More evidence that anaerobic oxidation of methane is prevalent in soils: Is it time to upgrade our biogeochemical models?

Estimating future fluxes of CH₄ between land and atmosphere requires well-conceived process-based biogeochemical models. Current models do not represent the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in land surface soils, in spite of increasing evidence that this process is widespread. Our objective was to determine whether AOM, or potential AOM, commonly occurs in 20 hydromorphic soils spanning a wide range of chemical properties. Bulk soil samples were collected under shallow water near the shoreline of 15 recently drained fish ponds in southern Bohemia (Czech Republic), as well as from below the water table at 3 peatland locations in northeast Scotland and 2 acid sulfate soils on the southern coast of Finland. Each soil slurry was incubated under both oxic and anoxic conditions, with or without the addition of alternative electron acceptors (SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻) or H₂PO₄⁻. Here, “oxic” and “anoxic” conditions refer to anoxic soil respectively incubated in a headspace containing air or argon. Using the isotope dilution method, we determined the gross production and oxidation rates of CH₄ after 2 days incubation under oxic headspace conditions, and after 2, 21 and 60 days incubation under anoxic conditions. Large differences in net CH₄ fluxes were observed between soil types and between incubation conditions. AOM was detected in each of the 20 bulk soil samples, which spanned >6 pH units and 2 orders of magnitude in organic C content. Significant positive relationships were found between AOM and gross CH₄ production rates under anoxic conditions, resulting in AOM rates that were sometimes higher than CH₄ oxidation rates under oxic headspace conditions. There was no relationship between net and gross CH₄ production rates, such that 2 soil types could display similar low net rates, yet conceal very large differences in gross rates. The effects of alternative electron acceptors on AOM were idiosyncratic and resulted in no net trend. We did find, however, a negative effect of SO₄²⁻ and H₂PO₄⁻ on gross CH₄ production rates under anoxic and oxic conditions respectively. Under oxic headspace conditions, CH₄ oxidation was related to soil organic C content. Taken collectively, our results suggest that AOM, or potential AOM, is prevalent over a wide range of soil types, that AOM may contribute substantially to CH₄ oxidation in soils, and that AOM in soils should be integrated to current process-based CH₄ cycling models.     

Non-Destructive Quantification of Lipid and Water in Fresh Tuna Meat by a Single-Sided Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Scanner

A portable single-sided nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) surface scanner was applied to the non-destructive quantification of lipid and water in meat block samples of farmed bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Proton NMR relaxation measurements of the fresh meat block samples were performed at room temperature in a laboratory. Totally, 34 tuna meat block samples were measured; the required measurement time was approximately 70 s for each sample. The results yielded estimation errors of 3.7 and 2.7 g/100 g for the lipid and water weight fractions, respectively. The investigation depth of the sensor was as deep as 3 cm, which enables the non-destructive quantification of the meat of the intact whole tuna beneath the thick scales, skin, and subcutaneous fat in markets and seafood factories.     

Effect of miR-19a on lipid catabolism in hepatocyte LO2

AIM: To observe the effect of microRNA-19a (miR-19a) on the lipid catabolism of hepatocyte LO2, and to explore the potential mechanism. METHODS: miR-19a was over-expressed or silenced by transfection of miR-19a mimics or miR-19a inhibitor into LO2 cells, then the mRNA level of miR-19a was detected by real-time PCR. The potential target of miR-19a was found by the method of bioinformatics through internet website. The effect of miR-19a on the 3' UTR of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) was measured by dual luciferase reporter assay, and the protein level of PPARα and its 2 major downstream rate-limiting enzymes involved in lipid catabolism, acyl-coenzyme a dehydrogenase (ACADM) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), were detected by Western blotting. Meanwhile, the effect of miR-19a on the generation of ketone body was measured by beta-hydroxybutyric acid (β-OHB) detection assay. RESULTS: The mRNA level of miR-19a was dramatically elevated by the transfection of miR-19a mimics, and sharply decreased by the transfection of miR-19a inhibitor (P<0.05). PPARα was found as a potential target of miR-19a, and dual luciferase reporter assay and Western blotting confirmed the regulatory effect of miR-19a on the expression of PPARα, with the protein level changes of ACADM and CPT1A. miR-19a mimics down-regulated, while miR-19a inhibitor up-regulated the concentration of β-OHB in LO2 cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: miR-19a regulates the lipid catabolism of hepatocytes by targeting the PPARα and its 2 downstream rate-limiting enzymes.     

微波辐射法竹浆纤维素的中性TEMPO氧化及表征

采用微波辐射法和中性2,2,6,6-四甲基哌啶-1-氧化物(TEMPO)自由基氧化工艺来预处理竹浆纤维素,之后用超声波机械处理制备微纤化纤维素。实验结果表明,在60℃下,TEMPO用量为0.15 mmol/g(以绝干浆计,下同),Na Cl O2用量为10 mmol/g,Na Cl O用量为1 mmol/g,微波氧化2 h,其羧基含量最高到达0.729 mmol/g,氧化效果最佳,超声波处理后微纤化纤维素得率高达85.7%。FT-IR分析表明纤维素氧化后引入羧基官能团;XRD结果揭示纤维素氧化反应只发生在纤维素的无定型区或结晶区表面;纤维素氧化前后的聚合度(Dp)结果表明相对于碱性氧化,微波辐射和中性TEMPO氧化对纤维的降解程度低,从而有效地保持了纤维素原本的长度。     

Contributions of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria to nitrification in Oregon forest soils

Ammonia oxidation, the first step of nitrification, is mediated by both ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB); however, the relative contributions of AOA and AOB to soil nitrification are not well understood. In this study we used 1-octyne to discriminate between AOA- and AOB-supported nitrification determined both in soil-water slurries and in unsaturated whole soil at field moisture. Soils were collected from stands of red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb. Franco) at three sites (Cascade Head, the H.J. Andrews, and McDonald Forest) on acidic soils (pH 3.9–5.7) in Oregon, USA. The abundances of AOA and AOB were measured using quantitative PCR by targeting the amoA gene, which encodes subunit A of ammonia monooxygenase. Total and AOA-specific (octyne-resistant) nitrification activities in soil slurries were significantly higher at Cascade Head (the most acidic soils, pH < 5) than at either the H.J. Andrews or McDonald Forest, and greater in red alder compared with Douglas-fir soils. The fraction of octyne-resistant nitrification varied among sites (21–74%) and was highest at Cascade Head than at the other two locations. Net nitrification rates of whole soil without NH₄⁺ amendment ranged from 0.4 to 3.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil d⁻¹. Overall, net nitrification rates of whole soil were stimulated 2- to 8-fold by addition of 140 mg NH₄⁺-N kg⁻¹ soil; this was significant for red alder at Cascade Head and the H.J. Andrews. Red alder at Cascade Head was unique in that the majority of NH₄⁺-stimulated nitrifying activity was octyne-resistant (73%). At all other sites, NH₄⁺-stimulated nitrification was octyne-sensitive (68–90%). The octyne-sensitive activity—presumably AOB—was affected more by soil pH whereas the octyne-resistant (AOA) activity was more strongly related to N availability.     

Black carbon estimation in French calcareous soils using chemo‐thermal oxidation method

We studied the black carbon (BC) content of ca. 405 samples from French topsoil and artificial soil and carbonate mixtures. Our protocol involved three main steps: (i) decarbonation by HCl, (ii) elimination of non‐pyrogenic organic carbon in a furnace at 375 °C, and (iii) quantification of residual carbon by CHN analysis. BC content increased for calcareous soils according to their carbonates content. Subsequent analyses confirmed the existence of a methodological artefact for BC determination only in calcareous soils. Decarbonation changes the thermal properties of organic matter, creating more recalcitrant carbon than in the initial sample. Higher CaCO₃ and organic carbon content results in a more pronounced artefact. The reversal of the first two steps of the chemo‐thermal oxidation method (i.e. thermal oxidation before soil decarbonation) eliminates this artefact. Overall, our results suggest that BC content may have been overestimated in a large number of studies on calcareous soils.     

不同浓度NH_3对富营养化湖泊水体硝化作用的影响

通过室内培养试验,研究了不同浓度非离子态氨（NH3）条件下富营养化湖泊——太湖梅粱湾水体硝化作用的2个过程,即氨氧化和亚硝酸盐氧化的发生情况。结果表明,在试验设计的NH3浓度范围内,颗粒态氨氧化和自由态氨氧化速率都随着NH3浓度的升高而显著增加,同时在高浓度NH3（0.65和0.85mg/L）下,颗粒态氨氧化速率在总氨氧化速率中所占比例也显著增加。而亚硝酸盐氧化过程的发生却具有明显的阶段性,当NH3浓度从0.05增加到0.15mg/L时,自由态亚硝酸盐氧化速率有一定的降低,但是颗粒态亚硝酸盐氧化速率却显著增加,导致总亚硝酸盐氧化速率也显著上升;当NH3浓度从0.15增加到0.85mg/L,自由态亚硝酸盐氧化速率随着NH3浓度的升高而进一步降低,同时颗粒态亚硝酸盐氧化速率也随着NH3浓度的增加开始显著降低,导致总亚硝酸盐氧化速率急剧降低。     

绿色环保型循环冷却水处理技术

分析了当前绿色环保的循环冷却水的处理工艺、现状、机理和应用情况，指出了绿色环保型循环冷却水的重要性，以期引起业内的重视并提供参考。     

Albumin overload aggravates kidney injury and renoprotective effect of simvastatin in adriamycin nephropathy mice

AIM: To investigate the aggravating effect of albumin overload on the kidney injury induced by lipid nephrotoxicity, and to observe the renoprotective effect of simvastatin (SIMV) on adriamycin nephropathy (ADR) mice.METHODS: SPF healthy male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, ADR group, ADR with bovine serum albumin (BSA) overload (ADR+BSA) group, and ADR with both BSA overload and SIMV treatment (ADR+BSA+SIMV) group. All mice were uninephrectomized under general anesthesia 2 weeks before setting up ADR model. ADR+BSA model started to be set up 4 weeks later. At the end of the 0th, 2nd, 6th, 10th and 14th weeks, 24 h urinary protein was evaluated. At the end of the 14th week, the serum biochemical indexes and the kidney pathological changes were observed, and glomerulosclerotic index (GSI) was also evaluated. The cholesterol in the kidney was measured by enzymic colorimetric method and oil red O staining. The expression of IL-1β, TGF-β1 and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) in the kidney tissues was determined by real-time PCR. The expression of IL-1β and IL-17 was measured by immunohistochemistry and the expression of IL-17 in the kidney was measured by ELISA.RESULTS: Compared with control group, the expression of IL-1β, TGF-β1, IL-17 and LDLr, and cholesterol content in the kidney and the GSI were all significantly increased in ADR group (P<0.05). Compared with ADR group, 24 h urinary protein, serum creatinine, the expression of IL-1β, IL-17 and LDLr, and cholesterol content in the kidney were all significantly increased in ADR+BSA group (P<0.05). Treatment with SIMV significantly decreased the expression of IL-1β, TGF-β1, IL-17 and LDLr. The accumulation of cholesterol in the kidney and the GSI were also decreased (all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Inflammation aggravates the lipid deposition and glomerular sclerosis by increasing the expression of LDLr in ADR mice. Albumin overload further accelerates the progressive kidney damage by regulating the expression of IL-1β, TGF-β1 and IL-17, which promotes the increase in LDLr. The beneficial effect of SIMV might be mediated by its anti-inflammatory effect.     

月桂酸单甘油酯对花鲈脂质代谢的影响

为评价月桂酸单甘油酯(Glycerol monolaurate,GML)对花鲈(Lateolabrax maculatus)脂质代谢的影响,文章通过基础饲料拌喂0 mg·kg^-1(对照组)、1000 mg·kg^-1(低剂量组)、2000 mg·kg^-1(中剂量组)和4000 mg·kg^-1(高剂量组)的GML,养殖均质量为(230±20)g的花鲈8周。结果显示:1)添加GML组的腹脂率均显著降低,肝体比第4周明显降低(P<0.05);2)低剂量和中剂量组的血清甘油三酯、总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇浓度和天冬氨酸转氨酶活性均低于高剂量组(P<0.05);3)中剂量组的高密度脂蛋白胆固醇浓度均高于其他组(P<0.05);4)添加GML组肝脏中超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性和还原型谷胱甘肽浓度均有升高,而丙二醛浓度显著降低(P<0.05);5)添加GML组的肝脏中脂肪酸合成酶和乙酰辅酶A羧化酶活性降低,且脂质沉积明显减少(P<0.05);脂蛋白脂酶活性均显著下降,中剂量组显著高于其他组(P<0.05)。综上,饲料中添加GML能够显著改善花鲈脂质代谢,该实验条件下,GML最适拌料量为2000 mg·kg^-1。