Growth Responses,Metal Accumulation and Phytoremoval Capability in Amaranthus Plants Exposed to Nickel Under Hydroponics

Surfactant-enhanced solubilization and subsequent biodegradation of phenanthrene and pyrene from aqueous solutions by Arthrobacter strain Sphe3 was investigated. The results show that growth of Arthrobacter strain Sphe3 was increased upon increase in concentration of Tween 20 and Tween 80. Inhibition of bacterial growth was observed with increasing Triton X-100 concentrations, whereas sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) totally inhibited this bacterial growth. Phenanthrene and pyrene solubilization was enhanced in the presence of surfactants and found to be linearly proportional to their concentrations, above the critical micelle concentration (CMC). In addition, Tween 20 and Tween 80 enhanced the biodegradation of phenanthrene and pyrene. The high correlation coefficient (R ²) values obtained at all the concentrations studied, suggest that biodegradation kinetics of both phenanthrene and pyrene in the presence of Tween 20 and Tween 80 follow first-order kinetic equation model. Experimental results suggest that Tween 20 and Tween 80 may have great potential for applications in bioremediation of these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds using Arthrobacter strain Sphe3.     

Prediction of Triticale Grain Quality Properties,Based on Both Chemical and Indirectly Measured Reference Methods,Using Near‐Infrared Spectroscopy

The increasing demand for triticale as food, feed, and fuel has resulted in the availability of cultivars with different grain quality characteristics. Analyses of triticale composition can ensure that the most appropriate cultivars are obtained and used for the most suitable applications. Near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is often used for rapid measurements during quality control and has consequently been investigated as a method for the measurement of protein, moisture, and ash contents, as well as kernel hardness (particle size index [PSI]) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) sedimentation from both whole grain and ground triticale samples. NIR spectroscopy prediction models calculated using ground samples were generally superior to whole grain models. Protein content was the most effectively modeled quality property; the best ground grain calibration had a ratio of the standard error of test set validation to the standard deviation of the reference data of the test set (RPD_test) of 4.81, standard error of prediction (SEP) of 0.52% (w/w), and r² of 0.95. Whole grain protein calibrations were less accurate, with optimum RPD_test of 3.54, SEP of 0.67% (w/w), and r² of 0.92. NIR spectroscopy calibrations based on direct chemical reference measurements (protein and moisture contents) were better than those based on indirect measurements (PSI, ash content, and SDS sedimentation). Calibrations based on indirect measurements would, however, still be useful to identify extreme samples.     

Temperature-Dependent Toxicity of Artemisinin Toward the Macrophyte Lemna minor and the Algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

Oil spills impose serious damage to the environment. A spilled crude oil or its products affect aquatic flora and fauna and influence the atmosphere as well. Such pollutants are especially dangerous for the water ecosystems, where biological self-purification processes are slower (for example the Baltic Sea), than in warmer regions. In this paper, we evaluate a sorption capacity of ecologically friendly natural sorbents, when the crude oil and diesel are spilled on the surface of water. The experiments are carried out in the laboratory, and the water from the Lithuanian Baltic Sea coastline and Curonian Lagoon is used. Moss, straw, wool, sawdust, and peat are the natural sorbents evaluated during the experiments. Chromatographic analysis of crude oil and diesel during the process of sorption was conducted as well. An experiment with some synthetic sorbents was carried out to compare the results with natural ones. The experiments showed that the most suitable material for crude oil or diesel fuel spilled on the water surface is peat. As well, Lagergren’s model was adopted to the case of the sorption processes we have investigated. It can be exploited as a decision support tool while deciding the required time interval to achieve maximum sorption capacity of the sorbent in use.     

Conservation value of forest plantations for bird communities in western Kenya

Tree plantations of native and exotic species are frequently used to compensate for forest loss in the tropics. However, these plantations may support lower species diversity and different communities than natural forest. We therefore investigated bird communities in stands of natural forest, different types of tree plantations and secondary forest in Kakamega Forest, western Kenya. We compared birds differing in habitat specialisation, i.e. forest specialists, generalists, and visitors. We recorded significant differences in mean species richness and number of individuals among the different forest types. Stands of natural forest and plantations of indigenous tree species comprised more species and individuals than plantations of exotic tree species and secondary forest. This was caused by a significant decline of forest specialists and generalists from natural forest and indigenous plantations to exotic plantations and secondary forest. Species composition of the bird communities did not differ between natural forest stands and plantations of a mixture of indigenous tree species, but clearly changed between natural forest and plantations of single tree species. These findings demonstrate that natural forest areas are needed for the conservation of forest bird diversity, but that plantations with a mixture of indigenous tree species can have similarly high conservation value.     

Land-use changes alter CO2 flux patterns of a tall-grass Andropogon field and a savanna-woodland continuum in the Orinoco lowlands

Land use changes in the savannas of the Orinoco lowlands have resulted in a mosaic of vegetation. To elucidate how these changes have affected carbon exchanges with the atmosphere, we measured CO2 fluxes by eddy covariance and soil CO2 efflux systems along a disturbance gradient beginning with a cultivated tall-grass Andropogon field (S1) and extending over three savanna sites with increasing woody cover growing above native herbaceous vegetation. The savanna sites included a herbaceous savanna (S2), a tree savanna (S3) and a woodland savanna (S4). During the wet season, maximum diurnal net ecosystem exchange (NEE) over the S1-S4 sites was 6.6-9.3, 6.6-7.9, 10.6-11.3 and 9.3-10.6 micromol m(-2) s(-1), respectively. The rate of CO2 uptake over S1 was lower than that for C4 grasses elsewhere because of pasture degradation. Soil respiration and temperature were exponentially related when soil water content (theta) was above 0.083 m(3) m(-3); however, soil respiration declined markedly as theta decreased from 0.083-0.090 to 0.033-0.056 m(3) m(-3). There were bursts of CO2 emission when dry soils were rewetted by rainfall. During the wet season, all sites constituted carbon sinks with maximum net daily ecosystem production (NEP) of 2.1, 1.7, 2.1 and 2.1 g C m(-2) day(-1), respectively. During the dry season, the savanna sites (S2-S4) became carbon sources with maximum emission fluxes of -0.5, -1.4 and -1.6 g C m(-2) day(-1), respectively, whereas the tall-grass field (S1) remained a carbon sink with a maximum NEP of 0.3 g C m(-2) day(-1) at the end of the season. For all measurement periods, annual NEP of sites S1-S4 was 366, 6, 116 and 139 g C m(-2), respectively. Comparisons of carbon source/sink dynamics across a wide range of savannas indicate that savanna carbon budgets can change in sign and magnitude. On an annual basis, gross primary production over the S1-S4 stands was 797, 803, 136 and 1230 g C m(-2), respectively. Net primary productivity (NPP) of the S1-S4 stands, calculated from eddy covariance measurements as the daily sum of NEE and day and night heterotrophic respiration was 498, 169, 181 and 402 g C m-2 year-1, respectively. These values were slightly higher than NPP based on harvest measurements (432, 162, 176 and 386 g C m(-2) year(-1), respectively), presumably because fine roots were incompletely harvested. Soil water content limited carbon uptake at all sites, and water-use efficiency (WUE) was related to rainfall dynamics. During the dry season, all sites except the cultivated tall-grass Andropogon field (S1) had a negative WUE. Although our results are specific to the Orinoco vegetational mosaic, the effects of land-use practices on the controls and physiological functions of the studied ecosystems may be generalized to other savannas.     

Soil DIC uptake and fixation in Pinus taeda seedlings and its C contribution to plant tissues and ectomycorrhizal fungi

Plants can acquire carbon from sources other than atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO(2)), including soil-dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Although the net flux of CO(2) is out of the root, soil DIC can be taken up by the root, transported within the plant, and fixed either photosynthetically or anaplerotically by plant tissues. We tested the ability of Pinus taeda L. seedlings exposed to (13)C-labeled soil DIC and two NH(4)(+) availability regimes to take up and fix soil DIC. We also measured the concentration and distribution of the fixed soil DIC within the plant and mycorrhizal tissues, and quantified the contribution of soil DIC to whole-plant carbon (C) gain. Seedlings exposed to labeled DIC were significantly enriched in (13)C compared with seedlings exposed to unlabeled DIC (6.7 versus -31.7 per thousand). Fixed soil DIC was almost evenly distributed between above- and belowground biomass (55 and 45%, respectively), but was unevenly distributed among tissues. Aboveground, stem tissue contained 65% of the fixed soil DIC but represented only 27% of the aboveground biomass, suggesting either corticular photosynthesis or preferential stem allocation. Belowground, soil DIC had the greatest effect (measured as (13)C enrichment) on the C pool of rapidly growing nonmycorrhizal roots. Soil DIC contributed approximately 0.8% to whole-plant C gain, and approximately 1.6% to belowground C gain. We observed a slight but nonsignificant increase in both relative C gain and the contribution of soil DIC to C gain in NH(4)(+)-fertilized seedlings. Increased NH(4)(+) availability significantly altered the distribution of fixed soil DIC among tissue types and increased the amount of fixed soil DIC in ectomycorrhizal roots by 130% compared with unfertilized seedlings. Increased NH(4)(+) availability did not increase fixation of soil DIC in nonmycorrhizal roots, suggesting that NH(4)(+) assimilation may be concentrated in ectomycorrhizal fungal tissues, reflecting greater anaplerotic demands. Soil DIC is likely to contribute only a small amount of C to forest trees, but it may be important in C fixation processes of specific tissues, such as newly formed stems and fine roots, and ectomycorrhizal roots assimilating NH(4)(+).     

Business education in veterinary schools: the potential role of the Veterinary Business Management Association

Studies have indicated the importance of business education in improving the income level attained by veterinarians and the quality of service they provide. The Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA), a national organization of veterinary students, has the potential to augment veterinary curricula by providing additional education to help ensure professional success. Local chapters at 27 of the 28 veterinary colleges in the United States (as of 2007) supplement the curriculum by focusing on business topics. A national governing board oversees the chapters, helping to ensure that high-quality educational programs are conducted and providing a conduit for communication.     

Antioxidant Efficacy of a Spirulina Liquid Extract on Oxidative Stress Status and Metabolic Disturbances in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome

Lipid peroxidation is associated with the development of some pathologies, such as cardiovascular diseases. Reduction in oxidative stress by antioxidants, such as Arthrospira (formely Spirulina), helps improving this redox imbalance. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the Arthrospira liquid extract “Spirulysat^®” on oxidative markers—in particular, oxidized LDL (oxLDL)/total LDL cholesterol—and isoprostanes and to investigate its impact on lipid and glucose metabolism in the metabolic syndrome subject. A controlled, randomised, double-blind design was conducted in 40 subjects aged 18 to 65 years with metabolic syndrome after a daily intake of Spirulysat^® or placebo for twelve weeks. Blood and urinary samples were collected at three visits (V1, V2, V3) in the two groups for parameters determination. Although the Spirulysat^® group showed a decrease at all visits of the oxLDL/total cholesterol ratio, there was no significant difference compared to the placebo (p = 0.36). The urinary isoprostanes concentration in the Spirulysat^® group was reduced (p = 0.014) at V3. Plasma triglycerides decreased at V3 (p = 0.003) and HDL-cholesterol increased (p = 0.031) at all visits with Spirulysat^®. In conclusion, Spirulysat^® did not change the oxidized LDL (oxLDL)/LDL ratio but decreased the urinary isoprostanes, plasma triglycerides and increased HDL cholesterol, suggesting a beneficial effect on metabolic syndrome.     

小麦骨干亲本‘鲁麦13’在小麦育种中的应用

为更加有效地进行育种理论研究和提高小麦育种成效,对‘鲁麦13’的培育思路、优异特性和育成品种进行了总结分析。从1996—2018年,以‘鲁麦13’为亲本,共有中国科学院、中国农科院和9省共57家育种单位育成品种77个。这些品种通过国家审定17次,通过山东、河北、江苏、安徽、河南、山西、陕西、新疆、甘肃、湖北、天津、北京审（认）定103次,截至2016年累计推广2512.13万hm²。‘鲁麦13’作为新一代骨干亲本,对山东和全国的小麦育种和生产,做出了重大贡献。