Minimizing the effect of mineral nitrogen on biological nitrogen fixation in common bean by increasing nutrient levels

Although common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) has good potential for N₂ fixation, some additional N provided through fertilizer usually is required for a maximum yield. In this study the suppressive effect of N on nodulation and N₂ fixation was evaluated in an unfertile soil under greenhouse conditions with different levels of soil fertility (low=no P, K and S additions; medium = 50, 63 and 10 mg kg^–1 soil and high = 200, 256 and 40 mg kg^–1 soil, respectively) and combined with 5, 15, 60 and 120 mg N kg^–1 soil of ¹⁵N-labelled urea. The overall average nodule number and weight increased under high fertility levels. At low N applications, nitrogen had a synergistic effect on N₂ fixation, by stimulating nodule formation, nitrogenase activity and plant growth. At high fertility and at the highest N rate (120 mg kg^–1 soil), the stimulatory effect of N fertilizer on N₂ fixation was still observed, increasing the amounts of N₂ fixed from 88 up to 375 mg N plant^–1. These results indicate that a suitable balance of soil nutrients is essential to obtain high N₂ fixation rates and yield in common beans.     

Nitrogen losses in puddled soils as affected by timing of water deficit and nitrogen fertilization

Erratic rainfall in rainfed lowlands and inadequate water supply in irrigated lowlands can results in alternate soil drying and flooding during a rice (Oryza sativa L.) cropping period. Effects of alternate soil drying and flooding on N loss by nitrification-denitrification have been inconsistent in previous field research. To determine the effects of water deficit and urea timing on soil NO₃ and NH₄, floodwater NO₃, and N loss from added ¹⁵N-labeled urea, a field experiment was conducted for 2 yr on an Andaqueptic Haplaquoll in the Philippines. Water regimes were continuously flooded, not irrigated from 15 to 35 d after transplanting (DT), or not irrigated from 41 to 63 DT. The nitrogen treatments in factorial combination with water regimes were no applied N and 80 kg urea-N ha^–1, either applied half basally and half at 37 DT or half at 11 DT and half at 65 DT. Water deficit at 15 to 35 DT and 41 to 63 DT, compared with continuous soil flooding, significantly reduced extractable NH₄ in the top 30-cm soil layer and resulted in significant but small (<1.0 kg N ha^–1) soil NO₃ accumulations. Soil NO₃, which accumulated during the water deficit, rapidly disappeared after reflooding. Water deficit at 15 to 35 DT, unlike that at 41 to 63 DT, increased the gaseous loss of added urea N as determined from unrecovered ¹⁵N in ¹⁵N balances. The results indicate that application of urea to young rice in saturated or flooded soil results in large, rapid losses of N (mean = 35% of applied N), presumably by NH₃ volatilization. Subsequent soil drying and flooding during the vegetative growth phase can result in additional N loss (mean = 14% of applied N), presumably by nitrification-denitrification. This additional N loss due to soil drying and flooding decreases with increasing crop age, apparently because of increased competition by rice with soil microorganisms for NH₄ and NO₃.     

Denitrification measurements in aquatic sediments: A comparison of three methods

Measurements of denitrification using the acetylene inhibition,¹⁵N isotope tracer, and N₂ flux methods were carried out concurrently using sediment cores from Vilhelmsborg sø, Denmark, in an attempt to clarify some of the limitations of each technique. Three experimental treatments of overlying water were used: control, nitrate enriched, and ammonia enriched water. The N₂ flux and¹⁵N tracer experiments showed high rates of coupled nitrification/denitrification in the sediments. The acetylene inhibition method did not capture any coupled nitrification/denitrification. This could be explained by acetylene inhibition of nitrification. A combined¹⁵N tracer/acetylene inhibition experiment demonstrated that acetylene inhibition of N₂O reduction was incomplete and the method, therefore, only measured approximately 50% of the denitrification due to nitrate from the overlying water. Similar rates of denitrification due to nitrate in the overlying water were measured by the N₂ flux method and the acetylene inhibition method, after correcting for the 50% efficiency of acetylene inhibition. Rates of denitrification due to nitrate from the overlying water measured by the¹⁵N tracer method, however, were only approximately 35% or less of those measured by the acetylene inhibition or N₂ flux methods.     

新生儿接种小剂量乙肝疫苗后3-5年随访观察

本文对９３８例初生婴儿接种小剂量（１０ｕｇ×３）乙肝疫苗后３－５年的预防效果进行了随访观察,并以２５３例初生儿未接种疫苗者作为对照,结果表明,接种组３－５年后抗－ＨＢｓ阳性率显著高于对照组,ＨＢｓＡｇ阳性率则较对照组显著为低。感染保护率８６．７％。结果还表明,接种乙肝疫苗３年后加强１次,比不加强者Ｐ／Ｎ均值显著增高。文章认为初生儿接种小剂量乙肝疫苗有长期免疫效果;接种后３年加强接种１次,可保持较高免疫力。     

A novel type of meso-diaminopimelic acid-based peptidoglycan and novel poly (erythritol phosphate) teichoic acids in cell walls of two coryneform isolates from the surface flora of French cooked cheeses

The primary structure of the peptidoglycan and the teichoic acids of two coryneform isolates from the surface flora of French cooked cheeses, CNRZ 925 and CNRZ 926, have been determined. In the peptidoglycan, meso-diaminopimelic acid was localized in position three of the peptide subunit. It contained an d-glutamyl-d-aspartyl interpeptide bridge, connecting meso-diaminopimelic acid and d-alanine residues of adjacent peptide subunits. The -carboxyl group of d-glutamic acid in position two of peptide subunits was substituted with glycine amide. The teichoic acid pattern and composition differed between the strains: both contained an erythritol teichoic acid and strain CNRZ 925 also contained an N-acetylglucosaminylphosphate polymer. The erythritol teichoic acids differed in terms of the quality and quantity of substituents, but they both had N,N-diacetyl-2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxyglucuronic acid in common.Abbreviations DNP dinitrophenyl - Ery erythritol - Gal galactose - GlcN glucosamine - GlcNAc N-acetylglucosamine - GlcUANAc₂ N,N-diacetyl-2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxyglucuronic acid - Hex UANAc₂ N,N-diacetyl-2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxyhexuronic - acid m-Dpm, meso-diaminopimelic acid - Mur muramic acid - MurNAc N-acetylmuramic acid     

Nitrification,denitrification, and related functional genes under elevated CO2: A meta-analysis in terrestrial ecosystems

Global change may have profound effects on soil nitrogen (N) cycling that can induce positive feedback to climate change through increased nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions mediated by nitrification and denitrification. We conducted a meta-analysis of the effects of elevated CO₂ on nitrification and denitrification based on 879 observations from 58 publications and 46 independent elevated CO₂ experiments in terrestrial ecosystems. We investigated the effects of elevated CO₂ alone or combined with elevated temperature, increased precipitation, drought, and N addition. We assessed the response to elevated CO₂ of gross and potential nitrification, potential denitrification, and abundances of related functional genes (archaeal amoA, bacterial amoA, nirK, nirS, and nosZ). Elevated CO₂ increased potential nitrification (+28%) and the abundance of bacterial amoA functional gene (+62%) in cropland ecosystems. Elevated CO₂ increased potential denitrification when combined with N addition and higher precipitation (+116%). Elevated CO₂ also increased the abundance of nirK (+25%) and nirS (+27%) functional genes in terrestrial ecosystems and of nosZ (+32%) functional gene in cropland ecosystems. The increase in the abundance of nosZ under elevated CO₂ was larger at elevated temperature and high N (+62%). Four out of 14 two-way interactions tested between elevated CO₂ and elevated temperature, elevated CO₂ and increased precipitation, and elevated CO₂ and N addition were marginally significant and mostly synergistic. The effects of elevated CO₂ on potential nitrification and abundances of bacterial amoA and nirS functional genes increased with mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation. Our meta-analysis thus suggests that warming and increased precipitation in large areas of the world could reinforce positive responses of nitrification and denitrification to elevated CO₂ and urges the need for more investigations in the tropical zone and on interactive effects among multiple global change factors, as we may largely underestimate the effects of global change on soil N₂O emissions.     

Proteomics analysis of meclofenamic acid-treated small cell lung carcinoma cells revealed changes in cellular energy metabolism for cancer cell survival

Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is a highly aggressive cancer with low survival rate. Although initial response to chemotherapy in SCLC patients is well-rated, the treatments applied after the disease relapses are not successful. Drug resistance is accepted to be one of the main reasons for this failure. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new treatment strategies for SCLC. Meclofenamic acid, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, has been shown to have anticancer effects on various types of cancers via different mechanisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations that meclofenamic acid caused on a SCLC cell line, DMS114 using the tools of proteomics namely two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled to MALDI-TOF/TOF and nHPLC coupled to LC-MS/MS. Among the proteins identified by both methods, those showing significantly altered expression levels were evaluated using bioinformatics databases, PANTHER and STRING. The key altered metabolism upon meclofenamic acid treatment appeared to the cellular energy metabolism. Glycolysis was suppressed, whereas mitochondrial activity and oxidative phosphorylation were boosted. The cells underwent metabolic reprogramming to adapt into their new environment for survival. Metabolic reprogramming is known to cause drug resistance in several cancer types including SCLC. The identified differentially regulated proteins in here associated with energy metabolism hold value as the potential targets to overcome drug resistance in SCLC treatment.     

Normania,an endemic Macaronesian genus distinct fromSolanum (Solanaceae)

Morphological data and results from scanning electron microscopy of seeds and pollen show thatNormania Lowe [syn.Solanum L. subg.Potatoe (G. Don)D'Arcy sect.Normania (Lowe)Bitter] (Solanaceae: Solaneae) should be considered as a distinct genus fromSolanum L. It has two species, one restricted to the island of Madeira [Normania triphylla (Lowe)Lowe] and the other to Tenerife and Gran Canaria [Normania nava (Webb & Berthel.)Franc.-Ort. & R. N. Lester]. These species are extremely rare and had not been found for about 100 years, untilN. nava was rediscovered in two different localities in Tenerife in 1973 and 1982.Normania triphylla was reported in two different places from northern Madeira in 1991. Both species have the highest conservation priority in the Macaronesian region.     

Comparison of dispersal ability between the green leafhoppers,Nephotettix virescens andN. cincticeps (hemiptera: Cicadellidae) by tethered flight

Dispersal propensity of green leafhoppers was compared between a tropical species, Nephotettix virescens, and a temperate species, N. cincticeps. The flight ability was measured with tethered flight technique under laboratory conditions (25°C, 16L-8D). The pre-flight period was shorter and the flight duration was longer in N. virescens than in N. cincticeps in both sexes. No significant correlations were found between the flight activity and morphometric characters for either of the two species. The results suggested that dispersal propensity of N. virescens is higher than that of N. cincticeps.