Degradability of soils under oak and pine in Central Spain

The purpose of this research was to study the influence of the vegetation on the soil C pool of forests of pines (Pinus sylvestris) and oaks (Quercus pyrenaica), located in Central-Western Spain. Horizons from selected soils located in these forests were sampled, and the soil organic C (SOC) was determined. In addition, in vitro incubation experiments were carried out, under controlled conditions, to monitor the stability of SOC against the microbial activity. Soil humus fractions were isolated following a classical procedure of chemical fractionation using alkaline solutions, before and after the incubation experiment. A deeper O horizon was found under the pine forest than under oak one; however, higher SOC content was found in the oak site than that under pine one. During the in vitro mineralization process, a lower CO₂ production by the soil sample from pine forest was observed, in relation to that emitted by the oak soil. In addition, a lower humification degree was estimated for the soil humus under pines than for that under oaks. In conclusion, replacement of oaks by pines produced a decrease in SOC accumulation and a lower quality of humus in the forest soils.     

Removal of Copper and Cadmium Ions from Diluted Aqueous Solutions by Low Cost and Waste Material Adsorbents

The sorption of copper and cadmium ions using activated carbon,kaolin, bentonite, diatomite and waste materials such as compost,cellulose pulp waste and anaerobic sludge as sorbents is reported. Equilibrium isotherms were obtained for the adsorption of these metals in single and binary solutions. Bentonite presented the highest adsorption capacities for both copper and cadmium. A competitive uptake was observed when both metals are present; copper being preferentially adsorbed by all materials with theexception of anaerobic sludge. Equilibrium data were fitted toLangmuir and Freundlich models, with satisfactory results for most of the adsorbent-metal systems studied.Of all the adsorbents studied, bentonite and compost presentedthe highest removal efficiencies, reaching 99% for copper whencadmium is also present, for initial solution concentrations ofup to 100 mg L^-1. Anaerobic sludge has a greater preferencefor cadmium, even in the presence of copper, with removal efficiencies of 98% for similar concentrations to those mentioned above.     

Water mobility in multicomponent model media as studied by 2H and 17O NMR

Molecular mobility of water was studied in a microbiological media containing complex and heterogeneous mixtures of cellulose, l-sorbose, and orange serum broth (OSB) using (2)H and (17)O high-resolution NMR. All mixtures showed Lorentian (17)O NMR spectra but complex (2)H NMR line shapes. Sorbose, when solubilized, caused line-narrowing where as cellulose-OSB mixtures showed wide peaks with flat plateaus. Presence of liquid or solvent water had a profound effect on a marked increase in T(2) relaxation time observed in sorbose-containing samples. (17)O NMR data were not composition dependent, while (2)H NMR data were highly sorbose dependent.     

Use of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to identify races 1, 2, 4 and 8 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi in Italy

The RAPD fingerprinting procedure was used in combination with pathogenicity assays on differential cultivars to characterize a representative collection of 72 Fusarium spp. isolates of different geographic origin collected from diseased carnation. In F. oxysporum f. sp. dianthi, isolates were grouped according to the physiologic race: group 1 included isolates of race 4; group 2 was formed by isolates of race 2 and single representatives of races 5 and 6; group 3 included isolates of races 1 and 8. No correlation was found between RAPD data and geographic origin of the isolates tested: representatives of race 2 isolated in Italy, Israel and Japan had the same amplification profile. Three isolates which showed a low level of pathogenicity on all carnation cultivars tested shared an identical amplification pattern and are probably saprophytic F. oxysporum. Finally, two F. redolens isolates from Japan and seven non-pathogenic isolates of F. proliferatum collected from diseased carnation in Italy, Israel and The Netherlands were clearly distinguishable according to their RAPD fingerprint. The results are discussed in relation to previous studies on the genetic diversity of F. oxysporum f. sp. dianthi and to the development of forma specialis- and pathotype-specific diagnostic tools.     

Doxycycline treatment for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dirofilaria immitis</Emphasis> in dogs: impact on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enterococcus</Emphasis> antimicrobial resistance

Doxycycline is an antibiotic that, in addition to the classic antibacterial use, is also prescribed to fight parasitic diseases, like heartworm disease in dogs. Despite the concern that the overuse of this antibiotic may decrease susceptibility of clinically important bacteria, the consequences of the prolonged doxycycline therapy in heartworm-infected dogs have never been studied before. We have analyzed the impact of this therapy on Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus antimicrobial resistance. In this study, 17 heartworm-infected dogs (10 that had completed the doxycycline treatment and 7 dogs that had not yet begun) were included. Twenty-four isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were obtained from two locations of each dog. After treatment, 73.3% of isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic but only 22.2% of isolates before treatment. Most of doxycycline resistant isolates were obtained from dogs that have received treatment. Erythromycin resistance or intermediate susceptibility was detected in 45.6% of isolates, most of them from dogs after treatment. For Enterococci, 48 isolates were obtained from fecal samples (25 before treatment and 23 after treatment). Before treatment, 32% of isolates were resistant at least to one antibiotic while after, this data increase up to 65%. Comparing isolates before and after treatment, a clear increase in resistance to doxycycline (12% against 21.74%) and erythromycin (20% against 39.13%) was observed. Although the present work is a preliminary research, the results encourages the development of further studies to determinate the effect of prolonged doxycycline therapy on antimicrobial resistance.     

Characteristic fragment ions from lignin and polysaccharides in ToF–SIMS

Different model compounds for lignin, hemicelluloses and pectins were studied by time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (ToF–SIMS). Mass spectra of Klason lignin from normal and compression spruce wood, aspen wood and wheat straw were compared. Spectra of brominated spruce and aspen wood sections showed fragment ions attributed to brominated guaiacyl and syringyl units in lignin at m/z 215, 217, 229 and 231, and m/z 245, 247, 249 and 261, respectively. Spectra of mono-, oligo- and polysaccharides showed fragment ions at m/z 127 and 145 characteristic for hexose units, and ions at m/z 115 and 133 characteristic for pentose units. The same ions were detected in spectra of delignified spruce and aspen wood sections. Labelling of anionic groups by Sr²⁺ ions followed by ToF–SIMS analysis showed that pectins were present at specific locations on the surfaces of spruce and aspen wood sections still after delignification with hydrogen peroxide in acetic acid.     

Effect of emerged shipment on the physiological condition of the adductor muscle in adult giant lion's paw scallop Nodipecten subnodosus (Sowerby 1835)

Currently, there is an increasing interest in shipping live adult scallops to markets and broodstock to hatcheries; nevertheless, information about the shipping effect on live scallops physiology is very scarce. In a previous study, a method in emersion was developed to ship scallop seed out of water, but it was not known whether this method is useful to transport adult organisms. As a consequence, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of transportation by the emersion method on the physiological status of the adductor muscle of adult giant lion's paw scallop. Live specimens were packaged in a container and transported in emersion for 11 h. Six scallops were frozen in a farm and a similar number were frozen as soon as they arrived to the laboratory. Physiological indices were determined in each lot and the survival was estimated 24 h after re‐immersion. As a result of the transportation, a significant loss (P<0.05) of total carbohydrates, glycogen, adenosine 5′‐triphosphate and adenilated energetic charge, and a significant increase (P<0.05) in the free amino acids concentration were observed. Eighty‐eight per cent survival was achieved; therefore, we conclude that this method is appropriate for shipping live adult scallops of Nodipecten subnodosus.     

Enigmatic hotspot of crayfish diversity at risk: Invasive potential of non‐indigenous crayfish if introduced to New Guinea

1. The large island of New Guinea has a rich indigenous astacofauna represented by numerous parastacids from the genus Cherax. The western half of the island is part of Indonesian territory.
2. Indonesia is known to be the main exporter of ornamental crayfish globally, and certain New Guinean species are exploited as ornamentals within the international pet trade. Moreover, one non‐indigenous species has been previously recorded being cultured in Java, Indonesia. This species, the North American Procambarus clarkii, is a vector of crayfish plague, the disease that is lethal to most parastacids. This population has already tested positive for the disease.
3. As the transport of non‐indigenous crayfish within the Indonesian territory is not restricted, their introduction to New Guinea can be expected. The Indonesian market was therefore surveyed for ornamental crayfish and their environmental suitability evaluated, as represented by temperature during the drought and rainy seasons in New Guinea.
4. Four North American and one Australian species were found advertised for sale. One of them, P. clarkii, was assessed as the most damaging species, followed by other North American species. A total ban on the culture and transport of the highest risk crayfish species in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea is recommended.

     

Effectiveness of capillary electrophoresis fluoroimmunoassay of blood PrpSc for evaluation of scrapie pathogenesis in sheep.

Management of prion diseases in livestock would benefit greatly from availability of a validated blood test. A promising immunocapillary electrophoresis technique (also known as capillary electrophoresis fluoroimmunoassay) to detect abnormal prion protein in blood from live sheep is evaluated here. Capillary electrophoresis fluoroimmunoassay was applied to analysis of extracted blood from scrapie-exposed sheep (n = 87; 347 samples) at various stages of incubation, and to control sheep (n = 194; 489 samples). Overall, test values for the control and test populations were not significantly different, and a similar proportion of control (7%) and test (10%) sheep were classified as positive. Over 2-3 month intervals from birth until clinical disease, test specificity and sensitivity ranged from 66.7% to 100% and 0% to 66.7%, respectively, indicating poor diagnostic performance at all stages of pathogenesis. In routine application, in its present form, the capillary electrophoresis fluoroimmunoassay procedure proved to be insufficiently robust for use as a blood test for scrapie diagnosis.     

Seven new aminoacyl sugars in Ipomoea batatas

An analysis of the polar extracts from sweet potato Ipomoea batatas (Convolvulaceae) led to the isolation of seven unknown aminoacyl sugars. On the basis of 1D, 2D NMR, and mass spectrometry data, the structures of the compounds were elucidated as: beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 --> 1)-alpha-D-[2-O-valyl]-glucopyranoside (1), beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 --> 1)-alpha-D-[2-O-tyrosyl]-glucopyranoside (2), beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 --> 1)-alpha-D-[2-O-threonyl]-glucopyranoside (3), beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 --> 1)-alpha-D-[2-O-hystidyl]-glucopyranoside (4), 2-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 --> 1)-alpha-D-[2-O-alanyl]-glucopyranoside (5), beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 --> 1)-alpha-D-[2-O-tryptophanyl]-glucopyranoside (6), and beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 --> 1)-alpha-D-[2-O-glycyl]-glucopyranoside (7).