Quantitative structure-activity relationship of rubiscolin analogues as delta opioid peptides using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA)

Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) studies were carried out on a series of 38 rubiscolins as delta opioid peptides using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA). Quantitative information on structure-activity relationships is provided for further rational development and direction of selective synthesis. All models were carried out over a training set including 30 peptides. The best CoMFA model included electrostatic and steric fields and had a moderate Q (2) = 0.503. CoMSIA analysis surpassed the CoMFA results: the best CoMSIA model included only the hydrophobic field and had a Q (2) = 0.661. In addition, this model predicted adequately the peptides contained in the test set. Our model identified that the potency of delta opioid activity of rubiscolin analogues essentially exhibited a significant relationship with local hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics of amino acids at positions 3, 4, 5, and 6.     

Liming and Boron in a Teak Crop Established during Early Stages in an Acid Soil

Cultivation of a teak crop in acid soils needs adequate agronomic management of these characteristics of high acidity and low nutrient supply to obtain high yields in wood. This work evaluated the effect of liming and application of boron in teak plants during early stage of growth in acid soils from Córdoba, Colombia. The experiments were conducted in the greenhouse and soils laboratory of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences by using acid soil limed with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) and fertilized with boron. The treatments were chosen according to the Box Bernard augmented matrix 3, with dosages of Ca(OH)₂ from 300 to 5700 kg ha^?1 and boron from 0.3 to 5.225 kg ha^?1, using three repetitions per treatment. Data obtained on boron in the soils (Bs) and in the plant (Bp), foliar area (AF), leaf dry mass (MSH), and roots (MSR) were analyzed through means tests and regressions from response surfaces (p ≤ 0.05). The results indicated increased pH and in the soil’s exchangeable calcium (Ca). To reach the maximal AF, the dosages of 2.26 kg ha^?1 of boron (B) and 4522.6 kg ha^?1 of Ca(OH)₂ were estimated; for MSH, stem, and roots boron, dosages ranged between 2.02 and 5.225, with the dosage of 5700 kg ha^?1 of Ca(OH)₂ in all the variables evaluated. Application of calcium hydroxide also showed positive effect in leaf, stem, and MSR gain of teak seedlings during early growth stages. Fertilization with boron (B) did not show significant effect upon growth of dry masses of the parts evaluated.     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-lactic acid from whey wastes on enzyme activities and bacterial diversity of soil

The l-lactic acid obtained from a whey waste valorization process decreased pH and increased phosphate solubilization of a Plagic Antrosol soil. This behavior was reversible due to the complete and rapid degradation of lactic acid by soil microorganisms, leading to a strong soil biological stimulation. Both dehydrogenase (DHA) and acid phosphomonoesterase (APA) activities were also significantly stimulated, due to the stimulation of microbial activity, whereas the β-glucosidase activity was unaffected. There was also a shift in bacterial biodiversity with growth of bacterial strains using lactic acid as a C source. The bacteria enriched belonged to the plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPb), such as Rhizobium and Azotobacter genus, involved in N₂ fixation, and Pseudomonas and Bacillus genera, involved in phosphorous bioavailability. We conclude that lactic acid application improves fertility parameters on soils. Further research at field scale is needed to confirm these results.     

Silver-catalyzed C-C bond formation between methane and ethyl diazoacetate in supercritical CO₂

Even in the context of hydrocarbons' general resistance to selective functionalization, methane's volatility and strong bonds pose a particular challenge. We report here that silver complexes bearing perfluorinated indazolylborate ligands catalyze the reaction of methane (CH(4)) with ethyl diazoacetate (N(2)CHCO(2)Et) to yield ethyl propionate (CH(3)CH(2)CO(2)Et). The use of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) as the solvent is key to the reaction's success. Although the catalyst is only sparingly soluble in CH(4)/CO(2) mixtures, optimized conditions presently result in a 19% yield of ethyl propionate (based on starting quantity of the diazoester) at 40°C over 14 hours.     

Staling of frozen partly and fully baked breads. Study of the combined effect of amylopectin recrystallization and water content on bread firmness

Partly baked (PB) and fully baked (FB) breads were frozen at −18 °C for 7, 21, 63, 92, 126 and 188 d and were analysed after its thawing (FB) or thawing and final baking (PB). The starch retrogradation, the moisture content and the firmness were measured as properties closely related to the aging of bread. The temperature of glass transition of the maximally freeze-concentrated state, T_g′, was also measured and established in (−18 ± 0.8) °C. This value cannot ensure molecular immobility in both types of bread during its frozen storage at (−18 ± 2) °C. Consequently, the rearrangements of starch component molecules, needed for its recrystallization and for the diffusion of water during frozen storage, could take place and could justify the changes observed in the bread. PB bread showed a significant decrease in firmness with frozen storage, while the firmness of the FB bread did not change significantly, although an increase when compared with the control, not frozen bread, was detected. A regression study led to the conclusion that the combined effect of starch component crystallization and water loss could explain the firming evolution and that both variables exerted an effect of similar intensity on crumb firmness.     

Net changes of main ions in the soil profile of irrigated field plots in central Spain

Implementation of improved irrigation schedules in some semiarid zones improve water efficiency and can be recommended where occasional periods of heavy rainfall may remove some of the accumulated salts. We hypothesized, however, that the leaching pattern of the main ions may differ regarding their potential contribution to the total salt discharge. The experiment was conducted near Madrid in Spain on a typical Xerofluvent soil with sandy-loam texture in the first 0.5 m. For 4 years, a traditional crop rotation of corn–wheat–corn–oat (Zea mays L.–Triticum aestivum L.–Zea mays L.–Avena sativa L.) was planted and two irrigation treatments (traditional and improved) were applied only to the corn. In an experimental set-up of 24 plots, samples of the soil solutions were extracted 61 times during the experiment at soil depths of 0.4, 0.9 and 1.4 m. During the experiment, drainage volume was estimated in plots under the two irrigation schedules. Main ions in the soil solution were SO₄²⁻, Cl⁻, Ca²⁺, Na⁺ and HCO₃⁻. These solutes accounted for 88% of total salt discharge under the two irrigation treatments. Two main patterns of salt leaching were observed. For most main ions, except HCO₃⁻, the input to discharge ratio was lower than one. Also for HCO₃⁻ , the irrigation treatment did not affect the leaching pattern (higher input than discharge under the two irrigation treatments). Improved irrigation schedules can be implemented without increasing the total salt load, but attention should be paid to specific leaching patterns of individual ions.     

Effect of an integral suspension of Lepidium latifolium on prostate hyperplasia in rats

This paper studies the effect of an integral suspension of Lepidium latifolium on experimental induced prostate hyperplasia, in rats. Oral treatment with 0.86 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 6 months, significantly reduced prostate size and volume in castrated rats where the hyperplasia were induced by steroid treatment.     

The attractiveness of phagostimulant formulations of a nucleopolyhedrovirus-based insecticide depends on prior insect diet

The multiply-enveloped nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) is being employed on an increasing scale as the basis for bioinsecticidal products for control of this pest in greenhouse crops in Europe. The mortality of diet-reared S. exigua larvae was determined after feeding on lettuce leaf discs contaminated by mixtures of SeMNPV occlusion bodies and 1 of 13 substances reported to have phagostimulant properties. Of the substances tested, wheatgerm and soya flour resulted in significantly increased mortality compared to the virus alone. However, these preferences disappeared when larvae were reared on lettuce. We conclude that (1) the activity of potential phagostimulant substances depends on the prior feeding experience of S. exigua and, (2) laboratory tests using diet-reared insects require validation using plant-reared larvae before being developed for field testing.