An Investigation on the Influence of a Biofilm Fertilizer on Plant Growth and Soil Geophysical Properties

A biofilm is a grouping of one or more types of microorganisms in which cells stick together. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) can be converted into ammonia (NH3) by organisms in a process called biological nitrogen fixation, becoming more bioavailable for plants to use. Anabaena cylindrica is a non-toxic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (NFC) that has been proposed for use as a biofertilizer.https://digitalcommons.mtech.edu/urp_aug_2017/1009/thumbnail.jp

Mountain Resilience:A Systematic Literature Review and Paths to the Future

Mountains are home to a considerable share of the human population. Around a billion people live in mountainous areas, which harbor rich natural and sociocultural diversity. Today, many people living in mountainous areas worldwide face fundamental changes to their cultural and economic living conditions. At the same time, mountain communities have defied harsh environments in the past by adapting to changing natural conditions and showing remarkable levels of resilience. In this review paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of English-language scientific literature on resilience-related topics in mountain areas based on a systematic review of the Scopust literature database. We propose a structured starting point for science–practice interactions and concrete action-based activities to support livelihoods and strengthen resilience in mountain areas. We suggest that existing knowledge gaps can be addressed by relying on local knowledge and cocreating solutions with communities. In this way, we can build innovative capacity and actively buffer against the impact of crises while supporting deliberate transformation toward sustainability and regeneration to further enhance resilience.ISSN:0276-4741ISSN:1994-715

Gender Roles and Medical Progress

Maternal mortality was the second-leading cause of death for women in childbearing years up until the mid-1930s in the United States. For each death, twenty times as many mothers were estimated to suffer pregnancy-related conditions, often leading to severe and prolonged disablement. Poor maternal health made it particularly hard for mothers to engage in market work. Between 1930 and 1960, there was a remarkable reduction in maternal mortality and morbidity, thanks to medical advances. We argue that these medical advances, by enabling women to reconcile work and motherhood, were essential for the joint rise in married women's labor force participation and fertility over this period. We also show that the diffusion of infant formula played an important auxiliary role

Alpine Plants and Climate Change in Glacier National Park, New Zealand and Scotland

The first part of the lecture details a study of how receding glaciers and snowfields in Montana, New Zealand and Scotland affect the alpine plants that grow along and near their edges. Measuring and monitoring techniques are included. The second part describes the Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLOBAL) whose purpose is to establish and maintain a world-wide long-term observation network in alpine environments. Vegetation and temperature data collected at the GLORIA sites will be used for discerning trends in species diversity and temperature

Morphogenesis of Douglas Fir Buds is Altered at Elevated Temperature but not at Elevated CO2

Global climatic change as expressed by increased CO2 and temperature has the potential for dramatic effects on trees. To determine what its effects may be on Pacific Northwest forests, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii ) seedlings were grown in sun-lit controlled environment chambers at ambient or elevated (+4°C above ambient) temperature, and at ambient or elevated (+200 ppm above ambient) CO2. In 1995–1996 and 1996–1997, elevated CO2 had no effect on vegetative bud morphology, while the following unusual morphological characteristics were found with greater frequency at elevated temperature than at ambient: rosetted buds with reflexed and loosened outer scales, convoluted inner scales, clusters of small buds, needles elongating between scales, needle primordia with white, hyaline apical extensions, and buds with hardened scales inside of unbroken buds. Buds became rosetted in elevated temperature chambers after temperatures exceeded 40°C in July, 1996. Rosettes were induced within 48-h in buds placed in a 40°C oven; fewer rosettes formed at 20°C. Induction was reversible in buds transferred from 40 to 20°C, implying that rosetting is a physical rather than a growth phenomenon. It appears that rosettes form after long-term exposure to elevated temperature and after shorter periods of exposure to intense heat. Elevated temperature influences bud morphology and may therefore influence the overall branching structure of Douglas-fir seedlings

Internal Temperature of Douglas-Fir Buds is Altered at Elevated Temperature

Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir) saplings were grown in sun-lit controlled environment chambers at ambient or elevated (4°C above ambient) temperature. We measured internal temperatures of vegetative buds with thermocouple probes and compared temperatures of normal buds and abnormal buds with loosened, rosetted outer scales in elevated temperature chambers. The abnormal buds had higher and earlier peak daily temperatures than normal buds. Elevated temperature may influence the internal temperature of buds and contribute to the development of abnormal, rosetted buds with loosened outer scales. Abnormal bud development may alter branching patterns and allometry of Douglas-fir trees subjected to climatic change

Characterization of Champia parvula (Rhodophyta) tetraspore mucilage and rhizoids with histochemical stains and FITC-labelled lectins

Tetraspore mucilage and rhizoids of Champia parvula (C. Agardh) Harvey were characterized with histochemical stains and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled lectins and examined by SEM and light microscopy. The extracellular mucilage of attached tetraspores, rhizoids, and holdfasts stained positive for sulphated and carboxylated polysaccharides. Using a variety of FITC-lectins to probe the mucilage of attached tetraspores, we detected the sugar haptens α-D-mannose, α-D-glucose, β-D-galactose, and N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine and α-L-fucose were not detected with FITC-lectins specific for these sugar haptens. Spores, rhizoids, and holdfast cells stained for protein, whereas their accompanying mucilage did not stain for protein