Synthesis,characterization and ultrafiltration of reactive dyes. Application by exhaustion and/or ink-jet printing. IV.

Three new bis azo reactive dyes of different metallic salts (Na, K, Li) were synthesized. The synthesis was obtained by diazotization of 4-amino-2:5 di methoxy phenylene-beta hydroxyl ethyl sulphone sulphate ester and coupling with 1-amino-8-hydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid (H-acid) (moles ratio 2:1). The dyes were purified-concentrated by ultrafiltration technology, characterized and applied on cotton, wool and nylon 6,6 fabric by exhaustion (dyeing) and by ink-jet printing. Fastness properties of the dyeings were measured. Wash fastness was investigated according to international standard methods and was found to be very good to excellent in all cases, while light fastness values were medium to low. Ink-jet ink formulations were prepared using the ultra filtrated reactive blue dyes UF RB(a-c) and their properties pH, conductivity, surface tension and viscosity were monitored over a period of 90 days. The inks were used to print digitally cotton and nylon 6,6 samples and wash- and light fastness properties of the prints were measured. Wash fastness properties were excellent while light fastness values are low Colour measurements of the dyeings and prints were conducted.     

Vermiculite in Fluidized Bed as Decontaminating Agent for Liquid Phases

Over the last decades, removal of potentially toxic and hazardous materials has received a great deal of attention in the field of environmental pollution. Problems associated with the disposal of the wastes of different kinds of industries led to studies of the sorption?Cuptake properties of clay minerals and zeolites. In the present research, the behavior of vermiculite particles ranging between 425 and 500???m in a laboratory-scale fluidized bed column for uptake of Cs, Hg, and Mn ions from aqueous solutions and wastes in the presence of competing cations has been studied in order to investigate techniques for decontamination of liquid phases. Vermiculite selectively removed high percentages of Cs even from low concentrations in the presence of competing cations. Also removed were up to 60?% of added Hg²⁺ at concentrations of 5?ppm from drinking water and about 84?% from seawater, and furthermore, Mn²⁺ was selectively removed from low-concentration (ca 10?ppm) industrial wastes even when the ratio of Mn²⁺ to competing cations was 1:94. The results suggest the potential use of vermiculite as decontaminating agent in well-designed fluidized bed columns.     

Malignant lymphoma in nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses of a dog

A case of a canine large cell type T-cell lymphoma, with features of high-grade malignancy is described. The tumour was found confined in the nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses of a crossbred German Shepherd dog. Histological examination revealed the features of a highly malignant large cell lymphoma. Ultrastructurally, the lymphoid tumour cells bore cytoplasmic protrusions that interdigitated tightly. From a panel of tumour markers used, the neoplastic cells were stained only for vimentin. Immunophenotyping of the tumour cells by means of CD3, CD79, kappa-light chains and lambda-light chains detection was undertaken. The tumour stained only for CD3 and was classified as T-cell lymphoma.     

Effects of understorey vegetation on tree establishment and growth in a silvopastoral system in northern Greece

The interaction between understorey plants and trees in a young silvopastoral system was studied in a sub-humid Mediterranean environment with cold winters in northern Greece. The experimental design was a split-split plot with three replications and included: three understorey treatments (grass, legume and control), two tree species (Acer pseudoplatanus and Pinus sylvestris) and two spacings (2.5×2.5 m and 3.5×3.5 m). The competition between herbaceous plants and trees resulted in significant differentiation in tree growth while their spacing did not produce any significant differences. The influence of trees on herbage yield either by plant species or spacing was not significant. During the early stages of establishment, a significant positive correlation was observed between sycamore growth and soil moisture, leaf weight, leaf area and leaf number as well as nitrogen and potassium concentration in leaves. Six years after planting the height increase of the sycamore trees was largest in the control treatment (415%), lowest in the grass treatment (134%) and intermediate (192%) in the legume treatment. Much higher was the increase obtained for the diameter, 161%, 207% and 536% respectively for the grass, legume and control treatments. The Scots pine trees grew faster than sycamore over the course of the experiment. Height increased by 397%, 351% and 400% and diameter by 518%, 443% and 683% respectively for the grass, legume and control treatments. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Antioxidant activity of dietary oregano essential oil and alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation in long-term frozen stored turkey meat

The effects of dietary oregano essential oil and alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation on the oxidative stability of long-term frozen stored turkey meat were investigated. Thirty 12-week-old turkeys, randomly divided into five groups, were given a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 200 mg of alpha-tocopheryl acetate kg(-1), or 100 or 200 mg of oregano oil kg(-1), or 100 mg of oregano oil plus 100 mg of alpha-tocopheryl acetate kg(-1) for 4 weeks prior to slaughter. Lipid oxidation in breast and thigh meat was assessed after 1, 3, 6, and 9 months of frozen storage at -20 degrees C prior to or following 7 days of refrigerated storage at 4 degrees C. Results showed that oregano oil increased the oxidative stability of breast and thigh meat during the frozen storage. Dietary oregano oil at the inclusion level of 200 mg kg(-1) feed was significantly (p < 0.05) more effective in delaying lipid oxidation compared to the level of 100 mg kg(-1), but equivalent to dietary alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation at 200 mg kg(-1), which in turn was inferior to dietary supplementation of 100 mg kg(-1) oregano essential oil plus 100 mg kg(-1) alpha-tocopheryl acetate that was significantly (p < 0.05) superior to all other treatments. Thigh meat was more susceptible to oxidation than breast meat, although the former contained alpha-tocopherol at markedly higher levels. Mean alpha-tocopherol levels in breast and thigh meat from all treatments decreased during the frozen storage, the decrease being sharper between 1 and 3 months of frozen storage for breast and between 3 and 6 months for thigh meat. Oregano oil supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the retention of alpha-tocopherol in meat, the increase being positively correlated with the supplementation level. However, the retention of alpha-tocopherol in meat could only partly elucidate the antioxidant activity exhibited by dietary oregano oil supplementation.     

Depletion of CD4+ T cells in major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient mice

The maturation of T cells in the thymus is dependent on the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. By disruption of the MHC class II Ab beta gene in embryonic stem cells, mice were generated that lack cell surface expression of class II molecules. These MHC class II-deficient mice were depleted of mature CD4+ T cells and were deficient in cell-mediated immune responses. These results provide genetic evidence that class II molecules are required for the maturation and function of mature CD4+ T cells.     

Malolactic fermentation in wine with Lactobacillus casei cells immobilized on Delignified cellulosic material

In this work Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 cells immobilized on delignified cellulosic material (DCM) were used for malolactic fermentation (MLF) of wine. Wine was produced using yeast cells immobilized on DCM at 20 degrees C, and after alcoholic fermentation, MLF at 27 degrees C followed using immobilized L. casei ATCC 393 cells. A total of 11 repeated alcoholic and subsequent MLF batches were performed within a period of 1 month. As the repeated MLF batches proceeded, the MLF activity of the immobilized biocatalyst was reduced. Malic acid degradation was reduced from 80 to 2%, pH was reduced by 0.5-0.1 unit, acetic acid concentrations were slightly reduced or remained stable (0.002 g/L), the higher alcohols 1-propanol, isobutyl alcohol, and amyl alcohol were decreased by 84, 23, and 11%, respectively, and ethyl acetate concentration was increased by approximately 56%. Wine samples were analyzed by GC-MS before and after MLF, revealing some qualitative differences.     

Strontium Absorption by Two Trifolium Species as Influenced by Soil Characteristics and Liming

Strontium absorption by plants is specific to individual species and also depends on the underlying soil properties. The purpose ofthis study was to evaluate the effect of certain soil characteristics and liming on Sr absorption by twoTrifolium species. One-liter volume of two inorganic and three organic soilswere treated with a combination of three CaCO₃ levels, 0, 3.6 and 7.2 g, × two Sr levels, 50 and 100 mg, (treatments) in four replications. Trifolium repens L. was grown in thetreated soils, in pots, harvested twice, and Sr in theabove-ground biomass of each harvest and soil exchangeable Caof each treatment were determined. The experiment was repeatedwith Trifolium subterraneum L., harvested once. For bothspecies, Sr transfer factor (T.F.) values of the varioustreatments were calculated. Shoot Sr concentrations weresignificantly affected by soil characteristics and Sr additionrates and were greater in T. repens. In all cases, theSr concentrations of plants grown in the organic soils, whichwere characterized by higher exchangeable Ca and cationexchange capacity (C.E.C.) values, were lower than those ofplants grown in the inorganic soils. Among the organic soils,Sr concentrations of the plants grown in the soil with thehighest values of C.E.C., organic matter and exchangeable Cawere the lowest. Liming decreased significantly the Srconcentrations in T. repens and T. subterraneumgrown in the two acid soils, while the pH and exchangeable Cawere increased. Shoot Sr concentration (log scale) wassignificantly, negatively correlated with soil exchangeable Ca. Strontium T.F. values were quite similar between the two Sr application rates and were affected by the same soil characteristics.