Nitrification in terrestrial hot springs of Iceland and Kamchatka

Archaea have been detected recently as a major and often dominant component of the microbial communities performing ammonia oxidation in terrestrial and marine environments. In a molecular survey of archaeal ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) genes in terrestrial hot springs of Iceland and Kamchatka, the amoA gene encoding the alpha-subunit of AMO was detected in a total of 14 hot springs out of the 22 investigated. Most of these amoA-positive hot springs had temperatures between 82 and 97 degrees C and pH range between 2.5 and 7. In phylogenetic analyses, these amoA genes formed three independent lineages within the known sequence clusters of marine or soil origin. Furthermore, in situ gross nitrification rates in Icelandic hot springs were estimated by the pool dilution technique directly on site. At temperatures above 80 degrees C, between 56 and 159 mumol NO(3)(-) L(-1) mud per day was produced. Furthermore, addition of ammonium to the hot spring samples before incubation yielded a more than twofold higher potential nitrification rate, indicating that the process was limited by ammonia supply. Our data provide evidence for an active role of archaea in nitrification of hot springs in a wide range of pH values and at a high temperature.     

First exploration of Nitrobacter diversity in soils by a PCR cloning-sequencing approach targeting functional gene nxrA

Nitrite oxidoreductase (NXR) is the key enzyme responsible for the oxidation of NO(2)(-) to NO(3)(-) in nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. For the first time a molecular approach for targeting the nxrA gene was developed, encoding the catalytic subunit of the NXR, to study diversity of Nitrobacter-like organisms based on the phylogeny of nxrA gene sequences in soils. NxrA sequences of the Nitrobacter strains analysed (Nitrobacter hamburgensis, Nitrobacter vulgaris, Nitrobacter winogradskyi, Nitrobacter alkalicus) by PCR, cloning and sequencing revealed the occurrence of multiple copies of nxrA genes in these strains. The copy number and similarity varied among strains. The diversity of Nitrobacter-like nxrA sequences was explored in three soils (a French permanent pasture soil, a French fallow soil, and an African savannah soil) using a cloning and sequencing approach. Most nxrA sequences found in these soils (84%) differed from nxrA sequences obtained from Nitrobacter strains. Moreover, the phylogenetic distribution and richness of nxrA-like sequences was extremely variable depending on soil type. This nxrA tool extends the panel of functional genes available for studying bacteria involved in the nitrogen cycle.     

Effects of carvacrol upon the liver of rats undergoing partial hepatectomy

The present study aims to investigate the possible effects of carvacrol obtained from origanum oil upon the regenerative feature of the liver subsequent to partial hepatectomy in rats.Male Wistar Albino rats, weighing 230±30 g, were divided into three experiment groups. Group I (n=8) were used as sham operation group. Group II (n=8) were applied saline solution and hepatectomy. Carvacrol and hepatectomy (73 mg/kg) were applied to Group III (n=8). One dose of test material was injected 1 h before 68% partial hepatectomy. At the end of the experiments, blood and organs were removed. The liver regeneration rate of the rats was calculated measuring the weights of their liver before and after the hepatectomy. Hematoxylin and eosin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) treatments were applied to liver sections. Aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-6 levels were determined in serum samples.The liver regeneration, mitotic index and PCNA index increased significantly in rats of Group III over the Group II at the 72nd hour after partial hepatectomy. Histological evaluations were also similar with these results of PCNA and mitotic indexes. In AST, ALT, TNF-α and IL-6 levels, there was no statistically significant difference.According to these results, it is concluded that carvacrol increases the liver regeneration rate.     

Practical identifiability of biokinetic parameters of a model describing two-step nitrification in biofilms

Parameter estimation and model calibration are key problems in the application of biofilm models in engineering practice, where a large number of model parameters need to be determined usually based on experimental data with only limited information content. In this article, identifiability of biokinetic parameters of a biofilm model describing two-step nitrification was evaluated based solely on bulk phase measurements of ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate. In addition to evaluating the impact of experimental conditions and available measurements, the influence of mass transport limitation within the biofilm and the initial parameter values on identifiability of biokinetic parameters was evaluated. Selection of parameters for identifiability analysis was based on global mean sensitivities while parameter identifiability was analyzed using local sensitivity functions. At most, four of the six most sensitive biokinetic parameters were identifiable from results of batch experiments at bulk phase dissolved oxygen concentrations of 0.8 or 5 mg O(2)/L. High linear dependences between the parameters of the subsets (KO2,AOB,muAOB) and (KO2,NOB,muNOB) resulted in reduced identifiability. Mass transport limitation within the biofilm did not influence the number of identifiable parameters but, in fact, decreased collinearity between parameters, especially for parameters that are otherwise correlated (e.g., muAOB) and KO2,AOB, or muNOB and KO2,NOB). The choice of the initial parameter values had a significant impact on the identifiability of two parameter subsets, both including the parameters muAOB and KO2,AOB. Parameter subsets that did not include the subsets muAOB and KO2,AOB or muNOB and KO2,NOB were clearly identifiable independently of the choice of the initial parameter values.     

Factors influencing the spatial distribution of forest plant species in hedgerows of North-western Germany

In North-western Germany woodland fragmentation has caused a decline in many forest plant species. Hedgerows partly offer a similar environment as forests and have been identified as potential habitats for forest plants in various studies from North America and Western Europe. The objective of this study was to examine whether this applies also to Central Europe and which variables affect the spatial distribution and abundance of forest plant species in hedgerows on a local scale. Three hedgerow networks north of the city of Bremen, Germany, were selected as study areas and divided into totally 515 hedgerow segments. In each segment we recorded all vascular plants and a large number of explanatory variables relating to structure, spatial configuration, environment and management. Averaged across species there was a predominant effect of environmental factors on the occurrence of forest species in the hedgerows, followed by spatial configuration and management. Hedgerow structure was found to be less important. In general, forest species were favored by low nutrient and light availability as well as high connectivity with other hedgerows or forest; they avoided hedgerows with a west-easterly orientation and an adjacent land use in the form of fields or grasslands. Forest species found and not found in hedgerows did not differ in their environmental preferences or life history traits. The number of threatened forest species in the hedgerows, however, was lower than expected with respect to their overall proportion to the total number of forest species in the region.     

Plant invasion alters nitrogen cycling by modifying the soil nitrifying community

Plant invasions have dramatic aboveground effects on plant community composition, but their belowground effects remain largely uncharacterized. Soil microorganisms directly interact with plants and mediate many nutrient transformations in soil. We hypothesized that belowground changes to the soil microbial community provide a mechanistic link between exotic plant invasion and changes to ecosystem nutrient cycling. To examine this possible link, monocultures and mixtures of exotic and native species were maintained for 4 years in a California grassland. Gross rates of nitrogen (N) mineralization and nitrification were quantified with ¹⁵N pool dilution and soil microbial communities were characterized with DNA‐based methods. Exotic grasses doubled gross nitrification rates, in part by increasing the abundance and changing the composition of ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria in soil. These changes may translate into altered ecosystem N budgets after invasion. Altered soil microbial communities and their resulting effects on ecosystem processes may be an invisible legacy of exotic plant invasions.     

恩诺沙星残留对土壤微生物功能的影响

研究了恩诺沙星残留对土壤呼吸作用、纤维分解作用、氨化作用、硝化作用的影响 ,结果表明 ,相对较低浓度恩诺沙星残留(0 .0 1μg/ g土 ,0 .1μg/ g土 )刺激土壤呼吸作用 ,相对较高浓度恩诺沙星残留 (1μg/ g土 )对土壤呼吸作用产生抑制 ,药物作用活性维持期为 6 d;恩诺沙星残留对土壤纤维分解作用影响较不明显 ;较低浓度恩诺沙星残留 (0 .0 1μg/ g土 ,0 .1μg/ g土 )对土壤氨化作用有刺激作用 ,而较高浓度恩诺沙星残留 (1μg/ g土 ,10μg/ g土 )则会对其起抑制作用 ,药物作用活性期为 9d;不同浓度恩诺沙星对土壤硝化作用影响极其显著 ,当恩诺沙星浓度达到 1μg/ ml时 ,在 3～ 9d内 ,对土壤硝化作用有一定抑制作用。当恩诺沙星浓度达到 10μg/ ml时 ,强烈抑制了土壤硝化作用 ,直到本试验结束时 ,其抑制作用未见减弱。结果表明恩诺沙星残留影响了土壤微生物这些功能 ,因而可能影响到土壤特性和土壤中一些生态过程     

幽门螺杆菌相关性胃炎与胃癌胃大部切除术后患者胃体黏膜上皮不典型增生

目的研究幽门螺杆菌(Hp)感染及胃癌胃大部切除与胃体黏膜上皮不典型增生(GED)的关系。方法采用组织病理学的方法测定了20例慢性萎缩性胃炎和20例胃癌胃大部切除术后患者胃体GED情况。Hp的测定采用1min快速尿素酶法14C呼气试验法。结果(1)20例胃大部切除术后患者中,12例存在轻度～中度胃体GED,占60%;20例慢性胃炎中,7例存在轻度胃体GED,占35%。2组之间差异有显著性(P<005)。(2)在10例Hp相关性慢性胃炎中,6例存在轻度胃体GED,占60%;在10例慢性胃炎无Hp感染中,只有1例存在轻度胃体GED,占10%;2组之间差异有显著性(P<005)。(3)在10例胃大部切除术后合并Hp感染的患者中,8例存在轻度～中度胃体GED,占80%;在10例胃大部切除术后未合并Hp感染的患者中,4例存在轻度的胃体GED,占40%,2组之间差异有显著性(P<005)。结论胃大部切除术后和Hp感染患者,胃体GED发生率增加,发生恶变的发生率更高。     

森林土壤氮素转换及其对氮沉降的响应

近几十年人类活动向大气中排放的含氮化合物激增 ,并引起大气氮沉降也成比例增加。目前 ,氮沉降的增加使一些森林生态系统结构和功能发生改变 ,甚至衰退。近 2 0 a欧洲和北美有关氮沉降及其对森林生态系统的影响方面的研究较多 ,而我国少有涉及。森林土壤氮素转换是森林生态系统氮素循环的一个重要的组成部分 ,而矿化、硝化和反硝化作用是其核心过程 ,氮沉降作为驱动因子势必改变森林土壤氮素转换速度、方向和通量。根据国外近 2 0 a有关研究 ,首先介绍了森林土壤氮素转换过程和强度 ,论述森林土壤氮素在生态系统氮素循环中的作用 ,然后在此基础上 ,介绍了氮沉降对森林土壤氮素循环的研究途径 ,探讨了氮沉降对森林土壤氮素矿化、硝化和反硝化作用的影响及其机理     

长效肥料ENTEC对野生刺苋驯化栽培的影响

探讨了含有硝化抑制剂DMPP(3,4-二甲基吡唑磷酸盐)的长效肥料ENTEC对剌苋(Amaranthus spinosus L.)干物质积累及其氮素利用的影响. 结果表明: 与尿素处理相比,ENTEC对提高剌苋干物质积累作用不明显,其最大生长速率出现时间较晚; 施用ENTEC,土壤含氮量较高,且下降速度较慢,说明其具有较强的防止氮素流失的作用.同时,ENTEC有利于提高氮素的利用率,ENTEC处理的植株氮素利用率比尿素处理提高了41.56%.另外,ENTEC能促进剌苋对磷、钾素的吸收.