Fumonisins and related Fusarium species in pre-harvest maize ear rot in Poland

Two Fusarium species were identified in mouldy maize ears with the highest frequency during 2005–2014 in 7 seasons: F. subglutinans (3.1–42.0%) and F. verticillioides (44.1–70.3%). Two other species were also found but with lower frequency: F. graminearum (1.0–13.0%) and F. poae (1–45.7%). In 2005 fumonisin FB1, and in 2013 and 2014 three fumonisins (FBs) – FB1, FB2 and FB3 — were identified in harvest samples. The Fusarium-damaged kernel (FDK) fraction contained almost the totality of mycotoxins (90.0–95.0%), while healthy looking kernels (HLK) contained only below 5.0 to 10.0%. Kernels naturally infected by F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum contained (in mg kg−1) up to 710.00 of fumonisin B1, up to 209.72 of fumonisin B2 and up to 35.72 of fumonisin B3

A cap 0-dependent mRNA capture method to analyze the yeast transcriptome

Analysis of the protein coding transcriptome by the RNA sequencing requires either enrichment of the desired fraction of coding transcripts or depletion of the abundant non-coding fraction consisting mainly of rRNA. We propose an alternative mRNA enrichment strategy based on the RNA-binding properties of the human IFIT1, an antiviral protein recognizing cap 0 RNA. Here, we compare for Saccharomyces cerevisiae an IFIT1-based mRNA pull-down with yeast targeted rRNA depletion by the RiboMinus method. IFIT1-based RNA capture depletes rRNA more effectively, producing high quality RNA-seq data with an excellent coverage of the protein coding transcriptome, while depleting cap-less transcripts such as mitochondrial or some non-coding RNAs. We propose IFIT1 as a cost effective and versatile tool to prepare mRNA libraries for a variety of organisms with cap 0 mRNA ends, including diverse plants, fungi and eukaryotic microbes

Forecasting prices of timber raw material based on a seven-year development trend model

The article analyzes the possibility of using a seven−year development trend model to forecast the average price of wood sales (CGUS). Price models and forecasts were made on the basis of three different time series covering 7−year periods. The forecast of timber prices in individual years was developed on the basis of extrapolation going beyond the set of information adopted for research used to build the development trend model. We found that the size of the indicators of determination of the analyzed functions ranged from 0.5 to 0.6, and the convergence rates from 0.5 to 0.4. This means that the linear functions were characterized by poor adjustment to real prices. Despite this, the timber price forecasts differed from the empirical prices from PLN 1.81 to 13.91. In relative categories, the forecast error was in the range from 0.92 to 7.28%. Therefore, in our opinion, the research process presented can be a reference point as a comparative element to verify forecast results for other (non−linear) price forecasting models. The process of modeling timber raw material prices should be extended to other predictors related to the forest marketing chain. The predicted results from these models cannot be worse than those obtained by forecasting using linear function

Surfactant enhanced ultrafiltration for the removal of inorganic phosphorous compounds from aqueous solutions

he usability of the micellar enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) for removal of phosphates from aqueous solutions has been evaluated. The process was performed with the use of polyethersulfone membranes under various transmembrane pressures (0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 MPa). Phosphorous solutions containing 15 mg of PO3-4/dm3 and two cationic surfactants: octadecylamine acetate (ODA) and hexadecylpyridium chloride (CPC) were used in the tests. The concentration of ODA and CPC amounted to 2 and 3 CMC (Critical Micelle Concentration) as well as 2, 3 and 6 CMC, respectively. The results of the study showed that the surfactant type and its concentration influenced the process efficiency. The phosphate removal with the use of ODA was approximately 95%, whereas application of CPC gave unsatisfactory results

Removal of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorous compounds from two-component aqueous solutions by micellar enhanced ultrafiltration

The micellar enhanced ultrafiltration of model aqueous solutions containing inorganic nitrogen and phosphorous compounds was studied. In the experiments, cellulose membranes of 5, 10 and 30 kDa molecular weight cut-off and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a cationic surfactant were used. The concentration of CTAB amounted to 2 and 3CMC (critical micelle concentration). The influence of surfactant concentration, membrane cut-off and operating pressure on permeate flux, as well as on nitrate and phosphate separation was evaluated. The results showed that the presence of both nitrates and phosphates caused deterioration of the retention coefficient in comparison to separation efficiency achieved for one-component solutions

Usability of cationic surfactants for inorganic phosphorous compound removal from water solutions by micellar enhanced ultrafiltration

This paper reports the results of phosphate removal by micellar enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) using cellulose membranes. Usability of cationic surfactants for removal of phosphates from aqueous solutions was assessed. Cellulose membranes (Microdyn Nadir) of various cut-off values (5, 10 and 30 kDa) and two cationic surfactants (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB and hexadecylpyridinium chloride, CPC) were used in the experiments. The surfactant concentration was 2, 3 and 6 CMC (critical micelle concentration). Cellulose membrane with a cut-off value of 10 kDa exhibited the best separation properties – phosphate removal efficacy varied from 40 to 75% and from 38 to 68% for solutions containing CPC and CTAB, respectively. It was observed that increase in surfactant concentration resulted in the improvement in phosphate removal efficacy and in the concurrent worsening of membrane permeability.Przedstawiono wyniki badań nad skutecznością usuwania fosforanów w procesie ultrafiltracji micelarnej (MEUF) z wykorzystaniem membran celulozowych. Oceniono przydatność surfaktantów kationowych do separacji fosforanów z modelowych roztworów wodnych. W doświadczeniach wykorzystano membrany celulozowe (Microdyn Nadir) o różnej granicznej rozdzielczości (5 kDa, 10 kDa i 20 kDa) oraz dwa surfaktanty kationowe (bromek cetylotrimetyloamoniowy – CTAB oraz chlorek cetylopirydynowy – CPC). Stężenie surfaktantów wynosiło 2 CMC, 3 CMC i 6 CMC. Stwierdzono, że najlepszymi właściwościami separacyjnymi charakteryzowała się membrana o granicznej rozdzielczości 10 kDa – skuteczność usuwania fosforanów wynosiła 40÷75% w przypadku roztworów z dodatkiem CPC i 38÷68% w przypadku roztworów zawierających CTAB. Zwiększenie stężenia surfaktantów miało wpływ na poprawę skuteczności usuwania fosforanów oraz jednoczesne zmniejszanie przepuszczalności membran