Fractionation of monomeric and polymeric anthocyainins from Concord grape (Vitis labrusca L.) juice by membrane ultrafiltration

Concord grape juice with 20% polymeric and 60% monomeric anthocyanin (Acy) forms was ultrafiltrated using polyvinylidene fluoride flat sheet membranes ranging from 10 to 1000 K molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) to obtain different permeate and retentate fractions. Permeate flux, membrane resistance, Acy rejection, fouling, Acy content and composition, color properties, and antioxidant activity (AOX) were characterized. Results showed that permeate flux declined with lower MWCO, while membrane resistance increased and related exponentially with fouling. Anthocyanin membrane rejection differed for polymeric and monomeric Acy forms. Polymeric Acy increased (36-66%) and monomeric Acy decreased (12-20%) in retentate fractions with membrane pore size of <100K MWCO, while polymeric Acy decreased (11-28%) and monomeric Acy increased (5-7%) in permeate fractions. Fraction properties showed that AOX related linearly with the total phenolic content, while lightness and chroma color properties related linearly to the monomeric Acy content. These results indicate that ultrafiltration can be used to tailor monomeric and polymeric Acy fractions with potential effects in color and bioactive properties.     

Biochemistry of pyrethroid resistance in German cockroach (Dictyoptera, Blatellidae) from hospitals of Sari, Iran

BACKGROUND: The German cockroach is an important household insect pest mechanically involved in transmission of a variety of diseases to humans. Different classes of insecticides have extensively been used for its control leading to insecticide resistance development. Hence, for an optimal control of this pest, the status and underlying mechanisms of insecticide resistance should be studied in this group of insects. METHODS: Adult German cockroaches were collected from Imam and Bouali Cina Hospitals (Sari, Iran) and subjected to bioassay using jar test method. The results were compared to those of a susceptible laboratory strain. Biochemical assays of esterases, monooxigenases and glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels were undertaken on German cockroaches from Imam and Bouali Cina Hospitals and the results were compared to a susceptible laboratory strain. RESULTS: The LT50 values of the three strains were 20.24+/-2.2, 19.87+/-2.3 and 8.89+/-0.26 for permethrin; 19.3+/-3.05, 17.6+/-0.68 and 8.8+/-0.99 for deltamethrin; 19.64+/-2.9, 18.66+/-3.45 and 8.64+/-0.62 min for cypermethrin, respectively. The mean -esterase activity of Imam and Bouali Cina Hospitals and susceptible strains were 6.941x10(-4), 6.940x10(-4) and 8.01x10(-5) nmol/min/mg protein; the mean -esterase activity in those strains were 5.8x10(-4), 4.25x10(-4) and 7.28x10(-5) nmol/min/mg protein; the mean content of p450 in the above-mentioned strains were 5.64x10(-6), 1.89x10(-6) and 1.2x10(-6) nmol/mg protein; the mean GST activity were 6.66x10(-2), 0.102 and 5.72x10(-2) mol/min/mg protein, respectively. CONCLUSION: The LT50 values and also the mean activity of all enzyme groups in field strains were significantly different from those of the susceptible strain, indicating a vigour tolerance to insecticides and pyrethroids in particular. Hence, insecticide resistance monitoring techniques should be put in place and also resistance management strategies and measures should be considered implementing in the area.     

Dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure caused by a mutation in phospholamban

Molecular etiologies of heart failure, an emerging cardiovascular epidemic affecting 4.7 million Americans and costing 17.8 billion health-care dollars annually, remain poorly understood. Here we report that an inherited human dilated cardiomyopathy with refractory congestive heart failure is caused by a dominant Arg --> Cys missense mutation at residue 9 (R9C) in phospholamban (PLN), a transmembrane phosphoprotein that inhibits the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticular Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase (SERCA2a) pump. Transgenic PLN(R9C) mice recapitulated human heart failure with premature death. Cellular and biochemical studies revealed that, unlike wild-type PLN, PLN(R9C) did not directly inhibit SERCA2a. Rather, PLN(R9C) trapped protein kinase A (PKA), which blocked PKA-mediated phosphorylation of wild-type PLN and in turn delayed decay of calcium transients in myocytes. These results indicate that myocellular calcium dysregulation can initiate human heart failure-a finding that may lead to therapeutic opportunities.     

Immune responses against excreted/secreted antigens of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in the murine model

In the present study, excretory secretory antigens (ESA) of Toxoplasma gondii were evaluated in immunization of 8-10 week inbred female Balb/c mice. Tachyzoites of the parasite were cultured in cell-free incubation medium (RPMI-1640), and then supernatant of the medium was loaded on an ion-exchange chromatography column. Two fractions (ESA-F(1) and ESA-F(2)) were collected from the column. For immunization of the mice, 50 were allocated into 5 groups of 10. The first, second, third, and fourth groups were immunized, twice with total-ESA, ESA-F(1), ESA-F(2) or toxoplasma lysate antigen (TLA), respectively. The fifth group was selected as a negative control group (non-immunized). The virulent RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii was used to challenge. Delayed-type hypersensitivity responses (DTHs) were measured by intra-footpad injection measuring induration at timed intervals. Lymphocyte transformation tests (LTTs) were done on lymph node cells using [3H] thymidine incorporation as an indication of reactivity. Peritoneal macrophages from sensitized mice were stimulated and nitric oxide was measured by Griess method. The ESA-F(1) and ESA-F(2) fractions were separated on poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and SDS-PAGE. ESA-F(1) had 4 bands on PAGE and 14 bands on SDS-PAGE. ESA-F(2) had one band on PAGE and two bands on SDS-PGE. Sensitized mice showed DTH and lymphocyte transformation responses to total-ESA, ESA-F(1), and ESA-F(2) and peritoneal macrophages produce nitric oxide following stimulation. In challenge experiments, all non-immunized mice died within 10 days, whereas immunized mice survived for longer time periods (P<0.05). The highest survival rate was observed in mice that immunized with ESA-F(2). We suggest that these antigens especially ESA-F(2) should be of value for the development of new strategies for immunization against toxoplasmosis.     

Effects of drip irrigation regimes on potato tuber yield and quality

To evaluate the effects of drip irrigation regimes on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber yield and quality, an experiment was conducted in 2009 and 2010. Experimental factors were the irrigation regimes including: FI, providing 100% of the water requirement of potato; IR1, providing 70% of the water requirement of potato by reducing the applied irrigation water between planting and tuber initiation by 30%; and IR2, providing 70% of the water requirement of potato by reducing the applied irrigation water during the whole growing season by 30%; and three potato cultivars Agria, Almera and Sinora. The results indicated that cultivars Agria and Almera were much better than Sinora in terms of tuber yield under all irrigation regimes. For Agria and Almera, the experiments show that the full irrigation regime had the highest yield and water productivity. For Sinora, however, deficit irrigation yields higher water productivity than the full irrigation regime. Consequently, deficit irrigation IR1 and IR2 should be applied to Sinora, but not to Agria and Almera.     

Efficacy of integrated fertilizer management to improve agronomic and physiological traits of canola cultivars

The effects of integrated chemical and organic fertilizers on quantitative, qualitative and physiological traits of two canola cultivars were studied in East Azerbaijan Research Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Iran, during 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. The first factor comprised six levels of fertilizers including organic, chemical, and their combination and the second factor was two canola cultivars. Fertilizer treatments had significant effect on all studied traits except for proline, oil percentage, oleic acid, linolenic acid, seed sulfur, and potassium content in the first year, and leaf area, protein percentage, 1000 seed weight, seed number in silique, silique number in plants, oleic acid, and linolenic acid in the second year. Canola response to fertilizer proportions was quite different so that in the first year chemical fertilizations were better, while in the second year the effect of organic fertilizations was more pronounced. High level of organic fertilizer improved nitrate reductase activity, photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and final seed yield in the second year. It seems that the positive effect of cattle manure would be visible at least 1 year after application. Moreover, canola cultivars differed from each other in terms of some agronomic and physiological traits during each year of the experiment.     

A review of nitrogen translocation and nitrogen-use efficiency

Nitrogen (N) is a primary nutrient for crop growth. In most agricultural areas, crop production relies heavily on the supply of exogenous N fertilizers. Globally, a large amount of nitrogenous fertilizer is applied to achieve maximum crop productivity. However, N fertilizer application is costly and negatively impacts the environment. One way around these problems is to provide a new N-use efficiency (NUE) framework that promotes the efficient acquisition and use of N and high N translocation rates from vegetative organs to reproductive organs under reduced N inputs. This review integrates the current knowledge about the direct and indirect effects of soil properties, crop varieties, soil water status, soil N fertilizers, and soil microbes on N translocation. In addition, we explore strategies that specifically accomplish N translocation via mycorrhizal fungi. Finally, we discuss recent advances in plant physiology, demonstrating that N translocation is an effective target to improve cereal yields and NUE. Although the relationship between crop variety and N translocation is mostly unknown, understanding this relationship is necessary to select and breed crop varieties that exhibit high yields and N translocation efficiency.     

Crop yields and nutrient uptake by rainfed wheat and mungbean as affected by tillage,fertilization, and weeding

Field experiments were conducted on rainfed wheat and mungbean for two consecutive seasons on a Udic Ustocrept to evaluate the effect of tillage techniques, fertilization, and weeding on crop yields and nutrient uptake. Tillage techniques were conventional, zero, and deep tillage. Fertilizer treatments consisted of a control, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer, and farmyard manure plus fertilizer. Grain yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was 2,404 kg/ha under conventional tillage, 2,008 kg/ha under zero tillage, and 2,839 kg/ha under deep tillage. Total dry matter of wheat was 7,612 kg/ha under deep tillage, 6,671 kg/ha under conventional tillage, and 6,016 kg/ha under zero tillage. Fertilizer application increased wheat grain yield by 112% and total dry matter by 150% over the control. Weed biomass of wheat was 57% greater under zero tillage than under conventional tillage. Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) grain yield was 371 kg/ha under conventional tillage, 248 kg/ha under zero tillage, and 367 kg/ha under deep tillage. Mungbean total dry matter yield was 2,018 kg/ha under deep tillage, 1,814 kg/ha under conventional, and 1,143 kg/ha under zero tillage. Dry weed biomass in mungbean was 38% greater under zero tillage and 6% lesser under deep tillage than that of conventional tillage. Nitrogen and P uptake by weeds was greater under zero tillage compared with conventional and deep tillage.     

Application of the CSM-CERES-Rice model for evaluation of plant density and irrigation management of transplanted rice for an irrigated semiarid environment

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of the Cropping System Model (CSM)-CERES (Crop-Environment Resource Synthesis)-Rice for simulating growth and yield of rice under irrigated conditions for a semiarid environment in Pakistan and to determine the impact of plant density and irrigation regime on grain yield and economic returns. The crop simulation model was evaluated with experimental data collected in 2000 and 2001 in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. The experiment utilized a randomized complete block design with three replications and included three plant densities (one seedling hill^?1, PD₁; two seedlings hill^?1, PD₂; and three seedlings hill^?1, PD₃) and five irrigation regimes (625 mm, I₁; 775 mm, I₂; 925 mm, I₃; 1075 mm, I₄; and 1225 mm, I₅). To determine the most appropriate combination of plant densities and irrigation regimes, four plant densities from one seedling hill^?1 to four seedlings hill^?1 and 17 irrigation regimes ranging from 0 to 1600 mm, for a total of 68 different scenarios, were simulated for 35 years of historical daily weather data. The evaluation of CSM-CERES-Rice showed that the model was able to accurately simulate growth and yield of rice for irrigated semiarid conditions, with an average error of 11% between simulated and observed grain yield. The results of the biophysical analysis showed that the combination of the two seedlings hill^?1 plant density and the 1,300 mm irrigation regime produced the highest yield compared to all other scenarios. Furthermore, the economic analysis through the Mean-Gini Dominance (MGD) also showed the superiority of this treatment compared to the other treatment combinations. The mean monetary return ranged from ?47 to 1,265 $ ha^?1 among all 68 scenarios. However, to be able to furnish the demand of rice grain for local consumption and to increase export, there is a need to expand this technology among the rice growers of other rice producing areas in Pakistan through extension workers.     

Assessment of Grewia oppositifolia leaves as crude protein supplement to low-quality forage diets of sheep

In the tropical arid and semi-arid regions of many developing countries, sheep are predominantly grazed on low-quality pastures and stall-fed on crop residues. This study evaluated the potential of Grewia oppositifolia tree leaves as crude protein (CP) supplement to the low-quality diets of sheep in comparison with cottonseed cake (CSC). Changes in the chemical composition of the leaves with progressive maturation (December to March) were studied. The leaves maintained a high CP content (>164?g/kg dry matter (DM)) during the prolonged maturation in the winter feed scarcity period. The leaves were rich in Ca (41?g/kg DM) and K (89?g/kg DM). The rate of degradation and effective degradability of CP were consistently higher (P?相似文献