Formation of bound residues of 8-hydroxybentazon by oxidoreductive catalysts in soil

This study was performed to determine which oxidoreductive catalysts were most efficient in catalyzing the binding of 8-hydroxybentazon to soil humic substances. 8-Hydroxybentazon was completely transformed by an oxidoreductive enzyme, laccase of Myceliophthora thermophila, at pH 3.0-7.0 within 30 min. When abiotic catalysts, manganese(IV), iron(III), and aluminum oxides were used in the same pH range, 8-hydroxybentazon was completely transformed only by manganese(IV) oxide (delta-MnO2), but a relatively small amount of 8-hydroxybentazon was transformed by iron(III) oxide and aluminum oxide. The adsorption of 8-hydroxybentazon in the soil showed an H-type and coincided well with the Langmuir isotherm. To better understand the factors involved in the rapid and strong binding of 8-hydroxybentazon with soil humic substances, 8-hydroxybentazon transformation by oxidoreductive catalysts was studied in various soil conditions: air-dried, preincubated, sterilized, and iron(III) oxide and manganese(IV) oxide free. 8-Hydroxybentazon was completely transformed within 24 h in the decreasing order of preincubated, air-dried, and sterilized soils. However, little transformation was observed in the iron(III) oxide and manganese(IV) oxide free soils. These results suggest that the major catalyst responsible for the rapid and strong binding of 8-hydroxybentazon to soil humic substances is a metal oxide, manganese(IV) oxide, not a soil oxidoreductive enzyme.     

Characterization of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor from Pueraria thunbergiana

This study describes the extraction and characterization of an inhibitor for beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl (HMG) coenzyme A (CoA) reductase from Pueraria thunbergiana. The maximum HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity (IC(50) = 79 microg) was obtained when P. thunbergiana was extracted with 70% ethanol at 30 degrees C for 12 h. After purification of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor by means of systematic solvent extraction, silica gel column chromatography, and HPLC, an active fraction with an IC(50) of 0.9 microg (4.25 microM) and a yield of 1.3% was obtained. The purified HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor was identified as daidzein (C(15)H(10)O(4); molecular mass, 254 Da).     

Comparison of single and competitive metal adsorption by pepper stem biochar

Carbon-based sorbents have been proven to be cost-effective in removing pollutants from wastewater. Biochar from plant residue and agricultural waste is an emerging treatment technology. However, there is a limited number of studies on the effects of various biochar sources on metal adsorption. The aim of this study was using batch experiment to evaluate the adsorption of heavy metals in single- and multi-metal conditions onto pepper stem biochar. The maximum adsorption capacities (mg g^?1) of metals by pepper stem biochar were in the order of Pb (131) ? Cr (76) > Cd (67) > Cu (48) > Zn (31) in the single-metal adsorption isotherm and Pb (91) ? Cu (39) > Cr (29) > Zn (20) > Cd (13) in the multi-metal adsorption isotherm. Lead was the most retained cation, whereas Cr and Cd could be easily exchanged and substituted by other metals (Pb or Cu). For pepper stem biochar, the Langmuir model provided a slightly better fit than the Freundlich model. Results from the batch experiments show that competitive adsorption among metals increases the mobility of these metals. Particularly, Cd adsorption capacity in multi-metal conditions was significantly reduced. Overall, the results suggested that competitive adsorption studies are necessary for obtaining an accurate estimation of the metal retention capacity of pepper stem biochar in natural environments.     

Simultaneous Removal of Phosphate and Nitrate in Wastewater Using High-Capacity Anion-Exchange Resin

The removal of nutrients in wastewater is a critical issue in water treatment because released nutrients can cause serious adverse effects in water systems or the aquatic environment. In this study, a high-performing polymeric anion-exchange resin was developed for the removal of nutrients from wastewater. The resins were prepared by chloromethylation followed by amination under preferred conditions. The resins were investigated for the removal of nutrients such as phosphate, nitrate, and fluoride from water. The density of functional groups on the synthesized resin was approximately 33?% higher than on commercialized resins, and the specific surface area of synthesized resin was increased by approximately tenfold compared with commercialized resins. The adsorption capacity of synthesized resins (AMP16-FeCl₃) for anions was 285.8?mg/g, which was approximately three times higher than the capacity of commercialized resin (AMP16-OH). A study of the effects of the types of counterions and functional groups found that resins having hydroxide ion as a counterion showed higher capacity and selectivity for phosphate ion and that dimethylethanolamine as a resin functional group of resin was more efficient than trimethylamine.     

Inhibitory Effect of N,N-Didesmethylgrossularine-1 on Inflammatory Cytokine Production in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells

N,N-Didesmethylgrossularine-1 (DDMG-1), a compound with a rare α-carboline structure, was isolated from an Indonesian ascidian Polycarpa aurata as responsible for the observed inhibitory activity against TNF-α production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. DDMG-1 inhibited the mRNA level of mTNF-α, IκB-α degradation, and binding of NF-κB to the target DNA site in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, DDMG-1 had an inhibitory effect on the production of IL-8, which is produced in CD14⁺-THP-1 cells stimulated by LPS. DDMG-1 is thus a promising drug candidate lead compound for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.     

cDNA microarray gene expression analysis and toxicological phenotype for anticancer drug

Toxicogenomics, the subdiscipline that merges genomics with toxicology, hold the promise to contributing toward the goal of elucidating mechanism by studying genomic profiling related with various drugs. The application of gene expression profiling technology to examine multiple genes and signaling pathways promises a significant advance in understanding the toxic mechanisms of various drugs and prediction of new drug candidate. Toxicogenomics is emerging field combining genomics and bioinformatics to identify and characterize mechanisms of toxicity of drug and various compounds. The principal hypothesis underlying on this field is that chemical-specific pattern of altered gene expression is related with each chemicals properties, especially toxicological property, and it will be revealed using high-density microarray analysis of sample from exposed organisms. So, in this study we compare the gene expression pattern of two anticancer drugs paclitaxel and orally absorbable paclitaxel, using the cDNA microarray. And from the result of this study, it is possible to provide the new possibility for genome-wide insight into mechanism of their anticancer activity and toxicological phenotype.     

Biotransformation of an organochlorine insecticide,endosulfan, by Anabaena species

This study assesses the role of the blue-green algal species present in the soil in the dissipation of endosulfan and its metabolites in the soil environment. Two Anabaena species, Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 and Anabaena flos-aquae, were used in this study. Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 produced three principal biotransformation compounds, chiefly endosulfan diol (endodiol), and minor amounts of endosulfan hydroxyether and endosulfan lactone. Trace amounts of endosulfan sulfate were detected. In comparison, the biotransformation of endosulfan by Anabaena flos-aquae yielded mainly endodiol with minor amounts of endosulfan sulfate. An unknown compound was produced up to 70% from endosulfan spiked in the medium inoculated by A. flos-aquae after 8 days of incubation. Therefore, the endosulfan fate was dependent on the species. Within 1 day of incubation, two Anabaena species produced low amounts of beta-endosulfan after application of alpha-endosulfan. These results suggest the presence of isomerase in the Anabaena species. Further studies using a fermentor to control the medium pH at 7.2 to minimize chemical hydrolysis of endosulfan revealed a major production of endodiol with minor amounts of endosulfan sulfate and the unknown compound. These results showed that the production of the unknown compound might be dependent on the alkaline pH in the medium and that the production of endodiol by A. flos-aquae might be biologically controlled. This study showed that two algal species could contribute in the detoxification pathways of endosulfan in the soil environment.     

脱水加工型洋葱新品种白峰的选育

白峰为白皮脱水加工型洋葱一代杂种.不育系70A和保持系70B均来源于荷兰材料Wll的分离后代,父本来源于美国资源W0l自交后代99-3-9-16B.白峰为中熟品种,播种至收获约250d（天）;株高65～70 cm,管状功能叶8～9片;鳞茎近圆球形,外皮白色,有光泽;球横径7.5～8.5 cm,纵径6.5～8.5 cm,...     

Design of traverse cam for yarn winding on twisting machine

A twisting machine is to twist yarns for improving yarn strength. After twisting yarns, the twisting machine winds yarns into a bobbin. The traverse mechanism is very important part of winding mechanism. Because it performs uniform winding onto the bobbin. the traverse cam is the main part of the traverse mechanism. This paper proposes design method of the traverse cam using the relative velocity method [4,5]. The relative velocity method is used to calculate the relative velocity of the follower versus the cam at the center of roller, and then to determine the contact point using the geometric relationship and kinematical constraints. Finally, we present examples verifying the accuracy of the proposed methods.     

The intelligent data management system for toxicogenomics

Toxicogenomics is now emerging as one of the most important genomic application because the toxicity test based on gene expression profiles is expected to be more precise and efficient than current histopathological approaches in a pre-clinical phase. One of the challenging issues in toxicogenomics is the construction of intelligent database management system which can deal with heterogeneous and complex data from many different experimental and information sources. TEST(Toxicogenomics for Efficient Safety Test) database is especially focused on the connectivity of heterogeneous data and the intelligent query system which enable users to obtain relevant useful information from the complex data sets. The database deals with four kinds of information; compound, histopathology, gene expression, and annotation information. Currently, TEST database maintains toxicogenomics information for 16 compounds, 45 microarrays, 190 animal experiments, and customized 4.8 K rat clone set. Our presented system is expected to be a good information source for studying of toxicology mechanism in the genome-wide level and can also be applied to the designing toxicity test chip.