Effects of Diet Quality on Survival of Vanessa atalanta (L., 1758) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) Larvae Infected by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp kurstaki

WOS: 000438163600012Effects of seven artificial diets with varying protein, carbohydrate and tannic acid contents on the survival of Vanessa atalanta larvae infected by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk) were studied. The highest survival rate among the infected larvae was observed from the group feeding on diet containing 10% of tannic acid. The highest mortality rate was observed among the larvae feeding on artificial diet with the lowest protein amount. Maximum mortality in each diet group was observed on the third day among the larvae infected by bacteria. This mortality was particularly higher among the larvae feeding on diet that contain less amount of protein. Among the infected larvae, the highest number of total haemocytes was found among those that fed on diet containing 2.5% of tannic acid. The lowest number of haemocytes was found in larvae that fed on diet with lower protein amount. The lowest pupal protein amount was found among the infected larvae feeding on artificial diet containing much lower amounts of protein.Ondokuz Mayis University Research FoundationOndokuz Mayis UniversityThis study was supported by the Ondokuz Mayis University Research Foundation

Green photocatalytic synthesis of vitamin B-3 by Pt, loaded TiO2 photocatalysts

Selective photocatalytic oxidation of 3-pyridinemethanol to 3-pyridinemethanal and vitamin B-3 by using pristine and Pt loaded home prepared (HP) rutile and commercial TiO2 photocatalysts, under UV, UV-vis and visible irradiations in water, was performed in friendly environmental conditions. The photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM-EDAX, BET, DRS, XPS and TGA techniques. The influence of pH on reactivity and total selectivity to 3-pyridinemethanal and vitamin B3 was studied. Under very acidic conditions (pH = 2) no or low activity (depending on photocatalyst) was observed, whereas by increasing the pH from 4 to 12 very high total selectivity was achieved. The Pt loading was beneficial for selectivity whereas the reactivity was positively affected only for crystalline HP sample. This last sample showed good activity under visible irradiation, exhibing an about 4 times higher conversion than the other samples. The influence of the position of the benzylic group in pyridine (2-pyridinemethanol and 4-pyridinemethanol) was also studied. The results showed that to synthesize vitamin B3 in green conditions the photocatalyst should be poorly crystalline or Pt loaded. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved