Symbiotic N2 Fixation and N Uptake of Yellow and White Lupines Influenced by Spontaneous Rhizobia Infection and Substrate

Abstract

By using soil as substrate, white and yellow lupines (Lupinus albus L., Lupinus luteus L.) assimilated higher N amounts than under quartz sand conditions. This was caused by spontaneous infection of lupines with wild Rhizobia strains and also by an additional N uptake from the soil. In yellow lupines without inoculation in non-sterile soil, only the additional N uptake played a role. Differences in P and K supply as the cause of different N acquisition from soil and quartz sand could be excluded. As compared with white lupines, yellow lupines inoculated with Rhizobia had a high N₂ fixation that exceeded the effect of spontaneous infections. This result as well as the positive effect of spontaneous infections with soil-borne Rhizobia on white lupines indicates insufficient effectiveness of the strains used for inoculation on this plant species.     

Speciation of functional groups formed on the surface of ammoxidised carbonaceous materials by XPS method

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to investigate the fate of nitrogen functional groups present in carbonaceous materials obtained from European plum (Prunus domestica) stones and modified by ammonia-air mixture at 250 or 300 °C. Peaks have been found in the XPS patterns, corresponding to different nitrogen functional forms i.e. pyrrolic, pyridinic, pyridone, amine and chemisorbed nitrogen oxides. It has been found that the distribution of nitrogen functional forms changes as a result of the modification processes.     

Influence of annealing treatment on as-grown Ib-type diamond crystal at a high temperature and high pressure

In this paper,we report on the influence of annealing treatment on as-grown Ib-type diamond crystal under high pressure and high temperature in a china-type cubic anvil high-pressure apparatus.Experiments are carried out at a pressure of 7.0 GPa and temperatures ranging from 1700 C to 1900 C for 1 h.Annealing treatment of the diamond crystal shows that the aggregation rate constant of nitrogen atoms in the as-grown Ib-type diamond crystal strongly depends on diamond morphology and annealing temperature.The aggregation rate constant of nitrogen remarkably increases with the increase of annealing temperature and its value in octahedral diamond is much higher than that in cubic diamond annealed at the same temperature.The colour of octahedral diamond crystal is obviously reduced from yellow to nearly colorless after annealing treatment for 1 h at 1900 C,which is induced by nitrogen aggregation in a diamond lattice.The extent of nitrogen aggregation in an annealed diamond could approach approximately 98% indicated from the infrared absorption spectra.The micro-Raman spectrum reveals that the annealing treatment can improve the crystalline quality of Ib-type diamond characterized by a half width at full maximum at first order Raman peak,and therefore the annealed diamond crystals exhibit nearly the same properties as the natural IaA-type diamond stones of high quality in the Raman measurements.     

液氮温区下应变式位移传感系统测量性能的研究

文中研究了一种应变式位移传感系统在室温和液氮温度下的静态传输特性。实验结果表明,该系统在液氮温区下具有良好的输出特性,系统非线性度低于1%,滞环率低于5%,其灵敏系数与温度相关,293K和77K温度下的灵敏系数分别为-0.3654mV/V/mm和-0.3886mV/V/mm。实验结果为该位移传感系统在低温环境中的应用提供了一定基础。     

低能N离子注入对蚕豆根尖细胞的诱变效应

为了研究低能N离子束的细胞遗传学效应, 以不同剂量的N离子束对蚕豆种子的种胚进行辐照, 观察分析根尖细胞的微核率、 有丝分裂指数和染色体畸变效应。 研究发现, 离子束的注入抑制了根尖细胞的有丝分裂, 干扰了正常的有丝分裂过程, 引发了染色体的结构、 行为和数目畸变; 随着离子注入剂量的增加, 微核率增加、 有丝分裂指数降低、 染色体畸变率增加。 In order to study the cytogenetic effects of low energy nitrogen ion irradiation, broad bean seed embryo was irradiated by different doses of nitrogen ions. Micronucleus rate, mitotic index and chromosome aberration in root tip cells were analyzed. The results showed that the injection of ions inhibited mitosis of root tip cells, interfered the normal process of mitosis, caused aberrations of chromosome structure, behavior and number. The frequency of micronucleus and chromosomal aberrations increased with the increasing radiation dosage, while mitotic index decreased.     

Not All Fluorescent Nanodiamonds Are Created Equal: A Comparative Study

Fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) are vital to many emerging nanotechnological applications, from bioimaging and sensing to quantum nanophotonics. Yet, understanding and engineering the properties of fluorescent defects in nanodiamonds remain challenging. The most comprehensive study to date is presented, of the optical and physical properties of five different nanodiamond samples, in which fluorescent nitrogen‐vacancy (NV) centers are created using different fabrication techniques. The FNDs' fluorescence spectra, lifetime, and spin relaxation time (T₁) are investigated via single‐particle confocal fluorescence microscopy and in ensemble measurements in solution (T₁ excepted). Particle sizes and shapes are determined using scanning electron microscopy and correlated with the optical results. Statistical tests are used to explore correlations between the properties of individual particles and also analyze average results to directly compare different fabrication techniques. Spectral unmixing is used to quantify the relative NV charge‐state (NV^? and NV⁰) contributions to the overall fluorescence. A strong variation is found and quantified in the properties of individual particles within all analyzed samples and significant differences between the different particle types. This study is an important contribution toward understanding the properties of NV centers in nanodiamonds. It motivates new approaches to the improved engineering of NV‐containing nanodiamonds for future applications.     

15Nmethacetin test to control liver function of infants with formerly very low birth weight

Abstract

Hepatic detoxification capacities of three groups of infants aged about two were estimated using the [¹⁵N]methacetin elimination test, as well as standard serum parameters:

1. Formerly hypotrophically born infants still too small for their age (n = 23)

2. Patients suffering from severe liver diseases (n = 15)

3. Patients without liver diseases (n = 14).

17 of the infants of group 1 showed ¹⁵N elimination rates as low as the rates of the liver-diseased patients of group 2. Compared to the infants of group 3, who had normal values, the findings reflect diminished hepatic monooxygenases activities in groups 1 and 2. On the other hand, the serum parameters of the infants of group 1 did not deviate from normal values estimated in group 3. Here only group 2 showed pathological values. Consequently, the [¹⁵N]methacetin test seems to be more sensitive in controlling hepatic parameters of growth retardations than the usual serum parameters used here. Further investigations have to answer the question to which proportion intrauterine malnutrition and postnatal effects, such as environmental living conditions, contribute to the retardation of liver function development in combination with growth retardation.     

Separation of Nitrogen Isotopes by Thermal Diffusion

The prototype of a thermal diffusion column for the use as basic unit in a N¹⁴N¹⁵ cascade is described. The hot wire separation column consists of a brass tube of effective length of 250 cm and inner diameter of 10 mm. Four columns are connected in series on a square cascade, the separation factors of which are compared with the values obtained by other investigators.     

Beispiele für die Anwendung der 15N-Tracertechnik in der Düngungsforschung mit emissionsspektrometrischen Analysenverfahren (NOI-5; Isonitromat-5200)

Es werden Varianten der Probenchemie für ¹⁵N-Bilanzexperimente in der Düngungsforschung vorgestellt, die den Erfordernissen des Isonitromat-5200 und des NOI-5 angepaßt sind. Die skizzierten Methoden umfassen die destillative Präparation markierter N-Mengen (0,1–1 mg) aus Bodenextrakten, verbunden mil einem Zvsatz unmatkierter N-Mengen bei der Titration sowie eine für den Routinebetrieb geeignete N-Bestimmung in nicht angereicherten Pflanzenaufschlüssen mit dem Isonitromat-5200 als ¹⁵N-Verdünnungsanalyse. Weiterhin werden einfache apparative Varianten zur Bestimmung von sog. Gasförmigen Düngersticksloffverlusten durch Denitrifizierung in gasdichten Kammern dargestellt.

Durch ¹⁵N-Analyse von Luftproben über ¹⁵N-angereicherten natürlichen Bodenmonolithen mit dem NOI-5 können unmittelbar die vom Dünger freigesetzten N₂ und N₂O-Mengen bestimmt werden. Bei Spezialversuchen in stickstofffreier Neon(He)-Atmosphäre können gebildete N₂-, NO- und N₂O-Spuren (um 1 Vol. %)nach gaschromatographischer Trennung (auf Perapak-Q) individuell am NOI-5 gemessen werden. Unter Verwendung von CO₂-Trägergas werden die N-Komponenten in einem Azotometer isoliert und mit Hilfe eines Dosierhahnes, dessen Volumen den geforderten Gasdruck garantiert, in Entladungsrohre überführt.     

Evaluation of carbon stripper foils produced by a nitrogen ion beam sputtering method

Carbon stripper foils having thicknesses in the range of 5–40 μg/cm² have been prepared by a nitrogen ion beam sputtering method and their lifetimes have been tested in the Van de Graaff accelerator facility with 3.2 MeV, Ne⁺ ions. The foils of 21 μg/cm² thickness had the longest mean lifetime of 1350.0 mC/cm² (irradiation dose of 8.4×10¹⁸ atoms/cm²) which was 50 times longer than that of commercial foils. However, foils with other thicknesses had extremely short lifetimes similar to commercial foils. The nitrogen content of the foils of both long and short lifetimes has been determined using elastic scattering of 3 MeV α-particles.