Evaluation of Different Extraction Methods for the Assessment of Heavy Metal Bioavailability in Various Soils

The main objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of different methods (heavy metals in pore water (PW), diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT), diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) extraction, and total heavy metals (THM) in soil) for the assessment of heavy metal bioavailability from soils having various properties and heavy metal contents. The effect of soil heavy metal pollution on shoot yield and sulfatase enzyme activity was also studied. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) was grown in different soils from Spain (n?=?10) and New Zealand (n?=?20) in a constant environment room for 25 days. The bioavailabilities of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were assessed by comparing the metal contents extracted by the different methods with those found in the roots. The most widely applicable method was DGT, as satisfactory Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn root concentrations were obtained, and it was able to distinguish between low and high Cr values. The analysis of the metal concentrations in PW was effective for the determination of Cr, Ni, and Zn content in root. Copper and Pb root concentrations were satisfactorily assessed by DTPA extraction, but the method was less successful with determining the Ni and Cr contents and suitable just to distinguish between high and low concentrations of Zn. The THM in soil method satisfactorily predicted Cu and Pb root concentrations but could only be used to distinguish between low and high Cr and Zn values. The Cd root concentration was not successfully predicted for any of the used methods. Neither shoot yield nor sulfatase enzyme activity was affected by the metal concentrations.     

A comparison of pooled and individual bird sampling for detection of Salmonella in commercial egg laying flocks

The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity of culturing pooled samples containing varying numbers of individual droppings for detection of Salmonella in commercial egg-laying flocks relative to the within-flock prevalence. A laboratory experiment was performed to directly measure the effect of diluting positive with negative faeces on the sensitivity of detection, and thus provide priors for a Bayesian model of pooled sampling. Pooled samples made up of different numbers of individual faecal droppings were collected from 20 flocks, and in addition bulked faeces and dust were also sampled using an in-house method that involved collecting 10 dust and 10 faeces samples into jars with buffered peptone water. The results from these flocks were analysed using Bayesian methods for diagnostic test evaluation in the absence of a gold standard, and the sensitivity of each pooled sample type was estimated relative to the within-flock prevalence. The sensitivity of pooled samples depended on the within-flock prevalence, and increased as the prevalence increased. The sensitivity of pooled sampling tended to increase with the number of droppings in the pool, and overall there was a higher proportion of positive samples from the pools of 20, 60 and the in-house faeces pooling method compared to the pools of 10, 5 and the individual droppings. Dust samples were more sensitive than the faeces samples, and so the inclusion of dust in sampling schemes is recommended.     

Stem cells: golden opportunities with ethical baggage

Embryonic stem cells, which have the potential to become any type of cell in the body, could one day provide a readily available supply of any tissue for the repair of damaged or diseased organs. But because they are derived from early human embryos, their use raises ethical problems.     

Caspase Activation,Hydrogen Peroxide Production and Akt Dephosphorylation Occur During Stallion Sperm Senescence

To investigate the mechanisms inducing sperm death after ejaculation, stallion ejaculates were incubated in BWW media during 6 h at 37°C. At the beginning of the incubation period and after 1, 2, 4 and 6 h sperm motility and kinematics (CASA), mitochondrial membrane potential and membrane permeability and integrity were evaluated (flow cytometry). Also, at the same time intervals, active caspase 3, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion (flow cytometry) and Akt phosphorylation (flow cytometry) were evaluated. Major decreases in sperm function occurred after 6 h of incubation, although after 1 h decrease in the percentages of motile and progressive motile sperm occurred. The decrease observed in sperm functionality after 6 h of incubation was accompanied by a significant increase in the production of hydrogen peroxide and the greatest increase in caspase 3 activity. Additionally, the percentage of phosphorylated Akt reached a minimum after 6 h of incubation. These results provide evidences that sperm death during in vitro incubation is largely an apoptotic phenomena, probably stimulated by endogenous production of hydrogen peroxide and the lack of prosurvival factors maintaining Akt in a phosphorylated status. Disclosing molecular mechanisms leading to sperm death may help to develop new strategies for stallion sperm conservation.     

The influence of leaf area,light interception and season on potato growth and yield

Summary Light interception in the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) range (400 700 nm) was measured over two years in potato crop canopies. Light interception increased linearly with increasing leaf area index (L) up to values of 2.25, light interception increased at a decreasing rate until L=4.0 was attained when around 95% of the incoming radiation was intercepted. The equation I_l=I_oe^kl accounted for 92% of the variance in the relationship between light interception and L, where I_l is the irradiance on a horizontal plane below a leaf area index of L., and k (light extinction co-efficient)=0.335+0.151 (L) 0.0129 (L)². Crop growth rate was found to be linearly related to the PAR intercepted by the canopy in 1980, in the absence of any apparent water-stress. The photosynthetic conversion efficiency of the canopy (g dry weight MJⁱ PAR intercepted) was 3.42 and 2.49 for 1980 and 1979, respectively. Tuber yields were also found to be linearly related to PAR intercepted by the canopy over the whole season.

---

Zusammenfassung In den Jahren 1979 und 1980 wurde die Lichtaufnahme der photosynthetisch aktiven Strahlung (PAR) im Bereich von 400–700 nm in Kartoffelbest?nden im Vereinigten K?nigreich gemessen. Die meteorologischen Daten zeigten, dass der Niederschlag in den Jahren sehr unterschiedlich war (Abb. 2); 1979 war überwiegend trocken, vor allem in der sp?teren Vegetationszeit, w?hrend 1980 allgemein ein nasses Jahr war. Die Lichtaufnahme stieg linear mit dem zunehmenden Blattfl?chenindex (L) bis zu L=2,25 an (wobei rund 73% der einfallenden Strahlung aufgenommen wurde) und über L=2,25 nahm die Lichtaufnahme mit einer abnehmenden Rate bis zu L=4,0 zu, wobei rund 95% der einfallenden Strahlung aufgenommen wurden (Abb. 3). Die Gleichung I_L=I_oe^kL gilt für 92% der Varianz in der Beziehung zwischen Lichtaufnahme und Blattfl?chenindex (L), wobei I_L=Strahlung auf einer horizontalen Fl?che unter einem Blattfl?chenindex von L und k (Lichtextinktionskoeffizient)=0,335+0,151(L)−0,0129(L)². Wenn die Konstante k (=0,72) verwendet wurde (Abb. 3) entsprach die Varianz für das ausgew?hlte Modell 88%. Zwischen dem Gesamttrockengewicht (TDW) und der PAR, die aufgenommen wurde, bestand in beiden Jahren ein signifikantes lineares Verh?ltnis. Abb. 4 zeigt die Daten für 1980. Durch den Nullpunkt geführt ergibt sich ein TDW=3,42 (PAR) und 2,49 (PAR) für 1980 bzw. 1979, das bedeutet, dass die Umwandlung von Lichtenergie in Trockensubstanz ohne ersichtlichen Wassermangel 1980 wirkungsvoller war. Abb. 5 zeigt die photosynthetische Wirksamkeit (g Trockengewicht MJ^l PAR) w?hrend der Vegetationszeiten zusammen mit den ?nderungen im Blattfl?chenindex L. Die Wachstumsrate des Bestandes stand 1980 in einem linearen Verh?ltnis zu der von den Bl?ttern aufgenommenen PAR, w?hrend sich für 1979, wo der Bestand stark unter Trockenheit litt, eine Abweichung ergab (Abb. 6). Obwohl w?hrend der beiden Jahre die photosynthetische Wirksamkeit (g Knollentrockengewicht MJ^l PAR, aufgenommen w?hrend der gesamten Vegetationszeit) für das Knollengewicht unterschiedlich war: Knollentrockengewicht=1,97 (PAR) und 2,37 (PAR) für 1979 bzw. 1980, zeigen die Daten, dass ein gesteigertes Wachstum entsprechend einer h?heren Lichtaufnahme zu h?heren Knollenertr?gen führt, unabh?ngig von einer Reihe ackerbaulicher Massnahmen.

---

Résumé L'interception des radiations actives pour la photosynthèse (PAR), dans des longueurs d'onde de 400 à 700 nm, est mesurée durant très différente les deux années; 1979 fut particulièrement sec, surtout en fin de saison, alors que 1980 fut une année humide. La quantité de lumière interceptée, augmente linéairement avec l'index de surface foliaire (leaf area index) jusqu'à une valeur de L=4,25 (correspondant à 73% de radiations interceptées) et pour des valeurs supérieures, l'interception augmente à une vitesse décroissante jusqu'à L=4,0 correspondant à 95% de radiations captées (fig. 3). La relation I_L=I_oe^kL interpréte 92% de la variation dans la liaison entre la lumière interceptée et l'index de surface foliaire (L), où I_L est le rayonnement atteignant un plan horizontal situé sous un index foliaire L et K (coefficient d'extinction lumineuse)=0,335+0,151(L) −0,0129(L)². Si on fixe k à 0,72 (fig. 3), la part de variation expliquée par le modèle est de 88%. Une relation linéaire significative entre la matière sèche totale (TDW) cumulée et le PAR intercepté cumulé, a été établie pour les deux années et les données de 1980 sont portées dans la figure 4. Si on fait passer la régression par l'origine, on écrira pour 1979: TDW=2,49× deux années, 1979 et 1980, dans des cultures de pomme de terre du Royaume-Uni. Selon les données météorologiques, la pluviométrie fut et pour 1980: TDW=3,42×PAR. Ces relations indiquent que la conversion de lumière en matière sèche a été plus efficace en 1980 en l'absence de déficit hydrique. L'efficacité de la conversion photosynthétique (g de matière sèche/PAR intercepté) au cours de la saison, est indiquée avec les variations de L dans la figure 5. La vitesse de croissance de la culture est liée linéairement au PAR capté par la végétation en 1980, alors que cette liaison s'écarte de la linéarité en 1979, lorsque la culture est affectée par la sécheresse (fig. 6). Bien que l'efficacité de la conversion photosynthétique (g de poids sec de tubercule/PAR captée durant toute la saison) pour le poids de tubercules soit légèrement différente pour les deux années (en 1979 elle est égale à 2,37 (PAR), en 1980 elle est égale à 1,97 (PAR)). Les données indiquent que l'augmentation de la croissance de la récolte totale, expliquée par l'augmentation de la lumière captée, résultent également du rendement de plus en plus grand des tubercules (fig. 7), sur une série de traitements agronomiques.

     

Sulphur transformations in soils using sulphur-35 labelling

Mineralization and immobilization of sulphur in two soils was studied by means of incubation experiments involving the labelling of soil with radioactive ³⁵S. The results obtained were consistent with the concept of a continuous, concurrent mineralization and immobilization cycle taking place involving a relatively small proportion (3–6%) of the soil organic S pool. Addition of glucose to the soil increased both the amounts of S mineralized or immobilized and the apparent size of the actively cycling organic S fraction. HI-reducible forms of soil S appeared to be the predominant forms of organic S involved in the S transformations.Re-incubation of the soils after leaching and drying caused a considerable amount of fresh sulphate mineralization to take place. The original actively cycling organic S pool initially contributed an extremely high proportion (40–70%) of the freshly mineralized sulphate. However, as the re-incubation proceeded, a much greater proportion of the soil organic S became involved in S transformations.     

Sulphur mineralisation in some New Zealand soils

Summary An open incubation technique was used to measure S mineralisation in a range of New Zealand soils. For most of the soils studied, the release of S as sulphate was curvilinear with time, and during a 10-week incubation, the amounts of S mineralised ranged from less than 3 g S g^-1 soil to more than 26 g S g^-1 soil. The best predictor of mineralised S appeared to be the amount of C-bonded S in the soil (explaining 59% of the variation in mineralised S between soils). Examination of the soils after incubation also revealed that the bulk of the mineralised S was derived from the C-bonded S pool. Hydriodic acid-reducible forms of organic S appeared to make little contribution to mineralised S.Attempts were made to predict total potentially mineralisable S (S _o) from incubation data using an exponential equation and a reciprocal-plot technique. However, the dependence of estimated values of S _o on the length and temperature of incubation cast doubts on the validity of this approach.