Low Contents Of Na Research Articles

Importin-β From the Recretohalophyte Limonium bicolor Enhances Salt Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana by Reducing Root Hair Development and Abscisic Acid Sensitivity.

AimsTo elucidate the genetics underlying salt tolerance in recretohalophytes and assess its relevance to non-halophytes, we cloned the Limonium bicolor homolog of Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) SUPER SENSITIVE TO ABA AND DROUGHT2 (AtSAD2) and named it LbSAD2, an importin-β gene associated with trichome initiation and reduced abscisic acid (ABA) sensitivity, and then we assessed the heterologously expressed LbSAD2 in Arabidopsis.MethodsWe examined LbSAD2 expression and assessed the effect of heterologous LbSAD2 expression in Arabidopsis on root hair/trichome induction; the expression levels of possible related genes in trichome/root hair development; some physiological parameters involved in salt tolerance including germination rate, root length, and contents of Na+, proline, and malondialdehyde; and the response of ABA at the germination stage.ResultsThe LbSAD2 gene is highly expressed in the salt gland development stage and salt treatment, especially located in the salt gland by in situ hybridization, and the LbSAD2 protein contains some special domains compared with AtSAD2, which may suggest the involvement of LbSAD2 in salt tolerance. Compared with the SAD2/GL1 mutant CS65878, which lacks trichomes, CS65878-35S:LbSAD2 had higher trichome abundance but lower root hair abundance. Under 100 mM NaCl treatment, CS65878-35S:LbSAD2 showed enhanced germination and root lengths; improved physiological parameters, including high proline and low contents of Na+ and malondialdehyde; higher expression of the salt-tolerance genes Δ1-PYRROLINE-5-CARBOXYLATE SYNTHETASE 1 (P5CS1) and GST CLASS TAU 5 (GSTU5); reduced ABA sensitivity; and increased expression of the ABA signaling genes RESPONSIVE TO ABA 18 (RAB18) and SNF1-RELATED PROTEIN KINASE 2 (SRK2E), but not of the ABA biosynthesis gene 9-CIS-EPOXYCAROTENOID DIOXYGENASE 3 (NCED3).ConclusionLbSAD2 enhances salt tolerance in Arabidopsis by specifically reducing root hair development, Na+ accumulation, and ABA sensitivity.

Impact of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet on glycaemic control and consumption of processed and ultraprocessed foods in pregnant women with pre-gestational diabetes mellitus: a randomised clinical trial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet on glycaemic control and consumption of processed (PF) and ultraprocessed (UPF) foods in pregnant women with pre-gestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM). This is a randomised, controlled, single-blind clinical trial with forty-nine adult women with PGDM, followed at a public maternity hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The control group (CG) received a standard diet consisting of 45-55 % of the total energy intake of carbohydrates, 15-20 % of proteins and 25-30 % of lipids. The DASH group (DG) received an adapted DASH diet, which did not differ from the standard diet in the percentage of macronutrients, but had higher contents of fibre, unsaturated fats and minerals such as Ca, Mg and K; and lower contents of Na and saturated fats than the standard diet. In the analysis by protocol, the DG presented a higher incidence of glycaemic control after 12 weeks of intervention (57·1 v. 8·3 %, P = 0·01, moderate effect size) and a lower mean consumption of UPF (-9·9 %, P = 0·01) compared with the CG. There was no statistically significant difference in fasting and postprandial blood glucose concentrations, or in the consumption of PF between the groups (P > 0·05). The DASH diet may be a strategy for glycaemic control in pregnant women with PGDM, favouring the adoption of a nutritionally adequate diet with lower consumption of UPF. Further studies are needed to investigate the effect of the DASH diet on glycaemic profile, and maternal and perinatal outcomes in women with PGDM.

Rare Earth Elements and Sr Isotope Ratios of Large Apatite Crystals in Ghareh Bagh Mica Mine, NW Iran: Tracing for Petrogenesis and Mineralization

The 320 Ma Ghareh Bagh mica mine is the only active mica mine in northwest Iran, and hosts Mg-bearing biotite (phlogopite) with apatite, epidote, and calcite. Chemical investigation of apatite infers the high abundances of the rare earth elements (REEs up to 5619 ppm), higher ratios of the LREE/HREE ((La/Yb)N = 28.5–36.7)) and high content of Y (236–497 ppm). REE pattern in the apatite and host A-type granite is almost the same. Ghareh Bagh apatite formed from the early magmatic-hydrothermal exsolved fluids at the high temperature from the Ghushchi alkali feldspar granite. The apatite crystals came up as suspension grains and precipitated in the brecciated zone. The early magmatic-hydrothermal fluids settle phlogopite, epidote, chlorite, K-feldspar and albite down in the brecciation zone. Due to the precipitation of these minerals, the late-stage fluids with low contents of Na+, Ca2+ and REE affected the early stage of alteration minerals. The high ratios of 87Sr/86Sr (0.70917 to 0.70950) are more consistent with crustal sources for the apatite large crystals. The same ages (320 Ma) for both brecciated mica veins and host alkali feldspar granites infer the apatite and paragenesis minerals were related to host granite A-type granite in the Ghareh Bagh area.

Carbonate burial dissolution related to faults and fractures in the Triassic Daye Formation of the Huandiqiao Section, Huangshi Area, Hubei, China

Carbonate burial dissolution is generally associated with faults and fractures, accompanied by formation of the fracture–vug system that can provide important reservoir space for oil and gas accumulation. Taking the Lower Triassic Daye Formation in the Huandiqiao Section, Huangshi Area, Middle Yangtze Paraplatform, China, as an example, this study elaborates genetic mechanisms of faults and fractures, features of burial dissolution and cementation, and properties of karst water, accompanied by establishment of a genetic model that illustrates the whole process of burial dissolution and cementation. There are a total of nine reverse faults with dominant northwest dips in the study section. Fractures are selectively developed in hanging walls of the nine faults, with tensile features and dominant north–northeast and north–northwest strikes. Dendritic dissolution and subsequent cementation is prevalent in the hanging wall, while they are rare in the footwall. Most of the cements in the fractures of the hanging walls are calcites, with a fluid inclusion homogenization temperature range of 70∼120 °C, overgrowth bands at the pore edge with different luminous intensities, low contents of Na, Ba, K, and Sr, and high contents of Fe, Mn, and Mg. All these characteristics indicate the karst fluid to originate from calcium-rich formation water with hydrothermal genesis. The formation of the dendritic vug and fracture system is ascribed to the upward migration of hydrothermal fluids along the fault planes and fractures that result in selective dissolution. As the water circulation weakens, CaCO3 is gradually supersaturated in the distal zone with reference to the fault as well as the stagnant and weak-circulation zone, eventually forming a complex vug and fracture system.

Biological values of cultivated mushrooms — A review

Cultivated mushrooms are not only valuable foods of our age (functional foods) but contain certain beneficial chemical components (high level of K and P, very low content of Na, considerable quantities of some microelements, high and valuable protein but low fat contents). Some cultivated mushrooms have anti-carcinogenic effects caused first of all by polysaccharides (Lentinan: Lentinula edodes) and by triterpenoids (ganoderic acids: Ganoderma lucidum or unsaturated fatty acids: linoleic, linolenic acids); antidiabetic effects, which can improve the sugar metabolism of patients (Coprinus comatus, Ganoderma lucidum, Agaricus bisporus); anti-microbial effects, caused partly by smaller triterpenoids or by higher molecules, i.e. by direct or indirect effects: via stimulation of the immune system. Certain mushrooms have antioxidant effects, provided mostly by higher radical scavenging activity of phenolic (flavonoid) components. The chemical composition and its biological effects form together the biological values of the cultivated mushrooms. The following review would like to summarize the most important facts of this topic.

Hydrogeochemical Processes in a Small Eastern Mediterranean Karst Watershed (Nahr Ibrahim, Lebanon)

Watersheds located in semiarid areas such as the eastern Mediterranean are particularly sensitive to the impact of climate change. To gain knowledge on the hydrogeochemical processes occurring in the Nahr Ibrahim watershed, a Critical Zone Observatory in Lebanon, we analyze the isotopic composition of the river water as well as the concentrations of the major ions exported (Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3−, Na+, Cl−, K+, SO42−). Sampling campaigns were conducted from March 2014 to August 2016 to capture contrasting hydrological conditions. The results indicate that the carbonate lithology of the watershed is the predominant source of Ca2+, Mg2+ and HCO3−, whereas the low contents of Na+, Cl−, K+, SO42− mainly originate from sea spray. Except in the headwaters, the Nahr Ibrahim River is oversaturated with respect to calcite and dolomite. During wet seasons, calcite weathering and dolomite weathering contribute in an equivalent manner to the solute budget, whereas during dry seasons, calcite precipitates in the river. The isotopic composition of the river water reveals little seasonal dependency, the groundwater recharge by snowmelt infiltration leading to spring waters depleted in heavier isotopes during the dry seasons. A carbonate weathering rate of about 176 t/km2/year was determined at the outlet of the Nahr Ibrahim watershed. The calculated values of CO2 partial pressure, on average twice the atmospheric pressure, suggest that the river is a significant source of CO2 to the atmosphere (111 t/year).

Alteration of steenstrupine-(Ce) from the Ilímaussaq alkaline complex, South Greenland

Steenstrupine-(Ce) from two localities, Taseq and Mellemelv, both in the Ilimaussaq complex of South Greenland has been studied. At Taseq ussingite veins contain idiomorphic steenstrupine-(Ce) crystals with decomposed central parts, marginal zones of very thin rhythmically/oscillatory precipitated layers exceptionally rich in Th (up to 10.6 wt% ThO 2 ) and rim zones with distinctly lower Th values (min. 5.5 wt% ThO 2 ). The low content of Na (between 0.9 and 3.8 wt% Na 2 O) in the mineral has presumably been caused by protonation exchange of Na + by H + . Two types of late- to post magmatic alteration have attacked the crystals. Decomposition is strictly confined either to distinct zones inside the crystals or to their cores and has resulted in the formation of extremely fine-grained crystalline phases. The other alteration product cuts into steenstrupine-(Ce) crystals as irregularly shaped botryoidal bodies, composed presumably of amorphous products. Hexagonally shaped crystals of britholite-(Ce) and presumably a new mineral species labelled A4 with square outlines and the composition Na 1.41 (Ca 0.14 Fe 0.39 Mn 0.24 ) Σ0.77 ( REE 5.39 Th 0.22 ) Σ5.61 (Si 5.36 P 0.64 ) Σ6.00 F 0.55 O 22.02− n (OH) 2 n , are enclosed as idiomorphic crystals in many steenstrupine-(Ce) crystals. Britholite-(Ce) also forms radiating aggregates in adjacent silicate minerals. Britholite-(Ce) is characterized by exceptionally high contents of REE (73.0 wt% REE 2 O 3 ) and low contents of CaO (2.2 wt%). At the Mellemelv locality, both fresh and completely decomposed steenstrupine-(Ce) occurs in a complex naujaite pegmatite. Fresh steenstrupine-(Ce) differs in composition from steenstrupine-(Ce) at the Taseq locality. It has a lower (Si+P): REE ratio = 2.19 compared to 3.29 for steenstrupine-(Ce) from Taseq. It may represent a new steenstrupine-(Ce) variety. Two secondary and chemically well-defined minerals, labelled A5, (Na 0.02 K 0.01 ) Σ0.03 (Ca 0.70 Fe 0.07 Mn 0.03 ) Σ0.80 ( REE 4.79 Th 0.18 ) Σ4.97 (Nb 0.01 Ti 0.01 Zr 0.02 ) Σ0.04 (Si 1.97 P 4.00 Al 0.03 ) Σ6.00 F 0.39 Cl 0.02 O 22.22− n (OH) 2 n , and A6, (Na 0.10 K 0.03 ) Σ0.13 (Ca 0.36 Fe 0.65 Mn 0.19 ) Σ1.20 ( REE 3.25 Th 0.34 ) Σ3.59 (Ti 0.09 Zr 0.25 ) Σ0.34 Nb 0.03 (Si 4.81 P 0.56 Al 0.63 ) Σ6.00 F 0.57 Cl 0.05 O 19.88− y (OH) 2 y · n H 2 O, appear to be new mineral species. They constitute major alteration products in the decomposed steenstrupine-(Ce) crystals; A5 also occurs closely associated with the unaltered steenstrupine-(Ce) variety.

THE COMPOSITION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SOURCE AREA FOR THE LATE PRECAMBRIAN TERRIGENOUS ROCKS OF THE OSELKOVAYA SERIES (BIRYUSA PRISAYANIE)

We present results from petrographic and lithogeochemical studies of the Late Precambrian terrigenous rocks (sandstones, gravelites, and aleuritic sandstones) from the Oselkovaya series of Prisayanie. The studies were conducted to reconstruct the primary composition of the rocks in the source area. It has been found that the rocks in the lower part of the cross-section of this series (Marninskaya suite, and the lower part of the Udinskaya suites) are represented by more coarse-grained terrigenous rocks (gravelites, and sandstones) as compared to the upper part of the cross-section (the upper part of the Udinskaya suite, and the Aisinskaya suite) with sandstones and aleuritic sandstones. Gravelites and sandstones from the lower part of the Oselkovaya series show indicators of epigenetic changes that are less intensively expressed in the rocks from the upper part of the cross-section. The upper and lower parts of the Oselkovaya series are significantly different in terms of lithogeochemistry. The lower rocks show quite low contents of Na 2 O and ratios K 2 O/Na 2 O ranging between 10 and 75. In the terrigenous sediments of the upper part, values of K 2 O/Na 2 O do not exceed 1–2. Sandstones and gravelites in the lower part of the Oselkovaya series are characterized by reduced concentrations of radioactive, rare-earth, and highly charged elements, as well as lower concentrations of Ni and Co relative to concentrations of these elements in sandstones and aleuritic sandstones of the Oselkovaya series. The petrographic and lithogeochemical characteristics of the terrigenous sediments of the lower and upper parts of the Oselkovaya series suggest different sources of the denudation of these rocks into the sedimentation basin. It is suggested that acid rocks were the denudation source of the terrigenous rocks in the lower part of the series, and the sandstones and aleuritic sandstones in the upper part of the series were sourced from rocks of a mixed (acid–base) composition. The composition of the rocks in the source area was reconstructed, and the published ages of detrital zircons from the sandstones of the upper and lower parts of the Oselkovaya series were taken into account. The reconstruction suggests that the lower part of the Oselkovaya series resulted from the destruction of the basement rocks in the Siberian craton. The upper part of the Oselkovaya series seems to have formed in the basin, wherein the denudation took place from the orogen formed as a result of the accretion of micro-continents and island arcs of the Paleo-Asian Ocean to the south-western margin of the Siberian craton.

Physico-chemical, nutritional, and volatile composition and sensory profile of Spanish jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) fruits.

Jujube fruit is eaten mostly fresh, but may be dried (Chinese dates and tea) or processed into confectionary recipes in bread, cakes, compotes, and candy. Given that the quality of jujube available on the market differs on account of various factors such as geographical environment, cultivar, processing conditions, and storage conditions, and that, for consumers, flavour and nutrition properties of jujube represent the major parameters in determining the quality of jujube, the main goal of this study were to determine the main physico-chemical properties of jujube fruits, sugars and organic acids profiles, protein, mineral constituents, volatile composition and sensory profile of jujube fruits. This would allow breeders to select cultivars with higher levels of nutrients and also enable increasing dietary intake by consumers. Investigations showed that jujube fruit weight ranged from 4.8 to 29.3 g fruit(-1) . Four sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose and sorbitol) and four organic acids (citric, malic, ascorbic and succinic acids) were identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography in jujube fruits. Potassium, calcium and magnesium were the major mineral constituents in jujube fruits. Fifteen volatiles compounds were found in the aroma profile of jujube fruits (nine were aldehydes, three terpenes, one ester, one ketone and one linear hydrocarbon). The results showed that Spanish jujube cultivars studied are a good source of vitamin C, and they have a low content of Na. The jujube cultivar with the most appreciated quality by consumers was GAL; the GAL fruits were sweet, crunchy, and had high intensities of jujube ID and apple flavour a long after-taste. Therefore, jujube grown in Spain has a great potential to be exploited for functional foods. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Physiological mechanisms for high salt tolerance in wild soybean (Glycine soja) from Yellow River Delta, China: photosynthesis, osmotic regulation, ion flux and antioxidant capacity.

Glycine soja (BB52) is a wild soybean cultivar grown in coastal saline land in Yellow River Delta, China. In order to reveal the physiological mechanisms adapting to salinity, we examined photosynthesis, ion flux, antioxidant system and water status in Glycine soja under NaCl treatments, taking a cultivated soybean, ZH13, as control. Upon NaCl exposure, higher relative water content and water potential were maintained in the leaf of BB52 than ZH13, which might depend on the more accumulation of osmotic substances such as glycinebetaine and proline. Compared with ZH13, activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and contents of ascorbate, glutathione and phenolics were enhanced to a higher level in BB52 leaf under NaCl stress, which could mitigate the salt-induced oxidative damage in BB52. Consistently, lipid peroxidation indicated by malondialdehyde content was lower in BB52 leaf. Photosynthetic rate (Pn) was decreased by NaCl stress in BB52 and ZH13, and the decrease was greater in ZH13. The decreased Pn in BB52 was mainly due to stomatal limitation. The inhibited activation of rubisco enzyme in ZH13 due to the decrease of rubisco activase content became an important limiting factor of Pn, when NaCl concentration increased to 200 mM. Rubisco activase in BB52 was not affected by NaCl stress. Less negative impact in BB52 derived from lower contents of Na+ and Cl- in the tissues, and non-invasive micro-test technique revealed that BB52 roots had higher ability to extrude Na+ and Cl-. Wild soybean is a valuable genetic resource, and our study may provide a reference for molecular biologist to improve the salt tolerance of cultivated soybean in face of farmland salinity.

Unusual mineralization with niobian titanite and Bi-tellurides in scheelite skarn from Kamenné doly quarry near Písek, Moldanubian Zone, Bohemian Massif

*� Correspondingauthor Clinopyroxene-garnet scheelite skarn containing accessory niobian titanite, native bismuth and Bi-tellurides of the Bi 2 X and Bi 5 X 3 series, together with Fe- and Fe-As sulphides, is associated with the contact of chondrodite marble with melanocratic granite-quartz syenite (durbachite). Hedenbergite-rich vein in this marble can be considered as an additional type of skarn. The presence of accessory niobian titanite is typical, in particular, of the veins. In addition to increased Nb contents (≤ 10.6 wt. % Nb 2 O 5 ; ≤ 0.164 apfu Nb) and locally Ta (≤ 4.07 Ta 2 O 5 ; ≤ 0.038 apfu Ta), it is relatively rich in Al (≤ 0.253 apfu). Locally it contains elevated Fe, Sn, Zr and F contents. Negative correlations of Al + F with R 4+ and Al + (Nb 5+ , Ta 5+ ) with R 4+ accompanied by low contents of Na in titanite correspond to the substi- tutions Al(OH,F)(TiO) -1 and Al(Nb,Ta)Ti -2 . Niobian titanite has anomalous composition if compared to skarn mineral assemblages worldwide. The Bi-(sulpho-) telluride with empiric formula Bi 1.98 (Te 0.66 S 0.34 Se 0.02 ) Σ1.02 is a member of the Bi 2 X series, whose members were described from numerous localities as unnamed minerals. In contrast to the publis- hed data this phase contains increased sulphur contents up to 0.33 apfu. The second Bi-(sulpho-) telluride with empiric formula (Bi 4.51 Fe 0.40 Cd 0.03 Pb 0.02 Sb 0.01 As 0.01 ) Σ4.98 (Te 1.58 S 1.36 Se 0.08 ) Σ3.02 is probably a S-rich member of the Bi 5 X 3 series. In the evolution of the skarn it is possible to distinguish stage I responsible for the formation of the older Mg- and younger Ca-skarns, and stage II, characterised by increased Fe contents. The scheelite-sulphide mineralization was formed during a third (retrogression) stage followed by brittle deformation. Emplacement of siderite ± quartz veins represents the fourth (terminal) stage of mineralization.

The hydrothermal karstification and its effect on Ordovician carbonate reservoir in Tazhong uplift of Tarim Basin, Northwest China

With a detailed study on petrology, mineralogy and geochemistry of some important Ordovician carbonate well core samples in Tazhong uplift of Tarim Basin, the distinguishing symbols of hydrothermal karstification are first put forward as the phenomena of rock hot depigmentation, hot cataclasm and the appearance of typical hydrothermal minerals such as fluorite, barite, pyrite, quartz and sphalerite. The main homogenization temperatures of primary fluid inclusions in fluorite are from 260 to 310°C, indicating the temperature of hydrothermal fluid. The fluid affected the dissolved rocks and showed typical geochemistry features with low contents of Na and Mg, and high contents of Fe, Mn and Si. The ratio of 3He/4He is 0.02R a, indicating the fluid from the typical continental crust. The hydrothermal fluid karstification pattern may be described as follows: the hot fluid is from the Permian magma, containing dissolving ingredients of CO2 and H2S, and shifts along fault, ruptures and unconformity, and dissolves the surrounding carbonates while it flows. The mechanism of hydrothermal karstification is that the mixture of two or more fluids, which have different ion intensity and pH values, becomes a new unsaturated fluid to carbonates. The hydrothermal karstification is an important process to form hypo-dissolved pinholes in Ordovician carbonates of Tazhong uplift of Tarim Basin, and the forming of hydrothermal minerals also has favorable influence on carbonate reservoirs.

Advanced environmentally friendly anticorrosive materials prepared from water-based polyacrylate/Na +-MMT clay nanocomposite latexes

A series of novel advanced environmentally friendly anticorrosive materials have been successfully prepared by effectively dispersing nanolayers of Na +-montmorillonite (Na +-MMT) clay into water-based polyacrylate latex (i.e., vinyl acrylic terpolymers). First of all, a polyacrylate latex was synthesized through co-polymerizing organic monomers of MMA, BMA and styrene (St) using conventional emulsion polymerization technique with SDS, 1-pentanol and KPS as surfactant, co-surfactant and initiator, respectively. Subsequently, the commercial purified hydrophilic Na +-MMT was effectively dispersing into the polyacrylate latex through the direct solution dispersion technique. The as-prepared neat polyacrylate and the series of water-based polyacrylate/Na +-MMT clay nanocomposite (Na +-PCN) materials were subsequently characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, TEM and GPC. The water-based Na +-PCN materials loaded with low content of Na +-MMT when in the form of coating on the cold rolled steel (CRS) coupons was found to be remarkably superior in anticorrosion efficiency over those of neat polyacrylate based on a series of electrochemical measurements of corrosion potential, polarization resistance, corrosion current, and impedance spectroscopy in saline. Effect of material composition on the molecular barrier, optical clarity and thermal stability were also studied by molecular permeability analysis, ultraviolet–visible transmission spectra, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Organo-PCN materials were also prepared as a control experiment for comparative studies.

Composition, structure, and luminescence of montmorillonites saturated with different aggregates of methylene blue

The distribution of various aggregates (dimers, trimers, and tetramers) of methylene blue (MB) formed in aqueous solution at various concentrations of dye has been calculated using the equilibrium aggregation constants β q . Two montmorillonite samples with different cation exchange capacities, surface areas, and interlayer distances d 001 , Na-SWy, and Ca-Cheto, were saturated with methylene blue (MB) solutions with various ratios between monomers and higher aggregates of dye. The total amount of MB in the intercalated montmorillonite samples (MB-SWy and MB-Cheto) increases with increasing concentration of dye in water solutions, i.e., with increasing aggregates/monomers ratio of MB in water solution. In all intercalated montmorillonite samples with methylene blue except guest qth aggregate cations [ MB q q + ] low contents of Na + (in MB-SWy) and Ca 2+ (in MB-Cheto) cations were also determined. A very good positive correlation between the basal spacing d 001 and the MB/montmorillonite molar ratio was revealed for saturated MB-montmorillonite samples. Structural analysis using a combination of diffraction data with molecular modeling revealed the differences in the interlayer arrangement of MB guests in MB-SWy and MB-Cheto intercalates. Also, fluorescence measurements showed the strong effect of the silicate layer charge on the spectroscopic behavior of MB guests intercalated in montmorillonite. Methylene blue exhibits a certain luminescence in MB-SWy samples with cation exchange capacity 0.80 meq g −1 and almost no luminescence in MB-Cheto samples with higher cation exchange capacity 1.50 meq g −1.

Effects of salinity on the establishment and early growth of Prosopis argentina and Prosopis alpataco seedlings in two contrasting soils: Implications for their ecological success

Abstract In arid zones, water availability is the most important factor limiting seedling establishment and plant distribution. However, within a region with a defined water regime, the physical and chemical properties of the soil could be the cause of the spatial pattern of plant communities. Prosopis argentina Burk. and Prosopis alpataco Phil. are sympatric at a regional scale but at the local scale they occupy clearly differentiated edaphic niches. Prosopis argentina reaches its ecological optimum in the sandy soils of active dunes, whereas P. alpataco achieves it in heavy, clayish, saline and periodically flooded soils. We studied the effect of salinity, and its interaction with soil type, on the establishment and early growth of these species in order to evaluate their adaptive mechanisms, and to analyse how this was related to the ecological success of these species. Salinity affected emergence and early growth of P. argentina and P. alpataco seedlings differently. Higher salinity led to decreased height, total biomass and shoot and root biomass of plants in both species but the effect was stronger in P. argentina than in P. alpataco, and greater in clayish than in sandy soils. These results would indicate that exclusion of P. argentina from clayish and saline soils would occur during emergence and the first stages of seedling establishment as a consequence of salinity. In P. alpataco other edaphic limitations, like texture or fertility in sandy soils, appear to be always more important. The osmotic effect evidenced by decreasing water and osmotic potentials of plants under saline conditions may be associated with growth reduction in both P. argentina and P. alpataco. However, this factor cannot explain differences in growth between species under salinity. The higher contents of Ca++ and K+, and the lower contents of Na+ in P. alpataco suggest that the greater tolerance of this species depends on its ability to regulate and control absorption and transport of ions.

Chemical, Isotopic, and Fluid Inclusion Evidence for the Hydrothermal Alteration of the Footwall Rocks of the BIF‐Hosted Iron Ore Deposits in the Hamersley District, Western Australia

Abstract. The petrography, chemical, fluid inclusion and isotope analyses (O, Rb‐Sr) were conducted for the shale samples of the Mount McRae Shale collected from the Tom Price, Newman, and Paraburdoo mines in the Hamersley Basin, Western Australia. The Mount McRae Shale at these mines occurs as a footwall unit of the secondary, hematite‐rich iron ores derived from the Brockman Iron Formation, one of the largest banded iron formations (BIFs) in the world. Unusually low contents of Na, Ca, and Sr in the shales suggest that these elements were leached away from the shale after deposition. The δ18O (SMOW) values fall in the range of + 15.0 to +17.9 per mil and show the positive correlation with calculated quartz/sericite ratios of the shale samples. This suggests that the oxygen isotopic compositions of shale samples were homogenized and equilibrated by postdepositional event. The pyrite nodules hosted by shales are often rimmed by thin layers of silica of varying crystallinity. Fluid inclusions in quartz crystals rimming a pyrite nodule show homogenization temperatures ranging from 100 to 240d̀C for 47 inclusions and salinities ranging from 0.4 to 12.3 wt% NaCl equivalent for 18 inclusions. These fluid inclusion data give direct evidence for the hydrothermal activity and are comparable to those of the vein quartz collected from the BIF‐derived secondary iron ores (Taylor et al, 2001). The Rb‐Sr age for the Mount McRae Shale is 1,952 ± 289 Ma and at least 200 million years younger than the depositional age of the Brockman Iron Formation of ∼ 2.5 Ga in age. All the data obtained in this study are consistent with the suggestion that high temperature hydrothermal fluids were responsible for both the secondary iron ore formation and the alteration of the Mount McRae Shale.

Minerals and Trace Elements in Some Italian Dairy Products

This work provides new data on the levels of some minerals and trace elements, important for their nutritional and/or toxicological properties, in some Italian dairy products in order to evaluate the contribution of this food group to the quality of the Italian diet. Ion exchange liquid chromatography with suppressed conductivity was used for the determination of the minerals (Na, K, Mg and Ca) and instrumental neutron activation analysis for the determination of the trace elements (Co, Cr, Fe, Rb, Se, Zn). The results obtained confirm the importance of the presence of cheese in the Italian diet to satisfy the recommended daily intake of Ca, while suggesting that special attention should be exerted in the choice of cheeses with a low content of Na in order to minimize the possible negative effects on blood pressure. Finally, the results identify two subgroups of cheeses, the stirred curd cheeses and the hard cheeses as foods with high levels of nutritionally important trace elements (i.e. Se, Zn, Fe, Co), moreover, the correlation found among the concentration levels of these elements in the stirred curd cheeses permits the utilization of these cheeses in the diet to improve the ingestion levels of these nutritionally important elements.

Development of a Semisynthetic Cheese Medium for Fungi Using Chemometric Methods

The growth, color formation, and mycotoxin production of six cheese-related fungi were studied on nine types of natural cheeses and 24 semisynthetic cheese media and compared using principal component analysis. The semisynthetic cheese media contained various amounts of Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, Fe, Cu, Zn, lactate, lactose, and casein. A robust, well-defined, and easily prepared semisynthetic cheese medium was developed for Penicillium commune, the most frequently occurring contaminant on semihard cheese. Growth experiments on the medium were repeatable and reproducible. The medium was also suitable for Penicillium camemberti. The medium had the following composition: 100g of casein, 8.3g of 90% lactate, 7.9g of lactose, 7.3g of CaCl2·2H2O, 2.6g of MgSO4·7H2O, 26.0g of NaCl, 20g of agar, 0.025g of FeSO4·7H2O, 0.004g of CuSO4·5H2O, and water to a total weight of 1kg.The semisynthetic cheese medium was less suitable for Penicillium roqueforti, Penicillium discolor, Penicillium verrucosum, and Aspergillus versicolor. However, another semisynthetic cheese medium could be recommended for P. roqueforti and P. discolor. That medium had higher contents of P (5000ppm, wt/wt), K (5000ppm), and Zn (50ppm) and lower contents of Na (2700ppm), Fe (1ppm), Cu (0.1ppm), and casein (1%).

Regolith Breccia Allan Hills A81005: Evidence of lunar origin, and petrography of pristine and nonpristine clasts

MnO/FeO ratios in pyroxene, texture (abundant brown, swirly glass, in general typical of lunar regolith breccias), and overall composition (∼75% plagioclase) all indicate that Allan Hills A81005 is of lunar origin. It is presumably from a heretofore unsampled region of the Moon. It differs in detail from other regolith samples, e.g., it has exceptionally low contents of Na and KREEP. A pristine clast contains exceptionally coarse augite, compared to similar Apollo samples. ALHA81005 is not perceptibly more shocked than typical Apollo regolith breccias. Therefore, its discovery on Earth lends further credence to suggestions that SNC achondrites were derived by impact ejection from Mars.

Compositional implications regarding the lunar origin of the ALHA81005 Meteorite

Geochemically, ALHA81005 has all the attributes expected of a regolith sample from the lunar highlands. Most important is its Fe/Mn ratio (77), within uncertainty the same as the mean lunar ratio. There are significant differences, however, in comparison to previously sampled lunar regoliths. The closest precedents are the Apollo‐16 and Luna‐20 regoliths, particularly the latter, but ALHA81005 has lower contents of Na, Ti, and incompatible elements. Feldspathic granulitic breccias such as 72559, which texturally resemble the most abundant type of clast in ALHA81005, are also similar compositionally. From its low KREEP and Na contents we infer ALHA81005 originated well away from the K, Th, and U‐rich region near the center of the nearside, at least as far away as the eastern limb.