THE ECOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF SOIL FUNGI INVOLVED IN THE DEGRADATION OF LIGNIN AND RELATED AROMATIC COMPOUNDS

A study has been made of the colonization by soil fungi of kaolin pellets in which was incorporated either a lignin preparation extracted from Phragmites or the lignin-related substances, vanillic acid or α-conidendrol. Fungi isolated from the lignin pellets by the dilution method were grown in liquid culture containing the Phragmites lignin. Subsequent analysis by UV absorption spectrometry indicated up to 40 per cent loss of this material. IR analysis of the residual lignin showed that it was little altered. Fungi from the pellets containing vanillic acid and α-conidendrol were isolated by direct transfer of spores and mycelium from the pellets to agar plates. The range of soil fungi already known to metabolize vanillic acid in pure culture was extended by this method and included Stilbum spp., Humicola sp., and two unidentified species. Dry-weight determinations of mycelia combined with UV absorption spectrometry and paper chromatography of culture filtrates indicated that, with the exception of Acremoniella sp., all isolates metabolized vanillic acid when it was supplied as sole C source. Growth-promoting substances present in yeast extract were required by Volutella spp. before the vanillic acid was metabolized. The pellet technique offers many possibilities for studying the microbiological degradation of soil substances and in addition enables the soil micro-habitats to be explored in greater detail than has previously been possible.     

THE EFFECT OF SOIL FACTORS ON THE EXTRACTION OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER BY ANHYDROUS FORMIC ACID

Twenty-five soils, having a wide range of organic matter contents, were extracted with anhydrous formic acid containing 10 per cent acetylacetone, and the extracted material precipitated in two fractions with diisopropyl ether. Precipitates comprised from 5.1 to 51.1 per cent of the original soil organic matter, the proportion extracted tending to be greatest from acid soils of fairly high organic matter content and least from neutral or slightly alkaline soils of low organic matter content. Soil clay content appeared to have no effect on the efficiency of organic matter extraction, but was the most important soil factor governing the proportion of the total soil-N extracted. Amounts of N extracted ranged from 10.2 to 57.8 per cent of the original soil N content, extraction efficiency being greatest with soils of low clay content and low pH. There was evidence to suggest that soil clay afforded some protection to N compounds against extraction. The results indicate that formic acid/acetylacetone is most effective with soils in which much of the organic matter is only partly humified.     

Computer modelling of partial specific volumes of humic substances

The determination of the structure of humic substances from peat soils and natural waters is a major problem in soil science. Humic substances are chemically heterogeneous and consist of molecules covering a wide distribution of molecular size. A quantity related to both molecular size and structure in the hydrated state is the volume of the humic molecules per unit mass or partial specific volume (ν₂). The partial specific volumes of humic substances have been estimated from atom and chemical group volume contributions for 17 proposed structures of fulvic and humic acids taken from the literature. The results show that the partial specific volume reflects the composition of humic substances, decreasing with increase in the carbon: hydrogen (C:H) molar ratio. The more oxidized the humic material the smaller is its partial specific volume. These trends agree with our experimental measurements of partial specific volumes for a range of humic materials (aquatic fulvics, aquatic and peat humics). The predicted values of partial specific volumes for the proposed structures, however, are overestimated by approximately 15% compared to the experimental values. There is little difference between values of ν₂ calculated from the detailed humic structures and those calculated from their empirical formulae; calculations of partial specific volumes using a random modelling approach leads to overestimation by approximately 37%. It seems that the estimates based on additivity of atom and chemical group volumes do not take into account an overall contraction of the structures because of hydrophobic interactions. In general terms the values of the partial specific volumes of humic substances suggest they are more compact molecules than globular proteins, and intrinsic viscometry studies suggest that aqueous salt solutions approach θ-solvent conditions for humic substances.     

上海郊区园艺土壤氮素的生物形成动态变化

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) represents a significant pool of soluble nitrogen (N) in soil ecosystems. Soil samples under three different horticultural management practices were collected from the Xiaxiyang Organic Vegetable and Fruit Farm, Shanghai, China, to investigate the dynamics of N speciation during 2 months of aerobic incubation, to compare the effects of different soils on the mineralization of ¹⁴C-labeled amino acids and peptides, and to determine which of the pathways in the decomposition and subsequent ammonification and nitrification of organic N represented a significant blockage in soil N supply. The dynamics of N speciation was found to be significantly affected by mineralization and immobilization. DON, total free amino acids, and NH₄⁺-N were maintained at very low levels and did not accumulate, whereas NO₃^--N gradually accumulated in these soils. The conversion of insoluble organic N to low-molecular-weight (LMW) DON represented a main constraint to N supply, while conversions of LMW DON to NH₄⁺-N and NH₄⁺-N to NO₃^--N did not. Free amino acids and peptides were rapidly mineralized in the soils by the microbial community and consequently did not accumulate in soil. Turnover rates of the additional amino acids and peptides were soil-dependent and generally followed the order of organic soil > transitional soil > conventional soil. The turnover of high-molecular-weight DON was very slow and represented the major DON loss. Further studies are needed to investigate the pathways and bottlenecks of organic N degradation.     

Efficacy and Kinetics of Carprofen, Administered Preoperatively or Postoperatively, for the Prevention of Pain in Dogs Undergoing Ovariohysterectomy

Objective —To determine what effect the timing of carprofen administration has on the severity of postoperative pain in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy and to investigate the pharmacokinetics of carprofen under these conditions. Study Design —A prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical trial. Animals —Sixty-two adult bitches weighing between 10 and 25 kgs, undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy. Methods —Examinations were performed for 20 hours postoperatively using subjective visual assessment scoring systems (DIVAS) and objective mechanical nociceptive threshold measurements. Forty dogs were assigned to one of three groups: (1) preoperative carprofen; (2) postoperative carprofen; and (3) no analgesics (saline injections). The dose of carprofen was 4.0 mg/kg subcutaneously. In another 22 bitches, the pharmacokinetics of carprofen given preoperatively or postoperatively at the same dose were examined. Results —The dogs given carprofen preoperatively had lower pain scores than the other groups, significantly so at 2 hours postextubation (P < .01 and P < .05, Kruskal-Wallis and post hoc Dunn's). Mechanical pain thresholds measured at the distal tibia showed the development of hyperalgesia at 12 and 20 hours postextubation; this was prevented by both the preoperative (P < .05 at 12 and 20 hours, Kruskal-Wallis) and postoperative (P <.05 at 20 hours, Kruskal-Wallis) administration of carprofen. Mechanical pain threshold testing at the wound showed a significant analgesic effect of carprofen. Plasma concentrations of carprofen were not directly related to analgesia; maximum plasma concentration, the area under the curve to the last data point, and area under the first moment curve up to the last data point were all significantly higher in the dogs given carprofen postoperatively (P < .05, Mann-Whitney). Conclusion—Preoperative administration of carprofen has a greater analgesic effect than postoperative administration in the early postoperative period in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Plasma levels of carprofen are not related to the degree of analgesia achieved. Clinical Relevance—Carprofen provides effective analgesia after canine ovariohysterectomy. The timing of analgesic administration is important to optimize the control of postoperative pain.     

Microsporidiosis in a Gouldian finch (Erythrura [Chloebia] gouldiae)

A 12-day-old nestling Gouldian finch ( Erythrura [Chloebia] gouldiae ) was presented for investigation of a mortality problem in nestling finches raised by Bengalese finch foster parents. On histological examination, large numbers of spores consistent with a microsporidian organism were present within the small intestinal mucosa. Electron microscopy and molecular studies (sequencing the 5' end of the ssu rRNA gene) further defined the organism as Encephalitozoon hellem . Sequence homology with other eukaryotes was determined using a BLASTN search from the NCBI GenBank database. The finch isolate sequences showed greater than 99% homology with those of previously reported human and avian isolates.     

Nervous pathways of cutaneous pains

In discussing the reality of a peripheral duality of pain-afferent systems, which she attributes to an artifact [Science 128, 713 (1958)], M. H. Jones rejects as valueless data concerning differences in the velocity of conduction of nerve impulses as determined by reaction times. Yet precise data tend to show the reality of these differences in velocity.