Protective Action of 24 Amino Acids on the Toxicity of Copper to a Freshwater Tubificid Worm Tubifex tubifex Muller

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - The protective action of 24 amino acids on the acute toxicity of copper to a freshwater tubificid worm, Tubifex tubifex is investigated. The results showed that...     

Volatile Organic Compounds Profile Obtained from Processing Steps of Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) as Perspective for Food Industry

ABSTRACT

In the heat treatment of oysters, many aroma compounds are lost in the cooking steam and water. In this study, aroma compound profiles from oyster processing were identified by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The compounds were extracted by headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME), while the best process conditions such as temperature, extraction time, and desorption time were studied. The aroma compounds were obtained from raw oysters, from oysters after thermal treatment, from water released from raw oysters, from cooking steam, and from oyster boiling juice. All compounds were identified and semi-quantified by GC-MS. The major oyster aroma compounds were 1-octen-3-ol, hexanal, and benzaldehyde. Most of the components from oysters were lost both to the cooking steam and to the oyster boiling juice. The concentration range of volatile organic compounds transferred for oyster boiling juice between 14 and 90 mg L^?1 shows that the residues from oyster processing have great technological potential, and they can be recovered for application as aromas by the food industry.     

Picobirnavirus detection in bovine and buffalo calves from foothills of Himalaya and Central India

The present study describes detection of picobirnavirus (PBV) in faecal samples from bovine and buffalo calves employing the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). A total of 136 faecal samples from buffalo (n = 122) and cow calves (n = 14) exhibiting clinical signs of diarrhoea and from healthy calves were collected during 2007–2010 from subtropical (central India) and tarai area of western temperate Himalayan foothills (Uttarakhand). The dsRNA nature of the virus was confirmed by nuclease treatment (RNase A, RNaseT1 and DNase 1). PAGE results confirmed 3.67% (5/136) positivity for PBV, showing a typical genomic migration pattern with two discrete bands with size of approximately 2.4 and 1.7 kbps for the larger and smaller segments, respectively. Among the five PBV samples identified, three were from buffalo calves and one from cow calf exhibiting clinical signs of acute diarrhoea, while one sample from non-diarrhoeic buffalo calf also showed the presence of PBV. None of the samples showed dual infection of rotavirus and PBV. The preliminary findings indicate sporadic incidences of PBV in bovine calves and emphasize the need for the development of better diagnostics for early detection and genetic characterization of these emerging isolates of farm animals of economic significance.     

Effects of heavy metals and pesticides on buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) spermatozoa functions in vitro

Industrial toxic metals, pollutants and bio-accumulative pesticides interfere with the male reproductive functions in farm animals. Frozen-thawed semen samples were incubated with heavy metals (cadmium and lead) and pesticides (chlorpyrifos and endosulfan) of different concentrations (0, 0.005, 0.05, 0.02, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 μg/ml) for 1 h, and various spermatozoa functional parameters and in vitro fertilization rates were assessed. Any significant effect was assessed by comparing the 1 h data between the control and treatment groups. Progressive forward motility was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in spermatozoa exposed to lower concentrations (0.05-0.5 μg/ml) of toxic substances. The straight-line velocity (μm/s) and the average path velocity (μm/s) were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in spermatozoa exposed to 1.0 and 0.5 μg/ml of cadmium (11.6 ± 1.9 and 16.3 ± 1.9) and chlorpyrifos (10.4 ± 1.5 and 17.1 ± 1.3), respectively, when compared to control (20.4 ± 1.4 and 28.1 ± 1.7). The acrosomal integrity was also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced at 0.05 μg/ml of chlorpyrifos (33.3 ± 1.9), 1.0 μg/ml of cadmium (36.8 ± 3.7), 1.0 μg/ml of lead (39.4 ± 2.8) and 0.5 μg/ml of endosulfan (38.3 ± 3.2), respectively. The spermatozoa chromatin decondensation was significantly (p < 0.05) affected at higher concentrations (>0.5 μg/ml) of these chemicals. The mitochondrial membrane potential (%) was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced at 0.05 μg/ml of cadmium (3.2 ± 0.2) and chlorpyrifos (4.3 ± 0.4), 0.1 μg/ml of lead (3.8 ± 0.3) and 0.5 μg/ml of endosulfan (3.2 ± 0.3) when compared to control (6.7 ± 1.0). The in vitro fertilization capabilities (cleavage percentage) of spermatozoa were significantly reduced at 1.0 μg/ml of cadmium (28.3 ± 2.4) and 2.0 μg/ml of lead (31.1 ± 2.7), chlorpyrifos (29.4 ± 2.2) and endosulfan (32.6 ± 2.5) when compared to control (59.4 ± 4.4). This study suggested that the mitochondrial membrane potential was primarily affected even with lowest doses of toxic chemicals. Cadmium when compared to lead and chlorpyrifos when compared to endosulfan were found to be more toxic to the spermatozoa.     

Uptake and translocation of carpropamid in rice (Oryza sativa L)

Translocation of the antiblast compound, carpropamid, was investigated in rice using [¹⁴C]carpropamid. When applied to the seed, carpropamid was not only readily absorbed but was translocated to different parts of the seedlings emerging from treated seeds. A substantial portion of fungicide appeared to be exuded onto the leaf surface. In 21‐day‐old plants grown from [¹⁴C]carpropamid‐treated seeds, 27.2% of the radioactivity isolated from leaves was present on the surface of lamina. This exuded fraction is probably responsible for its action as a fungal anti‐penetrant compound. Following 30‐min root dipping of 14‐day‐old seedlings, carpropamid was rapidly absorbed and translocated throughout the seedling. Its intra‐laminar distribution was uniform as determined by autoradiography. Only a small fraction (<2%) of fungicide applied to the foliage was translocated beyond the site of application within the treated leaf. Translocation was primarily apoplastic. Approximately 54% of the radioactivity recovered from leaves was in the form of carpropamid. At least seven radiolabelled metabolic products were observed by TLC. Only 8.3% of radioactivity applied through the seeds could be recovered from 21‐day‐old seedlings. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Utilization of β-carotene fromSpirulina platensis by rats

The availability of -carotene from Spirulina as compared to standard all trans -carotene was studied by the liver and kidney vitamin A storage method. After 21 days of vitamin A depletion, the rats were repleted with -carotene from Spirulina and a standard source at two dietary levels (60 and 120 µg/day) for a 10 day period. At lower levels, the liver storage levels of vitamin A and the percent of -carotene absorption were comparable to those of the standard. At higher levels both these parameters of the Spirulina fed group were significantly (P<0.01) inferior to the standard source fed group. However, the Spirulina fed group showed better (P<0.05) growth than the standard fed group did at both low and high levels of feeding.     

Sonosynthesis of cellulose nanoparticles (CNP) from kenaf fiber: Effects of processing parameters

This study optimizes the isolation parameters of cellulose nanoparticles (CNP) from kenaf fiber using central composite design (CCD). The extraction of CNP was based on three stages (i.e. 3 factors). The independent variables (factors) were NaOH dosage, amount of NaClO₂, and sonication time, while the dependent variables (response) were CNP size quality and degradation temperature. Later, size quality responses were fitted with a quadratic polynomial model and degradation point responses with a 2-factor interaction model (2FI). The quadratic model and 2FI models resulted R² values of 0.95 and 0.79, respectively. In addition, the morphological, thermal analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated a progressive removal of non-cellulosic constituents. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed reduction in fiber diameter from ~170 μm to ~100 nm. The optimal parameters for extraction of CNP were found to be 0.2 g of NaOH/4 g of fiber at first stage, 5 ml of NaClO₂/4 g of fiber at the second stage, and 20 min of sonication period during the third stage. Moreover, obtained cellulose nanoparticles were thermally more stable at higher temperature.     

Allelopathic effects of Mikania cordata on forest and agricultural crops in Bangladesh

Mikania cordata, an invasive weed is becoming a problem in the secondary degraded forests and plantations of Bangladesh, not only competing with but also releasing allelochemicals to cultivated crops. Allelopathic effects of the leaves of M. cordata were investigated through an experiment in the green house of the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Five economically important agricultural crops(Oryza sativa L., Triticum aestivum L., Vigna sinensis L., Abelmoschus esculentus L. and Amaranthus tricolor L.) and three forest crops(Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth. Hook, Albizia procera(Roxb.) Benth.,and Paraserianthes falcataria(L.) Nielson) were used as bioassay species. Experiments were conducted on trays at an average room temperature 27 °C. The effects of different concentrations of leaf extracts were compared to controls. Water soluble allelochemicals of M. cordata inhibited the germination and initial growth of the tested agricultural and forest crops. Germination percent of forest crops declined with increasing concentration of extracts.The inhibitory effect on root elongation of forest crops was pronounced, whereas a stimulatory effect was found on P.falcataria up to a concentration of 25 %. Abelmoschus esculentus showed poor germination(%) and low shoot development(0.5 cm) and no development of taproot or lateral roots at treatment of 100 % concentration. Theinhibitory effect was proportional to the concentrations of the extracts with higher concentrations producing stronger inhibitory effects. Lower concentrations showed some stimulatory effect. The inhibitory effect was pronounced in root and lateral root development rather than germination or shoot development of the crops. Mikania cordata should be eradicated for healthy growth and development of the forest and adjacent agricultural crops.