Wick Method Research Articles

Pelatihan Budidaya Sayuran Hidroponik Dengan System Wick Di Kelurahan Sungai Pagar

This service aims to introduce a hydroponic vegetable cultivation system using the wick method in Sungai Pagar Village. The environment in Sungai Pagar Village is characterized by sandy soil due to the accumulation of peat soil, so plant cultivation activities are still limited. In this context the wick method is adopted as a relevant solution. Training activities were carried out through several stages, including field surveys, delivery of materials, sowing seeds, making AB mix nutrition, making a hydroponic wick system from used plastic bottles, and monitoring and evaluation. The results of the training showed an increase in participants' knowledge about hydroponic cultivation and their abilities in caring for hydroponic plants. Each training participant succeeded in making a hydroponic wick system using used plastic bottles and was given a hydroponic cultivation package to continue cultivation at home. In order to improve food security and the community's economy, this training made a positive contribution by introducing an environmentally friendly and hydroponic vegetable cultivation system. efficient. In conclusion, this training was successful in introducing and training the public in hydroponic vegetable cultivation using the wick method.

Exploring growth, physiological status, yield and water use efficiency of vegetables grown under wick method of irrigation

Exploring growth, physiological status, yield and water use efficiency of vegetables grown under wick method of irrigation

Standard manufacturing procedure of Yava kshara (alkali preparation from Hordeum vulgare L.) with cotton wick method

Standard manufacturing procedure of Yava kshara (alkali preparation from Hordeum vulgare L.) with cotton wick method

Improving nitrogen fertilizer efficiency with the addition of compost extracts to kailan (Brassica oleracea L.) plants with wick hydroponic cultivation

<p>The goal of this research was to observe the impact of the application of the forms of compost extract and urea fertilizer on the development of kailan plants in the hydroponic wick method. The experiment consisted of a quasi- experimental factorial design with the first element reflecting the compost type: no compost extract, cow manure compost extract, rice straw compost extract, and vermicompost extract. The second element was the use of 0, 100 and 200 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> nitrogen fertilizers. The usage of vermicompost extract shows the maximum growth (59.27 cm), amount of leaves (23.00), overall plant weight (93.92 g plant<sup>-1</sup>), canopy weight (61.37 g plant<sup>-1</sup>), dried foliage weight (7.17 g plant<sup>-1</sup>), fresh root weight (33.40 g plant<sup>-1</sup>), leaf greenness (183.80 SPAD) and nutrient uptake (6.32 g plant<sup>-1</sup>). (6.32 g plant<sup>-1</sup>). The optimal nitrogen fertilizer application was found to be 200 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>, which culminated in the maximum plant height (42.18 cm), number of leaves (17.75), overall plant weight (60.42 g plant<sup>-1</sup>), leaf greenness (166.23 SPAD) and N uptake (3.73 g plant<sup>-1</sup>). With the addition of 100 kg of urea ha<sup>-1</sup>, Vermicompost extract achieved the maximum N adhesion strength of 112.05 per cent. The use of vermicompost extract in the production of crops with a hydroponic wick method could fulfill the nutrient requirements of plants.</p>

Below-ground nitrogen transfer from oak seedlings facilitates Molinia growth: 15N pulse-chase labelling

Belowground carbon transfer from plant to plant has been extensively described, but such transfer for nitrogen has been less thoroughly investigated when the donor is a non-N2-fixing species. This study, applied to forest regeneration, aimed to determine whether tree seedlings facilitated neighbouring grass growth through nitrogen transfer at an early stage of development, thus facilitating nitrogen acquisition by understory species. Quercus petraea seedlings were planted in pots either sole-grown or mixed-grown with Molinia caerulea tufts or another oak seedling. 15N-urea pulse-chase labelling (cotton wick method) was performed in oak shoots and the fate of 15N in each soil and plant compartment was tracked for one year. N transfer pathways were investigated using two degrees of physical separation between root systems. Molinia dry weight was higher when mixed-grown with oak seedlings than when sole-grown. Increase in grass dry weight correlated with N transfer from donor oak to receiver Molinia. Interestingly, the presence of Molinia increased N rhizodeposition of oak. N allocation in donor oak towards root in winter and shoot in spring was enhanced. Oak seedlings facilitated Molinia growth through rapid N transfer, underlining the ability of non-N2-fixing species to supply N to neighbours. 15N allocation within donor oak and its rhizodeposition depended on neighbour identity.

Get on your boots: estimating root biomass and rhizodeposition of peas under field conditions reveals the necessity of field experiments

More sustainable agricultural systems, which contribute to C sequestration and biological N fixation, require accurate quantification of plant C and N inputs into soils. This has to be conducted under field conditions, as there are serious shortcomings to pot-based experiments, which have dominated studies on rhizodeposition estimation in the past. Therefore, amounts of below-ground plant C, N, and especially the rhizodeposition of peas were quantified in the field more accurately, with particular emphasis on their transfer into different soil compartments during vegetation. Pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants were labelled with multiple pulses of 13C-glucose and 15N urea using the cotton wick method. Plants were harvested at four dates depending on plant development. Representative soil samples were taken at harvest with a special drilling tool, considering the spatial distribution of pea roots. Our results indicate that the quantity of C and N rhizodeposition did not change between flowering and maturity. About one third of the C and N rhizodeposits were present in microbial biomass and extractable C or the inorganic N pool of soil. When comparing this field study to a former pot experiment, a higher root-to-shoot ratio was detected; also the rhizodeposition-to-root ratio was altered in the field, questioning the assumption that results from pot experiments can be transferred to field conditions. Due to a higher below-ground C (BGC) and N (BGN) input compared to pot experiments, studies aiming at quantifying BGC and BGN input will have to be conducted under field conditions.

Risk of Human Pathogen Internalization in Leafy Vegetables During Lab-Scale Hydroponic Cultivation

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is a growing industry for the production of leafy vegetables and fresh produce in general. Moreover, CEA is a potentially desirable alternative production system, as well as a risk management solution for the food safety challenges within the fresh produce industry. Here, we will focus on hydroponic leafy vegetable production (including lettuce, spinach, microgreens, and herbs), which can be categorized into six types: (1) nutrient film technique (NFT), (2) deep water raft culture (DWC), (3) flood and drain, (4) continuous drip systems, (5) the wick method, and (6) aeroponics. The first five are the most commonly used in the production of leafy vegetables. Each of these systems may confer different risks and advantages in the production of leafy vegetables. This review aims to (i) address the differences in current hydroponic system designs with respect to human pathogen internalization risk, and (ii) identify the preventive control points for reducing risks related to pathogen contamination in leafy greens and related fresh produce products.

Fluid accumulation in the staged Fontan procedure: the impact of colloid osmotic pressures.

Despite Fontan surgery showing improved results, fluid accumulation and oedema formation with pleural effusion are major challenges. Transcapillary fluid balance is dependent on hydrostatic and colloid osmotic pressure (COP) gradients; however, the COP values are not known for Fontan patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the COP of plasma (COPp) and interstitial fluid (COPi) in children undergoing bidirectional cavopulmonary connection and total cavopulmonary connection. This study was designed as a prospective, observational study. Thirty-nine children (age 3 months-4.9 years) undergoing either bidirectional cavopulmonary connection or total cavopulmonary connection procedures were included. Blood samples and interstitial fluid were obtained prior to, during and after the preoperative cardiac catheterization and surgery with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Interstitial fluid was harvested using the wick method when the patient was under general anaesthesia. Plasma and interstitial fluid were measured by a colloid osmometer. Baseline values were compared with data from healthy controls. Baseline COPp was 20.6 ± 2.8 and 22.0 ± 3.2 mmHg and COPi was 11.3 ± 2.6 and 12.5 ± 3.5 mmHg in the bidirectional cavopulmonary connection group and the total cavopulmonary connection group, respectively. These values were significantly lower than in healthy controls. The COPp was slightly reduced throughout both procedures and normalized after surgery. The COPi increased slightly during the use of CPB and significantly decreased after surgery, resulting in an increased COP gradient and was correlated to pleural effusion. Fluid accumulation seen after Fontan surgery is associated with changes in COPs, determinants for fluid filtration and lymphatic flow. NCT 02306057: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=&term=NCT+02306057.

Fluid accumulation after closure of atrial septal defects: the role of colloid osmotic pressure.

Following paediatric cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), there is a tendency for fluid accumulation. The colloid osmotic pressure of plasma (COPp) and interstitial fluid (COPi) are determinants of transcapillary fluid exchange but only COPp has been measured in sick children. The aim of this study was to assess the net colloid osmotic pressure gradient in children undergoing atrial septal defect closure. Twenty-three patients had interventional and 18 had surgical atrial septal defect closures. Interstitial fluid was harvested using a wick method before and after surgery with CPB with concomitant blood samples. COP was measured using a colloid osmometer for small fluid samples. Baseline COP was compared with data from healthy children. COPp at baseline was 21.9 ± 2.8 and 21.4 ± 2.2 mmHg in the interventional and surgical groups, respectively, and was significantly lower than in healthy children (25.5 ± 3.1 mmHg) (P < 0.001). In the surgical group, the use of CPB significantly reduced COPp to 16.9 ± 2.9 mmHg (P < 0.001) and the colloid osmotic gradient [ΔCOP (COPp - COPi)] to 2.9 ± 3.8 mmHg (P < 0.001) compared with interventional procedure. One hour after the procedure, COPi was 15.6 ± 3.8 mmHg and 9.9 ± 2.1 mmHg (P < 0.001) and the ΔCOP was 5.4 ± 3.0 mmHg and 9.1 ± 3.1 mmHg (P < 0.003) in the interventional and surgical groups, respectively. Baseline COPp and COPi were lower in atrial septal defect patients compared with healthy children. The significantly lower COP gradient during CPB may explain the tendency for more fluid accumulation with pericardial effusion in the surgical group. The increased COP gradient after CPB may represent an oedema-preventive mechanism.

Using the stable isotope marker 13 C to study extrafloral nectar uptake by parasitoids under controlled conditions and in the field

Parasitic wasps are prominent natural enemies of crop pests. They usually feed on floral resources during the adult stage (nectar, pollen, or honeydew). Extrafloral nectar is an alternative source of sugar easily accessible to adult parasitoids. We developed an original method of nectar labelling based on the injection of labelled sugar solution into the plant stem in order to analyse the nectar uptake by parasitoids (cotton wick method). This method was used to artificially enrich extrafloral cornflower, Centaurea cyanus L. (Asteraceae), nectar with the stable isotope 13C. We analysed (1) the transfer of 13C from the sugar solution into extrafloral nectaries, (2) the uptake of labelled nectar by parasitoids under laboratory conditions, and (3) the ability of the method to discriminate, in an oilseed rape (Brassica napus L., Brassicaceae) field, between labelled parasitoids (i.e., those who have fed on labelled cornflowers located adjacent to the field) and unlabelled parasitoids to track parasitoid movements from the margin into the field. The extrafloral nectar of all test plants was 13C-labelled. Most (66%) of the parasitoids were identified as marked after 96 h of exposure to labelled plants in the laboratory. We could also detect labelled parasitoids inside the field, but the detection rate was only 1%. The experiments clearly demonstrate that the cotton wick method is appropriate to label extrafloral nectar and parasitoids feeding on this labelled nectar. Further research is needed on the amount of labelled extrafloral nectar required to obtain a sufficient marker level to track parasitoid movements in the field.

Digging in the dirt – Inadequacy of belowground plant biomass quantification

Accurate quantification of belowground plant biomass (BGP) is crucial to account for the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stored by plants. As soil sieving to recover roots leaves a large proportion of root borne compounds defined as rhizodeposits (fine roots, root fragments, exudates) unaccounted for, isotope-labelling approaches have frequently been used. The aim of the present study was to compare two approaches that estimate BGP-N from isotope labelling experiments and assess their potential error. Pisum sativum was grown in a pot experiment and repeatedly pulse labelled with a 13C glucose and 15N urea solution using a cotton wick method. Additionally, data from a previous study using the same labelling approach were used for comparative BGP-N calculations. In both experiments, the amount of BGP-N calculated with a mass balance approach was significantly lower compared with the classical calculation, indicating substantial overestimation of N rhizodeposition in previous studies. Multiple pulse labelling of plants with 15N can result in homogeneous label distribution, which allows both calculation approaches to be used. However, when label distribution is heterogeneous, the classical approach overestimates N rhizodeposition and BGP-N.

Inhibition of potato tuber sprouting during storage by the controlled release of essential oil using a wick application method

A method is described whereby the effect of some essential oils on potato sprout growth was investigated. The essential oils were applied by wick volatilization to assess both cumulative release and release rate of each oil. Sprout suppression was assessed on the basis of sprout length at 14 and 28 days after applications. The mechanism of the volatile oil release was a first order kinetic action and the release profile demonstrates a diffusion-based delivery system. The oils evaporated rapidly during the first three days, reaching 45%, 39%, 42%, 32% and 30% for Monodora myristica, Cymbopogon citratus, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Lippia multiflora and Zingiber officinale, respectively. Thereafter the evaporation rate was relatively constant. Tubers treated with L. multiflora and C. citratus had shorter sprout at 14 days with sprout length of 4.00mm and 4.56mm, respectively, when compared to tubers treated with the other volatile oils and control. At 28 days Z. officinale appeared to have the greatest sprout suppression activity with sprout length of 5.65mm. The formulated essential oils are suitable for application as sprout suppressants. The responses were concentration and time dependent. The wick method reduced the volatility of the essential oils and extended the sprout-free period of stored potatoes.

Stem labeling results in different patterns of 14C rhizorespiration and 15N distribution in plants compared to natural assimilation pathways

AbstractTo investigate C and N rhizodeposition, plants can be 13C‐15N double‐labeled with glucose and urea using a stem‐feeding method (wick method). However, it is unclear how the 13C applied as glucose is released into the soil as rhizorespiration in comparison with the 13C applied as CO2 using a natural uptake pathway. In the present study, we therefore compared the short‐term fate of 14C and 15N in white lupine and pea plants applied either by the wick method or the natural pathways of C and N assimilation. Plants were pulse‐labeled in 14CO2‐enriched atmosphere and 15N urea was applied to the roots (atmosphere–soil) following the natural assimilation pathways, or plants were simultaneously labeled with 14C and 15N by applying a 14C glucose–15N urea solution into the stem using the wick method. Plant development, soil microbial biomass, total rhizorespiration, and distribution of N in plants were not affected by the labeling method used but by plant species. However, the 15N : N ratio in plant parts was significantly (p &lt; 0.05) affected by the labeling method, indicating more homogeneous 15N enrichment of plants labeled via root uptake. After 14CO2 atmosphere labeling of plants, the cumulated 14CO2 release from roots and soil showed the common saturation dynamics. In contrast, after 14C‐glucose labeling by the wick method, the cumulated 14CO2 release increased linearly. These results show that 14C applied as glucose using the wick method is not rapidly transferred to the roots as compared to a short‐term 14CO2 pulse. This is partly due to a slower 14C uptake and partly due to slow distribution within the plant. Consequently, 14C‐glucose application by the wick method is no pulse‐labeling approach. However, the advantages of the wick method for 13C‐15N double labeling for estimating rhizodeposition especially under field conditions requires further methodological research.

Evaluation of the wick method for in situ 13C and 15N labelling of annual plants using sugar-urea mixtures

To investigate the amount and fate of root-derived C and N, often tracer techniques are used, where plants are labelled with isotopes. In the present study, we evaluated the suitability of the cotton wick method for in situ labelling of peas (Pisum sativum L.) and oats (Avena sativa L.) with 13C and 15N simultaneously. With two greenhouse experiments we investigated how the wick method and aqueous urea and sugar solutions at a variety of concentrations affected plant development. In addition, we investigated the distribution of 13C and 15N in plants from column experiments under outdoor conditions. Solution was taken up by the plant from a small vial connected to the stem by a cotton wick which was passed through a hole in the stem of the plants. Generally, solution uptake varied between individual plants and decreased with increasing sugar concentrations. Below-ground, above-ground and total plant dry matter, were not significantly affected by the wick method and the applied solutions. Mixtures of aqueous glucose solutions at 2 to 4% and aqueous urea solutions at 1% are useful carriers of 13C and 15N. However, in the investigated plants isotopes were not homogeneously distributed among plant parts. Above-ground plant biomass was preferentially enriched with 13C and 15N, whereas below-ground plant biomass was generally lower enriched. Moreover, isotope distribution ratio of individual plants varied considerably, independent of plant part or timing of labelling. This must be taken into account when estimating root-derived C and N. Future studies comparing labelling methods need to present the isotope distribution ratios among plant parts to allow a true comparison of the methods and the evaluation of their suitability for estimating rhizodeposition.

Cytokines are produced locally by myocytes in rat skeletal muscle during endotoxemia

Cytokines act as chemical mediators during the inflammatory process. Measurements of cytokine levels in tissue have previously been performed in homogenized tissue, but the true concentrations in native interstitial fluid (ISF), i.e., the compartment where cytokines exert their biologically active role, have remained unknown. The role of skeletal muscle myocytes as a source for cytokines during endotoxemia was explored by collecting muscle ISF using a wick method, and the levels of 14 cytokines in ISF and plasma were related to the corresponding changes in mRNA levels to reveal any potential discrepancies between gene expression and protein release of cytokines to ISF. The majority of investigated cytokines were elevated in muscle ISF during endotoxemia, and an analysis of cytokine mRNA levels revealed consistency between gene expression and protein release. The elevated cytokine level in ISF, in addition to elevated gene expression in muscle, indicated a significant local production and release of several proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines within skeletal muscle tissue during endotoxemia. Immunohistochemistry revealed that myocytes constituted a significant source of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha production during endotoxemia, whereas the contribution from inflammatory cells i.e., leukocytes, was found to be less significant. Muscle cells apparently constitute an important source of several different cytokines during endotoxemia, governing the level in the muscle microenvironment, and are likely to contribute significantly to cytokine levels in plasma.

Isolation of interstitial fluid from skeletal muscle and subcutis in mice using a wick method.

Until recent years, mice were sparsely used in physiological experiments, and therefore, data on the basic cardiovascular parameters of mice are lacking. Our aim was to gain access to interstitial fluid and thereby study transcapillary fluid dynamics in this species. Using a modified wick method, we were able to isolate interstitial fluid from subcutis and skeletal muscle in mice. Three-stranded, dry, nylon wicks were inserted post mortem in an attempt to avoid local inflammation and thus eliminate protein extravasation and wick contamination. Colloid osmotic pressure (COP) was measured with a colloid osmometer for submicroliter samples and averaged (means +/- SE) 18.7 +/- 0.4 in plasma, 9.1 +/- 0.4 in subcutis, and 12.3 +/- 0.5 mmHg in muscle. HPLC of plasma and wick fluid showed similar patterns except for some minor peaks eluting in the <40-kDa region. Plasma protein extravasation as determined by 125I-labeled human serum albumin showed that contamination of wick fluid by plasma proteins was negligible (<2%). Capillary hyperfiltration induced by intravenous infusion of saline (10% of body wt) was reflected in tissue fluid isolated by wicks as shown by the average postinfusion COP values of 14.5 +/- 0.6, 6.8 +/- 0.3, and 7.7 +/- 0.4 mmHg in plasma, subcutis, and muscle, respectively. We conclude that the wick technique can be easily adapted for use in mice and may represent a reliable method to isolate interstitial fluid and study transcapillary fluid flux in this species.

Estimating N rhizodeposition of grain legumes using a 15N in situ stem labelling method

Grain legumes in crop rotations cause significant increases in yield for succeeding non-legumes, which cannot be explained simply by the small effect that legumes have on the soil nitrogen balance, as found in the analysis of N in crop residues. Besides known positive non-N-effects, other effects, mainly rhizodeposition and its contribution to the N balance and nitrogen dynamics after harvesting the grain, are poorly understood. In this study, N rhizodeposition, defined as root-derived N in the soil after removal of visible roots, was measured in faba bean ( Vicia faba L.), pea ( Pisum sativum L.) and white lupin ( Lupinus albus L.). In a pot experiment the legumes were pulse labelled in situ with 15N urea using a cotton wick method. About 84% of the applied 15N was recovered for the three legume species at maturity. The 15N was comparatively uniformly distributed among plant parts. The N rhizodeposition constituted 13% of total plant N for faba bean and pea and 16% for white lupin at maturity, about 80% of below ground plant N, respectively. Some 7% (lupin)–31% (pea) of the total N rhizodeposits were recovered as micro-roots by wet sieving (200 μm) the soil after all visible roots had been removed. Only 14–18% of the rhizodeposition N was found in the microbial biomass and a very small amount of 3–7% was found in the mineral N fraction. In pea, 48% and in lupin 72% of N rhizodeposits could not be recovered in the mentioned pools and a major part of the unrecovered N was probably immobilised in microbial residues. The results of this study clearly indicate that N rhizodeposition from grain legumes represent a significant pool for N balance and N dynamics in crop rotations.

Correlations Between Zeros and Supersymmetry

In our previous work [BSZ2], we proved that the correlation functions for simultaneous zeros of random generalized polynomials have universal scaling limits and we gave explicit formulas for pair correlations in codimensions 1 and 2. The purpose of this paper is to compute these universal limits in all dimensions and codimensions. First, we use a supersymmetry method to express the n-point correlations as Berezin integrals. Then we use the Wick method to give a closed formula for the limit pair correlation function for the point case in all dimensions.

Modified Wick Method Using Weck-Cel Sponges for Collection of Human Rectal Secretions and Analysis of Mucosal HIV Antibody

Weck-Cel sponges were examined for suitability as an absorbent material for nontraumatic collection of rectal secretions in humans. Sponges were tested in vitro and determined by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to be capable of releasing 100% of absorbed albumin and all immunoglobulin subtypes after treatment with detergent-supplemented buffer. Protein composition in rectal secretions collected from normal women with dry sponges (DS) or with sponges previously softened by moistening with saline (MS) was subsequently compared. DS secretions showed evidence of contamination with blood and interstitial fluid-derived albumin, immunoglobulin G (IgG), and monomeric IgA. MS secretions appeared to represent local mucosal secretions more accurately because they contained negligible blood, a greater percentage of secretory IgA within the total IgA, and both lower albumin/IgG ratios and more dramatic alterations in IgG subclass distribution compared with corresponding serum. Anti-HIV IgG, IgM, IgA, and antibodies with secretory component could be demonstrated by ELISA in rectal secretions collected with moist sponges from 8 of 8, 1 of 8, 5 of 8, and 3 of 8 HIV-infected women, respectively. The data show that Weck-Cel sponges, if premoistened, can be used to collect rectal fluids nontraumatically and to obtain quantitative information about concentrations of immunoglobulins and specific antibodies on rectal mucosal surfaces.

Modified Wick Method Using Weck-Cel Sponges for Collection of Human Rectal Secretions and Analysis of Mucosal HIV Antibody

Weck-Cel sponges were examined for suitability as an absorbent material for nontraumatic collection of rectal secretions in humans. Sponges were tested in vitro and determined by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to be capable of releasing 100% of absorbed albumin and all immunoglobulin subtypes after treatment with detergent-supplemented buffer. Protein composition in rectal secretions collected from normal women with dry sponges (DS) or with sponges previously softened by moistening with saline (MS) was subsequently compared. DS secretions showed evidence of contamination with blood and interstitial fluid-derived albumin, immunoglobulin G (IgG), and monomeric IgA. MS secretions appeared to represent local mucosal secretions more accurately because they contained negligible blood, a greater percentage of secretory IgA within the total IgA, and both lower albumin/IgG ratios and more dramatic alterations in IgG subclass distribution compared with corresponding serum. Anti-HIV IgG, IgM, IgA, and antibodies with secretory component could be demonstrated by ELISA in rectal secretions collected with moist sponges from 8 of 8, 1 of 8, 5 of 8, and 3 of 8 HIV-infected women, respectively. The data show that Weck-Cel sponges, if premoistened, can be used to collect rectal fluids nontraumatically and to obtain quantitative information about concentrations of immunoglobulins and specific antibodies on rectal mucosal surfaces.