A role for isothiocyanates in plant resistance against the specialist herbivore Pieris rapae

We experimentally reanalyzed the classic interaction between Pieris rapae, a specialist lepidopteran herbivore, and isothiocyanates (mustard oils) that are characteristic phytochemicals of the Brassicaceae. Previous investigations have suggested that P. rapae is unaffected by isothiocyanates. Using whole plants, root extracts, and a microencapsulated formulation of allyl isothiocyanate, we now show that isothiocyanates reduce herbivore survival and growth, and increase development time, each in a dose-dependent manner. Neither the substrate allyl glucosinolate, nor myrosinase, the enzyme that results in the breakdown of glucosinolates, negatively affected P. rapae. Thus, we present strong evidence for a role for isothiocyanates in plant resistance against the specialist herbivore P. rapae.     

Impact of oxygenated cottonseed biodiesel on combustion,performance and emission parameters in a direct injection CI engine

In the present study, biodiesel production from the crude cotton-seed oil (CSO) and its feasibility to be used as fuel in compression ignition engine was analysed. Single-stage transesterification at molar ratio of 8:1 on crude CSO yielded 94% of cottonseed biodiesel (CBD). Gas chromatogram/mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of 19.5% unsaturated and 80.5% saturated esters in cotton seed biodiesel. Taguchi approach identified the stable fuel blend with oxygenate concentration. Increased oxygen concentration up to 20% were also analysed to understand the variation. Higher peak in-cylinder pressure was observed in D80CBD20 fuel blend. Diesel–biodiesel blend with oxygenate significantly affected the ignition delay and also resulted in varied exhaust gas temperature. D80CBD20nB10 showed an increase in brake thermal efficiency, whereas D80CBD20 exhibited higher brake specific energy consumption at full load. Carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and smoke emission was found to be high in diesel with higher oxides of nitrogen in D80CBD20nB10. This experimental investigation finally revealed that, D80CBD20nB10 improved the combustion and performance characteristics with minimal emissions.

Abbreviations ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials; BP: brake power; BSEC: brake specific energy consumption; BTE: brake thermal efficiency; CBD: cottonseed biodiesel; CI: compression ignition; CO: carbon monoxide; CO₂: carbon dioxide; CSO: cottonseed oil; DEE: diethyl ether; DOE: design of experiments; EGT: exhaust gas temperature; FTIR: Fourier transform infrared spectrometry; GC/MS: gas chromatogram/mass spectrometry; HC: hydrocarbon; HRR: heat release rate; HSDI: high speed direct injection; IDI: indirect injection; KOH: potassium hydroxide; MFB: mass fraction burned; NaOH: sodium hydroxide; NMR: nuclear magnetic resonance; N₂O: nitrous oxide; NO: nitric oxide; NO₂: nitrogen dioxide; NO _x : oxides of nitrogen; ROHR: rate of heat release; ROPR: rate of pressure rise; SOC: start of combustion; aTDC: after top dead centre; bTDC: before top dead centre     

Assessment of waste plastic oil blends on performance,combustion and emission parameters in direct injection compression ignition engine

The present experimental investigation deals with the transformation of waste plastic into oil in a pyrolysis reactor. A single feed at a rate of 8?kg yielded 675?ml of pyrolytic oil. The physiochemical properties of plastic oil (PO) were found to be within American Society for Testing and Material standards with higher kinematic viscosity and carbon residue. The GC-MS and Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis studies revealed the presence of 14 different compounds in PO. Straight diesel–PO blending was carried out at 15% and 30% in volume ratio. At full-load condition, in-cylinder pressure, rate of pressure rise, rate of heat release and peak pressure were higher for PO30% than straight diesel. The brake thermal efficiency for PO blends was found to be slightly higher than straight diesel with a significant increase in brake-specific fuel consumption. Unburned hydrocarbon (UBHC), CO NO _x and smoke emission showed significant variation with PO blends. The physiochemical properties of PO blends significantly affect the engine performance.     

Experimental study on productivity enhancement of an improvised inclined solar still

Experimental studies are carried out on the inclined solar still with baffle plates for enhancing its performance. The baffles placed in the inclined solar still act as a solar collector which helps in increasing the contact time with solar radiation thereby raising the saline water temperature. Experiments are carried out during winter and early summer climate of Chennai, India. Experimental parameters, such as ambient temperature, solar radiation, glass temperature, water temperature and distillate output are recorded. Hourly productivity is found to be higher during sunny days. The estimated production of fresh water through analytical study is 3.50?kg/m² per day for a minimum mass flow rate of 0.0833?kg/min. The actual experimental yield is 2.793?kg/m² per day. Also, the inlet saline water temperature affects the yield and the latter is found to be highest at 48.5°C.     

Competing Effects of Radio Frequency Fields on Carbon Nanotube/Resin Systems: Alignment versus Heating

This work shows that radio-frequency (RF) fields can simultaneously align carbon nanotubes (CNTs) dispersed in a resin and induce Joule heating to cure the resin. The timescales of alignment and curing using RF heating are numerically computed and compared at different field strengths in order to determine a temperature where alignment happens before the matrix crosslinks. Composites are experimentally fabricated at the desired target temperature and are optically analyzed and quantified; the CNT network is successfully aligned in the direction of the applied electric field. This methodology can be used to create composites where the local alignment can be varied across the sample. Composites fabricated using RF fields have higher electrical conductivity in the direction of the aligned CNTs than an oven-cured, randomly aligned sample. Also, RF-cured nanocomposites exhibit higher tensile strength and modulus in the direction of alignment compared to an oven-cured sample. Finally, it is further demonstrated how this methodology can be coupled with a direct ink writing additive manufacturing process to induce alignment in any desired direction, even orthogonal to the shear forces in the extrusion direction.     

Quercetin-3-Glucoside Extracted from Apple Pomace Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis by Increasing Intracellular ROS Levels

Cervical cancer is a life-threatening disease and the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. Apple pomace is a multifunctional phenolic compound possessing effective biological activity against cervical cancer cells. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of quercetin-3-glucoside (Q3G) extracted from apple pomace in HeLa cell lines and analyze its molecular mechanisms. High-performance liquid chromatography revealed that Q3G, coumaric acid, phloridzin, quercetin, and phloretin are the major polyphenolic compounds constituting apple pomace. Among them, Q3G possessed the greatest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and exhibited significant cytotoxic effects in HeLa cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that Q3G induced cell cycle arrest at the S phase in a time-dependent manner by altering cyclin-dependent kinase 2. Moreover, it induced apoptosis via chromosomal DNA degradation and increased reactive oxygen species generation. Furthermore, Q3G treatment altered the apoptosis-associated protein expression in the cells by activating caspase-9/-3, downregulating anti-apoptosis protein B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2 expressions and up regulating the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein. BH3-interacting domain death agonist cleavage occurred prior to the degradation of an anti-apoptotic Mu-2-related death-inducing gene involved in cell death signaling. Consequently, apple pomace Q3G holds promise as an anti-inflammatory and anticancer agent for treating cervical cancer.     

Effects of sediment characteristics on the toxicity of chromium(III) and chromium(VI) to the amphipod, Hyalella azteca

We evaluated the influence of sediment characteristics, acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) and organic matter (OM), on the toxicity of chromium (Cr) in freshwater sediments. We conducted chronic (28-42-d) toxicitytests with the amphipod Hyalella azteca exposed to Cr(VI) and Cr(III) in water and in spiked sediments. Waterborne Cr(VI) caused reduced survival of amphipods with a median lethal concentration (LC50) of 40 microg/L. Cr(VI) spiked into test sediments with differing levels of AVS resulted in graded decreases in AVS and sediment OM. Only Cr(VI)-spiked sediments with low AVS concentrations (< 1micromol/g) caused significant amphipod mortality. Waterborne Cr(III) concentrations near solubility limits caused decreased survival of amphipods at pH 7 and pH 8 but not at pH 6. Sediments spiked with high levels of Cr(III) did not affect amphipod survival but had minor effects on growth and inconsistent effects on reproduction. Pore waters of some Cr(III)-spiked sediments contained measurable concentrations of Cr(VI), but observed toxic effects did not correspond closely to Cr concentrations in sediment or pore waters. Our results indicate that risks of Cr toxicity are low in freshwater sediments containing substantial concentrations of AVS.     

Progression and Dissemination of Pulmonary Mycobacterium Avium Infection in a Susceptible Immunocompetent Mouse Model

Pulmonary infections caused by the group of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM), Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), are a growing public health concern with incidence and mortality steadily increasing globally. Granulomatous inflammation is the hallmark of MAC lung infection, yet reliable correlates of disease progression, susceptibility, and resolution are poorly defined. Unlike widely used inbred mouse strains, mice that carry the mutant allele at the genetic locus sst1 develop human-like pulmonary tuberculosis featuring well-organized caseating granulomas. We characterized pulmonary temporospatial outcomes of intranasal and left intrabronchial M. avium spp. hominissuis (M.av) induced pneumonia in B6.Sst1S mice, which carries the sst1 mutant allele. We utilized traditional semi-quantitative histomorphological evaluation, in combination with fluorescent multiplex immunohistochemistry (fmIHC), whole slide imaging, and quantitative digital image analysis. Followingintrabronchiolar infection with the laboratory M.av strain 101, the B6.Sst1S pulmonary lesions progressed 12–16 weeks post infection (wpi), with plateauing and/or resolving disease by 21 wpi. Caseating granulomas were not observed during the study. Disease progression from 12–16 wpi was associated with increased acid-fast bacilli, area of secondary granulomatous pneumonia lesions, and Arg1+ and double positive iNOS+/Arg1+ macrophages. Compared to B6 WT, at 16 wpi, B6.Sst1S lungs exhibited an increased area of acid-fast bacilli, larger secondary lesions with greater Arg1+ and double positive iNOS+/Arg1+ macrophages, and reduced T cell density. This morphomolecular analysis of histologic correlates of disease progression in B6.Sst1S could serve as a platform for assessment of medical countermeasures against NTM infection.     

Application of the Coupled Simulation–optimization Method for the Optimum Cut-off Design Under a Hydraulic Structure

A Genetic Algorithm model, coupled with Finite Element Programming (GA-FEP), has been developed to create an optimal design for hydraulic structures to address seepage problems. While the objective function of the optimization model was to minimize the construction costs of the hydraulic structure, the main constraints were to satisfy safety factors concerning uplift pressure and exit gradient. The GA-FEP model proposed here meets the requirements of an optimal hydraulic design in two stages. Firstly, a validated numerical model coded using Finite-element Programming (FEP), was used to analyze seepage problems. This was followed by application of Genetic Algorithm (GA) and finite-element programming (FEP) to establish the optimum depth and location for cut-offs. A MATLAB programming code was used to create the link between the numerical and optimization model, creating a simulation–optimization (S–O) model. The effects of hydraulic conductivity and anisotropic ratios on the hydraulic structure design, were also investigated. The results indicate that the proposed GA-FEP model will provide a safe, efficient and economical hydraulic cut-off design. Evaluation of the model revealed acceptable agreement between expected and simulated seepage parameters pertinent to the hydraulic structure design.