Interaction of flavonoids with bovine serum albumin: a fluorescence quenching study

The interaction between four flavonoids (catechin, epicatechin, rutin, and quercetin) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated using tryptophan fluorescence quenching. Quenching constants were determined using the Stern-Volmer equation to provide a measure of the binding affinity between the flavonoids and BSA. The binding affinity was strongest for quercetin and ranked in the order quercetin > rutin > epicatechin = catechin. The pH in the range of 5-7.4 does not affect significantly (p < 0.05) the association of rutin, epicatechin, and catechin with BSA, but quercetin exhibited a stronger affinity at pH 7.4 than at lower pH (p < 0.05). Quercetin has a total quenching effect on BSA tryptophan fluorescence at a molar ratio of 10:1 and rutin at approximately 25:1. However, epicatechin and catechin did not fully quench tryptophan fluorescence over the concentration range studied. Furthermore, the data suggested that the association between flavonoids and BSA did not change molecular conformation of BSA and that hydrogen bonding, ionic, and hydrophobic interaction are equally important driving forces for protein-flavonoid association.     

Linking Microbial Community Dynamics Associated with Rhizosphere Carbon Flow in a Biofuel Crop (Jatropha curcas L.)

Photosynthetically derived rhizodeposits are an important source of carbon (C) for microbes in root vicinity and can influence the microbial community dynamics. Pulse labeling of carbon dioxide (¹³CO₂) coupled with stable isotope probing techniques have potential to track recently fixed photosynthate into rhizosphere microbial taxa. Therefore, the present investigation assessed the microbial community change associated with the rhizosphere and bulk soil in Jatropha curcas L. (a biofuel crop) by combining phospholipid fatty acid (¹³C-PLFA) profiling using a stable isotope ¹³CO₂ labeling approach. The labeling (¹³C) took place after 45 days of germination, PLFAs were extracted from both soils (rhizosphere and bulk) after 1 and 20 days pulse labeling and analyzed by gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. There was no significant temporal effect on the PLFA profiles in the bulk soil, but significantly increased abundance of Gram positive (i15:0) and Gram negative (16:1ω7c and 16:1ω5c) biomarkers was observed in the rhizosphere soil from day 1 to day 20 after labeling. The Gram negative (16:1ω7c) decreased and fungal (18:2ω6,9c) increased significantly in rhizospheric soil compared to bulk soil after day 1 of labeling. Whereas, after 20 days of labeling, the Gram negative biomarker (16:1ω7c and 18:1ω7c) decreased and Gram positive (a15:0) increased significantly in rhizospheric soil compared to bulk soil. One day following labeling, i15:0, a15:0, i16:0, 16:1ω5c, 16:0, i17:0, a17:0, 18:2ω6,9c, 18:1ω9c, and 18:0 PLFAs were significantly more enriched in δ¹³C in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soil. Twenty days after labeling, 16:1ω5c (Gram negative) and 18:2ω6,9c (fungal) were significantly more enriched in δ¹³C in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soil. These results shows the effectives of PLFA coupled using the pulse chase labeling technique to examine the microbial community changes in response to recently fixed photosynthetic C flow in rhizodeposits.     

A new approach for modelling vertical stress distribution at the soil/tyre interface to predict the compaction of cultivated soils by using the PLAXIS code

Soil compaction by agricultural machines can have adverse effects on crop production and the environment. Different models based on the Finite Element Method have been proposed to calculate soil compaction intensity as a function of vehicle and soil properties. One problem when modelling soil compaction due to traffic is the estimation of vertical stress distribution at the soil surface, as the vertical stress is inhomogeneous (non-uniform) and depends on soil and tyre properties. However, uniform stress distribution at the soil/tyre interface is used to predict the compaction of cultivated soils in most FEM compaction models. We propose a new approach to numerically model vertical stress distribution perpendicular to the driving direction at the soil/tyre interface, employing the FEM models of PLAXIS code. The approach consists of a beam (characterised by its geometric dimensions and flexural rigidity) introduced at the soil surface and loaded with a uniform stress with the aim to simulate the action of a wheel at the soil surface. Different shapes of stress distribution are then obtained numerically at the soil surface by varying the flexural rigidity of the beam and the mechanical parameters of the soil. PLAXIS simulations show that the soil type (soil texture) modifies the shape of the stress distribution at the edges of the contact interface: a parabolic form is obtained for sand, whereas a U-shaped is obtained for clay. The flexural rigidity of the beam changes the shape of distribution which varies from a homogenous (uniform) to an inhomogeneous distribution (parabolic or U-shaped distribution). These results agree with the measurements of stress distributions for different soils in the literature. We compared simulations of bulk density using PLAXIS to measurement data from compaction tests on a loamy soil. The results show that simulations are improved when using a U-shaped vertical stress distribution which replaces a homogenous one. Therefore, the use of a beam (cylinder) with various flexural rigidities at the soil surface can be used to generate the appropriate distribution of vertical stress for soil compaction modelling during traffic.     

Removal of Pb(II), Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solutions Using Alum-Derived Water Treatment Sludge

The sorption of Pb(II), Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from aqueous solution using alum-derived water treatment sludge was investigated using the batch adsorption technique. Samples of sludge from two separate water treatment plants were used (one where alum was used alone and one where it was used in combination with activated C). The sorption characteristics of the two samples were generally very similar. Sorption isotherm data for all three ions fitted equally well to both Freundlich and Langmuir equations. Maximum sorption capacity and indices of sorption intensity both followed the order: Cr(III)?>?Pb(II)?>?Cr(VI). Kinetic data correlated well with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model suggesting the process involved was chemisorption. Sorption was pH-dependant with percentage sorption of Cr(III) and Pb(II) increasing from <30% to 100% between pH?3 and 6 whilst that of Cr(VI) declined greatly between pH?5 and 8. HNO₃ at a concentration of 0.1?M was effective at removing sorbed Cr(III) and Pb(II) from the sludge surfaces and regeneration was successful for eight sorption/removal cycles. It was concluded that water treatment sludge is a suitable material from which to develop a low-cost adsorbent for removal of Cr and Pb from wastewater streams.     

Associations Between Dioxins/Furans and Dioxin-Like PCBs in Estuarine Sediment and Blue Crab

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relationships between the quantity, toxicity, and compositional profile of dioxin/furan compounds (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in estuarine sediment and in the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). Sediment and blue crab samples were collected in three small urban estuaries that are in relatively close proximity to each other. Results show that differences between PCDD/F and DL-PCB mass concentrations and total toxic equivalents (TEQ) toxicity in sediments of the three estuaries are reflected in those of the blue crab. TEQs are higher in the hepatopancreas of the crabs than in the sediment, but the concentration factor is inversely proportional to the TEQ in the sediments. Congener profiles in the crabs are systematically different from those in the sediments, and the difference is more pronounced for PCDD/Fs than for DL-PCBs, possibly due to differences in metabolization rates. Compared with sediment profiles, more lesser-chlorinated PCDD/Fs that have higher TEFs accumulate in crab hepatopancreas. This selective bioaccumulation of PCDD/Fs results in a TEQ augmentation in crab hepatopancreas compared with sediments. The bioaccumulation in the blue crab is also selective for PCDD/Fs over DL-PCBs.     

Genetic diversity of winter wheat in Shaanxi province, China, and other common wheat germplasm pools

Cultivated Chinese wheat germplasm has been a valuable genetic resourcein international plant breeding. Landraces endemic to China are a geneticresource that is distinct from other wheat germplasm. Patterns of geneticdiversity among cultivated Chinese accessions and relationship to othergermplasm pools are unknown, despite the proven value and potential novelty. Theobjective of this work was to determine the level of genetic diversity withinimproved Chinese germplasm in the context of several other wheat germplasmpools. We analyzed a set of improved accessions cultivated from the 1940s to the1990s in Shaanxi province, China, using six simple sequence repeat (SSR) primerpairs and 30 restriction fragment length polymorphism - probe enzymecombinations (RFLP-PEC) previously used to characterize 21 geographically basedgermplasm pools. Shaanxi germplasm consists of three groups based on foreignintroductions from Italy, Australia, Denmark, and Russia. There was a decreasein genetic diversity among Shaanxi accessions cultivated in the 1970s and 1980sto the 1990s, and accession classifications based on primary decade ofcultivation were found to be significantly undifferentiated. The analysis of themean genetic distance among 22 geographically based pools of germplasm suggestsseveral regions are significantly undifferentiated. A vast majority of the totalamount of variation was found within pools; therefore, pools appear to belargely differentiated based on small differences in band relative frequency andfew if any unique bands. Previous studies have identified some Chinese landracepools as morphologically and genetically unique. The Shaanxi pool does not havethe same unique morphological or genetic features, nor is it more similar to thelandrace pools than other improved germplasm pools.     

Improved sample preparation to determine acrylamide in difficult matrixes such as chocolate powder, cocoa, and coffee by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy

An improved sample preparation (extraction and cleanup) is presented that enables the quantification of low levels of acrylamide in difficult matrixes, including soluble chocolate powder, cocoa, coffee, and coffee surrogate. Final analysis is done by isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using d3-acrylamide as internal standard. Sample pretreatment essentially encompasses (a) protein precipitation with Carrez I and II solutions, (b) extraction of the analyte into ethyl acetate, and (c) solid-phase extraction on a Multimode cartridge. The stability of acrylamide in final extracts and in certain commercial foods and beverages is also reported. This approach provided good performance in terms of linearity, accuracy and precision. Full validation was conducted in soluble chocolate powder, achieving a decision limit (CCalpha) and detection capability (CCbeta) of 9.2 and 12.5 microg/kg, respectively. The method was extended to the analysis of acrylamide in various foodstuffs such as mashed potatoes, crisp bread, and butter biscuit and cookies. Furthermore, the accuracy of the method is demonstrated by the results obtained in three inter-laboratory proficiency tests.     

Retention capacities of immiscible chemicals in unsaturated soils

Retention capacities were measured in the laboratory for n-hexane and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in three soils at varying soil water contents. Two experimental techniques were used; 1) saturation/drainage experiments where the soil columns were saturated with the chemical and allowed to drain freely for 24 h, and 2) spill simulations where a known amount of chemical was spilled on the surface of the soil column and allowed to infiltrate for one hour. Results show that the retention capacities on a volume basis were independent of chemical type. However, the retention capacities did decrease with decreasing porosity and increasing soil water content. The decrease of retention capacity with respect to soil water content was significant, with the decreases ranging from 38% to 94%. The implication of this decrease is rapid chemical penetration into the subsurface. Retention capacities obtained from spill simulations were consistently lower than those obtained by the saturation/drainage experiments due to hysteresis.