Selective control of polyamide dyeing with acid dyes using hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

The effect of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) in the dyeing of polyamide fabric was investigated under conditions that mimic industrial dyebaths where dye mixtures are used. The dyes used were Telon Red BN, Telon Yellow A-2R, and Telon Blue RR. The blue dye complexed with HPβCD whereas the other dyes did not do so under the conditions used. The dyeing results were compared with those obtained using a traditional retarding agent, Albegal B. The exhaustion dyeing data showed that HPβCD mainly affected the dyeing behavior of the blue dye that became encapsulated. In the case of the yellow and red dyes, changes in the overall kinetics of dyeing were observed, resulting in modified exhaustion profiles. In comparison, Albegal B retarded the blue dyeing process and increased the rate of exhaustion of the yellow dye while the exhaustion curve of red dye remained unchanged. The color uniformity of the dyed polyamide was improved when HPβCD was used. This resulted from the more controlled exhaustion rate during the critical phase of the dyeing process.     

Association of TALS developmental disorder with defect in minor splicing component U4atac snRNA

The spliceosome, a ribonucleoprotein complex that includes proteins and small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), catalyzes RNA splicing through intron excision and exon ligation to produce mature messenger RNAs, which, in turn serve as templates for protein translation. We identified four point mutations in the U4atac snRNA component of the minor spliceosome in patients with brain and bone malformations and unexplained postnatal death [microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type 1 (MOPD 1) or Taybi-Linder syndrome (TALS); Mendelian Inheritance in Man ID no. 210710]. Expression of a subgroup of genes, possibly linked to the disease phenotype, and minor intron splicing were affected in cell lines derived from TALS patients. Our findings demonstrate a crucial role of the minor spliceosome component U4atac snRNA in early human development and postnatal survival.     

Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Aphanes arvensis Extracts

The objectives of this study were to examine the free radical scavenging activity and the protective effects against macromolecular oxidation as well as the cytotoxic activity of Aphanes arvensis aqueous and methanolic extracts. Free radical scavenging activity was determined by DPPH method. The methanolic extract showed a scavenging activity nearly equivalent to Trolox and Vitamin C and has an IC₅₀ value of 4.54 μg/mL. Total antioxidant capacity was determined by CUPRAC method. The antioxidant capacity of aqueous and methanolic extract was 0.792 and 1.550 mmol TE/g DWE, respectively. The protective effect of A. arvensis extracts against lipid peroxidation was evaluated using a liposome oxidation system. The methanolic extract was more active than the aqueous extract. The aqueous extract possessed protective effect against protein oxidation in a dose dependent manner. Both extracts showed inhibitory effect on DNA oxidation as measured by plasmid relaxation assay. Results presented here indicate that A. arvensis possess strong antioxidant activity and protective effects with very little cytotoxic effect, and they can therefore be used as a natural additive in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.     

Anti HSV-1 Activity of Halistanol Sulfate and Halistanol Sulfate C Isolated from Brazilian Marine Sponge Petromica citrina (Demospongiae)

The n-butanol fraction (BF) obtained from the crude extract of the marine sponge Petromica citrina, the halistanol-enriched fraction (TSH fraction), and the isolated compounds halistanol sulfate (1) and halistanol sulfate C (2), were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the replication of the Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1, KOS strain) by the viral plaque number reduction assay. The TSH fraction was the most effective against HSV-1 replication (SI = 15.33), whereas compounds 1 (SI = 2.46) and 2 (SI = 1.95) were less active. The most active fraction and these compounds were also assayed to determine the viral multiplication step(s) upon which they act as well as their potential synergistic effects. The anti-HSV-1 activity detected was mediated by the inhibition of virus attachment and by the penetration into Vero cells, the virucidal effect on virus particles, and by the impairment in levels of ICP27 and gD proteins of HSV-1. In summary, these results suggest that the anti-HSV-1 activity of TSH fraction detected is possibly related to the synergic effects of compounds 1 and 2.     

Are Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Chlorella vulgaris Affected by Environmental Samples from a Rice Field?

Rice fields represent important production rates in Portugal. However, the intensive soil management and the exploitation of agrochemicals may pose a threat to nontarget organisms. Hence, the present work regards the toxicity screening of surface waters and sediment elutriates collected during the drainage of fields in the vicinity of a rice paddy (Quinta do Seminário, Soure, Portugal): 1. in River Pranto (RP), the river from which the field irrigation water is canalized; 2. inside the rice paddy, from the main drainage channel – Vala de Enxugo (VE). For that purpose, it was used a combination of physico-chemical analyses and bioassays with two green algae species – Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Chlorella vulgaris. The chemical screening showed an apparent absence of xenobiotics in sediment samples, while no pesticides were found within the chemical contaminants detected in water samples. The nutrient load reflected low levels of inorganic contamination. Bioassays revealed that P. subcapitata was more sensitive to the overall physico-chemical conditions in natural samples than C. vulgaris, being its growth inhibited under water samples from both sites. On a whole, water samples, mainly those from the main irrigation/drainage channel of the rice fields (VE), were more deleterious to microalgae than those from RP or any of the elutriates.     

Influence of land use (savanna,pasture, Eucalyptus plantations) on soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in Brazil

In Brazil, most Eucalyptus stands have been planted on Cerrado (shrubby savanna) or on Cerrado converted into pasture. Case studies are needed to assess the effect of such land use changes on soil fertility and C sequestration. In this study, the influence of Cerrado land development (pasture and Eucalyptus plantations) on soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON) stocks were quantified in southern Brazil. Two contrasted silvicultural practices were also compared: 60 years of short‐rotation silviculture (EUC_SR) versus 60 years of continuous growth (EUC_HF). C and N soil concentrations and bulk densities were measured and modelled for each vegetation type, and SOC and SON stocks were calculated down to a depth of 1 m by a continuous function. Changes in SOC and SON stocks mainly occurred in the forest floor (no litter in pasture and up to 0.87 kg C m^?2 and 0.01 kg N m^?2 in EUC_SR) and upper soil horizons. C and N stocks and their confidence intervals were greatly influenced by the methodology used to compute these layers. C/N ratio and ¹³C analysis showed that down to a depth of 30 cm, the Cerrado organic matter was replaced by organic matter from newly introduced vegetation by as much as 75–100% for pasture and about 50% for EUC_HF, poorer in N for Eucalyptus stands (C/N larger than 18 for Eucalyptus stands). Under pasture, 0–30 cm SON stocks (0.25 kg N m^?2) were between 10 and 20% greater than those of the Cerrado (0.21 kg N m^?2), partly due to soil compaction (limit bulk density at soil surface from 1.23 for the Cerrado to 1.34 for pasture). Land development on the Cerrado increased SOC stocks in the 0–30 cm layer by between 15 and 25% (from 2.99 (Cerrado) to 3.86 (EUC_SR) kg C m^?2). When including litter layers, total 0–30 cm carbon stocks increased by 35% for EUC_HF (4.50 kg C m^?2) and 53% for EUC_SR (5.08 kg C m^?2), compared with the Cerrado (3.28 kg C m^?2), independently of soil compaction.     

Spermatogenesis in teleost: insights from the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) model

The morphometric study of spermatogenic cysts in sexually mature tilapias, during the evolution of spermatogenesis, showed a dramatic increase in both number of germ cells and cyst volume. However, the opposite trend was observed for germ cell size. Nevertheless, the number of Sertoli cells increased gradually up to leptotene/zygotene cysts, stabilizing thereafter. Based on the number of spermatids supported by each Sertoli cell and compared to mammals, Sertoli cell efficiency in tilapias is remarkably high. Sertoli cell proliferation was frequently observed, mainly in spermatogonial cysts, and probably is the major factor related to the testis growth and the increase in sperm production that normally occurs in adult tilapias. The combined duration of spermatocytes (5 days) and spermiogenic (5–6 days) phases of spermatogenesis in fish kept at 25 °C was 10–11 days. Mainly due to acceleration in meiosis, these two phases lasted a total of 6 days in tilapias kept at 30 °C, in the opposite way, at 20 °C spermatogenesis was arrested at pachytene spermatocytes. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive investigation performed up to date on testis morphometry and function in adult tilapias.     

Effect of a size-based selection program on blood metabolites and immune response of Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles fed different dietary carbohydrate levels

Blood metabolites in wild and seventh-generation cultivated shrimp were measured to determine how size-based selection could alter the nutritional and immunological conditions of Litopenaeus vannamei. Wild L. vannamei juveniles and a sample of seventh-generation cultured shrimp were acclimated under identical conditions. During 55 days, shrimp were fed a high (HCHO: 44%) or a low (LCHO: 3%) carbohydrate diet for 55 days. Wild shrimp showed a direct relation between dietary CHO and lactate, protein and hemocyte levels indicating that dietary CHO was used for protein synthesis via transamination pathways. In seventh-generation cultured shrimp these parameters were inversely proportional to dietary CHO level, indicating the capacity to synthesize protein from dietary CHO was repressed in cultured shrimp. Farmed shrimp showed a limited capacity to respond to LCHO diets demonstrating high protein dependence in their metabolism and immune response. These results demonstrate that during size-based breeding programs other metabolic process than CHO catabolism can be selected. The incapacity of shrimp to use dietary CHO could limit protein reduction of diets and limit the efforts of the shrimp industry to be ecologically and environmentally profitable.