A numerical-analytical model has been developed to investigate the effect of the coverage density of metallic nanoparticles on the interplay between Raman gain and attenuation of guided mode in SERSactive optical fibers. The model was applied to different types of SERS-active fibers: a single-mode suspended-core photonic crystal fiber with silver nanoparticles immobilized on the walls of cladding channels and multi-mode unclad sapphire fiber with silver nanoparticles on its outer cylindrical surface. The predicted Raman intensity curves as functions of nanoparticle coverage density, covered fiber length and excited modes are in a good agreement with the published experimental results for the contrasting types of SERS-active fibers. and Numericko-analytický model byl vyvinut pro vyšetření vlivu hustoty pokrytí kovových nanočástic na souhru Ramanova zesílení a útlumu vedeného vidu v SERS-aktivních optických vláknech. Tento model byl aplikován na dva odlišné typy SERS-aktivních vláken: na jednovidové fotonické krystalové vlákno typu ''suspended-core'' se stříbrnými nanočásticemi immobilizovaných na stěnách plášťových kanálů a na mnohovidové bezplášťové safírové vlákno se stříbrnými nanočásticemi na jeho válcovém povrchu. Předpovězené křivky Ramanovy intenzity jako funkce hustoty pokrytí nanočástic, délky vlákna pokryté nanočásticemi a excitovaných vidů jsou v dobré shodě s publikovanými experimentálními výsledky pro uvedené kontrastní typy SERS-aktivních vláken.
The paper deals with the effect of the parameters of aqueous slurries of particulate matter on the functional relationship between the specific energy and the flow rate of hydrodynamic dredge pumps. The empirical conversion equations available from literature are reviewed. The methods of converting the pump characteristics at clear water to those which apply for slurries have been incorporated into a straightforward, user-friendly computer program which can be run on a PC. The program may be adopted in the design of hydro-transportation systems involving hydrodynamic dredge pumps. The program computes the specific pump energy as a function of flow rate at given rotary speed, for specific operating conditions of the pump, i.e., for specific parameters of the slurry.The paper deals with the effect of the parameters of aqueous slurries of particulate matter on the functional relationship between the specific energy and the flow rate of hydrodynamic dredge pumps. The empirical conversion equations available from literature are reviewed. The methods of converting the pump characteristics at clear water to those which apply for slurries have been incorporated into a straightforward, user-friendly computer program which can be run on a PC. The program may be adopted in the design of hydro-transportation systems involving hydrodynamic dredge pumps. The program computes the specific pump energy as a function of flow rate at given rotary speed, for specific operating conditions of the pump, i.e., for specific parameters of the slurry. and Článek pojednává o vlivu parametrů hydrosměsi písku na funkční vztah měrná energie - průtok hydrodynamických bagrovacích čerpadel. Uvádí přehled empirických přepočtových vztahů v dostupných literárních podkladech. Metody přepočtu charakteristik čerpadla z čisté vody na hydrosměs byly zapracovány do uživatelsky jednoduchého výpočtového programu pro osobní počítač. Program lze využít při návrhu hydrodopravních systémů s hydrodynamickými bagrovacími čerpadly. Výstupem programu jsou závislosti měrné energie čerpadla na průtoku při daných otáčkách pro konkrétní podmínky provozu čerpadla, resp. pro konkrétní parametry suspenze.
In the Orinoco lowlands, savannas have been often replaced by pastures composed of the C4 grass, Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. We addressed following questions: (1) How does the replacement of the native vegetation affect CO2 exchange on seasonal and annual scales? (2) How do biophysical constraints change when the landscape is transformed? To assess how these changes affect carbon exchange, we determined simultaneously the CO2 fluxes by eddy covariance, and the soil CO2 efflux by a chamber-based system in B. decumbens and herbaceous savanna stands. Measurements covered a one-year period from the beginning of the dry season (November 2008) to the end of the wet season (November 2009). During the wet season, the net ecosystem CO2 exchange reached maximum values of 23 and 10 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1 in the B. decumbens field and in the herbaceous savanna stand, respectively. The soil CO2 efflux for both stands followed a temperature variation during the dry and wet seasons, when the soil water content (SWC) increased above 0.087 m3 m-3 in the latter case. Bursts of CO2 emissions were evident when the dry soil experienced rehydration. The carbon source/sink dynamics over the two canopies differed markedly. Annual measurements of the net ecosystem production indicated that the B. decumbens field constituted a strong carbon sink of 216 g(C) m-2 y-1. By contrast, the herbaceous savanna stand was found to be only a weak sink [36 g(C) m-2 y-1]. About 53% of the gross primary production was lost as the ecosystem respiration. Carbon uptake was limited by SWC in the herbaceous savanna stand as evident from the pattern of water-use efficiency (WUE). At the B. decumbens stand, WUE was relatively insensitive to SWC. Although these results were specific to the studied site, the effect of land use changes and the physiological response of the studied stands might be applicable to other savannas., J. San José, R. Montes, N. Nikonova, J. Grace, C. Buendía., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Previous studies have demonstrated that both tick saliva and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato antigens modulate the cytokine response of the host. In this paper, the effect of salivary gland extract (SGE) from Ixodes ricinus (L., 1758) ticks on cytokine production by primary cultures of mouse epidermal cells stimulated with Borrelia afzelii Canica, Nato, du Merle, Mazie, Baranton et Postic, 1993 spirochetes was analysed. Epidermal cells were derived from C3H/HeN mice, susceptible to Lyme disease, and BALB/c mice, which are resistant. In cultures from C3H/HeN mice, SGE down regulated production of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and up regulated Th2 cytokine, interleukin 4 (IL-4). Cultures from BALB/c mice produced higher basal levels of monitored cytokines, but their production was affected by SGE a different way. While Th2 cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 were down regulated, the effect on TNF-α and IL-4 was ambiguous. These results indicate that the effect of tick saliva on the epidermal cells of Lyme disease-susceptible C3H/HeN mice mirrors its effect on other cells of the immune system.
Direct sowing with non-woven fabric mulch is the new organic rice cultivation system. We studied the effect of topdressing on individual leaf photosynthesis at different position and grain yield in rice plants cultivated by this system. Leaf photosynthetic rate at the different leaf position per plant (PN-LP) of the third and fourth to lower leaves was higher when the topdressing amount was increased. Without topdressing or in no-fertilizers plots, the PN-LP values of lower leaves were very low. The leaf photosynthetic rate per unit leaf area (PN-LA) decreased gradually as the leaf position became lower. Again, the PN-LA values of the top-dressed plots at the lower leaves were higher than that of plots without topdressing or without fertilizers. The lower leaves maintained a higher PN because of a higher rate of nitrogen accumulation due to topdressing. The higher rate of photosynthesis in these leaves resulted in better root activity, which contributed to a better ripening percentage and ultimately higher rice grain yield. and S. T. Hossain, H. Sugimoto, J. Yamashita.
Kappaphycus alvarezii is a seaweed of great economic importance for the extraction of kappa carrageenan from its cell walls. The most common strains are dark red, brown, yellow, and different gradations of green. It is known that ultraviolet radiation (UVR) affects macroalgae in many important ways, including reduced growth rate, reduction of primary productivity, and changes in cell biology and ultrastructure. Therefore, we examined the brown strain of K. alvarezii exposed to ultraviolet-B radiaton (UVBR) for 3 h per day during 28 days of cultivation. The control plants showed growth rates of 7.27% d-1, while plants exposed to UVBR grew only 4.0% d-1. Significant differences in growth rates and in phycobiliproteins between control and exposed plants were also found. Compared with control plants, phycobiliprotein contents were observed to decrease after UV-B exposure. Furthermore, the chlorophyll a (Chl a) contents decreased and showed significant differences. UVBR also caused changes in the ultrastructure of cortical and subcortical cells, which included increased thickness of the cell wall and number of plastoglobuli, reduced intracellular spaces, changes in the cell contour, and destruction of chloroplast internal organization. Reaction with Toluidine Blue showed an increase in the thickness of the cell wall, and Periodic Acid-Schiff stain showed a decrease in the number of starch grains. By the significant changes in growth rates, photosynthetic contents and ultrastructual changes observed, it is clear that UVBR negatively affects intertidal macroalgae and, by extension, their economic viability. and É. C. Schmidt ... [et al.].
Impact of UV-A and UV-B radiation on pattern of pigments of the Antarctic macroalga Leptosomia simplex L. was studied during the Polarstern cruise (ANT XII/2) 1994/95 under controlled laboratory conditions. An 8 h exposure to UV-A of 17.6 W m-2 led usually to an increase of carotenoid contents, but to a decrease in contents of chlorophyllide (Chlide) a and chlorophyll (Chl) a. UV-B irradiation (300-320 nm) caused a decrease in contents of Chlide a, lutein, and zeaxanthin, but an increase in contents of Chl a and carotenes. Enhancement of carotenoid contents was attributed to a protection of the photosynthetic apparatus. UV effects on the 15N-ammonium uptake were correlated with the changes in pigment contents.
Water availability is an important factor for plant growth in arid environments. In recent decades, vermicompost (VC) fertilizer has been used in agriculture as a safe and effective fertilizer with high water-holding capacity. The aim of the present study was to characterize effects of VC fertilizer on photosynthetic activity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. cv. Karaj) under drought conditions at three different growth stages. Tests were carried out with four volumetric ratios of VC to soil, i.e., 0:100, 10:90, 20:80, and 30:70, and three levels of drought stress, i.e., no stress (NS), moderate drought (MS), and severe drought (SS) (100, 75, and 25% of field capacity, respectively). Evaluations were performed at the seedling, flowering, and podding stage. We found that the VC treatment under NS conditions significantly increased total chlorophyll content [Chl (a+b)], intercellular CO2 concentration (C i), net photosynthetic rate (P N), transpiration rate (E), and maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) at all three stages. The VC addition of 10 and 20% significantly enhanced the Chl content and Fv/Fm under MS and Fv/Fm, C i, and P N under SS at the flowering stage. In conclusion, our results proved a positive effect of the VC fertilizer on photosynthesis of chickpea under NS conditions, but it was not found under MS and SS., S. R. Hosseinzadeh, H. Amiri, A. Ismaili., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Riesling) plants subjected to water deficit were studied for changes in relative water content (RWC), leaf dry mass, contents of chlorophyll (Chl), total leaf proteins, free amino acids, and proline, and activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC), nitrate reductase (NR), and protease. In water-stressed plants RWC, leaf dry matter, Chl content, net photosynthetic rate (PN), and RuBPC and NR activities were significantly decreased. The total leaf protein content also declined with increase in the accumulation of free amino acids. Concurrently, the protease activity in the tissues was also increased. A significant two-fold increase in proline content was recorded. and M. Bertaminni ... [et al.].