Wicking properties of polyamide 66 twisted nanofiber yarn by tracing the color alteration in yarn structure

In view of the interest in wicking properties of these flexible structures, analysis of the wicking phenomena in nylon 6.6 nanofiber yarns is carried out by considering the twist rate effects. A novel method is used based on adding a pH-sensitive dye to yarn interstructure and the analysis of color alteration of nanofiber yarn structure, resulting from a shift in pH, during the capillary rise of distilled water. The results show that the addition of pH- sensitive dye has no influence on the average nanofiber diameter and the wicking behavior of yarns. This study shows that in short durations, the kinetic of the capillary rise follows the Lucas-Washburn equation. The Lambertw, a mathematical function, has been incorporated, which helps measure an equivalent structural factor of nanofiber yarns and vertical wicking height at any given time considering the gravitational effects. The statistical results show that the average of equilibrium wicking height and capillary rise rate coefficient tend to decrease with increasing the nanofiber yarn twist, due to the reduction of continuity and size of capillaries.     

Endophytes from maize with plant growth promotion and biocontrol activity under drought stress

In the present study, 39 endophytic bacteria were isolated from different crops with main focus on maize roots and seeds. Endophytes were screened for drought stress tolerance, plant growth promoting (PGP) traits and antifungal activity. Out of 39 isolates, 32 could show drought tolerance up to–1.02 matric potential (MPa) and exhibited most of the plant growth promoting traits. But, only five isolates could show antagonistic activity against plant fungal pathogens. Based on the results, 10 promising isolates namely FTR, NFTR, FMZR9, FMZR2, MZ30V92, MRC12, MRC31, MRC33, MRC41 and MRR2 were selected and identified using biochemical and 16S rDNA gene sequencing as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (strains FTR and NFTR), Pseudomonas monteilii (strain FMZR2), Pseudomonas putida (strain FMZR9), Acitenobacter brumalii (strain MZ30V92), Enterobacter asburiae (strain MRC12), Sinorhizobium meliloti (strain MRC31), Pseudomonas thivervalensis (strain MRC33), Pseudomonas fulva (strain MRC41), and Pseudomonas lini (strain MRR2). Further, at–1.02 MPa all the 10 isolates showed PGP traits, and 3 isolates (FTR, NFTR and MRC12) showed antifungal activity. Thus, indicating that drought tolerant plant growth promoting antagonistic endophytic bacteria (PGPAE) helps in plant growth and disease management under drought stress.     

茶园土壤和茶树叶片农药残留量规律的探讨

对福建省１０８个有代表性的茶园有机氯农药六六六（ＢＨＣ）、滴滴涕（ＤＤＴ）残留量现状进行调查，共采茶树鲜叶、土样和背景土样３４４个．分析结果表明：（１）ＢＨＣ在茶树及土壤中分布均匀，且主要残留于土壤中，但均已自然降解到较低水平；ＤＤＴ主要残留于树体，茶树与土壤中的分布有明显差异．ＢＨＣ污染来自以往施药所致，ＤＤＴ污染主要是８０年代引起，ＤＤＴ残留量高于ＢＨＣ．（２）名贵品种种植园土壤ＤＤＴ残留量比一般品种园高，但其叶片农药残留量却比一般品种园低．（３）各品种茶树叶片及其种植土壤农药残留量均与树龄、海拔高度、土壤深度等有一定相关     

Developing a Fluorescent Hybrid Nanobiosensor Based on Quantum Dots and Azoreductase Enzyme for Methyl Red Monitoring

Background:Azo dyes are the most widely used synthetic colorants in the textile, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and other industries, accounting for nearly 70% of all dyestuffs consumed. Recently, much research attention has been paid to efficient monitoring of these hazardous chemicals and their related metabolites because of their potentially harmful effect on environmental issues. In contrast to the complex and expensive instrumental procedures, the detection system based on the QDs with the superior optochemical properties provides a new era in the pollution sensing and prevention. Methods:We have developed a QD-enzyme hybrid system to probe MR in aqueous solutions using a fluorescence quenching procedure. Results:The azoreductase enzyme catalyzed the reduction of azo group in MR, which can efficiently decrease the FRET between the QDs and MR molecules. The correlation between the QDs photoluminescence recovery and MR enzymatic decolorization at the neutral phosphate buffer permitted the creation of a fluorescence quenching-based sensor. The synthesized biosensor can be used for the accurate detection of MR in a linear calibration over MR concentrations of 5-84 μM, with the LOD of 0.5 μM in response time of three minutes. Conclusion:Our findings revealed that this fluorometric sensor has the potential to be successfully applied for monitoring a wide linear range of MR concentration with the relative standard deviation of 4% rather than the other method. Key Words: Azoreductase, Methyl red, Quantum dots     

Evaluation of management principles and performance of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Bangladesh

Experiments were conducted at irrigated and rainfed lowland rice sites in Bangladesh to assess the performance of management practices that have become known as the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). At a research station, SRI management principles such as seedling age, plant spacing, application of organic manure, seedling densities, duration of planting, planting shape and time of planting were evaluated under SRI management as compared to previously established Best Management Practices (BMPs). In on-farm trials, SRI was compared with BMP on 40 farmers’ fields. Nutrient inputs and water management in BMP and SRI treatments were kept at comparable levels. Seedling age, ranging from just sprouted seed to 40-day-old seedlings, had no effect on grain yield in the winter season. In a plant spacing experiment subject to SRI, the highest and lowest grain yields of 7.82 and 5.41 t ha⁻¹ were obtained with spacing of 25 cm × 15 cm (narrow) and 40 cm × 40 cm (wide), respectively. In SRI, seedling density (1–2 seedlings per hill), planting durations (≤15 min to 1–3 h after uprooting) or root placement (L-shape and J-shape) had no effect on grain yield. With regard to time of planting, the highest grain yields were observed with transplanting in the 3rd week of December, with no difference between SRI and BMP management systems. In on-farm trials, BMP gave significantly higher grain yield compared to SRI and farmers’ practice in a triple-cropped area, but grain yields were similar with SRI in a double and single-cropped area when spacing was narrow. The highest profit was obtained with BMP followed by SRI and farmers’ practice in the single-cropping area. Major findings from this study are that under comparable levels of net nutrient input and water management (i) well-implemented BMPs for rice are more efficient for producing high yields than SRI and (ii) there is no intrinsic yield advantage of SRI that could be caused by its individual crop management techniques or some unknown synergism of the different SRI practices proposed.     

Comparative Assessment of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and Cystatin C as Early Biomarkers for Early Detection of Renal Failure in Patients with Hypertension

Background:

Hypertension is one the most common causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD). One of the major concerns in hypertensive patients is early detection of renal disorders. In the past, serum creatinine (Scr) concentration was used as a marker of kidney function, but it proffers a late reflection of reduced glomerular filtration rate. Cystatin C and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) have been recently proven to be useful for quantification of CKD. Therefore, we compared the diagnostic value of NGAL with cystatin C and creatinine to evaluate kidney function in hypertensive patients.

Methods:

In this study, 42 hypertensive patients and 30 healthy volunteers were recruited. Serum cystatin C (Scys C) and plasma NGAL were measured using ELISA method. Creatinine, urea, hemoglobin, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein were measured according to the routine methods. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was considered as the gold standard method (cut-off value of < 78 ml/min/1.73 m².

Results:

In the patient group, plasma NGAL, cystatin C, and creatinine were all significantly correlated with eGFR, and plasma NGAL correlated best with eGFR. Receiver-operating characteristics analysis indicated that plasma NGAL was a better indicator than creatinine and cystatin C for predicting a GFR < 78 ml/min/1.73 m². The sensitivity and specificity for NGAL were 96% and 100%, for cystatin C were 92% and 60% and for creatinine were 76% and 47%, respectively.

Conclusion:

Plasma NGAL demonstrated a higher diagnostic value to detect kidney impairment in the early stages of CKD as compared to Scys C and Scr in hypertensive patients.Key Words: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), Cystatin C, Creatinine, Hypertension     

Protective Effects of Interleukin-4 on Tissue Destruction and Morphological Changes of Bovine Nasal Chondrocytes in vitro

Background: Previous studies have shown that some cytokines have protective effects on cartilage in joint diseases. In the current study, effects of IL-4 against morphological changes and tissue degradation induced by IL-1α on bovine nasal cartilage (BNC) explants were investigated. Methods: Fresh BNC samples were prepared from a slaughterhouse under sterile conditions. BNC explants culture was treated with both IL-lα (10 ng/ml) and IL-4 (50 ng/ml) at the same time for 28 days. The morphological characteristics of explants were assessed by using histology techniques and invert microscopy. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) production was assessed within different days by using Western blotting. Results: IL-lα induced prominent cartilage morphology degradation. The pro and active form of MMP-1 band substantially increased at day 21 of culture. In the presence of both IL-lα and IL-4, chondrocytes preserved their ordinary normal phenotype with intact extracellular matrix. In addition, a significant reduction in pro-MMP-1and inhibition of active MMP-1 was seen. Conclusion: In conclusion, IL-4 could be regarded as a potential candidate in cartilage protecting against the degradation changes of IL-lα. It seems that the preservation effect of IL-4 is associated with significant reduction of MMP-1. Key Words: Chondrocyte, Interleukin-1α, Interleukin-4, Matrix metalloproteinase-1, Bovine nasal cartilage     

Effect of oleuropein on tissue myeloperoxidase activity in experimental spinal cord trauma

Background: Neutrophil infiltration plays an important role in inflammatory reactions following spinal cord injury (SCI) and these cells cause substantial secondary tissue damage. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of oleuropein (OE) on myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity as an index of neutrophil infiltration. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into four groups of 7 rats each as follows: sham-operated group, trauma group, and OE treatment groups (20 mg/kg, i.p., immediately and 1 hour after SCI). Spinal cord samples were taken 24 hours after injury and studied for determination of MPO activity. Results: The results showed that MPO activity was significantly decreased in OE-treated rats. Conclusion: On the basis of our findings, we propose that OE may be effective in protecting rat spinal cord from secondary damage by modulating of neutrophil infiltration.Key Words: Oleuropein (OE), Neutrophil infiltration, Myeloperoxidase     

Simultaneous immobilization of lead,cadmium, and arsenic in combined contaminated soil with iron hydroxyl phosphate

Purpose

Combined contamination of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) in soils especially wastewater-irrigated soil causes environmental concern. The aim of this study is to develop a soil amendment for simultaneous immobilization of Pb, Cd, and As in combinative contaminated soil.

Materials and methods

A soil amendment of iron hydroxyl phosphate (FeHP) was prepared and characterized, and its potential application in simultaneous immobilization of Pb, Cd, and As in combined contaminated soil from wastewater-irrigated area was evaluated. The effects of FeHP dosage, reaction time, and soil moisture on Pb, Cd, and As immobilization in the soil were examined.

Results and discussion

The immobilization efficiencies of Pb, Cd, and As generally increased with the increasing of FeHP dosage. With FeHP dosage of 10 %, the immobilization percentages of NaHCO₃-extractable As and DTPA-extractable Pb and Cd reached 69, 59, and 44 %, respectively. The equilibrium time required for immobilization of these contaminants was in the following order: NaHCO₃-extractable As (0.25 days) < DTPA-extractable Cd(3 days) < DTPA-extractable Pb (7 days). However, the immobilization efficiencies of Pb, Cd, and As have not changed much under soil moisture varied from 20 to 100 %. According to the results of the sequential extraction, the percentages of Pb, Cd, and As in residual fractions increased after the application of FeHP amendment, while their percentages in exchangeable fractions decreased, illustrating that FeHP can effectively decrease the mobilities and bioavailabilities of Pb, Cd, and As in the soil. Moreover, the application of FeHP will not have soil acidification and soil structure problem based on the soil pH measurements and soil morphology.

Conclusions

FeHP can immobilize Pb, Cd, and As in the combinative contaminated soil from wastewater irrigation area simultaneously and effectively. Thus, it can be used as a potential soil amendment for the remediation of Pb, Cd, and As-combined contaminated soil.

     

半干旱黄土丘陵区不同植被类型的土壤水分特征及其稳定性

[目的]研究5种不同植被类型土壤水分动态特征,为区域内优化配植模式提供理论依据。[方法]以甘肃省定西市半干旱黄土丘陵区5种典型的植被类型为研究对象,使用土壤水分速测仪对2017,2018年0—200 cm土层土壤含水量进行观测,并对不同植被类型土壤水分特征及其稳定性进行分析。[结果]①不同植被类型土壤水分呈现出:山杏×侧柏混交林地(11.24%)退耕苜蓿草地(10.97%)自然荒地(10.66%)退耕林地(9.99%)柠条林地(9.55%)。②5种植被类型在0—200 cm土层依据有序聚类法可分为动态变化层(0—40 cm),利用层(40—100 cm)和弱利用层(100—200 cm)3个层次。在动态变化层(0—40 cm),土壤水分呈现出:自然荒地(14.23%)最高,柠条林地(11.04%)最低;在利用层(40—100 cm):退耕苜蓿草地(12.16%)最高,柠条林地(9.15%)最低;在弱利用层(100—200 cm):自然荒地(10.81%)最高,退耕林地(8.61%)最低。③不同植被类型土壤水分土层稳定性(变异系数)呈现出:退耕林地(19.9%)山杏×侧柏混交林地(21.3%)自然荒地(21.9%)退耕苜蓿草地(22.6%)柠条林地(23.6%)。④不同植被类型土壤水分时间稳定性(变异系数)呈现出:自然荒地(25%)退耕林地(25.2%)山杏×侧柏混交林地(26.5%)柠条林地(27.1%)退耕苜蓿草地(31.9%)。[结论]柠条林地土壤水分含量最低,在土层和时间上不稳定,山杏×侧柏混交林地较其他植被类型土壤水分含量更高,更具有稳定性。