Cell-wall polysaccharides play an important role in decay resistance of Sphagnum and actively depressed decomposition in vitro

Sphagnum-dominated peatlands head the list of ecosystems with the largest known reservoirs of organic carbon (C). The bulk of this C is stored in decomposition-resistant litter of one bryophyte genus: Sphagnum. Understanding how Sphagnum litter chemistry controls C mineralization is essential for understanding potential interactions between environmental changes and C mineralization in peatlands. We aimed to separate the effects of phenolics from structural polysaccharides on decay of Sphagnum. Wemeasured aerobic microbial respiration of different moss litter types in a lab. We used chemical treatments to step-wise remove the chemical compounds thought to be important in decay-resistance in three taxonomically distant moss genera. We also focused on the effect of Sphagnum-specific cell-wall pectin-like polysaccharides (sphagnan) on C and N mineralization. Removing polymeric lignin-like phenolics had only negligible effects on C mineralization of Sphagnum litter, but increased mineralization of two other bryophyte genera, suggesting a minor role of these phenolics in decay resistance of Sphagnum but a major role of cell-wall polysaccharides. Carboxyl groups of pectin-like polysaccharides represented a C-source in non-Sphagnum litters but resisted decay in Sphagnum. Finally, isolated sphagnan did not serve as C-source but inhibited C and N mineralization instead, reminiscent of the effects reported for phenolics in other ecosystems. Our results emphasize the role of polysaccharides in resistance to, and active inhibition of, microbial mineralization in Sphagnum-dominated litter. As the polysaccharides displayed decay-inhibiting properties hitherto associated with phenolics (lignin, polyphenols), it raises the question if polysaccharide- dominated litter also shares similar environmental controls on decomposition, such as temperature or nutrient and water availabilit

On reductions of some KdV-type systems and their link to the quartic He'non-Heiles Hamiltonian

A few 2+1-dimensional equations belonging to the KP and modified KP hierarchies are shown to be sufficient to provide a unified picture of all the integrable cases of the cubic and quartic H\'enon-Heiles Hamiltonians.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, NATO ARW, 15-19 september 2002, Elb

Completeness of the cubic and quartic H\'enon-Heiles Hamiltonians

The quartic H\'enon-Heiles Hamiltonian $H = (P_1^2+P_2^2)/2+(\Omega_1 Q_1^2+\Omega_2 Q_2^2)/2 +C Q_1^4+ B Q_1^2 Q_2^2 + A Q_2^4 +(1/2)(\alpha/Q_1^2+\beta/Q_2^2) - \gamma Q_1$ passes the Painlev\'e test for only four sets of values of the constants. Only one of these, identical to the traveling wave reduction of the Manakov system, has been explicitly integrated (Wojciechowski, 1985), while the three others are not yet integrated in the generic case $(\alpha,\beta,\gamma)\not=(0,0,0)$. We integrate them by building a birational transformation to two fourth order first degree equations in the classification (Cosgrove, 2000) of such polynomial equations which possess the Painlev\'e property. This transformation involves the stationary reduction of various partial differential equations (PDEs). The result is the same as for the three cubic H\'enon-Heiles Hamiltonians, namely, in all four quartic cases, a general solution which is meromorphic and hyperelliptic with genus two. As a consequence, no additional autonomous term can be added to either the cubic or the quartic Hamiltonians without destroying the Painlev\'e integrability (completeness property).Comment: 10 pages, To appear, Theor.Math.Phys. Gallipoli, 34 June--3 July 200

Kappia lobulata (Apocynaceae, Periplocoideae), a new genus from South Africa

Kappia, a new genus from the Fish River Valley in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa is presented. At first described as Raphionacme lobulata Venter and R.L.Verh. [Venter, H.J.T., Verhoeven, R.L. 1988. Raphionacme lobulata (Periplocaceae), a new species from the eastern Cape Province, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 54, 603–606.] based on a single specimen collected in 1936, recently discovered plants of this species proved it to be a new genus. In habit Kappia resembles Baseonema Schltr. and Rendle, Batesanthus N.E.Br., Mondia Skeels and Stomatostemma N.E.Br. However, as far as floral structure is concerned, Kappia reveals more affinity with Raphionacme Harv. DNA sequence data show Kappia to be distinct from Batesanthus, Mondia and Raphionacme Harv. and weakly supported as a sister to Stomatostemma

Effects of fluticasone propionate inhalation on levels of arachidonic acid metabolites in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: In smoking COPD patients the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid contains high numbers of inflammatory cells. These cells might produce arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites, which contribute to inflammation and an increased bronchomotor tone. AIMS: To investigate levels of AA metabolites in BAL fluid, before and after inhaled glucocorticoid therapy: fluticasone propionate (FP) 1 mg per day, or placebo. METHODS: A double-blind placebo controlled trial lasting six months. COPD patients were selected by clinical criteria and the presence of bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR). Lung function was recorded and in BAL fluid we counted cell numbers and measured LTB4, LTC4/D4/E4, PGE2, 6kPGF1alpha, PGF2alpha and TxB2. A control group consisted of asymptomatic smokers (n=6). RESULTS: Paired data were obtained from 9 FP treated and 11 placebo patients. BAL cells were almost exclusively alveolar macrophages. In patients and controls both cellularity and levels of AA metabolites were equal Cell numbers did not change after treatment. Statistically significant decreases after FP therapy were noticed for PGE2 (30%), 6kPGF1alpha (41%) and PGF2alpha (54%). CONCLUSIONS: In COPD, the capability of inflammatory cells to produce certain AA metabolites was decreased after inhaled FP treatment. This result is discussed in its relation to clinical effects, the influence of smoking, and the results of an earlier, similar study in asthma patients

Fundamental aspects related to sediment transport in sandy coasts

Marine sediment transport processes occur mainly in coastal areas, where the presence of waves and slowly varying currents is the main hydrodynamic feature. Several processes taking place at different time and space scales are involved. On the inner shelf, waves generate turbulence next to the bed largely responsible for sediment resuspension. Over the bottom boundary layer, mean currents control horizontal motion of suspended sediment while the falling of grains is compensated by the upwards diffusion resulting from the turbulent motion close to the bed . Here, the total stress depends on the waves' and currents' varying contributions, whose degree of non-linearity remains unknown for the moment (Soulsby, 1993). Due to the complexity of the governing processes, technological limitations and lack of knowledge on several aspects, mainly related to the involved physics, most of the existing models do not consider certain mechanisms as wave-related mass transport or bed roughness effects on near-bed flows. Nevertheless, to understand the fundamental aspects of sediment transport some (often non-linear) relationships involved in morphodynamic processes should not be overlooked. Parallel and interactive development of physical and numerical experiments is a powerful tool to improve our understanding of previously investigated and new matters and to advance our ability to measure particular processes. Experiments at full scale have been done in the Deltaflume2 in order to improve the knowledge of sediment transport under waves. Furthermore, a smaller wave-current flume at Flanders Hydraulics is used. At this moment the flume and the various instruments are being tested and the hydrodynamics of the interaction of waves and currents are studied. In a later phase also sediments will be introduced. In addition, a set of numerical models has been selected to simulate processes taking place at several time and space scales. Vertical 1D and 2D models are used to reproduce wave-current flow close to a sandy bed and to model sediment-turbulence interaction. These detailed models are very demanding in terms of computer time. The use of 2D horizontal flow models, spectral wave and transport models, is more realistic for the study of the hydrodynamics and sediment transport in larger areas. Spatial and temporal variations of currents, sediment distribution along the water column and bed roughness related energy dissipation, control sediment deposition, entrainment and transport at various scales. The progressive parameterisation of processes at a smaller scale for the use in models at a larger scale forms the synergy between the different models. It is seen as one of the main goals of this project

Mineralenproject VEL en VANLA gestart

Aandachtspunten in het samenwerkingsproject zijn een biologisch goed functionerende bodem, toevoegmiddelen aan mest en bodem en een sterke vermindering van eiwitovermaat in de voeding