不同含水量天然硫酸盐盐渍土中二氧化碳和氧化亚氮的排放

Soil salinization may negatively affect microbial processes related to carbon dioxide(CO_2) and nitrous oxide(N_2O) emissions. A short-term laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of soil electrical conductivity(EC) and moisture content on CO_2 and N_2O emissions from sulfate-based natural saline soils. Three separate 100-m long transects were established along the salinity gradient on a salt-affected agricultural field at Mooreton, North Dakota, USA. Surface soils were collected from four equally spaced sampling positions within each transect, at the depths of 0–15 and 15–30 cm. In the laboratory, artificial soil cores were formed combining soils from both the depths in each transect, and incubated at 60% and 90% water-filled pore space(WFPS) at 25?C. The measured depth-weighted EC of the saturated paste extract(EC_e) across the sampling positions ranged from 0.43 to 4.65 dS m~(-1). Potential nitrogen(N) mineralization rate and CO_2 emissions decreased with increasing soil EC_e, but the relative decline in soil CO_2 emissions with increasing ECe was smaller at 60% WFPS than at 90% WFPS. At 60% WFPS, soil N_2O emissions decreased from 133 μg N_2O-N kg~(-1) soil at EC_e 0.50 dS m~(-1) to 72 μg N_2O-N kg~(-1) soil at EC_e = 4.65 dS m~(-1). In contrast, at 90% WFPS,soil N_2O emissions increased from 262 μg N_2O-N kg~(-1) soil at EC_e = 0.81 dS m~(-1) to 849 μg N_2O-N kg~(-1) soil at EC_e = 4.65 dS m~(-1), suggesting that N_2O emissions were linked to both soil ECe and moisture content. Therefore, spatial variability in soil EC_e and pattern of rainfall over the season need to be considered when up-scaling N_2O and CO_2 emissions from field to landscape scales.     

Changes in forest soil organic matter pools after a decade of elevated CO2 and O3

The impact of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) may be mitigated, in part, by enhanced rates of net primary production and greater C storage in plant biomass and soil organic matter (SOM). However, C sequestration in forest soils may be offset by other environmental changes such as increasing tropospheric ozone (O₃) or vary based on species-specific growth responses to elevated CO₂. To understand how projected increases in atmospheric CO₂ and O₃ alter SOM formation, we used physical fractionation to characterize soil C and N at the Rhinelander Free Air CO₂-O₃ Enrichment (FACE) experiment. Tracer amounts of ¹⁵NH₄⁺ were applied to the forest floor of Populus tremuloides, P. tremuloides-Betula papyrifera and P. tremuloides-Acer saccharum communities exposed to factorial CO₂ and O₃ treatments. The ¹⁵N tracer and strongly depleted ¹³C-CO₂ were traced into SOM fractions over four years. Over time, C and N increased in coarse particulate organic matter (cPOM) and decreased in mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) under elevated CO₂ relative to ambient CO₂. As main effects, neither CO₂ nor O₃ significantly altered ¹⁵N recovery in SOM. Elevated CO₂ significantly increased new C in all SOM fractions, and significantly decreased old C in fine POM (fPOM) and MAOM over the duration of our study. Overall, our observations indicate that elevated CO₂ has altered SOM cycling at this site to favor C and N accumulation in less stable pools, with more rapid turnover. Elevated O₃ had the opposite effect, significantly reducing cPOM N by 15% and significantly increasing the C:N ratio by 7%. Our results demonstrate that CO₂ can enhance SOM turnover, potentially limiting long-term C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems; plant community composition is an important determinant of the magnitude of this response.     

The Use of a GUS Transformant of Trichoderma Harzianum, Strain T3a, to Study Metabolic Activity in the Spermosphere and Rhizosphere Related to Biocontrol of Pythium Damping-off And Root Rot

The activity of Trichoderma harzianum in the spermosphere and rhizosphere of different plant species was studied by use of a beta-glucuronidase (GUS) transformant (strain T3a). Hereby, direct observation of micro-habitats supporting metabolic activity of T. harzianum is reported. Germination of conidia and mycelial growth were not supported by exudates from healthy roots of various ages. Instead, growth and activity of T. harzianum depended on access to dead organic substrates such as seed coats, decaying roots, and wounds, including those caused by infecting pathogens. A correlation between the GUS activity of T. harzianum and the biomass of Pythium ultimum in infected roots was established. On the basis of our observations, we suggest that the biocontrol ability of T. harzianum involves competition with the pathogen for substrates including the seed coat, and wounded or infected root tissue.     

Assessment of the antioxidant potential of scotch whiskeys by electron spin resonance spectroscopy: relationship to hydroxyl-containing aromatic components.

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy has been used to assess the antioxidant capacity of eight Scotch whiskeys by measuring the extent by which the original spirits, or pyridine solutions of their residues, reduced Fremy's radical or galvinoxyl radical. All whiskeys displayed antioxidant activity greater than that of a 0.2 mM solution of Trolox in the Fremy's assay and of a 0.1 mM solution of quercetin in the galvinoxyl assay. The relative antioxidant capacities determined according to the two assays were highly correlated and strongly related to the total phenol content as determined by using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Activity was a consequence of maturation in oak casks with the "newmake" spirit showing no effect. Of 10 aromatic constituents analyzed, activity was most strongly correlated with ellagic acid and gallic acid in both assays. The reductive capacities of four major phenolics were determined, which, in summation, accounted for 31-53% of the total antioxidant activity of the whiskeys. There was no evidence for synergistic interaction between the phenols investigated.     

Pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism in a cat

Pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism was diagnosed in a 9-year-old, male castrated cat that had polyuria, polyphagia, pendulous abdomen, truncal hair loss, congestive heart failure, and insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus. Results of pituitary-adrenal function testing revealed inadequate serum cortisol suppression following dexamethasone administration, exaggerated serum cortisol responses after exogenous ACTH stimulation, and high plasma ACTH concentrations. The pathologic findings of bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia and a pituitary adenoma that immunostained well for ACTH-related peptides confirmed pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism.     

Influence of helminth parasite exposure and strategic application of anthelmintics on the development of immunity and growth of swine

Infection of pigs with the intestinal roundworm parasite Ascaris suum and strategic application of anthelmintic drugs during the growing phase of development were observed for specific effects on 1) development of immunity in feeder pigs and 2) growth rate during the finishing phase. Management treatments included maintenance in a parasite-free concrete environment, maintenance in a concrete environment and inoculation with 1,000 infective A. suum eggs every other day over a 52-d period, and maintenance on a dirtlot contaminated with A. suum and Trichuris suis eggs. Within each management environment, pigs were either untreated, treated with ivermectin or treated with fenbenzadole at strategic times during parasite exposure. Protective immunity, assessed by a challenge inoculation with A. suum eggs following management treatments, was not affected by ivermectin or fenbenzadole treatment during exposure, but adult worm burdens were reduced and the pattern of A. suum larval antigen serum antibody responses were different from those in control pigs not treated with drugs. Exposure to A. suum and treatment with anthelmintics during the growing phase reduced adult worm burdens following the finishing phase of growth. Rate, but not efficiency, of gain was significantly improved by anthelmintic treatment following natural exposure to parasites. Strategic treatment of pigs with anthelmintics following inoculation with A. suum eggs in a concrete management environment had no effect on rate of gain. Results suggest that natural exposure to parasites during the growing phase without therapeutic treatment causes permanent damage to growth potential.     

Baiting intervals and duration of control of the small fox tapeworm: a simulation study

Field trials to control the small fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis failed to reduce the prevalence of the parasite persistently. With the experience from this empirical work, a simulation model for the population dynamics of the small fox tapeworm was developed. This model is used to examine the effect of different control strategies. Sufficient control duration is able to eradicate the parasite in simulation experiments. Baiting intervals of 4 or 6 weeks were found to be more efficient than shorter or longer intervals. The strategy used in field trials showed no sustainable effect in any of the simulation experiments. The applicability of simulation models for the planning of control measures for wildlife diseases is discussed.     

Controlling Echinococcus multilocularis-ecological implications of field trials

Two field trials to reduce the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in foxes have been conducted in recent years. Although both trials reduced prevalence considerably, they failed to eradicate the parasite in the study region. Following the control trial in northern Germany, prevalence recovered unexpectedly and rapidly, reaching pre-control levels five quarters (15 months) after the end of control. To understand the internal dynamics of the parasite-host system's reaction to control, we developed a spatially explicit simulation model, Echi. The simulation model incorporates the information available concerning fox tapeworm population dynamics.Using epidemiological parameters to adjust pre-control prevalence, the model predicts the temporal evolution of the prevalence of E. multilocularis in controlled foxes without departing from the range of uncertainty of the field data. However, the model does not predict the rapid pre-control recovery observed in the field trial.The deviation of the model's prediction from field data indicates the involvement of processes not yet taken into account. We modified the model step by step to mimic processes with the potential to cause the rapid post-control recovery of the prevalence of E. multilocularis in foxes.Neither the longevity of tapeworm eggs nor the migratory behaviour of foxes showed any influence on the post-control reaction of the parasite-host system. However, landscape structures leading to a heterogeneous distribution of infected foxes have the potential to alter the system's reaction to control. If infected foxes are concentrated in multiple clusters in the landscape, the model prediction tallied with the range of uncertainty of the field data. Such spatial distribution of infected foxes may be caused by differential abiotic conditions influencing the survival of tapeworm eggs.The model was found to comply best with field data if the foxes acquire partial immunity by being exposed to the fox tapeworm.Both hypotheses explaining the rapid post-control recovery of the prevalence of E. multilocularis observed in the fox population were supported by field data.Both hypotheses have far-reaching consequences for future control trials. The spatial aggregation of infected foxes would enable control efforts to be concentrated on these highly infected areas. However, the acquisition of immunity acts as a buffer to control, necessitating intensified control measures.