Moisture diffusion coefficient of reaction woods: compression wood of Picea abies L. and tension wood of Fagus sylvatica L.

The moisture diffusion coefficient of compression wood in spruce (P. abies) and tension wood in beech (F. sylvatica) was examined. The results indicated that the diffusion coefficient measured under steady-state condition (cup method) could well characterize the drying kinetics of the reaction woods. The compression wood offered more resistance to the moisture diffusivity when compared with the corresponding normal wood. The thick cell wall rich in lignin explains the small mass diffusivity in compression wood. In contrast, the mass diffusivity in beech is almost always higher in tension wood than in normal wood, in spite of similar density values. The high moisture diffusion in tension wood can be explained by the ease of bound water diffusion in the gelatinous layers (G-layers).     

Anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-α-glucosidase, anti-leishmanial and anti-fungal activities of chemical constituents of Beilschmiedia species

Phytochemical investigation of Beilschmiedia alloiophylla has resulted in the isolation of one new alkaloid, 2-hydroxy-9-methoxyaporphine (1), and ten known natural products, laurotetanine (2), liriodenine (3), boldine (4), secoboldine (5), isoboldine (6), asimilobine (7), oreobeiline (8), 6-epioreobeiline (9), β-amyrone (10), and (S)-3-methoxynordomesticine (11). Chemical studies on the bark of B. kunstleri afforded compounds 2 and 4 along with one bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, N-dimethylphyllocryptine (12). Structures of compounds 1-12 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. All of these isolates were evaluated for their anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE), anti-α-glucosidase, anti-leishmanial and anti-fungal activities. Compounds 1-12 exhibited strong to moderate bioactivities in aforementioned bioassays.     

Effect of Nitrogen on the Alleviation of Boron Toxicity in Rice (Oryza Sativa L.)

Pot experiments were conducted in the greenhouse on a calcareous soil to study effect of nitrogen (N) on the alleviation of boron (B) toxicity in rice. The treatments consisted of factorial combination of six levels of B (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg kg^?1 as boric acid), and four levels of N (0, 75, 150, and 300 mg kg^?1 as urea) in a completely randomized design with three replicates. Boron addition (higher than 2.5 mg kg^?1) significantly reduced the seeds yield. Nitrogen addition alleviated the growth suppression effects caused by B supplements. Yield was increased by application of 2.5 mg B kg^?1 at all N levels, but at higher levels, B significantly decreased the yield of rice. Boron concentration declined with increasing N levels. Boron application increased the concentrations of B, potassium, phosphorous (P), and zinc. Nitrogen application decreased the concentration of Zn and increased the concentration of N and P.     

Chemical priming with urea and KNO<Subscript>3</Subscript> enhances maize hybrids (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) seed viability under abiotic stress

Seed priming is a method to improve germination and seedling establishment under stress conditions. The effect of seed priming in chemical solutions such as urea and KNO₃, on protein and proline content, germination, and seedling growth responses of four maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids under drought and salt stress conditions was studied in a controlled environment in 2010. Treatments included stress type and intensity at five levels: moderate drought (MD), severe drought (SD), moderate salt (MS), severe salt (SS), and control (C1, without stress), three seed priming types including water (C2, as control), KNO₃, and urea (as chemical priming), and four maize hybrids including Maxima, SC704, Zola, and 307. The results showed that the highest germination percentage (Ger %), germination rate (GR), seedling length (SL), radical length (RL), and seedling to radical length ratio (S/R) were achieved in no stress treatments and most proline content in SD treatment. Urea priming led to more Ger%, GR, and SL compared to other primers and treatment under KNO₃ priming resulted in higher RL compared to other primers. Chemical priming had no effect on S/R and proline content. Also, in terms of most traits, no difference was found among the four hybrids. Results showed that salt stress could affect GR and RL more than the drought stress. Drought stress affected germination percentage and S/R more than the salt stress. Both stresses decreased all measured parameters, except protein and proline content which were increased remarkably, and more under drought compared to salt stress. Based on proline content, hybrid 304 appeared to be more resistant to stress than other hybrids. Generally, KNO₃ and urea alleviated effects of both stresses and led to increased germination and seedling growth as well as the root length. Therefore, priming could be recommended for enhancing maize growth responses under stressful conditions.     

Simplified Fixed Bed Design Models for the Adsorption of Acid Dyes on Novel Pine Cone Derived Activated Carbon

A novel activated carbon has been prepared by the activation of ground pine cones using phosphoric acid activation, and the nitrogen Brunauer?CEmmett?CTeller surface area was 869 m² g^?1. Equilibrium isotherms were performed to assess the capacity of the activated carbon using two acidic dyes, namely Acid Blue 113 and Acid Black 1. The monolayer equilibrium isotherm capacities of Acid Blue 113 and Acid Black 1 were 286 and 458 mg dye/g C, respectively. These capacities are significantly higher than commercial carbons and other literature carbons. For the first time, these carbons were tested in fixed bed experimental systems and data analysed using the bed depth service time model (BDST) and the carbon usage rate (CUR) model. In the fixed bed studies, the key parameters for a 20-cm bed depth for the BDST model at 50% breakthrough capacity are (a) for Acid Black, the BDST capacity is 149 mg dye/g carbon and operating time is 1,530 min and (b) for Acid Blue, the breakthrough capacity is 9 mg of dye/g of carbon and operating time is 195 min. The fixed bed study indicates that the BDST design models can be applied satisfactorily, and the pine cone carbon has significant potential but a more mesoporous pine cone carbon is preferable for the larger Acid Black dye. The CUR design method was not successful.     

The pharmacokinetics, metabolism and urinary detection time of tramadol in camels

The pharmacokinetics of tramadol in camels (Camelus dromedarius) were studied following a single intravenous (IV) and a single intramuscular (IM) dose of 2.33 mg kg(-1) bodyweight. The drug's metabolism and urinary detection time were also investigated. Following both IV and IM administration, tramadol was extracted from plasma using an automated solid phase extraction method and the concentration measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The plasma drug concentrations after IV administration were best fitted by an open two-compartment model. However a three-compartment open model best fitted the IM data. The results (means+/-SEM) were as follows: after IV drug administration, the distribution half-life (t(1/2)(alpha)) was 0.22+/-0.05 h, the elimination half-life (t(1/2)(beta)) 1.33+/-0.18 h, the total body clearance (Cl(T)) 1.94+/-0.18 L h kg(-1), the volume of distribution at steady state (Vd(ss)) 2.58+/-0.44 L kg(-1), and the area under the concentration vs. time curve (AUC(0-infinity)) 1.25+/-0.13 mg h L(-1). Following IM administration, the maximal plasma tramadol concentration (C(max)) reached was 0.44+/-0.07 microg mL(-1) at time (T(max)) 0.57+/-0.11h; the absorption half-life (t(1/2 ka)) was 0.17+/-0.03 h, the (t(1/2)(beta)) was 3.24+/-0.55 h, the (AUC(0-infinity)) was 1.27+/-0.12 mg h L(-1), the (Vd(area)) was 8.94+/-1.41 L kg(-1), and the mean systemic bioavailability (F) was 101.62%. Three main tramadol metabolites were detected in urine. These were O-desmethyltramadol, N,O-desmethyltramadol and/or N-bis-desmethyltramadol, and hydroxy-tramadol. O-Desmethyltramadol was found to be the main metabolite. The urinary detection times for tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol were 24 and 48 h, respectively. The pharmacokinetics of tramadol in camels was characterised by a fast clearance, large volume of distribution and brief half-life, which resulted in a short detection time. O-Desmethyltramadol detection in positive cases would increase the reliability of reporting tramadol abuse.     

Maize growth and yield as affected by wheat residues and irrigation management in a no-tillage system

Determining the proper rate of wheat residues incorporation into the soil under a wheat–maize double cropping system is an important issue in southern parts of Iran, where these two irrigated crops are consecutively grown. A 2-year experiment (2010–2011) was conducted to evaluate the effect of wheat residue incorporation rates (25%, 50% and 75%) and irrigation intervals (12, 16 and 20 days) on yield and growth of maize under no-tillage system compared to control without residue and under conventional tillage (CT) at the College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. The experiment was conducted as a split plot arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that increased irrigation intervals reduced the plant height (14.6%), leaf-area index (12.9%), rows (10.1%) and grains per ear (29.8%), thousand grain weight (6.9%), grain (33.8%) and biological yield (24.2) and harvest index (23.2%). Water deficit had no significant effect on soil organic matter and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. Under 12 and 20 days irrigation intervals, the highest grain yields were obtained with 12.7 and 8.6 t ha^?1 in CT and 25% residue incorporation into soil, respectively. Therefore, according to the results of this 2-year study, realized incorporation of 25% wheat residue soil covering percentage is recommended for this area with limited water resources.     

Effect of nitrogen– boron interaction on plant growth and tissue nutrient concentration of canola (Brassica napus L.)

Pot experiments were conducted in the greenhouse on a calcareous soil to study the effect of nitrogen on the alleviation of boron toxicity in canola (Brassica napus L.). The treatments consisted of factorial combination of six levels of B (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg kg^?1 as boric acid), and four levels of nitrogen (N) (0, 75, 150 and 300 mg kg^?1 as urea) in a completely randomized design with three replicates. Boron (B) application significantly reduced the yield, whereas N addition alleviated the growth suppression effects caused by B supplements. Boron concentration increased with addition B. However, boron concentration in shoot declined with increasing N levels. Increasing N and B rates increased N concentration. Soil application of B increased proline concentration. However, the supply of N decreased it. Generally, application of B decreased potassium (K):B and calcium (Ca):B ratios, chlorophyll concentration, while N application increased them. It is concluded that N fertilization can be used effectively in controlling B toxicity in canola grown in B-affected soils.     

Effect of Soil Type, Applications of Chicken Manure and Effective Microorganisms on Corn Yield and Microbial Properties of Acidic Wetland Soils in Indonesia

A field experiment was carried out to elucidate the effect of chicken manure (CM) and effective microorganisms (EM) on the yield of corn and chemical and microbial properties of acidic wetland soils. A split-split plot experimental design with three replications was used in this research. The main plot consisted of two types of soil. The sub-plot was for the application of CM, while the sub-sub plot was for the application of EM. Sweet corn seeds were planted and cultivated until harvest. Above ground plant biomass and round of the stem of an ear of corn were observed. Soil samples were taken and analyzed for chemical and microbial properties. The results showed that the interaction between soil types and CM application affected the corn yield, while EM had no effect. Similarly, the chemical and microbial characteristics of soils used were affected by soil type and the application of CM, while the effect of EM was not clear.     

Anaesthetic efficacy of eugenol on various size classes of angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare Schultze, 1823)

Anaesthetic efficacy of eugenol was investigated on Pterophyllum scalare. A total of 130 fish with average weights of 1.0 ± 0.5, 5.0 ± 1.0 and 10.0 ± 1.0 g were subjected to 1.25, 2.5, 4.0, 5.5 and 7.0 mg/L eugenol, and behavioural responses were observed. Induction and recovery times were significantly affected by the interactive effect of eugenol concentration and fish weight (p < .05). Generally, 49.9–128 s after exposure to 1.25–7 mg/L eugenol, fish reached stage 3. Fish entered stage 4 over 55–135 s post exposure to such concentrations. Recovery time was 393.5–597.7 s in all sizes. Any increase in eugenol concentration led to a significant decrease in the induction time with a subsequent increment of the recovery time. Concentrations of eugenol and fish size along with their interactive effects have significantly contributed to the regression models, with concentration recording the highest beta values for stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 (?0.903, ?0.898, ?0.976 and ?0.864 respectively) and the product of size and anaesthetic concentration for full recovery in smaller fish (0.647) and eugenol concentration in larger ones (0.967). Recovery time was fitted to induction time to stage 4 via quadratic and linear regression models in smaller and larger fish respectively. Results revealed the minimal eugenol concentration to induce anaesthesia in various size classes of angelfish in less than 3 min was 1.25 mg/L. Our results showed eugenol as an effective and safe anaesthetic; however, it is not advisable for live fish transportation.