Modification in growth, biomass and yield of radish under supplemental UV-B at different NPK levels

Growth, biomass, yield and quality characteristics of radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. Pusa Himani) were investigated under supplemental UV-B (sUV-B; 280-320 nm; +7.2 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹) radiation at varying levels of soil NPK. Combinations of NPK were recommended, 1.5 times NPK, 1.5 times N and 1.5 times K. sUV-B radiation negatively affected the growth and economic yield with more reductions at 1.5 times recommended NPK, N and K compared to recommended NPK. Total biomass remained unaffected in plants at recommended NPK under sUV-B radiation. At 1.5 times NPK and N more partitioning of biomass to shoot led to reduction in root shoot ratio and consequently yield under sUV-B. Nutrients in edible part declined maximally at 1.5 times recommended K under sUV-B. The study suggests that higher than recommended NPK makes radish plants more sensitive to sUV-B in terms of yield by allocating less photosynthates towards roots compared to shoots.     

Relationships between exogenous-toxin quantity and increased biomass of transgenic Bt crops under elevated carbon dioxide

Field-OTC experiments were conducted with the goals of ascertaining if increased biomass in Bt transgenic cotton and rice grown under elevated CO₂ results in diminished exogenous-Bt toxin, and assessing the effectiveness of Bt transgenes against lepidopteran pests. Bt cotton responded differently, in terms of Bt-toxin quantity, than Bt rice, and both indicated differences among developmental stages. Dramatic biomass increase significantly diluted Bt-toxin content in 45-DAS (“days after seedling”) petioles and shoots and 90-DAS Bt cotton squares, and in the 50-DAS tissues and 100-DAS leaf sheaths of Bt rice. Moreover, the dilution effect was partially responsible for decreased Bt-toxin in these tissues, but not responsible for significant decreases in Bt-toxin in 90-DAS Bt cotton leaves and bolls. Furthermore, elevated CO₂ significantly affected the fitness and performance of Chilo suppressalis, and the susceptible and resistant colonies of Helicoverpa armigera, although adversely affected Bt-gene expression for the transgenic cotton and rice.     

Low capacity to oxidize fat and body weight

For a given positive energy balance, a low capacity to oxidize fat could contribute to weight gain (low fat oxidation hypothesis). This hypothesis is based on the arguments that for a given stable diet and food quotient (FQ), the respiratory quotient (RQ) is higher in obesity prone (OP) than in obesity resistant individuals (OR) and that a high RQ predicts higher future weight gain. A review of 42 studies shows that there is no convincing experimental support to these arguments and thus for the low fat oxidation hypothesis. A power analysis also shows that this hypothesis might be impossible to experimentally confirm because very large numbers of subjects would be needed to reject the null hypotheses that the 24‐h RQ is not different in OP and OR or that future weight gain is not different in individuals with a low and high 24‐h RQ at baseline. A re‐examination of the significance of the 24‐hour and fasting RQ also shows that the assumption underlying the low fat oxidation hypothesis that a high RQ reflects a low capacity to oxidize fat is not valid: For a stable diet, the 24‐h RQ entirely depends on FQ and energy balance, and the fasting RQ mainly depends on the FQ and energy balance and on the size of glycogen stores.     

Indoor air pollution and health of children in biomass fuel-using households of Bangladesh: comparison between urban and rural areas

Objectives  

Indoor air pollutants from biomass combustion pose a risk for respiratory diseases in children. It is plausible that distinct differences in the indoor air quality (IAQ) exist between urban and rural areas in developing countries since the living environment between these two areas are quite different. We have investigated possible differences in IAQ in urban and rural Dhaka, Bangladesh and the association of such differences with the incidence of respiratory and some non-respiratory symptoms in children of families using biomass fuel.     

Effect of carbon-rich biochar on mechanical properties of PLA-biochar composites

Agricultural biomass residues are emerged from harvesting and processing of agricultural crops. When the crop production increases, a large amount of biomass residues is produced and remained after cutting of peel, bunch, straw and stalk of crops. In this work, agricultural biomass residues (cassava rhizome, durian peel, pineapple peel and corncob) were selected as feedstock for carbon-rich biochar (CRB) production using a facile pyrolysis method. Proximate analysis and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize biomass feedstock. The results showed that the percentage of fixed carbon in biomass feedstock ranged between 11.91% and 17.51%. Characteristic differences of the CRB were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. The carbon content in the CRB was found to significantly depend on biomass origin. Interestingly, cassava rhizome, which has a higher percentage of fixed carbon, is a superior precursor for CRB production. The study of different pyrolysis temperature indicated that the carbon content of cassava rhizome derived CRB is increased with pyrolysis temperature. The tensile properties of composite between poly(lactic acid) PLA and different types of biomass-derived CRB were investigated. PLA composite incorporated with a higher carbon content-CRB tended to exhibit improved mechanical properties. Specifically, the elastic modulus and impact energy of PLA/CRB composite specimens increased remarkably with the incorporation of CRB powder. The current research indicates that CRB prepared from agricultural biomass residues could be a sustainable material for utilization in PLA biocomposites.     

Association between biomass formation and the prognosis of infective endocarditis due to Staphylococcus aureus

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to evaluate the association between biomass formation and the clinical characteristics and prognosis of Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis (IE).MethodsWe prospectively studied 209 S. aureus strains causing IE. Biomass formation was examined using the crystal violet assay and quantified spectrophotometrically. The average (SD) optical density of the biomass was compared for each clinical, microbiological (methicillin-resistance, vancomycin MIC ≥ 1.5 μg/ml) and molecular (clonal complex, agr type and agr dysfunction) variable according to their presence or absence. The primary clinical endpoints studied were in-hospital death, severe sepsis, persistent bacteraemia, symptomatic peripheral embolisms and prosthetic valve IE.ResultsMean age was 66.1 years, 61.5% of patients were male and the median age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index was 5 points (IQR 3–8). In-hospital mortality was 37.3%. Strains belonging to CC5 and CC22 had optical biomass densities [mean (SD) 1.573 (1.14) vs 0.942 (0.98) p < 0.001 and 1.720 (0.94) vs 1.028 (1.04) p = 0.001, respectively]. Strains belonging to CC5 and CC22 had significantly higher optical biomass densities [1.369 (1.18) vs 0.920 (0.93) p = 0.008]. No statistically significant differences were found in the clinical endpoints studied.ConclusionsHigh biomass production was associated with CC5 and CC22 but not with higher hospital mortality, septic complications, type of endocarditis, methicillin-resistance, elevated vancomycin MIC or agr dysfunction.     

Haematological changes and up-regulation of P-selectin expression in circulating platelets of Indian women chronically exposed to emissions from biomass fuels

Blood cell counts and P-selectin expression of the circulating platelets of 37 Indian women that were chronically exposed to smoke from biomass fuel burning during cooking were evaluated. A total of 22 rural women that cook using LPG were simultaneously examined as controls. The biomass fuel users showed a significant reduction (p = < 0.05) in haemoglobin levels and erythrocyte counts and elevation (p = < 0.05) in total leukocytes, neutrophils and platelet counts. P-selectin expressing platelets were 8.6 ± 0.7% in biomass fuel users compared to 1.6 ± 0.2% in the controls. The absolute number of P-selectin expressing platelets was 8.3 times higher in biomass fuel users, and this increase also correlated with the number of years of exposure. The results demonstrated haematological alterations and remarkable activation of platelets in women chronically exposed to emissions from biomass fuel burning.     

Changes of respiratory system in mice exposed to PM4.0 or TSP from exhaust gases of combustion of cashew nut shell

Air pollution is a topic discussed all over the world and the search for alternatives to reduce it is of great interest to many researchers. The use of alternative energy sources and biofuels seems to be the environmentally safer solution. In this work, the deleterious effects on the respiratory system of mice exposed to PM_4.0 or TSP, present in exhaust gases from the combustion of CNS were investigated, through data from respiratory system mechanics, oxidative stress, histopathology and morphometry of the parenchyma pulmonary. The results show changes in all variables of respiratory system mechanics, in oxidative stress, the histopathological analysis and lung morphometry. The results provide experimental support for epidemiological observations of association between effects on the respiratory system and exposure to PM_4.0 or TSP from CNS combustion exhaust gases, even at acute exposure. It can serve as a basis for regulation or adjustment of environmental laws that control the emissions of these gases.     

Petroleomics: chemistry of the underworld

Each different molecular elemental composition-e.g., C(c)H(h)N(n)O(o)S(s)-has a different exact mass. With sufficiently high mass resolving power (m/Deltam(50%) approximately 400,000, in which m is molecular mass and Deltam(50%) is the mass spectral peak width at half-maximum peak height) and mass accuracy (<300 ppb) up to approximately 800 Da, now routinely available from high-field (>/=9.4 T) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, it is possible to resolve and identify uniquely and simultaneously each of the thousands of elemental compositions from the most complex natural organic mixtures, including petroleum crude oil. It is thus possible to separate and sort petroleum components according to their heteroatom class (N(n)O(o)S(s)), double bond equivalents (DBE = number of rings plus double bonds involving carbon, because each ring or double bond results in a loss of two hydrogen atoms), and carbon number. "Petroleomics" is the characterization of petroleum at the molecular level. From sufficiently complete characterization of the organic composition of petroleum and its products, it should be possible to correlate (and ultimately predict) their properties and behavior. Examples include molecular mass distribution, distillation profile, characterization of specific fractions without prior extraction or wet chemical separation from the original bulk material, biodegradation, maturity, water solubility (and oil:water emulsion behavior), deposits in oil wells and refineries, efficiency and specificity of catalytic hydroprocessing, "heavy ends" (asphaltenes) analysis, corrosion, etc.