Enhancement of Metal Sorption by Composted Paper Mill Waste Following Microbial Manipulation

The biosorptive-capacity of composted paper mill waste (PMW) for the heavy metals [Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II)] was improved by inoculation of sterilized compost with a Bacillus brevis strain followed by incubation. This strain was originally isolated from the compost and adsorbed up to 31% of its dry weight of lead and 28% in copper at an initial concentration of 185.2mg/L and 182.3mg/L respectively. Estimated numbers of the bacterium following 21 days growth in the compost at 25°C reached 10⁹ cells/g. The modified compost exhibited up to a three-fold increase in capacity for removal of lead and up to a two-fold increase in capacity for removal of copper from aqueous solution.     

Characterization of NCR1+ cells residing in lymphoid tissues in the gut of lambs indicates that the majority are NK cells

Natural killer (NK) cells are important for immune protection of the gut mucosa. Previous studies have shown that under pathologic conditions NK cells, T cells and dendritic cells are found co-localised in secondary lymphoid organs where their interaction coordinates immune responses. However, in the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs), there are few detailed reports on the distribution of NK cells. Sheep harbour several types of organised lymphoid tissues in the gut that have different functions. The ileal Peyer’s patch (IPP) functions as a primary lymphoid tissue for B cell generation, while the jejunal Peyer’s patches (JPPs) and colon patches (CPs) are considered secondary lymphoid tissues. In the present study, we analysed tissues from healthy lambs by flow cytometry and in situ multicolour immunofluorescence, using recently described NCR1 antibodies to identify ovine NK cells. Most NCR1+ cells isolated from all tissues were negative for the pan T cell marker CD3, and thus comply with the general definition of NK cells. The majority of NCR1+ cells in blood as well as secondary lymphoid organs expressed CD16, but in the GALT around half of the NCR1+ cells were negative for CD16. A semi-quantitative morphometric study on tissue sections was used to compare the density of NK cells in four compartments of the IPPs, JPP and CPs. NCR1+ cells were found in all gut segments. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between compartments of the primary lymphoid organ IPP and the secondary lymphoid organs of the JPPs and CP. NK cells co-localised and made close contact with T cells, dendritic cells and other NK cells, but did not show signs of proliferation. We conclude that NK cells are present in all investigated segments of the sheep gut, but that presence of other innate lymphoid cells expressing NCR1 cannot be excluded.     

Impact of four turf management regimes on arthropod abundance in lawns

BACKGROUND: Turfgrass management practices, especially the use of chemical pesticides, may be detrimental to beneficial arthropods such as predators and decomposers. However, little is known about the impact of other practices or pest control products on these beneficials. The impact of four different management regimes, consisting of synthetic pesticide cover sprays or combinations of more targeted applications of natural pesticides, on selected groups of non‐targeted arthropods in lawns of different age was studied over 3 years. The short‐term effect of diazinon and carbaryl on Carabidae and Collembola was also evaluated. RESULTS: Formicidae and Araneae were the most abundant taxa at both sites, representing 74–80% of total captures. With a few short‐term exceptions, no persistent and significant difference between turfgrass management regimes on arthropod abundance was observed over the 3 year study. Diazinon and carbaryl significantly reduced Carabidae abundance, but only one year out of three, while Collembola abundance was only transiently affected by carbaryl application in 2003. CONCLUSION: The study showed that practices and products used in the four management regimes did not disrupt the populations of specific groups of arthropods. These results provide useful information to professionals for the development of ecological turf practices to maintain beneficial arthropod abundance and diversity in urban landscapes. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Agricultural soil acidity and phosphorus leaching risk at farm level in two focus areas

Poland has the largest agricultural area within the Baltic Sea drainage basin and reducing the risk of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) leaching from Polish soils to water is therefore essential. Increased acidity is known to reduce soil fertility and may trigger P leaching from non-calcareous soils. As part of advisor training, 25 farms each in Pomerania and north-western Mazovia were visited and 1500?ha arable soil, including 180?ha grassland soil, were monitored in 2013–2014. The soil was mainly coarse textured, but 25% of the Pomeranian farms were dominated by silty or clayey soils. More or less regular drainage systems were found on 20% of the farms, while 50% had simpler, older (>30 years) systems with a few single pipes. The farmers often used only ammonium sulphate or other acidifying N mineral fertiliser. Median pH on the Pomeranian farms, analysed in potassium chloride solution [pH_(KCl)], was 5.2 and liming was advised for fields on most (72%) of these farms. Soil P content, measured by double-lactate extraction (P_DL), was positively and significantly correlated (Pearson coefficient 0.57; p?DL (P given in elemental form) tended to be lower on dairy farms and arable farms and was significantly lower (mean 51?mg?P_DL?kg^?1 soil) on mixed farms (with just a few cows and poultry) than on pig farms (mean 122?mg?P_DL?kg^?1 soil). Farm-gate balances indicated deficits of P and potassium (K) on many of the small mixed farms in Pomerania and the soil can be expected to be nutrient depleted. In contrast, the pig farms demonstrated surplus farm-gate P balances (mean 27?kg?ha^?1). The P leaching risk is discussed relative to soil threshold values and to results from Swedish long-term field experiments.     

Production of Chitooligosaccharides and Their Potential Applications in Medicine

Chitooligosaccharides (CHOS) are homo- or heterooligomers of N-acetylglucosamine and D-glucosamine. CHOS can be produced using chitin or chitosan as a starting material, using enzymatic conversions, chemical methods or combinations thereof. Production of well-defined CHOS-mixtures, or even pure CHOS, is of great interest since these oligosaccharides are thought to have several interesting bioactivities. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these bioactivities is of major importance. However, so far in-depth knowledge on the mode-of-action of CHOS is scarce, one major reason being that most published studies are done with badly characterized heterogeneous mixtures of CHOS. Production of CHOS that are well-defined in terms of length, degree of N-acetylation, and sequence is not straightforward. Here we provide an overview of techniques that may be used to produce and characterize reasonably well-defined CHOS fractions. We also present possible medical applications of CHOS, including tumor growth inhibition and inhibition of T_H2-induced inflammation in asthma, as well as use as a bone-strengthener in osteoporosis, a vector for gene delivery, an antibacterial agent, an antifungal agent, an anti-malaria agent, or a hemostatic agent in wound-dressings. By using well-defined CHOS-mixtures it will become possible to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying these bioactivities.     

籼粳交恢复系万恢88的选育与应用

万恢88是采用籼粳亚种间杂交选育而成的籼粳交恢复系,具有恢复力强、配合力高、抗性好、米质较优、综合表现佳的特点.应用该恢复系所配组合郑优88、冈优88、K优88等在1998～2001年已示范、推广13万hm2,其中冈优88于1998年通过重庆市品种审定.     

Histopathological nerve and skeletal muscle changes in rats subjected to persistent insulin-induced hypoglycemia

New insulin analogues with a longer duration of action and a flatter pharmacodynamic profile are developed to improve convenience and safety for diabetic patients. During the nonclinical development of such analogues, safety studies must be conducted in nondiabetic rats, which consequently are rendered chronically hypoglycemic. A rat comparator model using human insulin would be valuable, as it would enable differentiation between effects related to either persistent insulin-induced hypoglycemia (IIH) or a new analogue per se. Such a model could alleviate the need for an in-study-comparator and thereby reduce the number of animals used during development. Thus, the aims of the present study were i) to develop a preclinical animal model of persistent hypoglycemia in rats using human insulin infusion for four weeks and ii) to investigate histopathological changes in sciatic nerves and quadriceps femoris muscle tissue, as little is known about the response to persistent hypoglycemia in these tissues. Histopathologic changes in insulin-infused animals included axonal degeneration and myofibre degeneration. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that persistent IIH provokes peripheral nerve and skeletal myofiber degeneration within the same animals. This suggests that the model can serve as a nonclinical comparator model during development of long-acting insulin analogues.     

Identification of genes for resistance to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei in 18 barley genotypes

Barley genotypes Hor 1428, Hor 2926, Hor 3209, BBA 2890, Abyssinian 14, Grannelose Zweizeilige, and Stauffers Obersulzer are resistant to all races of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei so far detected in the U.S.A. Heils Franken, Cambrinus, Astrix, Emir, Hiproly, Varunda, Trumpf,Mazurka, Bigo, BBA 2890, and I 5 are resistant to some races and susceptible to others. Previous studies showed that Hor 1428, Hor 2926, Hor 3209, Abyssinian 14, Stauffers Obersulzer, I 5, Heils Franken, Emir, Astrix, Hiproly, Varunda, and Trumpf each have two genes, and BBA 2890, Grannelose Zweizeilige, Cambrinus, Mazurka, Bigo, and BBA 809 each have a single genefor resistance. To determine the genes in specific genotypes and their relationships, all possible crosses were made among the 18 genotypes. Seedlings of parents and F₂ progeny were tested under controlledconditions for resistance to selected races that were avirulent on both parents. Based on segregation within the individual crosses to selected races, at least 26 of 30 genes detected in the 18 genotypes were different. Allelic and linkage relationships of some of the genes were determined. The genetic information should be useful for understanding the host-pathogen interactions and for control of stripe rust using resistance.