Hydrocarbon stress response of four tropical plants in weathered crude oil contaminated soil in microcosms

Responses to hydrocarbon stress of four tropical plants Panicum maximum, Zea mays, Centrosema sp. and Pueraria sp. grown in crude oil contaminated soils (1%, 5% and 10% w/w) were evaluated in a green house. Plants’ percentage survival, shoot heights, biomass development, and phytotoxicity susceptibility were used as indicators of growth, stress response and hydrocarbon tolerance. Relative to control, shoot heights and biomass of plants reduced with increasing hydrocarbon concentration, but 1% w/w oil-in-soil, stimulated shoot heights (5.9% and 6.4%) and weights (21.9% and 2.3%) in P. maximum and Centrosema sp. respectively. P. maximum tolerated the contaminant stress with biomass yields of 113% and 57% of control respectively in 1% and 10% w/w oil-in-soil. All the plants had 100% survival in 1% w/w, but considerably reduced survival in 10% w/w oil-in-soil. These results show that P. maximum has great potential for phytoremediation of petroleum contaminated soil.     

miRNome Profiling and Functional Analysis Reveal Involvement of hsa-miR-1246 in Colon Adenoma-Carcinoma Transition by Targeting AXIN2 and CFTR

Regulatory changes occurring early in colorectal cancer development remain poorly investigated. Since the majority of cases develop from polyps in the adenoma-carcinoma transition, a search of early molecular features, such as aberrations in miRNA expression occurring prior to cancer development, would enable identification of potentially causal, rather than consequential, candidates in the progression of polyp to cancer. In the current study, by employing small RNA-seq profiling of colon biopsy samples, we described differentially expressed miRNAs and their isoforms in the adenoma-carcinoma transition. Analysis of healthy-adenoma-carcinoma sequence in an independent validation group enabled us to identify early deregulated miRNAs including hsa-miR-1246 and hsa-miR-215-5p, the expressions of which are, respectively, gradually increasing and decreasing. Loss-of-function experiments revealed that inhibition of hsa-miR-1246 lead to reduced cell viability, colony formation, and migration rate, thereby indicating an oncogenic effect of this miRNA in vitro. Subsequent western blot and luciferase reporter assay provided evidence of hsa-miR-1246 being involved in the regulation of target AXIN2 and CFTR genes’ expression. To conclude, the present study revealed possible involvement of hsa-miR-1246 in early colorectal cancer development and regulation of tumor suppressors AXIN2 and CFTR.     

Quality and nutritional characteristics of traditional curd cheese enriched with thermo-coagulated acid whey protein and indigenous Lactococcus lactis strain

Consumer interest in a healthy lifestyle and health-promoting natural products is a major driving force for the increasing global demand for bio-functional and sustainable dairy foods. Supplementation of curd cheese with thermo-coagulated acid whey protein (TAWP) led to 8–10% higher contents of moisture, 23–31% of lactose, 12–13% of unsaturated, 5–6% of monounsaturated, 63% of polyunsaturated, and 3–4% of long-chain fatty acids. Lipid quality indices – TI, AI, h/H, and Omega 6/3 among others, were also significantly better than those of control cheese. The addition of indigenous Lactococcus lactis strain enhanced the flavour of cheese samples, decreased the counts of yeast and mould up to 1 log cfu g⁻¹ after 10 days of storage. The replacement of curd with TAWP resulted in novel cheese with overall sensory perception above 77 points and added nutritional and functional value, however, body and texture parameters of modified cheese samples require an improvement.     

Green Synthesis,Structural Characterization and Photocatalytic Activities of Chitosan-ZnO Nano‐composite

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - Chitosan was isolated from chitin, a direct derivative of snail shell, and further used to form a heterostructure with ZnO...     

Nanocomposite films and coatings produced by interaction between graphite oxide and Congo red

Nanocomposite films and coatings were produced from the aqueous solutions containing different proportions of graphite oxide (GO) and Congo red by filtering through a polycarbonate membrane filter into alkaline media. They were examined by electron microscopy, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, contact angle, and electrical conductivity measurements. It was established that the Congo red is able to interact through its amino groups with different functional groups of GO to form larger moieties composed of the nanoplatelets of GO. Raman spectroscopy revealed quinoid-like ring structure for dye adhering to the GO. In the case when the interaction occurs with the terminal functional groups located on the edges of the nanoplateletes of GO, larger crystallites in the nanocomposite are formed. The interaction between the Congo red and functional groups of GO situated in a basal plane leads to more compact structure of the nanocomposite. Pulsed laser treatment was used to reduce GO to graphene. Raman spectra of laser treated areas show positive effect of addition of the Congo red on the graphene yield in nanocomposite coatings after the laser treatment.     

Interaction between graphite oxide and Congo red in aqueous media

Interaction between graphite oxide and Congo red, a diazo dye containing NH₂ and SO₃ functional groups, was studied using UV–vis, FTIR, capillary electrophoresis and potentiometric methods. UV–vis experiments managed to elicit a colorful set of reactions, which were dependent on the sonication of solution. It was established that the molecules of Congo red after sonication are able to penetrate through the hydration shell and extract the protons attached to the functional groups on the surface of graphite oxide. Interaction between the graphite oxide particles and Congo red molecules is suggested to stabilize the aqueous suspensions of single-layer graphite oxide sheets. Potentiometric titration data show that the Congo red molecules adsorbed on the surface of graphite oxide are able to prevent the penetration of OH⁻ ions to reach the acidic functional groups inside the graphite oxide stacks. Electrostatic repulsion among these functional groups is quite high. Ionization of the graphite oxide colloidal particles with adsorbed Congo red molecules leads to the significant changes in their conformation.     

A multifactor exploration of the photobleaching of Suwannee River dissolved organic matter across the freshwater/saltwater interface

A four factor central composite experimental design was applied to explore the photobleaching of Suwannee River dissolved organic matter (SRDOM) at 350 nm as a function of the tetravariate system of [SRDOM], total [Fe(III)], [NO3-], and salinity. The ranges of each factor were setto cover their likely concentrations atthe freshwater/ saltwater interface, to encompass the possible conditions encountered during the transition from the terrestrial to marine environment. Each experiment was carried out using a minimum of 25 different initial conditions, with 3-6 replicates/condition. The resulting data set mapped out the effects of multiple photoactive components on the rate of photobleaching. Under the conditions tested (nominally total [Fe(III)] 0.00-4.00 microM; [NO3-] 0.00-60.00 microM; SRDOM 0.00-30.00 mg/L; salinity 0.00-35.00 ppt, polychromatic illumination, pH 8.2) all samples photobleached at all wavelengths measured, and the absorption at 350 nm bleached the most rapidly. The most important factor for predicting the rate of photobleaching at 350 nm was the initial loading of SRDOM; the effect of all other factors on photobleaching was not significant at the 95% level of confidence. Varied salinity, Fe(III), or added D2O had no effect on the rate of photobleaching, indicating that hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen, and superoxide did not contribute significantly to the loss of the chromophore at 350 nm. The addition of hydroquinone or thiosulfate inhibited photobleaching, suggesting photobleaching may depend on a weaker oxidant such as the excited-state acceptors (derived from SRDOM directly) produced during photoinitiated charge-transfer processes. The advantages of multifactor experimental techniques for exploring SRDOM photochemistry are discussed.