Invertase storage stability and sucrose hydrolysis in solids as affected by water activity and glass transition

Research continues to differentiate the impact of water activity (a(W)) and the glass transition temperature (T(g)) on chemical reactions. Invertase with and without sucrose was incorporated into low and high molecular weight poly(vinylpyrrolidone) model systems (PVP-LMW and PVP-K30, respectively). Invertase activity and sucrose hydrolysis were monitored during storage at a(W) = 0.32-0.75 and 30 degrees C. Pseudo-first-order rate constants for activity loss in PVP-K30 were not different, regardless of the system being glassy or rubbery. In PVP-LMW, invertase stability decreased with increasing a(W). An a(W) > 0.62 was required for sucrose hydrolysis to occur in PVP-LMW. PVP molecular weight appeared to affect invertase stability and reactivity. No dramatic change around T(g) was found in either invertase stability or sucrose hydrolysis, suggesting that T(g)-dictated mobility has a minimal effect on these reactions in amorphous solids.     

Glass transition temperature of honey as a function of water content as determined by differential scanning calorimetry

The glass transition of pure and diluted honey and the glass transition of the maximally freeze-concentrated solution of honey were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The glass transition temperature, of the pure honey samples accepted as unadulterated varied between -42 and -51 degrees C. Dilution of honey to 90 wt % honey content resulted in a shift of the glass transition temperature by -13 to -20 degrees C. The concentration of the maximally freeze-concentrated honey solutions, as expressed in terms of honey content is approximately 102-103%, i.e., slightly more concentrated in sugars than honey itself. The application of DSC measurements of and in characterization of honey may be considered, but requires systematic study on a number of honeys.     

Glass transition of wheat gluten plasticized with water, glycerol, or sorbitol

The glass transition temperature of wheat gluten, plasticized with water, glycerol, or sorbitol, has been studied using dynamical mechanical thermal analysis. For the three plasticizers studied, the general behavior of the glass transition temperature broadly followed the Couchman-Karasz relation using a wheat gluten DeltaC(p)() of 0.4 J g(-)(1) K(-)(1). Compared on such a fractional weight basis, it could be concluded that the plasticizing effect of glycerol and sorbitol on wheat gluten proteins is less important than the plasticizing effect of water. A continuous curve was obtained with the three plasticizers when the evolution of the glass transition temperature was presented on a fractional molecular basis. This was related to the similar chemical structure of these three components containing hydroxyl groups.     

Effects of heating conditions on the glass transition parameters of amorphous sucrose produced by melt-quenching

This research investigates the effects of heating conditions used to produce amorphous sucrose on its glass transition (T(g)) parameters, because the loss of crystalline structure in sucrose is caused by the kinetic process of thermal decomposition. Amorphous sucrose samples were prepared by heating at three different scan rates (1, 10, and 25 °C/min) using a standard differential scanning calorimetry (SDSC) method and by holding at three different isothermal temperatures (120, 132, and 138 °C) using a quasi-isothermal modulated DSC (MDSC) method. In general, the quasi-isothermal MDSC method (lower temperatures for longer times) exhibited lower T(g) values, larger ΔC(p) values, and broader glass transition ranges (i.e., T(g end) minus T(g onset)) than the SDSC method (higher temperatures for shorter times), except at a heating rate of 1 °C/min, which exhibited the lowest T(g) values, the highest ΔC(p), and the broadest glass transition range. This research showed that, depending on the heating conditions employed, a different amount and variety of sucrose thermal decomposition components may be formed, giving rise to wide variation in the amorphous sucrose T(g) values. Thus, the variation observed in the literature T(g) values for amorphous sucrose produced by thermal methods is, in part, due to differences in the heating conditions employed.     

Impact of melting conditions of sucrose on its glass transition temperature.

The impact of the melting conditions of sucrose crystals on the glass transition temperature (T(g)) of the sucrose melt was studied. Final temperature, heating rate, and the residence time at the final temperature were the experimental conditions considered. The glass transition temperature of the different glasses was measured by differential scanning calorimetry, and the degradation of sucrose during the thermal treatments was studied by high-performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that the T(g) is sensitive to the degradation of sucrose: T(g) decreases with the appearance of small molecules and then increases with the appearance of polymerization products. Thus, the choice of thermal treatment is of the utmost importance for the determination of the T(g) of pure sucrose.     

基于Sentinel-2卫星数据的灌区农田土壤水盐协同反演

土壤含水量（soil water content, SWC）和土壤含盐量（soil salt content, SSC）是影响作物生长和农业生产力的重要因素。光学卫星图像已成为SWC和SSC估计的主要数据源。然而,在SWC或SSC变化较大地区,土壤水分和盐分会影响对方对光谱反射率的响应,使得SSC和SWC的反演精度较差。对此,该研究提出了一个半解析性的反射率模型—RVS模型,来模拟植被光谱反射率（R_v）对作物根区土壤含水量和含盐量的响应;并通过构建的RVS模型,对植被覆盖区域的土壤含水量和土壤含盐量进行同步监测。研究表明：RVS模型在反演研究区土壤含盐量和含水量时,精度较为可靠(水分：决定系数R²为0.63～0.74,均方根误差为0.017～0.028;盐分：决定系数R²为0.68～0.75,均方根误差为0.0525～0.0617)。在作物生长过程中,植被光谱反射率对深层土壤的含水量和含盐量的响应比对浅层土壤的含水量和含盐量的响应更加明显,而且随着作物的生长,影响光谱反射率的主导因素从土壤水分慢慢转向土壤盐分和水盐相互作用。该研究在一定程度上揭示了土壤水分、盐分、水盐交互作用对作物光谱反射率的干扰过程,实现土壤水分和盐分的同步监测,对实现区域尺度上土壤含盐量和含水量的精准监测具有一定的意义。     

Studies on kinetics and thermostability of a novel acid invertase from Fusarium solani

The present investigation deals with purification and thermal characterization of an acid invertase produced by Fusarium solani in submerged culture. The maximum enzyme activity (9.90 U mL(-1)) was achieved after 96 h of cultivation at pH 5.0 and 30 degrees C in a basal medium containing molasses (2%) as the carbon and energy source supplemented with 1% peptone. Invertase was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-200. The purified enzyme was proven to be homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular mass of the enzyme was 65 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for activity were 2.6 and 50 degrees C, respectively. The Km value for sucrose was 3.57 mM with an activation energy of 4.056 kJ mol(-1). Enthalpies of activation (DeltaH) were decreased while entropies (DeltaS) of activation increased at higher temperatures. The effects of alpha-chymotrypsin and 4 M urea were tetraphasic with periodic gain and loss of enzyme activity. A possible explanation for the thermal inactivation of invertase at higher temperatures is also discussed.     

Optimized soil inversion in the headlands with a novel section-controlled mouldboard ploughing system

In inversion tillage systems, the mouldboard plough is fundamental for producing a desirable seedbed. The desired ploughing quality is achieved when the plough layer is inverted homogeneously. This is, however, difficult to obtain in the main-headland intersection zone where the plough is lowered and elevated, as ploughed and unploughed triangles are formed. This results in zones where the soil is inverted twice, which may result in poor residue and weed incorporation and a poor seedbed quality. The design of the three-point linkage-attached mouldboard plough has not changed since the 1950s, but the number of furrows has increased, which has increased the size of the aforementioned triangles. A novel ploughing system was introduced to meet these headland challenges, where each plough section can be lowered and elevated independently. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of using a section-controlled mouldboard plough. Two similarly designed, randomized, field plot experiments were conducted on two different soil types (sandy loam and loamy sand) on a stubble field and grass field. The study showed that the section-controlled plough reduced the main-headland overlap area by ~98%. The results of a range of soil physical properties measurements and seedbed quality analyses showed that the section-controlled plough created a homogeneous loosened seedbed quality, improving the incorporation of crop residues and leaving fewer residues on the soil surface. Furthermore, the section-controlled plough showed additional benefits, for example wedge operations and visual line marking.     

Physicochemical characterization and biological effects of inulin enzymatically synthesized from sucrose

We first developed the method to produce inulin from sucrose using an enzyme from Bacillus sp. 217C-1. Synthesized inulin consists of a linear polymer having beta(2-1) linkages of d-fructose with one terminal glucose. The synthesized inulin has similar properties (pH and thermal stability, Maillard reaction, and in vitro fermentation) to plant-derived inulin. The marked difference is the polydispersity of the inulin chain length. Synthesized inulin with a narrow degree range of fructose polymerization shows better solubility in water than plant-derived inulin. Synthesized inulin (5%, w/w) treatment for 12 weeks reduced the elevation in body weight and serum and liver lipids in rats fed high fat- and high sucrose-supplemented diets, and blood glucose in rats fed a standard diet. Synthesized inulin (15%, w/w) significantly suppressed the elevation in blood glucose of human healthy subjects after dextrin loading. These results suggest that daily intake of synthesized inulin modulates carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.     

长期定位培肥黑土土壤蔗糖酶活性动态变化及其影响因素

长期定位试验研究不同施肥对玉米生长季土壤蔗糖酶活性的动态变化结果表明,玉米生长季施用高量有机肥处理土壤蔗糖酶活性波动较大,而施低量有机肥处理基本无明显变化,施化肥与未施肥处理有一定波动性,玉米生育前期其土壤蔗糖酶活性上升较快,后期基本保持不变。长期施有机肥处理黑土蔗糖酶活性明显高于施化肥和未施肥处理,且施高量有机肥明显高于施低量有机肥处理,其生长季土壤蔗糖酶活性保护容量为5 6mg/ g土·d且季节性变化平稳,可保持较高C转化能力,土壤有机质保持土壤蔗糖酶免遭变性、免遭分解作用显著。未施肥和施低量有机肥处理中部分土壤生物、理化性状因素与黑土蔗糖酶活性的动态变化呈显著或极显著相关性。黑土蔗糖酶活性与绝大部分土壤因素和植物N、P、K含量呈显著或极显著相关性     

Temperature and pH effects on biodegradation of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers in water and a soil slurry

This study was conducted to monitor the biodegradation of alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers in liquid culture by a Pandoraea species and determine the influence of pH and temperature on the biodegradation of alpha- and gamma-HCH in liquid as well as in soil slurry cultures. The Pandoraea species degraded 79.4% delta-HCH and 34.3% gamma-HCH in liquid culture at 4 weeks of incubation. alpha- and beta-HCH exhibited almost identical rates (41.6 and 42.4%, respectively) of degradation. The highest degradation of alpha- and gamma-HCH (67.1 and 60.2%, respectively) was observed at an initial pH of 8.0 in liquid; 58.4 and 51.7% rates of degradation of alpha- and gamma-HCH, respectively, at an initial pH of 9.0 were found in soil slurry cultures. An incubation temperature of 30 degrees C was optimum for effective degradation of alpha- and gamma-HCH isomers (62.5 and 57.7%, respectively) in liquid culture, and 54.3 and 51.9% rates of degradation of alpha- and gamma-HCH isomers, respectively, were found in a soil slurry. Increasing the soil/water ratio decreased the extent of degradation of both HCH isomers. Degradation of HCH isomers occurred concomitant with bacterial growth. Byproducts of growth from Pandoraea species significantly decreased the pH of the liquid and the soil slurry during the growth on HCH isomers. The results of this study suggest that this bacterial strain may effectively be used for remediating polluted sites and water contaminated with different HCH isomers over a range of environmental conditions.     

土壤磷解吸特性对菜稻轮作田间渗漏水总磷浓度的影响

通过四季豆-瓢瓜-早稻轮作制不同磷肥用量的3年定位田间试验,探讨土壤磷解吸特性及其解吸特征值对菜稻轮作田间渗漏水总磷浓度的影响和评价指标。结果表明,提出的解吸模型可较好地拟合土壤磷素随水土质量比变化的解吸过程,通过该模型能同时得到土壤磷可解吸量Q、土壤溶液磷浓度Cli及其缓冲系数b等解吸特征值。菜菜稻轮作的总磷浓度平均只有菜菜连作的42.6%。土壤磷可解吸量与田间渗漏水总磷浓度之间满足双速率转折点的动态特征。无论是菜菜连作还是菜菜稻轮作,Q值表征的土壤磷素淋失转折点的差异很小,平均为24.4 mg kg-1。因此,菜菜稻轮作有利于削减田间渗漏水总磷浓度,土壤磷可解吸量的双速率转折点X0可用于表征菜田磷素淋失潜力的指标之一。     

Rainfall effects on erosion of earthworm casts and phosphorus transfers by water runoff

 We investigated whether, under a temperate climate and in a maize crop, earthworm casts could contribute to soil erosion and further favour the exportation of phosphorus by runoff waters. Recording of casts was made in compacted (wheel-tracks) and non-compacted inter-rows, for a 2-month period in spring. To assess the rainfall impact on cast evolution, half of the observation sites were protected against rain splash by a nylon mesh placed above the soil surface. The water runoff was collected and analysed for sediment contents and phosphorus concentration. The mean annual production of surface casts was calculated to be 34 kg (dry weight) year^–1 kg^–1 earthworm (fresh weight). Synchronization between cast erosion and rainfall events was shown under natural conditions (unprotected sites). The erosion rate was 4 times greater over rainy periods than dry ones, reaching 80% of cast numbers. It appeared that not the runoff effect but the splash effect, due to the kinetics of the drops, disrupted casts. Newly formed casts disappeared first, with the erosion rate decreasing twofold for casts more than 10 days old. Cast erosion and runoff, as well as worm casting activity, were greater under compacted sites than under non-compacted sites, indicating an influence of earthworms on soil erosion from compacted soils. The total phosphorus content was similar in casts and uningested soil (0.80 mg phosphorus g^–1). Potential phosphorus losses from cast erosion was calculated to reach 25–49 mg phosphorus m^–2 per rainfall event depending on soil compaction. The amounts of particulate phosphorus recovered in water runoff after each rainfall event varied from 1 mg to 11 mg phosphorus. These results are compared and discussed. Received: 20 October 1998     

Puddling and N management effects on crop response in a rice-wheat cropping system

Coarse-textured soils are puddled to reduce high percolation losses of irrigation water under rice (Oryza sativa L.). This practice, however, reduces yield of succeeding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) owing to deterioration in soil physical conditions. The 6 year field study reported in this paper evaluated the effects of puddling level and integrated N management on the development of subsurface compaction and growth and yield of rice and the following spring wheat grown in 1 year sequence on a sandy loam soil. Treatments were combinations of three puddling levels: low (one discing and one planking), medium (two discings and one planking), and high (four discings and one planking), and three nitrogen sources: (1) 120 kg N ha⁻¹ from urea, (2) 60 kg N ha⁻¹ from urea plus sesbania (Sesbania aculeata Pers.) green manure, and (3) 60 kg N ha⁻¹ from urea plus 20 Mg ha⁻¹ farmyard manure. Percolation rate decreased from 14 mm day⁻¹ with low puddling to 10 mm day⁻¹ with high puddling, with a corresponding reduction in irrigation water requirement of rice of about 20%. Bulk density profiles in the 0–30 cm soil layer showed the formation of a compact layer at 15–20 cm depth, and bulk density increased with puddling level and cropping season. The impact of organic amendments in reducing bulk density was immediate, but the rate of increase in bulk density with time was the same in all the nitrogen sources. Organic amendments did not affect percolation rate and irrigation requirement of rice. Rice yields were not significantly affected by puddling and N source treatments throughout the study period. Residual effects of treatments on wheat yield were observed from the second season onwards. Interactive effects of puddling and N source on yields of rice and succeeding wheat were not significant. Yield differences in wheat between high and low puddling were 8% and 11% during the second and the fifth cropping season, respectively. This study indicates that medium puddling was optimum, as it reduced percolation without decreasing yield of succeeding wheat.     

Rotation and tillage effects on available soil water for winter wheat in a semi-arid environment

The recent adoption of conservation farming systems in the semi-arid Canadian prairies opens up the possibility of replacing the traditional fallow period with non-cereal crops (oilseeds, legumes). However, information on changes to soil water regimes by inclusion of these crops, especially in combination with zero tillage, is sparse. A study was initiated in 1984 on a sandy clay loam soil at Lethbridge, Alberta, to investigate the performance of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under conventional, minimum and zero tillage in monoculture and in 2-year rotations with fallow, canola (Brassica campestris L.) or lentils (Lens culinaris Medic.)/flax (Linum usitatissimum L.). Conventional tillage in the Lethbridge region is shallow cultivation (10 cm) with a wide-blade (sweep) cultivator. Continuous cropping greatly depleted soil water reserves, resulting in some crop failures. Averaged over 10 years, available water for establishment of winter wheat in fall was least after canola (45 mm), followed by continuous winter wheat (59 mm), lentils/flax (74 mm) and fallow (137 mm). In this semi-arid region, the effect of rotation on soil water was much greater than that of tillage. Zero tillage had relatively little impact on available water to 1.5 m depth. However, once the experiment had been established for 6–7 years, available water in the 0–15 cm depth under winter wheat in spring was greatest under zero tillage. Precipitation storage efficiency during the fallow year was generally unaffected by tillage system.     

Studies on the formation of soil aggregate (preliminary report) influence of water content and sucrose

It was emphasized by Russel (1934) that cation and polar-medium played the active part in the aggregation of preliminary particles. Jesse Elson pointed out that even the field which had raised crops for consecutive 32 years might yield a greater number of aggregates when fertilizers, especially manure and corn were given, than the field which had been given no fertilizers. It was confirmed by Mazurak that six year rotation, i. e. three year rotation of potato, oats or barkley and sugar beats preceeded by three year succession cropping of alfalfa, was more advantageous for the formation of water-stable aggregates than the succession cropping of potato. The effect of bactinal polysaccharide was pointed out by Geoghegan, and it was confirmed by Browing that the effect of sucrose would be two to four times greater than that of alfalfa, rye, vetch and wheat straw.     

Sailing on reservoirs and its effects on water birds

There is increasing pressure to develop many existing water spaces in Britain for recreational activities. This trend will increase disturbance to water bird populations. This paper considers these problems and suggests the sorts of information which are needed for formulating multi-purpose amenity plans for water spaces, where a conservation interest exists. The study at the Brent Reservoir in north-west London has shown that a few species of wildfowl, e.g. Anas platyrhynchos, Aythya fuligula, Aythya ferina, still use the reservoir in autumn and winter despite an intensification of sailing activities. This use and the successful breeding of Podiceps cristatus and other species of water birds depends on the existence of a large enough part of the reservoir which is shallow and marshy and not accessible to boats. As there is some suggestion that larger flocks are more sensitive to disturbance than smaller ones, refuges may be made more effective by proper screening.