Biofortification of different maize cultivars with zinc, iron and selenium by foliar fertilizer applications.

Fertilizer-based biofortification is a strategy for combating worldwide malnutrition of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and selenium (Se). Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of foliar treatments on concentrations of Zn, Fe, Se, N and bioavailability of Zn and Fe in grains of three maize cultivars grown at three locations. We compared the efficacy of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), Zn complexed chitosan nanoparticles (Zn-CNPs), conventional ZnSO and a cocktail solution (containing Zn, Fe and Se).

Harvesting more grain zinc of wheat for human health.

Increasing grain zinc (Zn) concentration of cereals for minimizing Zn malnutrition in two billion people represents an important global humanitarian challenge. Grain Zn in field-grown wheat at the global scale ranges from 20.4 to 30.

[Reactive nitrogen loss pathways and their effective factors in paddy field in southern China].

Based on the literature data, the N20 emission, N leaching, N runoff and NH3 volatilization were compared from different rice production regions and their effective factors were evaluated. The results showed that N2 0 emission, N leaching and N runoff in single rice in Yangtze River basin were higher than in other rice production regions, with N loss of 1.89, 6.

[Effects of controlled release nitrogen fertilizer application on dry matter accumulation and nitrogen balance of summer maize].

Effects of four controlled release nitrogen (N) fertilizers, including two kinds of polyester coated urea (Ncau, CRU) and phosphate (NhnP) and humic acid (NhnF) coated urea on assimilates accumulation and nitrogen balance of summer maize were investigated in a mode of one-time fertilization at the regional N recommended rate. The results showed that the N release curves of the two controlled release fertilizers CRU and Ncau matched well with the summer maize N uptake. Compared with the regional N recommendation rate, CRU could increase maize yield by 4.

[Impacts of climate change on summer maize production and adaptive selection of varieties in Xingtai County, Hebei, China].

Understanding the impacts of climate change on agriculture production and the underlying mechanism in North China Plain is important to take effective adaptations for national food security. Using Hybrid-Maize model, this paper investigated the impacts of climate change on summer maize yield potential and famers' adaptation by changing varieties with longer growth periods from 1981 to 2010 in Xingtai County, Hebei Province. Results showed a significant warming trend with the average temperature increasing by 0.

[Cell death of THP-1 induced by puried Rv3671c protein of tuberculosis and the detection of TNF-α and IL-1β in Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

Objective: To assess the response in THP-1 treated with Rv3671c protein in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tuberculosis).

Methods: The gene encoding Rv3671c protein of M.

[Cross-resistance between rifampin and rifabutin in multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains].

Objective: To study the cross-resistance between rifampin and rifabutin in multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains, and therefore to provide laboratory data for using rifabutin in the treatment of multidrug resistant tuberculosis.

Methods: The MIC(90) of rifabutin and rifampin against 99 multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical strains were determined by microplate assays. Statistical analysis was performed by using the χ(2) test and the t test.

[Evaluation of the isothermal RNA amplification assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples].

Objective: To evaluate the use of isothermal RNA amplification assay for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (SAT-TB) in sputum samples.

Methods: A total of 244 sputum samples from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and those with other lung diseases were detected by SAT-TB and Lowenstein-Jensen (L-J) culture. The samples with different results between SAT-TB and L-J culture were tested by Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR fluorescence diagnostic kits.

[In vitro activities of clofazimine against different drug-resistant types of Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

Objective: To study the in vitro antituberculous activities of clofazimine (CLF) to different drug-resistant types of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Methods: The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CLF and isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RFP), ofloxacin (OFLX), amikacin (AK), and capreomycin (CPM) against sensitive, single-drug resistant (SDR), poly-drug resistant (PDR), multi-drug resistant (MDR), and extensive-drug resistant (XDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated clinically were determined by microplate assays.

Results: The MICs of CLF for sensitive, SDR, PDR, MDR and XDR strains of clinically isolated Mycobacterium tuberculosis were 0.

[Screening of the binding peptides of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv].

Objective: To screen the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv binding peptide using phage-displayed random peptide libraries, and to analyze the binding capacity of the peptide with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Methods: Inactive Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv was used for screening of the binding peptide from the Ph.D.

[Monitoring winter wheat population dynamics using an active crop sensor].

Tiller density plays an important role in attaining optimum grain yield and applying topdressing N in winter wheat. However, the traditional approach based on determining tiller density is time-consuming and labor-intensive. As technology advances, remote sensing might provide an opportunity in eliminating this7 problem.

Integrated soil-crop system management for food security.

China and other rapidly developing economies face the dual challenge of substantially increasing yields of cereal grains while at the same time reducing the very substantial environmental impacts of intensive agriculture. We used a model-driven integrated soil-crop system management approach to develop a maize production system that achieved mean maize yields of 13.0 t ha(-1) on 66 on-farm experimental plots--nearly twice the yield of current farmers' practices--with no increase in N fertilizer use.

[Evaluation of microscopic observation drug susceptibility for drug susceptibility testing of mycobacterium tuberculosis in smear-positive sputum].

Objective: To evaluate microscopic observation drug susceptibility (MODS) for mycobacterium tuberculosis drug susceptibility in smear-positive sputum.

Methods: Drug susceptibility of mycobacterium tuberculosis in 275 smear-positive sputum samples collected from TB patients were detected directly by MODS. The susceptibility of seven antimicrobials including streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, levofloxacin, amikacin and capromycin were detected MODS.

[Fast identification of mycobacteria in microtiter liquid culture].

Objective: This research was to establish a method for fast identification of mycobacteria in microtiter liquid culture and to evaluate its clinical value.

Methods: 2-thiophenecarboxylic acid hydrazide (TCH) and paranitrobenzoic acid (PNB) at different concentrations were added into liquid culture in 96-well plate. Different mycobacterium standard strains were incubated in liquid culture with PNB and TCH for 7 to 10 days.

[The effects of gene mutation related to drug resistance and drug efflux pump in extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis clinical isolates].

Objective: To explore the effects of 2 major drug-resistant mechanisms in clinically isolated strains of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-MTB).

Methods: Genomic DNA of 10 XDR-MTB strains isolated from Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital were extracted. The main gene mutations related to drug resistance and 15 SNPs unique to XDR-MTB clinical isolate KZN605 reported by the Broad Institute in USA were detected by sequencing.

Selection and application of peptide mimotopes of MPT64 protein in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Antibody responses can be useful markers of tuberculosis (TB) infection, especially in the screening of extra-pulmonary TB. MPT64 is an important antigen in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection and is used in serological diagnosis. However, large variability in the diagnostic accuracy of MPT64 as a serological tool has limited its application.

[Identification of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex by detecting recombinant secretory protein MPT64].

Objective: To identify the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex by detecting the secretory protein MPT64.

Methods: The gene mpt64 was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv strain and cloned into expression vector. Immune sera from rabbits by recombinant proteins MPT64, were used to make enzyme-labeled antibodies and coated antibodies.

[Influence of interpolation method and sampling number on spatial prediction accuracy of soil Olsen-P].

Different from the large scale farm management in Europe and America, the scattered farmland management in China made the spatial variability of soil nutrients at county scale in this country more challenging. Taking soil Olsen-P in Wuhu County as an example, the influence of interpolation method and sampling number on the spatial prediction accuracy of soil nutrients was evaluated systematically. The results showed that local polynomial method, ordinary kriging, simple kriging, and disjunctive kriging had higher spatial prediction accuracy than the other interpolation methods.

Reducing environmental risk by improving N management in intensive Chinese agricultural systems.

Excessive N fertilization in intensive agricultural areas of China has resulted in serious environmental problems because of atmospheric, soil, and water enrichment with reactive N of agricultural origin. This study examines grain yields and N loss pathways using a synthetic approach in 2 of the most intensive double-cropping systems in China: waterlogged rice/upland wheat in the Taihu region of east China versus irrigated wheat/rainfed maize on the North China Plain. When compared with knowledge-based optimum N fertilization with 30-60% N savings, we found that current agricultural N practices with 550-600 kg of N per hectare fertilizer annually do not significantly increase crop yields but do lead to about 2 times larger N losses to the environment.

[Appropriate soil nitrate N content for a winter wheat/summer maize rotation system in North China Plain].

A field experiment with 12-level N fertilization in winter wheat growth season and zero-N in summer maize growth season was conducted to study the appropriate soil nitrate N content for a winter wheat/summer maize rotation system in North China Plain. The results showed that when the soil mineral N content before sowing was higher, a split application of 150 kg N x hm(-2) in winter wheat growth season could meet the N demand of both winter wheat and summer maize in the rotation system. The N use efficiency of winter wheat in different N treatments was only from 11% to 23%, while the residual N use efficiency of summer maize ranged from 30% to 52%.

[A study of the bacteriophage-based assay for the detection of pyrazinamide resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

Objective: To set up and evaluate the method of phage amplified biologically assay (PhaB) in rapid detection of pyrazinamide (PZA) resistance.

Methods: The PhaB assay was developed and applied in detecting PZA resistance in 108 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the results were compared with those of the absolute concentration method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was detected for all discrepancy isolates.

[Comparison of four methods in the detection of isoniazid resistance in clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

Objective: To evaluate the use of phage amplified biologically (PhaB) assay, Bactec-960 system, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method and gene chip in drug susceptibility testing of isoniazid (INH) in clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB).

Methods: INH resistance of 167 clinical isolates of MTB was detected by PhaB assay, Bactec-960 system, MIC and gene-chip methods respectively, and the results of these four methods were compared.

Results: 111 INH resistant isolates and 56 INH sensitive isolates were detected by Bactec-960 system.

[Comparison between bacteriophage-based assay and BACTEC-960 system in detection of ethambutol resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

Objective: To set up phage amplified biologically assay (PhaB) for rapid detection ethambutol (EMB) resistance and to evaluate the use of PhaB in the detection of EMB resistance.

Methods: To detect the EMB resistance of 138 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) by PhaB and compare it with the results of BACTEC-960 system. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was detected for all the discrepant isolates.

[Application of rapid detection for rifampin resistance in clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by phage amplified biologically assay].

Objective: To set up a rapid detection method for rifampin susceptibility with phage amplified biologically (PhaB) assay and to evaluates its value in the detection of rifampin resistance in clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Methods: The assay was established to detect rifampin resistance in 524 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and the result was compared to that of the absolute concentration method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was detected by BACTEC MGIT 960 method for the discrepant isolates.

[The use of gene chip in detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to rifampin and isoniazid].

Objective: To study the application of gene chip in detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to rifampin (RFP) and isoniazid (INH).

Methods: Probes were designed and the gene chip was fabricated according to the 30 single nucleotide polymorphisms of 11 mutations on 4 genes associated with RFP and INH resistance. The mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis were detected by gene chip to analyze the resistance to INH and RFP.