Biostimulation of Natural Microbial Assemblages in Oil-Amended Vegetated and Desert Sub-Antarctic Soils

A field study was initiated in December 2000 in two selected soils of The Grande Terre (Kerguelen Archipelago) with the objective of determining the long-term effects of fertilizer addition on the biodegradation rate and the toxicity of oil residues under severe sub-Antarctic conditions. Two soils were selected. The first site supports an abundant vegetal cover; the second one was desert soil, devoid of plant material. These two soils were located in the vicinity of the permanent station of Port-aux-Français (69° 42E; 49° 19S). A series of five experimental plots (0.75 × 0.75 m) were settled firmly into each of the studied soils. Each plot received 500 mL of diesel or Arabian light crude oil, and some of them were treated with a bioremediation agent: slow-release fertilizer Inipol EAP-22 (Elf Atochem). All the plots were sampled on a regular basis over a 1 year period. Heterotrophic and hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms increased by two orders of magnitude during the first month of the experimentation in all treated enclosures, but differences appeared between the different plots. The microbial response was improved by bioremediation treatments. However, fertilizer addition had a greater impact on the desert soil when compared to the vegetated one. All chemical indices show a reduction of alkanes and light aromatics. Toxicity results show a high variability between treatments and environmental conditions. As a conclusion, it is clear that the microbial response was rapid and efficient in spite of the severe weather conditions, and the rate of degradation was improved by bioremediation treatments. However, after 1 year of treatment, the signal of a relatively high toxicity of oiled residues remained present in the two studied soils.     

Biostimulation of n-Alkane Degradation in Diesel Fuel-Spiked Soils

Nutrient enhancement of bioremediation with nitrogen, namely biostimulation, increases process performance. Selection of a proper nitrogen source is critical for bioremediation applications. In this study, the effects of different nitrogen sources on biodegradation of C₁₀–C₂₅ n-alkane compounds in diesel fuel-spiked soil were revealed, and the most appropriate nitrogen source for biodegradation of semi- and non-volatile n-alkanes was investigated. Bioremediation of diesel fuel contaminated soil was monitored in lab-scale reactors for 15 days. Ammonium sulfate, potassium nitrate and urea were used as nitrogen sources. Carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the reactors were recorded to monitor microbiological activity. Contaminant removal process was investigated by pH, heterotrophic plate count, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and C₁₀–C₂₅ n-alkane analyses. First-order kinetic constants were calculated via respirometric and contaminant concentration data. According to total C₁₀–C₂₅ n-alkane removal levels and degradation rate constants, ammonium sulfate addition resulted in the most efficient contaminant removal followed by potassium nitrate and urea. Simultaneous degradation of individual n-alkanes was observed for all of the nitrogen sources. Urea addition changed the distribution of individual n-alkane concentrations relative to the pre-experimental concentrations. Nitrogen source type had no differential effect on degradation rates of semi- (C₁₀–C₁₆) and non-volatile (C₁₇–C₂₅) fractions.     

Biostimulation and Bioaugmentation of Anaerobic Pentachlorophenol Degradation in Contaminated Soils

The effects of bioaugmentation with a pentachlorophenol (PCP)-adapted consortium and biostimulation with glucose as a carbon source on anaerobic bioremediation of PCP-contaminated soil were investigated in terms of the initial PCP removal rate and the extent of PCP dechlorination and mineralization. Samples from two PCP-contaminated sites were prepared, put into a series of Hungate tubes, inoculated, and fed under different conditions. Chlorophenols in the tubes were monitored over a 4-month period to measure PCP transformation in the soil. In less contaminated soil (10 mg PCP/kg soil), it was found that biostimulation with glucose at 1 g/kg soil or bioaugmentation at 0.14 g volatile suspended solids (VSS)/kg soil could greatly improve PCP degradation. The best PCP degradation was obtained when both bioaugmentation and biostimulation were applied, but higher levels of glucose (2 g/kg soil) or inoculum (0.56 g VSS/kg soil) had little additional effect. The highest initial PCP-removal rate reached 8.1 μmol/kg soil-d, which is almost 20 times greater than in the unamended controls. PCP was dechlorinated to lesser chlorinated phenols with 0.6 chlorine remaining on average, and the extent of mineralization approached 70% in 4 months. In highly PCP-contaminated soil (90 mg PCP/kg soil), PCP degradation was partially inhibited, but the relative effects of augmentation, stimulation, and combined treatments were the same as in the less contaminated soil.     

Response of the Sulfate-Reducing Community to the Re-establishment of Estuarine Conditions in Two Contrasting Soils: a Mesocosm Approach

We studied the response of the sulfate-reducing prokaryote (SRP) communities to the experimental variation of salinity and tide in an outdoor mesocosm setup. Intact soil monoliths were collected at two areas of the Haringvliet lagoon (The Netherlands): one sampling location consisted of agricultural grassland, drained and fertilized for at least the last century; the other of a freshwater marshland with more recent sea influence. Two factors, i.e., “salinity” (freshwater/oligohaline) and “tide” (nontidal/tidal), were tested in a full-factorial design. Soil samples were collected after 5 months (June–October). Dissimilatory (bi)sulfite reductase β subunit-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (dsrB-DGGE) analysis revealed that the SRP community composition in the agricultural grassland and in the freshwater marshland was represented mainly by microorganisms related to the Desulfobulbaceae and the Desulfobacteraceae, respectively. Desulfovibrio-related dsrB were detected only in the tidal treatments; Desulfomonile-related dsrB occurrence was related to the presence of oligohaline conditions. Treatments did have an effect on the overall SRP community composition of both soils, but not on the sulfate depletion rates in sulfate-amended anoxic slurry incubations. However, initiation of sulfate reduction upon sulfate addition was clearly different between the two soils.     

2种土壤上羊草生长动态和主要矿物质含量的比较分析

以4叶龄羊草实生苗为实验材料,将其移栽到不同pH的黑土和盐碱土上,观察土壤盐碱胁迫对移栽羊草幼苗生长动态和主要矿物质含量的影响.结果表明,在盐碱土上,羊草幼苗生长速率较在黑土上显著降低,分蘖能力显著下降,其株高、叶片数和分蘖数分别降至黑土上的93.1%、94.4%和78.1%;羊草在盐碱土上地上部和地下部干重分别是黑土上的91.8%和92.1%,但地下部根茎较为发达,其数量和长度分别比黑土上显著增加48.9%和22.5%;盐碱土上羊草植株钠离子含量显著高于黑土,全磷和钾离子含量显著低于黑土,全氮含量与黑土上没有显著差异.研究发现,羊草在盐碱土上具有发达的根茎且能维持较高含水量,从而表现出较强的耐盐碱能力.     

Two Different Mechanisms for Transport of Pyruvate into Mesophyll Chloroplasts of C4 Plants--a Comparative Study

Thirty-eight C₄ species including both mono- and dicotyledonswere surveyed for light-enhanced pyruvate uptake into mesophyllchloroplasts and tested whether this enhancement could be mimickedby either a "sodium jump" or a "proton jump" of the medium inthe dark. The majority of species responded to a sodium jump,while only species of the Andropogoneae and the Arundinelleaefrom the Gramineae responded to a proton jump. (Received April 17, 1992; Accepted June 18, 1992)     

Comparative Clinical Study of Two Hypnotic Drugs

The comparative sleep-inducing and sleep-sustaining effects of glutethimide, 0.5 g., and ethchlorvynol, 0.5 g., were studied in 20 patients hospitalized for a considerable time (average: 21 years; minimum nine years and maximum 32 years) and not receiving psychotropic agents. Assessment of sleep and para-sleep parameters (pre-sleep tension; frequency of awakening at night; post-sleep activity) revealed that patients fell asleep faster (P>.001) and slept for a longer time with ethchlorvynol than with glutethimide.     

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Tree Peony Petals on Two Different Rootstocks

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Grafting is an important way to improve crop growth, stress resistance and yield. However, the molecular mechanism of grafting affecting flowering is not clear....     

Study of the Lytic Activities of Actinomycetes Isolated from Different Soils in Georgia

The lytic activities of 310 cultures from the Collection of Actinomycetes of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, National Academy of Sciences of Georgia, were studied; 18% of these strains appeared capable of lysing yeast cell wall. The active producer of the enzyme was selected. This culture was isolated from chestnut soil in Gardabani raion (Central Georgia). Its cultural–morphological, biochemical, and antagonistic properties allowed the culture to be ascribed to the species Geodermatophilus obseurusLuedemann, 1968. The maximal lytic activity under submerged cultivation conditions, exceeding the activity of Actinomyces griseinusby twofold, was observed during the logarithmic growth phase.     

Comparative Diversity Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Two Different Human Flora-Associated Mouse Strains

The Kunming (KM) mouse is a closed colony mouse strain widely used in Chinese pharmacology, toxicology, and microbiology research laboratories. However, few studies have examined human flora-associated (HFA) microbial communities in KM mice. In this study, HFA models were built from germ-free KM and C57BL/6J mouse strains, and gut microbial diversity was analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and DNA sequencing. We found that the two strains of HFA mice were significantly different based on the UPGMA dendrogram and the Richness index, but dice similarity coefficients of mouse replicates were not significantly different between HFA-KM and HFA-C57BL/6J. Most of the dominant phyla of human gut microflora could be transferred into the guts of the two mouse strains. However, the predominant genus that formed in HFA-KM was Clostridium sp. and that in HFA-C57BL/6J was Blautia sp. These results imply that genotypes difference between the two mice strains is a critical factor in shaping the intestinal microflora. However, genetic differences of individuals within KM mouse populations failed to lead to individual difference in microflora. Successful generation of HFA-KM mice will facilitate studies examining how diet affects gut microbial structure, and will enable comparative studies for uncovering genetic factors that shape gut microbial communities.     

Comparative Study of Sugar Fermentation and Protein Expression Patterns of Two Lactobacillus plantarum Strains Grown in Three Different Media

A comparative study of two strains of Lactobacillus plantarum (REB1 and MLBPL1) grown in commercial medium (MRS broth), cucumber juice, and liquid pig feed was performed to explore changes to the metabolic pathways of these bacteria, using a proteomics approach (two-dimensional electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) combined with analyses of fermentable sugars and fermentation end products. The protein expression showed that even with an excess of glucose in all media, both strains could metabolize different carbohydrates simultaneously and that hexoses could also be used via a phosphoketolase pathway with preferential expression in liquid feed. Sugar analyses showed that the fermentation of sugars was homolactic for all media, with some heterolactic activity in liquid feed, as shown by the production of acetate. Cucumber juice (the medium with the highest glucose content) showed the lowest hexose consumption (10%), followed by liquid feed (33%) and MRS broth (50%). However, bacterial growth was significantly higher in cucumber juice and liquid feed than in MRS broth. This discrepancy was due to the growth benefit obtained from the utilization of the malate present in cucumber juice and liquid feed. Despite different growth conditions, the synthesis of essential cellular components and the stress response of the bacteria were unaffected. This study has improved our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the growth performance of an appropriate lactic acid bacterium strain to be used for food and feed fermentation, information that is of crucial importance to obtain a high-quality fermented product.     

Comparative Study on the Influence of Two 2-Chloroethylnitrosoureas with Different Carbamoylating Potential Towards Glutathione and Glutathione-Related Enzymes in Different Organs of the Rat

The influence of two CNUs with similar alkylating but strongly different carbamoylating activity towards the glutathione system was investigated in different organs. Both CNUs influence the glutathione system of the bone marrow in a similar manner, irrespective of their carbamoylating potential. In contrast, glutathione reductase activity in the other organs was strongly decreased by the potent carbamoylator BCNU, whereas no or only minor effects were produced by its weakly carbamoylating counterpart HECNU.

The results confirm that bone marrow toxicity of CNUs primarily results from alkylation and not from carbamoylation. Other organ-related toxic effects, however, are probably a result of carbamoylating reactions exerted by BCNU. This applies especially to lung toxicity that has been observed frequently as a major side effect in clinical trials with BCNU.     

Bioremediation Potential of Rhodococcus pyridinivorans NT2 in Nitrotoluene-Contaminated Soils: The Effectiveness of Natural Attenuation,Biostimulation and Bioaugmentation Approaches

This work evaluated the effect of bioremediation treatments including natural attenuation, bioaugmentation, biostimulation as well as combined biostimulation and bioaugmentation on degradation of 4-nitrotoluene (4-NT), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) and 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT) in soil microcosms. Bioaugmentation with a previously isolated NTs-degrading bacterium, Rhodococcus pyridinivorans NT2, showed an 86–88% decrease in 4-NT, 2,4-DNT or 2,6-DNT after 60 days. Irrespective of the substrate types, least degradation (6–6.5%) was observed in abiotic control. The addition of β-cyclodextrin or rhamnolipid significantly improved NTs degradation efficiency in soil (18.5–74%) than natural attenuation (22–25%). Exogenous addition of preselected bacterial isolate NT2 along with β-cyclodextrin/rhamnolipid resulted in the greatest number (1.8× and 2.5× high) of total heterotrophic aerobic bacteria and NT degraders, respectively, compared to natural attenuation. Irrespective of the treatment types, the population of NT degraders increased steadily in the first 5 weeks of incubation followed by a plateau within the next few weeks. The treatment BABS2 (Soil + rhamnolipid + NT2) yielded highest microbial-C and -N and dehydrogenase activity, consistent with results of NTs degradation and microbial counts in combined bioaugmentation and biostimulation. Thus the results of this study suggest that bioaugmentation by R. pyridinivorans NT2 may be a promising bioremediation strategy for nitroaromatics-contaminated soils.     

Distribution of Barley yellow dwarf virus-PAV in the Sub-Antarctic Kerguelen Islands and Characterization of Two New Luteovirus Species

A systematic search for viral infection was performed in the isolated Kerguelen Islands, using a range of polyvalent genus-specific PCR assays. Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) was detected in both introduced and native grasses such as Poa cookii. The geographical distribution of BYDV and its prevalence in P. cookii were analyzed using samples collected from various sites of the archipelago. We estimate the average prevalence of BYDV to be 24.9% in P. cookii, with significant variability between sites. BYDV genetic diversity was assessed using sequence information from two genomic regions: the P3 open reading frame (ORF) (encoding the coat protein) and the hypervariable P6 ORF region. The phylogenetic analysis in the P3 region showed that BYDV sequences segregate into three major lineages, the most frequent of which (Ker-I cluster) showed close homology with BYDV-PAV-I isolates and had very low intra-lineage diversity (0.6%). A similarly low diversity was also recorded in the hypervariable P6 region, suggesting that Ker-I isolates derive from the recent introduction of BYDV-PAV-I. Divergence time estimation suggests that BYDV-PAV-I was likely introduced in the Kerguelen environment at the same time frame as its aphid vector, Rhopalosiphum padi, whose distribution shows good overlap with that of BYDV-Ker-I. The two other lineages show more than 22% amino acid divergence in the P3 region with other known species in the BYDV species complex, indicating that they represent distinct BYDV species. Using species-specific amplification primers, the distribution of these novel species was analyzed. The high prevalence of BYDV on native Poaceae and the presence of the vector R. padi, raises the question of its impact on the vulnerable plant communities of this remote ecosystem.     

两个不同基因型小麦光抑制特性的比较

比较了两个不同基因型小麦（Ｔｒｉｔｉｃｕｍ ａｅｓｔｉｖｕｍ Ｌ．）“京４１１”和“小偃５４”的原初光能转化效率、荧光猝灭参数和光合色素对强光胁迫的响应。在正常生长条件下“京４１１”的光合色素含量高于“小偃５４”;但在高光强下“京４１１”出现明显的光抑制,而“小偃５４”对高光强的适应上优于“京４１１”。“小偃５４”适应高光强的原因是它在高光强下能大幅度地提高叶黄素循环的调控因子抗坏血酸的浓度及紫黄     

两种腹膜透析手术置管术的临床对比研究

目的:探讨腹腔镜下腹膜透析置管术与手术切开腹膜透析置管术的临床对比与应用价值.方法:选择2007年3月1日至2012年3月1日在新疆维吾尔自治区人民医院肾病科收治的慢性肾功能衰竭且自愿行腹膜透析的患者96例,其中45例在局麻下行常规手术切开置管术(A组),51例行腹腔镜置管术(B组),术后均使用百特双联系统装置进行腹膜透析.并对术后导管相关性并发症、住院天数、手术费用等方面进行回顾性分析和对比.结果:A组中:导管移位3例(6.7％),网膜包裹2例(4.4％),胸膜瘘1例(2.2％),腹膜炎1例(2.2％),短期透析引流时疼痛2例(4.4％),总体导管相关并发症发生率(19.9％),手术时间为25-40 min,人均手术费用1000元,住院时间7-15天.B组中:无一例发生漂管,阴囊水肿2例(3.9％％),透析管周围渗液2例(3.9％),胸膜瘘1例(2.0％),腹壁疝2例(3.9％),腹膜炎1例(2.0％),总体导管相关并发症发生率(15.7％),手术时间为15-25min,人均费用5500元,住院时间12-25天.结论:腹腔镜置管术与手术切开置管术各有利弊,选择哪种方法要根据患者经济、身体状况、患者意愿来选择.