Removal ratio of gaseous toluene and xylene transported from air to root zone via the stem by indoor plants

This work was designed to investigate the removal efficiency as well as the ratios of toluene and xylene transported from air to root zone via the stem and by direct diffusion from the air into the medium. Indoor plants (Schefflera actinophylla and Ficus benghalensis) were placed in a sealed test chamber. Shoot or root zone were sealed with a Teflon bag, and gaseous toluene and xylene were exposed. Removal efficiency of toluene and total xylene (m, p, o) was 13.3 and 7.0 μg·m^?3·m^?2 leaf area over a 24-h period in S. actinophylla, and was 13.0 and 7.3 μg·m^?3·m^?2 leaf area in F. benghalensis. Gaseous toluene and xylene in a chamber were absorbed through leaf and transported via the stem, and finally reached to root zone, and also transported by direct diffusion from the air into the medium. Toluene and xylene transported via the stem was decreased with time after exposure. Xylene transported via the stem was higher than that by direct diffusion from the air into the medium over a 24-h period. The ratios of toluene transported via the stem versus direct diffusion from the air into the medium were 46.3 and 53.7 % in S. actinophylla, and 46.9 and 53.1 % in F. benghalensis, for an average of 47 and 53 % for both species. The ratios of m,p-xylene transported over 3 to 9 h via the stem versus direct diffusion from the air into the medium was 58.5 and 41.5 % in S. actinophylla, and 60.7 and 39.3 % in F. benghalensis, for an average of 60 and 40 % for both species, whereas the ratios of o-xylene transported via the stem versus direct diffusion from the air into the medium were 61 and 39 %. Both S. actinophylla and F. benghalensis removed toluene and xylene from the air. The ratios of toluene and xylene transported from air to root zone via the stem were 47 and 60 %, respectively. This result suggests that root zone is a significant contributor to gaseous toluene and xylene removal, and transported via the stem plays an important role in this process.     

Fate and transport of perfluoro- and polyfluoroalkyl substances including perfluorooctane sulfonamides in a managed urban water body

Transport and fate of perfluoro- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in an urban water body that receives mainly urban runoff was investigated. Water, suspended solids, and sediment samples were collected during the monsoon (wet) and inter-monsoon (dry) season at different sites and depths. Samples were analyzed for C7 to C12 perfluoroalkyl carboxylate homologues (PFCAs) (PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnA, PFDoA), perfluorohexane, perfluorooctane, and 6:2-fluorotelomer sulfonate (PFHxS, PFOS, and 6:2FtS, respectively), perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA), N-ethyl FOSA (sulfluramid), N-ethyl sulfonamidoethanol (N-EtFOSE), and N-methyl and N-ethyl sulfonamidoacetic acid (N-EtFOSAA and N-MeFOSAA, respectively). Concentrations in wet samples were only slightly higher. The sum total PFAS (ΣPFAS) concentrations dissolved in the aqueous phase and sorbed to suspended solids (SS) ranged from 107 to 253 ng/L and 11 to 158 ng/L, respectively. PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and PFDA contributed most (approximately 90 %) to the dissolved ΣPFASs. N-EtFOSA dominated the particulate PFAS burden in wet samples. K _D values of PFOA and PFOS calculated from paired SS and water concentrations varied widely (1.4 to 13.7 and 1.9 to 98.9 for PFOA and PFOS, respectively). Field derived K _D was significantly higher than laboratory K _D suggesting hydrophobic PFASs sorbed to SS resist desorption. The ΣPFAS concentrations in the top sedimentary layer ranged from 8 to 42 μg/kg and indicated preferential accumulation of the strongly sorbing long-chain PFASs. The occurrence of the metabolites N-MeFOSAA, N-EtFOSAA and FOSA in the water column and sediments may have resulted from biological or photochemical transformations of perfluorooctane sulfonamide precursors while the absence of FOSA, N-EtFOSA and 6:2FtS in sediments was consistent with biotransformation.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ailanthus Altissima</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites Australis</Emphasis> for chromium removal from a contaminated soil

The comparative effectiveness for hexavalent chromium removal from irrigation water, using two selected plant species (Phragmites australis and Ailanthus altissima) planted in soil contaminated with hexavalent chromium, has been studied in the present work. Total chromium removal from water was ranging from 55 % (Phragmites) to 61 % (Ailanthus). After 360 days, the contaminated soil dropped from 70 (initial) to 36 and 41 mg Cr/kg (dry soil), for Phragmites and Ailanthus, respectively. Phragmites accumulated the highest amount of chromium in the roots (1910 mg Cr/kg_{(dry tissue)}), compared with 358 mg Cr/kg_{(dry tissue)} for Ailanthus roots. Most of chromium was found in trivalent form in all plant tissues. Ailanthus had the lowest affinity for Cr^VI reduction in the root tissues. Phragmites indicated the highest chromium translocation potential, from roots to stems. Both plant species showed good potentialities to be used in phytoremediation installations for chromium removal.     

Proximate composition and mineral contents in the body wall of two species of sea cucumber from Oman Sea

The proximate composition and mineral contents of Stichopus horrens and Holothuria arenicola from Chabahar Bay were analyzed and investigated. During the present study, we aimed to demonstrate the nutritive value. The approximate percent composition of moisture, protein, fat, and ash were 92.8, 3.47, 0.4, and 3.33% in S. horrens and 93, 4.4, 0.6, and 2% in H. arenicola, respectively. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry of the ashes indicated the body wall of two species of sea cucumbers contained higher amounts of both macro minerals (92.5 mg/100 g Mg in S. horrens and 115 mg/100 g Mg in H. arenicola; 106.25 mg/100 g Ca in S. horrens and 83.25 mg/100 g Ca in H. arenicola) and trace elements (521.781 mg/100 g Fe in S. horrens; 60.354 mg/100 g Fe in H. arenicola, and 0.096 mg/100 g Zn in S. horrens; 0.04 mg/100 g Zn in H. arenicola). For both species, there were high content of protein and essential mineral. Also, they have low content of fat in the body wall of two species in the experiment.     

Haze is a risk factor contributing to the rapid spread of respiratory syncytial virus in children

This study investigated whether respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children was associated with ambient temperature and air pollutants in Hangzhou, China. A distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used to estimate the effects of daily meteorological data and air pollutants on the incidence of RSV infection among children. A total of 3650 childhood RSV infection cases were included in the study. The highest air pollutant concentrations were in January to May and October to December during the year. The yearly RSV-positive rate was 10.0 % among children with an average age of 4.3 months. The highest RSV-positive rate occurred among patients 0 to 3 months old. Children under 6.5 months old accounted for 80 % of the total patients infected by RSV. A negative correlation was found between ambient temperature and RSV infection, and it was strongest with minimum ambient temperature (r = ?0.804, P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between the infection rate and the particulate matter (PM) 2.5 (r = 0.446, P < 0.001), PM10 (r = 0.397, P < 0.001), SO₂ (r = 0.389, P < 0.001), NO₂ (r = 0.365, P < 0.001) and CO (r = 0.532, P < 0.001). The current study suggested that temperature was an important factor associated with RSV infection among children in Hangzhou. Air pollutants significantly increased the risk of RSV infection with dosage, lag and cumulative effects.     

Evaluation of the giant reed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arundo donax</Emphasis>) in horizontal subsurface flow wetlands for the treatment of recirculating aquaculture system effluent

Introduction

Two emergent macrophytes, Arundo donax and Phragmites australis, were established in experimental subsurface flow, gravel-based constructed wetlands (CWs) receiving untreated recirculating aquaculture system wastewater.

Materials and methods

The hydraulic loading rate was 3.75 cm day^?1. Many of the monitored water quality parameters (biological oxygen demand [BOD], total suspended solids [TSS], total phosphorus [TP], total nitrogen [TN], total ammoniacal nitrogen [TAN], nitrate nitrogen [NO₃], and Escherichia coli) were removed efficiently by the CWs, to the extent that the CW effluent was suitable for use on human food crops grown for raw produce consumption under Victorian state regulations and also suitable for reuse within aquaculture systems.

Results and discussion

The BOD, TSS, TP, TN, TAN, and E. coli removal in the A. donax and P. australis beds was 94%, 67%, 96%, 97%, 99.6%, and effectively 100% and 95%, 87%, 95%, 98%, 99.7%, and effectively 100%, respectively, with no significant difference (p?>?0.007) in performance between the A. donax and P. australis CWs. In this study, as expected, the aboveground yield of A. donax top growth (stems + leaves) (15.0?±?3.4 kg wet weight) was considerably more than the P. australis beds (7.4?±?2.8 kg wet weight). The standing crop produced in this short (14-week) trial equates to an estimated 125 and 77 t ?ha^?1 year^?1 biomass (dry weight) for A. donax and P. australis, respectively (assuming that plant growth is similar across a 250-day (September–April) growing season and a single-cut, annual harvest).

Conclusion

The similarity of the performance of the A. donax- and P. australis-planted beds indicates that either may be used in horizontal subsurface flow wetlands treating aquaculture wastewater, although the planting of A. donax provides additional opportunities for secondary income streams through utilization of the energy-rich biomass produced.

     

Amphibian recovery after a decrease in acidic precipitation

We here report the first sign of amphibian recovery after a strong decline due to acidic precipitation over many decades and peaking around 1980–90. In 2010, the pH level of ponds and small lakes in two heavily acidified areas in southwestern Scandinavia (Aust-Agder and Østfold in Norway) had risen significantly at an (arithmetic) average of 0.14 since 1988–89. Parallel with the general rise in pH, amphibians (Rana temporaria, R. arvalis, Bufo bufo, Lissotriton vulgaris, and Triturus cristatus) had become significantly more common: the frequency of amphibian localities rose from 33% to 49% (n = 115), and the average number of amphibian species per locality had risen from 0.51 to 0.88. In two other (reference) areas, one with better buffering capacity (Telemark, n = 21) and the other with much less input of acidic precipitation (Nord-Trøndelag, n = 106), there were no significant changes in pH or amphibians.     

Natural deep eutectic solvent mediated pretreatment of rice straw: bioanalytical characterization of lignin extract and enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated biomass residue

The present investigation demonstrated pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass rice straw using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs), and separation of high-quality lignin and holocellulose in a single step. Qualitative analysis of the NADES extract showed that the extracted lignin was of high purity (>90 %), and quantitative analysis showed that nearly 60?±?5 % (w/w) of total lignin was separated from the lignocellulosic biomass. Addition of 5.0 % (v/v) water during pretreatment significantly enhanced the total lignin extraction, and nearly 22?±?3 % more lignin was released from the residual biomass into the NADES extract. X-ray diffraction studies of the untreated and pretreated rice straw biomass showed that the crystallinity index ratio was marginally decreased from 46.4 to 44.3 %, indicating subtle structural alterations in the crystalline and amorphous regions of the cellulosic fractions. Thermogravimetric analysis of the pretreated biomass residue revealed a slightly higher T _dcp (295 °C) compared to the T _dcp (285 °C) of untreated biomass. Among the tested NADES reagents, lactic acid/choline chloride at molar ratio of 5:1 extracted maximum lignin of 68?±?4 mg g^?1 from the rice straw biomass, and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis of the residual holocellulose enriched biomass showed maximum reducing sugars of 333?±?11 mg g^?1 with a saccharification efficiency of 36.0?±?3.2 % in 24 h at 10 % solids loading.     

Low doses of chlorpyrifos interfere with spermatogenesis of rats through reduction of sex hormones

Use of pesticides results in indirect effects on human health. We aimed to evaluate implications of toxicological effects of subchronic chlorpyrifos exposure on reproductive function in male rats. A total of 48 adult Wistar male rats were separated into four groups (n = 12). Animals were gavaged with 2.5 mg/kg (T1), 5 mg/kg (T2), or 10 mg/kg (T3) body weight of chlorpyrifos (CPF) or distilled water (control) daily for 30 days. Organ weights, epididymal sperm parameters, DNA integrity, sex hormonal (FHS and LH) levels, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and creatinine concentrations were determined on day 31. Another two sets of (four groups/set; n = 10) animals were orally treated with the same doses of CPF, control animal groups were treated with distilled water only for 30 days, and fertility indices and blood plasma acetylcholine esterase (AchE) were determined on day 31. Exposure to CPF resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in weights of testis and epididymis. An increase in liver weight resulted in reduced sperm counts and sperm motility and an increase in sperm abnormalities. Significant reduction in serum testosterone (p < 0.01), luteinizing hormone (p < 0.05), and follicular stimulating hormone (p < 0.05) levels was evident in animals treated with the highest dose. A significant decrease in the number of viable implantation sites and pups was observed in female rats mated with the T3 (p < 0.01) and T2 (p < 0.05) males. The ALT, AST, GGT, and creatinine contents were significantly increased (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively) on CPF exposure. A significant (p < 0.01) reduction in blood plasma AchE enzyme was observed with the highest dose. Our results demonstrated that prolonged exposure of CPF induces spermatogenesis damage, possibly through interference with sex hormones and AchE enzyme resulting in reduction of fertility. Therefore, awareness programs on handling CPF (pesticides) to enhance safety warrant minimization of its hazards.     

Mixotrophic cultivation of microalgae using industrial flue gases for biodiesel production

In the present study, an attempt has been made to grow microalgae Scenedesmus quadricauda, Chlorella vulgaris and Botryococcus braunii in mixotropic cultivation mode using two different substrates, i.e. sewage and glucose as organic carbon sources along with flue gas inputs as inorganic carbon source. The experiments were carried out in 500 ml flasks with sewage and glucose-enriched media along with flue gas inputs. The composition of the flue gas was 7 % CO₂, 210 ppm of NO _x and 120 ppm of SO _x . The results showed that S. quadricauda grown in glucose-enriched medium yielded higher biomass, lipid and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) (biodiesel) yields of 2.6, 0.63 and 0.3 g/L, respectively. Whereas with sewage, the biomass, lipid and FAME yields of S. quadricauda were 1.9, 0.46, and 0.21 g/L, respectively. The other two species showed closer results as well. The glucose utilization was measured in terms of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) reduction, which was up to 93.75 % by S. quadricauda in the glucose-flue gas medium. In the sewage-flue gas medium, the COD removal was achieved up to 92 % by S. quadricauda. The other nutrients and pollutants from the sewage were removed up to 75 % on an average by the same. Concerning the flue gas treatment studies, S. quadricauda could remove CO₂ up to 85 % from the flue gas when grown in glucose medium and 81 % when grown in sewage. The SO _x and NO _x concentrations were reduced up to 50 and 62 %, respectively, by S. quadricauda in glucose-flue gas medium. Whereas, in the sewage-flue gas medium, the SO _x and NO _x concentrations were reduced up to 45 and 50 %, respectively, by the same. The other two species were equally efficient however with little less significant yields and removal percentages. This study laid emphasis on comparing the feasibility in utilization of readily available carbon sources like glucose and inexpensive leftover carbon sources like sewage by microalgae to generate energy coupled with economical remediation of waste. Therefore on an industrial scale, the sewage is more preferable. Because the results obtained in the laboratory demonstrated both sewage and glucose-enriched nutrient medium are equally efficient for algae cultivation with just a slight difference. Essentially, the sewage is cost effective and easily available in large quantities compared to glucose.     

Isolation and characterization of two novel psychrotrophic decabromodiphenyl ether-degrading bacteria from river sediments

Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) is a brominated flame retardant and a priority contaminant. Currently, little information is available about its significance in the environment, specifically about its susceptibility to aerobic biotransformation at low temperature. In this work, five phylogenetically diverse BDE-209-degrading bacterial strains were isolated from river sediments of northern China. These strains were distributed among four different genera—Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Staphylococcus. All five isolates were capable of growing on BDE-209, among which two isolates show better growth. By detailed morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, the two strains were identified and named as Staphylococcus haemolyticus LY1 and Bacillus pumilus LY2. The two bacteria can grow in mineral salt medium containing BDE-209 substrate across the temperatures ranging from 2.5 to 35 °C, with an optimum temperature of 25 °C which could be considered as psychrotrophs accordingly. The degradation experiment showed that more than 70.6 and 85.5 % of 0.5 mg/L BDE-209 were degraded and the highest mineralization efficiencies of 29.8 and 39.2 % were achieved for 0.5 mg/L BDE-209 by S. haemolyticus LY1 and B. pumilus LY2, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration for the biodegradation of BDE-209 by two psychrotrophic bacteria isolated from environment.     

Diversity of active microbial communities subjected to long-term exposure to chemical contaminants along a 40-year-old sediment core

In estuarine ecosystems, metallic and organic contaminants are mainly associated with fine grain sediments which settle on mudflats. Over time, the layers of sediment accumulate and are then transformed by diagenetic processes mainly controlled by microbial activity, recording the history of the estuary’s chemical contamination. In an environment of this specific type, we investigated the evolution of the chemical contamination and the structure of both total and active microbial communities, based on PhyloChip analysis of a 4.6-m core corresponding to a 40-year sedimentary record. While the archaeal abundance remained constant along the core, a decrease by one order of magnitude in the bacterial abundance was observed with depth. Both total and active microbial communities were dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes in all sediment samples. Among Proteobacteria, alpha-Proteobacteria dominated both total (from 37 to 60 %) and metabolically active (from 19.7 to 34.6 %) communities, including the Rhizobiales, Rhodobacter, Caulobacterales, and Sphingomonadales orders. Co-inertia analysis revealed a relationship between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, zinc and some polychlorobiphenyls concentrations, and the structure of total and active microbial communities in the oldest and most contaminated sediments (from 1970 to 1975), suggesting that long-term exposure to chemicals shaped the structure of the microbial community.     

Development of a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of the invasive Mediterranean fanworm, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sabella spallanzanii</Emphasis>, in environmental samples

The Mediterranean fanworm, Sabella spallanzanii Gmelin 1791, was first detected in the Southern Hemisphere in the 1990s and is now abundant in many parts of southern Australia and in several locations around northern New Zealand. Once established, it can proliferate rapidly, reaching high densities with potential ecological and economic impacts. Early detection of new S. spallanzanii incursions is important to prevent its spread, guide eradication or control efforts and to increase knowledge on the species’ dispersal pathways. In this study, we developed a TaqMan probe real-time polymerase chain reaction assay targeting a region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene. The assay was validated in silico and in vitro using DNA from New Zealand and Australian Sabellidae with no cross-reactivity detected. The assay has a linear range of detection over seven orders of magnitude with a limit of detection reached at 12.4 × 10^?4 ng/μL of DNA. We analysed 145 environmental (water, sediment and biofouling) samples and obtained positive detections only from spiked samples and those collected at a port where S. spallanzanii is known to be established. This assay has the potential to enhance current morphological and molecular-based methods, through its ability to rapidly and accurately identify S. spallanzanii in environmental samples.     

Effect of heavy metals on tissue-specific antioxidant response in Indian major carps

Concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd and Pb) were measured in sediments, water and liver and kidney tissues of three Indian major carps (Labeo rohita, Catla catla and Cirrhinus cirrhosus), belonging to two different weight groups (250 and 500 g), collected from ponds at two different sites (Nalban bheri and Diamond Harbour). The tissues were analysed for the levels of different antioxidant defence systems such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GRd), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Concentrations of all the metals were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in sediment, water and the tissues from Nalban bheri compared to those in Diamond Harbour. Metal concentrations were the lowest in C. cirrhosus, which increased with an increase in fish weight, and the liver accumulated higher amount of metals than the kidney. Activities of all enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant parameters except GPx and GRd were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the tissues from Nalban bheri than those in Diamond Harbour. Significant multicollinearity was found in the values of SOD, CAT, GST, GRd, GPx and MDA with Pb, Cu and Ni in all three fish species at Nalban and with Cd in L. rohita and C. catla. Principal component analysis results revealed that stress response in a polluted site was directly regulated by an amalgamation of GSH profile and the levels of MDA in a synchronized manner. The study indicated a tissue-specific and species-specific difference for heavy metal-induced oxidative stress response in fish and a correlation between different heavy metals and individual oxidative stress markers.     

Green synthesis and characterization of gold and silver nanoparticles using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mussaenda glabrata</Emphasis> leaf extract and their environmental applications to dye degradation

Plant-derived nanomaterials opened a green approach in solving the current environment issues. Present study focused on rapid microwave-assisted synthesis and applications of gold and silver nanoparticles mediated by aqueous leaf extract of Mussaenda glabrata. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV-vis, FT-IR, powder XRD, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron (TEM), and atomic force microscopic techniques (AFM). FCC crystal structure of both nanoparticles was confirmed by peaks corresponding to (111), (200), (220), and (311) planes in XRD spectra and bright circular spots in SAED pattern. IC₅₀ values shown by gold and silver nanoparticles (44.1 ± 0.82 and 57.92 ± 1.33 μg/mL) reflected their high free radical scavenging potential. The synthesized gold and silver nanoparticles revealed their potency to inhibit pathogenic microorganisms Bacillus pumilus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium chrysogenum. Anthropogenic pollutants rhodamine B and methyl orange were effectively degraded from aquatic environment and waste water sewages of dye industries using the prepared nanocatalysts. The catalytic capacities of the synthesized nanoparticles were also exploited in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol.

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Graphical abstract

     

Biodegradation of toluene vapor in coir based upflow packed bed reactor by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma asperellum</Emphasis> isolate

In the present study, a new biofiltration system involving a selective microbial strain isolated from aerated municipal sewage water attached with coir as packing material was developed for toluene degradation. The selected fungal isolate was identified as Trichoderma asperellum by 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) sequencing method, and pylogenetic tree was constructed using BLASTn search. Effect of various factors on growth and toluene degradation by newly isolated T. asperellum was studied in batch studies, and the optimum conditions were found to be pH 7.0, temperature 30 °C, and initial toluene concentration 1.5 (v/v)%. Continuous removal of gaseous toluene was monitored in upflow packed bed reactor (UFPBR) using T. asperellum. Effect of various parameters like column height, flow rate, and the inlet toluene concentration were studied to evaluate the performance of the biofilter. The maximum elimination capacity (257 g m^?3 h^?1) was obtained with the packing height of 100 cm with the empty bed residence time of 5 min. Under these optimum conditions, the T. asperellum showed better toluene removal efficiency. Kinetic models have been developed for toluene degradation by T. asperellum using macrokinetic approach of the plug flow model incorporated with Monod model.     

Study on preparation method of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zanthoxylum bungeanum</Emphasis> seeds kernel oil with zero trans-fatty acids

The seed of Zanthoxylum bungeanum (Z. bungeanum) is a by-product of pepper production and rich in unsaturated fatty acid, cellulose, and protein. The seed oil obtained from traditional producing process by squeezing or extracting would be bad quality and could not be used as edible oil. In this paper, a new preparation method of Z. bungeanum seed kernel oil (ZSKO) was developed by comparing the advantages and disadvantages of alkali saponification-cold squeezing, alkali saponification-solvent extraction, and alkali saponification-supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide (SFE-CO₂). The results showed that the alkali saponification-cold squeezing could be the optimal preparation method of ZSKO, which contained the following steps: Z. bungeanum seed was pretreated by alkali saponification under the conditions of adding 10 %NaOH (w/w), solution temperature was 80 °C, and saponification reaction time was 45 min, and pretreated seed was separated by filtering, water washing, and overnight drying at 50 °C, then repeated squeezing was taken until no oil generated at 60 °C with 15 % moisture content, and ZSKO was attained finally using centrifuge. The produced ZSKO contained more than 90 % unsaturated fatty acids and no trans-fatty acids and be testified as a good edible oil with low-value level of acid and peroxide. It was demonstrated that the alkali saponification-cold squeezing process could be scaled up and applied to industrialized production of ZSKO.     

Enhanced UV-B and Elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Impacts Sub-Arctic Shrub Berry Abundance,Quality and Seed Germination

This study investigated the effects of long-term-enhanced UV-B, and combined UV-B with elevated CO₂ on dwarf shrub berry characteristics in a sub-arctic heath community. Germination of Vaccinium myrtillus was enhanced in seeds produced at elevated UV-B, but seed numbers and berry size were unaffected. Elevated UV-B and CO₂ stimulated the abundance of V. myrtillus berries, whilst UV-B alone stimulated the berry abundance of V. vitis-idaea and Empetrum hermaphroditum. Enhanced UV-B reduced concentrations of several polyphenolics in V. myrtillus berries, whilst elevated CO₂ increased quercetin glycosides in V. myrtillus, and syringetin glycosides and anthocyanins in E. hermaphroditum berries. UV-B × CO₂ interactions were found for total anthocyanins, delphinidin-3-hexoside and peonidin-3-pentosidein in V. myrtillus berries but not E. hermaphroditum. Results suggest positive impacts of UV-B on the germination of V. myrtillus and species-specific impacts of UV-B × elevated CO₂ on berry abundance and quality. The findings have relevance and implications for human and animal consumers plus seed dispersal and seedling establishment.     

Toxicity evaluation of cypermethrin,glyphosate, and malathion,on two indigenous zooplanktonic species

In Aguascalientes, Mexico, there is a special concern about pesticides because of their intensive use on guava production areas, which are located in the vicinity of water reservoirs; thus, non-target organisms could be exposed. Thereafter, the aim of this work was to assess the effect of cypermethrin, Faena® (glyphosate), and malathion, which are the most used pesticides in Aguascalientes’ guava production, on the indigenous freshwater species Alona guttata (cladoceran) and Lecane papuana (rotifer). Acute 48-h toxicity tests were carried out, and LC₅₀ values were calculated. Then, five sublethal concentrations (1/80, 1/40, 1/20, 1/10, and 1/5 of the respective LC₅₀) were selected for the chronic assays: (a) intrinsic growth rate analysis in the rotifer and (b) partial life table analysis in the cladoceran. The results of the acute toxicity tests showed that A. guttata was more sensitive to malathion (LC₅₀ = 5.26 × 10^?3 mg/L) at concentrations found in natural environments with continuous application on guava fields, whereas L. papuana was more sensitive to Faena® (LC₅₀ = 19.89 mg/L). The somatic growth of A. guttata was inhibited for the chronic exposure to cypermethrin. In addition, cypermethrin and Faena® seemed to exert endocrine disruptive effects on A. guttata. Moreover, malathion chronic exposure significantly decreased the survival of A. guttata. Moreover, L. papuana was affected chronically for the three pesticides.