Lipid and DNA Evidence of Dominance of Planktonic Archaea Preserved in Sediments of the South China Sea: Insight for Application of the TEX86 Proxy in an Unstable Marine Sediment Environment

The marine planktonic archaea are dominated by Thaumarchaeotal Marine Group I, which is characterized by the lipid biomarker thaumarchaeol. The marine benthic archaea are characterized by greater diversity of currently unknown species whose lipid biomarker signatures are uncertain. In this study, a sediment core from the northwestern part of the South China Sea (SCS) (water depth 1474 m) was analyzed using molecular DNA and lipid biomarker approaches. While 16S rRNA gene analysis showed changing archaeal community structures with sediment depth, this change had little impact on the fossil record of archaeal lipids that are characteristic of the planktonic community. As a result, the fossil archaeal lipids recorded paleo sea surface temperature of the SCS since the last glacial maxima by the TEX₈₆ proxy, which agreed generally with the winter temperature recorded by planktonic foraminiferas collected from the same area of the SCS that hosted mass-transported deposits. This suggests that this deep water deposit may have partially preserved paleoclimate record reflecting seasonal temperature variation in a near shore setting, which is in contrast to annual sea surface temperature or sub sea surface temperature variation recorded by TEX₈₆ in the open ocean.     

Bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass to hydrogen: Potential and challenges

No comprehensive review on the bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass to hydrogen is presented. This paper provides an up-to-date review on recent research development in biotechnology-based lignocellulosic biomass-to-H₂ conversion. Bioconversion of lignocellulosic prehydrolysate, hydrolysate or cellulose to hydrogen was discussed in terms of the involved microorganisms and the bioaugmentation tactics. To achieve fully the utilization of biomass, the integrated approaches composed of coupled dark–photo fermentation and the dark fermentation and bioelectrohydrogenesis were sketched. Additionally, this review sheds light on the perspectives on the lignocellulosic biomass conversion to hydrogen, and on the scientific and technical challenges faced for the lignocelluloses bioconversion.     

金露梅幼苗对高温胁迫的生理生化响应

通过测定金露梅2年生幼苗在连续6d高温胁迫(每日9:00~15:00为42℃,其余时间30℃)下及1d恢复期间(对照,每日6:00~18:00为30℃,其余时间20℃)的叶片生理生化指标的变化,探讨金露梅耐热的生理生化机制。结果显示:随高温胁迫时间的延长,细胞膜透性以及丙二醛(MDA)、可溶性糖和游离脯氨酸含量均呈上升的趋势,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性呈下降趋势,过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性呈先上升后下降趋势,且除细胞膜透性与对照无显著差异外,其它指标均显著高于对照;恢复1d后,各项指标水平均与对照持平。研究表明,在高温胁迫条件下,金露梅幼苗能通过提高渗透调节物质可溶性糖、脯氨酸含量来增强对高温逆境的适应性,同时还通过增强POD、CAT、APX活性清除因胁迫积累的H2O2以及活性氧,以维持细胞内活性氧产生和清除的动态平衡,保护细胞膜的稳定性,进而提高其对高温逆境的抗性。     

Temperature Threshold and Preservation of Signaling for Mitochondrial Membrane Proteins during Ischemia in Rabbit Heart

Temperature modulates both myocardial energy requirements and production. We have previously demonstrated that myocardial protection induced by hypothermic adaptation preserves expression of genes regulating heat shock protein and the nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins, the adenine nucleotide translocator isoform 1 (ANT₁), and the β subunit of F₁-ATPase (βF₁-ATPase). This preservation is associated with a reduction in ATP depletion similar to that noted in cardioplegic arrested hearts preserved at a critical temperature (30°C) or below. We tested the hypothesis that expression of these genes may also be subject to this temperature threshold phenomenon. Isolated perfused rabbit hearts were subjected to ischemic cardioplegic arrest at 4, 30, or 34°C for 120 min. Cardiac function indices and steady-state mRNA levels for ANT₁, βF₁-ATPase, and HSP70-1 were measured prior to ischemia (B) and after 45 min of reperfusion. Cardiac function was significantly depressed in the 34°C group. Ischemia at 34°C reduced steady-state mRNA levels for ANT₁and βF₁-ATPase from B, but these levels were similarly preserved at 4 and 30°C. HSP70-1 levels were mildly elevated (fourfold) above B to similar levels at all three temperatures. These results indicate that mRNA expression for ANT₁and βF₁-ATPase is specifically preserved in a pattern consistent with the temperature threshold phenomenon. HSP70-1 expression is not influenced by ischemic temperature. Preservation of gene expression for these mitochondrial proteins implies that signaling for mitochondrial biogenesis or resynthesis is maintained after ischemic insult.     

Effects of Temperature and Dietary Lipids on Phospholipid Fatty Acids and Membrane Fluidity in Steinernema carpocapsae

The phospholipid composition of Steinernema carpocapsae was studied in relation to diet and culture temperature. When reared at 18 and 27.5 C on Galleria mellonella or on an artificial diet supplemented with lard, linseed oil, or fish oil as lipid sources, nematode phospholipids contained an abundance of 20-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids, with eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5(n - 3)) predominant, regardless of the fatty acid composition of the diet. Because the level of linolenic acid (18:3(n - 3)) in nematode phospholipids was very low and because eicosapentaenoic acid was present even when its precursor (linolenic acid) was undetectable in the diet, S. carpocapsae likely produces n - 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids by de novo biosynthesis, a pathway seldom reported in eukaryotic animals. Reduction of growth temperature from 25 to 18 C increased the proportion of 20:5(n - 3) but not other polyunsaturated fatty acids. A fluorescence polarization technique revealed that vesicles produced from phospholipids of nematodes reared at 18 C were less ordered than those from nematodes reared at 27.5 C, especially in the outermost region of the bilayer. Dietary fish oil increased fluidity in the outermost region but increased rigidity in deeper regions. Therefore, S. carpocapsae appears to modify its membrane physical state in response to temperature, and eicosapentaenoic acid may be involved in this response. The results also indicate that nematode membrane physical state can be modified dietarily, possibly to the benefit of host-finding or survival of S. carpocapsae at low temperatures.     

A Novel Approach to Determining a Population-Level Threshold in Ecological Risk Assessment: A Case Study of Zinc

A novel approach to population-level assessment was applied in order to demonstrate its utility in estimating and managing the risk of zinc in a water environment. Much attention has been paid to population-level risk assessment, but there have been no attempts to determine a “safe” population-level concentration as an environmental criterion. Based on the published results of toxicity tests for various species, we first theoretically derived a threshold concentration at which a population size is unchanged due to the adverse effects of zinc exposure. To derive a zinc concentration that will protect populations in natural environments, we adopted the concept of species sensitivity distribution. Assuming the threshold concentrations of a set of species are log-normally distributed, we calculated the 95% protection level of zinc (PHC₅ :population-level hazardous concentration of 5% of species), which is 107 μg/L. Meanwhile, the 95% protection criterion (HC₅) based on conventional individual-level chronic toxicity, was calculated to be 14.6 μg/L. The environmentally “safe” concentration for a population-level endpoint is about 7 times greater than that for an individual-level endpoint. The proposed method provides guidance for a pragmatic approach to population-level ecological risk assessment and the management of chemicals.     

Mitochondrial H+-ATPase: Identification of Subunits of the F0 Subcomplex that Contact Membrane Lipids

The subunits of the F₀ membrane sector of bovine heart mitochondrial H⁺-ATPase that contact the lipids of the mitochondrial inner membrane were identified with the use of specially synthesized proteoliposomes that contained active mitochondrial H⁺-ATPase and a photoreactive lipid, which was 1-acyl-2-[12-[di-azocyclopentadiene-2-carbonylamino)-[12-¹⁴C]dodecanoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1-acyl-2-[11-([¹²⁵I]diazoiodocyclopentadiene-2-carbonyloxy)undecanoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, or 1-acyl-2-[12-(diazocyclopentadiene-2-carbonylamino)dodecanoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, where acyl is a mixture of the residues of palmitic (70%) and stearic (30%) acids. An analysis of the cross-linked products obtained upon the UV-irradiation of these proteoliposomes indicated that subunits c and a of the F₀ membrane sector contact the lipids. The crosslinked products were identified by SDS-PAGE and MALDI mass spectrometry.     

Susceptibility of Helicoverpa zea and Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Vip3A insecticidal protein expressed in VipCot™ cotton

Susceptibility of laboratory and field colonies of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Heliothis virescens F. to Vip3A insecticidal protein was studied in diet incorporation and diet overlay assays from 2004 to 2008. Responses of field populations were compared to paired responses of University of Arkansas laboratory susceptible H. zea (LabZA) and H. virescens (LabVR) colonies. After 7 d of exposure, observations were made on number of dead larvae (M) and the number of larvae alive but remaining as first instars (L1). Regression estimates using M (LC₅₀) and M plus L1 (MIC₅₀) data were developed for laboratory and field populations. Susceptibility of laboratory and field populations exposed to Vip3A varied among different batches of protein used over the study period. Within the same batch of Vip3A protein, susceptibilities of laboratory colonies of both species (LabZA and LabVR) were similar. Field colonies were significantly more susceptible to Vip3A than the respective reference colonies of both species. Within field populations, susceptibility to Vip3A varied up to 75-fold in H. zea and 132-fold in H. virescens in LC₅₀ estimates. Variabilities in MIC₅₀s were up to 59- and 11-fold for H. zea and H. virescens, respectively.     

青藏高原高寒灌丛2003-2016年生长季的不同月份CO2通量对气温日较差的响应

全球气候变化引起的气温日较差（ADT）减小,将会对高寒生态系统的碳平衡造成深刻影响。基于涡度相关系统,利用2003-2016年的涡度相关系统观测资料,做了青藏高原高寒灌丛在生长季（6-9月）不同月份的ADT对CO₂通量影响的研究。结果表明：2003-2016年的生长季中,最高气温（MaxTa）和最低气温（MinTa）呈先升高后降低的单峰变化趋势,ADT没有呈现明显的变化趋势。逐日总初级生产力（GPP）和生态系统呼吸（Re）呈先增加后降低的单峰趋势,逐日净生态系统CO₂交换（NEE）呈先下降后上升的"V"型变化趋势。高寒灌丛在生长季为碳汇,整个生长季总NEE、GPP和Re平均值分别为（-161.2±30.1）、（501.9±60.2）、（340.7±54.4） gCm^-2。在高寒灌丛生长季（6-9月）的每个月份,MaxTa、MinTa和ADT分别是GPP（P<0.001）、Re（P<0.001）和NEE（P<0.01）变化的主要控制因子。高寒灌丛的ADT的增大有利于生态系统的碳固持,暗示在未来气候变化背景下ADT的减小将会削弱高寒灌丛生态系统的碳汇能力。     

不同天气水稻光合日变化对大气CO2浓度和温度升高的响应——FACE研究

人类活动导致大气二氧化碳浓度(CO_2)升高、全球气候变暖和光合有效辐射(PAR)降低,影响着绿色作物的光合作用。为了明确高CO_2浓度、高温和低PAR对水稻光合日变化特征的影响,利用中国稻田开放空气CO_2浓度升高系统(free air CO_2enrichment,FACE),以常规粳稻南粳9108为试验材料,设置了环境CO_2和高CO_2浓度(增200μmol/mol)、环境温度和增高温度(增1—2℃)交互的4个处理,从9:00到17:00每隔1h测定了阴天和晴天水稻的光合作用,研究了不同天气对水稻光合日变化对大气CO_2浓度和温度升高的响应。观察到不同天气条件下水稻光合日变化的不同特征,晴天Pn为双峰曲线,发生了光合"午休",阴天未发生。结果表明,高CO_2浓度显著提高了水稻Pn,温度升高有降低水稻Pn趋势,CO_2浓度增加200μmol/mol对水稻光合作用的促进效应远大于增温1—2℃对其的抑制效应。高CO_2浓度显著增加了水稻胞间CO_2浓度(Ci),降低了水稻蒸腾速率(Tr),平均降幅为10.8%—22.0%。高温有降低Ci的趋势,增加了Tr,平均增幅达5.0%—13.5%。晴天比阴天增加了水稻Tr,平均增幅为9.8%—31.2%。CO_2浓度和温度同时升高显著降低了水稻气孔导度(Gs)。这些结果说明CO_2浓度、温度和PAR对水稻水分利用率(WUE)产生综合影响。阴天PAR比晴天平均低53.3%,阴天水稻Pn比晴天显著低,平均降幅达37.1%—72.0%。与对照比较,高CO_2浓度处理,较高PAR(晴天)条件下水稻Pn的增幅(38.6%—58.4%)显著大于较低PAR(阴天)条件下水稻Pn的增幅(21.6%—38.8%),这一现象值得关注和深入探讨。研究结果表明,评估气候变化对水稻生产的影响,需同时考虑未来大气CO_2浓度和温度升高以及PAR下降的因素及其相互作用。     

赤霉素及温度处理对不同种源紫斑牡丹种子生根和发芽的影响

以不同种源的10份紫斑牡丹种子为材料,研究了赤霉素浓度及沙藏温度对不同种源紫斑牡丹种子生根的影响,分析了不同主根长度、低温时间及赤霉素浓度对各种源种子发芽的影响。结果表明:(1)适于紫斑牡丹种子生根的温度为15~20℃,原生种源种子生根对25℃的适应性随纬度增大而减弱;原生种源种子生根的最佳赤霉素处理浓度较高(400~450mg/L),次生种源种子生根的最佳赤霉素处理浓度较低(300~350mg/L)。(2)根长、赤霉素浓度、低温时间交互效应对各种源紫斑牡丹种子始萌期、发芽势和发芽率均有极显著或显著性影响;根长大于4cm时,赤霉素和低温处理能更有效地促进已生根种子发芽。(3)种子发芽最佳处理组合因种源而异,湖北种源、河南种源和甘肃种源最佳处理组合分别是低温20d结合300mg/L赤霉素、低温20d结合200mg/L赤霉素和低温40d结合300mg/L赤霉素。     

Enhanced Sono-Fenton-Like Oxidation of PAH-Contaminated Soil Using Nano-Sized Magnetite as Catalyst: Optimization with Response Surface Methodology

In the current study, Fe₃O₄ NPs were synthesized and used as catalysts in a sono-Fenton-like process for remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soil. The effects of operational variables were studied using central composite design (CCD) optimization approach. Results indicated that the effects of H₂O₂ concentration, Fe₃O₄ NPs dosage, ultrasonic power and pH were significant for pyrene removal as a contaminant model. In optimum experimental conditions, including H₂O₂ concentration of 78 mM, Fe₃O₄ NPs dosage of 18 mM, ultrasonic power of 313 W and pH value of 3.46, the observed pyrene removal was obtained 98.37%, which was verified through the additional experimental tests (99.33%). Pseudo first-order kinetic model was well fitted with the experimental data of pyrene removal with significant coefficient of correlation (R²: 0.9672). Accordingly, an unwashed real soil sample containing diffident PAHs (pyrene, flurene, acenaphthylene, phenenthrene, chrysene, etc) was subjected to sono-Fenton-like process based on optimized conditions. The obtained findings revealed that the removal (%) ranged between 37.7% and 85.19% for different PAHs.     

土壤呼吸的温度敏感性——全球变暖正负反馈的不确定因素

基于模型模拟结果表明,全球变暖与大气CO2浓度增加将形成正反馈关系,这种正反馈效应将明显加速21世纪的气候变暖。然而,这些模拟模型都基于一个重要假设,即不同平均驻留时间的土壤有机质分解具有相同的温度敏感性(Q10)。这一假设与酶动力学理论相悖,而且不同学者对不同质量土壤有机质分解温度敏感性的差异的认识存在严重分歧,所以,全球变暖与大气CO2浓度增加的正反馈关系的显著性仍值得商榷。围绕土壤呼吸的温度敏感性问题进行了讨论和评述,涉及1)土壤有机质分解温度敏感性争论的焦点问题;2)通过经验模型曲线拟合估计Q10值存在的分歧及Q10变异的机理解释;3)实验室土壤培养实验估计Q10值存在的问题;4)土壤培养实验中Q10值计算方法的改进。进一步深化有关土壤有机质分解温度敏感性不确定性的认识,将为今后土壤呼吸及其对气候变化响应的相关研究提供参考。     

Characterization of the prostaglandin H2 mimic: binding to the purified human thromboxane A2 receptor in solution

For decades, the binding of prostaglandin H₂ (PGH₂) to multiple target proteins of unrelated protein structures which mediate diverse biological functions has remained a real mystery in the field of eicosanoid biology. Here, we report that the structure of a PGH₂ mimic, U46619, bound to the purified human TP, was determined and compared with that of its conformation bound to the COX-downstream synthases, prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) and thromboxane A₂ synthase (TXAS). Active human TP protein, glycosylated and in full length, was expressed in Sf-9 cells using a baculovirus (BV) expression system and then purified to near homogeneity. The binding of U46619 to the purified receptor in a nonionic detergent-mimicked lipid environment was characterized by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy. The conformational change of U46619, upon binding to the active TP, was evidenced by the significant perturbation of the chemical shifts of its protons at H3 and H4 in a concentration-dependent manner. The detailed conformational changes and 3D structure of U46619 from the free form to the TP-bound form were further solved by 2D ¹H NMR experiments using a transferred NOE (trNOE) technique. The distances between the protons of H11 and H18, H11 and H19, H15 and H18, and H15 and H19 in U46619 were shorter following their binding to the TP in solution, down to within 5 Å, which were different than that of the U46619 bound to PGIS and U44069 (another PGH₂ mimic) bound to TXAS. These shorter distances led to further separation of the U46619 α and ω chains, forming a unique “rectangular” shape. This enabled the molecule to fit into the ligand-binding site pocket of a TP model, in which homology modeling was used for the transmembrane (TM) domain, and NMR structures were used for the extramembrane loops. The proton perturbations and 3D conformations in the TP-bound U46619 were different with that of the PGH₂ mimics bound to PGIS and TXAS. The studies indicated that PGH₂ can adopt multiple conformations in solution to satisfy the specific and unique shapes to fit the different binding pockets in the TP receptor and COX-downstream enzymes. The results also provided sufficient information for speculating the molecular basis of how PGH₂ binds to multiple target proteins even though unrelated in their protein sequences.     

Population Response to Temperature in the Subfamily Tylenchorhynchinae

The effects of temperature on population development of 11 species of stunt nematodes in the subfamily Tylenchorhynchinae were compared on red clover or Kentucky bluegrass in constant-temperature tanks at 5-degree intervals from 10 to 35 C. The optimum temperature for population increase on red clover in 90 days was 30 C for Tylenchorhynchus agri, T. nudus, T. martini, and T. clarus, 25 C for T. sylvaticus and T. dubius, and 20 C for T. canalis, Merlinius brevidens, and Quinisulcius capitatus. The optimum was 30 C for T. robustoides and 25 C for T. maximus on Kentucky bluegrass. The temperature range for population increase was 20-35 C for T. agri, T. nudus, T. martini, and T. clarus, 20-30 C for T. sylvaticus and T. robustoides, 15-25 C for T. maximus, 10-25 C for T. dubius, and 10-20 C for M. brevidens and Q. capitatus. T. canalis increased only at 20 C. All species were recovered in numbers near their inoculum level at 10 C. There was no survival of T. sylvaticus, T. dubius, T. canalis, T. robustoides, T. maximus, M. brevidens, and Q. capitatus at 35 C, or of the last three of these species at 30 C. Temperature had no effect on sex ratio in final populations. Population increase was greatest in T. martini and least in T. canalis.     

H2O2-NOX系统: 一种植物体内重要的发育调控与胁迫响应机制

以H₂O₂为中心的活性氧(reactive oxygen species, ROS)的产生是动植物发育与响应外界生物与非生物胁迫的普遍 特征, 其在生理和分子2个水平上调控植物的发育和对外界胁迫的响应, 并与一系列信号转导过程相关联。作为关键的ROS产生酶, 质膜NADPH氧化酶(plasma membrane NADPH oxidase, PM-NOX)在植物应对各种生物和非生物胁迫中具有重要作用, 被广泛认为是胁迫条件下植物细胞ROS产生并积累的主要来源。该文简要综述了近年来人们在植物细胞ROS产生、清除、生理功能以及PM-NOX酶的结构特征与功能等方面的研究进展, 并认为H₂O₂-NOX系统是一种植物体内普遍存在的重要发育调控与胁迫响应机制。     

胡杨种子萌发对温光条件和盐旱胁迫的响应特征

以胡杨(Populus euphratica)种子为材料,分别设置光照(连续光照、12h光照/12h黑暗、连续黑暗)温度(10/15℃、15/20℃、20/25℃、25/30℃、30/35℃和35/40℃)试验、PEG6000渗透胁迫(0、-0.1、-0.2、-0.4、-0.6、-0.8、-1.0、-1.2、-1.4和-1.6MPa)试验和NaCl胁迫(0、0.05、0.10、0.20、0.30、0.40、0.60和0.80mol/L)试验,考察室内种子萌发对温度、光照和盐旱胁迫的敏感性,揭示胡杨种子萌发阶段对生境资源的适应策略。结果显示:(1)胡杨种子在温度(10℃/15℃~35℃/40℃)与连续光照、连续黑暗和12h光照/12h黑暗组合处理条件下均能萌发,且最终种子萌发率均能达到77%以上;3种光照条件下,种子萌发的最适温度范围均为25℃/30℃~30℃/35℃,在该温度范围种子萌发表现出快速、集中的特点,且3种光照条件对种子萌发的影响无显著差异。(2)胡杨种子可以在-1.4~0 MPa渗透势溶液中萌发,而在-1.0~0 MPa间最终萌发率均达到90%以上,且相互之间无显著差异;但当渗透势低于-0.4 MPa时胡杨种子萌发进程和萌发速率受到显著影响,当溶液渗透势低于-1.2 MPa时种子萌发受到显著抑制。(3)胡杨种子可以在0~0.80mol/L NaCl溶液中萌发,而最终萌发率、萌发速率均随着NaCl溶液浓度的增高逐渐降低,但在0~0.20mol/L范围内无显著差异;当NaCl溶液浓度大于0.20mol/L时,种子最终萌发率、种子萌发进程和萌发速率均受到显著抑制,萌发高峰期逐渐向后推移。研究结果表明,胡杨种子萌发时温度比较宽泛,对光照无严格要求,适宜温度下萌发快速集中,且萌发时对盐旱胁迫具有一定程度的忍耐性。这些特性有助于胡杨种子充分利用有限的水分条件而快速完成萌发,是胡杨种子萌发对干旱荒漠地区干旱少雨环境的一种生态适应策略。     

Prostaglandin E2 is a Potential Mediator of Extracellular ATP Action in Osteoblast-Like Cells

Extracellular ATP dose dependently stimulated ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ influx even in the presence of nifedipine, a Ca²⁺ antagonist that inhibits voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channel, in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. ATP stimulated arachidonic acid release and the synthesis of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). However, the ATP-induced arachidonic acid release was significantly reduced by chelating extracellular Ca²⁺ with EGTA. On the other hand, ATP induced DNA synthesis of these cells in a dose-dependent manner in the range between 1μM and 1 mM. The pretreatment with indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, suppressed both ATP-induced PGE₂ synthesis and DNA synthesis in these cells. The inhibitory effect by 50μM indomethacin on the DNA synthesis was reversed by adding 10μM PGE₂. These results strongly suggest that extracellular ATP stimulates Ca²⁺ influx resulting in the release of arachidonic acid in osteoblast-like cells and that extracellular ATP-induced proliferative effect is mediated, at least in part, by ATP-stimulated PGE₂ synthesis.     

Response of grain sorghum to enhanced-ammonium supply

Two greenhouse experiments were conducted to examine the effects of increased levels of soil NH ₄ ⁺ on the growth and yield of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). Nitrogen was supplied as urea plus the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin (enhanced-NH ₄ ⁺ supply) or as a 41 molar ratio of CA(NO₃)₂ and Mg(NO₃)₂ at rates of 0 to 450 mg N kg^–1 soil in 37.5 mg N increments. Enhanced-NH ₄ ⁺ supply, in comparison to the NO₃ treatment, increased grain yield 15 and 18% in the two experiments. In one experiment this yield increase occurred through increased number of kernels and in a second experiment, through increased weight of kernels. During the first 28 days after plant emergence, the number of leaves, stalk width, plant weight, and plant N content were greater with enhanced-NH ₄ ⁺ supply than with NO ₃ ^– . However, at harvest total plant weight and plant N content were minimally affected by enhanced-NH ₄ ⁺ supply.     

The identification of substituted benzothiophene derivatives as PGE(2) subtype 4 receptor antagonists: From acid to non-acid

We disclose herein our preliminary SAR study on the identification of substituted benzothiophene derivatives as PGE₂ subtype 4 receptor antagonists. A potent EP₄ antagonist 6a (K_i = 1.4 nM with 10% HSA) was identified. Furthermore, we found that an acidic group was not essential for the EP₄ antagonizing activity in the series and neutral replacements were identified. This opens a new direction for future EP₄ antagonist design.