Sorption of metal ions from aqueous solution to spruce bark

The concentrations and protonation constants of the functional groups like carboxyl and phenolic hydroxyl groups in spruce bark were determined by a potentiometric acid–base titration method. The non-cellulosic carbohydrates in spruce bark were also characterized by acid methanolysis and GC, including determination of the uronic acid units, which are the key units involved in metal sorption. Sorption of metal ions to bark takes place by ion exchange, mainly by complexation to these functional groups. The sorption equilibrium time, studied by using a batch method, was approximately 5 min. The metal sorption capacity of spruce bark and the affinity order of metal ions were studied with four different metal ion mixtures using a column chromatographic method. Because a method of competition was used, concentration of metal ions adsorbed to bark depends on the metal ions present in the mixtures studied. In the sorption experiments with same metal ion mixtures, inner bark of spruce exhibited higher sorption capacity than outer bark. By combination of the results from several experiments, the following affinity order was obtained Fe³⁺ ? Pb²⁺ ? Cu²⁺ ? Cd²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Ni²⁺ > Ba²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Sr²⁺ > Mn²⁺ > Mg²⁺ ? K⁺ ~ Na⁺ ~ Li⁺. Bark has a great potential as an effective and inexpensive sorbent for removal of metal ions from, e.g., waste water.     

Nitrogen flows and balances as affected by water and nutrient management in a sorghum cropping system of semiarid Burkina Faso

Efficient use of external inputs and water conservation are a prerequisite of sustainable agricultural productivity in semiarid West Africa. A field experiment was carried out during 3 years (2000–2002) at Saria in semiarid Burkina Faso (800 mm of annual rainfall, PET of 2000 mm per year) to assess the effects of stone rows or grass strips of Andropogon gayanus Kunth cv. Bisquamulatus (Hochst. Hack.) as soil and water conservation (SWC) measures, the sole application of an organic (compost-N) or mineral (urea-N) nitrogen and the combined use of SWC and compost-N or urea-N on N flows and balances. The trial was conducted on a Ferric Lixisol with 1.5% slope and comprised nine treatments in two replications. The SWC measures were put along contours lines. During the three consecutive years, all treatments induced negative annual N balances (−75 to −24 kg N ha⁻¹). The main factors explaining these negative balances were N exports by sorghum biomass and soil erosion-induced N losses. Large amounts of N (7 kg N ha⁻¹ per year in 2000 and 44 kg N ha⁻¹ per year in 2002) were lost in the control treatment through runoff and eroded sediments, which corresponds respectively to about 10 and 43% of the total outflow of N. Sole stone rows and grass strips reduced erosion N losses to 8 and 12%, respectively, of the total annual loss. The combined application of SWC measures and nutrients inputs reduced erosion N losses to only 2–7% of the annual N loss. The application of urea-N or compost-N led to the lowest soil N mining over the 3 years, whereas the highest N mining was observed in plots without added N. We conclude that N mining in poor fertile soils of West Africa can be mitigated through an integration of local water and nutrient management practices.     

Salinity tolerance of non‐native suckermouth armoured catfish (Loricariidae: Pterygoplichthys) in south‐eastern Mexico: implications for invasion and dispersal

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Tumor regression in cancer patients by very low doses of a T cell-engaging antibody

Previous attempts have shown the potential of T cells in immunotherapy of cancer. Here, we report on the clinical activity of a bispecific antibody construct called blinatumomab, which has the potential to engage all cytotoxic T cells in patients for lysis of cancer cells. Doses as low as 0.005 milligrams per square meter per day in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients led to an elimination of target cells in blood. Partial and complete tumor regressions were first observed at a dose level of 0.015 milligrams, and all seven patients treated at a dose level of 0.06 milligrams experienced a tumor regression. Blinatumomab also led to clearance of tumor cells from bone marrow and liver. T cell-engaging antibodies appear to have therapeutic potential for the treatment of malignant diseases.     

A highly conserved neutralizing epitope on group 2 influenza A viruses

Current flu vaccines provide only limited coverage against seasonal strains of influenza viruses. The identification of V(H)1-69 antibodies that broadly neutralize almost all influenza A group 1 viruses constituted a breakthrough in the influenza field. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a human monoclonal antibody CR8020 with broad neutralizing activity against most group 2 viruses, including H3N2 and H7N7, which cause severe human infection. The crystal structure of Fab CR8020 with the 1968 pandemic H3 hemagglutinin (HA) reveals a highly conserved epitope in the HA stalk distinct from the epitope recognized by the V(H)1-69 group 1 antibodies. Thus, a cocktail of two antibodies may be sufficient to neutralize most influenza A subtypes and, hence, enable development of a universal flu vaccine and broad-spectrum antibody therapies.     

Matching behavior and the representation of value in the parietal cortex

Psychologists and economists have long appreciated the contribution of reward history and expectation to decision-making. Yet we know little about how specific histories of choice and reward lead to an internal representation of the "value" of possible actions. We approached this problem through an integrated application of behavioral, computational, and physiological techniques. Monkeys were placed in a dynamic foraging environment in which they had to track the changing values of alternative choices through time. In this context, the monkeys' foraging behavior provided a window into their subjective valuation. We found that a simple model based on reward history can duplicate this behavior and that neurons in the parietal cortex represent the relative value of competing actions predicted by this model.     

Factors influencing Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum infection incidence and disease development in rose plants

Glasshouse experiments were conducted to study infection and disease development in rockwool-grown rose plants inoculated with Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum. A R. pseudosolanacearum strain isolated from rose plants was more aggressive than strains from anthurium or curcuma. The three rose cultivars tested, Avalanche, Red Naomi, and Armando, differed in susceptibility. At 20°C, the rose strain caused hardly any symptoms over a 6-week period, whereas at 28°C typical wilt symptoms were observed within 2 weeks after stem inoculation of Armando, the most susceptible cultivar. Inoculating roots with the rose strain resulted only in weak atypical symptoms. Nevertheless, inoculating roots of cv. Armando at a relatively low inoculum dose of 10⁴ cfu/ml led to high densities in the base of stems in one out of two experiments. R. pseudosolanacearum occasionally spread from stem inoculated plants with symptoms in rockwool slabs. This limited spread resulted in a low infection incidence, and only of plants directly adjacent to the plants with symptoms.     

Air Pollution Effects on Terrestrial Ecosystems in Estonia

A number of positive changes have taken place since Estonia regained its independence in 1991. Air pollution from stationary sources has decreased over 2.5 times during 1990–1999, emissions of solid particles and SO₂ have declined 74% and 60%, respectively. The content of heavy metals in Estonian mosses has decreased in comparison with the early 1990s. Last five years occurrence of different kind of damages on decidious trees has not been frequent. Those facts indicate that air pollution with heavy metals and other pollutants has diminished during the last few years. As the pH of precipitation fluctuates in different parts of Estonia, it is very important to study the effect of precipitation on ecosystems on the basis of critical loads. Results indicate that, as for eutrophicating nitrogen, the actual nitrogen deposition in North-East Estonia and West-Estonian islands roughly coincides with the limits for pollution endurance. This pattern also applies to the total deposition of sulphur and nitrogen in South, North and North-East Estonia, although in some Northern and North-Eastern areas pollution endurance limits have been exceeded.     

Soil fauna and organic amendment interactions affect soil carbon and crop performance in semi-arid West Africa

A field experiment was conducted at Kaibo in southern Burkina Faso on an Eutric Cambisol during the 2000 rainy season to assess the interaction of organic amendment quality and soil fauna, affecting soil organic carbon and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) performance. Plots were treated with the pesticides Dursban and Endosulfan to exclude soil fauna or left untreated. Sub-treatments consisted of surface-placed maize straw (C/N ratio = 58), Andropogon straw (C/N ratio = 153), cattle dung (C/N ratio = 40), sheep dung (C/N ratio = 17) or compost (C/N ratio = 10) and the control. Organic amendments were applied at a dose equivalent to the application of 40 kg N ha⁻¹. The presence of soil fauna increased soil total carbon by 32% and grain yield production by 50%. The interaction between high C/N ratio organic amendment, Andropogon straw (SA), and soil fauna reduced soil carbon build-up. We suggest that this is due to a priming effect of SA on soil organic matter in the presence of soil fauna. We also suggest that the interaction between soil fauna and easily decomposable organic amendment led to the smallest decrease in soil carbon build-up. It is concluded that in semi-arid West Africa, in the presence of soil fauna, soil carbon build-up is more affected by the quality of organic amendments than the quantity of carbon inputs. Sorghum grain yield production was significantly reduced in the absence of soil fauna. High C/N ratio organic amendment interacted negatively with soil fauna in its effects on crop performance. We propose that the effect of soil fauna on soil carbon build-up and crop performance can be optimised by using high quality organic matter or supplementing low-quality organic matter with inorganic nitrogen in semi-arid West Africa.