Modifying <Emphasis Type=Italic>CRI</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>CSR</Emphasis> values of coke

The influence of the following factors on the reactivity CRI and hot strength CSR in industrial coking is studied: eliminating bituminous coal from the coal batch; considerably increasing the coking periods; and significantly reducing the ash content of the batch. Batch composition such that the coke quality meets the needs of export customers (including requirements regarding CRI and CSR) is identified. Sharp deterioration in CRI and CSR is seen when the batch includes coal with high ash basicity and coal concentrate that is heavily contaminated with intermediate products.     

Screening of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Candida utilis</Emphasis> and medium optimization for co-production of <Emphasis Type=Italic>S</Emphasis>-adenosylmethionine and glutathione

An effective S-adenosylmethionine and glutathione enriching yeast mutant of Candida utilis CCTCC M 209298 was first screened from plates containing 0.5 g/L of DL-ethionine by complex mutagenesis with UV and γ-ray in this study. Medium components optimization for enhanced co-production of S-adenosylmethionine and glutathione by C. utilis CCTCC M 209298 was further carried out using response surface methodology. The significant factors influencing S-adenosylmethionine and glutathione co-production were selected by Plackett-Burman design as sucrose, KH₂PO₄ and L-methionine, and Box-Behnken design was applied for further optimization studies. Based on these approaches, the optimized concentrations on medium components for higher co-production of S-adenosylmethionine and glutathione were sucrose 35.4 g/L, (NH₄)₂SO₄ 10 g/L, KH₂PO₄ 12.3 g/L, MgSO₄·7H₂O, 0.05 g/L, CaCl₂ 0.05 g/L and L-methionine 4.6 g/L. The medium optimization by response surface methodology led to a total production of 589.3 mg/L on S-adenosylmethionine and glutathione, which was 2.4-fold increased compared with the medium without optimization.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Nosema</Emphasis> spp. Infection Alters Pheromone Production in Honey Bees (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Apis mellifera</Emphasis>)

Pheromones in social insects play a key role in the regulation of group homoeostasis. It is well-established that parasites can modify hormone signaling of their host, but less is known about the effect of parasites on pheromone signaling in insect societies. We, thus, tested in honey bees (Apis mellifera) the effect of the widespread parasite Nosema spp. on the production of ethyl oleate (EO), the only identified primer pheromone in honey bee workers. Since environmental stressors like pesticides also can weaken honey bees, we also analyzed the effect of imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid widely used in agriculture, on EO production. We show that, contrary to imidacloprid, Nosema spp. significantly altered EO production. In addition, the level of Nosema infection was correlated positively with the level of EO production. Since EO is involved in the regulation of division of labor among workers, our result suggests that the changes in EO signaling induced by parasitism have the potential to disturb the colony homoeostasis.     

Changes in Monoterpene Emission Rates of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Quercus ilex</Emphasis> Infested by Aphids Tended by Native or Invasive <Emphasis Type=Italic>Lasius</Emphasis> Ant Species

The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) depends on temperature and light. Other factors such as insect herbivory also may modify VOC emission. In particular, aphid feeding promotes the release of new compounds and changes the composition of plant volatile blends. Given that some aphids are tended by ants, we investigated whether ants change the emission of VOCs indirectly through attendance on aphids. The effect of Lachnus roboris aphids and two different tending ant species on terpene emission rates of 4-year-old holm oak (Quercus ilex) saplings was investigated during a field experiment. There were five treatments: saplings alone (T1), saplings infested with L. roboris aphids (T2), saplings infested with aphids tended by the local ant Lasius grandis (T3), those tended by small colonies of the invasive ant Lasius neglectus (T4), and those tended by large colonies of the same invasive ant species (T5). The infestation by L. roboris elicited the emission of Δ³-carene and increased the emission of myrcene and γ-terpinene. Terpene emissions were modified depending on the tending ant species. Attendance by the local ant L. grandis increased α and β-pinene and sabinene. Attendance by the invasive ant L. neglectus only decreased significantly the emission of myrcene, one of the major compounds of the Q. ilex blend. Aphid abundance decreased with time for all treatments, but there was no difference in aphid abundance among treatments. Total terpene emission rates were not correlated with aphid abundance. These results highlight that aphids and tending ants may change terpene emission rates, depending on the ant species.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Jatropha</Emphasis> Diterpenes: a Review

Terpenes are the largest group of phytochemicals that exhibit diverse functions in mediating antagonistic and beneficial interactions in, and among, organisms. For many years the abundance and distribution of terpenoid compounds in plants have benefitted both nature and human civilization. Jatropha species, belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, are a rich source of terpenoid compounds. Among the terpenes, diterpenoid compounds have dominated the research area in Jatropha species with respect to their novel chemical structures and medicinal values. The present review describes the chemistry and biological activities of an array of Jatropha diterpenes. The diterpenes isolated from Jatropha species belongs to rhamnofolane, daphnane, lathyrane, tigliane, dinorditerpene, deoxy preussomerin and pimarane skeletal structures. Among the 68 diterpenes collated in this review, the biological activity of compounds varied distinctly—the majority of the diterpenes exhibited cytotoxic, antitumor and antimicrobial activities in vitro. To name a few, jatrophone, spruceanol and jatrophatrione exhibited antitumor properties against P338 lymphocytic leukemia and japodagrol against KB carcinoma cells. Whereas, curcusone B exhibited anti-invasive effects against cholangiocarcinoma cells. The phorbol esters (Jatropha factor C1–C6) and Jatropherol exhibited insect deterrent/cytotoxic properties. Many diterpenes (jatrophalactam, faveline derivatives, multifolone, curcusone, jatrophone derivatives etc.) showed in-vitro cytotoxic activity, while japodagrin, jatrogrossidione derivatives and jatropholone derivatives exhibited antimicrobial activities. Jatropha diterpenoids having a wide spectrum of bioactivity could form lead compounds or could be used as templates for the synthesis of new compounds with better biological activity for utilization in the pharmaceutical industries.     

Physico-Chemical Analysis,NMR Spectroscopy and Gas Chromatographic Studies of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Jatropha</Emphasis><Emphasis Type=Italic>curcas</Emphasis> L. Germplasm

A systematic collection of Jatropha curcas germplasm was carried out from five distinct ecogeographic zones of peninsular India in 2008. This involved recording passport data, documentation of important plant traits in situ, ecogeographic parameters and assessment of variability in 82 accessions. Extraction of oil was done by the Soxhlet method which gave an average yield of 38%. Oil content of collected accessions was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and Soxhlet extraction. Oil variability ranged from 45.5% in JC-8 to 11.5% in JC-30. The level of unsaturated fatty acid ranged from 85% in JC-57 to 75.5% in JC-10. Saturated fatty acids ranged from 24% in JC-43 to 15% in JC-54, the oxidative stability index was highest at 2.1 in JC-30 and lowest at 0.68 in JC-17. The seed weight was greatest in JC-8 and the lowest in JC-30. This paper provides information that will facilitate the selection of promising accessions for genetic enhancement of Jatropha germplasm through conventional breeding.     

Regulation of meilingmycin in <Emphasis Type=Italic>Streptomyces nanchangensis</Emphasis>: Effect of ammonium ion

Effects of different ammonium sulfate concentrations on meilingmycin biosynthesis were studied in this research. The results show that a lower concentration of ammonium ions stimulates the biosynthesis of meilingmycin, while a concentration higher than 5 mmol/L inhibits the mycelial growth and the biosynthesis of the products. However, increased sugar consumption rate with the elevated concentration of ammonium sulfate was observed during the fermentation process. On this basis, six enzymes, which are responsible for the meilingmycin biosynthesis and the glucose metabolism, were measured and analyzed during the bioprocess. The results suggest that glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, succinate dehydrogenase and fatty acid synthase are stimulated by higher concentration of ammonium ions, while valine dehydrogenase and methylmalonyl-CoA carboxyltransferase are inhibited. From the results it follows that the precursor supply was restricted with the higher concentration of ammonium ions, which results in the lower production of meilingmycin. Thus, the strategy of maintaining a low level of FAS activity is a critical factor for high yield of meilingmycin.     

Fatty Acids Released by <Emphasis Type=Italic>Chlorella vulgaris</Emphasis> and Their Role in Interference with <Emphasis Type=Italic>Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata</Emphasis>: Experiments and Modelling

The role of extracellular fatty acids in the interference between two algae, Chlorella vulgaris Beijerink and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (Korshikov) Hindak, was assessed by the co-cultivation of the two selected strains, as well as by the chemical analysis of exudates from the culture media of single strain cultures. The effect of culture age and phosphate limitation was evaluated. The experiments showed that the composition and amount of fatty acids, released by C. vulgaris and by P. subcapitata, both in a batch and in a continuous monoculture, depend on the culture age and on the phosphate concentration in the culture medium. We also found that the amount of chlorellin generated in the two algae co-culture increased and was almost exclusively constituted by a mixture of C18 fatty acids. By using the evaluated concentrations of these fatty acids, an artificial chlorellin was prepared. The toxicity of this mixture to P. subcapitata appears to be similar to that of the natural chlorellin. For both algae, a stimulation of growth was observed at low concentrations of the natural chlorellin, whereas higher concentrations produced inhibitory effects on both species. However, P. subcapitata was much more sensitive than C. vulgaris. By using some of these new experimental results, two new mathematical models have been used to describe the toxicity of chlorellin to C. vulgaris and to the interference between C. vulgaris and P. subcapitata, respectively.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Trans</Emphasis> Fatty Acids in Human Milk are an Indicator of Different Maternal Dietary Sources Containing <Emphasis Type=Italic>Trans</Emphasis> Fatty Acids

The trans fatty acid (TFA) patterns in the fats of ruminant meat and dairy products differ from those found in other (processed) fats. We have evaluated different TFA isomers in human breast milk as an indicator of dietary intake of ruminant and dairy fats of different origins. Breast milk samples were collected 1 month postpartum from 310 mothers participating in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study (The Netherlands). The study participants had different lifestyles and consumed different amounts of dairy products. Fatty acid methyl esters were determined by GC-FID and the data were evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA), ANOVA/Post Hoc test and linear regression analysis. The two major principal components were (1) 18:1 trans-isomers and (2) markers of dairy fat including 15:0, 17:0, 11(trans)18:1 and 9(cis),11(trans)18:2 (CLA). Despite similar total TFA values, the 9(trans)18:1/11(trans)18:1-ratio and the 10(trans)18:1/11(trans)18:1-ratio were significantly lower in milk from mothers with high dairy fat intake (40–76 g/day: 0.91 ± 0.48, P < 0.05) compared to low dairy fat intake (0–10 g/day: 1.59 ± 0.48), and lower with strict organic meat and dairy use (>90% organic: 0.92 ± 0.46, P < 0.05) compared to conventional origin of meat and dairy (1.40 ± 0.61). Similar results were obtained for the 10(trans)18:1/11(trans)18:1-ratio. We conclude that both ratios are indicators of different intake of TFA from ruminant and dairy origin relative to other (including industrial) sources.     

Inactivation of Baculovirus by Isoflavonoids on Chickpea (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Cicer arietinum</Emphasis>) Leaf Surfaces Reduces the Efficacy of Nucleopolyhedrovirus Against <Emphasis Type=Italic>Helicoverpa armigera</Emphasis>

Biological pesticides based on nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs) can provide an effective and environmentally benign alternative to synthetic chemicals. On some crops, however, the efficacy and persistence of NPVs is known to be reduced by plant specific factors. The present study investigated the efficacy of Helicoverpa armigera NPV (HearNPV) for control of H. armigera larvae, and showed that chickpea reduced the infectivity of virus occlusion bodies (OBs) exposed to the leaf surface of chickpea for at least 1 h. The degree of inactivation was greater on chickpea than that previously reported on cotton, and the mode of action is different from that of cotton. The effect was observed for larvae that consumed OBs on chickpea leaves, but it also occurred when OBs were removed after exposure to plants and inoculated onto artificial diet, indicating that inhibition was leaf surface-related and permanent. Despite their profuse exudation from trichomes on chickpea leaves and their low pH, organic acids—primarily oxalic and malic acid—caused no inhibition. When HearNPV was incubated with biochanin A and sissotrin, however, two minor constituents of chickpea leaf extracts, OB activity was reduced significantly. These two isoflavonoids increased in concentration by up to 3 times within 1 h of spraying the virus suspension onto the plants and also when spraying only the carrier, indicating induction was in response to spraying and not a specific response to the HearNPV. Although inactivation by the isoflavonoids did not account completely for the level of effect recorded on whole plants, this work constitutes evidence for a novel mechanism of NPV inactivation in legumes. Expanding the use of biological pesticides on legume crops will be dependent upon the development of suitable formulations for OBs to overcome plant secondary chemical effects.     

Studies on growth kinetics of predominantly <Emphasis Type=Italic>Pseudomonas</Emphasis> sp. in internal loop airlift bioreactor using phenol and <Emphasis Type=Italic>m</Emphasis>-cresol

Growth profile of predominantly Pseudomonas species was studied using wastewater containing phenol and m-cresol, as single and multi component systems in an internal loop airlift bioreactor (ILALR). The species utilized for the study was isolated from a wastewater treatment plant. The reactor was operated at both lower and higher hydraulic retention time (HRTs), 4.1 h and 8.3 h, respectively. The inlet phenol and concentration was varied between 100 and 800 mg/L with 800 mg/L as shock loading concentration for an HRT of 8.3 h. For 4.1 h HRT, the concentration was varied 100 and 500 mg/L using 500 mg/L as a shock loading concentration. The study showed complete degradation of both phenol and m-cresol, when present individually at an HRT of 8.3 h with an enriched biomass output. The specific growth rate of the culture at various phenol and m-cresol concentrations was fitted to a Monod model. The biokinetics value showed good potential of Pseudomonas species employing the internal loop air lift bioreactor in utilizing high strength phenolics containing wastewater. Culture growth profile with both phenol and m-cresol as mixtures also showed decreased lag times with complete utilization of the phenolics.     

Burning of the Ti + <Emphasis Type=Italic>x</Emphasis>C (1 &gt; <Emphasis Type=Italic>x</Emphasis> &gt; 0.5) powder and granulated mixtures

This paper describes the experiments on the burning of the Ti + 0.5C, Ti + 0.75C, and Ti + C powder and granulated mixtures. Despite the fact that there is no convective heat transfer and the contact area between the particles is small, the linear and mass burning rates of granulated compositions happened to be several times greater than in the case of powder mixtures of the same composition. The obtained experimental and computational values of the adiabatic combustion temperature were used to estimate the contribution of the radiant and conductive heat transfer in the combustion wave propagation along the granulated mixtures. The experiments with compacted samples showed that the high burning rate of the granulated mixtures is due to great velocity of the combustion wave propagation along the granule rather than the specific features of the original reagents.     

Identification of depigmenting components from <Emphasis Type=Italic>Nigella glandulifera</Emphasis> Freyn

To develop a novel skin depigmenting agent from natural sources, the inhibition of melanogenesis by Chinese plants, N. glandulifrea, was evaluated. The methanol extract of this plant showed significantly down-regulated melanin synthesis in a dose-dependent manner at a non-toxic concentration in cultured B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. This extract was further fractionated by using solvent-solvent partition and silica open column chromatography to identify the active components. From GC-MS data, oleic acid methyl ester was found as one of the depigmenting agents. In conclusion, we suggest that this fraction may be a safe and effective depigmentation agent.     

Flavonoids Have Differential Effects on Glucose Absorption in Rats (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Rattus norvegicus</Emphasis>) and American Robins (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Turdis migratorius</Emphasis>)

Mounting evidence suggests that small birds rely largely on non-mediated intestinal absorption of glucose through the paracellular pathway, while non-flying mammals rely on mediated absorption across the enterocyte membranes by using glucose transporters SGLT-1 and GLUT-2. Relying on non-mediated transport of glucose may decrease its absorption rate at low glucose concentrations but may release small birds from the effects of glucose transport inhibitors. We evaluated transport by using flavonoids known to inhibit glucose transport in vitro. Quercetin, isoquercetrin, and phloridzin were tested in rats (Rattus norvegicus) and robins (Turdis migratirius), and naringenin, naringenin-7-glucoside, genistein, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and phloretin were used only in rats. By using a pharmacokinetic approach that involves serial blood collection and area under the curve calculations, we determined the bioavailability of 3-0-methyl D-glucose, the non-metabolized analogue of D-glucose. Six of the eight flavonoids tested in rats significantly decreased the absorption of 3-0-methyl D-glucose, while none of the flavonoids tested in robins significantly decreased the bioavailability of 3-0-methyl D-glucose. We conclude that flavonoids effectively decrease glucose absorption in rats, which rely on mediated absorption of glucose, but that flavonoids do not have an effect in robins, which rely on non-mediated absorption of glucose.     

Effect of Essential Oils from <Emphasis Type=Italic>Lippia geminata</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>Cymbopogon jwarancusa</Emphasis> on In vitro Growth and Sporulation of Two Rice Pathogens

Sheath blight and brown spot disease of rice caused by Rhizoctonia solani and Bipolaris oryzae causes significant yield loss in rice production worldwide. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of two essential oils (EOs) from Lippia geminata and Cymbopogon jwarancusa on in vitro growth and sporulation of these two pathogens. The fungal radial growth was inhibited at very low concentration (25 ppm) of the EOs. Similarly, fungal spore production was also inhibited up to ≥80% at 500 ppm of EOs. However, fungal sporulation was completely retarded at 1,000 ppm of L. geminata EO. Very low oil concentrations (10 ppm) accelerated the radial growth (0–5 mm) and spore germination (3.5–8.5%) of the pathogens. At higher oil concentrations, the mycelial growth and spore productions were completely inhibited. The IC₅₀ value of the EO of C. jwarancusa was 365.45 and 336.74 ppm and for L. geminata, it was 420.16 and 481.47 ppm against B. oryzae and R. solani, respectively. GC–MS analysis of the oils showed 54.36% piperitone and 30.86% α-phellandrene as major compounds in C. jwarancusa whereas 25.9% geranial and 14.6% neral in L. geminata oil. Essential oils from Lippia geminata and Cymbopogon jwarancusa appear to be good candidates for the in vitro control of these two rice pathogens and can be successfully utilized in management strategies of pathogens in appropriate formulation.