Biochar as electron donor for reduction of N2O by Paracoccus denitrificans.

Biochar (BC) has been shown to influence microbial denitrification and mitigate soil N2O emissions. However, it is unclear if BC is able to directly stimulate the microbial reduction of N2O to N2. We hypothesized that the ability of BC to lower N2O emissions could be related not only to its ability to store electrons, but to donate them to bacteria that enzymatically reduce N2O.

Electrospun silk fibroin/TiO mats. Preparation, characterization and efficiency for the photocatalytic solar treatment of pesticide polluted water.

The photocatalytic properties of silk fibroin (SF) incorporating TiO nanoparticles using an electrospinning technique were examined. Electrospun SF/TiO mats were successfully prepared and characterized by different techniques (XRD, FE-SEM, XPS, XDS, FTIR and BET). The photocatalytic efficiency of these materials were assessed by their ability to degrade four pesticides (boscalid, hexythiazox, pyraclostrobin and trifloxystrobin) in water exposed to solar irradiation.

Voice Markers of Lexical Access in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Recent studies have identified the correlation between dementia and certain vocal features, such as voice and speech changes. Vocal features may act as early markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite being present in non-pathological senescence and Mild Cognitive Impairment, especially in its amnesic subtype (aMCI), these voice- and speech-related symptoms are the first signs of AD.

Corrigendum to: Plant isotopic composition provides insight into mechanisms underlying growth stimulation by AM fungi in a semiarid environment.

We hypothesised that improved plant water status and enhanced transpiration are key mechanisms involved in plant growth stimulation by native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in semiarid calcareous soils. Seedlings of the dryland shrubs Pistacia lentiscus L. and Retama sphaerocarpa L.

Plant isotopic composition provides insight into mechanisms underlying growth stimulation by AM fungi in a semiarid environment.

We hypothesised that improved plant water status and enhanced transpiration are key mechanisms involved in plant growth stimulation by native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in semiarid calcareous soils. Seedlings of the dryland shrubs Pistacia lentiscus L. and Retama sphaerocarpa L.

Comparison of ozone and UV-C treatments on the postharvest stilbenoid monomer, dimer, and trimer induction in var. 'Superior' white table grapes.

Postharvest treatment of seedless white table grapes (var. 'Superior') with different gas ozone concentrations (3.88 and 1.

Flow cytometry based techniques to study testicular acidophilic granulocytes from the protandrous fish gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.).

The gilthead seabream is a protandrous seasonal breeding teleost that is an excellent model for studying the testicular regression process which occurs in both seasonal testicular involution and sex reversion. Little is known about the cell types and the molecular mechanisms involved in such processes, mainly because of the lack of appropriate methods for testis dissociation, and testicular cell isolation, culture and functional characterization. We have previously reported that gilthead seabream acidophilic granulocytes infiltrate the testis at post-spawning stage, settle close to the spermatogonia and accumulate intracellular interleukin-1beta.

Characterisation of gilthead seabream acidophilic granulocytes by a monoclonal antibody unequivocally points to their involvement in fish phagocytic response.

The various cell types involved in fish phagocytic defence have not been properly established because of the morphological heterogeneity of leucocytes and the lack of appropriate cell-surface markers. In this study, we report the production and characterisation of a monoclonal antibody, G7, which specifically recognises gilthead seabream acidophilic granulocytes, as assayed by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. The antibody reacted with 40%-50% of head-kidney and peritoneal exudate leucocytes and 10%-20% of spleen and peripheral blood leucocytes.