Macro-nutrients in edible parts of food crops in the region of Moanda,Gabon

The assessment of nutritive foodstuffs quality is an important step in the estimation of dietary intake of metals. This study aimed to assess accumulation and the daily intake of macro-elements magnesium, calcium, potassium and sodium in edible parts of plants grown in Moanda area. The ranges of concentrations were 246 - 5645 mg/kg, 1167 - 35105 mg/kg, 158 - 12563 mg/kg and 88 - 795 mg/kg for Mg, Ca, K and Na, respectively. Mg and K levels were significantly higher in fruits than in tubers. The trend of accumulation in the edible parts of plants was generally: Ca > K > Mg > Na. The daily intakes of Mg and Ca were the highest and indicated food crops in Moanda had a good nutritive quality.

Colon transit time according to physical activity and characteristics in South Korean adults

AIM:To investigate factors contributing to the colon transit time(CTT),physical activity and characteristics were examined.METHODS:Forty-seven Korean adults(males,n=23;females,n=24) took a capsule containing 20 radioopaque markers to measure the CTT.The subjects used an accelerometer to measure the physical activity and underwent a bioelectrical impedance analysis to determine the physical characteristics.Macro-nutrient was also surveyed.RESULTS:The mean total CTTs(TCTT) in the males and females were 8.8 and 24.7 h(P=0.002),respectively.In the male subjects,the right CTT(3.5±4.9 h vs 10.0±11.6 h,P=0.023) and recto-sigmoid CTT(4.4±4.7 vs 13.6±12.5 h,P=0.004) were significantly shorter and the total energy expenditure(637.6±44.3 kcal vs 464.3±64.9 kcal,P=0.003),total activity count(247 017±75 022 count vs 178 014±75 998 count,P=0.003),energy expenditure of light intensity(148.5±6.9 kcal vs 120.0±16.8 kcal,P=0.006),energy expenditure of moderate intensity(472.0±36.2 kcal vs 281.4±22.2 kcal,P < 0.001),fat intake(65.5±23.3 g vs 51.2±17.4 g,P=0.010),and water consumption(1714.3±329.4 g vs 1164.7±263.6 g,P=0.009) were significantly higher than in the female subjects.Regarding correlations,when adjusted for gender,fiber(r =-0.545,P < 0.001) and water intake(r =-0.257,P < 0.05) correlated significantly with the TCTT in all subjects.In addition,the body mass index(r =-0.424,P < 0.05) and fiber intake(r =-0.417,P < 0.05) in the males as well as the fiber intake(r =-0.655,P < 0.001) in the females showed significant correlations with the TCTT.CONCLUSION:The subjects showed significant gender differences in the TCTT,right CTT,and recto-sigmoid CTT.Furthermore,the intake of the fiber and water contributed to the CTT.

Effects of Fermented Nori (<i>Pyropia yezoensis</i>) Liquid Fertilizer on Plant Growth Characteristics and Nutrient Content of Komatsuna (<i>Brassica rapa</i>L. var. Wakana Komatsuna) Cultivated in Vermiculite

We conducted plant growth experiments in microbe-free vermiculite to study the effects of four types of fermented seaweed liquid fertilizer (SLF) made from nori (Pyropia yezoensis) seaweed on the germination, plant growth characteristics, SPAD value, and nutrient content and uptake of komatsuna (Brassica rapa L. var. wakana komatsuna). The four types of fermented nori SLF used in this study were prepared by anaerobic fermentation of unwashed nori (SLF1), aerobic fermentation of unwashed nori (SLF2), anaerobic fermentation of washed nori (SLF3), and aerobic fermentation of washed nori (SLF4). Komatsuna seeds treated with 200-, 300-, and 400-fold dilutions of SLFs exhibited improved relative germination ratios (RGRs) at 3 and 4 days after sowing (DAS). At 4 DAS, the RGRs of seeds treated with 10-, 100-, 200-, 300-, and 400-fold SLF dilutions showed no differential effect. Seeds treated with undiluted SLFs did not germinate by 4 DAS. SLF1 may promote komatsuna seed germination. The nitrogen (N), calcium, magnesium, sodium (Na), and iodine (I) contents of plants treated with SLF1 were significantly increased relative to plants treated with the other SLFs. Moreover, the I and Na contents of plants were significantly increased by foliar spray application of different dilutions of SLF1. However, SLF treatment markedly reduced the shoot dry weight compared with 1/2-strength modified Hoagland nutrient (MHN) solution, although the same amounts of N and K were applied. SPAD values of the plants treated with SLFs were significantly higher than those of plants treated with MHN. Foliar treatment with SLFs had no significant effect on plant growth, SPAD value, or uptake of nutrients (except Na) relative to the control, but the I content was increased. Plants treated with SLF1 and SLF2 exhibited the highest Na uptake. Foliar spray treatments with SLF1 resulted in the highest I contents in plants. Based on our results, SLF1 is suitable for use as a liquid fertilizer to promote germination and increase nutrient content in komatsuna. These results need to be followed up in soil experiments in the presence of microbes in the rhizosphere.

Challenges of a feasible route towards sustainability in environmental protection

Anaerobic processes for treatment of low and high strength wastewaters and solid wastes constitute the core method in the natural biological mineralization(NBM)treatment concept.When adequately combined with the complementary NBM-systems and modern clean water saving practices in wastewater collection and transport,they represent a feasible route to sustainable environmental protection(EPsus),in essence even towards a more sustainable society.Despite the development and implementation of modern high rate Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment(AnWT-)systems and complementary innovative NBM-processes,the considerable progress made since the seventies in fundamental insights in microbiology,biochemistry and process technology,still numerous challenging improvements in the NBM-field can be realized.This contribution is mainly based on the insights attained from wide ranging literature evaluations and the results of experimental research conducted by numerous PhD students who participated in our group over the last four decades.An attempt is made here to identify major facets on which an improved insight can,and consequently should,be obtained in order to accomplish more optimal operation and design of various types of Anaerobic Degradation(AnDeg-)processes.

Nutrient resorption and stoichiometric responses of poplar(Populus deltoids)plantations to N addition in a coastal region of eastern China

Aims Leaf nutrient resorption is sensitive to changes in soil nutrients.However,the effects of N deposition on nutrient resorption efficiency(NuRE)in plant macro-nutrients remain unclear.Poplar(Populus deltoids)is one of the most extensively cultivated hardwood species worldwide.We explored general patterns and dominant drivers of NuRE and stoichiometry of poplar plantations in response to N addition.Methods We conducted a 4-year N-addition experiment to explore NuRE and stoichiometric responses to N addition in two poplar(P.deltoids)plantations(8-and 12-year-old stands)in a coastal region of eastern China.We measured soil and foliar(green and senesced leaves)concentrations of nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P),potassium(K),calcium(Ca)and magnesium(Mg)for a series of N addition treatments including N_(0)(0 kg N ha^(−1)yr^(−1)),N_(1)(50 kg N ha^(−1)yr^(−1)),N_(2)(100 kg N ha^(−1)yr^(−1)),N_(3)(150 kg N ha^(−1)yr^(−1))and N_(4)(300 kg N ha^(−1)yr^(−1)).Important Findings Consistent for(both)8-and 12-year-old stands,N addition did not affect the NuRE and stoichiometry(with the exception of CaRE and CaRE:MgRE ratio).N resorption efficiency–P resorption efficiency(NRE–PRE)scaling slopes were consistently less than 1.0 under N addition.These results suggest that NRE generally decouples from PRE within each N treatment.Moreover,these results point to robust control of green leaf nutritional status on nutrient resorption processes as indicated by the positive relationships between NuRE and green leaf nutrient concentrations.Our findings provided a direct evidence that growth in 12-year-old poplar plantations was N-limited in the coastal region of eastern China.