The contribution of grass and clover root turnover to N leaching

Sources of inorganic and organic N leaching from grass-clover mixtures at field sites in Denmark, Germany and Iceland were investigated. Grass or clover was labelled with 15N-urea four times (autumn 2007, spring, summer and autumn 2008) prior to the leaching season in autumn and winter 2008. Soil water was sampled at 30 cm depth and analyzed for 15N-enrichment of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) and dissolved organic N (DON). Most 15N was recovered in DON for both labelled grass and clover at all sites. At the Danish site, grass and clover contributed more to the DON pool than the DIN whereas the opposite was observed at the German and Icelandic sites. The results show that both clover and grass contribute directly to N leaching from the root zone in mixtures, and that clover contribution is higher than grass. Furthermore, the present study indicates that roots active in the growth season prior to the drainage period contribute more to N leaching than roots active in the growth season the previous year, which is consistent with estimates of root longevity at the three sites

ARTEMIN Promotes De Novo Angiogenesis in ER Negative Mammary Carcinoma through Activation of TWIST1-VEGF-A Signalling

10.1371/journal.pone.0050098PLoS ONE711

Effects of Soil and Foliar Applied Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Sugar Quality of Two Sugarcane Cultivars under Rainfed Conditions

Background: In north-eastern Thailand, sugarcane is planted normally in late rainy season wherein the plants may experience drought stress during its early growth stage in dry season and waterlogging stress during late growth stage at peak of rainy season. Hence, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of soil application alone and soil combined with foliar application of nutrients on growth, yield and sugar quality of sugarcane grown under rainfed conditions. Methods: The field experiment was conducted during November 2016 to December 2017. A split-plot design with three replications was laid out. The two sugarcane cultivars (KK3, K93-219) were assigned as main plots. The fertilizer application methods were assigned as sub-plots that comprised of four treatments: (1) soil applied NPK, (2) soil NPK + foliar N and K applied at 90 days after planting (DAP), (3) soil NPK + foliar N and K applied at 210 DAP and (4) soil NPK + foliar N and K applied at 90 and 210 DAP. Result: The soil NPK + foliar N and K applied at 90 and 210 DAP improved yield components and cane yield. The cultivar K93-219 produced significantly higher cane yield than KK3. The fertilizer application methods and cultivars had no significant effect on sugar quality such as brix (%), purity (%), polarity (%), fiber (%) and commercial cane sugar (CCS-%)

Effects of nitrogen fertilization, harvest time, and species on the concentration of polyphenols in aerial parts and seeds of normal and tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum sp.)

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum sp.) is a well-known source of many health beneficial components such as starch, dietary fibres, proteins, and polyphenols such as flavonoid glycosides, especially rutin, and phenolic acids. Use of buckwheat for medicinal and health purposes demands that the content of these components are as high as possible. In this study, we have investigated the influence of species, variety, nitrogen (N) fertilization, and harvest time on the content and yield of polyphenols in buckwheat aerial parts and seeds. Experiments were performed as a joint project in both Denmark and Germany; however, all treatments were not repeated in both locations. Three varieties of normal buckwheat (F. esculentum) and one of tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum) were included in the experiments on the two locations. Experiments with high and low N fertilization were performed on both locations and in Germany combined with three harvest times of aerial parts. Seeds at maturity were only harvested and analysed in the Danish experiments. For aerial parts of both normal and tartary buckwheat from both locations there was no significant effect on the concentration of flavonoids with either increasing at high and low N-application. N-fertilization did not show a conclusive affect on the concentration of phenolic acids in the aerial parts as well. Concentration of rutin in aerial parts harvested at flowering stage in the Danish experiments varied between 1.7 and 3.9% dry matter content (DM) in tartary buckwheat and between 2.2 and 2.4% DM in normal buckwheat. Harvest time or development stage had a highly significant influence on the concentration of polyphenols in the aerial parts, as concentrations at harvest before flowering were up to four times higher than for harvest after flowering. In aerial parts the species/varieties did not differ significantly in content of polyphenols, except for kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, which was higher in the tartary buckwheat 'Lifago' than in the other normal buckwheat varieties. Seeds of tartary buckwheat had a significantly higher concentration of flavonoids than normal buckwheat. In tartary buckwheat seeds, the kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside content decreased with increasing N-fertilization, but no significant effect on flavonoids in normal buckwheat seeds was found. Concentration of rutin in normal and tartary buckwheat seeds differed significantly and was between 0.03% and 0.11% DM and 1.4% and 1.5% DM, respectively.</p

Effects of nitrogen fertilization, harvest time, and species on the concentration of polyphenols in aerial parts and seeds of normal and tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum sp.)

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum sp.) is a well-known source of many health beneficial components such as starch, dietary fibres, proteins, and polyphenols such as flavonoid glycosides, especially rutin, and phenolic acids. Use of buckwheat for medicinal and health purposes demands that the content of these components are as high as possible. In this study, we have investigated the influence of species, variety, nitrogen (N) fertilization, and harvest time on the content and yield of polyphenols in buckwheat aerial parts and seeds. Experiments were performed as a joint project in both Denmark and Germany; however, all treatments were not repeated in both locations. Three varieties of normal buckwheat (F. esculentum) and one of tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum) were included in the experiments on the two locations. Experiments with high and low N fertilization were performed on both locations and in Germany combined with three harvest times of aerial parts. Seeds at maturity were only harvested and analysed in the Danish experiments. For aerial parts of both normal and tartary buckwheat from both locations there was no significant effect on the concentration of flavonoids with either increasing at high and low N-application. N-fertilization did not show a conclusive affect on the concentration of phenolic acids in the aerial parts as well. Concentration of rutin in aerial parts harvested at flowering stage in the Danish experiments varied between 1.7 and 3.9% dry matter content (DM) in tartary buckwheat and between 2.2 and 2.4% DM in normal buckwheat. Harvest time or development stage had a highly significant influence on the concentration of polyphenols in the aerial parts, as concentrations at harvest before flowering were up to four times higher than for harvest after flowering. In aerial parts the species/varieties did not differ significantly in content of polyphenols, except for kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, which was higher in the tartary buckwheat 'Lifago' than in the other normal buckwheat varieties. Seeds of tartary buckwheat had a significantly higher concentration of flavonoids than normal buckwheat. In tartary buckwheat seeds, the kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside content decreased with increasing N-fertilization, but no significant effect on flavonoids in normal buckwheat seeds was found. Concentration of rutin in normal and tartary buckwheat seeds differed significantly and was between 0.03% and 0.11% DM and 1.4% and 1.5% DM, respectively.</p

Effects of nitrogen fertilization, harvest time, and species on the concentration of polyphenols in aerial parts and seeds of normal and tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum sp.)

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum sp.) is a well-known source of many health beneficial components such as starch, dietary fibres, proteins, and polyphenols such as flavonoid glycosides, especially rutin, and phenolic acids. Use of buckwheat for medicinal and health purposes demands that the content of these components are as high as possible. In this study, we have investigated the influence of species, variety, nitrogen (N) fertilization, and harvest time on the content and yield of polyphenols in buckwheat aerial parts and seeds. Experiments were performed as a joint project in both Denmark and Germany; however, all treatments were not repeated in both locations. Three varieties of normal buckwheat (F. esculentum) and one of tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum) were included in the experiments on the two locations. Experiments with high and low N fertilization were performed on both locations and in Germany combined with three harvest times of aerial parts. Seeds at maturity were only harvested and analysed in the Danish experiments. For aerial parts of both normal and tartary buckwheat from both locations there was no significant effect on the concentration of flavonoids with either increasing at high and low N-application. N-fertilization did not show a conclusive affect on the concentration of phenolic acids in the aerial parts as well. Concentration of rutin in aerial parts harvested at flowering stage in the Danish experiments varied between 1.7 and 3.9% dry matter content (DM) in tartary buckwheat and between 2.2 and 2.4% DM in normal buckwheat. Harvest time or development stage had a highly significant influence on the concentration of polyphenols in the aerial parts, as concentrations at harvest before flowering were up to four times higher than for harvest after flowering. In aerial parts the species/varieties did not differ significantly in content of polyphenols, except for kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, which was higher in the tartary buckwheat 'Lifago' than in the other normal buckwheat varieties. Seeds of tartary buckwheat had a significantly higher concentration of flavonoids than normal buckwheat. In tartary buckwheat seeds, the kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside content decreased with increasing N-fertilization, but no significant effect on flavonoids in normal buckwheat seeds was found. Concentration of rutin in normal and tartary buckwheat seeds differed significantly and was between 0.03% and 0.11% DM and 1.4% and 1.5% DM, respectively.</p

HEATR2 Plays a Conserved Role in Assembly of the Ciliary Motile Apparatus

Cilia are highly conserved microtubule-based structures that perform a variety of sensory and motility functions during development and adult homeostasis. In humans, defects specifically affecting motile cilia lead to chronic airway infections, infertility and laterality defects in the genetically heterogeneous disorder Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD). Using the comparatively simple Drosophila system, in which mechanosensory neurons possess modified motile cilia, we employed a recently elucidated cilia transcriptional RFX-FOX code to identify novel PCD candidate genes. Here, we report characterization of CG31320/HEATR2, which plays a conserved critical role in forming the axonemal dynein arms required for ciliary motility in both flies and humans. Inner and outer arm dyneins are absent from axonemes of CG31320 mutant flies and from PCD individuals with a novel splice-acceptor HEATR2 mutation. Functional conservation of closely arranged RFX-FOX binding sites upstream of HEATR2 orthologues may drive higher cytoplasmic expression of HEATR2 during early motile ciliogenesis. Immunoprecipitation reveals HEATR2 interacts with DNAI2, but not HSP70 or HSP90, distinguishing it from the client/chaperone functions described for other cytoplasmic proteins required for dynein arm assembly such as DNAAF1-4. These data implicate CG31320/HEATR2 in a growing intracellular pre-assembly and transport network that is necessary to deliver functional dynein machinery to the ciliary compartment for integration into the motile axoneme

THE EFFECT OF PLASMODIUM FLORIDENSE ON RELATIVE LEUKOCYTE COUNTS OF ANOLIS SAGREI AND A. CAROLINENSIS IN FLORIDA, USA

Native Green Anoles, Anolis carolinensis, and invasive Brown Anoles, Anolis sagrei, are commonly found in Florida and may be infected with the malarial parasite, Plasmodium floridense. Because no studies have directly addressed health effects of the parasite on Florida anoles, we collected blood smears of infected and uninfected anoles from Central and Southwest Florida and compared the overall leukocyte (WBC) counts, eosinophil counts, and heterophil/lymphocyte ratios. Eosinophils are generally elevated in response to protozoal infection and heterophil/lymphocyte ratios are often altered due to stress. A generalized linear model that tested contributions to erythrocyte/leukocyte ratios included infection status and locality as significant factors. We found significant differences in WBC counts between infected and uninfected lizards in Central Florida but not in Southwest Florida. Central Florida anoles also had higher mean WBC counts than Southwest Florida anoles. We did not detect significant differences in eosinophil counts or H/L ratios related to infection status. Our project is the first to examine leukocyte effects of Plasmodium infection in anoles and to provide leukocyte profiles of Anolis lizards. It appears that infected anoles sustain some negative immunological effects, at least in Central Florida. The differences in regions may be caused by the fact that Central Florida anoles still are under continuous interspecific competition whereas the Southwest Florida Brown Anoles are not because of low populations of Green Anoles. Additional studies that address leukocyte levels related to Plasmodium infection are needed to tease out the health and fitness effects on the lizards of Florida

Anti-angiogenic therapy for cancer: Current progress, unresolved questions and future directions

Tumours require a vascular supply to grow and can achieve this via the expression of pro-angiogenic growth factors, including members of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of ligands. Since one or more of the VEGF ligand family is overexpressed in most solid cancers, there was great optimism that inhibition of the VEGF pathway would represent an effective anti-angiogenic therapy for most tumour types. Encouragingly, VEGF pathway targeted drugs such as bevacizumab, sunitinib and aflibercept have shown activity in certain settings. However, inhibition of VEGF signalling is not effective in all cancers, prompting the need to further understand how the vasculature can be effectively targeted in tumours. Here we present a succinct review of the progress with VEGF-targeted therapy and the unresolved questions that exist in the field: including its use in different disease stages (metastatic, adjuvant, neoadjuvant), interactions with chemotherapy, duration and scheduling of therapy, potential predictive biomarkers and proposed mechanisms of resistance, including paradoxical effects such as enhanced tumour aggressiveness. In terms of future directions, we discuss the need to delineate further the complexities of tumour vascularisation if we are to develop more effective and personalised anti-angiogenic therapies. © 2014 The Author(s)

Produtividade floral de cultivares de maracujá ornamental na região da zona da mata de Pernambuco.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a produtividade floral, na região da Zona da Mata de Pernambuco, de quatro cultivares ornamentais da Embrapa.Resumo 112