Predicting nitrogen leaching with the modified LEACHM model: validation in soils receiving long-term application of animal manure composts

A variety of process-based models have been developed for predicting nitrogen (N) dynamics in agro-ecosystem; however, no reliable models have been validated for N leaching from soils receiving a long-term application of different types of animal manure composts. The Leaching Estimation and Chemistry Model (LEACHM) was recently modified by incorporating the basic structure of Rothamsted Carbon Model for extending its ability to describe soil organic matter decomposition and subsequent N leaching in soils rich in organic matter. We evaluate the applicability of the modified LEACHM in cropped Yellow soils receiving 10-year application of cattle or swine manure compost in addition to chemical fertilizers, where high-frequency field monitoring data of soil water contents, soil N contents and leachate N concentrations were available for the last 3 years. Particular attention was paid to determine all input parameters from independent measurements, parameterization from known soil properties or databases without optimisation to fit the measured field data. The model reasonably predicted temporal changes in the soil NH₄-N and NO₃-N contents, and inorganic N concentrations in the leachate as well as their differences due to different manure compost/chemical fertilizer applications. The simulations of leached N concentration yielded a Willmott index of agreement (IA) of 0.62–0.68, with those for soil moisture, soil nitrate content and crop N uptake all within an acceptable IA range. In view of the good performance without site-specific calibrations, the modified LEACHM appears to be a valuable tool for predicting N leaching from cropped soils receiving long-term manure compost applications.     

Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Diseases

There has been an increasing prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases with the rapid increase in aging societies worldwide. Biomarkers that can be used to detect pathological changes before the development of severe neuronal loss and consequently facilitate early intervention with disease-modifying therapeutic modalities are therefore urgently needed. Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a promising tool that can be used to infer microstructural characteristics of the brain, such as microstructural integrity and complexity, as well as axonal density, order, and myelination, through the utilization of water molecules that are diffused within the tissue, with displacement at the micron scale. Diffusion tensor imaging is the most commonly used diffusion MRI technique to assess the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. However, diffusion tensor imaging has several limitations, and new technologies, including neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging, diffusion kurtosis imaging, and free-water imaging, have been recently developed as approaches to overcome these constraints. This review provides an overview of these technologies and their potential as biomarkers for the early diagnosis and disease progression of major neurodegenerative diseases.     

Removal of dissolved estrogen in sewage effluents by β-cyclodextrin polymer

Substances with estrogenic activity are found in effluents of municipal sewage plants and dairy farms. These effluents have the potential to induce feminization in male fish. In this study, cyclodextrin polymers (CDPs) that are insoluble in both polar and non-polar solvents were selected for the removal of dissolved estrogens in the effluent of a municipal sewage plant. The removal capacity of CDPs was high in the order of β-CDP ≥ γ-CDP ? α-CDP. The mechanism for adsorption of estrogens to β-CDP was not only due to a host-guest interaction as molecular recognition by β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), but also due to adsorption by the polymer matrix. β-CDP of 0.2% (w/v) removed 17β-estradiol (E2) of about 70% from 10⁻¹¹ mol/L, and more than 90% from ≥ 10⁻¹⁰ mol/L. The removal ratios of E2 in the presence of cholesterols, which are contained at higher concentrations than estrogens in sewage effluents and are adsorptive competitor for β-CDP, were about 85% at a cholesterol/E2 molar ratio of 100 and > 90% at molar ratios of 0.1, 1, and 10. The effluent from a municipal sewage plant had estrogenic activity corresponding to 5.5 × 10⁻¹¹ molE2/L by yeast two-hybrid assay. The estrogens in the effluent were also removed > 90% by the β-CDP treatment. Therefore, β-CDP is able to remove dissolved estrogens over a wide range of concentrations in the presence of various contaminants such as wastewaters.     

Evaluation of use of the optional unit QA-810V for the determination of five-part leukocyte differentials

The newly developed QA-810V is an optional unit for the determination of five-part white blood cell differentials. It can be used together with the same manufacturer's haematology analyser which has been used in relatively small-sized laboratories. The present study evaluates the basic performance of the QA-810V and the MEK-8118 haematology analyser using routinely obtained blood specimens treated with ethylenedioaminetetraacetic acid-2K. In this evaluation, reproducibility was good and little carryover was found. Accurate measurements were possible for up to 24h of storage. Storage at 4 ( degrees )C yielded more stable measurements of complete blood counts and five-part differentials than storage at room temperature. A good correlation between findings with the MEK-8118 haematology analyser and those with the SE-9000 haematology analyser was found for complete blood counts. The leukocyte differential obtained with the QA-810V correlated well with eye counts, with r > 0.9 for percentages of neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosinophils. Scattergrams obtained with the QA-810V reflected the presence of abnormal cells. The performance of the QA-810V was excellent and it can improve the quality of testing in clinical laboratories.     

Possible action of vasohibin-1 as an inhibitor in the regulation of vascularization of the bovine corpus luteum

The development of the corpus luteum (CL), which secretes large amounts of progesterone to establish pregnancy, is accompanied by active angiogenesis, vascularization, and lymphangiogenesis. Negative feedback regulation is a critical physiological mechanism. Vasohibin-1 (VASH1) was recently discovered as a novel endothelium-derived negative feedback regulator of vascularization. We therefore investigated the expression of VASH1 in the bovine CL. Expression of VASH1 mRNA and protein was predominantly localized to luteal endothelial cells (LECs). VASH1 expression in the CL was constant through the early to late luteal phases and decreased during CL regression relating with the action of luteolytic prostaglandin F(2)(α) in vivo. To investigate the role of VASH1, we determined whether VASH1 treatment affects angiogenesis and/or lymphangiogenesis using LECs and lymphatic endothelial cells (LyECs) in vitro. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) stimulated the expression of VASH1 in LECs but not in LyECs, and VASH1 completely blocked VEGFA-induced formation of capillary-like tube structures of LECs and LyECs in vitro. In summary, VASH1 is predominantly located on LECs in the bovine CL and inhibits the angiogenic and lymphangiogenic actions of VEGFA. Bovine CL therefore has a VEGFA-VASH1 system that may be involved in regulation of luteal function, especially in the development of the CL. The results indicate that VASH1 has the potential to act as a negative feedback regulator of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in the CL in cows.     

Immunochromatography for the rapid determination of cadmium concentrations in wheat grain and eggplant

BACKGROUND: A simple and quick on‐site test for trace levels of cadmium (Cd) in food is needed because of the human toxicity of this heavy metal. We developed an immunochromatography kit which uses the antigen‐antibody complex reaction between the Cd–ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Cd–EDTA) complex and an anti‐Cd–EDTA antibody. We previously reported the successful use of this kit to determine Cd concentrations in brown rice with respect to the international standard: 0.4 mg kg^?1. Here, we measured, using this immunochromatography kit, Cd concentrations in crops with lower international standards than rice. RESULTS: Cadmium extracted with 0.1 mol L^?1 HCl from wheat grain and fresh eggplant was purified sufficiently using an ion‐exchange column treatment. Appropriate HCl extraction rates and dilution rates for the column eluate were selected; Cd concentrations in wheat grain and fresh eggplant were determined successfully by immunochromatography with respect to the international standards of 0.2 mg kg^?1 and 0.05 mg kg^?1 fresh weight, respectively. CONCLUSION: Approximate Cd concentrations in wheat grain and fresh eggplant can be monitored easily and quickly by this method at locations where facilities for acid digestion and precision analysis are not available. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Rapid Hardening of Cement by the Addition of a Mechanically Activated Al(OH)3–Ca(OH)2 Mixture

Rapid hardening of cement was achieved in the present study by adding a mechanically activated Al(OH)₃–Ca(OH)₂ mixture to the starting cement paste. Among the dominant parameters for hardening were the mechanical treatment time for the Al(OH)₃ powder and the Al(OH)₃/Ca(OH)₂ ratio. The hardening mechanisms are discussed here in terms of the ionic concentration of the solution and the hydration products created when the Al(OH)₃–Ca(OH)₂ mixture was added to water. Mechanical activation of the Al(OH)₃ powder accelerated dissolution into an aqueous alkaline solution and induced the formation of calcium aluminate hydration products. Those hydration products increased the compressive strength of the cement paste at a very early stage of hardening.     

Upregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme during the healing process after injury at the site of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in humans

BACKGROUND: Balloon injury models in rat have shown enhanced expression of ACE in the developing neointima. However, neointimal lesions in human coronary arteries are complex due to atherosclerosis and different types of wall laceration. This study was designed to investigate whether ACE is present in the neointima of humans, including patients with restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-seven sites with angioplasty injury, obtained at autopsy, were studied using immunocytochemical techniques. Sites with injury limited to a fibrous plaque and those with injury extending into the media (<2 months after PTCA) showed fibrocellular repair tissue composed mainly of smooth muscle cells that were distinctly positive for ACE. In cellular reactions at the site of injury limited to the atheromatous plaque (<2 months after PTCA), the expression of ACE appeared first in accumulated macrophages; once smooth muscle cells appeared in the repair tissue, they also expressed ACE. At a later stage (3 months after PTCA), the number of cells with ACE expression decreased markedly; from 7 months on, ACE was no longer expressed within the repair tissue. Basically, there were no differences with regard to ACE expression during the healing process after PTCA between segments with and those without angiographic evidence of restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that PTCA injury in humans results in upregulation of ACE at sites of active repair and, therefore, ACE could play an important role as one of the mediators of the healing process after PTCA.