Biodegradable plastic made from soybean products. II. Effects of cross-linking and cellulose incorporation on mechanical properties and water absorption

Soy isolate was treated with formaldehyde and glyoxal at 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0% (w/w isolate) and with adipic and acetic anhydrides. The materials were then compression-molded into plastic tensile bars and tested for tensile and yield strength, percentage elongation, Young's modulus, and water absorption. Treatment with 5% formaldehyde increased the tensile strength significantly, to 4.9 kg/mm², compared with the untreated sample (3.7 kg/mm²). The yield strength increased slightly, to 0.68 kg/mm². Elongation was significantly less after treatment with formaldehyde. Young's modulus increased after treatment and leveled off at 174 kg/mm². Water absorption decreased as the formaldehyde concentration increased. Treatment with either glyoxal or adipic/acetic anhydride had a detrimental effect on the mechanical properties of the plastic specimens. Water absorption was decreased by glyoxal treatment but was not affected by adipic/acetic anhydride treatment. Long-fiber (lf), short-fiber (sf), and microcrystalline (mc) cellulose were incorporated into soy isolate at various levels. Cellulose addition decreased the percentage elongation and increased the rigidity of the plastic. All three cellulose additions increased Young's modulus. The tensile strength increased with the addition of sf-cellulose to soy isolate; lf-cellulose decreased the tensile strength, whereas the incorporation of mc-cellulose did not have a significant effect. The yield strength increased slightly with the addition of sf-cellulose and was less affected by the addition of lf- or mc-cellulose. All three types of cellulose slightly decreased water absorption at ca. 15% content.Journal Paper No. J-15563 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames; Project No. 2863.     

Edible Invertebrates Among Amazonian Indians: A Critical Review of Disappearing Knowledge

For the indigenous populations of Amazonia, invertebrates constitute an important component of the diet. We have information on entomophagy for 39 ethnic groups, about 21,4 per cent of the 182 groups known in the Amazon Basin, but the use of this non conventional food resource is probably much more widespread. We present here a data-base of all the information available for each ethnic group regarding the species included in the diet, the scientific and the ethno name if known, the stage of life-cycle consumed, the manner of preparation and, when known, the host plant. This data-base lists 115 species scientifically identified and 131 ethno names. In addition, we have information about other 384 ethno names, with unsecure link to the Linnean taxonomy suggesting that local knowledge is very extensive. The data-base represents not only an easy to consult resource, but also a support for further research. The knowledge of the relations between indigenous populations and ecosystem is indeed the base for the natural and cultural biodiversity preservation.     

Hydroxytyrosol, the phenolic compound of olive oil protects human PBMC against oxidative stress and DNA damage mediated by 2,3,7,8-TCDD

The protective effect of hydroxytyrosol (HT), a strong antioxidant compound from extra virgin olive oil, against TCDD induced toxicity was investigated in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). PBMC (1 × 10⁶ cells mL⁻¹) were divided into four groups and were incubated in a CO₂ incubator (5% CO₂) for 12 h with vehicle, TCDD (10 nM), TCDD + HT (10 nM + 100 μM) and HT alone (100 μM) respectively. To clarify the role of HT against TCDD induced cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and the levels of antioxidant enzymes were assessed. Incubation of PBMC with TCDD significantly decreased cell viability, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation products (LPO), protein carbonyl content (PCC) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Whereas, HT had an effective antioxidant property as observed by the increased cell viability, normalization of antioxidant enzymes and decreased levels of LPO, PCC and ROS in PBMC co-treated with HT and TCDD. Apoptosis detection and comet assay results shows that HT, by acting as an antioxidant, prevents the damage to DNA induced by TCDD. In addition light microscopic and histopathological observations revealed that the cells are apoptotic and degenerated during TCDD treatment, whereas cells showed intact morphology during co-treatment with HT. On the whole, the results reveal that HT exerts a promising antioxidant potential in protecting the PBMC against TCDD induced oxidative stress, which might be due to the presence of catechol moiety in its structure.     

小麦在与水杨酸诱导的应答过程中PGIP的积累

以ＳＷ８９－２５８９小麦品系为材料，利用自制的小麦抗ＰＧＩＰ血清和ｄｏｔ－ｉｍｍｕｎｏｂｉｎｄｉｎｇ ａｓｓａｙ，并结合ＰＧＩＰ粗提液对ｅｎｄｏ－ＰＧ的抑制实验，研究了小麦内源多聚半乳糖醛酸酶抑制蛋白（ＰＧＩＰ）水平与水杨酸之间的应答关系。发现用水杨酸处理过的ＰＧＩＰ粗提液在ＮＣ膜上的显色斑点颜色均较Ｈ２Ｏ处理的ＰＧＩＰ粗提液深，而且对ｅｎ－ｄｏ－ＰＧ的抑制程度也高于未用水杨酸处理的ＰＧＩＰ粗提液     

水稻专用叶面喷剂对水稻幼苗生长的影响

用水稻专用叶面喷剂喷施水稻秧苗，1670~2500mg/L浓度处理可改善秧苗素质，控制株高，秧苗粗壮，假茎宽，干物质增多，促进分蘖．5000mg/L浓度处理抑制秧苗生长．水稻专用叶面喷剂可提高秧苗叶片可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质、叶绿素含量和硝酸还原酶活性．     

单壁碳纳米管材料对水稻幼苗的毒性效应

随着碳纳米管材料(CNTs)被广泛地应用于工业和商业等多个领域,其将不可避免地进入到大气、水和土壤环境中,从而对生态系统结构和功能产生一些负面影响.为明确进入水环境中的碳纳米管材料对农业生产的潜在危险,本实验采用水培法,研究了不同浓度(10、20、40mg·L~(-1))的单壁碳纳米管材料(SWCNTs)对萌发期内水稻的发芽率、根长耐性指数和幼苗生长期内水稻的鲜重、叶绿素和可溶性蛋白的影响,以及单壁碳纳米管材料在水稻根部的累积.结果表明,在萌发期,胁迫处理4 d后,与对照相比,10、20、40 mg·L-1SWCNTs处理组对水稻发芽率没有任何抑制作用,但会延迟种子的发芽时间;水稻根长耐性指数随着单壁碳纳米管材料浓度的增加而下降.在幼苗生长期,胁迫处理30 d后,与对照相比,水稻鲜重随着单壁碳纳米管材料浓度的增加而分别下降14.2%、21.0%和38.8%;与此相类似,水稻叶绿素和可溶性蛋白质含量随着单壁碳纳米管材料浓度的增加而下降;另外,通过透射电镜观察(TEM)发现,SWCNTs颗粒分布在水稻幼苗根尖表皮细胞的细胞壁中.SWCNTs对水稻生长起抑制作用,且随着浓度的增加抑制作用逐渐增强.     

不同有机废水厌氧产酸过程的研究

主要研究了不同类废弃有机物厌氧产酸过程中产生的挥发性脂肪酸的产量和组成比例。研究发现,废糖蜜溶液、蛋白废液和淀粉废液在达到最高产酸量时,超过50%的VFAs是乙酸,其次是丙酸,还含有少量的丁酸和戊酸。废甘油溶液在达到最高产酸量时,产生的VFAs的主要成分是丙酸。4种有机废液中,相同初始COD浓度条件下,淀粉废液产生的VFAs产量最多,初始COD为5000mg/L时最高产量为2.321g/L,其次是废甘油溶液,最高产量是2.244g/L。     

多年连续种植转基因Bt汕优63稻田水体和土壤中Cry1Ab/c蛋白残留调查

以湖北武汉、随州、武穴和孝感以及山东德州5个多年转基因水稻种植区为试验地,在水稻生育期采集转cry1 Ab/c基因水稻Bt汕优63(Bt-SY63)和对照非转基因汕优63(SY63)稻田水体和土壤,使用酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)方法对稻田水体和土壤Cry1 Ab/c蛋白残留量进行动态监测.结果显示,与SY63稻田相比,连续种植2～4 a后,不同生育期Bt-SY63稻田水体Cry1Ab/c蛋白残留量大多与同一生育期SY63样品间差异未达显著水平(P＞0.05),最高残留量为0.373 ng· mL-1.与水体Cry1Ab/c蛋白残留情况相似,不同生育期Bt-SY63稻田土壤Cry 1Ab/c蛋白残留量大都低于试剂盒检测限(0.25 ng·g-1),仅随州苗期、德州拔节期和开花期样品有微量残留,鲜土残留量分别为0.261、0.540和0.361 ng·g-1,并分别与SY63样品间差异显著(P＜0.05).另外,多年连续种植Bt-SY63水稻后,2、3和4a种植年限的Bt-SY63稻田水体和土壤中Cry1Ab/c蛋白残留量之间大都没有显著差异(P＞0.05).认为连续种植2、3和4a的Bt-SY63水稻稻田水体和土壤仅存在微量Cry1Ab/c蛋白残留,不会造成Cry1Ab/c蛋白在稻田水体和土壤中的累积.