The isotopic composition (d15N, d13C) of agricultural wastes and derived composts.

The aim of this study was to measure variations in the isotopic composition (d13C and d15N) during the composting of different agricultural wastes using bench-scale bioreactors. Four different feedstocks of agricultural wastes (Horse bedding manure + legumes residues; Dairy manure + Jatropha mill cake; Dairy manure + sugarcane residues; Dairy manure) were used for aerobic-thermophilic composting. During composting no significant differences were found between the d13C values of the source material and the compost, except for Dairy manure + sugarcane residues. d15N values increased significantly in composts of Horse bedding manure + legumes residues and Dairy manure + Jatropha mill cake. d15N values of composts may be related to NH3 volatilization during the composting process. Isotopic signatures (d13C, d15N) can be used to differentiate composts from different feedstock sources and d15N values may be a quantitative indicator of NH3 volatilization during composting. Use of bench-scale bioreactors is a promising apparatus to study the dynamics of C and N and stable isotopes signatures during composting, but future adjustments regarding sampling methodology are necessary

Flight Evaluation of an Aircraft with Side and Center Stick Controllers and Rate-Limited Ailerons

As part of an ongoing government and industry effort to study the flying qualities of aircraft with rate-limited control surface actuators, two studies were previously flown to examine an algorithm developed to reduce the tendency for pilot-induced oscillation when rate limiting occurs. This algorithm, when working properly, greatly improved the performance of the aircraft in the first study. In the second study, however, the algorithm did not initially offer as much improvement. The differences between the two studies caused concern. The study detailed in this paper was performed to determine whether the performance of the algorithm was affected by the characteristics of the cockpit controllers. Time delay and flight control system noise were also briefly evaluated. An in-flight simulator, the Calspan Learjet 25, was programmed with a low roll actuator rate limit, and the algorithm was programmed into the flight control system. Side- and center-stick controllers, force and position command signals, a rate-limited feel system, a low-frequency feel system, and a feel system damper were evaluated. The flight program consisted of four flights and 38 evaluations of test configurations. Performance of the algorithm was determined to be unaffected by using side- or center-stick controllers or force or position command signals. The rate-limited feel system performed as well as the rate-limiting algorithm but was disliked by the pilots. The low-frequency feel system and the feel system damper were ineffective. Time delay and noise were determined to degrade the performance of the algorithm

Nitrogen and carbon isotope composition of organic Fertilizers.

Synthetic (e.g. urea) and organic fertilizers (e.g. compost) differed markedly in N isotope composition and the greater the difference between organic and synthetic fertilizer the more robust will be the differentiation of crops and vegetable grown under different farming systems. The objective of this study was to compare nitrogen and carbon isotope composition of organic fertilizers and manures available for conventional and organic farming in Brazil. Seven samples of organic fertilizer, two of organo-mineral fertilizers and two of different animal manures were analyzed for nitrogen and carbon isotope composition (15N, 13C). Organic fertilizers and manure samples were enriched in 15N as expected. Using synthetic fertilizers as the primary material of organo-mineral fertilizer can imprint a low 15N value to the final product. Organic fertilizers, organo-mineral fertilizers and manures can have their organic feedstock differentiated using 13C. These are preliminary data of the isotopic composition of organic fertilizer in Brazil. Therefore, a wider survey of fertilizers and an experimental approach for organic- and organo-mineral fertilizer production is needed to elucidate the natural isotope variation of the array of available products

Nitrogen loss (NH3, N2O) patterns in bench-scale composting.

Nitrogen (N) losses during composting reduce the value of the end product as a fertilizer. Nitrogen is lost during composting mainly by ammonia (NH3) volatilization in the thermophilic phase. We used three bench-scale aerobic bioreactors with a controlled temperature difference (CDT) system as an experimental approach to investigate the pattern of N losses during composting. N2O peak emission occurred much earlier (7h) than NH3 volatilization (48-60h) during the thermophilic phase (~55°C) of bench-scale composting. The NH3 volatilization peak rate occurred following the greater biological activity (O2 consumed/CO2 evolved) at 40°C which could coincide with greater ammonification, but immobilization of NH4+/NH3 also occurs at this point affecting NH3 volatilization. Differences in temperature curves and accumulated NH3-N were related to the biological activity in each vessel. Therefore, O2 consumed/CO2 evolved measurements must be part of the evaluation of composting in further studies for comparisons of techniques to reduce NH3 volatilizatio

Activation of PTHrP-cAMP-CREB1 signaling following p53 loss is essential for osteosarcoma initiation and maintenance

Mutations in the P53 pathway are a hallmark of human cancer. The identification of pathways upon which p53-deficient cells depend could reveal therapeutic targets that may spare normal cells with intact p53. In contrast to P53 point mutations in other cancer, complete loss of P53 is a frequent event in osteosarcoma (OS), the most common cancer of bone. The consequences of p53 loss for osteoblastic cells and OS development are poorly understood. Here we use murine OS models to demonstrate that elevated Pthlh (Pthrp), cAMP levels and signalling via CREB1 are characteristic of both p53-deficient osteoblasts and OS. Normal osteoblasts survive depletion of both PTHrP and CREB1. In contrast, p53-deficient osteoblasts and OS depend upon continuous activation of this pathway and undergo proliferation arrest and apoptosis in the absence of PTHrP or CREB1. Our results identify the PTHrP-cAMP-CREB1 axis as an attractive pathway for therapeutic inhibition in OS.Mannu K Walia, Patricia MW Ho, Scott Taylor, Alvin JM Ng, Ankita Gupte, Alistair M Chalk, Andrew CW Zannettino, T John Martin, Carl R Walkle

Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome Associated with Peripheral Neuropathy

Here we report a patient with Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome and peripheral neuropathy, a previously unreported association

Sensorimotor Peripheral Neuropathy in Rheumatoid Arthritis

We describe three patients with severe sensorimotor neuropathy complicating rheumatoid arthritis. Two patients had evidence of vasculitis and an axonal neuropathy. These patients were unusual in that the neuropathy occurred early in the course of rheumatoid arthritis. The third patient had a demyelinating neuropathy with a high cerebrospinal fluid protein level, and is a probable example of a chronic inflammatory neuropathy occurring in rheumatoid arthritis. All patients improved or were stabilized with corticosteroid therapy

A record of Neogene seawater δ11B reconstructed from paired δ11B analyses on benthic and planktic foraminifera

The work was supported by NERC grants NE/I006176/1 (Gavin L. Foster and Caroline H. Lear), NE/H006273/1 (Gavin L. Foster), NE/I006168/1 and NE/K014137/1 and a Royal Society Research Merit Award (Paul A. Wilson), a NERC Independent Research Fellowship NE/K00901X/1 (Mathis P. Hain) and a NERC studentship (Rosanna Greenop).The boron isotope composition (δ11B) of foraminiferal calcite reflects the pH and the boron isotope composition of the seawater the foraminifer grew in. For pH reconstructions, the δ11B of seawater must therefore be known, but information on this parameter is limited. Here we reconstruct Neogene seawater δ11B based on the δ11B difference between paired measurements of planktic and benthic foraminifera and an estimate of the coeval water column pH gradient from their δ13C values. Carbon cycle model simulations underscore that the ΔpH-Δδ13C relationship is relatively insensitive to ocean and carbon cycle changes, validating our approach. Our reconstructions suggest that δ11Bsw was ∼37.5‰ during the early and middle Miocene (roughly 23-12 Ma) and rapidly increased during the late Miocene (between 12 and 5 Ma) towards the modern value of 39.61 ‰. Strikingly, this pattern is similar to the evolution of the seawater isotope composition of Mg, Li and Ca, suggesting a common forcing mechanism. Based on the observed direction of change, we hypothesize that an increase in secondary mineral formation during continental weathering affected the isotope composition of riverine input to the ocean since 14 Ma.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe