MrTPS3 and MrTPS20 Are Responsible for β-Caryophyllene and α-Pinene Production, Respectively, in Red Bayberry (Morella rubra)

Red bayberry is a sweet, tart fruit native to China and grown widely in the south. The key organic compounds forming the distinctive aroma in red bayberry, are terpenoids, mainly β-caryophyllene and α-pinene. However, the key genes responsible for different terpenoids are still unknown. Here, transcriptome analysis on samples from four cultivars, during fruit development, with different terpenoid production, provided candidate genes for volatile organic compound (VOC) production. Terpene synthases (TPS) are key enzymes regulating terpenoid biosynthesis, and 34 TPS family members were identified in the red bayberry genome. MrTPS3 in chromosome 2 and MrTPS20 in chromosome 7 were identified as key genes regulating β-caryophyllene and α-pinene synthesis, respectively, by qRT-PCR. Subcellular localization and enzyme activity assay showed that MrTPS3 was responsible for β-caryophyllene (sesquiterpenes) production and MrTPS20 for α-pinene (monoterpenes). Notably, one amino acid substitution between dark color cultivars and light color cultivars resulted in the loss of function of MrTPS3, causing the different β-caryophyllene production. Our results lay the foundation to study volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in red bayberry and provide potential genes for molecular breeding.

Building Materials for Cities and Climate Change – a Material Catalogue with Recommendations

High urban density with heat accumulating materials and sealed surfaces can cause heat stress and reduced nocturnal cooling in summer. Appropriate building materials may contribute to the mitigation of this effect. The research project evaluates building materials for façades and outer surfaces (ground) on the resulting urban microclimate and on factors like glare, acoustics and embedded energy. The present publication focuses on the impact on the microclimate. The analysis comprises the simulation of forty-seven data sets in a microclimatic model with ENVI-met. The results show that during daytime the PET for the whole neighborhood ranges between 30.1 and 36.4 °C. Choosing a bright instead of a dark color can lower the PET between 0.2 and 1.0 K. Dark colored metal sheets may cause turbulences which lead to a reduction of the PET between 2.0 and 3.8 K (compared to a bright metal sheet). However, this effect may not be reproducible under varying boundary conditions. During night-time, the resulting span of ambient temperatures between the materials reaches 21.4 to 22.0 °C (level 1.7 m). The temperature difference between the materials at the level of 10.7 m (for night ventilation) is found to be approx. 0.3 K and can be considered irrelevant.

COLORISM IN TONI MORRISONS GOD HELP THE CHILD

The present paper has been specifically designed to scrutinize the aspect of colorism in Toni Morrisons well acclaimed novel God Help the Child. African American literature is an academic body of writing produced by African descendants residing in America. The literary canon of African- American literature emerged in late part of 18th century in oral forms like sermon, gospel, music, jazz, blues and spirituals. African American writers have deliberately expressed their painful agony, racial segregation, social injustice and ill treatment which they tolerated in white American society. Toni Morrison was a prolific female novelist of African-American literary writing. Morrisons eleventh novel God Help the Child prominently deals with colorism, racism and child abuse. Conceptually, the term Colorism was coined by Alice Walker to address the superiority of lighter or white skin over the dark. Colorism has its genetic roots in racism because without racism the standardization of color conflict would not be exist. The novel unfolds the story of Bride, also known as Lula Ann who is born with dark black color. She receives ill treatment by her own parents and gets negative rejection because of having black skin. Brides dark color ruins her golden childhood period. Louis Bridewell rejects Bride from accepting as his baby. Similarly, Sweetness breeds Bride with harsh treatment and cruelty. The research study will primarily focus on to address the color conflict faced by child protagonist Lula Ann.

Optimization on Na and Ca bentonite activation using response surface method for increasing selectivity of stevioside in stevia extract

The demand for stevia extract consumption as an alternative sweetener that contains stevioside with zero-calorie is increasing. However, dark color and high tannin content from stevia leaf extract causes a disturbing aftertaste and reduces interest in consumption. Therefore, the purification process is a mandatory step to be done. Several studies on purification methods show the best approach by adsorption using bentonite. However, natural bentonite has limited adsorption capacity and low selectivity. An activation with acid and high temperature is expected to increase the adsorption capacity of color and its selectivity on maintaining the stevioside at the extract. This study aimed to obtain the optimum acid concentration and temperature for the activation using the Response Surface Method (RSM) experimental design and its application to the purification of stevia leaf extract. Based on the parameter of methylene blue number, the most optimum concentration of H2SO4 used for activation was 0.17 N for both natural bentonite. The heating temperature was 358°C for Na-bentonite and 481°C for Ca bentonite. The maximum adsorption capacities of activated Na and Ca-bentonite were increased from 15.65 and 38.23 mg g-1 to 197.72 and 169.52 mg g-1, respectively. The best adsorbent used for purification is Ca-activated, which increased extract clarification up to 81.37% at 655 nm and 86.64% at 410 nm compared to natural Ca bentonite. It also reduced tannin up to 97.46% and was more selective to recover 50.64% stevia content in the solution, which was higher than other previously reported studies.

Changes in Productive Performance, Blood Metabolites and Hematological Parameters of Growing Lambs Supplemented with Two Sources of Choline

Background: Choline is a nutrient with numerous metabolic functions, but its requirements for ruminants are unknown. The supplementation with bypass choline could enhance productivity. Methods: Twenty-four male lambs (Rambouillet 23.5 kg±3.17 kg initial BW) were fed a basal diet with treatments which consisted of a control and oral doses of ruminally-protected choline (4 g/d RPC) and plant-based choline (4 g/d Biocholine) in a completely randomized design with initial weight as a covariate. The experiment was conducted for 42 days during which live weight, dry matter intake, carcass characteristics, blood metabolites and basic hemograms were measured. Result: The daily gain in lambs was similar between treatments. Intake was higher in lambs given Biocholine (1.32 kg/d). The L* (represents the light to dark color) value and mineral content in the meat were improved with both sources of choline. Blood triglycerides increased by RPC compared with the other treatments and cholesterol was reduced by Biocholine. Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity decreased by effect of choline. Hematological parameters were affected by choline supplementation regardless of the source; erythrocyte, monocytes and lymphocytes count decreased with both sources of choline in growing lambs.

An Exploratory Study of Consumers’ Knowledge and Attitudes about Lignin-Based Sunscreens and Bio-Based Skincare Products

Daily consumption of synthetic sunscreens is harmful to the environment and consumers’ health, so greener alternatives need to be produced. Lignin is a multifunctional and widely available biopolymer that can replace several ingredients, but its dark color and low sun protection limit its perceived usefulness. With a survey made for this study, we explored the knowledge and attitudes of 230 consumers towards lignin-based sunscreen, their motives and barriers to purchase it, and how it relates to their environmental and health consciousness. Participants were also asked about their sunscreen habits, their familiarity with the environmental and health impacts of skincare, their perceptions of bio-based ingredients in general, and their skincare product purchasing decisions. Those who are more familiar with environmental issues have a positive attitude towards bio-based ingredients, are accustomed to purchasing more environmentally friendly skincare, and are likelier to be interested in a lignin product. Consumers are welcoming towards a natural, healthy, and environmentally friendly sunscreen alternative but are worried about the lower SPF. Because organic is perceived as luxurious, they are concerned about its price, and some are apprehensive about its pigmentation. While a lignin-based sunscreen at this stage of development is unlikely to take on the role of primary sunscreen on warm, sunny days, it may be more useful as a general-purpose, everyday product that can offer some protection, moisture, and coverage.

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in Post COVID-19 Condition: Case Study

A 50 years old woman was referred to hospital with complaints of bluish black discoloration of skin or multiple ecchymosis since 6 days and skin rashes, pink changes or petechiae changes since 1 week, dark color stools since 3 days. She had a history of COVID-19 positive on past ‘‘3 months’’ back and she received the corticosteroids, antiviral drugs, broad spectrum antibiotics, anticoagulants, and vitamin B and C supplements. Now patient is admitted and investigated for further management. Her bone marrow examination reveals marrow cytological features are compatible with immune thrombocytopenic Purpura and peripheral examination reveals red cells are microcytic hypochromic with elongation forms, platelets are markedly reduced and elevation of CRP, reduction of the Hb, PCV, MCH, MCV, MCHC, APTT, Serum vitamin B12, Lymphocytes and her HRCT-Chest shows CORADS 5, Rapid antigen test shows positive. A review on introduction of the disease, etiology, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, mechanism of thrombocytopenia in COVID-19 patients and grading is explained in literature review.

Origin of black glume color in the Triticum aestivum lines with introgressions from wheat wild relatives

ABSTRACT Dark color of a glume in Triticinae is a known morphological marker with studied genetic control. However, the pigments that provide the color development, molecular basis of their biosynthesis, and mechanisms of its regulation are still unknown. Dark color of glumes is a common trait in the Triticum aestivum lines with alien introgressions. To find out the basis of this trait, we studied nature of the compounds that color the glumes by analyzing the total phenolic content (TPC) in the dark glumed introgression lines (ILs) and comparing it to their parents. TPC in the dark ILs was found to be higher than in their parents and in the light lines. All studied genotypes were screened for the expression of eight genes encoding the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway enzymes. Expression of three flavonoid genes in the pathway were changed in the ILs compared to their parents. Firstly, the expression of F3’H and FNS was absent in the lines with introgressions from Aegilops spp. The expression of three genes, F3’H, FLS, and FNS, was found to be altered in the light lines with introgressions from A. muticum. No expression of the F3’H was detected in the T. aestivum / A. muticum lines with light and dark plants, and the other genes of the pathway were found to be expressed at the parental levels. No correlation between the expression profiles and the phenotype was found in the T. aestivum / A. muticum lines. So we hypothesized that other undetected changes are present in these lines.

Application of Tamarindus indica seed extract as bio-coagulant to removal suspended solids and colors

The batik traditional industries in East Java, Indonesia generally not have a proper wastewater treatment plant yet, so liquid waste directly discharge into the river. Batik wastewater generally have a dark color, which derived from the coloring of naphthol with number of suspended solids greater than 100 mg/L and color concentration more than 250 Pt.Co. Tamarind seed extract is known to contain natural polyelectrolytes active group, which had function as bio-coagulant. The research objective was to analyze the application of tamarind seed extract as bio-coagulant in wastewater treatment of the Batik traditional industries, by reducing suspended solids levels and color of wastewater. The research design used pretest and posttest control group design with variations of bio-coagulant doses of 10ml/L, 30ml/L, and 50ml/L, and analyzed using the Two Way Anova Test. The results showed that the level of suspended solids in wastewater before treatment averaged 291mg/L, and the average color content was 593 Pt-Co, so it did not meet the quality standards of the Governor of East Java No 72/2013. For the highest reduction in suspended solids levels at a dose of 10ml/L reduced up to 95.1% and the highest decrease in color levels at a dose of 50ml/L, reduced up to 87.8%. Traditional batik wastewater treatment, which used a coagulation-flocculation process with bio-coagulant extract of tamarind seeds could reduce levels of suspended solids and colors, in order to meet the specified quality standards.

An Extended Analysis on the Benefits of Dark Mode User Interfaces in Optical See-Through Head-Mounted Displays

Light-on-dark color schemes, so-called “Dark Mode,” are becoming more and more popular over a wide range of display technologies and application fields. Many people who have to look at computer screens for hours at a time, such as computer programmers and computer graphics artists, indicate a preference for switching colors on a computer screen from dark text on a light background to light text on a dark background due to perceived advantages related to visual comfort and acuity, specifically when working in low-light environments. In this article, we investigate the effects of dark mode color schemes in the field of optical see-through head-mounted displays (OST-HMDs), where the characteristic “additive” light model implies that bright graphics are visible but dark graphics are transparent . We describe two human-subject studies in which we evaluated a normal and inverted color mode in front of different physical backgrounds and different lighting conditions. Our results indicate that dark mode graphics displayed on the HoloLens have significant benefits for visual acuity and usability, while user preferences depend largely on the lighting in the physical environment. We discuss the implications of these effects on user interfaces and applications.