Characterization,kinetics and thermodynamics of Ag(I) sorption using novel sorbent: Dry wheatgrass

In the present study, dried wheatgrass (DWG), an available and renewable biomass, was investigated as a novel Ag(I) sorbent. Sorption data was modeled to 11 different kinetic and diffusion models at different DWG concentration. Pseudo-second-order model fits the data most appropriately among these. Diffusion was not the sole mechanism controlling Ag(I) sorption by DWG. The enthalpy and entropy for Ag(I) sorption by DWG are 10.511 kJ mol^?1 and 0.065 kJ mol^?1 K^?1, respectively. Gibbs free energy decreases with rise in temperature. Ag(I) sorption by DWG is spontaneous, endothermic with increased randomness at the interface. Characterization of DWG suggested the presence of diverse functional groups. Ag(I) sorption by DWG involved mechanisms such as physisorption and chemisorptions. DWG can be efficiently used to remediate and recover Ag(I) from solution in an eco-friendly manner.     

Phenotypic and genotypic intra-diversity among Anatolian durum wheat “Kunduru” landraces

Kunduru is an important Anatolian landrace having peculiar traits that are appreciated by farmers and breeders. 33 accessions known as Kunduru collected by ICARDA from six geographical provinces of Turkey, were used to study the phenotypic and genotypic intra-diversity. Kunduru landraces exhibited high intra-diversity for most of the studied morphological traits. GPC (12.10–14.90%), vitreousness (75–100%), TKW (31.80–56.70 g), YP (4.70–8.00 ppm), b*-value (14.30–19.50), ash content (1.60–2.0%) and gluten strength (14–60 ml) showed marked variations. Gliadin and glutenin banding patterns showed high polymorphism. 65 alleles were detected with 14 SSR markers, giving a mean of 6.77 alleles per locus. The average PIC value was 0.44 and ranged from 0.11 to 0.70. The average genetic distance between pairs of landraces was 0.47 and ranged between 0.11 and 0.72. This study showed that Kunduru landraces maintains high allelic variation. PCoA indicated that eco-geographical variables have a significant effect on SSR diversity as well as morphological traits. Many of the landraces studied are in danger of disappearing from the local farmers' fields; this study demonstrates the importance of maintaining and conserving this precious genetic resources.     

The value of small habitat islands for the conservation of genetic variability in a steppe grass species

The habitat loss and fragmentation due to agricultural land-conversion affected the steppe throughout its range. In Ukraine, 95% of steppe was destroyed in the last two centuries. Remaining populations are confined to few refuges, like nature reserves, loess ravines, and kurgans (small burial mounds), the latter being often subject to destruction by archeological excavations.Stipa capillata L. is a typical grass species of Eurasian steppes and extrazonal dry grasslands, that was previously used as a model species in studies on steppe ecology. The aim of our research was to assess genetic diversity of S. capillata populations within different types of steppe refuges (loess ravines, biosphere reserve, kurgan) and to evaluate the value of the latter group for the preservation of genetic diversity in the study species.We assessed genetic diversity of 266 individuals from 15 populations (nine from kurgans, three from loess ravines and three from Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve) with eight Universal Rice Primers (URPs).Studied populations showed high intra-population variability (I: 0.262–0.419, PPB: 52.08–82.64%). Populations from kurgans showed higher genetic differentiation (Φ_ST = 0.247) than those from loess ravines (Φ_ST = 0.120) and the biosphere reserve (Φ_ST = 0.142). Although the diversity metrics were to a small extent lower for populations from kurgans than from larger refugia we conclude that all studied populations of the species still preserve high genetic variability and are valuable for protection. To what extent this pattern holds true under continuous fragmentation in the future must be carefully monitored.     

重组bFGF滴眼液联合杞菊地黄丸对绝经后干眼症女性血清与泪液中 MMP-2及性激素水平的影响

目的:探讨重组b FGF滴眼液联合杞菊地黄丸对绝经后干眼症女性血清与泪液中MMP-2及性激素水平的影响。方法:收集我院收治的绝经后干眼症女性患者76例,随机分为对照组和实验组,每组38例。对照组患者给予重组牛碱性成纤维细胞生长因子滴眼液治疗,实验组在对照组基础上给予杞菊地黄丸治疗。观察并比较两组患者治疗前后血清以及泪液中E2、MMP-2水平。结果:与治疗前相比,两组患者治疗后血清以及泪液中E2水平均升高,而MMP-2水平均下降,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组相比,实验组患者治疗后血清以及泪液中E2水平较高,而MMP-2水平较低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:重组b FGF滴眼液联合杞菊地黄丸能够升高绝经后干眼症女性血清与泪液中E2水平,降低MMP-2水平,对临床具有指导意义。     

板栗干腐病研究:Ⅰ.树体及果实中真菌区系分析

详细地调查了我国不同产栗区及栗不同生长期中,树体及栗果实的自然带菌情况,分析了板栗各生长期真菌区系的变化及其与栗干腐病发病的关系。结果初步证明,栗树整个生长期中都带菌,只是不同生长期和部位所带微生物的数量和种类有所不同。例如,栗树枝条、芽、栗棚和成熟栗子的带菌情况不是不同的,也即在不同生长期和不同部位,微生物的区系组成有较大差异。其中分离频率较高的真菌有Phoma sp.、Dothiorella sp.、Sphaeropsis sp.、Gloeosporium sp.、Cytospora sp.、Alternaria sp.、Rhizoctonia sp.、Comeothyrium sp.、Phomopsis sp.、Fusarium sp.等。真菌种类最多的时期是花期和栗实贮藏期。调查结果还表明,不同地区真菌区系组成有较大的差异,其中致病和弱致病菌所占比例高低顺序为:西南>长江流域>淮河流域>燕山地区。分布较广的致病菌有Phoma sp.、Dothiorella sp.、Gloeosporium sp.、Rhizoctonia sp.、Alternaria sp.等。从分析栗树微生物区系变化与干腐病发病的关系中看出,某一地区干腐病的轻重,与该地区的常见致病菌的分布与数量比例有关。致病菌数量及种类多,则干腐病重,反之,则轻。     

Production of fine roots and the seasonality of their growth in a Mexican deciduous dry forest

Very limited information regarding fine-root growth and production of tropical dry forests is available. Fine roots and small roots are defined as rootlets with diameters < 1 mm and 1.1 to 5 mm, respectively. Live and dead fine-and small-root mass fluctuations were studied over one year by means of soil core analyses in the deciduous dry forest of Chamela, Mexico, at 19° 30, 2 km inland from the Pacific Ocean. By means of systematically varying the distance of soil core extraction points from tree stems, it was shown that random core collection is justified. A difference between fine-root biomass on south and north facing slopes was documented, although this difference was significant only during the rainy season. The live/dead ratio of fine roots was highest during the rainy period. The annual fine-root production for 1989 was estimated at 4.23 Mg ha^-1 by summing significant fine-root biomass changes between sampling dates. This value is higher than most of the comparable data from other ecosystems.     

Seed mass and population characteristics interact to determine performance of Scorzonera hispanica under common garden conditions

Many recent studies deal with within-species variation in seed mass and its consequences for plant growth. The possibility to explicitly separate the effects of population characteristics and seed mass are, however, usually hindered by availability of seeds of different size from different populations. We examined the effect of seed mass on germination, establishment, growth, and flowering of Scorzonera hispanica, a perennial herb. We used seeds of different masses from 20 populations, which differed greatly in size, habitat conditions, and genetic diversity. We selected seeds of the same range of seed masses from each population to ensure that all the variation in seed mass is represented within population.     

Acceptability of plant species along grazing gradients around watering points in Tunisian arid zone

Water points provide excellent sites for studying overgrazing effects on plant communities in dry areas. Distance from water can be considered like a surrogate of grazing pressure being high near the water and low away from it. The main aim of this study is to investigate overgrazing effects on acceptability of fodder plants along a grazing gradient around three natural watering points. To achieve this goal, we classified spontaneous plants according to their acceptability degree and we followed their cover, richness and density as well as the grazing value along a grazing gradient around these wells, using phyto-ecological studies during the spring 2004 and 2006. Main results show that very palatable plants (mainly constituted by annuals) are more dominant in both the closed and the more disturbed transect areas around wells. The unpalatable plants dominate sites with moderate disturbance around wells. Ligneous palatable species obviously have a lower degree of disturbance. During the studied seasons the grazing gradient around wells 1 and 2, the oldest ones, seemed to exert a feedback upon the grazing intensity.     

The effect of dry needling on gastrocnemius muscle stiffness and strength in participants with latent trigger points

Abnormal muscle stiffness is a potential complication after injury and identifying interventions that modify muscle stiffness may be useful to promote recovery. The purpose of this study was to identify the short-term effects of dry needling (DN) on resting and contracted gastrocnemius muscle stiffness and strength of the triceps surae in individuals with latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). In this randomized controlled trial, 52 individuals received two DN treatment sessions to latent MTrPs and 50 individuals received two sham needling sessions. Resting and contracted muscle stiffness were assessed both at the treatment site and a standardized central site in the medial gastrocnemius head immediately post-treatment and one week after the last session. There were significant group by time interactions for resting muscle stiffness at the site of the MTrP (p = .03), but not at the central site (p = .29). Post-needling between group comparison indicated that the DN group had significantly lower resting muscle stiffness at the site of the MTrP than the sham group after adjusting for baseline differences. There were no significant between group differences in contracted muscle stiffness or muscle strength. Identifying strategies that can reduce aberrant muscle stiffness may help to guide management of individuals with neuromuscular pain-related conditions.Level of evidence: Therapy, level 2.     

Regional species pools of hay meadows: A case study

Questions: Is it possible to render the species pool concept operational for cultural landscape management and restoration? Location: Hordaland and Sogn & Fjordane counties, western Norway. Methods: An initial regional species list, based on information on the distribution of species and habitats in the Norwegian flora, was filtered using information on target communities and species lists from 95 sites in the region. Owing to the importance of both mowing and grazing Ellenberg indicator values were not used in the identification process. Results: The final regional species pool consisted of 227 species, of which 194 were extracted from the flora, while 33 agricultural landscape species were added from the actual pool or from a list of species in additional hay meadows. Some of the 33 species were regular inhabitants of hay meadows, others were rare in the region. The regional species pool list includes information on each species on demands when hydrology, nutrients and base saturation in the soil is concerned, and whether or not they are characteristic for either of the boreal or boreo‐nemoral vegetation zones. Conclusions: Specialist knowledge was an advantage when adding cultural landscape species other than meadow species of the flora; 77 species were documented only by the flora, interesting from the point of view of restoration as this part of the pool would not have been found by just adding species lists. The diversity of the now isolated hay meadow sites in the region may be kept up by replacing the lost natural invasion by an artificial one, using local seed mixtures and transplants.