Changes in biomass, chemical composition and nutritive value of Spartina alterniflora due to organic pollution in the Itanhaém River Basin (SP, Brazil)

Foram comparados a biomassa, a composição química e o valor nutritivo da macrófita aquática emersa S. alterniflora em um rio impactado por descargas de efluentes domésticos (Rio Guaú) e em um rio bem conservado (Rio Itanhaém). Amostras de S. alterniflora, água e sedimento foram coletadas nos dois rios, em novembro de 2001. O rio Guaú apresentou as maiores concentrações de N-Total e P-Total na água (415 e 674 µg.L-1, respectivamente) e sedimento (0,25 e 0,20% de Massa Seca, respectivamente), em relação a água (NT = 105 µg.L-1; PT= 20 µg.L-1) e sedimento (NT = 0,12% MS; PT = 0,05% MS) do rio Itanhaém. A biomassa aérea (316 g MS.m-2) e subterrânea (425 g MS.m-2) de S. alterniflora no rio Guaú foram significativamente maiores do que no rio Itanhaém (146 e 115 g MS.m-2). Além disto, os valores de NT, proteínas, PT, lipídios e carboidratos solúveis foram significativamente maiores na biomassa de S. alterniflora no rio Guaú. Por outro lado, a fração de parede celular e os teores de polifenóis foram maiores na biomassa de S. alterniflora no rio Itanhaém. Concluiu-se que o lançamento de efluentes domésticos em corpos d'água pode aumentar a biomassa e alterar a composição química de S. alterniflora. A maior disponibilidade de N e P no rio Guaú, provavelmente, é a causa dos maiores valores de biomassa, NT, PT, lipídeos e carboidratos solúveis em S. alterniflora neste rio.

Chemical Composition and Bioactive Compounds in Bananas and Postharvest Alterations

Bananas arise as one of the most popular fruits consumed all around the world. Banana belongs to the genus Musa from the family Musaceae. It is original from tropical regions and presents a strong ability to protect itself from the oxidative stress caused by extreme climatic conditions such as intense sunshine and high temperature. For this protection, bananas increase the production of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity, which protect the fruit from the oxidative damage. Scientific studies have demonstrated that bananas (both in the pulp and peel) contain different antioxidant compounds, like vitamins (A, B, C and E), β-carotene and phenolic compounds (catechin, epicatechin, lignin, tannins, anthocyanins). Furthermore, banana is also notably rich in minerals, like potassium and phosphorus. The knowledge about the chemical composition and the contents in compounds with biological activity is of high interest given the importance of bananas as a valuable food all over the world. However, because bananas are perishable due to some factors like chemical reactions, including those that result in the production of ethylene, their postharvest conservation in pivotal for the commercialization. The effects of postharvest treatments and storage conditions on the composition of bananas are, therefore, essential. In this way, the present chapter focus on the composition of bananas, including macronutrients, micronutrients and bioactive compounds, as well as the effect of postharvest treatments and storage conditions in the quality of bananas.

Seasonal variation, Chemical composition and antioxidante and antimicrobial proprieties of Calamintha nepeta

The aim of this study is to evaluate the chemical composition and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of EOs of C. nepeta collected in two different seasons, spring (leaves) and autumn (leaves and flowers) and to understand the relationship between seasonality composition and these biological activities. EOs were extracted by hydrodistillation of aerial parts of the plants wild grown in Évora (Alentejo) and their chemical composition was evaluated by GC-FID and GC-MS. Antioxidant activity was determined by β -carotene/linoleic acid system, total reducing power assay and DPPH radical methods [1]. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against Gram-negative and Gram-positive clinical isolates and food spoilage fungi [2,3].

Chemical bonding and composition of silicon nitride films prepared by inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition

Thin silicon nitride films were prepared at 350 degrees C by inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition on Si(100) substrates under different NH(3)/SiH(4) or N(2)/SiH(4) gas mixture. The chemical composition and bonding structure of the deposited films were investigated as a function of the process parameters, such as the gas flow ratio NH(3)/SiH(4) or N(2)/SiH(4) and the RF power, using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The gas flow ratio was 1.4, 4.3, 7.2 or 9.5 and the RF power, 50 or 100 W. Decomposition results of Si 2p XPS spectra indicated the presence of bulk Si, under-stoichiometric nitride, stoichiometric nitride Si(3)N(4), oxynitride SiN(x)O(y), and stoichiometric oxide SiO(2), and the amounts of these compounds were strongly influenced by the two process parameters. These results were consistent with those obtained from N 1s XPS spectra. The chemical composition ratio N/Si in the film increased with increasing the gas flow ratio until the gas flow ratio reached 4.3, reflecting the high reactivity of nitrogen, and stayed almost constant for further increase in gas flow ratio, the excess nitrogen being rejected from the growing film. A considerable and unexpected incorporation of contaminant oxygen and carbon into the depositing film was observed and attributed to their high chemical reactivity. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

(Table 1, Page 1046-1047) Chemical composition of iron-manganese concretions from the Indian Ocean recovered by the R/V Vityaz and the R/V Ob

The data given in this and previous communications is insufficient to assess the quantitative role of these supplementary sources in the Indian Ocean, but they do not rule out their local significance. Elucidation of this problem requires further data on the characteristics of the composition and structure of nodules in various different metallogenic regions of the ocean floor. A study of the distribution of ore elements in nodules both depthwise and over the area of the floor together with compilation of the first schematic maps based on the results of analyses of samples from 54 stations) enables us to give a more precise empirical relation between the Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Co contents in Indian Ocean nodules, the manganese ratio and the values of the oxidation potential, which vary regularly with depth. This in turn also enables us to confirm that formation of nodules completes the prolonged process of deposition of ore components from ocean waters, and the complex physico-chemical transformations of sediments in the bottom layer. Microprobe investigation of ore rinds revealed the nonuniform distribution of a num¬ber of elements within them, owing to the capacity of particles of hydrated oxides of manganese and iron to adsorb various elements. High concentration of individual elements is correlated with local sectors of the ore rinds, in which the presence of todorokite, in particular, has been noted. The appearance of this mineral apparently requires elevated Ca, Mg, Na, and K concentrations, because the stable crystalline phase of this specific mineral form of the psilomelane group may be formed when these cations are incorporated into a lattice of the delta-MnO2 type.

Chemical composition of igneous rocks and origin of the sill and pillow-basalt complex at DSDP Site 61-462

The sill and pillow complex cored on Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 61 (Site 462) is divided into two groups, A and B types, on the basis of chemical composition and volcanostratigraphy. The A-type basalt is characterized by a higher FeO*/MgO ratio and abundant TiO2, whereas the B-type basalt is characterized by a lower FeO*/MgO ratio and scarcity of TiO2. The A type is composed of sills interbedded with hyaloclastic sediments, and the B type consists of basalt sills and pillow basalt with minor amounts of sediment. However, the structure of pillow basalts in the B type is atypical; they might be eruptive. From paleontological study of the interbedded sediments and radiometric age determination of the basalt, the volcanic event of A type is assumed to be Cenomanian to Aptian, and that of B type somewhat older. The oceanic crust in the Nauru Basin was assumed to be Oxfordian, based on the Mesozoic magnetic anomaly. Consequently, two events of intraplate volcanism are recognized. It is thus assumed that the sill-pillow complex did not come from a normal oceanic ridge, and that normal oceanic basement could therefore underlie the complex. The Site 462 basalts are quartz-normative, and strongly hypersthene-normative, and have a higher FeO*/MgO ratio and lower TiO2 content. Olivine from the Nauru Basin basalts has a lower Mg/(Mg + Fe**2+) ratio (0.83-0.84) and coexists with spinel of lower Mg/(Mg + Fe**2+) ratio when compared to olivine-spinel pairs from mid-ocean ridge (MAR) basalt. The glass of spinel-bearing basalts has a higher FeO*/(FeO* + MgO) ratio (0.58-0.60) than that of MAR (<0.575). Therefore, the Nauru Basin basalts are chemically and mineralogically distinct from ocean-ridge tholeiite. That the Nauru Basin basalts are quartz-normative and strongly hypersthene-normative and have a lower TiO2 content suggests that the basaltic liquids of Site 462 were generated at shallower depths (<5 kbar) than ocean-ridge tholeiite: Site 462 basalts are similar to basalts from the Manihiki Plateau and the Ontong-Java Plateau, but different from Hawaiian tholeiite of hot-spot type, with lower K2O and TiO2 content. We propose a new type of basalt, ocean-plateau tholeiite, a product of intraplate volcanism.

Description of Mn deposits and chemical composition of altered pelagic sediments of sites surveyed by R/V Vityaz in the Southern Basin of the Pacific Ocean

The object of the detailed investigations was an unusual material collected in the region of the Southern Basin of the Pacific Ocean floor, with features of intense manifestation of volcanic processes and subsequent hydrothermal alterations. These processes to a significant degree transformed the ferromanganese nodules and the pelagic sediments, causing the development of a new type of oceanic manganese mineralization.

Estimation of biodiesel properties from chemical composition – An artificial neural network (ANN) approach

Biodiesel, produced from renewable feedstock represents a more sustainable source of energy and will therefore play a significant role in providing the energy requirements for transportation in the near future. Chemically, all biodiesels are fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), produced from raw vegetable oil and animal fat. However, clear differences in chemical structure are apparent from one feedstock to the next in terms of chain length, degree of unsaturation, number of double bonds and double bond configuration-which all determine the fuel properties of biodiesel. In this study, prediction models were developed to estimate kinematic viscosity of biodiesel using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modelling technique. While developing the model, 27 parameters based on chemical composition commonly found in biodiesel were used as the input variables and kinematic viscosity of biodiesel was used as output variable. Necessary data to develop and simulate the network were collected from more than 120 published peer reviewed papers. The Neural Networks Toolbox of MatLab R2012a software was used to train, validate and simulate the ANN model on a personal computer. The network architecture and learning algorithm were optimised following a trial and error method to obtain the best prediction of the kinematic viscosity. The predictive performance of the model was determined by calculating the coefficient of determination (R2), root mean squared (RMS) and maximum average error percentage (MAEP) between predicted and experimental results. This study found high predictive accuracy of the ANN in predicting fuel properties of biodiesel and has demonstrated the ability of the ANN model to find a meaningful relationship between biodiesel chemical composition and fuel properties. Therefore the model developed in this study can be a useful tool to accurately predict biodiesel fuel properties instead of undertaking costly and time consuming experimental tests.

Airborne measurements of the spatial distribution of aerosol chemical composition across Europe and evolution of the organic fraction

The spatial distribution of aerosol chemical composition and the evolution of the Organic Aerosol (OA) fraction is investigated based upon airborne measurements of aerosol chemical composition in the planetary boundary layer across Europe. Sub-micron aerosol chemical composition was measured using a compact Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (cToF-AMS). A range of sampling conditions were evaluated, including relatively clean background conditions, polluted conditions in North-Western Europe and the near-field to far-field outflow from such conditions. Ammonium nitrate and OA were found to be the dominant chemical components of the sub-micron aerosol burden, with mass fractions ranging from 20--50% each. Ammonium nitrate was found to dominate in North-Western Europe during episodes of high pollution, reflecting the enhanced NO_x and ammonia sources in this region. OA was ubiquitous across Europe and concentrations generally exceeded sulphate by 30--160%. A factor analysis of the OA burden was performed in order to probe the evolution across this large range of spatial and temporal scales. Two separate Oxygenated Organic Aerosol (OOA) components were identified; one representing an aged-OOA, termed Low Volatility-OOA and another representing fresher-OOA, termed Semi Volatile-OOA on the basis of their mass spectral similarity to previous studies. The factors derived from different flights were not chemically the same but rather reflect the range of OA composition sampled during a particular flight. Significant chemical processing of the OA was observed downwind of major sources in North-Western Europe, with the LV-OOA component becoming increasingly dominant as the distance from source and photochemical processing increased. The measurements suggest that the aging of OA can be viewed as a continuum, with a progression from a less oxidised, semi-volatile component to a highly oxidised, less-volatile component. Substantial amounts of pollution were observed far downwind of continental Europe, with OA and ammonium nitrate being the major constituents of the sub-micron aerosol burden. Such anthropogenically perturbed air masses can significantly perturb regional climate far downwind of major source regions.

Chemical Composition of the Bark of Tetrapterys mucronata and Identification of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Constituents

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Chemical Composition, Rumen Fermentation Kinetics, Digestibility and Energy Value of Cassava Leaves Hay at Different Storage Times

Cassava leaves have been widely used as a protein source for ruminants in the tropics. However, these leaves contain high level of hydro-cyanic acid (HCN) and condensed tannins (CT). There are evidences that making hay can eliminate more than 90% of HCN and that long-term storage can reduce CT levels. A complete randomized design with four replicates was conducted to determine the effect of different storage times (0-control, 60, 90 and 120 days) on chemical composition, in vitro rumen fermentation kinetics, digestibility and energy value of cassava leaves hay. Treatments were compared by analyzing variables using the GLM procedure (SAS 9.1, SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC). Crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) of the cassava hay were not affected (P > 0.05) by storage time (17.7% and 3.0%, respectively). Neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, total carbohydrate and non-fiber carbohydrate were not affected either (P>0.05) by storage time (47.5, 32.6, 72.3 and 25.8% respectively). However, other parameters were influenced. CT was lower (P<0.05) in hay after 120 days of storage compared with control (1.75% versus 3.75%, respectively). Lignin and insoluble nitrogen in neutral detergent, analyzed without sodium sulfite, were higher (P<0.01) after 120 days of storage, compared with the control (11.22 versus 13.57 and 1.65 versus 3.81% respectively). This suggests that the CT has bound to the fiber or CP and became inactive. Consequently, the in vitro digestibility of organic matter (50.36%), total digestible nutrients (44.79%) and energy (1.61 Mcal/KgMS), obtained from gas production data at 72 h of incubation, has increased (P<0.05) with storage times (56.83%, 51.53% and 1.86 Mcal/KgMS, respectively). The chemical composition and fermentative characteristics of cassava hay suffered variations during the storage period. The best values were obtained after 90 days of storage. This is probably due to the reduction in condensed tannins.

Influence of the collection season on production, size, and chemical composition of bee pollen produced by apis mellifera l.

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of microbial inoculants and amino acid production by-product on fermentation and chemical composition of sugarcane silages

The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, fermentation patterns and aerobic stability of sugarcane silages with addition of amino acid production (monosodium glutamate) by-product (APB) and microbial inoculants. Mature sugarcane was chopped and ensiled in laboratory silos (n = 4/treatment) without additives (control) and with APB (10 g/kg), Pioneer 1174® (PIO, 1.0 mg/kg, Lactobacillus plantarum + Streptoccoccus faecium, Pioneer), Lalsil Cana (2.0 mg/kg, Lactobacillus buchineri, Lallemand) or Mercosil Maís 11C33® (1.0 mg/kg, Lactobacillus buchineri + Lactobacillus plantarum + Streptoccoccus faecium, Timac Agro). Fresh silage and silage liquor samples were obtained to assess pH, chemical composition and organic acid concentrations. Silage temperature was recorded throughout seven days to evaluate aerobic stability. The addition of APB decreased lactic acid levels, increased pH and N-NH3 and did not alter ethanol, acetic and butyric acids concentrations or dry matter (DM) losses. Microbial inoculants enhanced acetic acid levels, although only Pioneer 1174® and Mercosil Maís 11C33® lowered ethanol, butyric acid and DM losses. The addition of APB increased CP content and did not modify DM, soluble carbohydrates contents or in vitro dry matter digestibility. Additives did not alter silage maximum temperature or temperature increasing rate; however, Pioneer 1174® and Mercosil Maís 11C33® increased the time elapsed to reach maximum temperature. Monosodium glutamate production by-product does not alter fermentation patterns or aerobic stability of sugarcane silages, whereas homofermentative bacteria can provide silages of good quality.

Composition and age of volcanic rocks from the Sinii Utes Depression, Southern Primoye

New data are reported on structure of sections, chemical composition, and age of volcano-sedimentary and volcanic rocks from the Sinii Utes Depression in the Southern Primorye region. The Sinii Utes Depression is filled with two sequences: the lower sequence composed of sedimentary-volcanogenic coaliferous rocks (the stratotype of the Sinii Utes Formation) and the upper sequence consisting of tephroid with overlying basalts. This work considers chemical composition and problems of K-Ar dating of basalts. The uppermost basaltic flow has K-Ar age 22.0±1.0 Ma. The dates obtained for the middle and upper parts of lava flows are underestimated. It is explained by their heating due to combustion of brown coals of the Sinii Utes Formation underlying the lava flow. Calculations show that argon could only partly have been removed from the basalts owing to conductive heat transfer and was lost largely due to infiltration of hot gases in heterogeneous fissured medium. Basaltic volcanism on continental margins of the southern Primorye region and the adjacent Korean and Chinese areas at the Oligocene-Miocene boundary preceded Early-Middle Miocene spreading and formation of the Sea of Japan basin. Undifferentiated moderately alkaline basalts of intraplate affinity developed in the Amba Depression and some other structures of the southern Primorye region and intraplate alkali basalts of the Phohang Graben in the Korean Peninsula serve as indicators of incipient spreading regime in the Sea of Japan. Potassic basalt-trachybasalt eruptions occurred locally in riftogenic depressions and shield volcanoes. In some structures this volcanism was terminated by eruptions of intermediate and acid lavas. Such evolution of volcanism is explained by selective contamination of basaltic melts during their interaction with crustal acid material and generation of acid anatectic melts.

Description and chemical composition of manganese nodules during R/V "Tyro" cruise APNAP 1 to the Madeira Abyssal Plain in 1986

The porewater and sediment composition of two boxcores and of a small gravity core, taken on a manganese-nodule-covered hill and in the Madeira Abyssal Plain proper respectively, are compared. The pore-water study of the two boxcores indicates that oxic conditions prevail in both cores. In addition, it indicates that no detectable fluxes of Mn or Fe occur from the porewater to the ocean bottom water. Variations in the geochemical composition of the sediments can be explained by fluctuations in the amount of carbonate, which acts as a diluting agent. A clear carbonate minimum is observed at 20-22 cm depth in the two cores. This minimum is likely to be associated with the last glacial period (10-20 kyr B.P.). This association is supported by the sediment accumulation rate of 15 mm/kyr as found by extrapolation from the rate for pelagic sediments in the Madeira Abyssal Plain. The bulk composition of the manganese nodules recovered from the submarine hill is chemically almost identical to the average composition of Atlantic nodules. The trace metal and Rare Earth Elements composition indicate a hydrogenous origin for the manganese nodules of this study. On the basis of the chemical composition, and that of nodules relative to that of the adjacent sediments, an average nodule accretian rate of 2.8-3.3 mm/myr has been calculated. Although the analyses of the entire ferromanganese nodules that have been studied seem to indicate a homogenous composition, internal structures of the nodules reveal great inhomogeneity, both visually and chemically. These fluctuations may be related to variations in the fluxes of Mn and Fe, which in turn could be climate-related.