Potential errors in the quantitative evaluation of biogas production in anaerobic digestion processes

Errors that are commonly made in the quantification of biogas from anaerobic digestion experiments were investigated.For liquid displacement gasometers where a barrier solution separates the biogas and the atmosphere, inaccuracy due to gas diffusion was examined experimentally. Acidified saturated saline solution was the most suitable barrier solution, as biogas characteristics changed least with time. Using acidified or tap water caused considerable biogas losses and should therefore be avoided where biogas is stored before measurement.Errors associated with volume calculation from three common liquid displacement gasometer types were investigated theoretically. Corrections that must be made to obtain gas volumes at standard temperature and pressure when using this equipment are discussed. Regarding experimental errors, gasometer designs where displaced liquid is weighed to determine the volume are the most versatile since errors depend mainly upon balance sensitivity. Using liquid heights to calculate volume requires appropriate sizing of the gasometer relative to the volume of gas measured.The calibration of a low flow gas meter was investigated and an approximately linear variation with flow rate was found; hence in situ calibration is advised for this type of instrument. Correction for atmospheric conditions should be performed in real time to reduce errors.     

机械通气患儿气管导管表面细菌生物膜形成及病原分析

目的观察儿科重症监护病房（PICU）机械通气（mechanical ventilation,MV）患儿气管导管（endotraeheal tube,mr）表面细菌生物膜（biofilm,BF）内细菌分布情况及BF形态学特征。方法以我院治疗的35例MV患儿为研究对象。收集第1次拔除或更换的ETT,经碘化丙啶（PI）和异硫氰酸荧光索标记刀豆蛋白A（FITC-ConA）染色后,激光共聚焦显微镜观察ETT-BF内细菌及胞外多糖（EPS）分布情况,并收集ETT表面和下呼吸道分泌物进行细菌分离、培养和鉴定。结果（1）35例MV患儿中,E1-r表面细菌培养阳性31例（88．57％）;17例EIT表面和下呼吸道分泌物同时分离出相同菌种,占ETT培养阳性的54．83％。在EIT-BF和下呼吸道分泌物中以金黄色葡萄球菌,肺炎克雷伯菌,大肠埃希菌,阴沟肠杆菌最常见。（2）CLSM观察可见,气管插管12h后,ETT-11表面已出现细菌黏附;48h时ETT表面可见大量短棒状或球状细菌黏附聚集,EPS较12h时显著增多,初步形成BF结构;72h左右细菌粘连成团块状,被EPS包裹,可见成熟BF结构形成;7d后细菌粘连成大片状,在其周围可见散在的微菌落。（3）35例MV患儿中,19例发生了呼吸机相关性肺炎（ventilated—associated pneumonia,VAP）。其中经口插管10例,经鼻插管9例。结论MV时细菌极易在ETT表面黏附,形成细菌BF。ETF表面细菌定植及BF形成与长时间MV患儿伴发呼吸机相关性肺炎之间可能存在一定相关性。     

Emergence and transmission of visual awareness through optical coding in the brain: A redox molecular hypothesis on visual mental imagery

Does the primary visual cortex mediate consciousness for higher-level stages of information processing by providing an outlet for mental imagery? Evidence based on neural electrical activity is inconclusive as reflected in the “imagery debate” in cognitive science. Neural information and activity, however, also depend on regulated biophoton (optical) signaling. During encoding and retrieval of visual information, regulated electrical (redox) signals of neurons are converted into synchronized biophoton signals by bioluminescent radical processes. That is, visual information may be represented by regulated biophotons of mitochondrial networks in retinotopically organized cytochrome oxidase-rich neural networks within early visual areas. Therefore, we hypothesize that regulated biophotons can generate intrinsic optical representations in the primary visual cortex and then propagate variably degraded versions along cytochrome oxidase pathways during both perception and imagery. Testing this hypothesis requires to establish a methodology for measurement of in vivo and/or in vitro increases of biophoton emission in humans' brain during phosphene inductions by transcranial magnetic stimulation and to compare the decrease in phosphene thresholds during transcranial magnetic stimulation and imagery. Our hypothesis provides a molecular mechanism for the visual buffer and for imagery as the prevalent communication mode (through optical signaling) within the brain. If confirmed empirically, this hypothesis could resolve the imagery debate and the underlying issue of continuity between perception and abstract thought.     

Reticulate spore ornamentation in Strobilomyces

Reticulate spore ornamentation in Strobilomyces(Boletaceae,Basidiomycotina) is visible under light microscopy(bright field and phase contrast) up to 1,500×.While some distinctions can be made at this magnification,ontogeny and fine structure of the ornamentation cannot be discerned.Scanning electron microscope images,conversely,reveal significant additional structure from which the ontogenetic process can be traced.Citing numerous New and Old World collections,this paper presents evidence distinguishing reticulate ornamentation ontogeny in these disjunct populations.     

Real time expression of ACC oxidase and PR-protein genes mediated by Methylobacterium spp. in tomato plants challenged with Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria

Biotic stress like pathogenic infection increases ethylene biosynthesis in plants and ethylene inhibitors are known to alleviate the severity of plant disease incidence. This study aimed to reduce the bacterial spot disease incidence in tomato plants caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (XCV) by modulating stress ethylene with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity of Methylobacterium strains. Under greenhouse condition, Methylobacterium strains inoculated and pathogen challenged tomato plants had low ethylene emission compared to pathogen infected ones. ACC accumulation and ACC oxidase (ACO) activity with ACO related gene expression increased in XCV infected tomato plants over Methylobacterium strains inoculated plants. Among the Methylobacterium spp., CBMB12 resulted lowest ACO related gene expression (1.46 Normalized Fold Expression), whereas CBMB20 had high gene expression (3.42 Normalized Fold Expression) in pathogen challenged tomato. But a significant increase in ACO gene expression (7.09 Normalized Fold Expression) was observed in the bacterial pathogen infected plants. In contrast, Methylobacterium strains enhanced β-1,3-glucanase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) enzyme activities in pathogen challenged tomato plants. The respective increase in β-1,3-glucanase related gene expressions due to CBMB12, CBMB15, and CBMB20 strains were 66.3, 25.5 and 10.4% higher over pathogen infected plants. Similarly, PAL gene expression was high with 0.67 and 0.30 Normalized Fold Expression, in pathogen challenged tomato plants inoculated with CBMB12 and CBMB15 strains. The results suggest that ethylene is a crucial factor in bacterial spot disease incidence and that methylobacteria with ACC deaminase activity can reduce the disease severity with ultimate pathogenesis-related protein increase in tomato.     

Interaction investigations of crustacean β‐GBP recognition toward pathogenic microbial cell membrane and stimulate upon prophenoloxidase activation

In invertebrates, crustaceans' immune system consists of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) instead of immunoglobulin's, which involves in the microbial recognition and initiates the protein–ligand interaction between hosts and pathogens. In the present study, PRRs namely β‐1,3 glucan binding protein (β‐GBP) from mangrove crab Episesarma tetragonum and its interactions with the pathogens such as bacterial and fungal outer membrane proteins (OMP) were investigated through microbial aggregation and computational interaction studies. Molecular recognition and microbial aggregation results of Episesarma tetragonum β‐GBP showed the specific binding affinity toward the fungal β‐1,3 glucan molecule when compared to other bacterial ligands. Because of this microbial recognition, prophenoloxidase activity was enhanced and triggers the innate immunity inside the host animal. Our findings disclose the role of β‐GBP in molecular recognition, host–pathogen interaction through microbial aggregation, and docking analysis. In vitro results were concurred with the in silico docking, and molecular dynamics simulation analysis. This study would be helpful to understand the molecular mechanism of β‐GBP and update the current knowledge on the PRRs of crustaceans. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Sphagnum microbiome supports bog ecosystem functioning under extreme conditions

Sphagnum‐dominated bogs represent a unique yet widely distributed type of terrestrial ecosystem and strongly contribute to global biosphere functioning. Sphagnum is colonized by highly diverse microbial communities, but less is known about their function. We identified a high functional diversity within the Sphagnum microbiome applying an Illumina‐based metagenomic approach followed by de novo assembly and MG‐RAST annotation. An interenvironmental comparison revealed that the Sphagnum microbiome harbours specific genetic features that distinguish it significantly from microbiomes of higher plants and peat soils. The differential traits especially support ecosystem functioning by a symbiotic lifestyle under poikilohydric and ombrotrophic conditions. To realise a plasticity–stability balance, we found abundant subsystems responsible to cope with oxidative and drought stresses, to exchange (mobile) genetic elements, and genes that encode for resistance to detrimental environmental factors, repair and self‐controlling mechanisms. Multiple microbe–microbe and plant–microbe interactions were also found to play a crucial role as indicated by diverse genes necessary for biofilm formation, interaction via quorum sensing and nutrient exchange. A high proportion of genes involved in nitrogen cycle and recycling of organic material supported the role of bacteria for nutrient supply. 16S rDNA analysis indicated a higher structural diversity than that which had been previously detected using PCR‐dependent techniques. Altogether, the diverse Sphagnum microbiome has the ability to support the life of the host plant and the entire ecosystem under changing environmental conditions. Beyond this, the moss microbiome presents a promising bio‐resource for environmental biotechnology – with respect to novel enzymes or stress‐protecting bacteria.