Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic

About: Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic is a government organization based out in Prague, Czechia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 27866 authors who have published 71021 publications receiving 1821686 citations.

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition promotes carbon loss from peat bogs

Abstract: Peat bogs have historically represented exceptional carbon (C) sinks because of their extremely low decomposition rates and consequent accumulation of plant remnants as peat. Among the factors favoring that peat accumulation, a major role is played by the chemical quality of plant litter itself, which is poor in nutrients and characterized by polyphenols with a strong inhibitory effect on microbial breakdown. Because bogs receive their nutrient supply solely from atmospheric deposition, the global increase of atmospheric nitrogen (N) inputs as a consequence of human activities could potentially alter the litter chemistry with important, but still unknown, effects on their C balance. Here we present data showing the decomposition rates of recently formed litter peat samples collected in nine European countries under a natural gradient of atmospheric N deposition from ≈0.2 to 2 g·m−2·yr−1. We found that enhanced decomposition rates for material accumulated under higher atmospheric N supplies resulted in higher carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and dissolved organic carbon release. The increased N availability favored microbial decomposition (i) by removing N constraints on microbial metabolism and (ii) through a chemical amelioration of litter peat quality with a positive feedback on microbial enzymatic activity. Although some uncertainty remains about whether decay-resistant Sphagnum will continue to dominate litter peat, our data indicate that, even without such changes, increased N deposition poses a serious risk to our valuable peatland C sinks.

Acclimatization of Micropropagated Plants to Ex Vitro Conditions

Abstract: The special conditions during in vitro culture result in the formation of plantlets of abnormal morphology, anatomy and physiology. After ex vitro transfer, these plantlets might easily be impaired by sudden changes in environmental conditions, and so need a period of acclimatization to correct the abnormalities. This review is focused upon contemporary information on the changes in leaf structure, water relations and photosynthesis during acclimatization of plantlets to ex vitro conditions. It also describes some ways of improving plant survival and for the speeding up of acclimatization.

Search for new phenomena in final states with an energetic jet and large missing transverse momentum in pp collisions at √=s=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Abstract: Results of a search for new phenomena in final states with an energetic jet and large missing transverse momentum are reported. The search uses 20.3 fb(-1) of root s = 8 TeV data collected in 2012 ...