Application of ferrous sulfate alleviates negative impact of cadmium in rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.)

Soil contamination with toxic heavy metals [such as cadmium (Cd)] is becoming a serious global problem due to rapid development of social economy. Iron (Fe), being an important element, has been found effective in enhancing plant tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses. The present study investigated the extent to which different levels of Ferrous sulphate (FeSO₄) modulated the Cd tolerance of rice (Oryza sativa L.), when maintained in artificially Cd spiked regimes. A pot experiment was conducted under controlled conditions for 146 days, by using natural soil, mixed with different levels of CdCl₂ [0 (no Cd), 0.5 and 1 mg/kg] together with the exogenous application of FeSO₄ at [0 (no Fe), 1.5 and 3 mg/kg] levels to monitor different growth, gaseous exchange characteristics, oxidative stress, antioxidative responses, minerals accumulation, organic acid exudation patterns of O. sativa. Our results depicted that addition of Cd to the soil significantly (P < 0.05) decreased plant growth and biomass, gaseous exchange parameters, mineral uptake by the plants, sugars (soluble, reducing, and non-reducing sugar) and altered the ultrastructure of chloroplasts, plastoglobuli, mitochondria, and many other cellular organelles in Cd-stressed O. sativa compared to those plants which were grown without the addition of Cd in the soil. However, Cd toxicity boosted the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by increasing the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), which is the indication of oxidative stress in O. sativa and was also manifested by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) contents and electrolyte leakage to the membrane bounded organelles. Although, activities of various antioxidative enzymes like superoxidase dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and non-enzymatic antioxidants like phenolics, flavonoid, ascorbic acid, anthocyanin and proline contents increased up to a Cd level of 0.5 mg/kg in the soil but were significantly diminished at the highest Cd level of 1 mg/kg in the soil compared to those plants which were grown without the addition of Cd in the soil. The negative impacts of Cd injury were reduced by the application of FeSO₄ which increased plant growth and biomass, improved photosynthetic apparatus, antioxidant enzymes, minerals uptake together with diminished exudation of organic acids as well as oxidative stress indicators in roots and shoots of O. sativa by decreasing Cd retention in different plant parts. These results shed light on the effectiveness of FeSO₄ in improving the growth and upregulation of antioxidant enzyme activities of O. sativa in response to Cd stress. However, further studies at field levels are required to explore the mechanisms of FeSO₄-mediated reduction of the toxicity of not only Cd, but possibly also other heavy metals in plants.     

Kinetics of BaTiO3 and PbTiO3 Formation from Metallo-organic Precursors

Kinetics of BaTiO₃ and PbTiO₃ formation from metalloorganic precursors were studied. The fine grain size of the decomposed product and the greater degree of mixing led to very rapid kinetics of compound formation. The kinetics data were fitted to the Carter model for a diffusion-controlled process. Formation of PbTiO₃ was modeled as a two-stage process with a single activation energy, and the formation of BaTiO₃ as a single-stage process.     

High Performance Liquid Chromatography of 2,5-Dimethyl-4-Hydroxy-3 (2H)-Furanone in Pineapple and Grapefruit Juices

A reversed-phase HPLC method was developed for rapid analysis of 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone (DMHF), the compound responsible for the “burnt-pineapple” flavor in pineapple juices. A Zorbax ODS column was used with a mobile phase of 0.05M sodium acetate (pH 4.0)/methanol (70:30); detection was by UV at 290 nm. Sample clean up was accomplished by solid-phase extraction with C-18 Sep-Pak cartridges. DMHF contents ranged from 1.6 to 27.3 ppm from 10 fresh pineapple juices. Using this system, the production of DMHF was monitored in canned grapefruit juices during storage at varying temperatures.     

Composition of Some Organic and Inorganic Compounds in Reverse Osmosis-Concentrated Citrus Juices

Orange, grapefruit and lemon juices were concentrated over twofold in a pilot scale reverse osmosis (RO) process using a commercially available membrane system. Major sugars, acids, vitamin C, aroma volatiles and over 20 minerals were examined in feed, concentrate and permeate streams. Typically, 15–20 aroma compounds were identified in feed juices and concentrates. Compared with less volatile compounds (e.g., ethyl butyrate, limonene), poorer retention during processing was noted for more volatile molecules (methanol, acetaldehyde, ethanol). °Brix of membrane concentrates were orange (25.3°B), grapefruit (25.1°B) and lemon (22.5°B). Vitamin C was rejected efficiently by the membrane. Mineral analyses showed similar elemental contents in feed and concentrate and insignificant concentration in permeate streams.     

Dynamics and interference of fine-structure wave packets created by strong ultrashort pulses

This work presents a theoretical study of two coherent schemes which allow the manipulation of wave packets created in atomic systems by strong ultrashort pulses. Our three-state system is composed of a ground state and two excited states simultaneously excited by the laser pulses. The corresponding dynamics are described in the bright state-dark state formalism where spectacular effects appear. (1) The wave packet created initially by a first pulse can be completely frozen through the action of a second strong pulse. (2) For pulses with a generalized pulse area equal to (2 p +1)2π (p integer), the population is preferentially transferred from the ground state to the dark state whatever the pulse duration. This is in complete disagreement with the physical interpretation valid in the weak field regime where the wave packet created by an ultrashort pulse is localized in the bright state at the end of the pulse. This effect can be revealed with wave packet interference induced by a second identical pulse. A simple analytical model using squared pulses is used to highlight the physical insight. This model is ‘reinforced’ by numerical simulations on the (4s–4p ² P 1/2,1/3) transitions in potassium atoms excited with Gaussian pulses.     

INFLUENCE OF MOISTURE CONTENT AND STORAGE TEMPERATURE ON THE PRODUCTION OF AFLATOXIN BY ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS EA-81 IN MAIZE AFTER EXPOSURE TO GAMMA RADIATION

The effect of gamma radiation on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus EA-81 in maize with different initial moisture levels was determined over a 15-day period. The viability of A. flavus on maize decreased over time with increasing moisture contents and storage at 8C. After 45 days at 28C, levels of viable conidiospores of A. flavus increased from 4.5 × 10⁷ to about 3.0 × 10⁸ per gram of maize. Levels of aflatoxin B₁ produced by A. flavus were 10 μg kg^-1 in the maize stored at 8C after 45 days. Production of aflatoxin was highest at 40% moisture and 28C. Irradiation of 1.0 or 2.0 kGy greatly reduced the level of mold growth relative to unirradiated controls. A dose of 4.0 kGy eliminated all viable fungi. Aflatoxin B₁ production decreased with increased levels of irradiation and was negligible at 4.0 kGy. When maize was inoculated after irradiation and stored, the spore counts and aflatoxin levels were higher than in unirradiated and inoculated controls after 30 days. Apparently, the natural competitive microflora prevented growth and thus limited higher concentrations of aflatoxin in maize.     

Identification of potential inhibitors for Sterol C-24 reductase of <i>Leishmania donovani</i> through virtual screening of natural compounds

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne parasitic neglected tropical disease caused by a group of about 30 different species of the genus Leishmania. It is transmitted by the bite of female phlebotomies sand fly. Three main clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis include cutaneous, visceral, and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania donovani, is an infection of reticuloendothelial system and fatal if untreated. Cholesterol, a sterol that is prominent in the mammalian cell membranes whereas stigmasterol and ergosterol are more prevalent in plants, yeast, and protozoa, respectively. Ergosterols which is absent in human being, is an important constituent of parasite membrane. Sterol C-24 reductase (LdSR) enzyme catalyzes the final step in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. The inhibition of biosynthesis of ergosterol may lead to decreased cell viability and growth. Here, we performed the molecular docking-based virtual screening of a library of natural ligands against LdSR to identify a potential inhibitor to fight leishmaniasis. Capsaicin, prenyletin, flavan-3-ol, resveratrol, and gingerol showed the top binding affinity towards LdSR. Based upon ADME properties and bioactivity score, gingerol showed the best lead-likeness and drug-likeness properties. Hence, we further annotated its leishmanicidal properties. We found that gingerol inhibited the growth and proliferation of promastigotes as well as intra-macrophagic amastigotes. Gingerol exerted its antileishmanial action through the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in concentration-dependent manner. Gingerol induced ROS led to apoptosis. Overall, this study described that gingerol would act as possible inhibitor to LdSR.     

Conserving resources — packaging materials

The background to food preservation and packaging developments is described. Packaging today provides the basis for many forms of shelf-life extension, essential for modern retailing. However, packaging is often criticized on the grounds of cost and of being a waster of natural resources and energy. In this paper it is argued that packaging is necessary to protect the product from spoilage and to maintain public health — and that the packaging industry, just like any other industry, cannot exist without raw materials and energy. The total value of the UK packaging industry is £4,000 million per annum (approx £2,600 million for foods). However the total energy involved is only about 5% of the national energy consumption. The food packaging industry has always been anxious to conserve resources due to economic pressures. This has been achieved by using less packaging material, or by turning to cheaper, more abundant materials. In addition, recycling and package reuse/refilling schemes have been introduced voluntarily to save materials and energy and to protect the environment. In the near future, EEC directives will dominate packaging conservation and environmental matters.     

INTERESTERIFICATION KINETICS OF SOYBEAN OIL

Soybean oil was interesterified at different temperatures, ranging from 10 to 80 C, 600 rpm stirring rate and 0.2–0.5% catalyst (NaOCH₃) concentration. The content of palmitic acid in the 2-position of triacylglycerols was monitored during the reaction by an enzymatic method. The conversion of triacylglycerols to random distribution appeared to be a first order and reaction rate constants (k) were determined between 0.015 and 1.498 min^-1. It was also observed that reaction rate increased about 8 times when catalyst ratio was increased from 0.2 to 0.5% and about 10 times when temperature was raised from 40 to 80C. Activation energy was calculated as 14188 Cal/mole, from plotting of Lnk values against reciprocal of absolute temperature.