Structure-properties relationship of poly(ethylene terephthalate) wool-type fibres

Two PET wool-type fibres were studied for this research, i.e. a normal wool-type and a low-pilling modification. The structural morphology and crystalline orientation of the fibres were investigated by means of wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS), density measurements and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The degree of crystallinity, crystallite orientation, apparent crystallite dimensions and micro-void system were determined by x-ray scattering. Birefringence measurements were used to study the average molecular orientation and the orientation of macromolecular chain segments in the amorphous regions. In addition, PET samples were conventionally dyed and the effect of the structure on colour was followed using colorimetry. Significant differences between the two PET wool fibre types were observed; i.e. crystallinity is higher for the standard PET wool fibre type, the crystallites are slightly larger and better oriented, long periods are larger, the orientation of molecular segments in non-crystalline phase is higher, and bigger voids are formed. The observed structure gives rise to fibres higher tenacity and higher bending stiffness.     

Comparison of Various Digestion and Extraction Procedures in Analysis of Heavy Metals in Sediments

Sediment analysis is very important ininvestigations of the heavy metal burden in theenvironment. In the present work various digestion andextraction procedures were evaluated in order toassess the extent of contamination with heavy metalsin sediments from the Moste hydroelectric reservoir.Total acid dissolution, aqua regia digestion andacetic acid extraction procedures were applied tosamples. Zn, Cd, Pb, Co, Ni, Cu and Cr were determinedby flame or electrothermal atomic absorptionspectrometry (FAAS, ETAAS) under optimized measurementconditions. A comparison of total acid dissolutionincluding hydrofluoric acid (HF) treatment and theaqua regia soluble fraction was made to estimatethe applicability of aqua regia digestion inanalysis of total metal concentrations in sediments.In general, good agreement of the results was observedfor Co, Pb, Cu and Zn, however for Cr, Ni and Cdsignificantly lower results were obtained in the aqua regia soluble fraction. In addition, an extraction procedure using 25% v/v acetic acid wasapplied for estimation of the extent of contaminationwith heavy metals originating from anthropogenicactivities. The results indicate that the sedimentsupstream of the reservoir are not contaminated, whilethe sediments from the hydroelectric reservoir showsa significant anthropogenic input of Ni, Zn and Pb,which corresponds well with pollution sources.     

Dietary Oil Sources on the Innate Immunity and Resistance of Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus,to Streptococcus agalactiae Challenge

The effect of different dietary oil sources on the innate immunity and resistance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, to Streptococcus agalactiae infection were evaluated. Fish were fed with diets containing different lipid sources (soybean oil [SO], corn oil, linseed oil [LO], fish oil [FO], and olive oil [OO]). Fish fed SO presented the highest (P < 0.05) hematocrit and serum protein. LO and FO diets increased (P < 0.05) the erythrocyte resistance to osmotic lysis in comparison with other treatments. Fish fed OO showed the highest (P < 0.05) iron‐binding capacity and the lowest serum lysozyme and bactericidal activities (P < 0.05). No difference (P > 0.05) was found between diets in alternative complement activity. Fish fed the SO diet had the highest (P < 0.05) survival rate against S. agalactiae challenge. In conclusion, diets with LO oil and FO, rich in ω‐3 fatty acids, and OO, rich in ω‐9 fatty acids, have an immunomodulatory effect in Nile tilapia juveniles. The use of SO in the Nile tilapia diet improved immune function and resistance against S. agalactiae.     

Photocatalytic Degradation of Herbicide Quinmerac in Various Types of Natural Water

The efficiency of the photocatalytic degradation of the herbicide quinmerac in aqueous TiO₂ suspensions was examined as a function of the type of light source, TiO₂ loading, pH, temperature, electron acceptors, and hydroxyl radical (^?OH) scavenger. The optimum loading of catalyst was found to be 0.25?mg?mL^?1 under UV light at pH?7.2, with the apparent activation energy of the reaction being 13.7?kJ?mol^?1. In the first stage of the reaction, the photocatalytic degradation of quinmerac (50???M) followed approximately a pseudo-first order kinetics. The most efficient electron acceptor appeared to be H₂O₂ along with molecular oxygen. By studying the effect of ethanol as an ^?OH scavenger, it was shown that the heterogeneous catalysis takes place mainly via ^?OH. The results also showed that the disappearance of quinmerac led to the formation of a number of organic intermediates and ionic byproducts, whereas its complete mineralization occurred in about 120?min. The reaction intermediates (7-chloro-3-methylquinoline-5,8-dione, three isomeric phenols hydroxy-7-chloro-3-methylquinoline-8-carboxylic acids, and 7-chloro-3-(hydroxymethyl)quinoline-8-carboxylic acid) were identified and the kinetics of their appearance/disappearance was followed by LC?CESI?CMS/MS. Tentative photodegradation pathways were proposed and discussed. The study also encompassed the effect of quality of natural water on the rate of removal of quinmerac.     

Chalcone synthase expression and pigments deposition in wheat with purple and blue colored caryopsis

Red and white caryopses are typical in common wheat. Genotypes with purple and blue caryopses are also described. This coloring is caused by anthocyanins which deposit in the pericarp (purple) or aleurone layer (blue). The anthocyanins biosynthetic pathway is well described. The key enzyme is chalcone synthase (CHS). It catalyzes the first step. We observed the deposition of anthocyanins in the pericarp and aleurone layer, the expression of a chalcone synthase gene and the amount of two anthocyanins - cyanidin-3-glycoside (pericarp of purple caryopses), and delphinidin-3-glycoside (aleurone layer of blue caryopses) during caryopsis development. Purple pigment deposition was not homogeneous and/or uniform. At first, small isolated spots of purple color were formed and thereafter they expanded. In blue caryopses, however, the coloring process was more homogeneous. The expression of chalcone synthase mRNA occurred five days before pigment deposition and finished earlier than expected. Amounts of cyanidin-3-glycoside and delphinidin-3-glycoside increased in a similar manner. Amounts of these fell at the end of caryopses development probably due to formation of more complex substances.     

The development of a real-time PCR assay for the quantification of Leishmania infantum DNA in canine blood

Recent research has demonstrated the high sensitivity of real time PCR (qPCR) in the diagnosis of Leishmania infantum infection. The goal of this study was to develop and evaluate a qPCR detection system for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniosis (VL) in dogs. Specific primer sets were developed for the Leishmania donovani complex, in which a fragment of 132 bp of kDNA from L. infantum was amplified. The reaction was performed using the ABI PRISM 7000 system with ABI PRISM software used to carry out the analysis. When canine blood samples were assessed using this system the detection limit of the method was found to be 0.07 parasites per reaction, the efficiency was 94.17% (R² = 0.93, slope = −3.47) and the sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 83.33% respectively. The use of such a sensitive, reproducible and rapid qPCR-based assay will be useful in the diagnosis and control of L. infantum infection in endemic areas, where serological surveys often underestimate true disease prevalence.     

Effective population size in a bottlenecked fur seal population

The census population size (N) is usually the only information available for most threatened species. For evolutionary matters, the effective population size (N_e), not the census number, is a prime concern. Factors such as variation in the sex ratio of breeding individuals, variation of population size in different generations and mating system are important. The South American fur seal, Arctocephalus australis, has been exploited in Peru by humans since ca. 2000 BC and now the original population declined 72%, as a result of low food availability during the severe El Niño in 1997-1998. In this sense A. australis is now classified as in danger of extinction in Peru. We present the first estimate of N_e of the Peruvian population of A. australis that takes into account the effects of mating system and variation in population size caused by the 1997-1998 El Niño. The resulting N_e was 2153 specimens. We believe that the estimated N_e for the Peruvian population is a critical value, because it is significantly lower than the mean minimum viable population for vertebrates (7000 breeding age adults). This estimated N_e is of critical importance because combined with the current El Niño events are reasons of great concern for the survival of the species and should be taken into account in future management plans to ensure the conservation and protection of the species in the Peruvian coast.     

Effect of emulsifier on oxidation properties of fish oil-based structured lipid emulsions

The effects of the emulsifiers lecithin, Tween 20, whey protein isolate, mono-/diacylglycerols, and sucrose fatty acid ester on oxidation stability of a model oil-in-water emulsion prepared with enzymatically synthesized menhaden oil-caprylic acid structured lipid were evaluated. Oxidation was monitored by measuring lipid hydroperoxides, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and the ratio of combined docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) contents to palmitic acid in the emulsion. After high-pressure homogenization, all emulsions, except those prepared with lecithin, had similar droplet size distributions. All structured lipid emulsions, except for the lecithin-stabilized emulsions, were stable to creaming over the 48-day period studied. Emulsifier type and concentration affected oxidation rate, with 0.25% emulsifier concentration generally having a higher oxidation rate than 1% emulsifier concentration. Overall, oxidation did not progress significantly enough in 48 days of storage to affect DHA and EPA levels in the emulsion.     

Metal-catalyzed oxidation of a structured lipid model emulsion

The effects of temperature, time, metal, citric acid, and tocopherol contents on the oxidation stability of a model oil-in-water emulsion prepared with enzymatically synthesized menhaden oil-caprylic acid structured lipid were evaluated by response surface methodology. The emulsions were stabilized by whey protein isolate. Oxidation was monitored by measuring lipid hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Cupric sulfate and ferrous sulfate were used to study the effect of metal concentration and type. A statistical model was developed to determine the relationships between all variables considered. The relationships differed depending on the type of metal catalyst used. For both metal types, the metal concentration had the highest positive effect on peroxide value. Citric acid had the highest negative effect on peroxide value for iron-containing emulsions, while tocopherol had the highest negative effects for copper-containing emulsions. Results from the TBARS test did not vary significantly enough to yield an acceptable model.     

Study of the role of the carbohydrate and protein moieties of soy soluble polysaccharides in their emulsifying properties

The objective of this work was to investigate the role played by the protein fraction of soy soluble polysaccharide (SSPS) during its adsorption at oil/water interfaces. SSPS was separated in a high (HMF; 310 kDa) and low (LMF; 20 kDa) molecular weight fraction by gel filtration. SSPS/HMF consisted of 91.6% carbohydrate and 2.2% protein and showed better emulsifying properties than those of the whole SSPS, whereas SSPS/LMF seemed to affect negatively the adsorption behavior of SSPS. SDS-PAGE of the protein fraction obtained from SSPS/HMF showed a molecular mass of 50 kDa, was composed predominantly of proline (23.1%) and glutamic acid (15.2%), and still contained 8.8% of neutral sugar and 5.3% of uronic acid. Results indicated that not all of the protein material present in SSPS contributes to SSPS functionality but that only the material associated with HMF aids in the adsorption of SSPS onto oil/water interfaces.