Effects of solar flares on the ionosphere of Mars

All planetary atmospheres respond to the enhanced x-rays and ultraviolet (UV) light emitted from the Sun during a flare. Yet only on Earth are observations so continuous that the consequences of these essentially unpredictable events can be measured reliably. Here, we report observations of solar flares, causing up to 200% enhancements to the ionosphere of Mars, as recorded by the Mars Global Surveyor in April 2001. Modeling the altitude dependence of these effects requires that relative enhancements in the soft x-ray fluxes far exceed those in the UV.     

Fungicidal sesquiterpene dialdehyde cinnamates from Pseudowintera axillaris

Bioactivity-directed separation of a foliage extract from the New Zealand shrub Pseudowintera axillaris led to a compound with fungicidal activity against the plant pathogen Phytophthora infestans. This was identified as a new sesquiterpene dialdehyde cinnamate named paxidal. Two 6-hydroxy derivatives were present at lower levels in the extract. A further nine derivatives were synthesized from these natural products for a structure-activity study against a range of important food crop pathogens. The cinnamate group was important for fungicidal effects, and protection of the dialdehyde as a dimethyl acetal gave more potent, broader spectrum activity.     

Pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin in blue and gold macaws (Ara ararauna)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin after single IV and orally administered doses in blue and gold macaws. ANIMALS: 10 healthy blue and gold macaws. PROCEDURES: In a crossover study, marbofloxacin (2.5 mg/kg) was administered orally (via crop gavage) to 5 birds and IV to 5 birds. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after marbofloxacin administration. After a 4-week washout period, the study was repeated, with the first 5 birds receiving the dose IV and the second 5 birds receiving the dose orally. Serum marbofloxacin concentrations were quantitated by use of a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay. RESULTS: After oral administration, mean +/- SD area under the curve was 7.94 +/- 2.08 microg.h/mL, maximum plasma concentration was 1.08 +/- 0.316 microg/mL, and bioavailability was 90.0 +/- 31%. After IV administration of marbofloxacin, the apparent volume of distribution was 1.3 +/- 0.32 L/kg, plasma clearance was 0.29 +/- 0.078 L/h/kg, area under the curve was 9.41 +/- 2.84 microg.h/mL, and the harmonic mean terminal half-life was 4.3 hours. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Single IV and orally administered doses of marbofloxacin were well tolerated by blue and gold macaws. The orally administered dose was well absorbed. Administration of marbofloxacin at a dosage of 2.5 mg/kg, PO, every 24 hours may be appropriate to control bacterial infections susceptible to marbofloxacin in this species.     

Blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, red raspberry, and strawberry extracts inhibit growth and stimulate apoptosis of human cancer cells in vitro

Berry fruits are widely consumed in our diet and have attracted much attention due to their potential human health benefits. Berries contain a diverse range of phytochemicals with biological properties such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-neurodegerative, and anti-inflammatory activities. In the current study, extracts of six popularly consumed berries--blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, red raspberry and strawberry--were evaluated for their phenolic constituents using high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) detection. The major classes of berry phenolics were anthocyanins, flavonols, flavanols, ellagitannins, gallotannins, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic acids. The berry extracts were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the growth of human oral (KB, CAL-27), breast (MCF-7), colon (HT-29, HCT116), and prostate (LNCaP) tumor cell lines at concentrations ranging from 25 to 200 micro g/mL. With increasing concentration of berry extract, increasing inhibition of cell proliferation in all of the cell lines were observed, with different degrees of potency between cell lines. The berry extracts were also evaluated for their ability to stimulate apoptosis of the COX-2 expressing colon cancer cell line, HT-29. Black raspberry and strawberry extracts showed the most significant pro-apoptotic effects against this cell line. The data provided by the current study and from other laboratories warrants further investigation into the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects of berries using in vivo models.     

Arginylation of beta-actin regulates actin cytoskeleton and cell motility

Posttranslational arginylation is critical for mouse embryogenesis, cardiovascular development, and angiogenesis, but its molecular effects and the identity of proteins arginylated in vivo are unknown. We found that beta-actin was arginylated in vivo to regulate actin filament properties, beta-actin localization, and lamella formation in motile cells. Arginylation of beta-actin apparently represents a critical step in the actin N-terminal processing needed for actin functioning in vivo. Thus, posttranslational arginylation of a single protein target can regulate its intracellular function, inducing global changes on the cellular level, and may contribute to cardiovascular development and angiogenesis.     

Rice response to simultaneous bacterial blight and drought stress during compatible and incompatible interactions

Plant response to one type of stress can be affected by simultaneous exposure to a second stress, for example when abiotic and biotic stresses occur together. Ten rice genotypes comprising those with bacterial blight (BB) resistance (R) genes, drought quantitative trait loci (QTLs) plus a BB R gene, and BB susceptible genotypes, were subjected to mild and moderate drought stress and plants were inoculated with two Xoo strains (PXO99 and PXO145) to simulate the challenges rice crops face under simultaneous stress of drought and BB. Plant height and dry shoot biomass were significantly reduced by drought stress treatments. The BB disease lesion lengths varied according to rice genotypes and PXO99 Xoo multiplication and spread in planta was higher compared to that of PXO145, which generally decreased under mild drought stress. Rice genotype IRBB7 (Xa7) showed less Xoo spread and a reduced Xoo multiplication under drought stress compared to the well-watered control with PXO145. In contrast, in genotypes with a different BB R gene and/or drought QTLs [IRBB4 (Xa4), IR87705–6-9-B (Xa4 + qDYT _2.2 ), IR87707–445-B-B-B (Xa4 + qDYT _2.2  + qDYT _4.1 ) and IR87707–446-B-B-B (Xa4 + qDYT _2.2  + qDYT _4.1 )], Xoo multiplication and spread in planta was higher with drought stress. This study has shown that drought stress affected rice response to the BB pathogen and the response varied according to the rice genotype. It is concluded that evaluating rice varieties under combined abiotic and biotic stresses will be the best strategy to determine biotic stress resistance durability under climate change.     

Growth,yield and water use efficiency of chickpea (Cicer arietinum): response to biochar and phosphorus fertilizer application

Field experiments were conducted during summer (2013/2014) and winter (2014) in two different soil types to evaluate the effect of biochar and P fertilizer application on growth, yield, and water use efficiency of chickpea. Soil types include Rhodic Ferralsols (clay) in Thohoyandou and Leptic Cambisols (loamy sand) in Nelspruit, South Africa. Treatments consisted of a factorial combination of four biochar levels (0, 5, 10 and 20 t ha^?1) and two phosphorus fertilizer levels (0 and 90 kg ha^?1) arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Biochar application at 5 t ha^?1 significantly increased biomass, grain yield and water use efficiency of biomass production (WUE_b) in the clay soil compared to 10 and 20 t ha^?1. However, the increase was attributed to the addition of P fertilizer. Biochar application had no effect on yield components in the loamy sand soil, but P fertilizer addition increased number of seeds/pod in the loamy sand soil and number of pods/plant in the clay soil. Biochar and P fertilizer application on growth and yield of chickpea varied in soil types and seasons, as the effect was more prominent in the clay soil than the loamy sand soil during the summer sowing.     

Production of Energy and Biofertilizer from Cattle Wastewater in Farms with Intensive Cattle Breeding

This study evaluates the treatment efficacy and biogas yield of an integrated system composed of a plug-flow biodigester (with sludge recirculation) followed by polishing in a stabilization pond. The system was operated in real scale for 12 months at ambient temperature and under continuous flow. The volumetric yields of biogas varied according to the organic loads applied, between 114 and 294 Kg COD day^?1, reaching levels of 0.026 to 0.173 m³ m^?3 day^?1, with concentrations of CH₄ between 56 and 70%. The monthly biogas productions were between 378.5 and 2186.1 m³ month^?1 equal to an energy potential of approximately 2070 to 19,168 KWh month^?1.The average yearly removals of BOD_5,20 and COD by the integrated treatment system were 70 and 86%, respectively. The average annual removals of NH₄ and TKN were 88.5 and 85.5%, respectively. The pH values were always near neutral, and the alkalinity was in ranges propitious for anaerobic digestion. The results of this study indicate good efficacy in terms of removal of organic matter and nitrogen compounds, with the added benefits of generation of energy and use of the treated effluent as biofertilizer, enabling significant cost reductions to cattle farmers.     

The effect of foliar application of Moringa leaf extract on biomass,grain yield of wheat and applied nutrient efficiency

Moringa leaf extracts (MLE) from two varieties of Moringa oleifera Lam. were applied to leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in two glasshouse experiments. MLE was extracted from the leaves of using three different solvents (hexane, butanol; ethyl-acetate). The extracts were applied as foliar sprays at different growth stages of wheat (T. aestivum L.) grown on two soil types with either adequate or low phosphorus (P) nutrient additions at Albany, Western Australia. Sprays were applied at the 4–5 leaf (tillering) and the 7-leaf (Boot) stage either as a single spray or a combination of sprays at tillering and boot stage. The application of MLE either at tillering or boot stage increased the dry weight of shoots (biomass) and grain yield of wheat. A foliar spray of MLE applied at tillering increased biomass at the boot stage by ～37% and grain yield increased by ～34% compared to nil MLE spray. A single spray of MLE increased grain yield by ～30% when applied at boot stage. A single application at tillering gave a better yield response than a single spray at the 7-leaf or boot or than a double spray applied at tillering and boot stage. A 50% dilution of the extractant concentration gave the same grain yield response as the original concentration applied at tillering stage. The hexane extracts gave the significantly higher grain yield responses. Plant tissue and grain analysis showed no significant difference in protein and nutrient concentration of wheat grain from plants sprayed with and without MLE. A MLE spray at boot also increased grain yield by 44% on the red sandy-loam soil where P application was at sub-optimum levels, ～80% of P requirement for maximum yield. The partial factor productivity (PFP) index indicated that the P and potassium (K) use improved where MLE was applied as a foliar spray. For example, the PFP of P and K for grain yield increased by about 30%, where MLE was sprayed to foliage. The results of this study indicate that MLE extracted can potentially be a viable option to increase wheat grain yield and fertilizer efficiency use, particularly P and K, in Mediterranean wheat production system.