Abiotic factors regulating nitrogen transformations in the organic layer of acid forest soils: Moisture and pH

The relationships between nitrogen transformations and moisture and pH in coniferous forest litter were determined using laboratory incubation experiments. A linear relation between gravimetric moisture content and nitrification was found within the whole studied range of moisture conditions (10–290% ODW). Net nitrogen mineralization increased linearly with moisture content up to 140% ODW. At higher moisture contents, net mineralization was found to be independent of moisture. Relative nitrification was found to be a linear function of moisture content. The dependence of the CO₂ production rates on moisture in the coniferous litter decreased from low to high moisture availability. Due to a nearly linear relationship between gravimetric moisture content and log-(water potential) within the investigated moisture range, the same type of relationships were found with this latter parameter as well. The relationship between nitrogen transformations and pH was studied by means of the addition of different amounts of HCl and NaOH during short incubation experiments (1 week). Nitrification was found to be a negative linear function of the H-ion concentration within the range of 0.04 (pH 4.40) and 0.36 (pH 3.45) mmol H-ion L^?1. At a higher H-ion concentration and thus at a lower pH than 3.45, no nitrate was produced any more. No relationship between net mineralization and pH was found.     

Effects of Different Moisture Contents on Physical Properties of PVA-Gelatin Films

In this work, it was investigated the effect of different moisture contents on PVA-gelatin films by means of dielectric properties, infrared spectroscopy, microwave response and gravimetric method. The films were elaborated from a blend of gelatin and PVA, with 0 and 25?% glycerol. The sorption isotherms were determined by gravimetric methods, at 25?°C. A capacimeter was used for dielectric measurements, and a device called SOLFAN setup was used for microwave measurements. The sorption isotherms were markedly affected by the glycerol content and relative humidity, due to the hygroscopic nature of the films. The dielectric constant and the microwave response signal were also strongly affected by the moisture and glycerol content in the films. Finally, Infrared spectra showed some changes in the amide peak positions, attributed to the modifications in the interactions between the macromolecules. The behaviors obtained in this work were explained on the basis the way the water enters in the film matrix.     

The gravimetric method for the determination of residual moisture in freeze-dried biological products

The gravimetric test for the determination of residual moisture in freeze-dried biological products performed in a humidity- and temperature-controlled room with the use of scrupulous gravimetric analytical technique can be used to accurately determine residual moisture in freeze-dried biological products such as antihemophilic factor (human) or honey bee venom allergenic extract. This method determines the first water of hydration of sodium tartrate dihydrate (7.93%) to within 1.3% of the calculated value with a relative standard deviation of 0.3% for 10 replicates. For this gravimetric procedure, freeze-dried samples containing from 1.12 to 4.4% residual moisture had relative standard deviations ranging from 3.6 to 9.1%. Samples containing less than 1.0% residual moisture by the gravimetric method such as intravenous immune globulin and antihemophilic factor (human) had relative standard deviations ranging from 16.7 to 47.0%. Relative standard deviations for residual moisture tests performed on comparable samples by the Karl Fischer and thermogravimetric methods showed similar variability.     

A study of water diffusion into a high-amylose starch blend: the effect of moisture content and temperature

The effect of moisture content and temperature on water diffusion into a modified high amylose (< or = 90%) maize thermoplastic starch blend was investigated. Gravimetric and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were conducted to elucidate the diffusion mechanism and diffusion coefficients for this system. The diffusion coefficient data demonstrated that the rate of water diffusion into this blend was significantly dependent upon temperature and moisture content. Water diffusion was faster at higher temperatures and generally for samples stored at higher relative humidity environments. It was revealed from the gravimetric data that water diffusion into this starch blend was Fickian; however, further analysis of the MRI images found that the water diffusion mechanism was exponentially dependent on the concentration. This result was determined by comparing experimental water concentration profiles to a theoretical model calculated using the implicit Crank-Nicolson finite difference method.     

Considerations in determination of residual moisture in lyophilized demineralized bone matrix: the role of residual moisture analyzers

The objective of this study is to determine whether a residual moisture analyzer (RMA) can be an acceptable instrument for measuring the residual moisture in lyophilized demineralized bone matrix (DBM). Instruments from two different manufacturers with differing configurations and controls were compared: the Ohaus MB45 and Arizona Instrument MAX4000XL. The effects of various factors such as test temperature, drying profile, end point criteria, lift compensation, chamber configuration, and rehydration on residual moisture (RM) are examined. The performance of the RMAs is based on their ability to reproduce RM results obtained by the current standard gravimetric method. RMAs provide reliable, accurate and reproducible results in a number of industries that rely on the determination of RM. We hypothesize that RMAs are suitable for measuring RM in DBM and provide validation study data with optimized settings for these two instruments. Potentially, such studies will provide justification for allowance of this methodology as an acceptable alternative to the current gravimetric method allowed by American Association of Tissue Banks Standards.     

Moisture Sorption Characteristics of Starchy Products: Oat Flour and Rice Flour

Moisture sorption isotherms for oat flour and rice flour were determined at 5, 23, and 45 °C using a gravimetric technique in an a _w range of 0.08–0.98. The results obtained showed that, for a _w values lower than around 0.75, in both flours, the sorption capacity decreased with increasing temperature, while the opposite behavior was observed at a _w greater than this value. It was found that the experimental data in the water activity range considered were better represented by the four-parameter Peleg equation. The monolayer water contents for both materials were determined by the BET and GAB models. The net isosteric heats of sorption were estimated using the Clausius–Clapeyron equation. For both materials, the monolayer water content and the isosteric heat of sorption were found to decrease with increasing temperature and increasing moisture content, respectively.     

不同水分含量桑叶对二化性家蚕的营养效应

研究了取食不同水分含量桑叶对二化性家蚕(CSR3×CSR6)5龄幼虫的影响。实验设嫩叶(水分含量80%～85%)、半成熟叶(水分含量65%～70%)和成熟叶(水分含量55%～60%)3个不同处理。采用标准重量分析法分析和计算各种生长、营养和营养效率指数。结果表明,在取食较高水分含量桑叶的处理中,营养指数(包括取食量、消化量和近似消化率等)和营养效率指数(包括食物利用率和转化率等)均显著较高,但不同处理中消化食物向茧壳的转化率及产生每克茧壳所需食物消化量差异不明显。结论是取食水分含量高的桑树嫩叶有助于提高家蚕的取食和营养。     

Lead Retention by Soils at Field Moisture Contents

The majority of studies pertaining to lead retention by clays and soils have examined the mechanisms, kinetics, and adsorption isotherms using the batch experiment technique that employs solid: water extracts of 1:10 and 1:20. Field soil deposits generally have much lower gravimetric water content ranging between 9 and 45%. Given the wide disparity in the solids: water ratio employed in the batch experiment technique and that prevailing in field deposits, this paper examines the lead retention characteristics of soils at field moisture contents (6%, 13%, and 25%) using artificially lead-contaminated soil specimens. A residually derived (i.e., formed by in-situ weathering of parent rock) red soil was used to prepare the artificially contaminated soil specimens. The impact of variations in clay content on lead retention was examined by diluting the residual soil with various amounts (0 to 60%) of river sand. Soil specimens remolded at 6 and 13% moisture contents produced very stiff to hard soils on compaction, while specimens remolded at 25% moisture content existed in the slurry state. The soil specimens were contaminated with low (30 mg/kg) to high (2500 mg/kg) concentrations of lead ions by remolding them with 160 ppm to 10,000 ppm ionic lead solutions. Lead retention by soils at field moisture contents was determined by extracting the lead from the soil using a water leach test. Experimental results showed that the bulk (71 to 99%) of the added lead was retained by the soil in insoluble form at the field moisture content. Correlations between the amount of lead retained and soil/solution parameters indicated that the amounts of Pb retained at field moisture content is a function of the initial Pb addition, total sand content, effective clay porosity, and soil pH.     

Design of Experiments-Based Monitoring of Critical Quality Attributes for the Spray-Drying Process of Insulin by NIR Spectroscopy

Moisture content and aerodynamic particle size are critical quality attributes for spray-dried protein formulations. In this study, spray-dried insulin powders intended for pulmonary delivery were produced applying design of experiments methodology. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) in combination with preprocessing and multivariate analysis in the form of partial least squares projections to latent structures (PLS) were used to correlate the spectral data with moisture content and aerodynamic particle size measured by a time of flight principle. PLS models predicting the moisture content were based on the chemical information of the water molecules in the NIR spectrum. Models yielded prediction errors (RMSEP) between 0.39% and 0.48% with thermal gravimetric analysis used as reference method. The PLS models predicting the aerodynamic particle size were based on baseline offset in the NIR spectra and yielded prediction errors between 0.27 and 0.48 μm. The morphology of the spray-dried particles had a significant impact on the predictive ability of the models. Good predictive models could be obtained for spherical particles with a calibration error (RMSECV) of 0.22 μm, whereas wrinkled particles resulted in much less robust models with a Q² of 0.69. Based on the results in this study, NIR is a suitable tool for process analysis of the spray-drying process and for control of moisture content and particle size, in particular for smooth and spherical particles.KEY WORDS: moisture content, multivariate analysis, NIR, particle size, spray-drying     

Species-environment relationship in the herb-subshrub layer of a moist Savanna site, Federal District, Brazil.

The soils are seasonally or permanently saturated in the moist grassland savanna, locally known as Campo Limpo Umido. Soil moisture variation seems to determine spatial distribution of communities. The objective of this study is to analyse the relationship between environmental variables and the patterns of spatial distribution of species in the herbaceous-subshrub layer of an area of moist grassland at the Agua Limpa Farm, Brasília, DF (15 degrees 56' to 15 degrees 59' S and 47 degrees 55' to 47 degrees 58' W Gr.). An area of 400 x 400 m was divided into four sections of 200 x 200 m where four transects were randomly sampled. A line intercept method was adopted for the phytossociological study. Superficial soils samples (0-20 cm) were collected for chemical and textural analyses. Gravimetric soil moisture was measured quarterly during the study-year. A total of 85 species in 67 genera and 24 families were found. The diversity was high, Shannon's index, H', was 2.60 nats.cover(-1). Floristic composition of the transects in soils with a high gravimetric soil moisture and high content of organic matter and sand differed from those transects in soils with a lower gravimetric soil moisture indicating seasonal variation. A Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed significant correlations between soil texture and soil moisture features and species distribution. Gravimetric soil moisture, organic matter, clay, silt and sand were significantly correlated to species distribution in the moist grassland determining mosaics in the vegetation.     

Determination of Moisture Sorption Characteristics of Oat Flour by Static and Dynamic Techniques with and Without Thymol as an Antimicrobial Agent

The effectiveness of thymol as an antimicrobial agent during the determination of equilibrium moisture sorption data at high-water activities (0.50–0.98) was studied at 5, 23, and 45 °C in oat flour. The static gravimetric (SG) method (with and without added thymol) and the dynamic vapor sorption technique (DVS) were used. Microbial growth in samples conditioned in these environments at temperatures of 5 and 45 °C was null indicating no need for the use of thymol at these temperatures. However, samples confined in environments kept at 23 °C, when the SG method was used, needed addition of thymol since mold growth took place in its absence. The statistical comparison between experimental equilibrium moisture content (EMC) mean values showed that, at 45 °C, EMC values obtained using the SG technique with added thymol were significantly higher than those obtained without thymol by both SG and DVS techniques. This could indicate an interaction of thymol with food components or absorption by lipids present. Therefore, caution must be exerted when using thymol as an antimicrobial agent at elevated temperatures and high equilibrium relative humidity. Moisture adsorption isotherms for oat flour were determined using a DVS technique and no isotherm crossover with temperature, as previously reported for this product using thymol as an antimicrobial agent, was exhibited. Moisture sorption data obtained in this work by DVS can be considered more accurate than those previously reported for oat flour, since no external agent was involved during isotherm determinations.     

Influence of hydrocarbon-stapling on membrane interactions of synthetic antimicrobial peptides

Cyclization has been recognized as a valuable technique for increasing the efficacy of small molecule and peptide therapeutics. Here we report the application of a hydrocarbon staple to a rationally-designed cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAP) that acquires increased membrane targeting and interaction vs. its linear counterpart. The previously-described CAP, 6K-F17 (KKKKKK-AAFAAWAAFAA-NH₂) was used as the backbone for incorporation of an i to i?+?4 helical hydrocarbon staple through olefin ring closing metathesis. Stapled versions of 6K-F17 showed an increase in non-selective membrane interaction, where the staple itself enhances the degree of membrane interaction and rate of cell death while maintaining high potency against bacterial membranes. However, the higher averaged hydrophobicity imparted by the staple also significantly increases toxicity to mammalian cells. This deleterious effect is countered through stepwise reduction of the stapled 6K-F17’s backbone hydrophobicity through polar amino acid substitutions. Circular dichroism assessment of secondary structure in various bacterial membrane mimetics reveals that a helical structure may improve – but is not an absolute requirement for – antimicrobial activity of 6K-F17. Further, phosphorus-31 static solid state NMR spectra revealed that both non-toxic stapled and linear peptides bind bacterial membranes in a similar manner that does not involve a detergent-like mechanism of lipid removal. The overall results suggest that the technique of hydrocarbon stapling can be readily applied to membrane-interactive CAPs to modulate how they interact and target biological membranes.     

应用热扩散法测定香蕉树蒸腾速率

香蕉树植株高大,一般采用间接方法确定耗水量,但所得结果受土壤、大气和农艺措施等因素的影响较大.本文于2005年11月15日—12月5日在温室内采用热扩散法（即Granier法）测定香蕉树的茎液流,并与用数字天平（称重法）测定的香蕉树蒸腾速率进行对比试验. 结果表明,Granier法测定的日茎液流量与称重法测定的日蒸腾量相差4％.Granier法测定的茎液流速率一般滞后于称重法确定的蒸腾速率1 h左右.当日蒸腾量小于0.05 L·m^-2（活性叶面积）时,Granier方法不能测定茎液流量.Granier传感器一般在安装2～3 d后即可正常工作,同时在多株植株上安装Granier传感器取其平均流速值计算蒸腾量可以明显减小测量误差.     

高原鼠兔对高寒草甸土壤有机质及湿度的作用

为探讨高原鼠兔对土壤理化性质的作用, 本研究于2005年8月, 采用灼烧和烘干法, 分别测定了高原鼠兔栖息及被灭杀地区土壤有机质含量及湿度。结果表明： 高原鼠兔栖息地区, 0～5 cm及6～10 cm土壤层有机质含量和湿度均极显著或显著高于被灭杀地区; 11～30 cm 土壤层, 二者无显著的差异;31～50 cm土壤层, 有机质含量差异极显著, 而土壤湿度则无显著差异。说明, 高原鼠兔活动可增加高寒草甸土壤表层有机质含量和湿度, 进而改变土壤理化性质, 促进生态系统物质循环。     

Water Content and the Conversion of Phytochrome Regulation of Lettuce Dormancy

In an effort to determine which biological reactions can occur in relation to the water content of seeds, the regulation of lettuce seed dormancy by red and far red light was determined at various hydration levels. Far red light had an inhibiting effect on germination for seeds at all moisture contents from 4 to 32% water. Germination was progressively stimulated by red light as seed hydration increased from 8 to 15%, and reached a maximum at moisture contents above 18%. Red light was ineffective at moisture contents below 8%. Seeds that had been stimulated by red light and subsequently dried lost the enhanced germinability if stored at moisture contents above 8%. The contrast between the presumed photoconversion of phytochrome far red-absorbing (Pfr) to (Pr) occurring at any moisture content and the reverse reaction occurring only if the seed moisture content is greater than 8% may be explained on the basis of the existence of unstable intermediates in the Pr to Pfr conversion. Our results suggest that the initial photoreaction involved in phytochrome conversion is relatively independent of water content, while the subsequent partial reactions become increasingly facilitated as water content increases from 8 to 18%.     

应用热扩散法测定香蕉树蒸腾速率

香蕉树植株高大,一般采用间接方法确定耗水量,但所得结果受土壤、大气和农艺措施等因素的影响较大.本文于2005年11月15日—12月5日在温室内采用热扩散法（即Granier法）测定香蕉树的茎液流,并与用数字天平（称重法）测定的香蕉树蒸腾速率进行对比试验. 结果表明,Granier法测定的日茎液流量与称重法测定的日蒸腾量相差4％.Granier法测定的茎液流速率一般滞后于称重法确定的蒸腾速率1 h左右.当日蒸腾量小于0.05 L·m^-2（活性叶面积）时,Granier方法不能测定茎液流量.Granier传感器一般在安装2～3 d后即可正常工作,同时在多株植株上安装Granier传感器取其平均流速值计算蒸腾量可以明显减小测量误差.     

土壤含水量和光照对沙地柏光合生理指标的影响

试验采用人工控制土壤水分的方法,测定不同土壤含水量条件及有效辐射强度下沙地柏苗木的蒸腾速率、净光合速率、水分利用效率等指标,分析沙地柏在不同土壤含水量和光照条件下影响的光合生理响应特征及其变化规律。土壤含水量(SWC)用称重法测定,将硬塑盆中的土壤水分含量设置为7.5%,10%,12.5%,15%,17.5%,20%等6个不同的处理,每天进行称重,瞬时土壤水分含量用TDR100土壤水分测速仪(上海赛弗生物公司)测定,用Li-6400光合测定仪(美国LI-COR公司)测定沙地柏在不同土壤水分条件下光合生理指标。研究表明沙地柏的蒸腾速率、净光合速率均随着土壤含水量的增加呈先上升后下降的趋势。光合有效辐射在400—2000μmol·m^-2·s^-1范围内,沙地柏的净光合速率、蒸腾速率和水分利用率均呈现最高值。土壤水分含量在18.71%,17.99%和12.44%时,沙地柏的净光合速率、蒸腾速率和水分利用率达到最高值。土壤含水量12.44%—18.71%是沙地柏生长最适宜的土壤水分区间。在实践中利用沙地柏最适宜的土壤水分区间对沙地柏的栽植和生长可以进行...     

Thermodynamic of Water Sorption of Grape Seed: Temperature Effect of Sorption Isotherms and Thermodynamic Characteristics

After determination of sorption isotherms of grape seeds using gravimetric method, five models with temperature effect were used to fit water sorption isotherms of grape seeds to investigate temperature effect on sorption isotherms and its thermodynamic characteristics. Halsey model had minimum mean relative percentage error (M _e ) and all other models used were good in fitting experimental data (with M _e of less than 10 %). Differential parameters such as net isosteric heat, isosteric heat, differential entropy and integral function such as equilibrium heat, net equilibrium heat, integral entropy and surface potential have been calculated. The net isosteric heat, isosteric heat and differential entropy decreased with moisture content. The net equilibrium enthalpy, equilibrium enthalpy and integral entropy decreased with moisture content. The surface potential at four temperatures (35, 45, 55 and 65 °C) was estimated, and low temperature effect was reported.     

典型岩溶洼地土壤水分的空间分布及影响因素

在桂西北典型岩溶洼地的旱季和雨季,用地统计学结合GIS方法研究了洼地表层(0—16cm)土壤水分的空间分布特征及其影响因素。结果表明:土壤含水量受前期降雨量的影响,且旱季土壤水分对降雨量的反应较雨季敏感。土壤水分均呈中等变异且变异系数随着平均含水量的增加而减少。土壤水分的半方差参数显示土壤水分空间变异及其主导因素随旱、雨季而不同。此外,不同取样区域及取样时段内土壤含水量高低差别明显,分布格局及空间变异程度各异,这主要与当地环境和人为因素的综合影响有关。旱、雨季土壤水分均与前期降雨导致的土壤平均含水量变化呈相反趋势,且不同土地利用方式下的土壤含水量不同。土壤含水量还与土壤有机碳含量呈显著正相关,此外,地势及裸岩率也是造成洼地土壤水分变异及其分布差异的重要因素。下一步应根据旱季和雨季土壤水分分布及影响因素的差异,在岩溶洼地采取有针对性地土壤水资源利用及其水分管理策略。     

Fluidized-bed drying and storage stability of Cryptococcus flavescens OH 182.9, a biocontrol agent of Fusarium head blight

A method to produce dried granules of Cryptococcus flavescens (formerly Cryptococcus nodaensis) OH 182.9 was developed and the granules evaluated for storage stability. Small spherical granules were produced and dried using a fluidized-bed dryer. A drying and survival curve was produced for the process of fluidized-bed drying at 30°C. The granules were dried to different moisture contents (4, 7, 9 and 12%) and evaluated for storage stability at 4°C for up to a year. These different moisture contents granules had the following respective water activities (0.22, 0.38, 0.47 and 0.57 a _w). The results show the storage stability varied significantly across this moisture content range. The 9% moisture content sample had the best short-term stability (up to 4 months), while 4% moisture content had the best long-term survival (1 year). A desorption isotherm of C. flavescens was determined and modeled. The results of the storage stability and drying studies are interpreted in context of the desorption isotherm.