Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 41
Filter
1.
Science ; 379(6638): eade8416, 2023 03 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36952416

ABSTRACT

The use of alkaline salt lands for crop production is hindered by a scarcity of knowledge and breeding efforts for plant alkaline tolerance. Through genome association analysis of sorghum, a naturally high-alkaline-tolerant crop, we detected a major locus, Alkaline Tolerance 1 (AT1), specifically related to alkaline-salinity sensitivity. An at1 allele with a carboxyl-terminal truncation increased sensitivity, whereas knockout of AT1 increased tolerance to alkalinity in sorghum, millet, rice, and maize. AT1 encodes an atypical G protein γ subunit that affects the phosphorylation of aquaporins to modulate the distribution of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). These processes appear to protect plants against oxidative stress by alkali. Designing knockouts of AT1 homologs or selecting its natural nonfunctional alleles could improve crop productivity in sodic lands.


Subject(s)
Alkalies , Crops, Agricultural , GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits , Plant Proteins , Salt Tolerance , Sorghum , Crops, Agricultural/genetics , Crops, Agricultural/physiology , Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism , Oryza/genetics , Oryza/physiology , Oxidative Stress/genetics , Plant Breeding , Salinity , Alkalies/analysis , Alkalies/toxicity , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Sodium Bicarbonate/toxicity , Carbonates/analysis , Carbonates/toxicity , Salt Tolerance/genetics , Sorghum/genetics , Sorghum/physiology , GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits/genetics , GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits/physiology , Plant Proteins/genetics , Plant Proteins/physiology , Aquaporins/metabolism , Crop Production , Genetic Loci , Soil/chemistry
2.
Int. j. high dilution res ; 21(2): 2-3, May 6, 2022.
Article in English | LILACS, HomeoIndex Homeopathy | ID: biblio-1396754

ABSTRACT

Homeopathy is controversial because using highly dilute medicines (high homeopathic potencies, HHP) beyond the Avogadro/Loschmidt limit. Previous publications [1,2] using NMR relaxation revealed the involvement of nanobubbles and/or nanoparticles and/or nanometric superstructures in high potentizations. Nano Tracking Analyse (NTA) demonstrated the presence of particles in HHPs [3,4]. WithSEM-EDX [5] we observed an ionic diversity common to all preparations including HHPs and significant differences in the relative quantity of each ion between different homeopathic manufacturing lines and controls. FTIR spectroscopy [6] shows that the molecular composition is that of carbonates, primarily sodium bicarbonate.Methods:To observe the materiality of homeopathic medicines a multidisciplinary approach is necessary. In collaboration with several universities,we canobserve these medications with NMR, NTA, SEM-EDX, FTIR, pH,and EPA. Results:The essential component of all already studied homeopathic medicines is sodium hydrogen carbonate modulated by some other elements in a specific quantity, size,and shape. The probability that the observed results could have occurred just by random chance can be rejected(significantlyabove the Avogadro limit) p < 0,001.Conclusions:The homeopathic medicines do contain material with a specific ionic composition even in HHPs diluted beyond the Avogadro/Loschmidt limit. This specificity can be attributed to the manufacturing process. These results demonstrate that the step-by-step process (dynamized or not) does not match the theoretical expectations in a dilution process. The starting material and dilution/dynamization method influencethe nature of these NPs. The role of carbonates and sodium bicarbonate must be carefully studied in the future. Its aqueous solution is alkaline in nature but itis an amphoteric compound, which means that the compound has both acidic as well as alkaline character. The reaction with acids results in sodium salts and carbonic acid and the reaction with the basic solution producescarbonates and water. Specific electric fields are indeed detectable.


Subject(s)
Materia Medica , Dynamization , Nanoparticles , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis
3.
Artif Organs ; 45(12): 1576-1581, 2021 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34637152

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hemodialysis corrects metabolic acidosis by transferring bicarbonate or bicarbonate equivalents across the dialysis membrane from the dialysis fluid to the plasma. With the conventional three-stream bicarbonate-based dialysis fluid delivery system, a change in the bicarbonate concentration results in changes in the other electrolytes. In practice, the dialysis machine draws either a little less or more from the bicarbonate concentrate and a little more or less from the acid concentrate, respectively in a three-stream delivery system. The result not only changes the bicarbonate concentration of the final dialysis fluid but also causes a minor change in the other ingredients. METHODS: We propose a four-stream bicarbonate-based dialysis fluid delivery system consisting of an acid concentrate, a base concentrate, a product water, and a new sodium chloride concentrate. RESULTS: By adjusting the flow rate ratio between the sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate concentrates, one can achieve the desired bicarbonate concentration in the dialysis fluid without changing the concentration of sodium or ingredients in the acid concentrate. The chloride concentration mirrors the change in bicarbonate but in the opposite direction. CONCLUSION: A four-stream, bicarbonate-based dialysis fluid delivery system allows the bicarbonate concentration to be changed without changing the other constituents of the final dialysis fluid.


Subject(s)
Dialysis Solutions/chemistry , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Sodium Chloride/analysis , Humans , Renal Dialysis/methods
4.
Artif Organs ; 45(7): 779-783, 2021 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33534933

ABSTRACT

We propose a new 45X, four-stream, triple-concentrate, bicarbonate-based dialysis fluid delivery system, allowing a wide range of dialysis fluid sodium concentrations\\ (DFNa ) without affecting the concentrations of other crucial solutes. The four streams consist of product water (W), and concentrates with sodium chloride (S), acid (A), and sodium bicarbonate (B). An adjustment in the DFNa in this new system requires changes only in the W and S concentrate streams. The ingredients in A and B concentrates do not change.


Subject(s)
Dialysis Solutions/chemistry , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Sodium Chloride/analysis , Humans , Renal Dialysis
5.
Arch Microbiol ; 203(4): 1439-1450, 2021 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33392625

ABSTRACT

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is one of the most characterized green algae. The open-pond cultivation can be challenging due to sensitivity of strain to fluctuating environmental conditions and unavailability of low-cost photoautotrophic media. In this study, the photoautotrophic growth of C. reinhardtii was evaluated in 1-m2 open ponds placed in greenhouse. Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) was evaluated as an alternative buffering agent to tris. The effect of buffer and pH was tested. The growth was studied in the presence of various nitrogen [urea and ammonium bicarbonate (NH4HCO3)] sources. In the study, it was found that 125-ppm NaHCO3 as an optimum concentration. The buffering agent in the media was found to have major impact on growth. Without buffering agent, culture did not grow, and pH drop was observed. The sodium bicarbonate-buffered media reported to have the lowest bacterial contamination (18.3%), highest AFDW per OD (0.39 ± 0.027 g/L) and higher Fv/Fm (0.714 ± 0.016), whereas these values were found to be 62%, 0.19 ± 0.02 g/L and 0.537 ± 0.053 for tris-grown culture, respectively. The pH 7.0-7.5 was determined as an optimum, whereas pH 6.5-7.0 and 8.0-8.5 were found to affect the growth and induce palmelloidy. The OD and AFDW of culture grown in NH4HCO3 were found equivalent to a standard nitrogen source (NH4Cl), whereas culture shown poor growth in urea. Based on these data, NH4HCO3 media recipe and the optimized cultivation parameters were selected for photoautotrophic cultivation of Chlamydomonas in greenhouse open ponds.


Subject(s)
Autotrophic Processes , Chlamydomonas reinhardtii/growth & development , Phototrophic Processes , Ponds/chemistry , Chlamydomonas reinhardtii/metabolism , Culture Media/chemistry , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Nitrogen/analysis , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis
6.
Chemosphere ; 236: 124358, 2019 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31330435

ABSTRACT

In the present study, the mineralization performance and pathway of uric acid (UA) on boron-doped diamond (BDD) anodes were investigated. The oxidation behavior of UA on BDD surface was firstly tested through cyclic voltammetry measurements. The individual and joint effects of four quantitative parameters (applied current density, NaHCO3 concentration, NaCl concentration and flow rate) on UA mineralization were then examined with Doehlert experimental design. The results acquired by statistical analysis revealed that NaCl concentration and applied current density displayed the most dominant roles on UA degradation, while the influences of NaHCO3 concentration and flow rate were statistically insignificant. As a result, the following optimal conditions were reached: applied current density of 7.80 mA cm-2, NaHCO3 concentration of 6.0 mM, NaCl concentration of 9.0 mM and flow rate of 600 mL min-1, which gave a TOC decay of 89.4%, a specific energy consumption of 125.36 KWh kg-1 TOC, a combustion current efficiency of 15.0% and an electrical energy per order of 35.79 KWh m-3 order-1 within 30 min of electrolysis. Further results from LC/MS analysis confirmed the ring rupture of UA during the electrolysis, due to the attack of hydroxyl radicals and active chlorine species. Accordingly, two plausible degradation pathways of UA in bicarbonate and chloride media on BDD anode were proposed respectively.


Subject(s)
Boron/chemistry , Electrochemical Techniques/methods , Uric Acid/chemistry , Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry , Diamond , Electricity , Electrodes , Electrolysis , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Hydroxyl Radical , Oxidation-Reduction , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Sodium Chloride/analysis
7.
PLoS One ; 13(8): e0202205, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30125301

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to evaluate the definition of water chemical type, with particular attention to soda brine characteristics by assessing ionic composition and pH values on a large geographic scale and broad salinity (TDS) range of Eurasian inland saline surface waters, in order to rectify the considerable confusion about the exact chemical classification of soda lakes and pans. Data on pH and on the concentration of eight major ions were compiled into a database drawn from Austria, China, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Serbia, and Turkey. The classification was primarily based on dominant ions exceeding an equivalent percentage of 25 (> 25e%) of the total cations or anions, and the e% rank of dominant ions was also identified. We identified four major types: waters dominated by (1) Na-HCO3 (10.0%), (2) Na-HCO3 + CO3 (31.4%), (3) Na-Cl (45.9%), and (4) Na-SO4 (12.7%), considering only the first ion by e% rank. These major types can be divided into 30 subtypes in the dataset, taking into account the e% rank of all dominant ions. The major and subtypes of soda brine can be divided into "Soda" and "Soda-Saline" types. "Soda type" when Na+ and HCO3- + CO3(2-) are the first in the rank of dominant ions (> 25e%), and "Soda-Saline type" when Na+ is the first in the rank of dominant cations and the sum of HCO3- + CO3(2-) concentration exceeds 25e%, but it is not the first in the rank of dominant anions. Soda-saline type can be considered as a separate evolutionary stage between Soda and Saline types respect to the geochemical interpretation by saturation indexes of brines. The obtained overlapping ranges in distribution demonstrate that a pH measurement alone is not a reliable indicator to classify the permanent alkaline "soda type" and various other types of temporary alkaline waters.


Subject(s)
Lakes/chemistry , Asia , Carbonates/analysis , Europe , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Salinity , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Sodium Chloride/analysis , Sulfates/analysis
8.
Int J Biometeorol ; 62(5): 897-905, 2018 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29322254

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of balneotherapy on chronic low back pain. This is a minimized, follow-up study evaluated according to the analysis of intention to treat. The subjects included in the study were 105 patients suffering from chronic low back pain. The control group (n = 53) received the traditional musculoskeletal pain killer treatment, while the target group (n = 52) attended thermal mineral water treatment for 3 weeks for 15 occasions on top of the usual musculoskeletal pain killer treatment. The following parameters were measured before, right after, and 9 weeks after the 3-week therapy: the level of low back pain in rest and the level during activity are tested using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS); specific questionnaire on the back pain (Oswestry); and a questionnaire on quality of life (EuroQual-5D). All of the investigated parameters improved significantly (p < 0.001) in the target group by the end of the treatment compared to the base period, and this improvement was persistent during the follow-up period. There were no significant changes in the measured parameters in the control group. Based on our results, balneotherapy might have favorable impact on the clinical parameters and quality of life of patients suffering from chronic low back pain.


Subject(s)
Balneology , Bicarbonates/therapeutic use , Low Back Pain/therapy , Magnesium/therapeutic use , Mineral Waters/therapeutic use , Sodium Bicarbonate/therapeutic use , Aged , Bicarbonates/analysis , Chronic Disease , Female , Humans , Magnesium/analysis , Male , Middle Aged , Mineral Waters/analysis , Pain Measurement , Quality of Life , Single-Blind Method , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis
9.
Talanta ; 150: 622-8, 2016 Apr 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26838451

ABSTRACT

This article demonstrates an example of a wearable chemical sensor based on a fingernail platform. Fingernails represent an attractive wearable platform, merging beauty products with chemical sensing, to enable monitoring of our surrounding environment. The new colorimetric pH fingernail sensor relies on coating artificial nails with a recognition layer consisted of pH indicators entrapped in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix. Such color changing fingernails offer fast and reversible response to pH changes, repeated use, and intense color change detected easily with naked eye. The PVC matrix prevents leaching out of the indicator molecules from the fingernail sensor toward such repeated use. The limited narrow working pH range of a single pH indicator has been addressed by multiplexing three different pH indicators: bromothymol blue (pH 6.0-7.6), bromocresol green (pH 3.8-5.4), and cresol red (pH 7.2-8.8), as demonstrated for analyses of real-life samples of acidic, neutral, and basic character. The new concept of an optical wearable chemical sensor on fingernail platforms can be expanded towards diverse analytes for various applications in connection to the judicious design of the recognition layer.


Subject(s)
Biosensing Techniques/methods , Citrus/chemistry , Drinking Water/analysis , Fruit and Vegetable Juices/analysis , Nails/chemistry , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Colorimetry , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
10.
Food Microbiol ; 50: 102-8, 2015 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25998822

ABSTRACT

In the present study, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of neutral electrolyzed water (NEW) against 14 strains of spoilage Pseudomonas of fresh cut vegetables under cold storage. The NEW, produced from solutions of potassium and sodium chloride, and sodium bicarbonate developed up to 4000 mg/L of free chlorine, depending on the salt and relative concentration used. The antimicrobial effect of the NEW was evaluated against different bacterial strains at 10(5) cells/ml, with different combinations of free chlorine concentration/contact time; all concentrations above 100 mg/L, regardless of the salt used, were found to be bactericidal already after 2 min. When catalogna chicory and lettuce leaves were dipped for 5 min in diluted NEW, microbial loads of mesophilic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae were reduced on average of 1.7 log cfu/g. In addition, when lettuce leaves were dipped in a cellular suspension of the spoiler Pseudomonas chicorii I3C strain, diluted NEW was able to reduce Pseudomonas population of about 1.0 log cfu/g. Thanks to its high antimicrobial activity against spoilage microorganisms, and low cost of operation, the application of cycles of electrolysis to the washing water looks as an effective tool in controlling fresh cut vegetable microbial spoilage contamination occurring during washing steps.


Subject(s)
Chlorine/analysis , Enterobacteriaceae/physiology , Food Contamination/prevention & control , Pseudomonas/physiology , Vegetables/microbiology , Water/chemistry , Bacterial Load , Cichorium intybus/microbiology , Colony Count, Microbial , Disinfectants/analysis , Electrolysis/economics , Electrolysis/methods , Enterobacteriaceae/drug effects , Food Microbiology/methods , Lactuca/microbiology , Potassium Chloride/analysis , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Sodium Chloride/analysis
11.
Environ Toxicol Chem ; 33(9): 2086-93, 2014 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24909548

ABSTRACT

Some tributaries in the Powder River Structural Basin, USA, were historically ephemeral, but now contain water year round as a result of discharge of coalbed natural gas (CBNG)-produced waters. This presented the opportunity to study field sites with 100% effluent water with elevated concentrations of sodium bicarbonate. In situ experiments, static renewal experiments performed simultaneously with in situ experiments, and static renewal experiments performed with site water in the laboratory demonstrated that CBNG-produced water reduces survival of fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) and pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus). Age affected survival of fathead minnow, where fish 2 d posthatch (dph) were more sensitive than 6 dph fish, but pallid sturgeon survival was adversely affected at both 4 and 6 dph. This may have implications for acute assays that allow for the use of fish up to 14 dph. The survival of early lifestage fish is reduced significantly in the field when concentrations of NaHCO(3) rise to more than 1500 mg/L (also expressed as >1245 mg HCO(3) (-) /L). Treatment with the Higgin's Loop technology and dilution of untreated water increased survival in the laboratory. The mixing zones of the 3 outfalls studied ranged from approximately 800 m to 1200 m below the confluence. These experiments addressed the acute toxicity of effluent waters but did not address issues related to the volumes of water that may be added to the watershed.


Subject(s)
Fishes/physiology , Natural Gas/toxicity , Sodium Bicarbonate/toxicity , Wastewater/toxicity , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity , Animals , Cyprinidae/physiology , Rivers/chemistry , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Wastewater/analysis , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis
12.
Biotechnol Prog ; 30(1): 241-8, 2014.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24665480

ABSTRACT

Monitoring mammalian cell culture with UV­vis spectroscopy has not been widely explored. The aim of this work was to calibrate Partial Least Squares (PLS) models from off-line UV­vis spectral data in order to predict some nutrients and metabolites, as well as viable cell concentrations for mammalian cell bioprocess using phenol red in culture medium. The BHK-21 cell line was used as a mammalian cell model. Spectra of samples taken from batches performed at different dissolved oxygen concentrations (10, 30, 50, and 70% air saturation), in two bioreactor configurations and with two strategies to control pH were used to calibrate and validate PLS models. Glutamine, glutamate, glucose, and lactate concentrations were suitably predicted by means of this strategy. Especially for glutamine and glucose concentrations, the prediction error averages were lower than 0.5060.10 mM and 2.2160.16 mM, respectively. These values are comparable with those previously reported using near infrared and Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with PLS. However, viable cell concentration models need to be improved. The present work allows for UV­vis at-line sensor development, decrease cost related to nutrients and metabolite quantifications and establishment of fed-batch feeding schemes.


Subject(s)
Bioreactors , Cell Culture Techniques/methods , Cell Proliferation , Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet/methods , Animals , Calibration , Cell Line , Culture Media/chemistry , Culture Media/metabolism , Least-Squares Analysis , Multivariate Analysis , Oxygen/analysis , Oxygen/metabolism , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Sodium Bicarbonate/metabolism
13.
J Hazard Mater ; 267: 221-8, 2014 Feb 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24462891

ABSTRACT

A new type of ion imprinted polymer (IIP) embedded with γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (γ-MPS) coated magnetic particles for selective extraction of uranyl ions was synthesized by bulk polymerization. The performance of the magnetic sorbent on the extraction of U(VI) was evaluated by various parameters which included the influence of pH, amount of the magnetic polymers, contact time and initial U(VI) concentration. The adsorption capacity of the magnetic polymers was found to be 1.1 and 0.95mgg(-1) for the IIP and its control ion non-imprinted polymer (NIP), respectively. The optimum amount of the sorbent was 50mg for an initial concentration of 2.5mgL(-1). The prepared magnetic imprinted sorbent displayed an uptake with a time of 45min considered optimum. The magnetic polymer displayed good selectivity and exhibited good reusability. Studies from binary mixtures of metal ions in aqueous solutions showed that the magnetic adsorbent selectivity following the order: U(VI)>Ni(II)>Pb(II). Experimental results illustrated the potential application of magnetic ion imprinted polymer sorbents for selective removal of U(VI) from contaminated water.


Subject(s)
Ferrosoferric Oxide/chemistry , Methacrylates/chemistry , Polymers/chemistry , Silanes/chemistry , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Uranium Compounds/chemistry , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis , Water Pollution, Chemical/analysis , Adsorption , Electromagnetic Fields , Indicators and Reagents , Industrial Waste/analysis , Lead/chemistry , Magnetics , Microscopy, Electron, Transmission , Mining , Nanocomposites/chemistry , Nickel/chemistry , Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared , Thermogravimetry
14.
Arq. bras. med. vet. zootec ; 65(4): 1149-1157, Aug. 2013. tab
Article in Portuguese | LILACS | ID: lil-684474

ABSTRACT

Avaliaram-se os efeitos da substituição da monensina sódica pelo bicarbonato de sódio em dietas de novilhas em confinamento em relação ao desempenho animal, à conversão alimentar e ao parâmetro de fermentação ruminal. Foram utilizadas 56 novilhas mestiças, confinadas por 112 dias, submetidas a dietas com duas porcentagens de concentrado, 50% e 80% da matéria seca, com adição de monensina sódica ou bicarbonato de sódio, em fatorial 2x2. O volumoso utilizado para compor as dietas testadas foi composto de silagem de milho e cana-de-açúcar na proporção de 60:40, respectivamente. O nitrogênio amoniacal foi maior nos animais alimentos com dietas com alto grão. A monensina, na dieta 80:20, proporcionou maiores valores de nitrogênio amoniacal, uma e nove horas após o consumo da ração. O uso de bicarbonato promoveu os maiores valores de pH ruminal na dieta com 50% de concentrado, de seis a 18 horas após o consumo. Não houve efeito do aditivo sobre o desempenho animal. A alta inclusão de grãos na dieta propiciou aumento do desempenho animal e da eficiência alimentar. Conclui-se que o uso de bicarbonato de sódio em dietas para terminação de animais em confinamento é uma opção viável em substituição à monensina sódica para a manipulação da fermentação ruminal.


The effects of replacing monensin with sodium bicarbonate in diets for confined heifers on weight gain (WG), dry matter intake (DMI), feed:gain ratio (FGR) and rumen fermentation parameters were evaluated. Fifity six heifers were utilized (Santa Gertrudis x Braunvieh). Diets were formulated with two levels of concentrate (50% and 80% concentrate) with sodium monensin or sodium bicarbonate. The DMI was higest in heifers with an intake of 80% concentrate. There was not difference when the same concentrate levels were evaluated in relation to the DMI. The heifers at 80% concentrate showed highest WG. There was no significant difference in relation to WG between monensin and bicarbonate treatments and levels concentrate proportions. There were significant effects regarding FGR between treatments. The heifers on 80% concentrate showed lowest FGR. In the evaluation of N-NH3, the highest values were observed, on the whole, at 80:20 diets in relation to 50:50 diets. In the additive use, the monensin on 80:20 diets promoted the highest values of N-NH3 at 1 for 9 hours after feed intake. In the values of ruminal pH, the bicarbonate increased the values on 50:50 at 6 for18 hours after feed intake, in relation to the 80:20 diet. In this case, it was concluded that the use of sodium bicarbonate in diets for confined finishing heifers is a viable option for the replacement of monensin sodium.


Subject(s)
Animals , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Diet , Ionophores/chemistry , Cattle/classification
15.
Commun Agric Appl Biol Sci ; 78(2): 139-49, 2013.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25145234

ABSTRACT

Green and blue molds, respectively caused by Penicillium digitatum Sacc., and P. italicum Wehmer, are the most important postharvest diseases of citrus fruit Postharvest management of these pathogens is mainly based on the application of thiabendazole (TBZ) or imazalil (IMZ) fungicides. However, their intensive and prolonged use has led to the selection of TBZ- IMZ-resistant strains of these pathogens and to a reduction of TBZ and IMZ effectiveness to control postharvest decay. However, while TBZ may become completely ineffective against TBZ-resistant strains of P. digitatum, reduction of IMZ efficacy is only partial, and an effective control of decay can still be achieved by increasing its concentration, heating the treatment-solution and/or combining IMZ with sodium bicarbonate (SBC) or other food additives or natural salts. In this study, 'Desiderio' and 'Nova' mandarins were inoculated with spores of a sensitive strain of P. digitatum to IMZ and TBZ (PDs) or with a strain of P. digitatum with double resistance to both fungicides (PDr) and immersed in IMZ or TBZ emulsions at increasing concentrations up to 1000 mg/L or in IMZ (25, 200 or 400 mg/L), SBC (0.5, 1 or 2%) or IMZ + SBC emulsions either at 20 or 40 degrees C. IMZ was superior to TBZ to control decay of 'Desiderio' mandarins incited by PDs and was also effective to control decay in fruit inoculated with PDr, while TBZ even at the highest rate was completely ineffective. In 'Desiderio' mandarins inoculated with PDs, a complete control of decay was achieved with 25 mg/L IMZ but in fruit inoculated with PDr, 25 mg/L IMZ were ineffective to control decay despite in combination with SBC at 2% a synergistic effect was detected. In contrast, a good control of decay was achieved with 400 mg/L IMZ. In 'Nova' mandarins after 1 week of incubation at 20 degrees C decay incidence in fruit dipped in 400 mg/L at 20 degrees C or 200 mg/L IMZ at 40 degrees C was almost completely inhibited, while the addition of SBC at 0.5, 1 or 2% did not improve treatments performance in fruit inoculated with PDs. However, when 'Nova' mandarins were inoculated with PDr, SBC showed a modest but significant control of decay and in combination with IMZ either at 400 mg/L and 20 degrees C or 200 mg/L and 40 degrees C, significantly improved decay control. SBC did not affect IMZ residue load in 'Valencia' oranges, whereas dipping the fruit in 400 mg/L IMZ at 20 degrees C produced similar IMZ residue load as dips at 200 mg/L IMZ at 40 degrees C. In all cases, residue levels of IMZ never exceeded 2 mg/kg, which is about 40% of the maximum residue limits (MRLs) allowed in European countries. Thus, despite the selection of IMZ-resistant strains of P. digitatum, IMZ continues to be highly effective to control green mold of citrus fruit at concentrations leaving on fruit surface residue levels below the MRLs.


Subject(s)
Drug Residues/analysis , Food Preservation/methods , Fungicides, Industrial/analysis , Fungicides, Industrial/pharmacology , Imidazoles/pharmacology , Penicillium/drug effects , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Sodium Bicarbonate/pharmacology , Citrus/chemistry , Citrus/microbiology , Drug Resistance, Fungal , Fruit/chemistry , Fruit/microbiology , Hot Temperature , Imidazoles/analysis , Penicillium/growth & development
16.
Isotopes Environ Health Stud ; 46(2): 180-9, 2010 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20582787

ABSTRACT

We have analysed the chemical and stable isotope compositions of four spring waters situated just northwest of the Hekla volcano, where cold water emerges from the base of the lava flows. The stable isotope ratios of water (H, O), dissolved inorganic carbon (C) and sulphate (S) were used to determine whether magmatic gases are mixing with the groundwater. The waters can be characterised as Na-HCO(3) type. The results show that deep-seated gases mix with groundwater, substantially affecting the concentration of solutes and the isotopic composition of dissolved carbon and sulphate.


Subject(s)
Cold Temperature , Gases/chemistry , Geologic Sediments/chemistry , Volcanic Eruptions , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis , Water Supply/analysis , Carbon/analysis , Hydrogen/analysis , Iceland , Oxygen/analysis , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Sulfates/analysis
17.
J Comp Physiol B ; 180(7): 1079-88, 2010 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20354704

ABSTRACT

Foraging behaviour of bats is supposedly largely influenced by the high costs of flapping flight. Yet our understanding of flight energetics focuses mostly on continuous horizontal forward flight at intermediate speeds. Many bats, however, perform manoeuvring flights at suboptimal speeds when foraging. For example, members of the genus Rhinolophus hunt insects during short sallying flights from a perch. Such flights include many descents and ascents below minimum power speed and are therefore considered energetically more expensive than flying at intermediate speed. To test this idea, we quantified the energy costs of short manoeuvring flights (<2 min) using the Na-bicarbonate technique in two Rhinolophus species that differ in body mass but have similar wing shapes. First, we hypothesized that, similar to birds, energy costs of short flights should be higher than predicted by an equation derived for bats at intermediate speeds. Second, we predicted that R. mehelyi encounters higher flight costs than R. euryale, because of its higher wing loading. Although wing loading of R. mehelyi was only 20% larger than that of R. euryale, its flight costs (2.61 ± 0.75 W; mean ± 1 SD) exceeded that of R. euryale (1.71 ± 0.37 W) by 50%. Measured flight costs were higher than predicted for R. mehelyi, but not for R. euryale. We conclude that R. mehelyi face elevated energy costs during short manoeuvring flights due to high wing loading and thus may optimize foraging efficiency by energy-conserving perch-hunting.


Subject(s)
Chiroptera/metabolism , Energy Metabolism , Flight, Animal/physiology , Locomotion , Predatory Behavior , Animals , Body Weight , Breath Tests , Bulgaria , Carbon Dioxide/metabolism , Carbon Isotopes , Chiroptera/anatomy & histology , Male , Models, Biological , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Sodium Bicarbonate/metabolism , Time Factors , Wings, Animal/anatomy & histology
18.
Environ Geochem Health ; 32(3): 243-57, 2010 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19894127

ABSTRACT

Several coastal plains of the Elba Island (Marina di Campo, Portoferraio, Schiopparello, Mola, Porto Azzurro and Barbarossa plains) in Tuscany (Italy) were studied to determine the causes of decline in groundwater quality, using major ion chemistry to establish the causes of groundwater salinization. The study demonstrates that salinization of coastal plain alluvial aquifers is not simply linked to seawater intrusion but is also intimately related to inflows from adjacent aquifers. Ionic ratios, correlation graphs and distribution value maps were employed as the means to understand the hydrochemistry of the study areas. The Mg/Cl ratio in particular can be considered a good tracer to distinguish the main salinization processes that control groundwater chemistry. Seawater intrusion only partly determines the chemistry of some groundwaters, which generally belong to a chloride facies where the salinity is derived principally from freshwater-seawater mixing and the participation of cation exchange. Proceeding inland groundwater quality seems to be principally determined by the inflow of Mg, Ca-HCO(3) or Ca, Na-HCO(3) waters formed from the weathering of silicate minerals in adjoining aquifers. Hydrolysis of these minerals is of prime importance in controlling groundwater chemistry in adjacent alluvial plains. The lateral recharge flows introduce water with a different chemical composition and this variable of freshwater recharge changes the hydrochemistry as a result of mixing between two or more waters types. This situation is further complicated when seawater and base exchange reactions participate, due to seawater intrusion.


Subject(s)
Environmental Monitoring , Fresh Water/chemistry , Geography , Seawater/chemistry , Sodium Chloride/analysis , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis , Calcium/analysis , Calcium Carbonate/analysis , Cities , Electric Conductivity , Geologic Sediments/analysis , Geologic Sediments/chemistry , Ions/analysis , Ions/chemistry , Italy , Magnesium/analysis , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Sodium Chloride/chemistry , Water Movements
19.
Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal ; 13(7): E456-9, 2008 Jul 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18587311

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between pH and bicarbonate of soda in blood and saliva in child and adolescent patients during the administration of 3 g/m2 of methotrexate. METHOD: A controlled clinical test was performed on 23 patients diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Ages ranged from 4 to 18. The Spearman Correlation Coefficient was used to interpret the data. RESULTS: No significant correlation was found between pH levels and seric and salivary sodium bicarbonate. However, there was a significant correlation between the levels of sodium bicarbonate in the body fluids evaluated (rs 0.2576, p=0.0354). CONCLUSIONS: Changes modifying the microenvironment of the oral cavity probably do not allow saliva to be used to determine blood pH and seric bicarbonate.


Subject(s)
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/metabolism , Saliva/chemistry , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/blood , Sodium Bicarbonate/blood
20.
Med. oral patol. oral cir. bucal (Internet) ; 13(7): 456-459, jul. 2008. ilus
Article in En | IBECS | ID: ibc-67445

ABSTRACT

No disponible


Objective: To determine the correlation between pH and bicarbonate of soda in blood and saliva in child and adolescent patients during the administration of 3g/m2 of methotrexate. Method: A controlled clinical test was performedon 23 patients diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Ages ranged from 4 to 18. The Spearman Correlation Coefficient was used to interpret the data. Results: No significant correlation was found between pH levels and seric and salivary sodium bicarbonate. However, there was a significant correlation between the levels of sodium bicarbonate in the body fluids evaluated (rs 0.2576, p=0.0354). Conclusions: Changes modifying the microenvironment ofthe oral cavity probably do not allow saliva to be used to determine blood pH and seric bicarbonate


Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Sodium Bicarbonate/analysis , Saliva/chemistry , Methotrexate/pharmacokinetics , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/drug therapy
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL
...