Change in the H2 photoproduction capability in a synchronously grown aerobic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium,Synechococcus sp. Miami BG 043511

Synchronously growing cells of nitrogen-fixing Synechococcus sp. Miami BG 043511 were harvested periodically and the capability for hydrogen photoproduction in closed vessels was measured under hydrogen production conditions. The capability for hydrogen photoproduction in cells was correlated with that of cellular carbohydrate content. Cells with a high carbohydrate content exhibited a high capacity for hydrogen production and those with low carbohydrate content exhibited low capacity for hydrogen production. Nitrogenase activity at the onset of incubation did not coincide with a capability for the cells to produce hydrogen during the subsequent incubation period. Interestingly, when cells with a high capacity for hydrogen photoaccumulation were incubated, alternate periods of hydrogen and oxygen accumulation were observed at 12 hour intervals. About 0.5 ml of hydrogen per ml of cell suspension was accumulated in flasks during the initial 12-h incubation period. These observations indicate that the use of synchronous culture can be one of the ways of provide materials suitable not only for basic studies but also for applied aspects of hydrogen photoproduction.     

Isolation and Characterization of Anti-Inflammatory Sorbicillinoids from the Mangrove-Derived Fungus Penicillium sp. DM815

Marine derived fungus has gained increasing ground in the discovery of novel lead compounds with potent biological activities including anti-inflammation. Here, we first report the characterization of one new sorbicillinoid ( 1 ) and fourteen known compounds ( 2 – 15 ) from the ethyl acetate (AcOEt) extract of a cultured mangrove derived fungus Penicillium sp. DM815 by UV, IR, HR ESI-Q-TOF MS, and NMR spectra. We then evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of eleven sorbicillinoids ( 1 – 11 ) using cultured macrophage RAW264.7 cells. The results show that compound 9 , and to a lesser degree compound 5 , significantly inhibited the Gram-negative bacteria lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced upregulation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Consistently, compounds 5 and 9 significantly reduced the level of nitric oxide (NO), the product of iNOS, induced by LPS. We further show that these two compounds dose-dependently inhibited LPS-triggered iNOS expression and NO production, but had no effect on proliferation of RAW264.7 cells in the presence of LPS. In conclusion, our study identifies novel and known sorbicillinoids as potent anti-inflammatory agents, holding the promise of developing novel anti-inflammation treatment in the future.     

Toxicity of anethole and its effects on egg production of Ceratitis capitata Wied. (Dipt., tephritidae)

We report the effects of anethole on adult Ceratitis capitata Wied. (Diptera, Tephritidae) which cause serious damage to fruit crops. Because of the toxicological and environmental pollution due to the indiscriminate use of organophosphates against the endophagous larvae, the control of this pest is now mainly directed against the adults, by the application of bait sprays. Considerable toxic effects have been obtained by oral administration to adults of nutritive formulations containing 5% anethole with some hydrolised commercial proteins. In this test we observed high values of mortality (85% after 24 h) and a total inhibition of reproductive activity. The toxic effect produced by oral administration of the compound tested appears to be correlated to irreversible damage to the gut of the medfly. These results acquire a particular importance in view of the introduction of alternative methods for the control of the medfly. In particular, our objective is the testing of relevant formulations of this active principle in field. The use of anethole combined with protein baits, which can be used in the open field, is therefore particularly promising.     

Pollen production in some plant taxa with a supposed role in allergy in Eastern India

This paper deals with the production of pollen grains per anther per flower of 15 probably allergenic pollen producing angiospermic plant taxa growing in Eastern India. The selected plant taxa includesAilanthus excelsa, Alstonia scholaris, Argemone mexicana, Azadirachta indica, Cassia alata, C. siamea, Dalbergia sissoo, Holarrhena pubescens, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Madhuca indica, Milletia pinnata, Mimusops elengi, Morus alba, M. indica andMurraya paniculata. Among the investigated taxa,A. excelsa produces the highest number of pollen grains (1635180) followed byC. siamea (1589245) andA. mexicana (463800). The production of pollen grains is lowest inH. pubescens (2500), followed byA. scholaris (5175),A. indica (6220) andM. paniculata (11200).     

Influence of derived operation-specific tractor emission data on results from an LCI on wheat production

The shortage of data for emissions from agricultural tractors contributes to LCA results on environmental load from modern crop production possibly having high error levels and high uncertainties. The first part of this work describes measurements and calculations made in order to obtain operation-specific agricultural emission data. Calculations are based on emission data measured on a standard 70 kW tractor of a widely available make. In the second part, results from an LCI on wheat production based on traditionally used emission data are calculated and compared with results obtained when using the emission data for specific working operations derived in part one. One conclusion of the study is that the emission values, when related to the energy in the used fuel, show very large variations between different driving operations. Another conclusion is that the use of the new data results in a marked reduction of the total air emissions produced in the wheat production chain, especially for CO and HC, but also for NO_x and SO₂.     

Changes in the starvation response through covalent cell attachment

Covalent attachment of Candida utilis cells, possibly simulating natural microbial immobilizations, stimulated stable and significant enhancement of extracellular production of alkaline protease, specifically induced by four different starvation conditions. The enzyme analysis confirmed the identity of the proteases released under all conditions of starvation and no parallel production of other proteolytic enzyme. The enhancement phenomenon as a uniform and stable effect of the whole cell immobilization is discussed in relation to the effect of multipoint, cell-solid surface contact, potentially bringing positive modulations of complex, cellular functions.     

Künstliche Luzerneheubereitungsverfahren in Ungarn

Abstract

An experiment was performed with Rumen Simulation Technique (Rusitec) in which the fermentation of mixed ration of hay (12.8 g/d) and wheat bran (3.2 g/d) was compared with the fermentation of the same diet supplemented with 2.5 and 10 mg monensin. The duration of the experiment was 12 days. During the first six days the fermentation conditions in Rusitec were stabilised. The end products of fermentation and indices of protein synthesis were determined. The energy efficiency of volatile fatty acids (VFA), proportion of fermented hexose energy on VFA energy and on energy of bacterial matter were increased in the presence of monensin. The proportion of fermented hexose energy in methane energy was decreased. Utilization of glucose and production of adenosintriphosphate were not affected. The balance of metabolic H₂ was reduced and this was manifested in decreasing production, utilization and recovery of metabolic H₂. Microbial efficiency expressed per mol ATP (g/mol) was increased by monensin from 7.8 to 12.6. The indices of protein synthesis — protein conversion ratio, degradability of protein and microbial protein synthesis efficiency were increased and non protein utilization ratio decreased in the presence of monensin.

Es wurde ein Versuch nach der Pansensimulationsmethode durchge-führt, in dem die Fermentierung einer gemischten Ration aus Heu (12,8 g/d) und Weizenkleie (3,2 g/d) mit der Fermentierung der gleichen Ration unter Zusatz von 2, 5 und 10 mg Monensin/d verglichen wurde. Die Dauer des Versuchs betrug 12 Tage, wovon die ersten sechs Tage der Stabilisierung der Fermentierungsbedingungen im Rusitec-System dienten.

Es wurden die Endprodukte der Fermentierung und die Kennziffern der Proteinsynthese bestimmt. Die Energieausbeute an Flüchtigen Fettsäuren (FFS), der Energieanteil fermentierter Hexose an der FFS-Energie und der Energie an Bakterienmasse erhöhten sich bei Zusatz von Monensin. Der Energieanteil fermentierter Hexose an der Methanenergie verringerte sich. Die Ausnutzung von Glukose und die Produktion von Adenosintriphosphat waren unbeeinflußt. Die Bilanz von metabolischem H₂ war verringert, was sich im Absinken der Production, der Nutzung und der Wiederauffindung von metabolischem H₂ zeigte. Die mikrobielle Wirksamkeit pro mol ATP (g/mol) erhöhte sich durch Monensin von 7,8 auf 12,6. Die Kennziffern der Proteinsynthese, die Proteinkonversionsrate, die Abbaubarkeit von Protein und die mikrobielle Proteinsynthesewirksamkeit erhöhten sich und die NPN-Nutzungsrate verringerte sich in Gegenwart von Monensin.     

Eutrophication as an impact category

State of the art and research needs for the impact category eutrophication are discussed. Eutrophication is a difficult impact category because it includes emissions to both air and water — both subject to different environmental mechanisms — as well as impacts occurring in different types of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The possible fate processes are complex and include transportation between different ecosystems. In some recent approaches, transportation modelling of air emissions has been included. However, in general, the used characterisation methods do not integrate fate modelling, which is a limitation. The definition of the impact indicator needs further research, too. The inclusion of other nutrients than those typically considered should also be investigated.     

An assessment of nitrogen fixation as a source of nitrogen to the North Atlantic Ocean

The role of nitrogen fixation in the nitrogen cycle of the North Atlantic basin was re-evaluated because recent estimates had indicated a far higher rate than previous reports. Examination of the available data on nitrogen fixation rates and abundance ofTrichodesmium, the major nitrogen fixing organism, leads to the conclusion that rates might be as high as 1.09 × 10¹² mol N yr^–1. Several geochemical arguments are reviewed that each require a large nitrogen source that is consistent with nitrogen fixation, but the current data, although limited, do not support a sufficiently high rate. However, recent measurements of the fixation rates per colony are higher than the historical average, suggesting that improved methodology may require a re-evaluation through further measurements. The paucity of temporally resolved data on both rates and abundance for the major areal extent of the tropical Atlantic, where aeolian inputs of iron may foster high fixation rates, represents another major gap.