Ammonia Fumes Research Articles

Sprouting in Seeds Aided by Nitrogen Sourced from Ammonia Fumes Leached from Aluminum Dross

Nitrogen and water are nutrients essential for the sprouting of seeds and healthy growth of plants. The seeds derive nitrogen from ammonia (NH3), found in ammonium hydroxide commonly added as manure to the soil. In a materials synthesis process, NH3 gas was released when Aluminum-dross (Al-dross), a hazardous industrial foundry waste was beneficiated to extract useful materials (metallic Al, oxides of Al and Mg, etc.) from the waste. Chemical tests, SEM with EDS and XRD were used to characterize sieved black Al-dross (starting raw material) before and after the beneficiation process. Al-dross also contained significant quantities of aluminum nitride (AlN). When treated with an aqueous media (plain or carbonated water), the AlN reacted to release NH3gas fumes. This work explored the potential of using this gas to act as a source of nitrogen to accelerate the sprouting of seeds and plant germination. Vegetable and fruit seeds were sown in the soil that was directly infused with the NH3released from Al-dross for two hours, followed by several (8 to 12) hours of self-diffusion time for homogeneous distribution of the gas in the soil. Five pairs of soils (untreated regular and NH3fumes treated soils) were prepared under similar conditions. 5 different vegetable and fruit seedlings were planted in these pairs of soils. The germination patterns and growth of the sprouts with time were observed. The seeds that preferred an alkaline environment for germination (e.g., ridge gourd and watermelon seeds) sprouted early and in good health in the NH3treated soil. Seeds preferring acidic soils did not germinate well in NH3fume-infused soils. The experiments confirmed the viability of the novel concept, where the waste ammonia fumes released from Al-dross could be favorably generated and used in a controlled manner to promote sprouting of certain agricultural seedlings.

Development, characterisation and pharmacoscintigraphic evaluation of nano-fluticasone propionate dry powder inhalation as potential antidote against inhaled toxic gases

Acute lung injuries caused due to inhalation of toxic irritant gases such as ammonia, chlorine, hot smoke and burning plastic fumes predominantly affect the airways, causing tracheitis, bronchitis, and other inflammatory responses. The purpose was to develop and characterise nanoparticle based fluticasone propionate (FP) DPI formulation and assess its in vitro and in vivo pulmonary deposition using pharmacoscintigraphy. FP nanoparticles were prepared by nanoprecipitation method. Optimisation was carried out with the help of Box–Behnken statistical design. Nanoparticles were characterised with the help of SEM, FT-IR, DSC and XRD. Anderson cascade impaction showed that nano-FP exhibited significantly higher respirable fraction of 60.3 ± 2.41 as compared to 16.4 ± 0.66 for micronised form. Ventilation lung scintigraphy in human volunteers confirmed significant increase in drug delivery till alveolar region with nano-FP in comparison to micronised drug. Results indicate that the developed formulation may have a potential prophylactic/therapeutic role against toxic, irritant gas inhalation.

Blunted Behavioral and C Fos Responses to Acidic Fumes in the African Naked Mole-Rat

Acidosis in the skin triggers activation of pain pathways and behaviors indicative of pain in vertebrates. The exception is the naked mole-rat, the only known vertebrate to show physiological and behavioral insensitivity to acid pain in the skin. The goal of the present study was to determine behavioral and physiological responses of this species to airborne acidic fumes, which would be expected to affect the trigeminal pain pathway in other species. Behaviorally, naked mole-rats did not avoid fumes from moderately high concentrations of acetic acid (10 and 20%), and c Fos labeling showed no increase in activity in the trigeminal nuclei and nucleus tractus solitarius. In contrast, these concentrations triggered behavioral aversion and increased Fos activity in other laboratory rodents. For a very high concentration of acetic acid (50%), naked mole-rats showed significant avoidance behavior and increased Fos labeling in the nucleus tractus solitarius caudal region, which receives vagal chemosensory information. However, there was no increase in trigeminal labeling, and in fact, activity significantly decreased. This pattern is opposite of that associated with another irritant, ammonia fumes, which elicited an increase in trigeminal but not nucleus tractus solitarius Fos labeling, and no behavioral avoidance. Behavioral avoidance of acidic fumes, but no increased labeling in the trigeminal pain nucleus is consistent with the notion of adaptations to blunt acid pain, which would be advantageous for naked mole-rats as they normally live under chronically high levels of acidosis-inducing CO2.

Blunted Behavioral and Trigeminal Responses to Acidic Fumes in the African Naked Mole-Rat

Event Abstract Back to Event Blunted Behavioral and Trigeminal Responses to Acidic Fumes in the African Naked Mole-Rat Pamela C. Lavinka1 and Thomas Park1* 1 University of Illinois at Chicago, United States Acidosis in the skin triggers activation of pain pathways, and behaviors indicative of pain in vertebrates. The exception is the naked mole-rat, the only known vertebrate to show physiological and behavioral insensitivity to acid pain in the skin. The goal of the present study was to determine behavioral and physiological responses of this species to airborne acidic fumes, which would be expected to affect the trigeminal pain pathway in other species. Behaviorally, naked mole-rats did not avoid fumes from moderately high concentrations of acetic acid (10 and 20%), and c Fos labeling showed no increase in activity in the trigeminal nuclei and nucleus tractus solitarius. In contrast, these concentrations triggered behavioral aversion and increased Fos activity in other laboratory rodents. For a very high concentration of acetic acid (50%), naked mole-rats showed significant avoidance behavior and increased Fos labeling in the nucleus tractus solitarius caudal region, which receives vagal chemosensory information. However, there was no increase in trigeminal labeling, and in fact, activity significantly decreased. This pattern is opposite of that associated with another irritant, ammonia fumes, which elicited an increase in trigeminal but not nucleus tractus solitarius Fos labeling, and no behavioral avoidance. Behavioral avoidance of acidic fumes, but no increased labeling in the trigeminal pain nucleus is consistent with the notion of adaptations to blunt acid pain, which would be advantageous for naked mole-rats as they normally live under chronically high levels of acidosis-inducing CO2. Keywords: acid, irritant, naked mole-rat, nucleus tractus solitarius, Pain, Substance P, trigeminal, voltage gated sodium channels Conference: Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology, College Park. Maryland USA, United States, 5 Aug - 10 Aug, 2012. Presentation Type: Poster (but consider for participant symposium and student poster award) Topic: Neuromodulation Citation: Lavinka PC and Park T (2012). Blunted Behavioral and Trigeminal Responses to Acidic Fumes in the African Naked Mole-Rat . Conference Abstract: Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnbeh.2012.27.00101 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 23 Apr 2012; Published Online: 07 Jul 2012. * Correspondence: Prof. Thomas Park, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, United States, tpark@uic.edu Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Pamela C Lavinka Thomas Park Google Pamela C Lavinka Thomas Park Google Scholar Pamela C Lavinka Thomas Park PubMed Pamela C Lavinka Thomas Park Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Mycotic keratoconjunctivitis in 12-day-old red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa)

KERATITIS and conjunctivitis have been recorded in association with avian poxvirus infection in red-legged partridges ( Alectoris rufa ) (Gortazar and others 2002), Pasteurella species infection in chickens (Ojo and...

Extreme tolerance to ammonia fumes in African naked mole-rats: animals that naturally lack neuropeptides from trigeminal chemosensory nerve fibers

Naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) naturally lack neuropeptides associated with the signaling of chemical irritants from C type trigeminal nerve fibers. The goal of the present study was to assess behavioral responses of these animals to stimulation of the trigeminal chemosensory system, and to determine if stimulation would increase post-synaptic activity in the trigeminal nucleus, as seen in laboratory mice and rats. The results show that naked mole-rats are behaviorally insensitive to capsaicin solution applied to the nostrils and to ammonia fumes in a behavioral avoidance test. Centrally, the number of c Fos labeled cells in the spinal trigeminal nucleus increased from exposure to ammonia although the magnitude of the increase was less than for rats. The increase observed in naked mole-rats likely reflects activity from glutamate release, which appears insufficient to drive pain and aversion behaviors. The results support the idea that neuropeptides in the C fibers of the trigeminal system may be required to signal the aversive quality of specific chemical irritants. The natural lack of neuropeptides in naked mole-rats may be an adaptation to living in a challenging subterranean environment with extremely high levels of ammonia and carbon dioxide, stimuli known to excite trigeminal chemosensory C fibers.

Design and Testing of a Pilot-Scale Aqueous Ammonia Soaking Biomass Pretreatment System

Scale‐up of the aqueous ammonia soaking (AAS) biomass pretreatment method to 75‐L soaking vessel size was accomplished in this work. A novel, pilot‐scale AAS system capable of pretreating 4 kg of switchgrass per cycle was designed, fabricated, and tested. The pretreatment process involved soaking biomass in 29.5% aqueous ammonium hydroxide at a liquid: solid ratio of 5 L/kg. Major vessel design criteria included (1) allowing thorough washing of the soaked biomass in the pretreatment reactor; (2) simple, low‐cost fabrication; and (3) limiting safety hazards by minimizing ammonia fumes from the system. Based on these constraints, commercially available 75‐L HDPE tanks were selected as the primary vessels for pretreatment. The pretreatments were conducted outside, without agitation during the summer months in Iowa, with ambient temperatures ranging from 15 C to 33 C. During the first experimental cycle, clogging of the outlet resulted in leakage from the vessel during rinsing, and led to redesign of the washout prevention system. The redesigned system used a “teabag” approach in which dry biomass was preloaded into a cylindrical mesh bag, and the filled bag was placed into the soaking vessel. This modification eliminated outlet clogging, simplified biomass loading and unloading, but slightly reduced washing efficiency. Through five soaking cycles, an average of 22% to 25% delignification was achieved (Klason lignin basis) compared to the 35% removal seen at the bench‐scale as reported by our group. Approximately 50% to 60% of the pretreated switchgrass was recovered, dry basis, compared to 75% previously achieved at the bench‐scale. Overall, the system successfully generated moderate quantities (10 kg/wk) of pretreated biomass for pilot‐scale fermentation experiments while illustrating some of the materials handling challenges that must be addressed as pretreatment methods are scaled‐up.

Occurrence of conjunctivitis, sinusitis and upper region tracheitis in Japanese quail ( Coturnix coturnix japonica ), possibly caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum accompanied by Cryptosporidium sp. infection

On a farm raising approximately 75 000 Japanese quail ( Coturnix coturnix japonica ) for egg production, the diseased quail showed clinical signs of swelling of the head, nasal discharge, increased lacrimation, and decreased egg production. The flock experienced a mortality rate of 5.7% per day. Macroscopic observation revealed large, gelatinous masses of caseous exudate in the sinuses, egg peritonitis, and airsacculitis. Microscopically, non-purulent or purulent inflammation accompanied by lymphoid hyperplastic tissue with germinal centers was observed in the oculofacial respiratory mucosa. The developing stage of the lesions was abscess formation. In the investigation of pathogens, antigens to Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Pasteurella multocida serotype D were immunolabeled on and demonstrated in the mucosal membranes. In addition, P. multocida , Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus sp., and Streptococcus sp. were isolated from the infraorbital sinuses, and Mycoplasma isolated from a diseased bird was confirmed as M. gallisepticum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Furthermore, Cryptosporidium sp. was frequently found in the brush border. Serological, bacteriological and PCR examinations, some with negative outcomes, were carried out concerning microbes that are known to cause swollen heads in birds ( Haemophilus paragallinarum , Newcastle disease virus and turkey rhinotracheitis virus). The average concentration of ammonia fumes in the cages was 30.6 parts/106, which suggests that the high levels of ammonia fumes promoted infection and multiplication of M. gallisepticum in the quail, and that the clinical disease then worsened due to mixed infection with M. gallisepticum and Cryptosporidium sp. or other bacteria.

An Aluminum Pillared Montmorillonite with Fast Uptake of Strontium and Cesium from Aqueous Solutions

AbstractThe uptake of Sr and Cs by 2 types of aluminum pillared layered clays (Al-PILC), a reference sample (AZA) and a specially tailored sample (FRAZA), were investigated. The AZA sample was prepared from air-dried precursors and the FRAZA sample from freeze-dried precursors. X-ray diffraction (XRD), pore and grain size measurements revealed that freeze-drying leads to a very fine-grained material with substantial mesoporosity. In contrast, air-drying results in coarse grains and an essentially microporous material. Four different methods were tested for restoring the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the prepared PILCs. The most effective method proved to be exposing the material to ammonia fumes, then soaking it in a NaCl solution at pH =10. Strontium and Cs kinetic experiments were carried out with PILCs after restoring their CEC by this method. The results revealed 1 fast uptake component in both materials but with different relaxation times for each PILC.

The Leucocoprinus badhamii complex in Europe: species which redden on bruising or become green in ammonia fumes

A key is provided to the European taxa of the Leucocoprinus badhamii complex, followed by accounts of the nine species and two varieties which comprise the group. Two new taxa are described, L. caldariorum sp. n. and L. croceovelutinus var. diversisporus var. nov. L. caldariorum, L. croceovelutinus var. croceovelutinus, L. croceovelutinus var. diversisporus, L. pilatianus var. pilatianus and L. pilatianus var. subrubens are all new records for Britain. Doubt is expressed as to European reports of the occurrence of L. biornatus .

THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF FEEDING GROUND AND WHOLE COTTONSEED TO LAYING HENS

Laying hens were fed diets containing 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20% whole or ground cottonseed. Birds fed the 15 and 20% ground cottonseed diets rapidly reduced voluntary feed intake and, as a result, suffered a loss in both body weight and egg production. The severity of the dietary effects of cottonseed on productivity and mottled yolks was positively correlated with the level of cottonseed and gossypol in the diet. Egg yolk discoloration was assessed both visually on fresh yolks and using a time exposure to ammonia fumes. Discoloration was easier to detect using the ammonia test. In all cases, egg yolk discoloration was no longer apparent after a maximum of 42 d of feeding a commercial diet. Key words: Cottonseed, gossypol, laying hen, yolk mottling, egg production, feed intake

Quantitative determination of ochratoxin A in vegetable foods

A simple method for the quantitative determination of ochratoxin A (OA) in rice and other vegetable foods (oatmeal, coconut flakes and peas) is described. This procedure implies an acetonitrile-4% KCl -6N HCl (88+10+2) extraction of the acidic OA, subsequent twodimensional thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and detection by fluorescence after exposure to ammonia fumes (excitation at 340 nm; emission at 475 nm). The quantitative detection limit for OA in rice or coconut flakes is 2.4–4 μg/kg and the recovery is 96%. For oatmeal and peas the detection limit is only 20 μg/kg because of the interference by other metabolites.

Classically conditioned heart rate and blood pressure in rats based on either electric shock or ammonia fumes reinforcement

An examination was made of the pattern of heart rate (HR) and arterial blood pressure (BP) responses of separate groups of restrained rats receiving classical conditioning training with either an electric-shock or an ammonia-fumes US. The main findings were that, irrespective of the US, the CR consisted of a decrease in HR accompanied by a fall in BP, with the detailed characteristics of both responses being similar to the HR and BP orienting reactions (OR) occurring to the CS prior to conditioning. Correlation tests revealed that short-latency components of the HR and BP ORs and of the HR and BP URs were interrelated, but that the HR and BP CRs were not. The results supported a sensitization theory of cardiac conditioning that maintains that the CR is a modified version of the OR, rather than an imperfect copy of the UR.

Interrelationships between Water and cellular metabolism in Artemia cysts. VIII Sorption isotherms and derived thermodynamic quantities.

An analysis of water vapor sorption by cysts of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina, has shown that at environmental water activities (aw) of 0.95 or less, the cysts equilibrate with the aw of their environment. Above this aw the metabolic activity of the cysts participates directly in their water content, and equilibration does not occur. In contrast, dried cysts killed by heat treatment or exposure to ammonia fumes equilibrated with all values of aw examined. Analysis of the temperature dependence of sorption isotherms revealed that below cyst hydrations of about 0.3 g H2O/g dried weight the temperature coefficient for water sorption was negative, but became positive at hydrations appreciably in excess of this value. Estimates for the differential and integral net enthalpy and entropy changes accompanying the sorption of water have been calculated from isotherms. These results have been interpreted and integrated with those from previous work on the hydration-dependence of metabolic activity. All of the examined hydration properties of the cysts have been shown to be due chiefly to the cellular component, and not the acellular shell. Analysis of the data by the Bradley equation has shown that the hydration behavior of the shell obeys this relationship, whereas that of the cellular component does not.

The reinforcing effects of vagal stimulation on classically conditioned heart rate in rats

Classically conditioned heart rate was examined in 4 groups of restrained rats using a 2 × 2 factorial design in which one of the factors was type of US (electric shock vs inhalation of ammonia fumes) and the other whether the US was presented alone or in combination with direct stimulation of the intact vagus nerve. All of the groups demonstrated conditioned decelerations in heart rate with the magnitudes of the CRs of the two compound-US groups being larger than those shown by the single-US groups. The detailed topographies of the CRs were essentially the same for all groups with maximum cardiodecelerations occurring just prior to the presentation of the US(s). Magnitude and direction of the CRs were not systematically related to the URs elicited by the various USs. Augmentation of conditioning in the compound-US groups was discussed in terms of the possible effects of vagal stimulation on motivational level and on a central system coordinating cardiac and somato-motor activities.

FLUORODENSITOMETRIC ASSAY OF PATULIN IN APPLE PRODUCTS

ABSTRACTA fluorodensitometric assay was developed for quantitative analysis of patulin in apple products. The procedure involves extraction of patulin from apple products with ethyl acetate, cleanup with silica gel column chromatography and preparative thin‐layer chromatography. A fluorescent derivative, obtained by exposure of patulin on thin‐layer chromatographic plates to concentrated ammonia fumes, permits convenient quantitative fluorodensitometric assay of patulin. The detection limits were 0.1 μg of pure patulin and 1.0 mg of patulin per liter of apple juice. The mean fluorodensitometric recovery of patulin from apple juice was 97.5%.

A SCREENING MEDIUM AND METHOD TO DETECT SEVERAL MYCOTOXINS IN MOLD CULTURES

A single culture medium consisting of rice powder (5%), corn steep liquor (4%), and agar (2%) was tested as a substrate for mycotoxin production using 34 known toxinogenic mold strains. Aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, sterigmatocystin, penicillic acid, patulin, citrinin, and zearalenone were each detectable in 4 days of incubation at 25 C using this medium. Extraction of melted agar cultures, in screw cap test tubes, with hot chloroform (55 C) followed by cooling to resolidify the agar greatly facilitated and simplified the extraction process and eliminated the need for separatory funnels. Mycotoxins were detected by treating developed thin-layer chromatographic plates with ammonia fumes, p-anisaldehyde, and phenylhydrazine and then viewing the chromatoplates under ultraviolet and white lights.

Bronchiectasis following Ammonia Burns of the Respiratory Tract: A Review of Two Cases

Bronchiectasis is described in two persons following ammonia burns of the respiratory tract The victims were exposed to anhydrous ammonia fumes for a period of 30 to 90 minutes respectively following a railroad tank-car derailment. Significant bronchiectatic changes were observed even though the admission chest roentgenogram was interpreted as normal in one case and as having an infiltration involving the lingula and left lower lobe present on the other. Follow-up radiographic studies should include a bronchogram when a person exposed to a corrosive gas remains symptomatic and inflammatory changes were present on the chest roentgenogram taken shortly after the incident.

Bioproduction of ochratoxin A and penicillic acid by members of the Aspergillus ochraceus group.

Various strains of species belonging to the Aspergillus ochraceus group (A. ochraceus, A. sclerotiorum, A. alliaceus, A. ostianus, A. melleus, and A. sulphureus) can produce two mycotoxins, ochratoxin A and penicillic acid, on liquid media and in cereal grains. The quantity of each toxin produced is influenced by temperature; low temperature (10 and 20C) favor penicillic acid synthesis and higher (28C), ochratoxin A production. Generally penicillic acid is produced in yields about one to three magnitudes greater than ochratoxin A. A simple fluorodensitometric method for concomitant quantitative analysis of the two toxins has been developed based on conversion of penicillic acid and ochratoxin A to fluorescent derivatives by treatment with ammonia fumes.

Improved Detection of Ochratoxin A on Thin Layer Plates

Abstract The fluorescent spectra of ochratoxins A, B, and C, one of the hydrolysis products of ochratoxin A, i.e., 5-chloro-3,4-dihydro-8-hydroxy-3-methylisocoumarin-7-carboxylic acid, and their respective ammoniated derivatives have been studied. The excitation maxima of these compounds shifted to a longer wavelength after exposure to ammonia fumes, whereas the emission maxima shifted to a shorter wavelength. The fluorescence intensity of ammoniated ochratoxin A was found to be almost twice that of ochratoxin A. It is suggested that TLC plates be exposed to ammonia fumes prior to densitometric analysis to increase the sensitivity of the assay for ochratoxin A.