Polyoxygenated Steroids from the Octocoral Leptogorgia punicea and in Vitro Evaluation of Their Cytotoxic Activity

Five new polyoxygenated marine steroids—punicinols A–E (1–5)—were isolated from the gorgonian Leptogorgia punicea and characterized by spectroscopic methods (IR, MS, ¹H, ¹³C and 2-D NMR). The five compounds induced in vitro cytotoxic effects against lung cancer A549 cells, while punicinols A and B were the most active, with IC₅₀ values of 9.7 μM and 9.6 μM, respectively. The synergistic effects of these compounds with paclitaxel, as well as their effects on cell cycle distribution and their performance in the clonogenic assay, were also evaluated. Both compounds demonstrated significant synergistic effects with paclitaxel.     

Charcoal in Amazonian paddy soil—Nutrient availability,rice growth and methane emissions

We investigated the effects of charcoal under flooded (anoxic) rice cultivation at low and high fertilizer levels during 2 y in the Maranhão lowlands, eastern periphery of Amazonia. Two applications (at onset of first and second year) of 15 Mg ha^–1 of fine (< 2 mm) charcoal derived from the endocarp of the babassu (Attalea speciosa Mart.) palm nut had little influence on soil fertility, rice growth, yield, and nutritional status. Exception to this were negative impacts of charcoal on first‐year N availability, with lower sub‐superficial soil NH$ _4^+ $ availability paired with lower rice tissue N and a responsiveness of grain yields to (mainly N‐) fertilization following charcoal application. This N‐limitation effect was, however, limited to the first year and—though statistically significant—without agronomic relevance. The most consistent charcoal effect on flooded‐soil fertility was the strong increase in K availability in the second year, at low and to a lesser extent at intermediate, but not at high fertilizer level. Low K concentrations of our charcoal exclude the possibility of direct K inputs via charcoal, suggesting other indirect mechanisms for K availability increases. Methane fluxes in the second year were significantly reduced (–43.8%) by charcoal application, charcoal‐induced reductions were stronger under high‐ (–47.3%) than under low‐fertilizer regime (–26.0%). Thus, charcoal could be a valuable tool for reducing methane emissions associated with intensely fertilized flooded rice, without significantly affecting grain yields.     

Proposed Methodology for Quality Preselection of Rice Populations

The evaluation of culinary and sensory characteristics of a particular cultivar is an important trait for rice grain quality because it guides decisions for breeding programs and allows the prediction of rice market acceptance. The aim of this study was to apply direct and indirect tests for the characterization of the grain quality in a segregating rice population under different treatments (2 × 2). A methodology was proposed from the data based on mathematical equations to aid rice breeding programs in the preselection of promising genotypes. Grain samples were evaluated for apparent amylose content, gelatinization temperature, and viscoamylographic profile. In addition, the samples were subjected to a cooking test. The evaluated parameters were weighted and grouped into two linear equations, yielding scores that were subjected to the selection criteria. Using this methodology, families of the studied population were preselected, which reduced the number of samples for final selection by at least 76%. The physical‐chemical analysis did not indicate a direct positive correlation to accurately infer the culinary and sensorial quality of the rice for human consumption, but this analysis was shown to be useful in the preselection of lineages through the proposed strategy.     

Accumulation and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Scirpus americanus and Typha latifolia from an Artificial Lagoon in San Luis Potosí, México

The concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr, Mn and Fe were evaluated in leaves, stem and root of the Scirpus americanus and Typha latifolia aquatic macrophytes, which were collected from Tanque Tenorio, an artificial lagoon highly polluted by municipal and industrial wastewater. Some S. americanus and T. latifolia plants were collected from four different sites within Tanque Tenorio. The sites were chosen regarding their proximity with the main channel discharging wastewater into the lagoon. The results showed that S. americanus and T. latifolia have the ability to extract Pb, Cd, Cr, Mn and Fe from their water surroundings; on the whole, the roots presented higher concentrations of heavy metals than the stem and the leaves. The highest accumulation of heavy metals was observed in plants growing at the site near the channel entering the lagoon. S. americanus accumulated more Pb, Cr, Mn and Fe than T. latifolia; Cd concentrations were comparably the same in both species. This study provides information in relation to aquatic plants growing in polluted waters, which accumulate heavy metals. These findings are of interest pertaining to the removal processes for treating aquatic systems with heavy metal content.     

Physico-Chemical Changes In Cladodes (Nopalitos) From Cultivated And Wild Cacti (Opuntia spp.)

Physico-chemical and nutritional composition from four different nopalitos (young cladodes from cacti): Blanco sin Espinas, Blanco con Espinas, Verde Valtierrilla (cultivated materials) and a wild material from the central region of México were studied at different sizes of harvesting. The first three are commercial crops. None of the tested materials exhibited superior characteristics in all of the evaluated parameters in relation to each one of them. In various cases properties of the wild crop were comparable, if not superior, to commercial ones. Some important changes were observed in total soluble solids, water content, texture, acidity and pH as affected by size of cladode and specific crop. Most cladode samples appear to be a good source of β-carotene and lutein. The presence of these compounds is important for human nutraceutical purposes.     

Composition, Digestibility and Application in Breadmaking of Banana Flour

Banana flour (BF) was obtained from unripe banana (Musa paradisiacal L.) and characterized in its chemical composition. Experimental bread was formulated with BF flour and the product was studied regarding chemical composition, available starch (AS), resistant starch (RS) and rate of starch digestion in vitro. The chemical composition of BF showed that total starch (73.36%) and dietary fiber (14.52%) were the highest constituents. Of the total starch, available starch was 56.29% and resistant starch 17.50%. BF bread had higher protein and total starch content than control bread, but the first had higher lipid amount. Appreciable differences were found in available, resistant starch and indigestible fraction between the bread studied, since BF bread showed higher resistant starch and indigestible fraction content. HI-based predicted glycemic index for the BF bread was 65.08%, which was significantly lower than control bread (81.88%), suggesting a “slow carbohydrate” feature for the BF-based goods. Results revealed BF as a potential ingredient for bakery products containing slowly digestible carbohydrates.     

Effect of castration at 10 months of age on growth physiology and behavior of male feral beef cattle

This study compared the growth performance, plasma testosterone and cortisol levels around castration at 10 months of age, and plasma insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I concentration and flight speed, in intact bulls and steers from 10 to 21 months of age in a feral Spanish breed. Fourteen bulls (366.5 ± 48.5 kg live weight) were assigned at random to one of two treatments: surgically castrated (steers) or intact (bulls), and submitted to an identical fattening period. Steers reared until heavy live weights (21 months of age) grew slowly and had lower plasma IGF‐I concentrations than intact bulls. These differences were mainly highlighted the month after surgery (11 months of age) and the last part of the fattening period (from 19 to 21 months of age). After surgical castration (11 and 12 months of age), steers showed a tendency to display greater flight speed values than intact bulls but baseline plasma cortisol concentration did not differ between groups at this time. At the end, steers and bulls reached nearly similar temperament, as flight speed did not differ between them. The results confirm the role of IGF‐I as a key anabolic hormone in male beef cattle and thus it may reflect growth differences due to altered sex steroids production.     

Bioaccessibility of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Chia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia hispanica</Emphasis> L.) Seeds

The aim of this work was to evaluate (i) the phenol and flavonoid recovery and bioaccessibility indexes and (ii) the antioxidant activity of both types of non-defatted and defatted chia seeds during the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The ground samples were subjected to in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and the resultant fractions were extracted and subjected to spectrophotometric assays. The results pointed to increasing concentrations of polyphenolic compounds during digestion, although only a low-medium percentage of phenols and a low percentage of flavonoids were available for absorption in the intestinal tract. In addition, the high level of fats seemed to have a negative effect on the bioaccessibility of flavonoids. Further studies should be undertaken to better understand the stabilization of the bioactive compounds of chia and to improve their bioaccessibility. Meanwhile, the present study represents a solid base for studying the bioavailability of bioactive compounds of chia seeds.     

Combining Sewage Sludge and Clam Shell Waste to Prepare Adsorbents for Efficient Phosphorous Removal

Effluents containing phosphorous as phosphate ions are frequently discharged in freshwater resources contributing to the eutrophication and directly interfering in the biological equilibrium. Clam shell residues and sewage sludge were combined for preparing efficient adsorbents for phosphate removal from aqueous medium. The adsorbents were characterized before and after adsorption testing, and the adsorption equilibrium and kinetics were investigated. Phosphate removal of 89?±?1% was attained for samples prepared with 0.1?< X <?1.0, where X corresponds to sewage sludge/clam shell mass ratio. The analyses of the experimental errors indicated that the phosphorous removal followed the Elovich kinetic model, which describes adsorption in very heterogeneous surfaces. On the other hand, the best modelling was achieved using the Koble–Corrigan isotherm model, which incorporate different aspects of both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms to represent the equilibrium data. The observed adsorption capacity (21.4 mgP g^?1) are comparable or greater to that observed for other adsorbents described in the literature.     

Effect of Long-Term Sugarcane (Saccharum Spp.) Cultivation on Chemical and Physical Properties of Soils in Belize

The sugarcane industry in Belize is one of the main economic drivers in the country and is therefore of crucial social and environmental importance. This study evaluated the degree of sustainability of commercial sugarcane production in Northern Belize by determining soil parameters (physical and chemical) in three soil layers (0–15, 15–30 and 30–50 cm) and crop profitability relative to years of sugarcane cultivation (4–25 years since land conversion). The parameters evaluated were organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), cation exchange capacity (CEC), available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), pH, dry bulk density (DBD), porosity (?), and water-filled pore space (WFPS). Field interviews were conducted to document management practices, agricultural inputs, production costs, and yield. The results showed that OM and TN in all soil layers studied and CEC in the 30–50 cm layer decreased, and were negatively correlated, with years of sugarcane cultivation. This indicates that prolonged sugarcane cropping has detrimental effects on soil fertility. There was no clear pattern with years under sugarcane cultivation for P, pH, DBD, and K. Yield levels were maintained by intensification of cultivation, e.g. high inputs and regular replanting, providing short-term benefits at the expense of deterioration of soil fertility. The benefit to cost (B:C) ratio of sugarcane production in Northern Belize was marginal for American Sugar Refinery/Belize Sugar Industries (ASR/BSI), representative of intensive agriculture; and not profitable for small-scale farmers, 1.0 and 0.63 for plantation establishment and 1.2 and 1.0 average for the following six years of ratoon, respectively.