A soil chronosequence in the semi-arid environment of Patagonia (Argentina)

Soil development with time was investigated on beach ridges with ages ranging from about 1380 to 6240 ¹⁴C-years BP at the eastern coast of central Patagonia. The main pedogenic processes are accumulation of organic matter and carbonate leaching and accumulation within the upper part of the soils. Soil formation is strongly influenced by incorporation of eolian sediments into the interstitial spaces between the gravel of which the beach ridges are composed. Different amounts of eolian material in the soils lead to differentiation into Leptosols (containing ≤ 10% fine earth in the upper 75 cm) and Regosols (containing > 10% fine earth). Soil depth functions and chronofunctions of organic carbon, calcium carbonate, pH, Ca:Zr, Mg:Zr, K:Zr, Na:Zr, Fe:Zr, Mn:Zr, and Si:Al (obtained from X-ray fluorescence analysis) were evaluated. To establish soil chronofunctions mean values of the horizon data of 0–10 cm below the desert pavement were used, which were weighted according to the horizon thicknesses. The depth function of pH shows a decrease towards the surface, indicating leaching of bases from the upper centimeters. Chronofunctions of pH show that within 6000 radiocarbon years of soil development pH drops from 7.0 to 6.6 in the Leptosols and from 8.1 to 7.5 in the Regosols. The higher pH of the Regosols is due to input of additional bases from the eolian sediments. Chronofunctions of Ca:Zr and K:Zr indicate progressive leaching of Ca and K in the Regosols, showing close relationships to time (R² = 0.972 and 0.995). Na leaching as indicated by decreasing Na:Zr ratios shows a strong correlation to time only in the Leptosols (R² = 0.999). Both, Leptosols and Regosols show close relationships to time for Fe:Zr (R² = 0.817 and 0.824), Mn:Zr (R² = 0.940 and 0.803), and Si:Al (0.971 and 0.977), indicating enrichment of Fe and Mn and leaching of Si. Leaching of mobile elements takes place on a higher level in the Regosols than in the Leptosols from the beginning of soil formation. Hence, a significant part of the eolian sediments must have been incorporated into the beach ridges very soon after their formation.     

Influence of various fertilization on the mineralogical composition of clay fractions in long-term field experiments

Soil samples from several long-term experiments in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) were taken from plots with and without K-supply. The fine, medium and coarse clay fractions were isolated using ultrasonic dispersion and sedimentation techniques and then investigated by x-ray. Comparisons between the mineralogical compositions found and the results of x-ray analyses of clay fractions from untreated Ah-horizons of the same sites point to accelerated mineral transformations in unfertilized plots. Reductions in the illite contents are proved using the x-ray diffraction diagrams. In connection with the question of the transformational products of this accelerated illite weathering, a new possibility for evaluation by curve-fitting Lp-corrected x-ray diffraction diagrams was tested on one example. The degradation of the illites is partly accompanied with drastic reductions in the amounts of Ca-lactate soluble and adsorbed K. Organic fertilization with 10 to 15 tons of farmyard manure per hectare per year prevented these negative mineralogical changes.     

Vertikaler Wasser- und Nitrattransport in tiefere Bodenschichten süddeutscher Ackerstandorte

Vertical water and nitrate movement into deeper soil layers on fields located in the south of Germany In Southern Bavaria, selected fields from deep loess and sandy sediments were sampled to a depth of maximum 10 m every 4 months, in order to determine the basic processes of water and nitrate movement in the course of the year. The downward movement of water and nitrate followed the principle of piston flow only in the intermediate vadose zone of loess soils with a leaching distance amounting 0.8 m per year. On the other hand, an accelerated as well as a delayed transport was observed in the zone of evapotranspiration of loess soils and in the whole profile of sandy soils, not being in accordance with the simple simulation model FLOTRA based on the classic theories of transport (Darcy flow, convection-dispersion-equation). Preferential flow led to the leaching of nitrate from the top soil to the lower boundary of the evapotranspiration zone of loess soils in 2 m depth, in winter and spring. In sandy soils nitrate was leached to the groundwater table in 4–6 m depth after extensive rainfall.     

Organoclay formulations of acetochlor: effect of high salt concentration

This study aimed to evaluate new methodology for designing ecologically acceptable formulations of acetochlor. Modification of montmorillonite with phenyltrimethylammonium chloride (PTMA) or benzyltrimethylammonium chloride (BTMA) and organoclay formulations of acetochlor were prepared in the presence of high concentrations of sodium chloride (150 g/L). Acetochlor concentration in the equilibrium solutions was determined by HPLC. Release of acetochlor in a water system was performed by a funnel experiment. Leaching of acetochlor in soil was determined by a bioassay using a column technique and Setaria viridis as a test plant. The adsorbed amounts of acetochlor on montmorillonite exchanged by PTMA or BTMA were increased as NaCl concentration increased in the equilibrium solution. Leaching of acetochlor from organoclay formulations was significantly inhibited to the top soil layer (0-5 cm) when the formulations were prepared at extreme NaCl concentration (100-150 g/L). These results are in accord with a funnel experiment that showed a reduction in acetochlor release from the montmorillonite-based formulations. The application of this method for herbicide formulation would produce ecologically acceptable herbicide formulations that can significantly minimize the risk to groundwater pollution.     

Insect juvenile hormone: activity of selected terpenoid compounds

A nuimber of compounds with terpenoid skeletons attached to various functional groups were prepared and tested for their effects as a juvenile hormone in the yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor. Several of these compounds showed high activity.     

Clusters of hyperactive neurons near amyloid plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

The neurodegeneration observed in Alzheimer's disease has been associated with synaptic dismantling and progressive decrease in neuronal activity. We tested this hypothesis in vivo by using two-photon Ca2+ imaging in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Although a decrease in neuronal activity was seen in 29% of layer 2/3 cortical neurons, 21% of neurons displayed an unexpected increase in the frequency of spontaneous Ca2+ transients. These "hyperactive" neurons were found exclusively near the plaques of amyloid beta-depositing mice. The hyperactivity appeared to be due to a relative decrease in synaptic inhibition. Thus, we suggest that a redistribution of synaptic drive between silent and hyperactive neurons, rather than an overall decrease in synaptic activity, provides a mechanism for the disturbed cortical function in Alzheimer's disease.     

Carbon flux and growth in mature deciduous forest trees exposed to elevated CO2

Whether rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations will cause forests to grow faster and store more carbon is an open question. Using free air CO2 release in combination with a canopy crane, we found an immediate and sustained enhancement of carbon flux through 35-meter-tall temperate forest trees when exposed to elevated CO2. However, there was no overall stimulation in stem growth and leaf litter production after 4 years. Photosynthetic capacity was not reduced, leaf chemistry changes were minor, and tree species differed in their responses. Although growing vigorously, these trees did not accrete more biomass carbon in stems in response to elevated CO2, thus challenging projections of growth responses derived from tests with smaller trees.     

A zinc clasp structure tethers Lck to T cell coreceptors CD4 and CD8

The T cell coreceptors CD4 and CD8 both associate via their cytoplasmic tails with the N-terminus of the Src-family tyrosine kinase Lck. These interactions require zinc and are critical for T cell development and activation. We examined the folding and solution structures of ternary CD4-Lck-Zn2+ and CD8alpha-Lck-Zn2+ complexes. The coreceptor tails and the Lck N-terminus are unstructured in isolation but assemble in the presence of zinc to form compactly folded heterodimeric domains. The cofolded complexes have similar "zinc clasp" cores that are augmented by distinct structural elements. A dileucine motif required for clathrin-mediated endocytosis of CD4 is masked by Lck.