Fractionation of flax shives with pressurized aqueous ethanol

Fractionation of flax shives into major biopolymer constituents, such as cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin, was carried out with pressurized aqueous ethanol in a pressurized low-polarity water extractor. The effect of processing parameters such as temperature, ethanol concentration, flow rate, sample size and solvent/feed ratio on the simultaneous extraction of hemicelluloses and lignin was determined. More than 80% of total hemicelluloses and ∼78% of total lignin were removed simultaneously in a single step under the following conditions: 180 °C, 30% (v/v) ethanol concentration, 3 mL/min flow rate, and 45 mL/g solvent/feed ratio. Under these extraction conditions, cellulose degradation was negligible. Further, the separation of lignin from hemicelluloses was carried out using two simple alternative methodologies based on precipitation. Since no acidic or alkali catalysts were used, the degradation of biopolymers was negligible and the oligomer/monomer ratio of sugars was 825:1. Characterization of fractionated biopolymers was carried out with scanning electron microscopy and a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR). FT-IR spectra of isolated lignin and hemicelluloses showed that both polymers were comparable to commercially available products.     

Performance of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to bio-fertilizer and nitrogen application in arid condition

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during 2013–2014 at Tashkent, Uzbekistan to evaluate the performance of chickpea variety “Jakhongir” with the variable proportion of nitrogen (N) and bio-fertilizer inoculation in the moderate saline (5.6?±?0.6?dSm^?1) soil condition. The studied treatments were No control (non-fertilized), N1 mineral-N (50?kg?N?ha^?1), N2, mineral-N (75?kg?N?ha^?1), N3, mineral-N (100?kg?N?ha^?1) equivalent 0%, 50%, 75%, and 100% from recommended rate for chickpea, Rhizobium inoculation (Bio)?+?No control, Rhizobium inoculation (Bio)?+?N1, Rhizobium inoculation (Bio)?+?N2, and Rhizobium inoculation (Bio)?+?N3. Seed inoculation with Rhizobium was significantly superior over no inoculation treatments at all rate of N fertilization. The middle rate of N fertilization 75?kg?N?ha^?1 combined with biofertilizer inoculation had of superior effect on chickpea, producing 73.2% more yield (1.68?Mg ha^?1), oil, protein, and sugar content performed 16.4%; 15.0%, and 17.9% higher value, respectively, in comparison to control.     

‘Damsel in distress’‐ The tale of Miss Kerala,Puntius denisonii (Day), an endemic and endangered cyprinid of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot (South India)

• 1. Denison's Barb, Puntius denisonii (Day) is an endemic and endangered cyprinid fish of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot in peninsular India, which is the focus of an organized yet undocumented fishery targeting juveniles for the international aquarium trade.
• 2. Research on P. denisonii has been very limited and there has been no systematic effort to assess and monitor their abundance, distribution and populations.
• 3. Anecdotal and circumstantial evidence indicates a highly restricted distribution, low abundance, declining populations, low catch per unit effort and increasing market prices, providing evidence of an impending conservation crisis and the need for urgent management of wild stocks.
• 4. This paper reviews current knowledge, provides results from the authors' field study and suggests priorities for conservation and management actions for P. denisonii in the streams of Kerala.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

豚草和三裂叶豚草在新疆伊犁河谷的入侵及扩散特征

豚草(Ambrosia artemisiifolia)和三裂叶豚草(Ambrosia trifida)分别是我国公布的首批/第二批危害严重的外来入侵物种,目前已经在新疆伊犁河谷呈快速扩散趋势。文中通过对比分析2010~2016年的两个物种的分布状况,研究这两个物种在伊犁河谷的入侵及扩散特征。结果表明:(1)在入侵速度上,2010年豚草和三裂叶豚草开始入侵伊犁河谷,新源县是两个物种的主要分布区,2011年至2013年呈点状分布,2014年后大面积爆发。2016年豚草和三裂叶豚草面积分别是1015km~2、215 km~2,是2010年的10150倍、2150倍;2016年在100个调查样点的分布频度分别为0.52、0.38,是2010年的52倍、38倍,两个物种的分布频度是意大利苍耳和刺苍耳的5~9倍。(2)种子传播是两个物种的主要扩散方式。长距离扩散主要沿道路和河流,主要传播方式为人畜活动(车辆、人员往来,牛羊转场等)和流水(巩乃斯河);局部扩散主要以道路和河流为中心向周围扩散,主要传播方式为山间、田间、路边流水,人畜活动(农牧活动,车辆、人员往来等),地势(种子从高处向低处传播)等。