Effect of hydrocolloids on starch thermal transitions,as measured by DSC

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to analyze the influence of different hydrocolloids (xanthan, guar, and locust bean gums, carboxymethylcellulose and sodium alginate) on the gelatinization of corn starch in systems with starch concentration ranging between 0.1 and 0.7 g starch/g mixture. The reduction of available water produced a shift in gelatinization temperature, especially of the conclusion temperature. The effect was more marked for ionic hydrocolloids. The influence of hydrocolloids on glass transition temperature (T _g) of gelatinized starch suspensions and on the glass transition temperature of the maximally freeze-concentrated solute/unfrozen water matrix (T _g) was also studied.T _g onset values ranged between –4.5 and –5.5C for corn starch pastes with and without hydrocolloids. Those hydrocolloids that increased the viscosity of the unfrozen matrix inhibited additional ice formation during thawing (devitrification).Starch concentration and final heating temperature were found to be relevant factors affecting the kinetics of amylopectin retrogradation during frozen storage at –4C. Xanthan gum failed to prevent amylopectin retrogradation; this observation could be attributed to the fact that gums act outside the starch granule, while amylopectin retrogradation takes place within the granule.     

A Sensitive Spectrophotometric Determination of Nitrite in Water and Soil

A highly sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of nitrite in water and soil has been developed. The reaction of nitrite with acidified potassium iodide to liberate iodine which oxidizes leuco‐crystal violet (LCV) to form crystal violet having absorption maxima at 590 nm forms the bases of this method. In aqueous medium the system obeys Beer's law in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 μg per 25 mL (0.004–0.04 ppm), while in an extractive system the range is 0.025–0.25 μg in 100 mL (0.00025–0.0025 ppm). The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity were found to be 1.54 × 10⁶ 1 mol^?1 cm^?1 and 44 pg cm^?2, respectively.     

Purification and Characterization of Gum-Derived Polysaccharides of Moringa oleifera and Azadirachta indica and Their Applications as Plant Stimulants and Bio-Pesticidal Agents

Plant gums are bio-organic substances that are derived from the barks of trees. They are biodegradable and non-adverse complex polysaccharides that have been gaining usage in recent years due to a number of advantages they contribute to various applications. In this study, gum was collected from Moringa oleifera and Azadirachta indica trees, then dried and powdered. Characterizations of gum polysaccharides were performed using TLC, GC-MS, NMR, etc., and sugar molecules such as glucose and xylose were found to be present. Effects of the gums on Abelmoschus esculentus growth were observed through root growth, shoot growth, and biomass content. The exposure of the seeds to the plant gums led to bio stimulation in the growth of the plants. Poor quality soil was exposed to the gum polysaccharide, where the polysaccharide was found to improve soil quality, which was observed through soil analysis and SEM analysis of soil porosity and structure. Furthermore, the plant gums were also found to have bio-pesticidal activity against mealybugs, which showed certain interstitial damage evident through histopathological analysis.     

Symbiotic N2 Fixation and N Uptake of Yellow and White Lupines Influenced by Spontaneous Rhizobia Infection and Substrate

Abstract

By using soil as substrate, white and yellow lupines (Lupinus albus L., Lupinus luteus L.) assimilated higher N amounts than under quartz sand conditions. This was caused by spontaneous infection of lupines with wild Rhizobia strains and also by an additional N uptake from the soil. In yellow lupines without inoculation in non-sterile soil, only the additional N uptake played a role. Differences in P and K supply as the cause of different N acquisition from soil and quartz sand could be excluded. As compared with white lupines, yellow lupines inoculated with Rhizobia had a high N₂ fixation that exceeded the effect of spontaneous infections. This result as well as the positive effect of spontaneous infections with soil-borne Rhizobia on white lupines indicates insufficient effectiveness of the strains used for inoculation on this plant species.     

Abatement of cyanide and ammoniacal-N from coke-oven wastewater using natural adsorbents: A comparative study

The present study aims at efficient abatement of pollutants from coke-oven wastewater using environment-friendly and low-cost adsorbents for a green world. The adsorbent used were native laterite soil (NLS), heat-treated laterite soil (HTLS), native shale (NS) and Heat-treated shale (HTS). One factor at a time (OFAT) approach was followed to determine the most effective condition based on the maximum removal. Heat-treated laterite soil and native shale were found most effective among their counterparts. Freundlich model was found best to analyze equilibrium data. The real coke-oven wastewater was collected and experiments were performed in batch mode. The percentage removal of cyanide (88.09% and 95.31%) and ammoniacal-N (87.28% and 92.12%) were found satisfactory when heat-treated laterite soil and native shale were used as adsorbents, respectively.     

基于SVM的固化土无侧限抗压强度模型

为实现较少试验次数下固化土无侧限抗压强度(qu)的准确预测, 提出了基于支持向量机(SVM)的固化土qu的预测模型. 以固化剂各组分掺入比、龄期、初始含水量、固化剂掺量等因素为输入量, 固化土的qu作为输出量, 以径向基为核函数, 采用网格搜索法和交叉验证法进行参数优化, 建立了基于SVM的固化土qu的预测模型. 算例分析表明: 该模型适用于任意条件下固化土qu的精确预测, 且在较小试验成本下实现与响应面法相当的预测精度.     

ICP-OES法测成都市三环内表层土壤13种金属元素含量

采用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱(ICP-OES)法同时测定成都市三环内表层土壤13种金属元素含量与分布.研究显示,重金属元素As、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn平均含量分别为24.3mg/kg,154.0 mg/kg,32.8 mg/kg,31.4 mg/kg,64.9 mg/kg,165.1 mg/kg.Mn、Mo、Fe平均含量分别为400.1 mg/kg,10.7 mg/kg,18911 mg/kg.Sr 74.0 mg/kg、Sb 4.9 mg/kg、Co 13.7 mg/kg、Sc 5.9 mg/kg.采用单项污染指数法和内梅罗综合污染指数法来评价土壤重金属污染程度,并针对表层土壤金属污染状况进行了讨论.     

Enantioselective separation and dissipation of pydiflumetofen enantiomers in grape and soil by supercritical fluid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Pydiflumetofen is registered in many countries and is widely used in crop production in the racemate form. However, the environmental behavior of the enantiomers has not been studied. An effective and sensitive chiral analytical method was first established for analyzing the pydiflumetofen enantiomers by supercritical fluid chromatography with tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The enantiomers could be separated and detected using the Chiralcel OD‐3 column in less than 3 min. The separation conditions were as follows: mobile phase, CO₂/methanol (80:20); flow rate, 1.0 mL/min; column temperature, 30°C, auto back‐pressure regulator pressure, 2000 psi with modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe sample treatment method. The average recoveries of analytes from both matrices at three spiking levels were in the range of 84.1–103.0%. The limit of quantitation for each enantiomer was 0.005 mg/kg with a baseline resolution of approximately 1.64. The method was applied to monitor the enantioselective dissipation of pydiflumetofen in grape and soil. In grapes, (?)‐pydiflumetofen was degraded more rapidly than (+)‐pydiflumetofen. In soil, (+)‐pydiflumetofen was preferentially degraded. The data provided useful references for the risk assessment and rational use of pydiflumetofen in agriculture.     

非饱和土的非线性固结模型和弹塑性固结模型及其应用

把作者最近提出的非饱和土的增量非线性本构模型及由作者改进的Alonso等人提出的非饱和土弹塑性模型引入陈正汉建立的非饱和土的固结理论,得到非饱和土的非线性固结模型和弹塑性固结模型,设计了有关程序,求解了地基在分级加载条件下的固结过程和塑性区的动态扩展,从而把非饱和土固结问题的研究推到了一个新水平。