Antifungal and antimycotoxigenic effects of Zingiber officinale,Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Cymbopogon martinii essential oils against Fusarium verticillioides

ABSTRACT

There is an increasing demand for fungi control in grains, especially toxigenic. Also, there is growing concern on the use of synthetic fungicides; thus alternatives are needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and antimycotoxigenic action of essential oils (EOs) from Zingiber officinale, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Cymbopogon martinii against Fusarium verticillioides, a spoilage and toxigenic fungus. Essential oils were first chemically characterised by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, and their antioxidant potential was measured by the DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and disc diffusion were used to assess antifungal activity. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate morphological changes in the fungus. Antimycotoxigenic activity of the EOs against the production of fumonisin B₁ and B₂ by F. verticillioides was evaluated using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography system. Z. officinale, C. zeylanicum and C. martinii EOs were predominantly composed by zingiberene and geranial; eugenol; and geraniol, respectively. All the EOs had high antioxidant power, especially that from C. zeylanicum. The MICs were 250, 500 and 2,000 µg mL^?1 for C. zeylanicum, C. martinii and Z. officinale EOs, respectively. Mycelial reduction of F. verticillioides was observed when EOs were used, and the lowest activity was detected in the Z. officinale EO. Overall, the tested EOs promoted structural damage to the fungal cell wall, decreased conidia size and mycelial reduction. Antimycotoxigenic evaluation of the EOs evidenced a significant reduction (p < .05) in the production of fumonisins B₁ and B₂ with all the EOs evaluated in the study. These results suggest that especially C. zeylanicum and C. martinii EOs are highly useful for controlling F. verticillioides and fumonisins production.     

Scytodecamide from the Cultured Scytonema sp. UIC 10036 Expands the Chemical and Genetic Diversity of Cyanobactins

Cyanobactins are a large family of cyanobacterial ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) often associated with biological activities, such as cytotoxicity, antiviral, and antimalarial activities. They are traditionally described as cyclic molecules containing heterocyclized amino acids. However, this definition has been recently challenged by the discovery of short, linear cyanobactins containing three to five amino acids as well as cyanobactins containing no heterocyclized residues. Herein we report the discovery of scytodecamide ( 1 ) from the freshwater cyanobacterium Scytonema sp. UIC 10036. Structural elucidation based on mass spectrometry, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and Marfey's method revealed 1 to be a linear decapeptide with an N-terminal N-methylation and a C-terminal amidation. The genome of Scytonema sp. UIC 10036 was sequenced, and bioinformatic analysis revealed a cyanobactin-like biosynthetic gene cluster consistent with the structure of 1 . The discovery of 1 as a novel linear peptide containing an N-terminal N-methylation and a C-terminal amidation expands the chemical and genetic diversity of the cyanobactin family of compounds.     

Mammalian-Like Inflammatory and Pro-Resolving Oxylipins in Marine Algae

Oxylipins constitute a family of oxidized fatty acids, that are well known as tissue hormones in mammals. They contribute to inflammation and its resolution. The major classes of these lipid mediators are inflammatory prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes (LTs) as well as pro-resolving resolvins (Rvs). Understanding their biosynthetic pathways and modes of action is important for anti-inflammatory interventions. Besides mammals, marine algae also biosynthesize mammalian-like oxylipins and thus offer new opportunities for oxylipin research. They provide prolific sources for these compounds and offer unique opportunities to study alternative biosynthetic pathways to the well-known lipid mediators. Herein, we discuss recent findings on the biosynthesis of oxylipins in mammals and algae including an alternative pathway to prostaglandin E₂, a novel pathway to a precursor of leukotriene B₄, and the production of resolvins in algae. We evaluate the pharmacological potential of the algal metabolites with implications in health and disease.     

Development of LTCC micro-hotplate with PTC temperature sensor for gas-sensing applications

Low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) micro-hotplates show wide applications in gas sensors and micro-fluidic devices. It is easily structured in three-dimensional structures. This paper presents the low power consumption micro-hotplates which were developed with PTC (positive temperature coefficient) temperature sensor and inter-digitated electrodes. The paper presents two different structures for micro-hotplate with platinum as a heating element. The PTC temperature sensor using two different materials viz. PdAg and platinum paste are developed with micro-hotplates. The simulation has been achieved through COMSOL for LTCC and alumina micro-hotplates. The temperature variation with power consumption has been measured for the developed LTCC micro-hotplates. The change in resistance of PTC temperature sensors was measured with micro-hotplate temperature. The aim of this study was to place a temperature sensor with the gas sensor module to measure and control the temperature of micro-hotplate. A SnO₂ sensing layer is coated on LTCC micro-hotplate using screen printing and characterized for the sensing of carbon monoxide gas (CO). This study will be beneficial for designing hotplates based on LTCC technology with low power consumption and better stability of temperature for gas-sensing applications.     

肉桂特色资源加工利用产业发展现状

肉桂是我国特色经济林树种，我国肉桂种植面积和年产量均居世界首位。我国肉桂主要分布在两广地区，其中广西为14.9万hm²，广东为8.9万hm²，两地面积占全国肉桂分布总面积的95%以上。肉桂既是著名的香料又是传统的名贵中药，具有极高的经济价值，发展肉桂产业对于促进农民增收、维护健康中国有着重要的意义。本研究综述了肉桂资源量、分布情况及主要利用部位，介绍肉桂主要产品（如桂皮，桂枝，肉桂粉及肉桂油）及加工技术现状、产品质量控制及其分析检测方法，分析了产业未来的发展趋势，并提出了产业发展的对策和措施：加强肉桂标准化示范基地建设，提高优质资源供给能力；提高肉桂加工利用技术水平，延长产业链；培育肉桂龙头企业，提高产品市场竞争力。为我国肉桂特色资源加工利用产业的可持续发展提供一定的思路。     

Comparison of throttle devices to measure two-phase flowrates of wet gas with extremely-low liquid loading

The online measurement of wet gas with extremely-low liquid loading (Lockhart-Martinelli parameter lower than 0.02) remains a challenge. In this study, three types of throttle devices, Venturi, orifice plate and cone, are compared experimentally with air-water two-phase flow in a horizontal pipe of inner diameter of 50 mm. High-precision correlations are established to measure the gas and liquid flowrates via a single throttle device. Results show that the two-phase mass flow coefficient (K) of the three throttle devices all increase linearly with the liquid densiometric Froude number and the K correlations are established respectively to correct the gas mass flowrate deviation. The pressure loss ratio (δ) for Venturi is sensitive and monotonous to the liquid loading, which contributes to the high accuracy of liquid flowrate measurement. By incorporating the K correlations, both the gas and liquid mass flowrates can be predicted precisely. The relative error of the gas mass flowrate predicted by the Venturi is within ±2.0% at 95% confidence level, and that of the liquid mass flowrate is within ±15% at 90% confidence level.     

长管拖车缠绕气瓶纤维层冲击损伤的数字射线检测

采用缠绕气瓶替代钢制无缝气瓶是长管拖车轻量化的重要手段之一,但对于缠绕气瓶缠绕层因冲击造成的内部损伤,目前仍缺少成熟有效的检测手段。采用数字射线检测方法,针对玻璃纤维缠绕层冲击损伤造成的分层和危害较大的纤维断裂进行了试验研究。试验表明,采用数字射线检测能够有效检测最小深度为0.5 mm模拟纤维环向断裂刻槽和0.25 mm的模拟纤维轴向断裂刻槽;此外,还通过试验验证增加补偿块的方式,能极大地改善缠绕层分层部位的一次切向透照成像质量,进而提高检测效率。     

Ethanol absorption from CO2 using solutions of glycerol and glycols

CO₂ stripping during fermentation is a possible way of increasing the production of ethanol in distilleries. Ethanol, water, and carbon dioxide are the main compounds in the exiting gas mixture. To date, few studies have proposed the use of absorption to recover ethanol from this mixture or have considered different absorbents for this purpose. This work evaluates different absorbent solutions used to recover ethanol vapor from CO₂ gas. Glycols and glycerol can provide easier separation of ethanol than water, with lower distillation energy demand. A statistical experimental design was used to compare the mass transfers of ethanol from the gas phase to the liquid phase, using solutions of glycerol, ethylene glycol, and diethylene glycol. High concentrations of these substances did not favor the absorption of ethanol. The best results were achieved with 25% absorbent solutions, which offered better options than water for the recovery of ethanol from CO₂ gas in absorption columns and could increase the productivity of first generation bioethanol production.     

The control of paracetamol particle size and surface morphology through crystallisation in a spray dryer

The parameters governing the crystallisation of paracetamol using various conventional techniques has been extensively studied, however the factors influencing the drug crystallisation using spray drying is not as well understood. The aim of this work was to investigate the crystallisation of an active pharmaceutical ingredient through evaporative crystallisation using a spray dryer to study the physicochemical properties of the drug and to use semi-empirical equations to gain insight into the morphology and particle size of the dried powder. Paracetamol solutions were spray dried at various inlet temperatures ranging from 60 °C to 120 °C and also from a series of inlet feed solvent compositions ranging from 50/50% v/v ethanol/water to 100% ethanol and solid-state characterisation was done. The size and morphology of the dried materials were altered with a change in spray drying parameters, with an increase in inlet temperature leading to an increase in particle Sauter mean diameter (from 3.0 to 4.4 µm) and a decrease in the particle size with an increase in ethanol concentration in the feed (from 4.6 to 4.4 µm) as a result of changes in particle density and atomised droplet size. The morphology of the dried particles consisted of agglomerates of individual crystallites bound together into larger semi-spherical agglomerates with a higher tendency for particles having crystalline ridges to form at higher ethanol concentrations of the feed.     

中国大气田科学开发的内涵

大气田是指天然气探明地质储量超过300×10~8 m~3、天然气峰值年产量在10×10~8 m~3以上且具有一定稳产期的气田。其是中国天然气储产量快速增长和未来长期稳定发展的重要基础,也是保障我国供气安全的关键。通过对国内外260余个大气田开发实践的系统分析和典型气田的解剖模拟,综合研究了大气田科学开发的内涵、核心技术以及全生命周期指标体系。大气田科学开发的内涵包括:①提出以"识别水、控制水、治理水"为技术体系的天然气开发理念,即常规气田"控水开发"、非常规气田人工压裂"注水开发",根据气藏类型和气藏特征,确定合理的采气速度;②综合评价气田开发经济效益和社会效益,保障气田长期稳产;③根据气井生产特征和储层发育特征,选取适用的气田稳产方式;④依据对常规与非常规气藏不同开发阶段的精细描述、气藏开发特征和生产动态的监测,确定气田可采储量、气田水与人工注水开发规律、气田提高采收率技术对策、气田效益稳产期与发展战略。大气田科学开发的核心技术包括:规模优化技术、科学布井技术、均衡开采技术和深度挖潜技术。进而综合优选出产量、压降、采出程度、单位压降产量等多个参数作为评价大气田科学开发的关键指标,建立了高压、低渗透—致密、裂缝—孔隙型和页岩气等4类气藏的全生命周期指标体系。结论认为,该研究成果有助于指导不同类型大气田的科学开发,进一步促进我国天然气产业的快速发展。