Allelopathy in a Grass-Legume Association: A Case Study With Hemarthria altissima and Desmodium intortum

In Hawaii, the legume Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb. could not be established in a pasture of the tetraploid Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf and Hubb cv. bigalta limpograss, but intortum was easily established in a sward of the less vigorous greenalta limpograss. The effects of root residues and root exudates of intortum and the limpograsses on the growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixation of intortum were studied in experiments designed to avoid competition between root systems of the grass and legume for nutrients, water, and space and between aerial plant parts for light. Finally, allelochemicals in the root exudates of bigalta and greenalta limpograsses were collected, isolated and partially characterized. The growth of intortum in fertilized soil which contained root residue of bigalta limpograss was significantly less than the growth of intortum in the presence of greenalta limpograss. The residue treatments had little or no effect on the mineral nutrient contents of intortum tops. The effects of root exudates of the limpograsses were studied in vermiculite cultures watered with Hoagland's or a dilute nutrient solution. Intortum was grown with each of the limpograsses in divided pots where the root systems were separated and in pots where the root systems were intermingled. The growth of intortum seedlings and cuttings was inhibited as much as 75% in divided pots and 88% in undivided pots by exudates from bigalta limpograss. Exudates from bigalta limpograss were much more inhibitory than those of greenalta. It is concluded from the data that the inhibition of intortum growth by bigalta limpograss was allelopathic. The inhibition of intortum seedling growth by exudates from established intortum cuttings showed that intortum was autotoxic. Nodule fresh weight and acetylene reduction per pot of intortum grown with bigalta, greenalta or intortum were significantly lower than the control in pots with and without dividers which were irrigated with Hoagland's nutrient solution. However, the specific nodule activity of intortum was not reduced by root exudates from the two grasses. Specific nodule activity of intortum grown with intortum was significantly less than the control. A new method was developed for the extraction of hydrophobic allelochemicals from root homogenates and exudates using the resin Amberlite XAD-4. Allelochemicals in aqueous root homogenates of the limpograsses were extracted with equal efficiency by methanol or XAD-4 resin as shown by a lettuce seed germination bioassay. A unique continuous trapping system for the collection of root exudates was developed by connecting a column containing XAD-4 resin to the container used for growing limpograsses in sand culture. Chemicals trapped by the resin were eluted by organic solvents and separated into neutral, acidic, and basic fractions. The neutral fraction from bigalta limpograss inhibited lettuce seed germination more than that of greenalta. Allelochemicals were isolated only from the neutral and acidic fractions by paper chromatography. Most zones on the chromatograph containing inhibitors showed a positive color reaction when sprayed with diazotized p-nitroaniline followed by 10% sodium carbonate indicating that the allelochemicals were mainly phenolic compounds. Root residues of bigalta and greenalta limpograsses and intortum added to soil increased the populations of some fungi and bacteria and the soil levels of the enzymes amylase, cellulase, invertase and dehydrogenase. However, the lowest levels of fungi were found in the pots containing residues from bigalta limpograss. The levels of the four enzymes were highest in soil containing intortum root residues and lowest in soil containing bigalta residues and in the control soil

Beneficial bacterial strains on Agaricus blazei cultivation

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of six bacterial strains isolated from Agaricus blazei (ABM) on its cultivation. The six strains were characterized as to their effects on the productivity, polysaccharide‑protein complex (PSPC), and polysaccharide contents of ABM cultured on sterilized casing soils. Three isolates enhanced ABM mycelium growth. Inoculation of Arthrobacter sp. or Exiguobacterium sp. on sterile peat casing soil resulted in 64% increase in ABM mushroom total fresh matter yield compared to the uninoculated control. Inoculation of Exiguobacterium sp., Microbacterium esteraromaticum or Pseudomonas resinovorans on sterilized loamy casing soil resulted in 62, 95, and 59% increase in ABM mushroom total fresh matter yield, respectively. The PSPC content in ABM increased 7 to 10% in casing soil inoculated with five of the six isolates compared to the uninoculated control. Exiguobacterium sp. inoculated on casing soil resulted in a mushroom‑polysaccharide content 15% higher than the control. Moreover, inoculation of five of the six isolates on the casing soil reduced the harvesting time from 10 to 27 days. The evaluated beneficial microbes improve the yield, PSPC, and polysaccharide contents, besides reducing the harvesting time in ABM culture.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de seis estirpes bacterianas isoladas de Agaricus blazei (ABM) sobre o seu cultivo. As seis estirpes foram caracterizadas quanto a seus efeitos sobre a produtividade, o conteúdo do complexo polissacarideo‑proteina (CPPP) e o conteúdo de polissacarídeos, em ABM cultivado em solos esterilizados. Três isolados aumentaram o crescimento micelial de ABM. A inoculação de Arthrobacter sp. ou Exiguobacterium sp. em cobertura de turfa estéril resultou em aumento de 64% na produção total de cogumelos, em comparação ao controle sem inoculação. A inoculação de Exiguobacterium sp., Microbacterium esteraromaticum ou Pseudomonas resinovorans em solo argiloso esterilizado resultou em 62, 95, e 59% de aumento na produção total de cogumelos, respectivamente. O conteúdo de CPPP em ABM aumentou de 7 a 10% em solo com inoculação de cinco dos seis isolados, em comparação ao controle sem inoculação. A inoculação de Exiguobacterium sp. em terra de cobertura resultou em conteúdo de polissacarídeo nos cogumelos 15% superior ao do controle. Além disso, a inoculação de cinco dos seis isolados na terra de cobertura reduziu o tempo de colheita de 10 a 27 dias. Os microrganismos benéficos avaliados melhoram a produção e os conteúdos de CPPP e de polissacarídeos, além de reduzir o tempo de colheita no cultivo de ABM

Ganho de produtividade e complexo de proteína‑polissacarídeos em Agaricus blazei

The objective of this work was to assess the productivity and polysaccharide‑protein complex content of Agaricus blazei on rice straw medium, in comparison to conventional sawdust, using four casing soils. The A. blazei strain used was BCRC36814T, purchased from the Food Industry Research and Development Institute, Hsin‑Chu, Taiwan. The two media were evaluated as to A. blazei productivity, harvesting time, and production costs. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block, with four replicates. Three local casing soils – Typic Paleudult (CCe), Typic Udorthent (Tq) and Oxyaquic Paleudult (TSp) – were compared to imported peat soil (PS, Saprists, Histosols), used as the control. The productivity of A. blazei using Tq and TSp soil was significantly higher. The TSp casing treatment resulted in earlier harvest by at least14 to 27 days, when compared to the other treatments. The polysaccharide content in CCe (13.2%) and Tqsoils (13.2%) did not differ significantly from the PS (13.4%) and TSp (10.6%) treatments. Local casing soilsdecreased the production costs of A. blazei cultivation. Composted rice straw can substitute sawdust as the culture medium for A. blazei production with increased yield.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade e o conteúdo do complexo proteínapolissacarídeosde Agaricus blazei em meio de palha de arroz, em comparação ao de serragem, tendo-se utilizado quatro tipos de solo como camadas de cobertura. Utilizou-se a linhagem BCRC36814T de A. blazei, procedente do Food Industry Research and Development Institute, Hsin‑Chu, Taiwan. Os dois meios foram avaliados quanto à produtividade, ao tempo de colheita e aos custos de produção de A. blazei. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. As camadas de cobertura foram compostas por três solos locais – Argissolo Vermelho‑Amarelo distrófico (CCe), Neossolo Litólico distrófico (Tq) e Oxyaquic Paleudult (TSp) –, comparados a solo turfoso importado (PS, Saprists, Organossolos Háplicos), utilizado como controle. A produtividade de A. blazei com Tq e TSp foi significativamente maior. O tratamento com TSp resultou em colheita antecipada de 14 a 27 dias, em comparação aos outros tratamentos. O conteúdo de polissacarídeos em CCe (13,2%) e Tq (13,2%) não diferiu significativamente do em PS (13,4%) e TSp (10,6%). Os custos de produção foram reduzidos com uso das camadas de cobertura locais. O composto de palha de arroz pode substituir a serragem como meio para o cultivo de A. blazei, com aumento de produtividade

Bactérias cultiváveis promotoras do crescimento do cogumelo e seu impacto sobre a produtividade de Agaricus blazei

The objective of this work was to identify growth‑promoting bacteria isolated from Agaricus blazei and to evaluate their effect on mushroom mycelial growth and productivity. A total of 56 A. blazei‑associated bacterial isolates were obtained from casing soil and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Bacteria were evaluated as to phosphate‑solubilization ability, nitrogen‑fixation capability, and secretion of cellulase. Superior isolates were tested for their to effect on A. blazei productivity, micelial growth, and on the contents of the polysaccharide‑protein complex and of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg. Bacterial isolates were identified as actinobacteria (60%), firmicutes (20%), and proteobacteria (20%). Among them, ten isolates had phosphate‑solubilization ability, eight showed nitrogen‑fixation capability, and 12 isolates promoted A. blazei mycelium growth. Bacterial inoculation reduces time till harvest in up to 26 days, increases fresh mushroom yield up to 215%, and increases total polysaccharide‑protein complex content twofold when compared to the non‑inoculated control. The actinobacteria group is the predominant A. blazei‑associated phylum.O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar bactérias promotoras de crescimento, isoladas de Agaricus blazei, e avaliar o seu efeito sobre o crescimento micelial e a produtividade do cogumelo. Um total de 56 isolados bacterianos associados a A. blazei foram obtidos a partir de solo de cobertura, e identificados por sequenciamento do gene 16S rRNA. As bactérias foram avaliadas quanto à capacidade de solubilização de fosfato, à capacidade de fixação de nitrogênio e à secreção de celulases. Isolados superiores foram testados quanto a seus efeitos sobre a produtividade de A. blazei, o crescimento micelial, e os teores do complexo polissacarídeo‑proteínas e os de N, P, K, Ca e Mg. Os isolados bacterianos foram identificados como actinobacteria (60%), firmicutes (20%) e proteobactéria (20%). Entre eles, dez isolados tiveram capacidade de solubilização de fosfato, oito apresentaram capacidade de fixação de nitrogênio e 12 isolados promoveram o crescimento micelial de A. blazei. A inoculação bacteriana reduz o tempo até a colheita em até 26 dias, aumenta o rendimento de cogumelo fresco até 215% e aumenta em duas vezes o teor do complexo polissacarídeo‑proteínas quando comparado ao controle não inoculado. O grupo das actinobacterias é o filo predominante associado a A. blazei

Effectiveness and tolerability of transdermal buprenorphine patches: a multicenter, prospective, open-label study in Asian patients with moderate to severe chronic musculoskeletal pain

AEs: Adverse events; BS-11: Box Scale-11; CIs: Confidence intervals; EAPC: European Association for Palliative Care; EQ VAS: EQ-5D visual analogue scale; EQ-5D-3 L questionnaire: EuroQol Group 5-Dimension SelfReport Questionnaire-3 Level Version Survey; GSQA: Global Sleep Quality Assessment Scale; ITT: Intent-to-treat; LS: Least squares; NICE: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs; PP: Per-protocol; SD: Standard deviation; TDB: Transdermal buprenorphine; TEAEs: Treatment-emergent adverse eventsAbstract Background We examined the effectiveness and tolerability of transdermal buprenorphine (TDB) treatment in real-world setting in Asian patients with musculoskeletal pain. Methods This was an open-label study conducted in Hong Kong, Korea, and the Philippines between June 2013 and April 2015. Eligible patients fulfilled the following criteria: 18 to 80 years of age; clinical diagnosis of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, low back pain, or joint/muscle pain; chronic non-malignant pain of moderate to severe intensity (Box-Scale-11 [BS-11] pain score ≥ 4), not adequately controlled with non-opioid analgesics and requiring an opioid for adequate analgesia; and no prior history of opioid treatment. Patients started with a 5 μg/h buprenorphine patch and were titrated as necessary to a maximum of 40 μg/h over a 6-week period to achieve optimal pain control. Patients continued treatment with the titrated dose for 11 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in BS-11 pain scores. Other endpoints included patients sleep quality and quality of life as assessed by the 8-item Global Sleep Quality Assessment Scale (GSQA) questionnaire and the EuroQol Group 5-Dimension Self-Report Questionnaire-3 Level version (EQ-5D-3 L), respectively. Tolerability was assessed by collecting adverse events. Results A total of 114 eligible patients were included in the analysis. The mean BS-11 score at baseline was 6.2 (SD 1.6). Following initiation of TDB, there was a statistically significant improvement in BS-11 score from baseline to visit 3 (least squares [LS] mean change: -2.27 [95% CI -2.66 to −1.87]), which was maintained till the end of the study (visit 7) (LS mean change: −2.64 [95% -3.05 to −2.23]) (p < 0.0001 for both). The proportion of patients who rated sleep quality as good increased from 14.0% at baseline to 26.9% at visit 6. By visit 6, the mean EQ VAS score increased by 7.7 units (SD 17.9). There were also significant improvements in patients levels of functioning for all EQ-5D-3 L dimensions from baseline at visit 6 (p < 0.05 for all). Seventy-eight percent of patients reported TEAEs and 22.8% of patients discontinued due to TEAEs. TEAEs were generally mild to moderate in intensity (96.5%). Conclusions TDB provides effective pain relief with an acceptable tolerability profile over the 11-week treatment period in Asian patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. More studies are needed to examine the long-term efficacy and safety of TBD treatment in this patient population.This study was funded by Mundipharma Pte Ltd., Singapor

Accommodation functions: co-dependency and relationship to refractive error

We assessed the extent to which different accommodative functions are correlated and whether accommodative functions predict the refractive error or the progression of myopia over a 12 month period in 64 young adults (30 myopes and 34 non-myopes). The functions were: amplitude of accommodation; monocular and binocular accommodative facility (6 m and 40 cm); monocular and binocular accommodative response to target distance; AC/A and CA/C ratios, tonic accommodation (dark focus and pinhole), accommodative hysteresis, and nearwork-induced transient myopia. Within groups of related accommodative functions (such as facility measures or open-loop measures) measurements on individuals were generally significantly correlated, however correlations between functions from different groups were generally not significant. Although accommodative amplitude and pinhole (open loop) accommodation were significantly different in myopes than in non-myopes, these functions were unrelated to myopia progression. Facility of accommodation and accommodative lag was independent predictors of myopia progression

Proximity effect at superconducting Sn-Bi2Se3 interface

We have investigated the conductance spectra of Sn-Bi2Se3 interface junctions down to 250 mK and in different magnetic fields. A number of conductance anomalies were observed below the superconducting transition temperature of Sn, including a small gap different from that of Sn, and a zero-bias conductance peak growing up at lower temperatures. We discussed the possible origins of the smaller gap and the zero-bias conductance peak. These phenomena support that a proximity-effect-induced chiral superconducting phase is formed at the interface between the superconducting Sn and the strong spin-orbit coupling material Bi2Se3.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

Centrality Dependence of the High p_T Charged Hadron Suppression in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV

PHENIX has measured the centrality dependence of charged hadron p_T spectra from central Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=130 GeV. The truncated mean p_T decreases with centrality for p_T > 2 GeV/c, indicating an apparent reduction of the contribution from hard scattering to high p_T hadron production. For central collisions the yield at high p_T is shown to be suppressed compared to binary nucleon-nucleon collision scaling of p+p data. This suppression is monotonically increasing with centrality, but most of the change occurs below 30% centrality, i.e. for collisions with less than about 140 participating nucleons. The observed p_T and centrality dependence is consistent with the particle production predicted by models including hard scattering and subsequent energy loss of the scattered partons in the dense matter created in the collisions.Comment: 7 pages text, LaTeX, 6 figures, 2 tables, 307 authors, resubmitted to Phys. Lett. B. Revised to address referee concerns. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this and previous PHENIX publications are publicly available at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/phenix/WWW/run/phenix/papers.htm

Net Charge Fluctuations in Au + Au Interactions at sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV

Data from Au + Au interactions at sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV, obtained with the PHENIX detector at RHIC, are used to investigate local net charge fluctuations among particles produced near mid-rapidity. According to recent suggestions, such fluctuations may carry information from the Quark Gluon Plasma. This analysis shows that the fluctuations are dominated by a stochastic distribution of particles, but are also sensitive to other effects, like global charge conservation and resonance decays.Comment: 6 pages, RevTeX 3, 3 figures, 307 authors, submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. on 21 March, 2002. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this and previous PHENIX publications are (will be made) publicly available at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/phenix/WWW/run/phenix/papers.htm