Utilizing biomass energy for improving summer squash greenhouse productivity during the winter season.

The objective of this present research is to use agricultural residues as a source of energy for heating greenhouses during winter seasons and sequestrating soil carbon dioxide through adding biochar to the soil media. To fulfill the objective of the research work, summer squash was transplanted in a constructed greenhouse and heated using an attached biomass-burning system. The performance of the attached biomass-burning system was experimentally studied under different agricultural residues (corn stalks, cotton stalks and okra stalks), heating fluids (water and oil) and air fan operating periods (10, 15 and 20 min/h). Results indicated that the biomass-burning system allowed increasing temperature and relative humidity inside the greenhouse up to 27.2 and 80 %, respectively. The maximum biomass-burning system efficiency of 81 % was achieved with the use of okra stalks as a source of energy and oil as a heating fluid side by side with adjusting the suction fan operating period at 15 min/h. Adding bio-charcoal to the soil media, enhanced the soil carbon, resulting in a total fresh yield of 3.7 and 2.9 kg/pot with a total number of leaves per plant of 55 and 47 leaves under conditions of with and without charcoal addition, respectively.

Mutagenic effect of aflatoxin G1 in comparison with B1.

Available data indicate structure activity relationships in toxicity and carcinogenecity of aflatoxins in the order of B1 greater than G1 greater than G2 greater than B2. This set of tools is useful for investigations in experimental chemical mutagenesis. The present study is the second in a series concerning the activity of this group of aflatoxins on human chromosomes, using the techniques of Geimsa banding and sister chromatid exchanges. The results showed that aflatoxin G1 is a mutagenic agent to human chromosomes. The distribution of breaks on individual chromosomes according to relative length was nonrandom. Chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the largest chromosomes, have more breaks, whereas chromosomes 19, 20, 21, and 22, the smallest chromosomes, have less than the expected number of breaks. Comparing these results with that of aflatoxin B1, we found that (1) the mutagenic activity of B1 on human chromosomes is higher than that of G1, and (2) although chromosomes 2, 11, 19, and 20 were the most affected by aflatoxin B1, chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were the most affected by aflatoxin G1. This result indicates structure activity relationships in mutagenecity that are in agreement with those of the toxicity and carcinogenecity of aflatoxins B1 and G1.

Antimicrobial Activity of Butylated Hydroxyanisole and Potassium Sorbate Against Natural Microflora in Raw Turkey Meat and Salmonella typhimurium in Cooked Turkey Meat 1.

The antimicrobial activity of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) (100 ppm) and potassium sorbate (1000 ppm), individually and in combination, was evaluated against growth of the natural microbial flora in raw turkey meat and against Salmonella typhimurium inoculated into cooked turkey meat. Growth of the natural flora was not inhibited by using either BHA or sorbate alone; however, slight inhibition was shown using a combination of the two. BHA, sorbate and a combination were effective to the same extent in preventing growth of naturally present gram-negative organisms. Sorbate and the BHA-sorbate combination did not differ in their effectiveness and were more effective than BHA alone in reducing numbers of S. typhimurium in cooked turkey.