Titanium oxide nanoparticle effects on composition of soil microbial communities and plant performance

We examined the effect of TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) on the growth of maize and soybean plants and associated soil microbial communities. Plants were grown in a greenhouse, and low levels of undoped or nitrogen-doped TiO₂ NPs were applied. Plant growth and nutrient content were determined, and effects of NPs on composition of soil microbial communities were examined using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (TRFLP) of rDNA. We found no significant effects of TiO₂ NPs on plant growth, nutrient content, or the composition of bacterial communities within the rhizosphere. However, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities were affected by application of undoped and nitrogen-doped TiO₂ NPs. This observation may be partially attributed to the small but significant TiO₂ NP uptake levels in the root tissues of both plants. Our results suggest that even low concentrations of TiO₂ NPs may influence some important groups of soil microbes, such as mycorrhizal fungi, but changes in the composition of microbial communities may not affect plant growth under conditions of adequate moisture and nutrients.     

Comparative Analysis of Azo Dye Biodegradation by Aspergillus oryzae and Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The paper reports ultraviolet matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectroscopy (UVMALDI-MS) protocol for determination of complex heterogeneous emulsion or suspension formulations. The active agents and surfactants are morpholine fungicide fenpropimorph (1), amorolfine (2), tridemorph (mixture of 2,6-dimethyl-4-alkylmorpholins 3–6), 2,6-dimethyl-4-[2-methyl-3-(6-methyl-decahydro-naphthalen-2-yl)-propyl]-morpholine (7), dodemorph (8), main metabolite of 1 fenpropimorph acid (9), sodium dodecyl sulfate (10), and stearate (11). The full method and techniques validation as well as method performance parameters are discussed in terms of their maximal representativeness toward real environmental and foodstuff assay problems. These are additionally complicated by heterogeneous laterally, vertically, and time distribution of pesticide contaminants and their major metabolites in environmental samples. The real environmental heterogeneous distribution is elucidated, studying sterilized soil fractions with particle size 2.0 μm, clay content 11.5 %, silt 23.0 %, sand 8.1 %, and pH?∈ 6.0–8.1. A statistical sampling cluster approach is used. The method performance parameters are concentration LODs of 0.026 mg kg^?1 (res. LOQs 0.08666 mg kg^?1). Concentration linear dynamic ranges are ∈?0.025–7.3 mg kg^?1 (r ²?=?0.99822 and 0.99421) and ∈?2.3–7.4 mg kg^?1 (level of confidence of 99.33₁?%) for complex spiked heterogeneous soil samples. The data illustrates the great capability of method and its promising application for environmental contamination monitoring and controlling programs for assessment.     

Genetic variability and heterotic groups of Brazilian popcorn populations

The development of successful advanced lines and cultivars in maize is dependent on parental selection and assignment to defined heterotic groups. So, the objectives of this study were to evaluate genetic variability and identify heterotic groups among Brazilian popcorn varieties. Thus, diallel crosses of advanced generations of the popcorn hybrids, IAC 112 and Zélia, and of three open-pollinated popcorn varieties, RS 20, Branco, and SAM were performed. Ten hybrid combinations, the five parents, and five check treatments were arranged in a block design with four replicates in two tropical-zone locations (CWb climate). Both additive and non-additive effects were important for grain yield, plant height, ear height, and husk cover. For popping expansion, only the additive effects were important. Hybrid combinations between the local variety (Branco) and F₂ populations (IAC 112 and Zelia) resulted in the third and fourth highest values for popping expansion. The best grain yields were obtained with hybrid combinations involving SAM. Cultivars Zélia, IAC 112, and RS 20 increased popping expansion, whereas cultivar Branco increased grain yield of hybrid combinations. The following conclusions may be drawn: Brazilian popcorn populations have reduced heterosis and genetic variability to popping expansion in relation commercial cultivars; there is genetic variability among Brazilian popcorn populations that allows the exploitation of additive and non-additive effects for grain yield; it is possible to increase grain yield by using local varieties; but it would be difficult to obtain commercial hybrids from local varieties because they have poor performance for popping expansion.     

Closing the compliance gap in marine protected areas with human behavioural sciences

Advocates, practitioners and policy-makers continue to use and advocate for marine protected areas (MPAs) to meet global ocean protection targets. Yet many of the worlds MPAs, and especially no-take MPAs, are plagued by poaching and ineffective governance. Using a global dataset on coral reefs as an example, we quantify the potential ecological gains of governing MPAs to increase compliance, which we call the ‘compliance gap’. Using ecological simulations based on model posteriors of joint Bayesian hierarchical models, we demonstrate how increased compliance in no-take MPAs could nearly double target fish biomass (91% increases in median fish biomass), and result in a 292% higher likelihood of encountering top predators. Achieving these gains and closing the compliance gap necessitates a substantial shift in approach and practice to go beyond optimizing enforcement, and towards governing for compliance. This will require engaging and integrating a broad suite of actors, principles, and practices across three key domains: (i)) harnessing social influence, (ii) integrating equity principles, and (iii) aligning incentives through market-based instruments. Empowering and shaping communication between actor groups (e.g., between fishers, practitioners, and policy-makers) using theoretically underpinned approaches from the behavioural sciences is one of the most essential, but often underserved aspects of governing MPAs. We therefore close by highlighting how this cross-cutting tool could be further integrated in governance to bolster high levels of compliance in MPAs.     

Linalool production from the leaves of Bursera aloexylon and its antimicrobial activity

The oil of the leaves of Bursera aloexylon was found to contain a high linalool level (96.7 %). The antimicrobial activity tests indicated that the oil was effective against Rhodococcus equi (0.60 mg/ml) and Staphylococcus epidermides (0.15 mg/ml).     

Extraction of Antioxidants from Wheat Bran Using Conventional Solvent and Microwave-Assisted Methods

Total phenolic and tocopherol contents and free radical scavenging capability of wheat bran extracted using conventional and microwave-assisted solvent extraction methods were studied. Three different solvents (methanol, acetone, and hexane) were used in the conventional solvent extraction. Methanol was the most effective solvent, producing higher extraction yield (4.86%), total phenolic compound content (241.3 μg of catechin equivalent/g of wheat bran), and free radical scavenging capability (0.042 μmol of trolox equivalent/g of wheat bran) than either acetone or hexane. However, there was no significant difference in the total tocopherol contents (13.6–14.8 μg/g of wheat bran) among the three different solvent extraction methods. Microwave-assisted solvent extraction using methanol significantly increased the total phenolic compound content to 467.5 and 489.5 μg of catechin equivalent; total tocopherol content to 18.7 and 19.5 μg; and free radical scavenging capability to 0.064 and 0.072 μmol of trolox equivalent/g of wheat bran at extraction temperatures of 100 and 120°C, respectively. However, extraction yields of conventional methanol solvent and microwave-assisted methanol extractions at different temperatures were not significantly different.     

Laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery for the treatment of canine dioctophymosis

This paper reports on two cases of laparoscopic nephrotomy employed in the treatment of canine dioctophymosis, which is considered a unusual procedure and a new treatment proposal heretofore not performed in veterinary medicine. Two patients were treated, one with a history of hematuria and the other with incidental finding of the parasite in the abdominal cavity during elective ovariohysterectomy. Both dogs were subjected to abdominal ultrasound, which produced images indicating the presence of the parasite in the right side kidney, but with partial parenchymal preservation. The patients were therefore subjected to laparoscopic nephrotomy. The surgical procedure was effective in treating dioctophymosis and enabled minimum tissue invasion during surgery, in addition to preservation of the kidney.     

Applying Local Measures of Spatial Heterogeneity to Landsat-TM Images for Predicting Wildfire Occurrence in Mediterranean Landscapes

In mountainous Mediterranean regions, land abandonment processes in past decades are hypothesized to trigger secondary vegetal succession and homogenization, which in recent years has increased the size of burned areas. We conducted an analysis of temporal changes in landscape vegetal spatial pattern over a 15-year period (1984–1998) in a rural area of 672.3 km² in Eastern Spain to investigate the relationship between local landscape heterogeneity and wildfire occurrence. Heterogeneity was analyzed from textural metrics derived from non-classified remote sensing data at several periods, and was related to wildfire history in the study area. Several neural network models found significant relationships between local spatial pattern and future fire occurrence. In this study, sensitivity analysis of the texture variables suggested that fire occurrence, estimated as probability of burning in the near future, increased where local homogeneity was higher.     

Phenol metabolism of two cultivars of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) as affected by ozone and flooding stress

To compare the phenolic responses under oxidative stressors, plants of two Italian cultivars of durum wheat (Claudio and Mongibello) were (a) exposed to ozone (O₃) (80 ppb, 5 hr/day for 70 consecutive days), with the aim to investigate the changes of phenolic compound contents in their leaves, or (b) flooded (seven consecutive days). Plants showed O₃-induced visible injury, but their photosynthetic performance was not affected by the pollutant. Specifically, Claudio showed a higher O₃ tolerance than Mongibello. The major value of the present study is undoubtedly the pioneering investigation of phenolic metabolism of durum wheat under O₃. We identified 12 foliar phenolic compounds in all leaf samples (i.e. controls, exposed to O₃ and flooded): ten phenolic acids, a flavanol (catechin hydrate) and a phenolic aldehyde (syringaldehyde). Overall, O₃ exposure resulted in accumulations of phenolic compounds, especially in Claudio. These responses can be likely considered a fine-regulated repair process that equipped Claudio stressed plants with an antioxidant system capable of scavenging oxidative stress. Different phenolic variations were found in flooded plants, suggesting that phenolic response to environmental constraints is stress specific. Our study confirms that investigations and characterization of specific phenolic profiles of crop cultivars under oxidative stress may be helpful in breeding programmes.