Long‐term impact of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers on yield,soil nutrients and biochemical parameters of tea

A field experiment was conducted with tea cultivar UPASI‐9 over a period of 9 years to evaluate the long‐term effects of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilizers on yield, biochemical parameters, soil and leaf nutrient status. The yield increase was as high as 66% over the control for N application of 450 kg ha^?1 year^?1. Polyphenol and amino acid contents increased with increase in K application rate. Positive and significant correlation was found between nitrate reductase activity and the amino acid content of the tea shoots. While ammoniacal nitrogen in the soil was not affected by the application of fertilizer, ammonium acetate extractable K increased. The failure to apply fertilizer resulted in depletion of the organic matter status of the soil. Although increased rate of nitrogen application increased the overall yield of made tea (kg ha^?1 year^?1), the specific yield (kg kg^?1 N) declined. The soil tended to become acidic from frequent application of high doses of nitrogenous fertilizer. The leaf NK status was significantly influenced by the various treatments. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Novel Role of Ghrelin Receptor in Gut Dysbiosis and Experimental Colitis in Aging

Chronic low-grade inflammation is a hallmark of aging, which is now coined as inflamm-aging. Inflamm-aging contributes to many age-associated diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We have shown that gut hormone ghrelin, via its receptor growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), regulates energy metabolism and inflammation in aging. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiome has a critical role in intestinal immunity of the host. To determine whether microbiome is an integral driving force of GHS-R mediated immune-metabolic homeostasis in aging, we assessed the gut microbiome profiles of young and old GHS-R global knockout (KO) mice. While young GHS-R KO mice showed marginal changes in Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, aged GHS-R KO mice exhibited reduced Bacteroidetes and increased Firmicutes, featuring a disease-susceptible microbiome profile. To further study the role of GHS-R in intestinal inflammation in aging, we induced acute colitis in young and aged GHS-R KO mice using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The GHS-R KO mice showed more severe disease activity scores, higher proinflammatory cytokine expression, and decreased expression of tight junction markers. These results suggest that GHS-R plays an important role in microbiome homeostasis and gut inflammation during aging; GHS-R suppression exacerbates intestinal inflammation in aging and increases vulnerability to colitis. Collectively, our finding reveals for the first time that GHS-R is an important regulator of intestinal health in aging; targeting GHS-R may present a novel therapeutic strategy for prevention/treatment of aging leaky gut and inflammatory bowel disease.     

Competing Martensitic,Bainitic, and Pearlitic Transformations in a Hypoeutectoid Ti-5Cu Alloy

This article discusses the competing mechanisms of martensite formation vs eutectoid decomposition via pearlitic or bainitic mechanisms during continuous cooling of a Ti-5 wt pct Cu hypoeutectoid alloy, which falls under the category of active eutectoid systems. Faster cooling rates result in a mixed microstructure of nanoscale bainite consisting of a far-from-equilibrium Ti₂Cu phase and martensitic alpha plates, as determined from three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) coupled with energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM). Slower cooling resulted in near-equilibrium eutectoid-based microstructures.     

Synthesis and optical limiting effects in ZrO2 and ZrO2@SiO2 core–shell nanostructures

ZrO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized by the chemical precipitation method and coated with silica through seeded polymerization technique to form core–shell type ZrO₂@SiO₂ nanostructures. The structural, morphological and silica coating formation of the bare and silica coated particles were studied using Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis and Zeta potential measurements were performed to check the thermal and dispersion stability of the nanostructures. The optical limiting performance of these nanostructures was studied using open-aperture Z-scan technique in which nanosecond laser pulses at 532 nm have been used for optical excitation. Both bare and silica coated ZrO₂ nanoparticles exhibited good optical limiting behavior due to excited state absorption, arising from effective three photon absorption. It is observed that the optical nonlinearity is enhanced in core shell structures as compared with the bare particles.     

Functional performance in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The extent to which individuals with a chronic physical illness perform their day-to-day activities and maintain the independence and autonomy they desire is both an indicator of adaptation and an important clinical outcome criterion. Yet the concept of functional performance is not well understood. Studies of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have attempted to identify physiologic and psychosocial factors that contribute to functioning in this population. These studies have used a melange of terms, including functional status, functional ability, quality of life, and health status interchangeably. They have also employed a variety of instruments to operationalize functional performance and an assortment of predictors to understand the phenomena. Perhaps as a result of this disarray, no attempt has been made to synthesize the literature for nursing research and practice. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the research on functional performance in people with COPD, indicate areas of understanding and quandary, suggest possible flaws, and propose several new directions for practice and research.     

Somatic antigens of pseudomonads: structure of the O-specific polysaccharide of Pseudomonas fluorescens biovar B, strain IMV 247

The O-specific polysaccharide of Pseudomonas fluorescens biovar B, strain IMV 247, was studied by acid hydrolysis, GLC-MS and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 1D and 2D NOE, 2D hybrid TOCSY and ROESY (TORO), and 2D H-detected heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation (HMBC) experiments. The polysaccharide was found to contain L-rhamnose, 3.6-dideoxy-3-[(S)-3-hydroxybutyramido]-D-glucose (D-Qui3NHb), 2-acetamido- 2,4,6-trideoxy-4-[(S)-3-hydroxybutyramido-D-glucose (D-QuiNAc4NHb) and 2-acetamido-2- deoxy-D-galacturonic acid (D-GalNAcA). Partial acid hydrolysis of the polysaccharide resulted in a non-reducing GalNAcA-->QuiNAc4NHb disaccharide with the 3-hydroxybutyryl group glycosylated intramolecularly by the QuiN4N residue. The following structure of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established:-->4) -alpha-D-GalpNAcA-(1-->3)- alpha-D-QuipNAc4NHb-(1-->2)-beta-D-Quip3NHb-(1-->2)-alpha-L- Rhap(1-->.     

Quality of life. Issues for persons with neuromuscular diseases

Improving quality of life has always been a goal of rehabilitation medicine. However, health care providers often do not know much about the quality of life of individuals with neuromuscular diseases, nor what factors are critical to achieving a good quality of life. Lack of knowledge about subjective quality of life factors can negatively influence expectations and selection of treatments. In the most glaring cases, a physician's subjective but incorrect assessment of a disabled individuals' quality of life may prevent life-sustaining interventions. As a group, the quality of life of individuals with NMD is not much different than nondisabled controls and is substantially better than presumed by the general public and, often times, by health care workers. Nevertheless, their quality of life is reduced in certain areas. Surprisingly, level of disability is not a critical factor that significantly alters life satisfaction. Presumably, this is because physical functioning has been adequately managed. The greatest problems that individuals with neuromuscular disease identified were: lack of information about the disease and services; poor coordination of services; negative attitudes; and a diminished expectation of their potential. In addition, people with severe disabilities had significant problems obtaining, financing, and managing personal care attendants. Factors related to a good quality of life were related to perceived control, perceived health status, but not disability. The more that people could do for themselves, either on their own or with personal care assistants, assistive devices, and use of technology, the better their quality of life.