Measuring nitrogen fixation by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sesbania sesban</Emphasis> planted fallows using <Superscript>15</Superscript>N tracer technique in Kenya

A field experiment was performed in eastern Kenya to estimate N₂ fixation by Sesbania sesban over an 18-month period using the ¹⁵N dilution method. The influence of three reference species, Senna spectabilis, Eucalyptus saligna and Grevillea robusta, on the estimates of N₂ fixation was also assessed. Percentage Ndfa (nitrogen derived from the atmosphere) was calculated based on foliar atom excess (FAE), above-ground atom excess (AAE) or whole tree atom excess (WAE) data. The differences in atom% ¹⁵N excess values between species and plant parts are presented and discussed. We recommend the use of several reference species for estimating %Ndfa and that the different results obtained should be carefully considered in relation to the issues being addressed. In this study, Senna was the most suitable of the three reference species because its N uptake pattern and phenology were very similar to those of Sesbania. When well established, the amount of N fixed by Sesbania accounts for more than 80% of its total N content, according to FAE-based estimates. We estimated the Ndfa by Sesbania after 18 months to between 500 and 600 kg ha⁻¹ , depending on whether FAE, AAE or WAE data were used and on the choice of reference species. The substantial accumulation of N in planted Sesbania highlighted its potential to increase the sustainability of crop production on N-limited soils. We consider the ¹⁵N dilution method to be appropriate for quantifying N₂ fixation in improved fallows in studies, similar to this one, of young trees with high N₂-fixing ability.     

Qualitative variation of anti-diabetic compounds in different tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.) cytotypes

Ethanolic extracts of diploid Artemisia dracunculus L. (wild tarragon) from populations in the U.S., and polyploid tarragon from a variety of sources, were screened for the anti-diabetic compounds davidigenin; sakuranetin; 2’,4’-dihydroxy-4-methoxydihydrochalcone; 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid; 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 6-demethoxycapillarisin using LC-MS. Only decaploid plants contained all six target compounds and were the only plants that contained davidigenin and 2,4-dihydroxy-4-methoxydihydrochalcone. These results exhibit the importance of germplasm selection and provenance when studying plants for medicinal activity. Relying only on the “right species” for consistent medicinal activities may not be sufficient, as intraspecific variation may be highly significant.     

Relation of Relative Colloid Stability Ratio and Colloid Release in Two Lead-Contaminated Soils

Potential release of soil colloids into groundwater has attracted considerable attention because of their association with heavy metals. Much effort has been focused on using colloid-deposition-based parameters (batch experiment) to predict colloid release in soils (column experiment), though they are two separate processes. In this paper, relative colloid stability ratio was estimated and used to relate to colloid release in soils. Changes in colloid release with incubation times were measured in two lead-contaminated soils. Colloid stability ratio (W) is defined as the ratio of the colloid flocculation rate of a suspension under normal observation conditions (slow flocculation) to the rate under rapid flocculation conditions. Assuming that colloid flocculation rate is related to changes in light absorbency of a solution, relative colloid stability ratio (RW) was estimated by dividing the rate of absorbency change of soil suspension observed in 0.06 M NaCl (slow flocculation) by that in 0.01 M CaCl₂ (rapid flocculation) electrolyte solutions. Both colloid release and R W changed randomly with incubation times in both soils. However, colloid release generally increased as RW increased with correlation coefficients of 0.67–0.89. This result suggests that the overall colloid release from these soils was related to RW, even though they are different conceptually. However, research is needed to further develop the concept of using relative colloid stability ratio to predict colloid release in soils.     

Effects of Plant Age on Arsenic Hyperaccumulation by Pteris vittata L.

Plant age affects its elemental uptake and biomass accumulation, which is important for the application of plants in phytoextraction. In this research, we evaluated the effects of plant age on arsenic accumulation by arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata after growing in an arsenic-contaminated soil for 8 weeks. The study used a completely randomized design consisting of four plant ages (2, 4, 10 and 16 months) with four replications each. While the fronds of the 2 month old plants contained 36% more arsenic than those of the 4 and 16 month old plants, they were lower in roots. After 8 weeks of growth, the final frond biomass increased by 39, 6.9, 2.0 and 1.1 times compared to the initial frond biomass, from youngest to oldest, respectively. Higher phosphorus and iron accumulation in the roots of older plants may have affected the plant’s efficiency to bioconcentrate and transfer arsenic from the roots to the fronds. Greater metabolic activity and higher rate of biomass production lead to higher As accumulation and removal by young plants. This research demonstrated that the use of young plants can be an effective strategy to reduce the time to remediate an As-contaminated site.     

Aqueous Pb Reduction in Pb-Contaminated Soils by Florida Phosphate Rocks

Lead contamination is of great environmental concern due to its effect on human health. This study investigated the feasibility of using Florida phosphate rocks (PR) to immobilize aqueous Pb from Pb-contaminated soils. Occidental Chemical PR effectively immobilized Pb from 13 Pb-contaminated soils, but its effectiveness was affected by soil pH and extent of Pb contamination, with aqueous Pb reduction ranging from 21.8 to 100%. Longer reaction times improved aqueous Pb reduction. Six out of 7 Florida PR effectively immobilized aqueous Pb from the Burch Loam soil. Phosphate rock from Cargil Fertilizer was ineffective, with aqueous Pb reduction of 4.73%. The relative effectiveness of 6 Florida PR to immobilize aqueous Pb, excluding Cargil Fertilizer PR, was: Occidental Chemical > CF Chemical > Nu Gulf Industries > Agri-Chemical > IMC > Agrico Chemical. Phosphate rock solubility (as estimated by acid extraction and X-ray diffraction) failed to predicate the effectiveness of PR to immobilize aqueous Pb from Pb-contaminated soils, partially due to the complexity and kinetics of reactions between PR and soils. Our results demonstrate that PR has a potential to cost-effectively treat Pb-contaminated soils.     

Teaching small animal reproduction via virtual patients

Virtual patients have become an interesting alternative in medical education. Due to increasing demands regarding theoretical and clinical teaching and to improve an interdisciplinary approach, a new blended learning concept including virtual patients was developed and implemented in the veterinary curriculum of the Freie Universität Berlin. In the presented project, three virtual patients from the field of canine reproduction were developed. They focus on pregnancy diagnosis with suspected luteal insufficiency, pyometra and benign prostatic hyperplasia, respectively. The results of an evaluation by veterinary students of the 7th semester showed a high acceptance of virtual patients in a blended learning reproduction module in the interdisciplinary lectures. Students especially preferred videos, such as video lectures, hands-on videos and animations as well as a glossary for background information, to successfully and autonomously work on a virtual case. The content covered by the new modules that were developed in the context of this project is part of a spiral curriculum; they will be revised and enhanced during the clinical year.     

Leukocyte endothelial cell interactions in pig to human organ xenograft rejection

In cases where antibody- and complement-mediated hyperacute rejection (HAR) of vascularized organ xenografts has been prevented, acute vascular rejection (AVR) and acute T cell-mediated rejection (ACR) cause graft destruction. Infiltration of leukocytes (innate and graft-primed T cells) into the graft execute the latter two rejection modalities. The leukocyte extravasation process, which is a prerequisite for graft infiltration, is governed by adhesion molecules, including the selectin, integrin and immunoglobulin protein families, and the chemokine protein family. The compatibility between porcine endothelial cell and human leukocyte adhesion molecules was investigated in dynamic adhesion and static transendothelial migration assays. The effect of human anti-pig antibodies on human leukocyte adhesion to, and transendothelial migration across, porcine endothelium was assessed under dynamic and static conditions, respectively. In contrast to previously published results, no difference in the ability of neutrophils to adhere to pig and human endothelium was observed. Furthermore, no evident quantitative or qualitative differences in the capacity of human and porcine endothelium to support transendothelial migration of human leukocytes (T, B and natural killer (NK) cells, monocytes, and neutrophils) could be detected. The presence of human anti-pig antibodies (Abs) modulated the migration of leukocytes across porcine endothelium, as well as neutrophil adhesion to porcine endothelium under conditions of flow. Antibodies specific for pig endothelial adhesion molecules can potentially be used as species (graft)-specific immunosuppressive reagents in order to prevent cellular organ xenograft rejection.