Evaluation of the Reactivity of Organic Pollutants during O3/H2O2 Process

The reactivity of selected compounds in Lake Huron water was evaluated during ozone/hydrogen peroxide-based advanced oxidation process (AOP) and conventional treatment (coagulation?Csedimentation?Cfiltration). Elimination of these compounds via advanced oxidation and conventional treatment processes were strongly related to their molecular structures. Overall removal of target compounds was quite similar in effluents from both the AOP and the combined treatment process (AOP?+?conventional) with the exception of fluoxetine. Reaction rate constants for the decomposition of the target compounds were substantially higher during AOP compared to conventional treatment alone.     

Mining Indonesian Microbial Biodiversity for Novel Natural Compounds by a Combined Genome Mining and Molecular Networking Approach

Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and a promising resource for novel natural compound producers. Actinomycetes produce about two thirds of all clinically used antibiotics. Thus, exploiting Indonesia’s microbial diversity for actinomycetes may lead to the discovery of novel antibiotics. A total of 422 actinomycete strains were isolated from three different unique areas in Indonesia and tested for their antimicrobial activity. Nine potent bioactive strains were prioritized for further drug screening approaches. The nine strains were cultivated in different solid and liquid media, and a combination of genome mining analysis and mass spectrometry (MS)-based molecular networking was employed to identify potential novel compounds. By correlating secondary metabolite gene cluster data with MS-based molecular networking results, we identified several gene cluster-encoded biosynthetic products from the nine strains, including naphthyridinomycin, amicetin, echinomycin, tirandamycin, antimycin, and desferrioxamine B. Moreover, 16 putative ion clusters and numerous gene clusters were detected that could not be associated with any known compound, indicating that the strains can produce novel secondary metabolites. Our results demonstrate that sampling of actinomycetes from unique and biodiversity-rich habitats, such as Indonesia, along with a combination of gene cluster networking and molecular networking approaches, accelerates natural product identification.     

Stimulation of in vitro organogenesis from epicotyl explants and successive micropropagation round in Cassia angustifolia Vahl.: an important source of sennosides

This report describes a protocol for the in vitro shoot induction and plant regeneration from epicotyl explants of Cassia angustifolia on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA), Kinetin and 2-iP (0.5–10.0 μM). MS medium supplemented with BA (5.0 μM) was the most effective in inducing adventitious shoots and growth. The highest rate of shoot multiplication was achieved on MS medium supplemented with BA (5.0 μM) and Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA, 1.0 μM). The nodal segments excised from the shoots regenerated from BA (5.0 μM) and IAA (1.0 μM) were used as explants for next three round of micropropagation. The number of shoots significantly increased at successive round of micropropagation. For rooting, MS medium supplemented with 2.0 μM indole-3-butyric acid proved to be better than that supplemented with IAA or α-naphthalene acetic acid. The in vitro raised plantlets with well developed shoot and roots were successfully established in earthen pots containing garden soil and were grown in greenhouse. About 52 plants (85 %) survived out of 60 plants transferred in garden soil.     

Testosterone induces lymphopenia in turtles

Owing to the possible role of sex steroids in the immune-neuroendocrine interactions found in lower vertebrates, we attempted to delineate the effect of testosterone propionate on peripheral blood (PB) and the lymphoid organs of the turtle Mauremys caspica. A single intraperitoneal injection of 200 micrograms/g body weight produced thymic involution and intense lymphopenia in the spleen and, less severely, in the PB compartment. It is suggested that lymphocyte redistribution may occur among the various compartments of the body as the main effect of hormone-induced lymphocyte redistribution, although the mechanism in reptiles and mammals is not yet understood.     

Alterations in neutrophil phagocytosis and lymphocyte blastogenesis in dairy cows around parturition

The bovine blood neutrophil phagocytosis and the blood and milk lymphocyte proliferative response upon stimulation with Phytohaemagglutinin, Concanavalin A and Pokeweed mitogens was studied from 3 weeks prior to calving until 3 weeks after calving. Neutrophil phagocytosis and the total and differential blood leukocyte counts were performed by flow cytometry. A gradual increase in the percentage of phagocytized bacteria and the average number of bacteria per phagocyte was observed before calving followed by a sharp fall on the first postpartum. This was followed by a steady increase in the above parameters reaching the highest levels at two weeks postpartum. There was a gradual increase in the number of neutrophils in blood as calving approached followed by a sharp decrease after calving. The number of lymphocytes in blood dropped before calving, being at the lowest level on the day before calving. The proliferative response of blood and milk lymphocytes upon stimulation with the three mitogens was low during the week preceding parturition with the lowest value on the day before calving. The response of blood lymphocytes returned to a higher level the second week after calving while that of milk lymphocytes remained at a low level during the first and the second postpartum weeks.     

A survey of peach viruses in Lebanon

Field surveys were carried out in the main peach-growing areas of Lebanon to assess the presence and distribution of viruses and viroids in commercial orchards. Field inspections were made in spring and summer 2000 to observe symptoms of virus and viroid diseases respectively. In total, 950 trees in 95 commercial plantings from three different regions of Lebanon (Bekaa Valley, Mount Lebanon and north Lebanon) were surveyed and sampled. Immunoenzymatic tests (DAS-ELISA) were used to ascertain the presence of the following: Prunus necrotic ring spot ilarvirus (PNRSV), Prune dwarf ilarvirus (PDV), Apple mosaic ilarvirus (ApMV), Apple chlorotic leaf spot trichovirus (ACLSV), Plum pox potyvirus (PPV), Tomato ringspot nepovirus (ToRSV) and Strawberry latent ringspot nepovirus (SLRSV). Peach latent mosaic pelamoviroid (PLMVd) and Hop stunt hostuviroid (HSVd) were identified by molecular hybridization. About 25% of the tested samples were infected by one or more viruses. In particular, the prevailing virus was PNRSV (61.2% of infection), followed by ACLSV (27.1%), PDV (22.4%) and ApMV (2.1%). Mixed infections were about 13%. ToRSV, SLRSV and PPV were not found. HSVd was apparently absent, whereas PLMVd was identified in 34% of the samples examined. This viroid prevailed in certain areas of Mount Lebanon in both native and foreign cultivars.     

Inclusion of Yucca schidigera extract in diets with different protein levels for dogs

This study evaluated the effects of inclusion of Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) in two diets with different levels of crude protein (CP) for dogs on facal odour, nutrient digestibility, ammonia concentration in feces and hematological and serum biochemical profiles. Twenty adults Beagles were used, distributed in a randomized block design in a 2 × 4 factorial design (two diets, 25% and 34% CP, and four YSE levels: 0, 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg) with five replicates, obtained during two experimental periods. The fecal odour reduced (P < 0.05) when 500 mg/kg of YSE was used in diets with higher CP. The inclusion of YSE reduced (P < 0.05) fecal ammonia, and the inclusion of 250 and 500 mg/kg YSE reduced intestinal gas. The inclusion of 750 mg/kg YSE increased the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and tended to increase the serum cholesterol concentration, regardless of the protein level of the diets. There was no effect on the digestibility of nutrients, fecal consistency, nitrogen balance and thickness of the intestinal wall. The inclusion of 500 mg/kg YSE is effective in reducing fecal odour in dogs receiving diets with 34% of CP. Regardless of the protein content, YSE reduces fecal ammonia, but may cause adverse effects if included at higher doses.     

Utilization of Defatted Mango Kernel in Wheat-Based Cereals Products: Nutritional and Functional Properties

The mango kernel is a byproduct of mango processing industries and it contains appreciable quantities of edible oil and quality proteins. In the present research, wheat flour was partially replaced with defatted mango kernel flour up to 30% and blends were further utilized for the preparation of biscuits. The nutritional and functional properties of flour blends were determined in the first phase. The second phase dealt with product analysis and sensorial appraisal from the trained taste panel. The results indicated that the addition of mango kernel flour improved the mineral and fiber content of flour blends. The addition of mango kernel flour affected emulsifying and foaming properties of flour blends negatively, while water and oil absorption improved positively from 60.76 ± 2.39% to 86.29 ± 2.51% and 81.81 ± 2.94% to 123.87 ± 5.39%, respectively. The results might be due to lower bulk density of blends. The cookies prepared from flour blends showed improved color tonality and textural characteristics. Sensorial appraisal from a trained taste panel was awarded to cookies containing 15% and 20% defatted mango kernel flour, however, the rating was slightly less than the control. The results were conclusive that defatted mango kernel can be used at 15% and 20% with significant consumer acceptability. Future aspects of the present research include the extraction of principal ingredients, e.g., starch and proteins, for value addition.     

Ovaprim treatment promotes oocyte development and milt fertilization rate in diploid and triploid African catfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Clarias gariepinus)</Emphasis>

Triploid fish are increasingly used in aquaculture because they are generally unable to reproduce successfully. Energy is channeled into somatic growth rather than gonadal development, and in the event of escape, the animals are unlikely to breed successfully among themselves or with wild conspecifics. This study tested the ability of recently matured triploid African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) to produce and fertilize eggs with and without ovaprim treatment. Triploid females did not show the increase in ovary size observed in diploid members of the same cohort between 8 and 9 months of age, or the coincident decrease in visceral fat deposits, and this was unaffected by up to 5 weekly i.m. injections of 0.5 ml kg⁻¹ Ovaprim. However, we observed advanced vitellogenin (Vtg) sequestration in oocytes of triploid females, albeit to a lesser degree and with lesser cortical alveoli, compared to oocytes from diploid cohort members. Histological sections revealed a positive trend of oocyte development up to the third weekly ovaprim injection followed by a negative gonadal development in weeks four and five. Milt from triploid males injected 9–12 h earlier with 0.25 ml kg⁻¹ ovaprim i.m. fertilized more diploid eggs than milt from untreated triploid males (30 vs. 20%), but none of the developing embryos of triploid paternity survived to hatch. In contrast, milt of diploid males fertilized 49% of eggs, and 20% of the developing embryos hatched successfully. These rates were improved in ovaprim-injected diploid males to 70% fertilization and 33% hatch. This study demonstrates potential of overcoming non-viability of eggs from triploid female African catfish, and enhancing the ability of triploid milt to fertilize eggs.