Microbial-mediated decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) ultimately makes a considerable contribution to soil respiration, which is typically the main source of CO₂ arising from terrestrial ...ecosystems. Despite this central role in the decomposition of SOM, few studies have been conducted on how climate change may affect the soil microbial community and, furthermore, on how possible climate-change induced alterations in the ecology of microbial communities may affect soil CO₂ emissions. Here we present the results of a seasonal study on soil microbial community structure, SOM decomposition and its temperature sensitivity in two representative Mediterranean ecosystems where precipitation/throughfall exclusion has taken place during the last 10 years. Bacterial and fungal diversity was estimated using the terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. Our results show that fungal diversity was less sensitive to seasonal changes in moisture, temperature and plant activity than bacterial diversity. On the other hand, fungal communities showed the ability to dynamically adapt throughout the seasons. Fungi also coped better with the 10 years of precipitation/throughfall exclusion compared with bacteria. The high resistance of fungal diversity to changes with respect to bacteria may open the controversy as to whether future ‘drier conditions' for Mediterranean regions might favor fungal dominated microbial communities. Finally, our results indicate that the fungal community exerted a strong influence over the temporal and spatial variability of SOM decomposition and its sensitivity to temperature. The results, therefore, highlight the important role of fungi in the decomposition of terrestrial SOM, especially under the harsh environmental conditions of Mediterranean ecosystems, for which models predict even drier conditions in the future.
A vast impact on molecular nanoscience can be achieved using simple transition metal complexes as dynamic chemical systems to perform specific and selective tasks under the control of an external ...stimulus that switches "ON" and "OFF" their electronic properties. While the interest in single-ion magnets (SIMs) lies in their potential applications in information storage and quantum computing, the switching of their slow magnetic relaxation associated with host-guest processes is insufficiently explored. Herein, we report a unique example of a mononuclear cobalt(ii) complex in which geometrical constraints are the cause of easy and reversible water coordination and its release. As a result, a reversible and selective colour and SIM behaviour switch occurs between a "slow-relaxing" deep red anhydrous material (compound
) and its "fast-relaxing" orange hydrated form (compound
). The combination of this optical and magnetic switching in this new class of vapochromic and thermochromic SIMs offers fascinating possibilities for designing multifunctional molecular materials.
Soil respiration (SR) was monitored periodically throughout 2001 in a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand located in the Belgian Campine region. As expected for a temperate maritime forest, ...temperature was the dominant control over SR during most of the year. However, during late spring and summer, when soil water content (SWC) was limiting, SR was insensitive to temperature (Q(10) = 1.24). We observed that during prolonged rain-free periods, when SWC was less than 15% (v/v), SR decreased dramatically (up to 50%) and SWC took over control of SR. During such drought periods, however, rain events sometimes stimulated SR and restored temperature control over SR, even though SWC in the mineral soil was low. We hypothesize that restoration of temperature control occurred only when rain events adequately rewetted the uppermost soil layers, where most of the respiratory activity occurred. To quantify the rewetting capacity of rain events, an index (I(w)) was designed that incorporated rainfall intensity, time elapsed since the last rain event, and atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (a proxy for evaporative water losses). To simulate SR fluxes, a model was developed that included the effects of soil temperature and, under drought and non-rewetting conditions (I(w) and SWC < threshold), an SWC response function. The model explained 95% of the temporal variability in SR observed during summer, whereas the temperature function alone explained only 73% of this variability. Our results revealed that, in addition to temperature and SWC, rain plays a role in determining the total amount of carbon released from soils, even in a maritime climate.
•We present the largest French, multicenter, retrospective study on oligometastatic patients treated with SBRT for an adrenal metastasis.•A total of 110 patients treated for 121 adrenal lesions were ...included. Non-small-cell lung cancer was the predominant histologic type (55.4 %). 82 % of patients had at least 2 metastatic sites. The median PTV was 70 cm3 with a median prescription dose of 40 Gy. The mean Biologically Effective Dose (BED)10 dose was 74.2 Gy. Local control at 1 and 2 years was 85.9 % and 72.5 % respectively. The median Overall survival and Progression free survival were 31.6 and 8.5 months respectively. Local control was significantly improved by systemic treatment one month before or after SBRT (p = 0.009) and by a BED10 greater than or equal to 50 Gy (p = 0.003).•Tolerance was excellent, no grade 3 and 4 toxicities were described due to SBRT.
The adrenal gland is a common site of metastasis with a rate of up to 27% in autopsy series. The incidence of these metastases is increasing due to greater use of Positron Emission Tomography scans and improved overall survival of patients with metastatic cancers. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a non-invasive treatment option for metastasis. The aim of this study is to assess prognostic factors influencing local control, progression-free and overall survival in oligometastatic patients treated with SBRT for an adrenal metastasis.
In this multicentric retrospective study, we included patients with adrenal metastases treated with SBRT between 2010 and 2021 in eleven french centers. All primary tumors were included.
A total of 110 patients treated for 121 adrenal lesions were included. Non-small-cell lung cancer was the predominant histologic type (55.4 %). Eighty-two percent of patients had at least 2 metastatic sites. The median Planning Target Volume was 70 cm3 with a median prescription dose of 40 Gray (Gy). The mean Biologically Effective Dose (BED) 10 dose was 74.2 Gy. Local control at 1 and 2 years was 85.9 % and 72.5 % respectively. The median overall survival and progression-free survival were 31.6 and 8.5 months respectively. Local control was significantly improved by systemic treatment one month before or after SBRT (p = 0.009) and by a BED10 greater than or equal to 50 Gy (p = 0.003).
In multivariate analysis, oligometastatic presentation (p = 0.009) and a metachronous metastatic presentation (p = 0.008) were independent factors for progression-free survival.
Tolerance was excellent, no grade 3 and 4 toxicities were described due to SBRT.
Stereotactic radiotherapy of adrenal metastases makes possible a local control of more than 85% at one year and was well tolerated. The factors influencing survival in oligometastatic patients still need to be found in order to better select those who benefit the most from this type of treatment.
Standing biomass, net primary production (NPP) and soil carbon (C) pools were studied in a 67-year-old pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) stand and a neighboring 74-year-old Scots pine (Pinus ...sylvestris L.) stand in the Belgian Campine region. Despite a 14% lower tree density and a lower tree height in the oak stand, standing biomass was slightly higher than in the pine stand (177 and 169 Mg ha(-1) in oaks and pines, respectively), indicating that individual oak trees contained more biomass than pine trees of similar diameter. Moreover, NPP in the oak stand was more than double that in the pine stand (17.7 and 8.1 Mg ha(-1) year(-1), respectively). Several observations indicated that soil organic matter accumulated at higher rates under pines than under oaks. We therefore hypothesized that the pines were exhibiting an age-related decline in productivity due to nutrient limitation. The poor decomposability of pine litter resulted in the observed accumulation of organic matter. The subsequent immobilization of nutrients in the organic matter, combined with the already nutrient-poor soil conditions, resulted in a decrease in total NPP over time, as well as in a substantial shift in the allocation of NPP toward fine roots. In the oak stand, litter is less recalcitrant to decay and soil acidity is less severe; hence, organic matter does not accumulate and nutrients are recycled. This probably explains why NPP was much higher in the oaks than in the pines and why only a small proportion of NPP was allocated to oak fine roots.
The preparation, crystal structures and magnetic properties of the copper(II) complexes of formula Cu(pyim)(tcm)(2)(n) (1), Cu(bpy)(tcm)(2)(n) (2), Cu(4)(bpz)(4)(tcm)(8) (3), {Cu(terpy)(tcm).tcm}(n) ...(4) and {Cu(2)(tppz)(tcm)(4).3/2H(2)O}(n) (5) pyim = 2-(2-pyridyl)imidazole, tcm = tricyanomethanide, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, bpz = 2,2'-bipyrazine, terpy = 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine and tppz = 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine are reported. Complexes, 1, 2 and 4 are uniform copper(II) chains with single- (1 and 4) and double-(2) micro-1,5-tcm bridges with values of the intrachain copper-copper separation of 7.489(1) (1), 7.520(1) and 7.758(1) (2) and 7.469(1) A (4). Each copper atom in 1, 2 and 4 is five-coordinate with bidentate pyim (1)/bpy (2) and tridentate terpy (4) ligands and nitrile-nitrogen atoms from bridging (1,2 and 4) and terminal (1) tcm groups building a distorted square pyramidal surrounding. The structure of 3 is made up of neutral centrosymmetric rectangles of (2,2'-bipyrazine)copper(II) units at the corners, the edges being built by single- and double-micro-1,5-tcm bridges with copper-copper separations of 7.969(1) and 7.270(1) A, respectively. Five- and six-coordinated copper atoms with distorted square pyramidal and elongated octahedral environments occur in . Compound 5 is a neutral copper(II) chain with regular alternating bis-tridentate tppz and double micro-1,5-tcm bridges, the intrachain copper-copper distances being 6.549(7) and 7.668(1) A, respectively. The two crystallographically independent copper atoms in 5 have an elongated octahedral geometry with three tppz nitrogen atoms and a nitrile-nitrogen atom from a bridging tcm group in the equatorial positions, and two nitrile nitrogen atoms from a terminal and a bridging tcm ligand occupying the axial sites. The investigation of the magnetic properies of 1-5 in the temperature range 1.9-295 K has shown the occurrence of weak ferro- J = +0.11(1) cm(-1) (2) and antiferromagnetic interactions J = -0.093(1) (1), -0.083(1) (4), -0.04(1) and 1.21(1) cm(-1) (3) across the micro-1,5-tcm bridges and intermediate antiferromagnetic coupling -J = 37.4(1) cm(-1) (5) through bis-tridentate tppz. The values of the magnetic interactions are analyzed through simple orbital symmetry considerations and compared with those previously reported for related systems.
We estimated above- and belowground biomass and net primary production (NPP) of a 73-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest stand in the Belgian Campine region. Total biomass for the stand ...was 176 Mg ha(-1), of which 74.4% was found in stems. The root system contained 12.6% of total biomass, most of it in coarse roots (> 5 mm). Fine roots (< 5 mm) comprised only about 1.7% of total biomass, and more than 50% of fine root biomass was retrieved in the litter layer and the upper 15 cm of the mineral soil. The ratio of belowground biomass to aboveground biomass was 0.14, which is lower than that of other Scots pine forests and other coniferous forests. Between 1995 and 2001, mean annual NPP was 11.2 Mg ha(-1) year(-1), of which 68.7% was allocated to aboveground compartments. Stems, needles and cones made relatively high contributions to total NPP compared with branches. However, branch NPP was possibly underestimated because litterfall of big branches was neglected. The proportion of total NPP in belowground components was 31.3%. Coarse root NPP (2% of total) was low compared with its biomass. Fine root NPP was 3.3 Mg ha(-1) year(-1), representing about 29.5% of total NPP; however, the estimate of fine root NPP is much more uncertain than NPP of aboveground compartments. The ratio NPP/GPP (gross primary production) was 0.32, which was low compared with other coniferous forests.
Refrigeration is the most widely used post-harvest technology for increasing commercial life (shelf-life) of plums after harvest. Nevertheless, low-temperature conservation is limited by chilling ...injury (CI), leading to rejection by consumers. The objective of the present work was to characterize biotic and non-biotic chilling injures that lead to quality loss in plums during post-harvest storage. Larry Ann and Angeleno plums were stored at 1.0±0.5°C and 90.0±2.0% RH for 4 and 8 weeks and after this period the plums were stored either 3 or 6 days at 20ºC for evaluating changes in their shelf-life. Pulp firmness, post-harvest losses, presence of chilling injuries and the count of mesophilic microorganisms, molds and yeasts were determined after harvest and after storage plus shelf-life. In general, a drastic decrease in the growth of bacteria, mold and yeast during post-harvest storage at 1ºC was observed, following an increased microbial growth during shelf-life storage. Sensitivity to low temperature was cultivar-dependent. Larry Ann plums showed higher pulp firmness reduction and lower impact of CI than Angeleno, with an increased microbial spoilage. Plums that presented cold-damaged or physiologically compromised tissues suffered from faster decomposition and provided a better substrate for microbial growth than non-damaged plums.
We present a case report of a 37-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis (MS) who developed nephrotic-range proteinuria secondary to membrano proliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN)-like disease with ...mesangial C3 deposition without evidence of immune-complex deposition in the context of long-term interferon-β (IFN-β) therapy. The complete remission of proteinuria following cessation of IFN-β, strongly suggests causality. To our knowledge, this is the second case report of MPGN associated with IFN-β use. This being the case, the negative immune screen, normal inflammatory markers and the absence of immune complex deposits would imply a different pathway to that previously suggested.
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