Use of Red Blood Cell Membranes to Evaluate the Antioxidant Potential of Plant Extracts

Antioxidant phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables of a vegetarian diet may account for the reduced risk of aging and stress oxidative associated diseases. In this study, a simple, rapid and accurate new bioassay for the determination of the antioxidant activity of purified or crude plant extracts and thier interactions is described, based on the fluorimetric determination of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) released by UV-B radiated red blood cell (RBC) ghosts. Pure resveratrol, white and red wine and pomegranate juice (PJ) were used as antioxidant source to test the biological method. TBARS production is a function of radiation time, the number of RBC ghosts in the radiated sample and the loaded antioxidant. The antioxidant activity of resveratrol was detected at a submicromolar concentration range [0.02 μg/mL–0.1 μmol/L]. The activity of red wine was almost 10 times higher than that of white wine, and PJ juice had the highest activity. Submaximal protective effects of PJ and red wine were additive.     

Partition of Nonylphenol and Related Compounds Among Different Aquatic Compartments in Tiber River (Central Italy)

Nonylphenol (NP), nonylphenol mono- and di-ethoxylate (NP1EO, NP2EO) and bisphenol A (BPA) were determined in water, suspended particulate matter (s.p.m.) and bed sediment collected from the most polluted stretch of Tiber river (Italy) in the neighbourhood of Rome. Analytes were recovered from water samples by solid-phase extraction (SPE) on Si–C₁₈ cartridges and analysed by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Solid samples were extracted by using an aqueous solution of the non-ionic surfactant Tween 80. Results indicated that 2–42% of NP, 9–45% of NP1EO, 11–18% of NP2EO and 4–62% of BPA respectively occurred in the suspended phase. In general, for all compounds a higher affinity for s.p.m. than for bed sediments was observed, reflecting differences in the nature of particles and in their sorption capacity for organic micro-pollutants. The partition of target compounds in river compartments was affected by differences in hydrological conditions between the two sampling campaigns. Run-off from the basin or resuspension/redissolution from sediments was an important source of nonylphenol and bisphenol A during high discharge regimes. Partition coefficients of compounds (log K _oc ) between water and s.p.m. were calculated under stable flow condition. K _oc values, experimentally measured in the river, were higher than those predicted by K _ow , implying that specific chemical interaction could occur in the sorption mechanisms for these group of compounds.     

Silicon and increased electrical conductivity reduce downy mildew of soilless grown lettuce

Downy mildew of lettuce, caused by Bremia lactucae, is difficult to control in soilless systems by using conventional methods of disease management because few chemicals are registered, while resistant cultivars face the problem of resistance break down; therefore other methods for disease control need to be investigated. The effect of silicon salt as well as increased electrical conductivities against downy mildew was evaluated in four experiments carried out in hydroponically systems, using the cultivar of lettuce “Cobham Green”, known for its susceptibility to the pathogen. Silicon, as potassium silicate, was added at 100 mg l⁻¹ of nutrient solution at three levels of electrical conductivity: 1.5–1.6 mS cm⁻¹ (EC1), 3.0–3.5 mScm⁻¹ (EC2, 0.70 g l⁻¹ NaCl) and 4.0–4.5 mS cm⁻¹ (EC3, 0.95 g l⁻¹ NaCl) respectively. Lettuce plants, grown for 14–20 (trials 1 and 2) and 36–45 (trials 3 and 4) days in the different nutrient solutions tested, were inoculated with B. lactucae conidia with a maximum of two inoculations before final disease assessment carried out 14–21 days after the inoculation able to give symptoms. EC and potassium silicate significantly influenced downy mildew incidence and severity, while their interaction was not a significant factor. The addition to the standard nutrient solution (EC1) of potassium silicate resulted in a significant reduction of downy mildew severity in trials 1 and 2 where plants were artificially inoculated 15 and 20 days after transplanting. This efficacy was slight on plants grown for 36 and 45 days before inoculation in a soil drenched with EC1 amended with potassium silicate. EC2 gave a significantly similar downy mildew reduction than EC2 added with potassium silicate in trial 3. Plants grown for 36 and 45 days at the highest electrical conductivity (EC3) showed a significant reduction in severity of downy mildew compared with that observed at EC2 level. The best results, in terms of disease control, were given by the addition of potassium silicate to the EC3 solution. This combination also led to a significantly increased plant biomass. The possibility and benefits of applying potassium silicate and increased EC amendments in practice is discussed.     

A field study of the impact of different irrigation practices on herbicide leaching

Agricultural practices, such as subsurface drainage, irrigation and tillage, may significantly affect pesticide leaching and, consequently, the risk of groundwater contamination. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of different irrigation systems on herbicide leaching to shallow groundwater through direct monitoring at the field scale in northern Italy over a 3-year period. Concentrations of the herbicide terbuthylazine (TBA) and its metabolite desethylterbuthylazine (DES) were monitored on 10 farms cropped with maize and irrigated by sprinkler, basin and border systems. Considering the results grouped according to the different irrigation systems, the mean TBA and DES concentrations was lower than the arbitrary non-health based legal limit of 0.1 μg/L using sprinkler and border systems, while it was 0.19 and 0.30 μg/L respectively for TBA and DES using basin systems.However, since many factors other than the irrigation systems can contribute to pesticide leaching and in a field study it is impossible to discriminate between all the different variables, the concentrations of both compounds were simulated with and without irrigation using the model MACRO 5.1 in order to gain a deeper understanding of the role of irrigation on leaching. First, the groundwater table depth, which was measured daily in all fields, was used to calibrate the model and thus achieve a good soil hydrology calibration. To assess the performance of the model the root mean squared error (RMSE) was used. RMSE ranged from 0.2 to 0.5 m, showing that a satisfactory hydrology calibration was obtained. Afterward, the solutes were modelled and the results showed that under non-irrigated conditions, concentrations of both compounds would be very low. These findings validate the hypothesis that careful selection of agricultural practices, such as the type of irrigation, can reduce pesticide leaching.     

Assessment of arsenic availability to roots in contaminated Tuscany soils by a diffusion gradient in thin films (DGT) method and uptake by Pteris vittata and Agrostis capillaris

A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the availability of arsenic (As) to roots in nine soils from five fields in Tuscany (Italy). Concentrations of As in soils range from 200 to 1200 mg kg^?1 as a result of human activities and natural deposition. In a first stage, potentially root‐available As and the risk of crop uptake were estimated using the diffusion gradient in thin films (DGT) technique. In a second stage, a glasshouse experiment was performed to compare As depletion in the rhizosphere by the hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata (ladder brake), and by the test plant Agrostis capillaris (colonial bentgrass). In this stage, DGT results were supported by a sequential extraction procedure. The main objectives were to study the root availability of As in old, contaminated soils and the modification of the available pool size over time. The phytoextraction efficiency of Pteris vittata as applied to this case study was also investigated. In all samples, concentrations of total and potentially root‐available As in soil solution were small compared with total As in soil (approximately 0.0003–0.03%, corresponding to 3.5–350 μg l^?1, respectively). There was also little re‐supply of As from the solid phase to the soil solution. In the rhizosphere, despite uptake by Pteris and Agrostis, total and root available As in solution were sustained over time. It appeared that plants induced a re‐supply of As from the solid phase. Despite the uptake and translocation of As by Pteris (50.7 mg kg^?1 and 6.6 mg As kg^?1 in fronds and roots, respectively) together with plant biomass (17.2 g per plant), the success of phytoextraction appears unlikely. The results obtained demonstrated the sensitivity of DGT to root‐induced changes in soil and the suitability of the technique as an easy‐to‐use tool to predict assimilation by plants.     

Simple confirmatory method for the determination of erythromycin residues in trout: a fast liquid-liquid extraction followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

In recent years, erythromycin has received considerable attention for its therapeutic efficacy against some bacterial kidney diseases in aquaculture and, therefore, suitable and sensitive analytical methods to monitor erythromycin residues in fish are required. A fast sample treatment followed by an LC-ESI-MS/MS method is described for the purification, identification, and quantification of erythromycin A residues in fish. After two extractions with acetonitrile, samples were defatted with n-hexane, filtered, and analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. Three characteristic transition reactions (m/z 734 --> 716, 734 --> 576, and 734 --> 558) in multiple reaction monitoring were tested for the determination and confirmation of erythromycin A. The method was in-house validated through the determination of precision, accuracy, specificity, stability, calibration curve, decision limit (CCalpha), and detection capability (CCbeta), in accordance with European Commission Decision 657/2002. The coefficients of variation ranged from 1.8 to 9.4% and from 7.5 to 10.9% for intra- and interday repeatability, respectively. Recovery data were also satisfactory, with values varying from 85 to 97%. The method was specific, stable, and robust enough for the required purposes. The calibration curve showed a good linearity in the whole range of the tested concentrations (0-1000 microg kg(-1)) with a correlation coefficient (r2) equal to 0.9956. CCalpha and CCbeta were found to be 220 and 238 microg kg(-1), respectively.     

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Formation in Sludge Incineration by Fluidised Bed and Rotary Kiln Furnace

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are typical pollutants arising from incineration. They are produced in any incomplete combustion principally due to inhomogeneities in a combustion chamber. The effects of the afterburning temperature on PAHs formation during sewage sludge incineration are discussed in this paper. Tests were performed inside the area of the wastewater treatment plant of `Bari Ovest' on a demonstrative plant (maximum throughput 250 kg hr^-1 of dewatered sludge at 20% solids concentration) equipped with a fluidised bed furnace (FBF) and a rotary kiln furnace (RKF) where sewage sludge was fed, either as it was taken from the dewatering section of the wastewater treatment plant, or previously spiked by different dosages of chlorinated hydrocarbons. Exhaust gases were sampled before the bag filter, where the pollutants can be considered representative of those arising from the process. Parallel sampling of flue gas at the stack was also carried out. In the FBF tests with sludge spiked with high dosages of chlorinated hydrocarbons highest values of PAHs concentrations (>3.9 μg Nm^-3) were detected before filtration, when the afterburning chamber was not in use. The operation of the afterburning chamber, at a temperature higher than 900 °C, allows to partially suppress PAHs formation up to values of 0.9—3.2 μg Nm^-3. PAHs removal efficiency of the exhaust gas treatment was calculated with a mean value for all the test of 72%.In RKF tests PAHs displayed much lower values before filtration (range 0.04—2.98 μg Nm^-3, mean value 0.51 μg Nm^-3) probably due to the longer gas residence time in the furnace (>6 s in comparison with values <2 s in fluidised bed furnace). Surprisingly, for RKF tests PAHs removal efficiency of gas treatment appeared quite unstable: some tests evidenced PAHs stripping in the scrubber, where the effluent of the wastewater treatment plant was used. No correlation was observed in RKF tests between PAHs concentration before the bag filter and the temperature of the afterburning chamber.     

Die Speichelkegel der Pentatomiden

Ohne Zusammenfassung (Mit 6 Abbildungen.)     

Über die Systematik vonPseudococcus vitis Niedl., über die biologischen Wechselbeziehungen zwischenSimaethis nemorana Hübn. undPseudococcus citri Risso und ihre Bedeutung im Weinbau

Ohne Zusammenfassung Mit 9 Abb. Die übertragung des Artikels aus dem Italienischen ins Deutsche hat Graf Fred Hartig, Museo di Storia Naturale, Trento vorgenommen.