Nutrient-flow wick culture system for potted plant production: System characteristics and plant growth

To compliment the current subirrigation systems used for production of potted plants, a nutrient-flow wick culture (NFW) system was developed and compared with other subirrigation systems, such as an ebb and flow culture (EBB) system and a nutrient-stagnant wick culture (NSW) system in relation to their system characteristics and plant growth. Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cv. New Alter) was cultivated in a 6 cm pot for 10 weeks in each subirrigation system. The water-absorption pattern of the medium, water content of the medium, water loss, algal growth, salt-buildup and plant growth under various culture systems were observed. The water contents of medium under the NFW and EBB systems showed fluctuations from 30 to 40% and from 50 to 60% (by volume), respectively, whereas the water content under the NSW system gradually increased to over 40% without fluctuation. Relative to other systems, the water loss in the NFW system was 50–70% due to the reduction in the evaporation from the surfaces of the trough and medium. Algae appeared in the NSW system because the nutrient solution was always stagnant in the trough, while it was not observed under the NFW system. The dissolved oxygen in the nutrient solution was the highest during the irrigation period and the salinity in the medium was the lowest in the NFW system. With regard to system characteristics, the NFW system was simple, water-saving and efficient. In addition, the growth of kalanchoes in the NFW system was similar to those in the NSW and EBB systems at an irrigation frequency of five times a day.     

Free radical scavenging and antioxidative activity of caffeic acid amide and ester analogues: structure-activity relationship.

The structure-activity relationships of synthetic caffeic acid amide and ester analogues as potential antioxidants and free radical scavengers have been investigated. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH.) scavenging activity of the test compounds was N-trans-caffeoyl-L-cysteine methyl ester (5) > N-trans-caffeoyldopamine (4) > N-trans-caffeoyltyramine (3) > N-trans-caffeoyl-beta-phenethylamine (2) > Trolox C (8) > caffeic acid phenethyl ester (1) > caffeic acid (6) > ferulic acid (7). This established that the radical scavenging activity of the compounds increased with increasing numbers of hydroxyl groups or catechol moieties and also with the presence of other hydrogen-donating groups (-NH, -SH). The antioxidative activity of the compounds was also investigated in an emulsified linoleic acid oxidation system accelerated by 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride. The order was 1 > 2 > 4 > 3 > or = 5 > 6 > 8 > 7. Therefore, in the emulsion system, the antioxidative activity of the test compounds depends not only on the hydroxyl groups or catechol rings but also on the partition coefficient (log P) or hydrophobicity of the compounds. This supports the concept that hydrophobic antioxidants tend to exhibit better antioxidative activity in an emulsion system.     

Influences of forest tending works on carbon distribution and cycling in a Pinus densiflora S. et Z. stand in Korea

This study was conducted to determine carbon (C) dynamics following forest tending works (FTW) which are one of the most important forest management activities conducted by Korean forest police and managers. We measured organic C storage (above- and below-ground biomass C, forest floor C, and soil C at 50 cm depth), soil environmental factors (soil CO₂ efflux, soil temperature, soil water content, soil pH, and soil organic C concentration), and organic C input and output (litterfall and litter decomposition rates) for one year in FTW and non-FTW (control) stands of approximately 40-year-old red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) forests in the Hwangmaesan Soopkakkugi model forest in Sancheonggun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. This forest was thinned in 2005 as a representative FTW practice. The total C stored in tree biomass was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the FTW stand (40.17 Mg C ha⁻¹) than in the control stand (64.52 Mg C ha⁻¹). However, C storage of forest floor and soil layers measured at four different depths was not changed by FTW, except for that at the surface soil depth (0–10 cm). The organic C input due to litterfall and output due to needle litter decomposition were both significantly lower in the FTW stand than in the control stand (2.02 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ vs. 2.80 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 308 g C kg⁻¹ year⁻¹ vs. 364 g C kg⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively, both P < 0.05). Soil environmental factors were significantly affected (P < 0.05) by FTW, except for soil CO₂ efflux rates and organic C concentration at soil depth of 0–20 cm. The mean annual soil CO₂ efflux rates were the same in the FTW (0.24 g CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹) and control (0.24 g CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹) stands despite monthly variations of soil CO₂ efflux over the one-year study period. The mean soil organic C concentration at a soil depth of 0–20 cm was lower in the FTW stand (81.3 g kg⁻¹) than in the control stand (86.4 g kg⁻¹) but the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). In contrast, the mean soil temperature was significantly higher, the mean soil water content was significantly lower, and the soil pH was significantly higher in the FTW stand than in the control stand (10.34 °C vs. 8.98 °C, 48.2% vs. 56.4%, and pH 4.83 vs. pH 4.60, respectively, all P < 0.05). These results indicated that FTW can influence tree biomass C dynamics, organic C input and output, and soil environmental factors such as soil temperature, soil water content and soil pH, while soil C dynamics such as soil CO₂ efflux rates and soil organic C concentration were little affected by FTW in a red pine stand.     

Improving the health of the global poor

We analyzed the technical basis for a major global program to reduce disease among the poor. Effective interventions exist against the few diseases which most account for excess mortality among the poor. Achieving high coverage of effective interventions requires a well-functioning health system, as well as overcoming a set of financial and nonfinancial constraints. The annual incremental cost would be between $40 billion and $52 billion by 2015 in 83 low-income and sub-Saharan African countries. Such a program is feasible and would avoid millions of child, maternal, and adult deaths annually in poor countries.     

Temperature-dependent development and survival of Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): implications for mass rearing and biological control

The spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Say), is a generalist predator that can control >75 insect pests in various agroecosystems. Despite valuable results from the previous studies, thermal development and survival of P. maculiventris over a wide range of temperatures had not been elucidated completely. This study was conducted to investigate the stage-specific development and survival of P. maculiventris at eight constant temperatures (13.2, 18.4, 21.7, 23.7, 27.2, 32.7, 35.2, and 40.6 °C) covering the entire thermal range for P. maculiventris development. Completion of egg development was observed at 13.2–32.7 °C, whereas nymphs successfully developed into adults at 18.4–32.7 °C. Survival model using log-normal equations showed bell-shape patterns for all stages, and temperatures resulting in highest survival of P. maculiventris were 19.9, 24.3, and 24.5 °C for egg, nymph, and egg to adult, respectively. Developmental rates at the eight temperatures were fitted with a nonlinear Briere model, which estimated optimal temperatures for development as 31.2, 30.6, and 30.6 °C for egg, nymph, and egg to adult, respectively. Operative thermal ranges (i.e., in-between the lower and upper developmental thresholds) were estimated to be 8.9–35.2, 12.8–35.2, and 12.7–35.2 °C for egg, nymph, and egg to adult, respectively. In a linear model, the lower thresholds were 10.9, 13.1, and 13.0 °C for egg, nymph, and egg to adult, respectively. Findings herein provide comprehensive data and explanations on optimal temperature and thermal requirement for P. maculiventris, which can be used to optimize environmental condition in mass rearing and predicting phenology of P. maculiventris in the field.     

Characterization of pigeon-origin Newcastle disease virus isolated in China

Fourteen pigeon-origin Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates were obtained from sick pigeons in China between 1996 and 2005. The mean death time (MDT) of embryonated eggs and the intracerebral pathogenicity indices (ICPI) were tested to determine the virulence of the field isolates. The result indicated that most isolates were proved to be mesogenic (MDT 60-90 hr and ICPI > 1.2). The main function regions of F protein gene of the isolates were amplified and sequenced for phylogenetic and residue substitutive analysis. The fusion protein cleavage site sequences of most isolates had multiple basic amino acids R/KRQKRF at positions 112-116 and a phenyl alanine at position 117, characteristic of velogenic isolates. In the phylogenetic tree, the majority of the isolates were clustered into a single genetic lineage, termed genotype VIb, and were typical pigeon paramyxovirus type 1, whereas a small number of recent isolates (three strains) were grouped into genotype VIId, a predominant genotype responsible for most Newcastle disease outbreaks in chickens and geese since the end of last century. One isolate, PK9901, was proved to be a lentogenic strain, of genotype II NDV, to which the vaccine strain La Sota belongs.     

Pathogenicity characterization of a bovine triple reassortant rotavirus in calves and piglets

Rotaviruses are important human and animal pathogens with high impact on public health and livestock industry. There is little evidence about the cross-species pathogenicity and extra-intestinal infections of animal and human reassortant rotaviruses, particularly based on all 11 genotyping data. In this study, the bovine triple reassortant KJ56-1 strain harboring two bovine-like genome segments, eight porcine-like genome segments, and one human-like genome segment was used to evaluate the cross-species pathogenicity in its parent species, calves and piglets, and to determine its abilities of causing viremia and extra-intestinal tropisms in piglets. The KJ56-1 strain isolated from a calf diarrhea fecal sample replicated without causing diarrhea and severe intestinal pathology in calves. However, piglets inoculated with this strain showed persistent severe diarrhea and marked intestinal pathology. By SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR, viral RNA was detected in the sera, mesenteric lymph node, lung, liver, choroid plexus, and cerebrospinal fluid in the experimental piglets. An immunofluorescence assay confirmed viral replication in these extra-intestinal organs and tissues. These results indicated that the bovine triple reassortant KJ56-1 strain was virulent to piglets but not to calves. Our data also demonstrated that the reassortant rotaviruses had the ability to spread to the bloodstream from the gut, enter and amplify in the mesenteric lymph node, and disseminate to the extra-intestinal organs and tissues.     

Nasal immunization with major epitope-containing ApxIIA toxin fragment induces protective immunity against challenge infection with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae in a murine model

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is an infective agent that leads to porcine pleuropneumonia, a disease that causes severe economic losses in the swine industry. Based on the fact that the respiratory tract is the primary site for bacterial infection, it has been suggested that bacterial exclusion in the respiratory tract through mucosal immune induction is the most effective disease prevention strategy. ApxIIA is a vaccine candidate against A. pleuropneumoniae infection, and fragment #5 (aa. 439–801) of ApxIIA contains the major epitopes for effective vaccination. In this study, we used mice to verify the efficacy of intranasal immunization with fragment #5 in the induction of protective immunity against nasal challenge with A. pleuropneumoniae and compared its efficacy with that of subcutaneous immunization. Intranasal immunization of the fragment induced significantly higher systemic and mucosal immune responses measured at the levels of antigen-specific antibodies, cytokine-secreting cells after antigen exposure, and antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation. Intranasal immunization not only efficiently inhibited the bacterial colonization in respiratory organs, but also prevented alveolar tissue damage in infectious condition similar to that of a contaminated pig. Moreover, intranasal immunization with fragment #5 provided acquired protective immunity against intranasal challenge with A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 2. In addition, it conferred cross-protection against serotype 5, a heterologous pathogen that causes severe disease by ApxI and ApxII secretion. Collectively, intranasal immunization with fragment #5 of ApxIIA can be considered an efficient protective immunization procedure against A. pleuropneumoniae infection.     

Estimation and Mapping of Nitrogen Uptake by Forest in South Korea

Regional air pollution in northeast Asia is an emerging environmental problem requiring long-term impact assessment of acidic deposition. In this study, the gridded distribution of nitrogen uptake led by both growing forests and harvested biomass for eight tree species: Japanese Larch, Red pine, Korean pine, Oak tree, Chestnut, Other Conifers, Other broad leaved trees, and Mixed forest was identified to estimate critical loads for nitrogen over South Korea. The gridded spatial distribution of averaged nitrogen uptake was mapped by 0.125° Latitude × 0.125° Longitude resolution. The results showed that net uptake of nitrogen led by both growth and harvested biomass was totaled at 438 mol_c ha^?1 year^?1 among which harvested biomass contribution was estimated to be 25 mol_c ha^?1 year^?1, yielding a very small fraction of total nitrogen uptake presumably due to the younger stages of forest in South Korea.