[Effects of Biochar Input on Changes of Available Nutrient Elements in Riparian Soils with Different Landuse Types].

Biochar, as a new environmentally friendly material, has been used to improve soil quality and for pollution remediation. Biochar input has a significant impact on available nutrients in the soil. Based on the different land use types (forestland, grassland, cultivated land, and barren land) in the riparian zone of Taihu Lake, the effects of biochar application on the available content of nutrients in different land use types of soil were compared, and the dynamics of nutrient change was also discussed. Results show that the addition of biochar can significantly affect the available nutrient content in riparian soil, however the influential degrees for carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were different. After the input of biochar, dissolved organic carbon in riparian soils showed a clear downward trend, while the available nitrogen increased slightly, and the available phosphorus increased significantly. For woodland, grassland, arable land and wasteland soils, the contents of dissolved organic carbon decreased by 33.3%, 27.4%, 29.5%, and 51.4%, while the contents of available nitrogen increased by 10.8%, 18.2%, 16.4%, and 15.2%, and the contents of available phosphorus increased by 40.0%, 50.2%, 34.0%, and 43.6%, respectively. Compared with the concentrations between the control group soil (CK) and the biochar additive group soil (BC), the concentrations of dissolved organic carbon and available phosphorus exhibited large differences between the two groups regarding available nitrogen concentrations. Among the four types of riparian soils, the effects of biochar on the availability of different nutrients were different.

Three-Year Field Observation of Biochar-Mediated Changes in Soil Organic Carbon and Microbial Activity.

Although biochar is considered a promising C sequestration agent, long-term field experiments are lacking to assess the effects of biochar addition on the soil organic C (SOC) and microbial community. Corn ( L.) straw feedstock and biochar were applied to a sandy loam soil for three consecutive years to investigate the SOC distribution within various fractionations, responses of soil microbial biomass, enzyme activity, and community structure. In comparison with straw amendment, higher levels of biochar (6.0 and 12 t ha) significantly increased soil pH, SOC, total N (TN), available P (AP) and available K. Biochar (12 t ha) decreased the fulvic acid fraction by 15.9% and increased the free-light C (FLC), intra-aggregate, and organomineral fractionations by 6.05-, 2.52-, and 0.22-fold, respectively. There was no significant influence of straw or biochar application on the soil microbial biomass C (MBC) contents or the activities of soil enzymes. A phospholipid fatty acids assay suggested that 6.0 t ha straw slightly enriched the abundance of Actinobacteria in soil, whereas biochar (6.0 and 12 t ha) mainly promoted the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, fungi, and general bacteria groups. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that soil pH, SOC, TN, AP, FLC, and fulvic acid significantly influence the structure of soil microbial community ( < -0.50, < 0.05 for both MBC and the ratio of MBC to SOC; > 0.50 for microbial biomass N, basal respiration [BR], and the ratio of BR through incubation to MBC). Established quantitative relationships provided evidence for understanding the effects of biochar amendment on soil environment after a long-term field application.

Effects of soil amendments on cadmium transfer along the lettuce-snail food chain: Influence of chemical speciation.

Cadmium (Cd) trophic transfer along the soil-lettuce-snail food chain was investigated using the root bags-based pot experiments. Two amendments (corn straw biochar and micro-hydroxyapatite (µHAP)) were investigated on Cd (0, 2.5, and 5 mg/kg soil) availability in soils, chemical distribution in plant cells and accumulation in snails. After 60 days, both the CaCl2 extractable Cd in rhizosphere soil (CdCaCl2,rhizo) and Cd accumulation in lettuce decreased with amendments addition. Biochar had a great capacity to reduce both Cd contents and toxicity-sensitive associated Cd (CdFi+Fii) percentages in lettuce roots at 2.5 mg/kg Cd contaminated soil; while µHAP generates a higher reduction in both Cd contents and chain transfer associated Cd (CdFi+Fii+Fiii) percentages in lettuce shoots at 5 mg/kg Cd contaminated soil. Linear regression showed that both contents of root CdFi+Fii and shoot CdFi+Fii+Fiii are better correlated with the CdCaCl2,rhizo (R2 > 0.70, p < 0.01). After 15 days feeding, almost 90% content of Cd accumulated in snail viscera. µHAP had a higher reduction in snail soft tissues Cd accumulation than biochar. Distributions of Cd in snail tissues are significantly correlated with CdFi+Fii+Fiii in shoots (viscera R2 = 0.835; soft tissue R2 = 0.771). Established quantitative relationships could be used to predict the bioavailability and transfer of Cd in terrestrial food chain in the presence of amendments.

[Chemical structure of fructosan from Condonopsis pilosula].

OBJECTIVE: To study the polysaccharide of Condonopsis pilosula. METHOD: The polysaccharide, CPP-1, was purified by DE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-200 gel column chromatography. Purity and molecular weight of the polysaccharide were determined by gel permeation chromatography. Methylation analysis, periodate oxidation and degradation, IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR methods were adopted to elucidate the chemical structure. RESULT: The molecular weight of CPP-1 was estimated to be 7.5 x 10(4), and the structure of CPP-1 was a beta-(2 --> 1) linked beta-D-fructosan. CONCLUSION: CPP-1 was a neutral homosaccharide.

Signal peptide mimics conjugated to peptide nucleic acid: a promising solution for improving cell membrane permeability.

The specific binding ability and biostability of PNA (peptide nucleic acid) with DNA or RNA make PNA not only a good tool for the studies of molecular biology but also the candidate for gene-targeting drugs. However, the main obstacle for its potential usage as a therapeutic is the low cell uptake caused by the poor cell membrane permeability. In this paper the hydrophobic pentadecapeptide and two signal peptide mimics, hexa- and decapeptides ending with a positively charged amino acid, were proposed as the linked carrier for the transportation of PNA T10 through the cell membrane; stable spin label was coupled to the peptide-PNA conjugate so that the ESR measurements can be used for the assessment of their transmembrane movements. The syntheses of spin-labeled peptide-PNA conjugates were carried out on MBHA resin with Boc strategy. The cell membrane permeability of the spin-labeled conjugates of peptides and PNA can be determined with ESR, during the incubation of erythrocyte with the samples. According to ESR measurements, the three conjugates exhibit enhanced uptake into erythrocytes. The hexa- and decapeptide-modified PNA showed suitable water solubility. The peptide-PNA conjugates retained their binding ability to complementary DNA. The results suggest that peptide modification of PNA might be a promising solution for improving cell membrane permeability toward PNA.

[Application of beta-cyclodextrin inclusion technique in new dosage form of angelica sinensis essential oil].

OBJECTIVE: To make a solid form of Angelica Sinensis essential oil by preparing its inclusion compound with beta-cyclodextrin and evaluate the inclusion rate, dissolution rate and liberating rate of this complex. METHOD: GC-MS, X-ray diffraction and thin-layer chromatography were applied to characterize the essential oil and the inclusion compound. RESULT: The inclusion compound was shown to form a new phase by X-ray diffraction analysis. GC-MS and TLC check-up corroborated the composition of the free oil and the inclusion oil remaining the same. CONCLUSION: The results showed Angelica Sinensis essential oil was more stable with beta-cyclodextrin inclusion. The preparation of this inclusion compound has advantages in limited amount, long time effect, easily preserved and convenient administration as a new dosage form.

[Chemical constituents of Notoseris rhombiformis].

AIM: To investigate the chemical constituents from the whole plant of the endemic plant Notoseris rhombiformis Shih. METHODS: Column chromatography was used for separation and purification, while spectral analysis was used for structure elucidation. RESULTS: Eight compounds were isolated from the whole plant of this Chinese endemic plant and their structures were elucidated as notoserolide A (1), notoserolide D (2), austricin (3), jacquilenin (4), 3 beta, 14-dihydroxy-11 beta, 13-dihydrocostunolide (5), p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (6), luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7) and daucosterol (8), respectively. CONCLUSION: All compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. Among them, 2 is a new compound.