16S Metagenomics of Nitrifying Bacteria and Archaea Inhabiting Maize Rhizosphere and the Influencing Environmental Factors

Abstract The maize rhizosphere soil is unique with diverse microorganisms. Nitrifying bacteria and archaea are ubiquitous and can transform ammonia locked up in soil or manure into nitrate; a more soluble form of nitrogen. However, nitrifying bacteria and archaea inhabiting maize rhizosphere are yet to be identified. We elucidate the diversity and abundance of nitrifying bacteria and archaea associated with maize rhizosphere across different growth stages using 16S metagenomics sequencing. Also, the influence of environmental factors on the nitrifying communities was evaluated. The maize rhizosphere soil was collected from North-West University, Molelwane, South Africa. DNA was extracted using Nucleospin Soil DNA extraction kit and the V3-V4 hypervariable region was sequenced on Illumina Miseq platform. MG-RAST was used to analyze the raw sequences. The environmental factors were measured using standard procedure. The result revealed 9 genera of nitrifying bacteria; Nitrospira, Nitrosospira, Nitrobacter, Nitrosovibrio, Nitrosomonas, Nitrosococcus, Nitrococcus, unclassified (derived from Nitrosomonadales), unclassified (derived from Nitrosomonadaceae) and 1 archaeon Candidatus Nitrososphaera. The Nitrospirae phyla group which had the most nitrifying bacteria was more abundant at the tasselling stage (67.94%). Alpha diversity showed no significant difference. However, the Beta diversity showed significant difference (P=0.01, R=0.58) across the growth stages. The growth stages had no significant effect on the diversity of nitrifying bacteria and archaea, but the tasselling stage had the most abundant. A correlation was observed among some of the environmental factors. The research outcome can be put into consideration while carrying out a biotechnological process that involves nitrifying bacteria and archaea.

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Seromucoid Determination: Variables and Modifications

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/6.3.189 ◽

1960 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 189-198 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

T M Asher ◽

G R Cooper

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Protein Content ◽

Perchloric Acid ◽

Total Protein ◽

Standard Procedure ◽

Total Protein Content ◽

Inflammatory Condition ◽

Freezing And Thawing ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract The technic of Winzler (1) for the determination of seromucoid has been studied to measure its reproducibility and the effect of certain environmental factors. Values obtained are fairly reproducible (a difference of 45 mg./l00 ml. BSAP between two specimens indicates a significant difference at the P = 0.05 level). Variables such as temperature, freezing and thawing, speed of addition of perchloric acid, and total protein content of serum have no practical influence on the final SM values. A modification in technic involving determinations on three different dilutions of a specimen gives differences greater than those found with the standard procedure for sera from patients with an inflammatory condition.

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A global non-invasive methodology for the phenotyping of potato under water deficit conditions using imaging, physiological and molecular tools

Plant Methods ◽

10.1186/s13007-021-00771-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

M. Musse ◽

G. Hajjar ◽

N. Ali ◽

B. Billiot ◽

G. Joly ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Stress ◽

Water Deficit ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Growth Stages ◽

Dry Matter Content ◽

Tuber Growth ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Potato Plants ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Background Drought is a major consequence of global heating that has negative impacts on agriculture. Potato is a drought-sensitive crop; tuber growth and dry matter content may both be impacted. Moreover, water deficit can induce physiological disorders such as glassy tubers and internal rust spots. The response of potato plants to drought is complex and can be affected by cultivar type, climatic and soil conditions, and the point at which water stress occurs during growth. The characterization of adaptive responses in plants presents a major phenotyping challenge. There is therefore a demand for the development of non-invasive analytical techniques to improve phenotyping. Results This project aimed to take advantage of innovative approaches in MRI, phenotyping and molecular biology to evaluate the effects of water stress on potato plants during growth. Plants were cultivated in pots under different water conditions. A control group of plants were cultivated under optimal water uptake conditions. Other groups were cultivated under mild and severe water deficiency conditions (40 and 20% of field capacity, respectively) applied at different tuber growth phases (initiation, filling). Water stress was evaluated by monitoring soil water potential. Two fully-equipped imaging cabinets were set up to characterize plant morphology using high definition color cameras (top and side views) and to measure plant stress using RGB cameras. The response of potato plants to water stress depended on the intensity and duration of the stress. Three-dimensional morphological images of the underground organs of potato plants in pots were recorded using a 1.5 T MRI scanner. A significant difference in growth kinetics was observed at the early growth stages between the control and stressed plants. Quantitative PCR analysis was carried out at molecular level on the expression patterns of selected drought-responsive genes. Variations in stress levels were seen to modulate ABA and drought-responsive ABA-dependent and ABA-independent genes. Conclusions This methodology, when applied to the phenotyping of potato under water deficit conditions, provides a quantitative analysis of leaves and tubers properties at microstructural and molecular levels. The approaches thus developed could therefore be effective in the multi-scale characterization of plant response to water stress, from organ development to gene expression.

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CXCR6-CXCL16 Axis Promotes Breast Cancer by Inducing Oncogenic Signaling

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13143568 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 3568

Author(s):

Hina Mir ◽

Neeraj Kapur ◽

Dominique N. Gales ◽

Praveen K. Sharma ◽

Gabriela Oprea-Ilies ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Actin Polymerization ◽

Biological Significance ◽

Stage Ii ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Soluble Form ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Antibody Microarray ◽

Terminal Fragment ◽

Significant Difference

Precise mechanisms underlying breast cancer (BrCa) metastasis are undefined, which becomes a challenge for effective treatments. Chemokine signaling instigates the trafficking of cancer cells in addition to leukocytes. This study aimed to ascertain the clinical and biological significance of the CXCR6/CXCL16 signaling axis in the pathobiology of BrCa. Our data show a higher expression of CXCR6 in BrCa cell lines and tissues. Stage-III BrCa tissues express significantly higher CXCR6 compared to stage-II tissues. The ligand, CXCL16, could remain tethered to the cell surface, and, after proteolytic shedding of the ectodomain, the N-terminal fragment is released, converting it to its oncogenic, soluble form. Like CXCR6, N-terminal CXCL16 and ADAM-10 were significantly higher in stage-III than stage-II, but no significant difference was observed in the C-terminal fragment of CXCL16. Further, stimulation of the CXCR6/CXCL16 axis activated Src, FAK, ERK1/2, and PI3K signaling pathways, as per antibody microarray analysis, which also underlie CXCL16-induced F-actin polymerization. The CXCR6/CXCL16 axis induces cytoskeleton rearrangement facilitating migration and invasion and supports BrCa cell survival by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway. This study highlights the significance of the CXCR6/CXCL16 axis and ADAM10 as potential therapeutic targets for advanced-stage BrCa.

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The Effect of Loneliness on Death Anxiety in the Elderly During the COVID-19 Pandemic

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.1177/00302228211010587 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 003022282110105

Author(s):

Türkan Akyol Guner ◽

Zeynep Erdogan ◽

Isa Demir

Keyword(s):

Death Anxiety ◽

The Elderly ◽

Average Score ◽

City Center ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

North West ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Scale Scores ◽

Education Status ◽

At Home

The aim of the study is to determine the effect on death anxiety of loneliness in the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The population of this study that is descriptive and cross-sectional type consist of 354 elderly who meet the inclusion criteria from three different associations operating for charitable purposes in a city center located in north-west Turkey. The average score of Loneliness Scale of Elderly (LSE) of the elderly was determined as 11.39 ± 5.31, and the average score of Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) of the elderly was determined as 8.54 ± 4.82. According to these results, it was found that the elderly experienced acceptable levels of loneliness and moderate death anxiety. A statistically significant difference was found in the LSE and DAS scores of the elderly according to their age, marital status, education status, chronic illness status and living at home with relatives. In addition, during the COVID-19 epidemic, the scale scores of the elderly who have increased worries, who have a hobby at home, and who communicate with their relatives via social media/mobile phones were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05).

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Multi-Year NDVI Values as Indicator of the Relationship between Spatiotemporal Vegetation Dynamics and Environmental Factors in the Qaidam Basin, China

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13071240 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 1240

Author(s):

Junpeng Lou ◽

Guoyin Xu ◽

Zhongjing Wang ◽

Zhigang Yang ◽

Sanchuan Ni

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Vegetation Dynamics ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Qaidam Basin ◽

Elevation Gradient ◽

Practical Significance ◽

Elevation Gradients ◽

Relative Contribution ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Different Altitudes

The Qaidam Basin is a unique and complex ecosystem, wherein elevation gradients lead to high spatial heterogeneity in vegetation dynamics and responses to environmental factors. Based on the remote sensing data of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS), we analyzed the spatiotemporal variations of vegetation dynamics and responses to precipitation, accumulative temperature (AT) and soil moisture (SM) in the Qaidam Basin from 2001 to 2016. Moreover, the contribution of those factors to vegetation dynamics at different altitudes was analyzed via an artificial neural network (ANN) model. The results indicated that the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values in the growing season showed an overall upward trend, with an increased rate of 0.001/year. The values of NDVI in low-altitude areas were higher than that in high-altitude areas, and the peak values of NDVI appeared along the elevation gradient at 4400–4600 m. Thanks to the use of ANN, we were able to detect the relative contribution of various environmental factors; the relative contribution rate of AT to the NDVI dynamic was the most significant (35.17%) in the low-elevation region (< 2900 m). In the mid-elevation area (2900–3900 m), precipitation contributed 44.76% of the NDVI dynamics. When the altitude was higher than 3900 m, the relative contribution rates of AT (39.50%) and SM (38.53%) had no significant difference but were significantly higher than that of precipitation (21.97%). The results highlight that the different environmental factors have various contributions to vegetation dynamics at different altitudes, which has important theoretical and practical significance for regulating ecological processes.

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Integrity, use and care of long-lasting insecticidal nets in Kirinyaga County, Kenya

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10882-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mary Nyangi ◽

Elizabeth Kigondu ◽

Beatrice Irungu ◽

Margaret Nganga ◽

Anthony Gachanja ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Examination ◽

Vector Control ◽

Malaria Vector ◽

Standard Procedure ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Malaria Vector Control ◽

Systematic Sampling ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Household Heads ◽

Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets

Abstract Background Vector control is an essential component in prevention and control of malaria in malaria endemic areas. Insecticide treated nets is one of the standard tools recommended for malaria vector control. The objective of the study was to determine physical integrity and insecticidal potency of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) used in control of malaria vector in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. Method The study targeted households in an area which had received LLINs during mass net distribution in 2016 from Ministry of Health. A total of 420 households were sampled using systematic sampling method, where the household heads consented to participate in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to assess care and use while physical examination was used to determine integrity. Chemical concentration was determined by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19. Results After 18 months of use, 96.9% (95% CI: 95.2–98.6%) of the distributed nets were still available. Regarding net utilization, 94.1% of household heads reported sleeping under an LLIN the previous night. After physical examination, 49.9% (95% CI: 43–52.8%) of the bed nets had at least one hole. The median number of holes of any size was 2[interquartile range (IQR) 1–4], and most holes were located on the lower part of the nets, [median 3 (IQR 2–5)]. Only 15% of the nets with holes had been repaired. The median concentration for α-cypermethrin was 7.15 mg/m2 (IQR 4.25–15.31) and 0.00 mg/g (IQR 0.00–1.99) for permethrin. Based on pHI, Chi-square test varied significantly with the manufacturer (X (6, N = 389) = 29.14, p = 0.04). There was no significant difference between nets with different number of washes (X2(2) = 4.55, p = 0.103). Conclusion More than three-quarters of the nets supplied had survived and insecticidal potency was adequate in vector control. Standard procedure for field evaluation of surface insecticidal content available to a mosquito after landing on a net to rest is recommended.

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Floristic study and assessment of the environmental factors governing the distribution of riparian plants in the Zat sub-Basin: Tensift Watershed, Morocco

Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences ◽

10.35759/janmplsci.v45-2.3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 7900-7915

Author(s):

Mostakim Lahcen ◽

Fetnassi Nidal ◽

Ghamizi Mohamed

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Ecological Status ◽

Environmental Parameters ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Phosphorus Concentration ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Riparian Plants ◽

Emergent Plants ◽

Significant Difference

Measuring the phytodiversity and determining environmental factors affecting the abundance and distribution of riparian plants of Zat sub-basin in Morocco were carried out in this study. A hypothesis was tested whether there is any statistically significant difference in environmental parameters and plants communities among the Zat River and its tributaries. For this purpose, water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity, electrical conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen, nitrate and phosphorus concentration, and riparian plants diversity were estimated at 17 stations along the Zat River and its tributaries during the periods (2018 and 2019). The Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) and Pearson correlation were preformed to assess the relationship between environmental parameters, and the distribution and abundance of riparian plants inventoried. The presence of 113 species was recorded, distributed between 43 families and 97 genera, 9 of which were floating-leaved, 24 submerged, and 80 emergent plants. The rare and threatened species inventoried were represented by 7 taxa, whereas 6 species are reported as endemic. Raunkiaer classification showed a dominance of therophytes (38.39%) over the other groups. According to CCA, the abiotic parameters (DO, elevation, salinity and nitrate concentration) were statistically significant parameters governing the distribution and abundance of the riparian plants inventoried. The results obtained reveal the state of the riparian vegetation in the Zat subBasin, therefore we can consider them as a reliable component for the assessment of the ecological status of the aquatic environment.

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UVL Induced Changes in Calcium Absorption and Excretion and in Serum Vit D3 Levels measured in Black-skinned and Caucasian Males

Journal of The Royal Naval Medical Service ◽

10.1136/jrnms-65-75 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 65 (2) ◽

pp. 75-78

Author(s):

M. A. Macleod ◽

N. J. Blacklock

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Urban Communities ◽

Calcium Absorption ◽

Ultra Violet ◽

Ultra Violet Light ◽

Violet Light ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Induced Changes

AbstractWith the evident increase in osteolytic disease, especially in black-skinned urban communities, it has become necessary to attempt to define and measure dietetic and environmental factors contributing to this increase. This paper describes and measures calcium absorption and excretion and serum hydroxy-cholecalciferol (Vit D3) levels in both black-skinned and caucasian controls exposed to similar doses of ultra-violet light. It is concluded that there is a significant difference in response to UVL stimulus between the two groups to the detriment of the blackskinned population.

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Relationship between Ratio of Second and Fourth Digit and Obesity Traits among Different Ethnic Groups in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria

Notulae Scientia Biologicae ◽

10.15835/nsb849888 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 396-400 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bolaji Fatai OYEYEMI ◽

John Oluwafemi ADEBAYO ◽

Abass Toba ANIFOWOSHE ◽

Oluyinka Ajibola IYIOLA

Keyword(s):

Ethnic Groups ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Standard Procedure ◽

Surrogate Marker ◽

Relative Length ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Digit Ratio ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significant Difference

Digit ratio (2D:4D) denotes the relative length of the second and fourth digits. There are contradicting reports on its relationship with ethnicity/race, whereas convincing studies show it is related to obesity. This cross-sectional study was undertaken to demystify ethnic difference in 2D:4D ratio and to analyze its relationship with obesity among adults in Ilorin Nigeria. The cross-sectional study included 701 individuals. Finger lengths were measured with electronic calipers and other anthropometric traits were measured with standard procedure. Student t test and one-way ANOVA were used to detect differences among groups and relationship was computed with Pearson correlation. The receiver operator characteristic curves were used to detect the diagnostic effect of 2D:4D for obesity. The obtained results showed sexual dimorphism in 2D:4D ratio and other anthropometrics at p < 0.01. Obesity was associated with significantly higher mean of 2D:4D in both genders (female 0.9814 ± 0.012:0.9700 ± 0.012; male 0.9700 ± 0.010:0.9592 ± 0.010 at p < 0.001). The area under the curve was 0.753 (95% CI 0.677-0.829, p < 0.01) and 0.798 (95% CI 0.756-0.804, p < 0.01) in female and male R2D:4D respectively for obesity, implying that 2D:4D might be a surrogate marker for obesity in future. No significant difference was found in 2D:4D among different ethnic groups studied (p >0.05); this result proved that there was no ethnic specificity in 2D:4D ratio among study’ participants. Thus, it can be reported that the digit ratio was related to high 2D:4D, but this cannot be said for different ethnic groups. The results imply that 2D:4D might be a good surrogate indicator for obesity, but not ethnicity.

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Spatial pattern of riparian plants along stream order among mountain rivers in China

Journal of Water and Climate Change ◽

10.2166/wcc.2018.047 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 322-330

Author(s):

Rong Sun ◽

Xiaojie Luo ◽

Xiangyu Meng ◽

Yan Wang

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Tree Species ◽

Riparian Vegetation ◽

Stream Order ◽

River Continuum ◽

Riparian Plants ◽

Tree Species Richness ◽

Riparian Species ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract The streams in a watershed form a hierarchical network system. From the perspective of the river continuum, this classification system is the result of gradual increase in traffic. This study analyzed the riparian species richness, diversity and environmental factors along a six-order hierarchical mountain river in the Donghe watershed, China. A total of 34 sampling sites were sampled to study the spatial distribution of riparian plants among different stream orders. The results showed: Environmental factors among stream orders had significant differences. Among stream order, species richness showed remarkable differences. The species richness rose firstly and dropped afterwards except for tree species richness; tree species richness decreased while stream order increased. The same is true for shrub quadrat species richness. Shannon-Wiener diversity, Simpson dominance and Pielou uniformity showed significant difference among stream orders; Shannon-Wiener diversity rose firstly then dropped afterwards. For integrated environmental factors and community characteristics, we found the changes of stream orders had a significant impact on riparian habitats and riparian vegetation. Further analysis showed that riparian vegetation experienced different types and degrees of disturbance in different stream orders. This meant that a hierarchical management strategy should be applied to riparian vegetation management.

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