regimes: cut to 15 cm every 2 weeks (regime hf); cut to 15 cm every 6 weeks (hi); cut to 5 cm every 2 weeks (If); cut to 5 cm every 6 weeks (li). In the remaining 6 treatments, each plot was cut in alternate 9 cm strips using combinations of two of the above regimes; hf/hi, hf/lf, hf/li, hi/If, hi/li, and If/li. The non-uniform cutting in the latter 6 treatments resulted in a micro-pattern of height and/or frequency of defoliation. DM yield from the best non-uniform cutting method (If/li) was as great as that from the best uniform method (li). This was due to an increased yield from areas under regime If when adjacent to areas under li, compared with uniform defoliation under regime If. Results for other treatments also showed that the yield from an area can be influenced by the defoliation regime applied to adjacent areas. The trend was for yield to be greatest if adjacent areas were cut high (as opposed to low) or frequently (as opposed to infrequently). There was less bare ground and more perennial ryegrass and weeds at the end of the experiment in areas previously adjacent to frequent (0 as opposed to infrequent (i) cutting regimes. To assist in the interpretation of field results, an experiment was carried out in which uniform and non-uniform cutting treatments were applied to individual plants of perennial ryegrass growing in pots of soil in a glasshouse. There was some evidence of an interaction between the growth of high and low parts of plants cut non-uniformly. There is a discussion of the possibility of devising new ways of harvesting grass by cutting. It is suggested that the non-uniform grazing pattern of livestock may not be wasteful.     

Effective removal of calcium ions from simulated hard water using electrospun polyelectrolyte nanofibrous mats

The development of easily separated from water, high effective mineral ion removal materials is quite required in the hard water treatment system. In this study, water-stable polyelectrolyte polyacrylic acid (PAA) nanofibrous mats were fabricated by electrospinning technology and subsequent thermal crosslinking. Influence factors such as contact time, mat content, temperature and interfering ions strength were experimentally examined. The results indicated that polyelectrolyte PAA nanofibrous mats could be used as high effective Ca(II) ions removal material via complexation to form PAA?COOCa ²⁺ complex, with a maximum Ca(II) ion removal capacity of 152.8 mg/g within 60 min at 25 °C. Both equilibrium and kinetic studies showed that the behaviors of Ca(II) ions removal by polyelectrolyte nanofibrous mats followed Freundlich model and fitted pseudo-second-order model, respectively.     

Development of Activated carbon from Windmill palm sheath fiber by KOH activation

In this study, activated carbon was prepared from windmill palm sheath fiber (WPF) powder by KOH activation for full utilization of the bioresource. First, the optimal parameters of the activation technology, such as impregnation ratio, temperature, and time, were determined. The pyrolysis process and activation mechanism of KOH were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). WPF powder-based activated carbons were then prepared under the optimized condition and characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, and nitrogen adsorption techniques. The reaction mechanisms were deduced in two phases. The reaction mechanisms in the first carbonization process were mainly related to substitution, scission, and oxidization reactions of methylene. In the second activation process, KOH and carbon began to react at 350 °C, producing potassium compounds, which further reacted with carbon. Results show that the optimal process for preparing an excellent adsorbent from WPF employs an impregnation ratio of 4:1 at 850 °C for 2.5 h, which can result in a good adsorption property for methylene blue, high BET surface area of 1734.34 m²/g, and total pore volume of 0.96 cm³/g. WPF-based activated carbon demonstrates a remarkable adsorption capacity, and thus WPF has great potential value as a new agricultural resource.     

Selective removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions by acrylic acid/acrylamide comonomer grafted polypropylene fibers

Polypropylene-based chelating fibers grafted with acrylic acid and acrylamide side chains were simply synthesized, and subsequently employed as adsorbents for Pb(II) removal selectively from aqueous solutions. The assynthesized fibers were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and water contact angle. The adsorption results revealed that kinetics data were fitted by a pseudo-second order model (semi-saturation time 6.2 min), thereby suggesting chelating interaction to be the main mechanism during the adsorption process. The adsorption isotherm data fitted well with a Langmuir model. The thermodynamic study revealed the adsorption of Pb(II) as an exothermic spontaneous chemisorptive process. Coexisting Na(I), Mg(II), and Al(III) in solution showed negligible effects in the adsorption process. As confirmed by carboxyl amination, the carboxylate oxygen preferentially chelates coexisting Ca(II) over Pb(II), thereby leading to lower extents of Pb(II)-O chelate interaction. The spent fibers were effectively and repetitively (five cycles) regenerated while maintaining high performance upon treatment with 1 M hydrochloric acid solutions.     

Effect of phosphate salts on the Korean non-fried instant noodle quality

As consumers worldwide are concerned about health issues, the demand for non-fried instant noodle has increased rapidly in recent years. Korean instant noodle typically contains a high level of modified starch, especially modified potato starch such as acetylated potato starch (APS), for its unique eating quality. This often leads to high material cost. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of three phosphate salts (PS) on the quality of Korean non-fried instant noodle made with reduced level of APS. The results showed that PS and APS had similar effects on noodle quality. All PS gave noodle a brighter and yellower appearance. Reducing APS level from 15% to 10% resulted in a much harder noodle, but adding PS into noodles with 10% APS yielded a softer texture. The RVA analysis of instant noodle formula dry mix showed that at the 10% APS level, all PS significantly increased noodle flour PV and FV. The RVA analysis of finished instant noodle powder indicated that at the 10% APS level, both PV and FV were significantly increased with 0.30% DSP or DKP, and 0.03% MSP was able to increase PV significantly. It was suggested that APS used in Korean non-fried instant noodle could be partially substituted by PS with minimal impact on finished product quality.     

绿茶揉捻叶的水分解吸和吸附特性

对揉捻叶在20、30、40℃及不同的水分活度(0.11—0.98)下的解吸和吸附特性进行了研究,结果表明,揉捻叶的等温解吸和吸附曲线符合 Halsey 方程,解吸和吸附过程存在着滞后现象。在相同的水分活度下(等压线),温度升高,平衡含水率下降;在相同的平衡含水率下(等量线),温度升高,相对湿度则降低。同时,解吸和吸附过程中的焓随含水率的下降而增加。此外,温度和相对湿度对解吸和吸附速率有明显的影响。本文还对揉捻叶的解吸和吸附特性与茶叶品质及花茶窨制技术的关系进行了讨论。     

Polyelectrolyte multilayer coated nanofibrous mats: Controlled surface morphology and cell culture

We reported the controlled surface morphologies and the cell culture of polyelectrolyte multilayer coated nylon 6 fibrous mats with different number of layers. Polyelectrolyte multilayer coated nylon 6 fibers were successfully prepared by an alternative deposition of alginic acid sodium salt and chitosan via a Layer-by-Layer (LbL) electrostatic self-assembly. The surface morphology, stiffness, and hydrophilicity of polyelectrolyte multilayer coated nylon 6 fibrous mats could be finely tuned by regulating the number of polyelectrolyte nanocoating. It was observed that the morphology of polyelectrolyte multilayer coated nylon 6 fibers was uniform and smooth, indicating a dense and harder nanocoating of polyelectrolytes onto nylon 6 fibers. Compared to pure nylon 6 fibrous mat (tensile strength ～10.6±1 MPa), the tensile strength of polyelectrolyte coated nylon 6 fibrous mats was largely increased to 35.2±2 MPa for 5 bilayers coated fiber mats. In addition, it was found that at an initial stage after 1 day of cell culturing, the electrospun nylon 6 fibrous mats coated with 5 bilayer of alginic acid and chitosan show the highest cell affinity (good adhesion), while the electrospun nylon 6 fibrous mats coated with 10 bilayer show the lowest cell affinity. After cell seeding for 3 days, it was observed that rate of proliferation is enhanced by increasing the number of bilayer up to 3 bilayers (good proliferation), and then drastically decreased with further increasing the number of bilayer.     

Design of Chitosan and Its Water Soluble Derivatives-Based Drug Carriers with Polyelectrolyte Complexes

Chitosan, the cationic polysaccharide derived from the natural polysaccharide chitin, has been studied as a biomaterial for more than two decades. As a polycationic polymer with favorable properties, it has been widely used to form polyelectrolyte complexes with polyanions for various applications in drug delivery fields. In recent years, a growing number of studies have been focused on the preparation of polyelectrolyte complexes based on chitosan and its water soluble derivatives. They have been considered well-suited as biomaterials for a number of vital drug carriers with targeted/controlled release profiles, e.g., films, capsules, microcapsules. In this work, an overview highlights not only the favorable properties of chitosan and its water soluble derivatives but also the good performance of the polyelectrolyte complexes produced based on chitosan. Their various types of applications as drug carriers are reviewed in detail.     

Biorefinery of Cannabis sativa using one- and two-step steam treatments for the production of high quality fibres

Among the sources of lignocellulosic biomass that could be considered as a feedstock for a biorefinery, hemp (Cannabis sativa) is known for the quality and relative abundance of its fibre. In this work, two variations of the Feedstock Impregnation Rapid and Sequential Steam Treatment (FIRSST) process are compared for the production of both fibres and biomolecules (including liquid fuels) as the valorization of the entire carbon content of biomass is needed to reach economical viability. In the first variation, the fibres were isolated via two specific and sequential steam treatments while in the second variation, fibres were isolated using only one steam treatment. Both processes allowed the isolation of a fibre that was comparable to kraft pulp while reducing the amounts of ashes along the process. Compositions of the residual solid fibre at different steps of the treatment were evaluated using ASTM and TAPPI standard methods. Carbohydrates were identified and quantified using HPLC with an anion exchange stationary phase. The qualities of the FIRSST and Kraft pulp produced were compared using standard ATPPC methods. Both pulps showed similar indexes. The two-steps FIRSST process has leaded to direct isolation of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin that could be suitable for the production of energy (biofuels) and high value chemicals, with small investments in terms of chemicals and energy.     

Adhesion, proliferation, and gene expression profile of human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured on bilayered polyelectrolyte coatings composed of glycosaminoglycans

This study characterized human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) adhesion, proliferation, and gene expression on bilayered polyelectrolyte coatings composed of an outermost layer of glycosaminoglycans (hyaluronan, heparin, or chondroitin sulfate), with an underlying layer of poly-L-lysine or chitosan. The proportion of cells that adhered to the various polyelectrolyte coatings after 1 and 2 h incubations was quantified by the WST-8 assay. Interchanging poly-L-lysine with chitosan resulted in significant differences in cellular adhesion to the outermost glycosaminoglycan layer after 1 h, but these differences became insignificant after 2 h. The proliferation of HUVEC on the various bilayered polyelectrolyte coatings over 10 days was characterized using the WST-8 assay. Regardless of whether the underlying layer was poly-L-lysine or chitosan, HUVEC proliferation on the hyaluronan outermost layer was significantly less than on heparin or chondroitin sulfate. Additionally, it was observed that there was more proliferation with poly-L-lysine as the underlying layer, compared to chitosan. Subsequently, real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the expression of seven genes related to adhesion, migration, and endothelial function (VWF, VEGFR, VEGFA, endoglin, integrin-α5, ICAM1, and ICAM2) by HUVEC cultured on the various bilayered polyelectrolyte coatings for 3 days. With poly-L-lysine as the underlying layer, biologically significant differences (greater than twofold) in the expression of VWF, VEGFR, VEGFA, endoglin, and ICAM1 were observed among the three glycosaminoglycans. With chitosan as the underlying layer, all three glycosaminoglycans displayed biologically significant differences in the expression of VWF and VEGFR compared to the chitosan control. CT-HA displayed the highest level of expression of VWF, whereas expression levels of VEGFR were almost similar among the three glycosaminoglycans.     

灌溉模式与施氮量交互作用对水稻产量以及水、氮利用效率的影响

【目的】研究不同水、氮管理模式对水稻产量以及水、氮利用效率的影响,以期为水稻高产与水、氮高效利用提供理论依据和技术参考。【方法】大田试验于2015-2016年在浙江富阳进行,供试品种为三系籼型杂交稻天优华占。设置常规灌溉(CI)和干湿交替灌溉(AWD)两种灌溉模式,同时设置低氮(LN,80 kg/hm~2)、中氮(MN,160kg/hm~2)和高氮(HN,240 kg/hm~2)3种施氮水平。【结果】灌溉模式与施氮量对水稻产量以及水、氮利用效率有显著互作效应。与CI相比,AWD抑制无效分蘖,分蘖成穗率提高8.1%~10.7%;提高抽穗期至成熟期的光合势(LAD)与群体生长率(CGR);促进根系下扎,10~20 cm根层根系生物量增加了24.4%~32.3%,同时提高了结实期根系活性;促使茎鞘中非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)向籽粒中运转;且AWD在160 kg/hm~2(中氮)施氮水平下可显著提高产量与水、氮利用效率,为本研究最佳的水、氮运筹模式。【结论】通过适宜的水、氮运筹可充分发挥其互作效应,提高水稻产量与水、氮利用效率。     

The effect of harvest date and inoculation on the yield, fermentation characteristics and feeding value of kale silage

Using new harvesting and ensiling technologies, it is now possible to ensile kale ( Brassica oleracea ) successfully. However, there is little information available regarding the optimum time for harvest. The aim of this 2-year study was to compare the yield, fermentation characteristics and feeding value of kale harvested at different stages of growth, and ensiled with and without a bacterial inoculant. During Year 1 the crop was harvested after 15, 18 and 20 weeks of growth. The yield at each harvest was similar, but as the crop matured the crude protein (CP) concentration and buffering capacity decreased significantly, and there was a marked increase in the water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentration. During Year 2 the crop was harvested at 14 and 17 weeks of growth. Again, the stage of maturity did not affect yield and, on this occasion, the chemical composition of the crop was unaffected by harvest date. However, the WSC and CP concentrations of the crop were lower in Year 2 than in Year 1, possibly as a result of differences in fertilizer regime. Each of the silages produced in Year 2 was offered to six Suffolk cross wether lambs, aged 10 months, to measure voluntary intake, in vivo digestibility and nitrogen retention. Neither harvesting date nor the use of an inoculant affected voluntary intake or nitrogen retention by the lambs. However, in vivo digestibility was higher in the kale silage harvested after 14 weeks of growth and when an inoculant was applied. The results obtained suggest that harvesting kale after 14 weeks of growth can produce highly digestible silage with a high CP concentration. Although delaying harvest until 18 weeks of growth will probably result in a decrease in the CP concentration of the crop, it should also lead to an increase in the WSC concentration of the crop, ensuring a more reliable fermentation.     

Macroporous cellulose-based cryogels with tunable porous structure and surface functional groups

In this work, cellulose-based macroporous cryogels were fabricated by grafting with acrylic acid and acrylamide, which provided the carboxyl and amino functional groups, respectively. The effects of crosslinker, extra water, acrylic acid/ (acrylic acid+acrylamide) feeding ratio on the structure and swelling performance of the resultant cryogels were experimentally investigated. Cellulose-based cryogels with different pore size were prepared by adjusting the reaction parameters. The pore size and functional group contents influenced the swelling behavior of the cryogels. The fabricated cryogels were also investigated as an adsorbent for the removal of toxic methyl blue (MB) from aqueous solution. The interconnected macroporous structure as well as large number of functional groups of the cryogels led to the high adsorption capacity of MB. The maximum adsorption capacity was around 990.1 mg per 1 g dye gel within 60 min. The investigation of the adsorption kinetics revealed that the adsorption process of MB from aqueous solution was well described by pseudosecond order kinetic model. Large-scale preparation of cryogel adsorbents with tunable porous structure and surface functional groups are possible. Therefore, the macroporous cellulose-based cryogels can be used as an adsorbent for the removal of chemical toxic products from aqueous solution.     

蓖麻光合特性及其与产量和含油率的关系

对蓖麻的生长发育过程中叶片数目、叶绿素含量、希尔反应活力、光合磷酸化活力和光合速率变化规律及其与产量、含油率关系进行了研究。结果表明,叶片数目增长呈“慢—快—慢”变化,快速增长期在主茎穗盛花期至第一分枝穗开花期;叶片叶绿素含量呈双峰曲线,在主茎穗果实灌浆期至第一分枝穗果实灌浆期其含量最高;叶绿体希尔反应活力和光合磷酸化活力在第一分枝穗开花期出现高峰值;叶片光合速率变化呈单峰曲线,在第一分枝穗果实灌浆期达到最高。在整个生育时期内蓖麻叶片数目、叶绿素含量、希尔反应活力和光合磷酸化活力呈负相关,生育后期则反之,从主茎穗开花到第二分枝穗盛花期光合指标分别与产油量呈显著和极显著正相关。     

The Role of Fat in the Stabilisation of Gas Cells in Bread Dough

Electron microscopy has shown that during dough mixing by the Chorleywood Bread Process, fat crystals develop a crystal–water interface as they emerge from droplets of shortening and that they then adsorb to the gas–liquid interface of bubbles. In this process, the interface surrounding each crystal coalesces with the gas–liquid interface of the bubble. This adsorption process was not observed when triglyceride was added to doughs in the form of oil. The expansion of bubbles during proofing leads to the adsorption of many more fat crystals as they are encountered in the aqueous phase. During baking, fat crystals melt and thereby make it possible for the crystal-liquid interface to be incorporated into the surface of the bubble as it expands. This transfer of interfacial material from crystals to bubble surface explains how the addition of shortening to dough allows bubbles to expand during baking without rupturing, thus producing high volume bread with fine crumb structure. It follows that the amount of interface transferred to bubble surfaces for any given weight of fat is inversely proportional to the size of the crystals in the shortening and that therefore shortenings containing small crystals are more effective in producing high quality bread than those containing large crystals. A mechanism is now proposed which, for the first time, explains the precise role of fat crystals in this process and why the addition of oil is not effective.     

Adsorption of fibronectin, fibrinogen, and albumin on TiO2: time-resolved kinetics, structural changes, and competition study

An understanding of protein adsorption process is crucial for designing biomaterial surfaces. In this work, with the use of a quartz-crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, we researched the following: (a) the kinetics of adsorption on TiO(2) surfaces of three extensively described proteins that are relevant for metallic implant integration [i.e., albumin (BSA), fibrinogen (Fbg), and fibronectin (Fn)]; and (b) the competition of those proteins for adsorbing on TiO(2) in a two-step experiment consisted of sequentially exposing the surfaces to different monoprotein solutions. Each protein showed a different process of adsorption and properties of the adlayer-calculated using the Voigt model. The competition experiments showed that BSA displaced larger proteins such as Fn and Fbg when BSA was introduced as the second protein in the system, whereas the larger proteins laid on top of BSA forming an adsorbed protein bi-layer when those were introduced secondly in the system.