Departamento de Bioquı́mica, Biologı́a Celular y Molecular de Plantas, Estación Experimental del Zaidı́n, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientı́ficas, E–18080 Granada, Spain (L.A.R., L.M.S., F.J.C., J.M.P.); and Grupo de Señalización Molecular y Sistemas Antioxidantes en Plantas, Unidad Asociada al Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientı́ficas, Área de Bioquı́mica y Biologı́a Molecular, Univer...

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the transduction of numerous signals in living organisms, and its biological effects are often influenced by its concentration. Therefore, the ability to reliably detect and quantify NO is crucial to understanding its role in cellular processes. Many techniques are available to detect and quantify NO, but depending on the material and the aim of the analysis, sp...

In continuation of our previous reports on the broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of atmospheric non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treated N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) solution against planktonic and biofilm forms of different multidrug resistant microorganisms, we present here the chemical changes that mediate inactivation of Escherichia coli. In this study, the mechanism and ...

This paper will focus on understanding the role and action of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in the molecular and biochemical pathways responsible for the regulation of the survival of hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons in the auditory portion of the inner ear. The pivotal role of ROS/RNS in ototoxicity makes them potentially valuable candidates for effect...

Semi-natural grassland communities are of great interest in conservation because of their high species richness. These communities are being threatened by both land abandonment and nitrogen eutrophication, and their continued existence will depend upon correct management. However, there is a distinct lack of studies of the ecological mechanisms that regulate species diversity and productivity i...

The urinary nitrogen excretion of sheep offered a low nitrogen diet was lower than when the sheep were fed a nitrogen-free mixture post-ruminally. This result is discussed in terms of Folin’s (1905) definition of endogenous nitrogen, and the nitrogen recycling and utilization which can occur in the rumen/reticulum of sheep. Reasons are given why post-ruminal feeding should give an endogenous ni...

A microcosm-based approach was used to study impacts of plant and chemical factors on the bacterial community structure of an upland acidic grassland soil. Seven perennial plant species typical of both natural, unimproved (Nardus stricta, Agrostis capillaris, Festuca ovina and F. rubra) and fertilized, improved (Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens) grasslands were either left un...

The capacity for nitrate reduction, as measured by nitrate reductase activity (NRA), was generally low for a range of plant communities in Australia (coastal heathland, rainforest, savanna woodland, monsoon forest, mangrove, open Eucalyptus forest, coral cay open forest) and only a loose relationship existed between NRA and leaf nitrogen concentration. This suggests that nitrate ions are not th...

Long-term livestock over-grazing causes nitrogen outputs to exceed inputs in Inner Mongolia, suggesting that low levels of nitrogen fertilization could help restore grasslands degraded by overgrazing. However, the effectiveness of such an approach depends on the response of production and species composition to the interactive drivers of nitrogen and water availability. We conducted a five-year...

Insects contain significant amounts of fiber as measured by crude fiber, acid detergent fiber (ADF) or neutral detergent fiber (NDF). It has always been assumed that the fiber in insects represents chitin based on the structural similarity between cellulose and chitin and the fact that the ADF fraction from insects contains nitrogen. In this study, a number of insect species that are raised com...