Effects of Soil Characteristics on Spring-Harvested Switchgrass Biomass Composition

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a promising bioenergy crop for temperate regions. Overwintering has been used to improve biomass quality, resulting in a more efficient combustion, partially due to a reduction in minerals concentration. This study examines the effects of soil composition on overwintered switchgrass composition. Samples were collected in the spring from 58 environments in Southern Quebec to determine possible relationships between soil composition and biomass quality. Principal component analysis and stepwise regressions were used to identify relationships between soil and biomass compositions. Soil parameters monitored explained 74% of the variation in biomass silicon (Si) concentration, 45% of the variation in ash, and 32% of the variation in magnesium (Mg). Soil composition had limited effects on the concentration of other elements in switchgrass biomass. Switchgrass biomass quality is influenced by soil composition and appears well suited to biomass combustion when overwintered and harvested in the spring.     

Dynamics of dissolved oxygen (DO) in ponded water of a paddy field

The transfer of heat and dissolved oxygen (DO) through water is important to understand the phenomenon of ponded water in a paddy soil. The heat from solar radiation is absorbed at the soil surface and transferred into the ponded water by convection. This study clarified the dynamics of DO, as well as the role of convection in water in DO transfer in the ponded water of a paddy field. DO concentration in the ponded water of a paddy field was measured in situ in the daytime and during the night. The results were confirmed in lab-scale model experiments. The DO concentration and temperature profiles in the ponded water of a lab-scale paddy field model were investigated under convective and non-convective conditions using solar radiation and infrared radiation, respectively. Under the ponded condition, solar radiation was absorbed at the soil surface whereas infrared radiation was absorbed at the water surface and thereby convective and non-convective conditions were generated, respectively. The diurnal variation in DO concentration was closely related to the intensity of solar radiation. Oxygen generation by micro-algae and its subsequent circulation by convection resulted in uniform DO concentration profiles, with super-saturated values in the ponded water in the daytime. Eventually oxygen was released to the atmosphere by deaeration until DO in water was depleted to the saturated level. During the night the oxygen moved from the atmosphere into the water surface by reaeration which depends on the oxygen deficit related to saturation. The oxygen deficit is caused by the respiration of microorganisms. The oxygen, that moved from the atmosphere to the water surface, was transferred to the soil surface by convection in the water layer. Thus convection plays an important role in the DO transfer in the ponded water of a paddy field. The DO dynamics is correlated with biological processes in the ponded paddy soil.     

Chemical synthesis of polypyrrole film and its adsorption capacity for aromatic polycarboxylic acids

Polypyrrole (PPy) film was prepared via in-situ chemical polymerization of pyrrole monomer on the surface of red-clay-brick (RCB) substrate. The deposited PPy film was characterized and used as an adsorbent for removal of benzene polycarboxylic acids from aqueous solutions. The effects of solution pH, contact time, initial concentration, and temperature on the adsorption process were systematically investigated to find the optimum operating conditions. Adsorption kinetic data were best fitted by pseudo-second order kinetic model. The adsorption equilibrium data were most represented by the Freundlich isotherm model. The maximum adsorption amounts of Trimellitic, Hemimellitic, and Pyromellitic acids were 189.27, 177.26, and 203.31 mg/g, respectively. The thermodynamic studies indicate that the adsorption was an endothermic and spontaneous process. Also, the PPy-RCB film was successfully regenerated using sodium hydroxide solution. The regenerated PPy-RCB can be reused for more than four successive cycles with a low reduction in adsorption efficiency.     

Association of Potato Psyllid (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bactericera cockerelli</Emphasis>; Hemiptera: Triozidae) with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lycium</Emphasis> spp. (Solanaceae) in Potato Growing Regions of Washington,Idaho, and Oregon

Potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (?ulc), causes economic damage to potato crops throughout the major potato growing regions of western North America. When cultivated crops are not available, potato psyllid often occurs on non-crop hosts. In the southern U.S. and northern Mexico, native species of Lycium (Solanaceae) are important non-crop hosts for the psyllid. We determined whether Old World species of Lycium now widespread in the Pacific Northwest are reservoirs of potato psyllid in this growing region. We examined Lycium spp. across a wide geographic region in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho at irregular intervals during three growing seasons. Potato psyllids were present at all locations. To determine whether Lycium is also a host during intervals of the year in which the potato crop is not available, we monitored a subset of these sites over the entire year. Six sites were monitored at 1- to 3-week intervals from June 2014 to June 2016. Psyllids were present on Lycium throughout the year at all sites, including during winter, indicating that Lycium is also a host when the potato crop is seasonally not available. Psyllid populations included a mixture of Northwestern and Western haplotypes. We observed well-defined spring and fall peaks in adult numbers, with peaks separated by long intervals in which psyllid numbers were very low. Seasonal patterns in psyllid numbers on these non-native Lycium hosts were very similar to what has been observed on native Lycium in the desert southwest region of the U.S. Our findings demonstrate that potato psyllid associates with Lycium across a broad geographic region within the Pacific Northwest. These results will assist in predicting sources of potato psyllid colonizing potatoes in this important growing region.     

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Use Efficiency in Improved Potato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis> L.) Cultivars in Southern Ethiopia

Use of nutrient efficient crop species or cultivars within species in combination with improved crop production practices offer the best option for meeting the future food requirements of growing world populations. Efficiency improvement has a key role for nutrient use and it improves both productivity of yield and minimizes risks of losses that potentially harm the environment. To improve nutrient use efficiency (NUE), one strategy is to select cultivars of crops with high NUE. Both nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are among essential macronutrients commonly applied to agricultural crops to optimize yields. Evaluation of potato cultivars with high N and P efficiency is essential for sustainable production of the crop. In Ethiopia, however, little research has been done to elucidate better NUE of potato crop until recently. This study was, thus, designed to evaluate selected potato cultivars (Belete, Gudene, Jalene, Marachere and one local check) for NP use efficiency under low levels of the nutrients in Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia during 2014 and 2015. Factorial combination of 3 levels of each N (0, 55.5 and 111 kg N ha^?1 ) and P (0, 19.5 and 39 kg P ha^?1 ) were assigned to the main plots and the 5 cultivars to subplots of split-plot design in three replications. Efficiency indices such as agronomic efficiency, physiological efficiency and recovery efficiency were computed for combined NP nutrients. Results showed that agronomic nitrogen use efficiency, apparent phosphorus use efficiency and phosphorus use efficiencies were significantly influenced by the interaction effect of rates of NP nutrition and variety. Application of NP more than 55.5:19.5 kg ha^?1 will not beneficial due to their less or equal use and recovery efficiencies to 55.5:19.5 kg NP ha^?1. Belete was the most NP efficient variety followed by Jalene and Gudene in all efficiency indices. Therefore, Belete, Jalene and Gudene return better for NP at 55.5:19.5 kg ha^?1 for economical use of fertilizes while obtaining satisfactory yield. It can be concluded that yield response variation of the varieties was related to their differences in NP uptake and use efficiencies; and the improved potato varieties were superior to local check in using NP nutrients efficiently.     

The cell and molecular basis of mechanical, cold, and inflammatory pain

Peripheral pain pathways are activated by a range of stimuli. We used diphtheria toxin to kill all mouse postmitotic sensory neurons expressing the sodium channel Nav1.8. Mice showed normal motor activity and low-threshold mechanical and acute noxious heat responses but did not respond to noxious mechanical pressure or cold. They also showed a loss of enhanced pain responses and spontaneous pain behavior upon treatment with inflammatory insults. In contrast, nerve injury led to heightened pain sensitivity to thermal and mechanical stimuli indistinguishable from that seen with normal littermates. Pain behavior correlates well with central input from sensory neurons measured electrophysiologically in vivo. These data demonstrate that Na(v)1.8-expressing neurons are essential for mechanical, cold, and inflammatory pain but not for neuropathic pain or heat sensing.     

Neoechinulin A as a Promising SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Inhibitor: In Vitro and In Silico Study Showing the Ability of Simulations in Discerning Active from Inactive Enzyme Inhibitors

The COVID-19 pandemic and its continuing emerging variants emphasize the need to discover appropriate treatment, where vaccines alone have failed to show complete protection against the new variants of the virus. Therefore, treatment of the infected cases is critical. This paper discusses the bio-guided isolation of three indole diketopiperazine alkaloids, neoechinulin A (1), echinulin (2), and eurocristatine (3), from the Red Sea-derived Aspergillus fumigatus MR2012. Neoechinulin A (1) exhibited a potent inhibitory effect against SARS-CoV-2 M^pro with IC₅₀ value of 0.47 μM, which is comparable to the reference standard GC376. Despite the structural similarity between the three compounds, only 1 showed a promising effect. The mechanism of inhibition is discussed in light of a series of extensive molecular docking, classical and steered molecular dynamics simulation experiments. This paper sheds light on indole diketopiperazine alkaloids as a potential structural motif against SARS-CoV-2 M^pro. Additionally, it highlights the potential of different molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation approaches in the discrimination between active and inactive structurally related M^pro inhibitors.     

Manipulation of cattle growth to target carcass quality

Two trials were conducted to determine the effects of breed type, backgrounding program, and backfat end point (USBFEP) as determined by ultrasound on the performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers. Trial 1 utilized 144 large-framed Charolais- (304.6 +/- 16.3 kg) and 144 medium-framed Hereford-cross steers (294.8 +/- 20.9 kg). Trial 2 utilized 88 medium-framed Angus (289.5 +/- 15.0 kg), 88 large-framed Charolais- (299.8 +/- 17.7 kg), and 88 medium-framed Hereford-cross (291.1 +/- 20.9 kg) steers. Within breed type, short- (70 d) or long-term (126 d) backgrounding programs (Trial 1) and 6- or 12-mm USBFEP (Trials 1 and 2) were assigned. In both trials, carcass size was greater (P < 0.05) for the large-framed Charolais-cross steers, longer backgrounding, and fatter USBFEP treatments. Lean meat yield was greater (P < 0.05) for Charolais- than Hereford-cross steers (Trial 1) and for the leaner USBFEP (Trials 1 and 2). Marbling was greater (P < 0.05) for Angus- (Trial 2) and Charolais- (Trials 1 and 2) than Hereford-cross steers (Trials 1 and 2) and for the fatter end point (Trials 1 and 2). It was concluded that breed type, backgrounding program, and USBFEP were effective in altering growth and could be used to target carcass traits of interest for value-based marketing programs.     

Tyrosine Ameliorates Some of the Clinical,Biochemical and Haematological Effects of Acute Stress Associated with Transportation of Desert Sheep

We studied some clinical, biochemical and haematological variables in Desert (Najdi) sheep acutely stressed in the course of individual road transportation, and the influence thereon of pretreatment with tyrosine. Transportation for 30 min resulted in variable but statistically insignificant increases in heart, pulse and respiratory rates. It also caused significant increases in the plasma concentration of cortisol (from 43.5 to 101.7 mmol/L) and glucose (from 3.1 to 4.5 mmol/L), and a decrease in that of magnesium (from 0.85 to 0.72 mmol/L). The endogenous thiocyanate level was unaffected. The transportation stress also decreased the haematocrit (PCV) and the number of lymphocytes, and increased the concentration of haemoglobin. Pretreatment of sheep with tyrosine at a dose of 100 mg/kg by the intravenous route significantly ameliorated the stress-induced clinical, biochemical and haematological changes. The treatment caused no overt adverse effects.