Early Stages Of Incubation Research Articles

Date palm waste biochars alter a soil respiration, microbial biomass carbon, and heavy metal mobility in contaminated mined soil.

A 30-day incubation experiment was conducted using a heavy metal-contaminated mined soil amended with date palm feedstock (FS) and its derivative biochars (BCs) at three pyrolysis temperatures of 300 (BC-300), 500 (BC-500), and 700°C (BC-700) with different application rates (0.0, 5, 15, and 30gkg-1) to investigate their short-term effects on soil respiration (CO2-C efflux), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), soil organic carbon (SOC), mobile fraction of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, and Fe), pH, and electrical conductivity (EC). The results showed that FS and BC-300 with increasing addition rate significantly reduced soil pH, whereas SOC, CO2-C efflux, and soil MBC were increased compared to the control. On the contrary, BC-500 and BC-700 increased soil pH at early stage of incubation and have small or no effects on SOC, CO2-C efflux, and MBC. Based on the results, the date palm biochars exhibited much lower cumulative CO2-C efflux than feedstock, even with low-temperature biochar, indicating that BCs have C sequestration potential. Applying BC-700 at 15 and 30gkg-1 significantly reduced cumulative CO2-C efflux by 21.8 and 45.4% compared to the control, respectively. The incorporation of FS into contaminated soil significantly increased the mobile content of Cd and Mn, but decreased the mobile content of Cu. However, BC-300 significantly reduced the mobile content of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn. It could be concluded that low-temperature biochar could be used as a soil amendment for reducing heavy metal mobility in mining contaminated soil in addition to minimize soil CO2-C efflux.

Visible marking of wader nests to avoid damage by farmers does not increase nest predation

SummaryOnly a few studies have assessed the predation risk on artificially marked nests, or have examined ways of marking nests to avoid destruction by machinery. Until now, however, neither type of study has directly addressed this apparent trade-off experimentally. The impact of marking the nests of Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus with thin 2 m-long conspicuous bamboo poles with the top end highlighted with reflective red or orange spray has been tested for three years in two breeding areas of waders in the Czech Republic. A total of 52 pairs of nests on agricultural land, with each pair consisting of one marked nest and one unmarked reference counterpart nest, were monitored for 2004 nest-days until hatching, agricultural operations or failure. The results proved that marking itself does not result in increased nest predation. The nests found in the early incubation stage were under higher threat of depredation, irrespective of the presence of marking. Our results show that it is possible to find a finely-tuned trade-off in nest marking of ground-nesting birds between risk of damage by agricultural machinery and risk of increased nest predation. Our positive experience with Northern Lapwing, and episodically with three other wader species in the Czech Republic, suggests that this direct nest protection could be used effectively for a wider variety of ground-nesting birds.

Enhanced critical-sized bone defect repair efficiency by combining deproteinized antler cancellous bone and autologous BMSCs

Previously we have demonstrated that calcinated antler cancellous bone (CACB) has great potential for bone defect repair, due to its highly similar composition and architecture to natural extracellular bone matrix. This study is aiming at seeking for an optimal strategy of combined application of CACB and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in bone defect repair. In vitro study demonstrated that CACB promoted the adhesion, spreading and viability of BMSCs. Increased extracellular matrix production and expression of osteogenic markers in BMSCs were observed when seeded on CACB scaffolds. The cells ceased to proliferation in the dual effect of CACB and osteogenic induction at the early stage of incubation. Hence synergistic effect of CACB combined with autologous undifferentiated BMSCs in rabbit mandible critical-sized defect repair was further evaluated. Histological analysis results showed that loading the CACB with autologous BMSCs resulted in enhanced new bone formation and angiogenesis when compared with implanted CACB alone. These findings indicate that the combination of CACB and autologous BMSCs should become potential routes to improve bone repair efficiency

In ovo sexing of chicken eggs by fluorescence spectroscopy.

Culling of day-old male chicks in production of laying hen strains involves several millions of animals every year worldwide and is ethically controversial. In an attempt to provide an alternative, optical spectroscopy was investigated to determine nondestructively in ovo the sex of early embryos of the domestic chicken. The extraembryonic blood circulation system was accessedby producing a window in the egg shell and the flowing blood was illuminated with a near-infrared laser. The strong fluorescence and the weak Raman signals were acquired and spectroscopically analyzed between 800 and 1000nm. The increase of fluorescence intensity between 3.5 and 11.5days of incubation was found to be in agreement with the erythropoietic stages, thus enabling to identify hemoglobin as fluorescence source. Sex-related differences in the fluorescence spectrum were found at day 3.5, and principal component (PC) analysis showed that the blood of males was characterized by a specific fluorescence band located at ∼910nm. Supervised classification of the PC scores enabled the determination of the sex of 380 eggs at day 3.5 of incubation with a correct rate up to 93% by combining the information derived from both fluorescence and Raman scattering. Graphical abstract The fluorescence of blood obtained in ovo by illumination of embryonic vessels with a IR laser displays spectral differences that can be employed for sexing of eggs in early stage of incubation, before onset of embryo sensitivity and without hindering its development into a healthy chick.

Assessment of the performance of SMFCs in the bioremediation of PAHs in contaminated marine sediments under different redox conditions and analysis of the associated microbial communities

The biodegradation of naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene and phenanthrene was evaluated in marine sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) under different biodegradation conditions, including sulfate reduction as a major biodegradation pathway, employment of anode as terminal electron acceptor (TEA) under inhibited sulfate reducing bacteria activity, and combined sulfate and anode usage as electron acceptors. A significant removal of naphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene was observed at early stages of incubation in all treatments and was attributed to their high volatility. In the case of phenanthrene, a significant removal (93.83±1.68%) was measured in the closed circuit SMFCs with the anode acting as the main TEA and under combined anode and sulfate reduction conditions (88.51±1.3%). A much lower removal (40.37±3.24%) was achieved in the open circuit SMFCs operating with sulfate reduction as a major biodegradation pathway. Analysis of the anodic bacterial community using 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing revealed the enrichment of genera with potential exoelectrogenic capability, namely Geoalkalibacter and Desulfuromonas, on the anode of the closed circuit SMFCs under inhibited SRB activity, while they were not detected on the anode of open circuit SMFCs. These results demonstrate the role of the anode in enhancing PAHs biodegradation in contaminated marine sediments and suggest a higher system efficiency in the absence of competition between microbial redox processes (under SRB inhibition), namely due to the anode enrichment with exoelectrogenic bacteria, which is a more energetically favorable mechanism for PAHs oxidation than sulfate.

Effects of water-soluble organic matter and residue of litter on nitrogen transformation in subtropical forest soil.

An incubation experiment was carried out with the addition of litter filtrate, litter residue and alanine at 25 ℃ for 36 days under 60% and 90%WHC (water holding capacity) conditions. The results showed that alanine was rapidly mineralized in soil, and soil NH4+-N content significantly increased by 5.4%-44.7% and 16.1%-41.3%, respectively under 60% and 90%WHC conditions compared with the control. The soil net nitrogen mineralization and ammonification rates in the two treatments were also higher than those in the control at the early stage of incubation. However, the soil NH4+-N content was reduced by the addition of filtrate and residue, and the reduction degree of residue was greater. During the incubation, soil NO3--N content showed a linear increasing trend with the incubation time, and it was significantly higher under the 60%WHC condition than that under 90%WHC condition at the end of incubation. The mineralization of soil organic matter was limited by higher soil moisture. Therefore, the soil soluble organic carbon (SOC) content under 90%WHC condition was obviously lower than that under 60%WHC, but nitrous oxide (N2O) emission was 1.5-63.0 times higher than that under 60%WHC. Furthermore, N2O emission was induced significantly by the addition of litter residue under 60%WHC condition. These results indicated that there were different effects of soluble matter and litter residue on soil nitrogen transformation, and these differences would change dynamically in the decomposition process.

Bacteroides fragilis metabolises exopolysaccharides produced by bifidobacteria.

BackgroundBacteroides fragilis is the most frequent species at the human intestinal mucosal surface, it contributes to the maturation of the immune system although is also considered as an opportunistic pathogen. Some Bifidobacterium strains produce exopolysaccharides (EPS), complex carbohydrate polymers that promote changes in the metabolism of B. fragilis when this microorganism grows in their presence. To demonstrate that B. fragilis can use EPS from bifidobacteria as fermentable substrates, purified EPS fractions from two strains, Bifidobacterium longum E44 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis R1, were added as the sole carbon source in cultures of B. fragilis DSMZ 2151 in a minimal medium. Bacterial counts were determined during incubation and the evolution of organic acids, short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and evolution of EPS fractions was analysed by chromatography.ResultsGrowth of B. fragilis at early stages of incubation was slower in EPS than with glucose, microbial levels remaining higher in EPS at prolonged incubation times. A shift in metabolite production by B. fragilis occurred from early to late stages of growth, leading to the increase in the production of propionate and acetate whereas decrease lactate formation. The amount of the two peaks with different molar mass of the EPS E44 clearly decreased along incubation whereas a consumption of the polymer R1 was not so evident.ConclusionsThis report demonstrates that B. fragilis can consume some EPS from bifidobacteria, with a concomitant release of SCFA and organic acids, suggesting a role for these biopolymers in bacteria-bacteria cross-talk within the intestine.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-016-0773-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Factors Affecting Female Incubation Behavior in the Bull-Headed Shrike

Abstract In most avian species, parents incubate their eggs until they hatch, paying an energetic cost in the process. Incubating individuals are expected to efficiently adjust their investment in incubation according to the thermal demands of their eggs and their partner's contribution to the process. In this study, the effects of ambient temperature, incubation stage, clutch size, and food provisioning by males on the incubation behavior of females, were investigated in the Bull-headed Shrike Lanius bucephalus. We video recorded behavior at 16 nests throughout the 15-day incubation period and established that only females incubate. During the early stage of incubation (5–7 days after completion of the clutch) female shrikes spent more time incubating, with longer periods on the nest (on-bout duration) and shorter periods off the nest (off-bout duration), than during the late stage (9–11 days after clutch completion). Females with larger clutches spent more time incubating than those with smaller clutche...

Influence of poultry manure–derived biochars on nutrients bioavailability and chemical properties of a calcareous soil

ABSTRACTThis study was conducted to investigate the effects of poultry manure (PM) and its derived biochars on chemical properties of a calcareous soil. PM and biochars prepared at 200°C (B200), 300°C (B300) and 400°C (B400) were applied to a calcareous soil at 2% level (w/w) and incubated for 150 days. Selected soil chemical properties and phosphorous, potassium, iron, manganese, zinc and copper availability and recovery were determined at 1, 15, 45 and 150 days of incubation. Soil nutrients availability, organic carbon (OC), electrical conductivity (EC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) increased by addition of all organic substances. Biochars prepared at higher temperatures were more effective in increasing soil OC with higher durability compared to other treatments. The addition of PM and B200 decreased soil pH, whereas B400 increased it. Although the highest soil EC was observed in B300- and B400-treated samples in the early stages of incubation, the rate of increase in soil EC was higher for PM- and B200-treated soils compared to other treatments. It was concluded that biochar prepared at 300°C had the highest positive effect on nutrients availability and lasts longer in calcareous soil compared to the other produced biochars and PM.

Effect of nitrogen fertilizer and/or rice straw amendment on methanogenic archaeal communities and methane production from a rice paddy soil

Nitrogen fertilization and returning straw to paddy soil are important factors that regulate CH4 production. To evaluate the effect of rice straw and/or nitrate amendment on methanogens, a paddy soil was anaerobically incubated for 40days. The results indicated that while straw addition increased CH4 production and the abundances of mcrA genes and their transcripts, nitrate amendment showed inhibitory effects on them. The terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis based on mcrA gene revealed that straw addition obviously changed methanogenic community structure. Based on mcrA gene level, straw-alone addition stimulated Methanosarcinaceaes at the early stage of incubation (first 11days), but nitrate showed inhibitory effect. The relative abundance of Methanobacteriaceae was also stimulated by straw addition during the first 11days. Furthermore, Methanosaetaceae were enriched by nitrate-alone addition after 11days, while Methanocellaceae were enriched by nitrate addition especially within the first 5days. The transcriptional methanogenic community indicated more dynamic and complicated responses to straw and/or nitrate addition. Based on mcrA transcript level, nitrate addition alone resulted in the increase of Methanocellaceae and the shift from Methanosarcinaceae to Methanosaetaceae during the first 5days of incubation. Straw treatments increased the relative abundance of Methanobacteriaceae after 11days. These results demonstrate that nitrate addition influences methanogens which are transcriptionally and functionally active and can alleviate CH4 production associated with straw amendment in paddy soil incubations, presumably through competition for common substrates between nitrate-utilizing organisms and methanogens.

The Effect of Some Thai Medicinal Herb Extracts on Nitrification Inhibition

This study aimed to determine the effect on nitrification inhibition of some Thai medicinal herb extracts. The experimental design was completely randomized design, consisted 33 treatments with 4 replications. The experiments were performed in a laboratory, using surface soil of Yang Talat soil series as media. In each treatment, soil sample (100 g) was mixed thoroughly with 1 ml of herbal extract and 50 mg kg-1 of ammonium sulphate. The mixture was then incubated at ambient temperature. Ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB), nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB), ammonium-N (NH4+-N), nitrate-N (NO3--N), and soil pH were determined at week 1 to 4 after incubation. The results showed that the numbers of AOB in soil sample mixed with galanga stem decreased during the first 2 weeks. It was obvious that after the first week of incubation, the activity of NOB in soil samples mixed with extracts of ringworm bush leaf, heart- leaved moonseed stem, mangosteen fruit, kariyat leaf and galanga rhizome was suppressed. Soil samples containing herbal extracts had higher concentraions of NH4+-N and lower concentraions of NO3--N than those of control. The highest amount of NH4+-N was found in clove flower treated soil during the first 2 weeks of incubation. Kariyat leaf treated and cinnamon bark treated soil samples contained the highest amount of NH4+-N in weeks 3 and 4, respectively. Samples with extracts of ringworm bush leaf, mangosteen fruit, Thai copper pod leaf, Indian mulberry leaf, lemon grass leaf, bitter cucumber fruit, egg woman stem, fingerroot stem, fingerroot rhizome and hog plum leaf contained the lowest amount of NO3--N during the first 3 weeks. The concentraion of NO3--N in heart- leaved moonseed stem treated soil was the lowest in the last 3 weeks. The highest ratio of NH4+-N (100 %) and the lowest ratio of NO3--N (0.0 %) to inorganic N were found in samples with extracts of ringworm bush leaf, mangosteen fruit, Thai copper pod leaf, Indian mulberry leaf, lemon grass leaf, bitter cucumber fruit, egg woman stem, fingerroot stem, fingerroot rhizome, hog plum leaf and heart-leaved moonseed stem for 3 weeks. At early stages of incubation, low pH of herbal soil samples were observed. The pH of those samples, however, increased over time.

Effects of thermal manipulations during embryogenesis of broiler chickens on developmental stability, hatchability and chick quality

Stress based on high temperature and humidity reduces the production performance of fast-growing broilers and causes high mortality. Temperatures higher than optimum have been applied to broilers in the embryonic period in order to overcome thermal stress. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of exposure to two long-term high-thermal environments on the developmental stability of embryonic growth, hatchability and chick quality. For this purpose, 600 broiler eggs were incubated. Treatments consisted of eggs incubated at 37.8°C at 55% relative humidity throughout (control), heated to 39.6°C at 60% relative humidity for 6 h daily from 0 to 8th day, and heated to 39.6°C at 60% relative humidity for 6 h daily from the 10 to 18th day. Embryo weights and lengths of face, wing, femur, tibia and metatarsus were measured daily between the 10th and 21st day of the experiment. Daily relative asymmetry values of bilateral traits were estimated. The hatchability, the weight of the 1-day-old chicks and chick quality were determined. In conclusion, no negative effects of the treatments of the long-term high-thermal environment in the early and late stages of incubation for epigenetic adaptation were determined on the embryo morphology, development stability and weight of the chick. Moreover, regressed hatchability of embryos that were exposed to a long-term high-thermal environment was detected. Especially between the 10 and 18th day, the thermal manipulation considerably reduced the quality of the chicks. Acclimation treatments of high temperature on the eggs from cross-breeding flocks should not be made long term; instead, short-term treatments should be made by determining the stage that generates epigenetic adaptation.

Morphological characterization and in vitro germination of heat-treated pollen in Eucommia ulmoides

AbstractPolyploid breeding has the potential to increase the economic secondary metabolites of Eucommia ulmoides. However, pollination with induced ploidy-mixed pollen has failed to produce polyploids (GAO, 2006). In this investigation, the morphological characterization and in vitro germination of heat-induced ploidy-mixed pollen of E. ulmoides were analysed to determine why there is no polyploid production. Heat-treated pollen grains were easily distinguished as large and small according to their length. The large pollen grains were significantly longer than both untreated and heat-treated small samples, suggesting that they were probably 2n pollen. Rather than the three germinal pores in small pollen, the large grains typically had four pores and, in some cases, shallow furrows, which might affect their germination. Although the maximal germination rates of the treated small and large pollen were not significantly different, the large pollen germinated tardily during the early stages of incubation. The small pollen maintained its growth during the incubation, but the tube growth of large pollen almost stopped after 24 h incubation. Both vegetative and generative nuclei in the large pollen moved into tubes later than in small pollen and the frequency of mitosis in generative nuclei of large pollen was low. Therefore, the tardy germination, poor tube growth, and weak activity of both vegetative and generative nuclei probably caused the poor competition of large pollen in certation. Finally, techniques to increase the competition of highploidy pollen and the prospect of 2n female gamete induction in the polyploid breeding program of E. ulmoides are discussed.

Protective effect of autophagy on human retinal pigment epithelial cells against lipofuscin fluorophore A2E: implications for age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of central vision loss in the elderly. Degeneration of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is a crucial causative factor responsible for the onset and progression of AMD. A2E, a major component of toxic lipofuscin implicated in AMD, is deposited in RPE cells with age. However, the mechanism whereby A2E may contribute to the pathogenesis of AMD remains unclear. We demonstrated that A2E was a danger signal of RPE cells, which induced autophagy and decreased cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Within 15 min after the treatment of RPE with 25 μM A2E, the induction of autophagosome was detected by transmission electron microscopy. After continuous incubating RPE cells with A2E, intense punctate staining of LC3 and increased expression of LC3-II and Beclin-1 were identified. Meanwhile, the levels of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM), interleukin (IL)1β, IL2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, IL-22, macrophage cationic peptide (MCP)-1, stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) were elevated. The autophagic inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and activator rapamycin were also used to verify the effect of autophagy on RPE cells against A2E. Our results revealed that 3-MA decreased the autophagosomes and LC3 puncta induced by A2E, increased inflammation-associated protein expression including ICAM, IL1β, IL2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, IL-22, and SDF-1, and upregulated VEGFA expression. Whereas rapamycin augmented the A2E-mediated autophagy, attenuated protein expression of inflammation-associated and angiogenic factors, and blocked the Akt/mTOR pathway. Taken together, A2E induces autophagy in RPE cells at the early stage of incubation, and this autophagic response can be inhibited by 3-MA or augmented by rapamycin via the mTOR pathway. The enhancement of autophagy has a protective role in RPE cells against the adverse effects of A2E by reducing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and VEGFA.

Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of a Thermophilic Endoglucanase, AcCel12B from Acidothermus cellulolyticus 11B.

The gene ABK52392 from the thermophilic bacterium Acidothermus cellulolyticus 11B was predicted to be endoglucanase and classified into glycoside hydrolase family 12. ABK52392 encodes a protein containing a catalytic domain and a carbohydrate binding module. ABK52392 was cloned and functionally expressed in Escherichia coli. After purification by Ni-NTA agarose affinity chromatography and Q-Sepharose® Fast Flow chromatography, the properties of the recombinant protein (AcCel12B) were characterized. AcCel12B exhibited optimal activity at pH 4.5 and 75 °C. The half-lives of AcCel12B at 60 and 70 °C were about 90 and 2 h, respectively, under acidic conditions. The specific hydrolytic activities of AcCel12B at 70 °C and pH 4.5 for sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and regenerated amorphous cellulose (RAC) were 118.3 and 104.0 U·mg−1, respectively. The Km and Vmax of AcCel12B for CMC were 25.47 mg·mL−1 and 131.75 U·mg−1, respectively. The time course of hydrolysis for RAC was investigated by measuring reducing ends in the soluble and insoluble phases. The total hydrolysis rate rapidly decreased after the early stage of incubation and the generation of insoluble reducing ends decreased earlier than that of soluble reducing ends. High thermostability of the cellulase indicates its potential commercial significance and it could be exploited for industrial application in the future.

Response of biochar induced carbon mineralization priming effects to additional nitrogen in a sandy loam soil

The responses of soil carbon (C) mineralization priming effects induced by biochar to nitrogen (N) and the mechanisms in relation to soil microbial community and C availability were examined. A sandy loam soil (under a long-term C3 crop rotation) amended with biochar derived from maize straw (C4 crop) with or without additional N was incubated for 30 days. Primed native soil-derived carbon dioxide emission by biochar was −64.4 and −95.9mgCkg−1 in soils without and with N, respectively; and additional N showed no influence on priming effects (−66.9% and −72.0%) during the whole incubation. Whereas, N increased (p<0.05, n=6) the magnitude of priming effects from −68.3% to −83.5% at the early incubation stage (days 0–11) while N decreased (p<0.05, n=6) that from −64.9% to −38.8% at the late incubation stage (days 11–30). Nitrogen increased microbial biomass (p >0.05, n=6) and the proportion of gram-positive (G+) bacteria (p<0.05, n=6) while N decreased the ratios of gram-negative to G+ bacteria (p>0.05, n=6) and aerobic to anaerobic microbes (p<0.05, n=6) as estimated by phospholipids fatty acids at the beginning of the incubation. The opposite impact, however, occurred on day 11 in biochar-amended soils. On the other hand, N had no influence on native-soil derived dissolved organic carbon throughout the incubation in biochar-amended soils. Therefore, the results indicated that N could affect biochar induced C mineralization priming effects through the change of microbial community, especially the increase of G+ bacteria in the soil tested.

Measurement of vital sign in chick embryo using multi-channel diffuse speckle contrast analysis.

In poultry industry which is avian breeding program, the determination whether chick embryos survive in the artificial incubation periods or not is essential to reduce the financial resources. We developed the multi-channel diffuse speckle contrast analysis (DSCA) system composed of four optical fiber detectors enabling to achieve in-vivo measurements of deep tissue flow noninvasively. The system could confirm vital sign of the chick embryo in early incubation stage. Moreover, it demonstrates the change of relative blood flow index and depth information with simplicity, low cost, and flexibility.

Effects of three methane mitigation agents on parameters of kinetics of total and hydrogen gas production, ruminal fermentation and hydrogen balance using in vitro technique.

Methane (CH4 ) can be mitigated through directly inhibiting methanogen activity and starving methanogens by hydrogen (H2 ) sink. Three types of mechanism (i.e. bromoethanesulphonate (BES), nitrate and emodin) and doses of CH4 mitigation agents were employed to investigate their pathways of CH4 inhibition. Results indicated that both BES and emodin inhibited CH4 production and altered H2 balance, which could be accompanied by decreased dry matter disappearance (DMD), fractional rate of gH2 formation, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, ability to produce and use reducing equivalences and molecular H2 , and increased final asymptotic gH2 production, time to the peak of gH2 , discrete lag time of gH2 production and fermentation efficiency. However, emodin decreased gas volume produced by rapidly fermentable components of substrate and the rate of fermentation at early stage of incubation, while BES supplementation inhibited gas volume produced by both rapidly and slowly fermentable components of substrate and the rate of fermentation at middle or late stage of incubation. The nitrate supplementation inhibited CH4 production without affecting VFA profile, because of its dual role as H2 sink and being toxic to methanogens. Nitrate supplementation had more complicated pattern of fermentation, VFA production and profile and H2 balance in comparison to BES and emodin supplementation.

Nitrogen Amendment Stimulated Decomposition of Maize Straw-Derived Biochar in a Sandy Loam Soil: A Short-Term Study.

This study examined the effect of nitrogen (N) on biochar stability in relation to soil microbial community as well as biochar labile components using δ13C stable isotope technology. A sandy loam soil under a long-term rotation of C3 crops was amended with biochar produced from maize (a C4 plant) straw in absence (BC0) and presence (BCN) of N and monitored for dynamics of carbon dioxide (CO2) flux, phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) profile and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content. N amendment significantly increased the decomposition of biochar during the first 5 days of incubation (P < 0.05), and the proportions of decomposed biochar carbon (C) were 2.30% and 3.28% in BC0 and BCN treatments, respectively, during 30 days of incubation. The magnitude of decomposed biochar C was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than DOC in biochar (1.75%) and part of relatively recalcitrant biochar C was mineralized in both treatments. N amendment increased soil PLFAs concentration at the beginning of incubation, indicating that microorganisms were N-limited in test soil. Furthermore, N amendment significantly (P < 0.05) increased the proportion of gram-positive (G+) bacteria and decreased that of fungi, while no noticeable changes were observed for gram-negative (G−) bacteria and actinobacteria at the early stage of incubation. Our results indicated that N amendment promoted more efficiently the proliferation of G+ bacteria and accelerated the decomposition of relatively recalcitrant biochar C, which in turn reduced the stability of maize straw-derived biochar in test soil.

A new locus in Cytophaga hutchinsonii involved in colony spreading on agar surfaces and individual cell gliding.

Cytophaga hutchinsonii glides rapidly over surfaces by an unknown mechanism without flagella and type IV pili and it can degrade crystalline cellulose efficiently by a novel mechanism. Tn4351 transposon mutagenesis was used to identify a new gene, CHU_1798, essential for colony spreading on agar surfaces. Further study showed that disruption of CHU_1798 caused non-spreading colonies on both soft and hard agar surfaces and individual cells were partially deficient in gliding on glass surfaces. The CHU_1798 mutant could digest cellulose as long as the cells were in direct contact with the cellulose, but it could not degrade cellulose powder buried in the agar plate. Scanning electron microscopy showed that individual mutant cells arranged irregularly on the cellulose fiber surface at an early stage of incubation, but later showed a regular parallel arrangement when there were plenty of cells and could spread along the cellulose fibers. These results suggest that CHU_1798 plays an important role in the motility of C. hutchinsonii and provide insight into the relation between cell motility and cellulose degradation.