Effects of drainage intensity on water and nitrogen use efficiency and rice grain yield in a semi-arid marshland in Rwanda

ABSTRACT

Drainage management is important in intensification of irrigated paddy rice production. This study assessed the effects of drainage intensity on water and nitrogen use efficiency and rice grain yield in a field experiment conducted during three seasons in Rwanda. The experiment comprised 12 plots with four blocks and three treatments: DS_0.6 (0.6 m deep drain), DD1_1.2 (1.2 m deep drain, control structure open four times per week), and DD2_1.2 (1.2 m deep drain, control structure open two times per week). Outflow was calculated from water balance. Nitrogen (N) content in drainage water was determined weekly. Crop yield and N uptake were determined in grain and straw.

In all seasons, grain yield was 61–131% higher, crop N uptake was 24–90% higher, harvest index (HI) was 24–65% higher and water use efficiency (WUE) was 50–150% higher in treatments DD1_1.2 and DD2_1.2 than in DS_0.6. There was a decrease in soil carbon/nitrogen ratio at the end of Seasons 2 and 3. Recirculating straw to fields is thus necessary to replenish SOC for long-term soil fertility. A practical implication of the study is that managed deep drainage systems could enhance water use efficiency and rice grain yield in poorly drained paddy fields.     

Self-diffusion nuclear magnetic resonance,microstructure transitions,and solubilization capacity of phytosterols and cholesterol in Winsor IV food-grade microemulsions

Microemulsions are of growing interest to the food industry as vehicles for delivering and enhancing solubilization of natural food supplements with nutritional and health benefits. The incorporation of molecular phytosterols, cholesterol-lowering agents, in food products is of great interest to the food industry. In this work is demonstrated the use of water dilutable food-grade microemulsions consisting of ethoxylated sorbitan ester (Tween 60), water, R-(+)-limonene, ethanol, and propylene glycol as vehicles for enhancing the phytosterols solubilization. Phytosterols were solubilized up to 12 times more than the dissolution capacity of the oil [R-(+)-limonene] for the same compounds. The solubilization capacity of phytosterols and cholesterol along a dilution line in a pseudo-ternary phase diagram [on this dilution line the weight ratio of R-(+)-limonene/ethanol/Tween 60 is constant at 1:1:3] was correlated to the microstructure transitions along the dilution line. Structural aspects were studied by self-diffusion NMR spectroscopy. The ability of phytosterols to compete with cholesterol for penetration into bile salt micelles in the gut may be limited to rich aqueous systems (O/W microemulsion).     

An Improved High Yield Total Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Study of the Marine Alkaloid Neoamphimedine: An ATP-Competitive Inhibitor of Topoisomerase IIα and Potent Anticancer Agent

Recently, we characterized neoamphimedine (neo) as an ATP-competitive inhibitor of the ATPase domain of human Topoisomerase IIα. Thus far, neo is the only pyridoacridine with this mechanism of action. One limiting factor in the development of neo as a therapeutic agent has been access to sufficient amounts of material for biological testing. Although there are two reported syntheses of neo, both require 12 steps with low overall yields (≤6%). In this article, we report an improved total synthesis of neo achieved in 10 steps with a 25% overall yield. In addition, we report an expanded cytotoxicity study using a panel of human cancer cell lines, including: breast, colorectal, lung, and leukemia. Neo displays potent cytotoxicity (nM IC₅₀ values) in all, with significant potency against colorectal cancer (lowest IC₅₀ = 6 nM). We show that neo is cytotoxic not cytostatic, and that neo exerts cytotoxicity by inducing G2-M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.     

A genome-wide association study identifies IL23R as an inflammatory bowel disease gene

The inflammatory bowel diseases Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are common, chronic disorders that cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal bleeding. To identify genetic factors that might contribute to these disorders, we performed a genome-wide association study. We found a highly significant association between Crohn's disease and the IL23R gene on chromosome 1p31, which encodes a subunit of the receptor for the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-23. An uncommon coding variant (rs11209026, c.1142G>A, p.Arg381Gln) confers strong protection against Crohn's disease, and additional noncoding IL23R variants are independently associated. Replication studies confirmed IL23R associations in independent cohorts of patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. These results and previous studies on the proinflammatory role of IL-23 prioritize this signaling pathway as a therapeutic target in inflammatory bowel disease.     

Liming and Fertilizer Potentials of Some Underutilized Plant Materials in Southwestern Nigeria

Soil acidification and phosphorus deficiency are a major constraint to crop production in tropical soils.Use of conventional liming materials is associated with some limitations viz:inability to solely improve nitrogen and available phosphorus in soils,loss of soil organic carbon and soil aggregate stability.Liming and fertilizer potentials of leaves from three plant materials(Tithonia diversifolia(TL),Imperata cylindrica(SG)and Gliricidia sepium(GL))widely growing in Ogbomoso,southwest Nigeria,were tested under incubation condition.Each of the plant material was applied at the rate of 10 t·hm~(-2) with and without 50%concentration of NPK 15:15:15-urea mix in 500 g acidic soil.Sole lime applied at 1 t·hm~(-2),sole NPK 15:15:15 applied at 60 kg·hm~(-2) mixed with urea at 60 kg N·hm~(-2) and an unamended soil were compared in completely randomized design in three replicates.The treated soils were incubated for 12 weeks.Thereafter,maize seeds were raised in each pot for a period of 3 weeks.Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance.Regression analysis was used to predict contributions of increased soil p H in plant material treated soils to exchangeable Al,H,dry root weight of maize and available phosphorus.Results indicated that sole plant materials were the order SGTLGL significantly(p0.05)reduced exchangeable acidity compared to unamended and sole NPK.Sole NPK had the highest exchangeable acidity(4.7 cmol·kg~(-1))compared to unamended soil(3.3 cmol·kg~(-1))and sole lime(2.7 cmol·kg~(-1)).Application of sole Tithonia diversifolia increased available phosphorus by 214%and 97%compared to unamended and sole NPK treated soils respectively.Sole plant materials increased maize root weight by 33%compared to sole NPK.Increasing soil p H at harvesting in plant material treated soils significantly reduced exchangeable H and A_1.Soil p H was responsible for up to 33%and 53%reductions in exchangeable Al and H,respectively.This culminated into up to 22%increases in dry root weight of maize seedling.Present results showed ability of the plant materials tested to ameliorate soil acidity and improved soil available phosphorus.The plant materials should be explored for using as green manure and composting feedstock.It will go a long way to reduce high dosage use of conventional liming and fertilizer materials on acidic nutrient degraded soils.