Effects of Matricaria chamomilla L. on lipid peroxidation,antioxidant enzyme systems,and key liver enzymes in CCl4-treated rats

In this study, we investigated the effects of Matricaria chamomilla L. extract (MCE) on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme systems, and several liver enzymes in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-treated rats. Rats were divided into five groups. The first group (control group) was fed on standard feed. The rats in the other groups (CCl₄, MCE50, MCE100, and MCE200) were injected intraperitoneally with 0.8?mL?kg^?1 CCl₄. Moreover, rats in the MCE50, MCE100, and MCE200 groups were gavaged with 50?mg?kg^?1, 100?mg?kg^?1, and 200?mg?kg^?1 MCE, respectively. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, whole blood malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activity levels were measured after 14 days of exposure. ALT and AST in the CCl₄ group increased significantly in comparison to the control group (p?4, MCE50, MCE100, and MCE200 groups at different significance levels. In conclusion, the findings suggest that, depending on the dose administered, MCE decreases CCl₄-induced damage and consequent oxidative stress in rats; it affects the antioxidant system positively.     

Crystallization and X‐ray structure of 3,3’,4‐trichlorobiphenyl (PCB 35)∗

A method for the preparation of single crystals of PCB 35 suitable for single crystal X‐ray structure determination was developed. This method has already been proven suitable for 2,4'‐dichlorobiphenyl and may prove useful for other PCBs or related compounds. The crystals of PCB 35 are orthorhombic, spacegroup P2₁22₁ (a= 10.665(8), 6 = 3.825(3), c= 14.086(9) Å) and the structure was refined to R = 0.094 for 156 unique observed reflections and 43 parameters. Although the crystals were of poor quality, the structure determination unequivocally confirmed the substitution pattern of the biphenyl moiety by Cl atoms inferred previously from spectroscopic methods. The dihedral angle between the planes of the two phenyl rings is 33(2)°.     

我国七个站点降雨和森林穿冠水中硝态氮同位素丰度

采集了我国7个站点的降雨和森林穿冠水样品,分析测定了水样中硝态氮和总氮的同位素丰度.降雨中硝态氮δ15N值范围为-9.00‰至9.71‰,其中北方站点冬季降雨中硝态氮δ15N值要远高于其他站点,可能是由于北方冬季燃煤供暖所致.穿冠水中硝态氮δ15N值范围为-16.59‰至-0.32‰,比降雨中的硝态氮δ15N值要低,其可能原因是林冠层中存在硝态氮的交换过程,从而产生了分馏作用.降雨和穿冠水中TN的δ15N值范围分别为-7.94‰至-3.07‰和-4.55‰至-1.73‰,其中穿冠水中TN的δ15N值要略高于降雨中的值.     

天然水体中铵态和硝态氮δ15N的测定

介绍了一种天然水体中铵态和硝态氮δ15N的测定方法,包括3个步骤:(1)离子交换法富集水中铵态和硝态氮;(2)蒸馏法进一步提纯铵态和硝态氮;(3)阳离子树脂萃取由转化和蒸馏得到的铵态氮,并将树脂干燥后送入元素分析仪串联质谱(EA-IRMS)测定δ15N.用这种方法处理NH4Cl和KNO3配制的人工模拟水样和野外采集的天然水样,发现δ15N-NH4+和δ15N-NO3-测定的准确性高、重复性好,人工模拟水样δ15N-NH4+的测定值和标准值相差0.560‰,δ15N-NO3-的测定值和标准值相差0.341‰,所有水样重复间的标准偏差在0.008‰—0.384‰之间.测定方法需要的水样体积较少,水样处理速度较快,离子交换后水样中的铵态和硝态氮可长期保存,适合野外天然水体δ15N测定.     

Does low N-mineralisation rate in soils under grass help limit nitrate leaching in summer?

This paper aimed to confirm the hypothesis that rates of ammonification and net mineral-N production in soils under grass in summer are low and this, rather than nitrate uptake by plants, reduces mineral leaching from soils in summer. Six sets of soil samples were collected from under mown grass on the University of York campus in the UK. Samples were taken from two depths in late summer (August) and late autumn (November) to compare seasonal differences in N species transformations when field-moist soils were incubated for a week at ambient outdoor temperatures after prior removal of vegetation. Ammonification and net mineral-N production rates were low in August in spite of warm temperatures. Net mineral-N production rates were also low in November. The results agreed with those of an earlier study in a different year after considering weather differences between years. They support the hypothesis that litter accumulated over autumn/winter will be minimally mineralised and retain N before the temperature rises in spring. The study shows the merit of measuring concentrations of mineral-N species in both fresh soils and soils incubated at ambient outdoor temperatures after removing plant material to eliminate plant N uptake effects. The results suggest that soil C% and N% are more important than soil C:N ratio alone in understanding controls on N transformations.     

Natural and Anthropogenic Effects On Phytoplankton Primary Productivity in Mangroves

Abstract

Spatial and temporal variations and the factors influencing primary production have been studied in three different mangrove waters (Pichavaram, Ennore Creek and Adyar Estuary) of South India characterised by different anthropogenic impacts. the gross primary productivity in the unpolluted Pichavaram mangrove was 113 g Cm^?2yr^?1 exhibiting natural variability with the environmental forcing factors. Human activities have elevated primary productivity in the Ennore Creek mangrove (157g Cm^?2yr^?1) primarily through the direct discharge of fertilizer effluents. By contrast, a combination of domestic and industrial effluent discharges into the Adyar Estuary mangrove has considerably reduced phytoplankton primary productivity 83g Cm^?2yr^?1 the Redfield N: P ratio varies from 0.96 N: 1P at Ennore Creek, 1.75N: 1P at Adyar Estuary to 15.2 N: 1P at Pichavaram mangroves. This suggests that the Pichavaram mangroves represent a well equilibrated ecosystem with N: P ratio close to steady-state values in contrast to the anthropogenically altered mangrove ecosystems studied. Results show a significant temporal variability in nutrient concentration in the three mangrove areas. Distinct differences in nutrient concentrations between the dry and the wet seasons have been observed.     

Protein Metabolic Response to Carbon Tetrachloride in A Freshwater Fish,Sarotherodon Mossambicus

Exposure of a freshwater teleost, Sarotherodon mossambicus, to a sublethal concentration (26 ppm) of carbon tetrachloride for periods up to 30 days led to significant changes in the soluble protein fractions (albumin and globulins) and free amino acid content. the decrease in total protein content was greater in liver than in muscle. the protein loss was expected due to the impairement of protein synthetic activity during stress conditions.     

Indicators of sustainability as a tool in agricultural development: partitioning scientific and participatory processes

SUMMARY

Sustainable indicators have become popular tools by which policymakers can assess progress towards a more sustainable agriculture. Varying approaches to defining sustainability lead to disagreement about the value of indicators and yet some form of measurement is required so that society can judge the effects of policy. Environmental and social problems and their causes span national boundaries. An international framework for assessing agricultural activities, their effects and the pressures that drive those activities is therefore required. However, a guiding principle of the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development is that global problems require local action. Thus, indicators must provide information for policymakers as well as guidance for farmers and other practitioners. Many indicator programmes currently proposed do not provide this level of guidance as no evaluation as to what level of activity is sustainable has been agreed. A model is presented, to show how scientific and political or participatory approaches may be combined to meet the multiple objectives of involving people, maintaining scientific integrity and providing guidance for policymakers and practitioners alike.     

大气高CO2浓度对油菜氮素同化累积与植株生长的影响

为了指导高CO2浓度条件下甘蓝型油菜Brassica napus L.合理施氮、创建油菜高产高效以及进一步探明油菜氮代谢的调节机制提供理论依据,本研究采用微区试验,研究2个油菜品种（沪油15-33号和742-2）在2个CO2浓度水平（自然CO2摩尔分数400μmol·mol-1和高CO2摩尔分数（800±20）μmol·mol-1）和2个氮素水平（施氮与不施氮）条件下,氮素同化酶（NR和GS）活性和可溶性蛋白含量的变化,以及油菜地上部干物质量和氮素累积量的响应。试验结果表明,高CO2浓度会提高NR和GS活性;在氮素处理的影响方面,NR活性的变化与油菜的品种和生育时期不同有关：在高CO2浓度条件下,品种A在各时期的施氮处理的酶活性高于不施氮处理;品种B只在抽薹期的施氮处理低于不施氮处理,其他时期则升高;对于GS酶活性,在自然CO2浓度条件下施氮会提高GS酶活性,高CO2浓度条件下施氮则降低其活性（苗期除外）。CO2浓度升高会降低叶片中可溶性蛋白含量（盛花期除外）;在正常CO2浓度下,增施氮肥会提高叶片中可溶性蛋白含量,而在高CO2浓度下,增施氮肥会降低叶片中可溶性蛋白含量。CO2浓度升高和增施氮肥都会提高油菜地上部干物质量与氮素累积量,油菜干物质量与氮素累积量总体上与上述测定指标呈极显著相关。     

水位对小叶章湿地CO2、CH4排放及土壤微生物活性的影响

湿地生态系统对全球碳平衡和气候变化起着极其重要的作用,而水位波动将影响湿地生物地球化学过程,导致温室气体通量变化,为了明确湿地生态系统温室气体通量以及土壤微生物活性对水位梯度的生态响应,通过野外盆栽培养试验,设T1:-5 cm,T2:0 cm,T3:5 cm,T4:10 cm 4种水位梯度,T1和T2模拟湿地非淹水的水分状况,T3和T4模拟淹水状况,研究了不同水位梯度下小叶章(Calamagrostis angustifolia)湿地CO2、CH4通量、土壤微生物量碳、氮及土壤酶活性的变化规律.结果表明:不同水位条件下,小叶章湿地系统CO2和CH4通量差异较大,-5 cm水位时小叶章湿地CO2通量为(643.35±61.89) mg·m-2·h -1,随着水位增加,CO2通量依次降低6.9%、12.1%、40.0%,且水位升高到10 cm时,小叶章湿地CO2排放量显著降低(P<0.05);而CH4通量则随水位增加呈显著增加趋势,通量变化为(1.52±0.12)~(5.34±0.61) mg·m-2·h-1;水位对微生物活性影响显著,非淹水条件下小叶章湿地土壤微生物量碳、氮含量以及土壤蔗糖酶、淀粉酶活性高于淹水土壤,且随着淹水位增加,微生物活性显著降低.