Distance effect has been regarded as the best established marker of basic numerical magnitude processes and is related to individual mathematical abilities. A larger behavioral distance effect is suggested to be conco...Distance effect has been regarded as the best established marker of basic numerical magnitude processes and is related to individual mathematical abilities. A larger behavioral distance effect is suggested to be concomitant with lower mathematical achievement in children. However, the relationship between distance effect and superior mathematical abilities is unclear. One could get superior mathematical abilities by acquiring the skill of abacus-based mental calculation （AMC）, which can be used to solve calculation problems with exceptional speed and high accuracy. In the current study, we explore the relationship between distance effect and superior mathematical abilities by examining whether and how the AMC training modifies numerical magnitude processing. Thus, mathematical competencies were tested in 18 abacus-trained children （who accepted the AMC training） and 18 non-trained children. Electroencephalography （EEG） waveforms were recorded when these children executed numerical comparison tasks in both Arabic digit and dot array forms. We found that： （a） the abacus-trained group had superior mathematical abilities than their peers; （b） distance effects were found both in behavioral results and on EEG wave- forms; （c） the distance effect size of the average amplitude on the late negative-going component was different between groups in the digit task, with a larger effect size for abacus-trained children; （d） both the behavioral and EEG distance effects were modulated by the notation. These results revealed that the neural substrates of magnitude processing were modified by AMC training, and suggested that the mechanism of the representation of numerical magnitude for children with superior mathematical abilities was different from their peers. In addition, the results provide evidence for a view of non-abstract numerical representation.展开更多
Global warming, as a result of an increase in the mean temperature of the planet, might lead to catastrophic events for humanity. This temperature increase is mainly the result of an increase in the atmospheric greenh...Global warming, as a result of an increase in the mean temperature of the planet, might lead to catastrophic events for humanity. This temperature increase is mainly the result of an increase in the atmospheric greenhouse gases （GHG） concentration. Water vapor, carbon dioxide （CO2）, methane （CH4） and nitrous oxide （N20） are the most important GHG, and human activities, such as industry, livestock and agriculture, contribute to the production of these gases. Methane, at an atmospheric concentration of 1.7 gmol tool-1 currently, is responsible for 16% of the global warming due to its relatively high global warming potential. Soils play an important role in the CH4 cycle as methanotrophy （oxidation of CH4） and methanogenesis （production of CH4） take place in them. Understanding methanogenesis and methanotrophy is essential to establish new agriculture techniques and industrial processes that contribute to a better balance of GHG. The current knowledge of methanogenesis and methanotrophy in soils, anaerobic CH4 oxidation and methanotrophy in extreme environments is also discussed.展开更多
Many neurological diseases, including autism, depression, dementia, anxiety disorder and Parkinson’s disease, are associated with abnormal sleep patterns, which are directly linked to pineal gland dysfunction. The pi...Many neurological diseases, including autism, depression, dementia, anxiety disorder and Parkinson’s disease, are associated with abnormal sleep patterns, which are directly linked to pineal gland dysfunction. The pineal gland is highly susceptible to environmental toxicants. Two pervasive substances in modern industrialized nations are aluminum and glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide, Roundup?. In this paper, we show how these two toxicants work synergistically to induce neurological damage. Glyphosate disrupts gut bacteria, leading to an overgrowth of Clostridium difficile. Its toxic product, p-cresol, is linked to autism in both human and mouse models. p-Cresol enhances uptake of aluminum via transferrin. Anemia, a result of both aluminum disruption of heme and impaired heme synthesis by glyphosate, leads to hypoxia, which induces increased pineal gland transferrin synthesis. Premature birth is associated with hypoxic stress and with substantial increased risk to the subsequent development of autism, linking hypoxia to autism. Glyphosate chelates aluminum, allowing ingested aluminum to bypass the gut barrier. This leads to anemia-induced hypoxia, promoting neurotoxicity and damaging the pineal gland. Both glyphosate and aluminum disrupt cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are involved in melatonin metabolism. Furthermore, melatonin is derived from tryptophan, whose synthesis in plants and microbes is blocked by glyphosate. We also demonstrate a plausible role for vitamin D3 dysbiosis in impaired gut function and impaired serotonin synthesis. This paper proposes that impaired sulfate supply to the brain mediates the damage induced by the synergistic action of aluminum and glyphosate on the pineal gland and related midbrain nuclei.展开更多
Flooding an extremely alkaline(pH 10.6) saline soil of the former Lake Texcoco to reduce salinity will affect the soil carbon(C)and nitrogen(N) dynamics.A laboratory incubation experiment was done to investigate how d...Flooding an extremely alkaline(pH 10.6) saline soil of the former Lake Texcoco to reduce salinity will affect the soil carbon(C)and nitrogen(N) dynamics.A laboratory incubation experiment was done to investigate how decreasing soil salt content affected dynamics of C and N in an extremely alkaline saline soil.Sieved soil with electrical conductivity(EC) of 59.2 dS m^(-1) was packed in columns,and then flooded with tap water,drained freely and conditioned aerobically at 50%water holding capacity for a month.This process of flooding-drainage-conditioning was repeated eight times.The original soil and the soil that had undergone one,two,four and eight flooding-drainage-conditioning cycles were amended with 1000 mg glucose-^(14)C kg^(-1) soil and 200 mg NH_4^+-N kg^(-1)soil,and then incubated for 28 d.The CO_2 emissions,soil microbial biomass,and soil ammonium(NE_4^+),nitrite(NO_2^-) and nitrate(NO_3^-) were monitored in the aerobic incubation of 28 d.The soil EC decreased from 59.2 to 1.0 dS m^(_1) after eight floodings,and soil pH decreased from 10.6 to 9.6.Of the added ^(14)C-labelled glucose,only 8%was mineralized in the original soil,while 24%in the soil flooded eight times during the 28-d incubation.The priming effect was on average 278 mg C kg^(-1) soil after the 28-d incubation.Soil microbial biomass C(mean 66 mg C kg^(-1) soil) did not change with flooding times in the unamended soil,and increased 1.4 times in the glucose-NH_4^+-amended soil.Ammonium immobilization and NO_2^- concentration in the aerobically incubated soil decreased with increasing flooding times,while NO_3^- concentration increased.It was found that flooding the Texcoco soil decreased the EC sharply,increased mineralization of glucose,stimulated nitrification,and reduced immobilization of inorganic N,but did not affect soil microbial biomass C.展开更多
Digestate, the product obtained after anaerobic digestion of organic waste for biogas production, is rich in plant nutrients and might be used to fertilize crops. Wheat （Triticum spp. L.） was fertilized with digesta...Digestate, the product obtained after anaerobic digestion of organic waste for biogas production, is rich in plant nutrients and might be used to fertilize crops. Wheat （Triticum spp. L.） was fertilized with digestate, urea, or left unfertilized and cultivated in the greenhouse for 120 d. Emissions of greenhouse gasses （carbon dioxide （CO2）, methane （CH4）, and nitrous oxide （N20）） were monitored and plant growth characteristics were determined at harvest. The digestate was characterized for heavy metals, pathogens, and C and N mineralization potential in an aerobic incubation experiment. No Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., or viable eggs of helminths were detected in the digested pig slurry, but the number of faecal coliforms was as high as 3.6 ~ 104 colony-forming units （CFU） g-1 dry digestate. The concentrations of heavy metals did not surpass the upper limits established by US Environmental Protection Agency （EPA）. After 28 d, 17% of the organic C （436 g kg-1 dry digestate） and 8% of the organic N （6.92 g kg-1 dry digestate） were mineralized. Emissions of CO2 and CH4 were not significantly affected by fertilization in the wheat-cultivated soil, but digestate significantly increased the cumulative N20 emission by 5 times compared to the urea-amended soil and 63 times compared to the uncultivated unfertilized soil. It could be concluded that digestate was nutrient rich and low in heavy metals and pathogens, and did not affect emissions of CH4 and CO2 when applied to a soil cultivated with wheat, but increased emission of N20. Key Words： biodigester, C and N mineralization potential, faecal coliform, heavy metal, pathogen, pig slurry展开更多
An analysis of selected datasets from the FDA’s drug Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) leads us to hypothesize that glyphosate contamination in both food and drugs is a major contributor to chronic and acute kid...An analysis of selected datasets from the FDA’s drug Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) leads us to hypothesize that glyphosate contamination in both food and drugs is a major contributor to chronic and acute kidney failure respectively. In chronic kidney failure, glyphosate-induced pancreatitis results in the release of trypsin, causing a leaky vasculature. The albumin-bound glyphosate escapes into the tissues, protecting the circulatory system and kidneys but resulting in multiple symptoms related to skin, gut, brain, bones, lungs, etc. The rare and poorly understood acute kidney failure response reported for protamine sulfate and Trasylol? is strikingly similar to that associated with glyphosate poisoning. Both drugs are derived from biological tissues that are plausibly contaminated with glyphosate. These drugs protect from haemorrhage, which leads to retention of glyphosate in the vasculature, are followed by circulatory collapse and a high likelihood of death as an outcome. We support our argument by comparing symptom profiles of selected subsets of FAERS with those related to glyphosate poisoning, anomalous reactions to protamine sulfate, and conditions showing strong statistical time-trend correlations with glyphosate.展开更多
The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of Beauveria bassiana(Bb 1205)on controlling Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.lycopersici(Fol 17108)in tomato plants in greenhouse conditions.Inoculation of Bb 1205 was the...The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of Beauveria bassiana(Bb 1205)on controlling Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.lycopersici(Fol 17108)in tomato plants in greenhouse conditions.Inoculation of Bb 1205 was the most promising among the agronomic variables and expression of the activity of the enzymesβ-1,3-glucanases and chitinases.Inoculation of Bb 1205 occurred at a concentration of 1×108 conidia·mL−1,which was administered onto the leaves,directly into the soil and via injection.Infection with Fol 17108 occurred with 1×106 spores·mL−1,which were added directly to the soil.Spectrophotometry was used for measuring agronomic parameters,namely activity of chitinases andβ-1,3-glucanases in foliage and roots.When Bb 1205 was added to the soil,the chlorophyll index and aerial part length showed significant differences.In addition,it was determined that root length,fresh weight of foliage,flower,and fruit count increased 82 days after inoculation(dai).Chitinase activity induced by Bb 1205 in leaves and roots of tomato plants infected with Fol 17108 was observed when injected into the stem at 32 dai(41.8 and 11.6-fold,respectively).Inoculation on the foliage showed a 10-fold increase ofβ-1,3-glucanases in the roots after 82 dpi.As for leaves,a 3.8-fold increase was found when the stem was inoculated.In the different in vivo applications,Bb 1205 activated its defenses by expressing the chitinase enzymes andβ-1,3-glucanase,thus reducing the damage caused by Fol 17108,demonstrating increase plant growth thereafter.展开更多
基金supported by the National High-Tech R&D Program(863)of China(Nos.2012AA011603 and 2012AA011602)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.30900389 and 31270026)
文摘Distance effect has been regarded as the best established marker of basic numerical magnitude processes and is related to individual mathematical abilities. A larger behavioral distance effect is suggested to be concomitant with lower mathematical achievement in children. However, the relationship between distance effect and superior mathematical abilities is unclear. One could get superior mathematical abilities by acquiring the skill of abacus-based mental calculation （AMC）, which can be used to solve calculation problems with exceptional speed and high accuracy. In the current study, we explore the relationship between distance effect and superior mathematical abilities by examining whether and how the AMC training modifies numerical magnitude processing. Thus, mathematical competencies were tested in 18 abacus-trained children （who accepted the AMC training） and 18 non-trained children. Electroencephalography （EEG） waveforms were recorded when these children executed numerical comparison tasks in both Arabic digit and dot array forms. We found that： （a） the abacus-trained group had superior mathematical abilities than their peers; （b） distance effects were found both in behavioral results and on EEG wave- forms; （c） the distance effect size of the average amplitude on the late negative-going component was different between groups in the digit task, with a larger effect size for abacus-trained children; （d） both the behavioral and EEG distance effects were modulated by the notation. These results revealed that the neural substrates of magnitude processing were modified by AMC training, and suggested that the mechanism of the representation of numerical magnitude for children with superior mathematical abilities was different from their peers. In addition, the results provide evidence for a view of non-abstract numerical representation.
基金Supported by the Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN,Mexico and the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología,Mexico(Nos.153216,232468 and 245119)
文摘Global warming, as a result of an increase in the mean temperature of the planet, might lead to catastrophic events for humanity. This temperature increase is mainly the result of an increase in the atmospheric greenhouse gases （GHG） concentration. Water vapor, carbon dioxide （CO2）, methane （CH4） and nitrous oxide （N20） are the most important GHG, and human activities, such as industry, livestock and agriculture, contribute to the production of these gases. Methane, at an atmospheric concentration of 1.7 gmol tool-1 currently, is responsible for 16% of the global warming due to its relatively high global warming potential. Soils play an important role in the CH4 cycle as methanotrophy （oxidation of CH4） and methanogenesis （production of CH4） take place in them. Understanding methanogenesis and methanotrophy is essential to establish new agriculture techniques and industrial processes that contribute to a better balance of GHG. The current knowledge of methanogenesis and methanotrophy in soils, anaerobic CH4 oxidation and methanotrophy in extreme environments is also discussed.
文摘Many neurological diseases, including autism, depression, dementia, anxiety disorder and Parkinson’s disease, are associated with abnormal sleep patterns, which are directly linked to pineal gland dysfunction. The pineal gland is highly susceptible to environmental toxicants. Two pervasive substances in modern industrialized nations are aluminum and glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide, Roundup?. In this paper, we show how these two toxicants work synergistically to induce neurological damage. Glyphosate disrupts gut bacteria, leading to an overgrowth of Clostridium difficile. Its toxic product, p-cresol, is linked to autism in both human and mouse models. p-Cresol enhances uptake of aluminum via transferrin. Anemia, a result of both aluminum disruption of heme and impaired heme synthesis by glyphosate, leads to hypoxia, which induces increased pineal gland transferrin synthesis. Premature birth is associated with hypoxic stress and with substantial increased risk to the subsequent development of autism, linking hypoxia to autism. Glyphosate chelates aluminum, allowing ingested aluminum to bypass the gut barrier. This leads to anemia-induced hypoxia, promoting neurotoxicity and damaging the pineal gland. Both glyphosate and aluminum disrupt cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are involved in melatonin metabolism. Furthermore, melatonin is derived from tryptophan, whose synthesis in plants and microbes is blocked by glyphosate. We also demonstrate a plausible role for vitamin D3 dysbiosis in impaired gut function and impaired serotonin synthesis. This paper proposes that impaired sulfate supply to the brain mediates the damage induced by the synergistic action of aluminum and glyphosate on the pineal gland and related midbrain nuclei.
基金supported by the 'Consejo Nacional de Cienciay y Tecnologia'(CONACyT,Mexico)(research grants Nos.32479-T and 39801-Z)
文摘Flooding an extremely alkaline(pH 10.6) saline soil of the former Lake Texcoco to reduce salinity will affect the soil carbon(C)and nitrogen(N) dynamics.A laboratory incubation experiment was done to investigate how decreasing soil salt content affected dynamics of C and N in an extremely alkaline saline soil.Sieved soil with electrical conductivity(EC) of 59.2 dS m^(-1) was packed in columns,and then flooded with tap water,drained freely and conditioned aerobically at 50%water holding capacity for a month.This process of flooding-drainage-conditioning was repeated eight times.The original soil and the soil that had undergone one,two,four and eight flooding-drainage-conditioning cycles were amended with 1000 mg glucose-^(14)C kg^(-1) soil and 200 mg NH_4^+-N kg^(-1)soil,and then incubated for 28 d.The CO_2 emissions,soil microbial biomass,and soil ammonium(NE_4^+),nitrite(NO_2^-) and nitrate(NO_3^-) were monitored in the aerobic incubation of 28 d.The soil EC decreased from 59.2 to 1.0 dS m^(_1) after eight floodings,and soil pH decreased from 10.6 to 9.6.Of the added ^(14)C-labelled glucose,only 8%was mineralized in the original soil,while 24%in the soil flooded eight times during the 28-d incubation.The priming effect was on average 278 mg C kg^(-1) soil after the 28-d incubation.Soil microbial biomass C(mean 66 mg C kg^(-1) soil) did not change with flooding times in the unamended soil,and increased 1.4 times in the glucose-NH_4^+-amended soil.Ammonium immobilization and NO_2^- concentration in the aerobically incubated soil decreased with increasing flooding times,while NO_3^- concentration increased.It was found that flooding the Texcoco soil decreased the EC sharply,increased mineralization of glucose,stimulated nitrification,and reduced immobilization of inorganic N,but did not affect soil microbial biomass C.
文摘Digestate, the product obtained after anaerobic digestion of organic waste for biogas production, is rich in plant nutrients and might be used to fertilize crops. Wheat （Triticum spp. L.） was fertilized with digestate, urea, or left unfertilized and cultivated in the greenhouse for 120 d. Emissions of greenhouse gasses （carbon dioxide （CO2）, methane （CH4）, and nitrous oxide （N20）） were monitored and plant growth characteristics were determined at harvest. The digestate was characterized for heavy metals, pathogens, and C and N mineralization potential in an aerobic incubation experiment. No Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., or viable eggs of helminths were detected in the digested pig slurry, but the number of faecal coliforms was as high as 3.6 ~ 104 colony-forming units （CFU） g-1 dry digestate. The concentrations of heavy metals did not surpass the upper limits established by US Environmental Protection Agency （EPA）. After 28 d, 17% of the organic C （436 g kg-1 dry digestate） and 8% of the organic N （6.92 g kg-1 dry digestate） were mineralized. Emissions of CO2 and CH4 were not significantly affected by fertilization in the wheat-cultivated soil, but digestate significantly increased the cumulative N20 emission by 5 times compared to the urea-amended soil and 63 times compared to the uncultivated unfertilized soil. It could be concluded that digestate was nutrient rich and low in heavy metals and pathogens, and did not affect emissions of CH4 and CO2 when applied to a soil cultivated with wheat, but increased emission of N20. Key Words： biodigester, C and N mineralization potential, faecal coliform, heavy metal, pathogen, pig slurry
文摘An analysis of selected datasets from the FDA’s drug Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) leads us to hypothesize that glyphosate contamination in both food and drugs is a major contributor to chronic and acute kidney failure respectively. In chronic kidney failure, glyphosate-induced pancreatitis results in the release of trypsin, causing a leaky vasculature. The albumin-bound glyphosate escapes into the tissues, protecting the circulatory system and kidneys but resulting in multiple symptoms related to skin, gut, brain, bones, lungs, etc. The rare and poorly understood acute kidney failure response reported for protamine sulfate and Trasylol? is strikingly similar to that associated with glyphosate poisoning. Both drugs are derived from biological tissues that are plausibly contaminated with glyphosate. These drugs protect from haemorrhage, which leads to retention of glyphosate in the vasculature, are followed by circulatory collapse and a high likelihood of death as an outcome. We support our argument by comparing symptom profiles of selected subsets of FAERS with those related to glyphosate poisoning, anomalous reactions to protamine sulfate, and conditions showing strong statistical time-trend correlations with glyphosate.
基金funded by the Tecnológico Nacional de México(TECNM):Project No.6602.18-P.
文摘The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of Beauveria bassiana(Bb 1205)on controlling Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.lycopersici(Fol 17108)in tomato plants in greenhouse conditions.Inoculation of Bb 1205 was the most promising among the agronomic variables and expression of the activity of the enzymesβ-1,3-glucanases and chitinases.Inoculation of Bb 1205 occurred at a concentration of 1×108 conidia·mL−1,which was administered onto the leaves,directly into the soil and via injection.Infection with Fol 17108 occurred with 1×106 spores·mL−1,which were added directly to the soil.Spectrophotometry was used for measuring agronomic parameters,namely activity of chitinases andβ-1,3-glucanases in foliage and roots.When Bb 1205 was added to the soil,the chlorophyll index and aerial part length showed significant differences.In addition,it was determined that root length,fresh weight of foliage,flower,and fruit count increased 82 days after inoculation(dai).Chitinase activity induced by Bb 1205 in leaves and roots of tomato plants infected with Fol 17108 was observed when injected into the stem at 32 dai(41.8 and 11.6-fold,respectively).Inoculation on the foliage showed a 10-fold increase ofβ-1,3-glucanases in the roots after 82 dpi.As for leaves,a 3.8-fold increase was found when the stem was inoculated.In the different in vivo applications,Bb 1205 activated its defenses by expressing the chitinase enzymes andβ-1,3-glucanase,thus reducing the damage caused by Fol 17108,demonstrating increase plant growth thereafter.
