Biophysical controls on rhizospheric and heterotrophic components of soil respiration in a boreal black spruce stand

We conducted a root-exclusion experiment in a 125-year-old boreal black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) stand in 2004 to quantify the physical and biological controls on temporal dynamics of the rhizospheric (R(r)) and heterotrophic (R(h)) components of soil respiration (R(s)). Annual R(r), R(h) and estimated moss respiration were 285, 269 and 57 g C m(-2) year(-1), respectively, which accounted for 47, 44 and 9% of R(s) (611 g C m(-2) year(-1)), respectively. A gradual transition from R(h)-dominated (winter, spring and fall) to R(r)-dominated (summer) respiration was observed during the year. Soil thawing in spring and the subsequent increase in soil water content (theta) induced a small and sustained increase in R(h) but had no effect on R(r). During the remainder of the growing season, no effect of theta was observed on either component of R(s). Both components increased exponentially with soil temperature (T(s)) during the growing season, but R(r) showed greater temperature sensitivity than R(h) (Q(10) of 4.0 and 3.0, respectively). Temperature-normalized variations in R(r) were highly correlated with eddy covariance estimates of gross ecosystem photosynthesis, and the correlation was greatest when R(r) was lagged by 24 days. Within diurnal cycles, variations in T(s) were highly coupled to variations in R(h) but were significantly decoupled from R(r). The patterns observed at both time scales strongly suggest that the flow of photosynthates to the rhizosphere is a key driver of belowground respiration processes but that photosynthate supply may control these processes in several ways.     

Beneficial Effect of Virgin Coconut Oil on Alloxan-Induced Diabetes and Microbiota Composition in Rats

The gut microbiota is composed of a diverse population of obligate and facultative anaerobic microorganisms which are shown to influence host metabolism and immune homeostasis. This study investigated the effects of virgin coconut oil on the weekly fasting glycaemia, daily food and water intake and weekly body mass gain over 16 weeks, as well as the changes in composition of gut microbiota in both non-diabetic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Although the intake of virgin coconut oil did not decrease the diabetes-induced hyperglycemia, it affected the secondary parameters, such as food and water intake and average body mass gain. Furthermore, its potential to positively affect the fecal microbiome was proved, since it significantly increased the abundance of probiotic bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, Allobaculum and Bifidobacterium species.     

Floating Photocatalyst Based on Poly(ε-caprolactone) Foam and TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Nanoparticles for Removal of Textile Dyes

This study discusses a novel approach for fabrication of floating photocatalyst which can be efficiently exploited for photodegradation of dyes in aqueous solutions. A fabrication of the floating photocatalyst consisted of two steps: transformation of the poly(ε-caprolactone) beads (PCL_b) into poly(ε-caprolactone) foam (PCL_f) with porous structure in supercritical carbon-dioxide and subsequent loading of PCL_f with TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs). Morphological characterization of the PCL_f before and after TiO₂ NPs loading was carried out by FESEM. The presence of titanium on the surface and inside the PCL_f was detected by EDX. Photocatalytical activity of the floating photocatalyst was investigated in aqueous solution of textile dyes C.I. Acid Orange 7 (AO7) and C.I. Basic Yellow 28 (BY28) which were exposed to lamp that simulates the sun light. In addition to sustainable floatability for a long period of time, developed floating photocatalyst exhibited high rate of photodegradation since the complete discoloration of AO7 and BY28 solutions and photocatalysts alone occurred after 300 and 180 min of illumination, respectively. Its photocatalytic activity was preserved after three repeated photodegradation cycles with unchanged chemical structure that was confirmed by FTIR analysis.     

Uranium in the Groundwater of Permo-Triassic Aquifers of the Visok Region, Stara Planina, Eastern Serbia

An elevated concentration of uranium in the water of some springs in the Permo-Triassic sedimentary rocks of the Visok region, south-eastern slopes of the Stara Planina, eastern Serbia, is interpreted based on geological, hydrogeological and hydrochemical data. Uranium concentration in groundwater was first examined whilst exploring for uranium minerals as an energy resource. The purpose of a later hydrogeological investigation was assessment of a safe drinking water supply to a planned ski-centre hotel. The maximum contaminant level for uranium, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), is 15 μg/L. This work reviews and interprets the naturally elevated uranium in springs from the Permo-Triassic sediments of Visok, focusing on geological, hydrogeological, hydrogeochemical and other factors of uranium contamination. Uranium distribution in groundwater from Permo-Triassic aquifers was studied by taking groundwater, spring sediment and rock samples. The varied mobility of uranium depends largely on lithology, which also controls the chemistry of groundwater. The investigation results have shown that sulfate–calcium groundwater is a suitable facilitator of uranium mobility with a high migration coefficient of 0.77. Uranium concentrations in this water were up to 41 μg/L, with a Sa/Sr mass ratio of around 20, and a mineral content of about 0.5 g/L. The hydrochemistry was characteristically transitional Eh and pH neutral. Elevated uranium in groundwater has been reported globally and may be compared.     

Life in the fast lane: Revisiting the fast growth—High survival paradigm during the early life stages of fishes

Early life survival is critical to successful replenishment of fish populations, and hypotheses developed under the Growth-Survival Paradigm (GSP) have guided investigations of controlling processes. The GSP postulates that recruitment depends on growth and mortality rates during early life stages, as well as their duration, after which the mortality declines substantially. The GSP predicts a shift in the frequency distribution of growth histories with age towards faster growth rates relative to the initial population because slow-growing individuals are subject to high mortality (via starvation and predation). However, mortality data compiled from 387 cases published in 153 studies (1971–2022) showed that the GSP was only supported in 56% of cases. Selection against slow growth occurred in two-thirds of field studies, leaving a non-negligible fraction of cases showing either an absence of or inverse growth-selective survival, suggesting the growth-survival relationship is more complex than currently considered within the GSP framework. Stochastic simulations allowed us to assess the influence of key intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the characteristics of surviving larvae and identify knowledge gaps on the drivers of variability in growth-selective survival. We suggest caution when interpreting patterns of growth selection because changes in variance and autocorrelation of individual growth rates among cohorts can invalidate fundamental GSP assumptions. We argue that breakthroughs in recruitment research require a comprehensive, population-specific characterization of the role of predation and intrinsic factors in driving variability in the distribution and autocorrelation of larval growth rates, and of the life stage corresponding to the endpoint of pre-recruited life.     

In vitro antioxidant activity of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Asteraceae) herb

The antioxidant activity in 70% aqueous acetone extracts of the herb of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Asteraceae was evaluated with regards to total polyphenol and flavonoid contents. Antioxidant activity has been assessed by two commonly used in vitro tests, based on determination of ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP assay) and DPPH free radical scavenging ability (DPPH assay), against butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), ascorbic acid and quercetin, which were used as positive control substances. The results of both antioxidant tests showed that the plant material expressed a considerable activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 27.6 μg/ml; FRAP value = 2.37 mmol Fe²⁺/g), attributed to both flavonoid aglyca and resembling glycosides, as verified by dot-blot TLC analysis.     

Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization on Stream Chemistry of Japanese Forested Watersheds

Steam chemistry was investigated from May 1991 through April 1992 for 13 Japanese forested watersheds and from May 1990 through August 1994 for two of these watersheds. Nine watersheds were treated over different periods (1983–1991) with different amounts of N (nitrogen) fertilizer as urea and ammonium salts. Total N additions ranged from 20 to 375 kg ha^-1. There were no distinct seasonal differences in stream NO₃ ^- concentrations in either the treated or untreated watersheds, but concentrations tended to be somewhat higher during periods of high discharge. The annual average NO₃ ^- concentrations in streams had a significant, positive (p < 0.001, r = 0.84) relationship to the total amount of N applied from 1985–1991. The application of 330 kg N ha^-1 raised annual average stream NO₃ ^- concentration to about 300 μeq L^-1 compared to less than 160 μeq L^-1 in untreated watersheds. The concentrations of K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg2+ in stream water also increased in those watersheds with high rates of N fertilizer as a result of nitrification that increased the generation of the mobile nitrate anion. The lack of seasonality in stream NO₃ ^- concentrations and the large rates of N loss with N addition both suggest that these watersheds were ‘nitrogen saturated’     

Immobilization of cell wall invertase modified with glutaraldehyde for continuous production of invert sugar

Yeast cell wall invertase (CWI) was modified with dimethyl suberimidate, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, and sodium periodate. Retained activity after modification was 45% for CWI modified with formaldehyde, 77% for CWI modified with sodium periodate, 80% for CWI modified with glutaraldehyde, and 115% for CWI modified with dimethyl suberimidate. Chemically modified and native CWIs showed significantly broad pH stability (pH 3-11), whereas after incubations at 50, 60, and 70 °C, CWI modified with glutaraldehyde showed the highest thermostability. Optimum pH for CWI modified with glutaraldehyde was between 4 and 5, whereas optimum temperature was at 60 °C. Comparison to CWI modified with glutaraldehyde after immobilization within alginate beads showed broader pH optimum (4.0-5.5) as well as broader temperature optimum (55-70 °C). Column bed reactor packed with the immobilized CWI modified with glutaraldehyde was successfully used for the 95% inversion of 60% (w/w) sucrose at the flow rate of 3 bed volumes per hour, pH 4.9, and 45 °C. A 1 month productivity of 3844 kg of inverted sugar/kg of the immobilisate was obtained.     

Interspecific germ cell transplantation: a new light in the conservation of valuable Balkan trout genetic resources?

Interspecific transplantation of germ cells from the brown trout Salmo trutta m. fario and the European grayling Thymallus thymallus into rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss recipients was carried out in order to improve current practices in conservation of genetic resources of endangered salmonid species in the Balkan Peninsula. Current conservation methods mainly include in situ efforts such as the maintenance of purebred individuals in isolated streams and restocking with purebred fingerlings; however, additional ex situ strategies such as surrogate production are needed. Steps required for transplantation such as isolation of high number of viable germ cells and fluorescent labeling of germ cells which are to be transplanted have been optimized. Isolated and labeled brown trout and grayling germ cells were intraperitoneally transplanted into 3 to 5 days post hatch rainbow trout larvae. Survival of the injected larvae was comparable to the controls. Sixty days after transplantation, fluorescently labeled donor cells were detected within the recipient gonads indicating successful incorporation of germ cells (brown trout spermatogonia and oogonia—27%; grayling spermatogonia—28%; grayling oogonia—23%). PCR amplification of donor mtDNA CR fragments within the recipient gonads additionally corroborated the success of incorporation. Overall, the transplantation method demonstrated in this study presents the first step and a possible onset of the application of the germ cell transplantation technology in conservation and revitalization of genetic resources of endangered and endemic species or populations of salmonid fish and thus give rise to new or improved management strategies for such species.     

Measurement of Resting and Stress-elevated Serum Cortisol in Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in Experimental Net-pens

A commercially available heterogeneous, solid-phase tube enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) was modified and validated for the measurement of serum cortisol in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss . The assay is accurate and precise. Resting and stress-elevated serum cortisol concentrations were measured in rainbow trout with a sensitivity of 1.5 ng/ml. Fish held in net-pens at a density of 0.4 kg/m³/cm had a resting cortisol level of 16.5 ± 3.8 ng/ml (mean ± SE). At 3 h postdisturbance, serum cortisol levels were not affected by the removal of fish from adjacent net-pens with dip nets or by the use of 200 mg/L tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) as an anesthetic for obtaining samples. However, an acute stress (60 s removal from water) elevated serum cortisol levels to 73.7 ± 9.4 ng/ml.