Assessment of genetic variability for N2 fixation between and within provenances of Leucaena leucocephala and Acacia albida estimated by 15N labelling techniques

Nitrogen fixed in 13 provenances of Acacia albida and 11 isolines of Leucaena leucocephala inoculated with effective Rhizobium strains was measured by ¹⁵N techniques and the total N difference method. In the test soil, on the average, L. leucocephala derived about 65% of its total N from atmospheric N₂ fixation compared to about 20% by A. albida. Significant differences in the percentage of N derived from atmospheric N₂ (% Ndfa) occurred, between provenances or isolines within species. The % Ndfa ranged from 37 to 74% within L. leucocephala and from 6 to 37 within A. albida; (equivalent to 20–50 mg N plant^–1 and 4–37 mg N plant^–1 for the two species over three months, respectively) and was correlated with the nodule mass (r=0.91). The time course of N₂ fixation of three selected provenances (low, intermediate and good fixers) was followed at 12 weekly intervals over a 36 week period. The % Ndfa of all provenances and isolines increased with time; and except for one of the L. leucocephala provenances, % Ndfa was similar within species at the 36 weeks harvest. There was a significant correlation between % Ndfa and the amount of N₂ fixed (r=0.96). Significant interactions occurred between provenances and N treatments and often growth of uninoculated but N fertilized plants was less variable than for inoculated unfertilized plants.     

Advances in systems metabolic engineering of autotrophic carbon oxide-fixing biocatalysts towards a circular economy

High levels of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions are driving the warming of global climate. If this pattern of increasing emissions does not change, it will cause further climate change with severe consequences for the human population. On top of this, the increasing accumulation of solid waste within the linear economy model is threatening global biosustainability. The magnitude of these challenges requires several approaches to capture and utilize waste carbon and establish a circular economy. Microbial gas fermentation presents an exciting opportunity to capture carbon oxides from gaseous and solid waste streams with high feedstock flexibility and selectivity. Here we discuss available microbial systems and review in detail the metabolism of both anaerobic acetogens and aerobic hydrogenotrophs and their ability to utilize C1 waste feedstocks. More specifically, we provide an overview of the systems-level understanding of metabolism, key metabolic pathways, scale-up opportunities and commercial successes, and the most recent technological advances in strain and process engineering. Finally, we also discuss in detail the gaps and opportunities to advance the understanding of these autotrophic biocatalysts for the efficient and economically viable production of bioproducts from recycled carbon.     

跟骨骨折手术治疗并发症原因分析及预防

目的:探讨手术内固定治疗跟骨骨折发生并发症的原因及预防.方法:2007年5月～2010年9月应用切开复位跟骨钛板和闭合橇拔复位斯氏针内固定术治疗的64例跟骨骨折患者中,对出现并发症的患者进行回顾性分析,探讨其发生并发症的可能原因.结果:其中2例切口感染浅表坏死,1例腓肠神经损伤,腓骨长短肌腱断裂1例,腓骨肌腱炎4例,创伤性关节炎5例,复位丢失3例.结论:应根据骨折类型选择恰当的治疗方案,正确把握手术时机、规范操作,可有效减少并发症,获得满意的疗效.     

Nodulation of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) in an acid soil: Effects of inoculum size and lime-pelleting

The effects of inoculum level and lime-pelleting were studied in an acid soil with respect to the nodulation and growth of lucerne (Medicago sativa cv Resis) and the population dynamics of Rhizobium meliloti. In small root-boxes (rhizotrons), the in-situ survival of inoculated rhizobia was studied in the micro-environment around the seed for a period of 12 days after sowing. During the initial 24 hours, a strong increase in rhizobial numbers was measured, concomitantly with the development of roots. As a result of lime-pelleting, rhizobial numbers were higher only at 3 days after sowing (P<0.05). Later, this difference diminished steadily. Addition of lime did not increase the adhesion of the rhizobia to the seedling tap root. Plant responses to inoculation were studied in pots. To obtain optimal nodulation, the soil had to be neutralized around the seed with lime and at least 10⁵ cells of R. meliloti were required. With more than 10⁵ rhizobia per seed, lime-pelleting increased the number of crown-nodulated seedlings from 24% to 77%. Higher numbers of rhizobia could not compensate the effect of lime. A strong correlation was found between crown nodulation, nitrogen content and dry weight of the shoots.     

植物内生固氮菌及其固氮机理研究进展

氮素是植物生长必不可少的元素,植物内生固氮菌不仅能够在植物体内产生氮素以供植物利用,而且在自然界氮素循环过程中发挥积极作用,对农业可持续发展具有重要意义。近年来,植物内生固氮菌逐渐成为研究热点。由植物内生固氮菌的发现、作物共生、侵入途径、固氮机理、促生作用机制等方面系统地综述了植物内生固氮菌的研究进展,探讨了植物内生固氮菌新的研究思路以及一些尚未解决的问题,以期为植物内生固氮菌及生物固氮研究提供参考。     

几种豆科树木结瘤固氮的初步研究

 作者通过野外调查和盆栽试验,探讨了几种豆科树种的结瘤固氮特征,土壤条件的影响和植株生长。木豆、山毛豆、刺槐在南亚热带褐红土种植,山合欢、刺槐在中亚热带紫色土种植,对绿化荒山荒地、改良土壤和促进生态平衡具有重要意义。     

掌侧DVR^TM-Anatomic钢板内固定治疗桡骨远端不稳定骨折20例临床疗效研究

目的：探讨切开复位掌侧解剖锁定加压钢板（DVR-Anatomic）内固定在桡骨远端骨折治疗中的临床疗效。方法：对20例桡骨远端骨折患者经掌侧切口进行切开复位、DVR^TM-Anatomic内固定,并随访其骨折愈合情况及远期功能效果。结果：所有病例均获随访,平均随访时间为11.3个月（3～20个月）。所有骨折均获骨性愈合,愈合时间为65d（56～84 d）,无伤口感染、骨不连、内固定断裂脱出、伸指受限等并发症。运用DASH调查表和PRWE评分了解上肢的症状及从事日常活动的能力,且在末次随访时两种评分系统的平均值分别为9.58±14.87和13.73±18.42。结论：对于桡骨远端不稳定骨折掌侧入路DVR-Anatomic钢板治疗桡骨远端骨折临床疗效满意,值得推广。     

Microbiological strategies for enhancing biological nitrogen fixation in nonlegumes

In an agro-ecosystem, industrially produced nitrogenous fertilizers are the principal sources of nitrogen for plant growth; unfortunately these also serve as the leading sources of pollution. Hence, it becomes imperative to find pollution-free methods of providing nitrogen to crop plants. A diverse group of free-living, plant associative and symbiotic prokaryotes are able to perform biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). BNF is a two component process involving the nitrogen fixing diazotrophs and the host plant. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is most efficient as it can fix nitrogen inside the nodule formed on the roots of the plant; delivering nitrogen directly to the host. However, most of the important crop plants are nonleguminous and are unable to form symbiotic associations. In this context, the plant associative and endophytic diazotrophs assume importance. BNF in nonlegumes can be encouraged either through the transfer of BNF traits from legumes or by elevating the nitrogen fixing capacity of the associative and endophytic diazotrophs. In this review we discuss mainly the microbiological strategies which may be used in nonleguminous crops for enhancement of BNF.     

Nitrogen fixation (15N dilution) with soybeans under Thai field conditions

Controlled environment and field studies were conducted to determine relationships between various measurements of N₂ fixation using soybeans and to use these measures to evaluate a number ofBradyrhizobium japonicum strains for effectiveness in N₂ fixation in Thai soils.¹⁵N dilution measurements of N₂ fixation showed levels of fixation ranging from 32 to 161 kg N ha⁻¹ depending on bacterial strain, host cultivar and location. Midseason measures of N₂ fixation were correlated with each other, but not related measures taken at maturity. Ranking ofB. japonicum strains based on performance under controlled conditions in N-free media were highly correlated with rankings based on soybean seed yields and N₂ fixation under field conditions. This study showed that inoculation of soybeans with effectiveB. japonicum strains can result in significant increases in yield and uptake of N through fixation. The most effective strains tested for use in Thai conditions were those isolated from Thai soils; however, effective strains from other locations were also of benefit.     

Rubisco activase requires residues in the large subunit N terminus to remodel inhibited plant Rubisco

The photosynthetic CO₂ fixing enzyme ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) forms dead-end inhibited complexes while binding multiple sugar phosphates, including its substrate ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate. Rubisco can be rescued from this inhibited form by molecular chaperones belonging to the ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities (AAA+ proteins) termed Rubisco activases (Rcas). The mechanism of green-type Rca found in higher plants has proved elusive, in part because until recently higher-plant Rubiscos could not be expressed recombinantly. Identifying the interaction sites between Rubisco and Rca is critical to formulate mechanistic hypotheses. Toward that end here we purify and characterize a suite of 33 Arabidopsis Rubisco mutants for their ability to be activated by Rca. Mutation of 17 surface-exposed large subunit residues did not yield variants that were perturbed in their interaction with Rca. In contrast, we find that Rca activity is highly sensitive to truncations and mutations in the conserved N terminus of the Rubisco large subunit. Large subunits lacking residues 1–4 are functional Rubiscos but cannot be activated. Both T5A and T7A substitutions result in functional carboxylases that are poorly activated by Rca, indicating the side chains of these residues form a critical interaction with the chaperone. Many other AAA+ proteins function by threading macromolecules through a central pore of a disc-shaped hexamer. Our results are consistent with a model in which Rca transiently threads the Rubisco large subunit N terminus through the axial pore of the AAA+ hexamer.