Contamination of Forest Soils in the Vicinity of the Sedimentation Pond after Zinc and Lead Ore Flotation (in the Region of Olkusz,Southern Poland)

In the technological processes of ore flotation in the non-ferrous metal industry flotation, tailings constitute up to 98% of the total of the processed material. They are stored in sedimentation ponds as fine-grained drift containing an excess of heavy metals, mainly zinc, cadmium, lead and copper. After the dehydration and drying up of the surface of sedimentation ponds, these metals are carried with dust by the wind and they are accumulated in the vicinity of the ponds in humus horizons of soils causing considerable degradation and even devastation. In this publication, we have presented the results of research on the negative influence of such a structure on the soils of an adjacent fragment of forest and its dependence on the distance from the sedimentation pond. The level of degradation of the soils under research has been assessed on the basis of changes and transformations of the morphological soil profiles, the level of alkalization and accumulation of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd) in the topsoil layers and their translocation in the soil horizons. The following soils have been distinguished in the investigated area: Haplic Podzols distorted and degraded as well as Urbic Anthrosols. The acquired results have served to depict the spatial accumulation of these heavy metals in the topsoil layers. The highest accumulation of heavy metals and the degradation of the forest sites connected with it has occurred in the vicinity of a sedimentation pond drain channel. Soil remediation has been recommended in this area.     

Impact of crop production system on the content of macronutrients in potato tubers

ABSTRACT

The content of macronutrients in potato tubers arouses interest because of their substantial consumption in the world and significant role in elements' budget in human diet. The research objective has been to evaluate the content of macronutrients in tubers of potatoes grown in different systems of crop production in Poland. In 2012–2014, an experiment was conducted to test potato cultivation in three-crop production systems: conventional, integrated and organic. In each of the six-field crop rotation systems, there were five potato cultivars classified into different earliness groups. The following macronutrients in dry mass of potato tubers were determined: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S and Cl, and the various ratios between them were calculated. The research carried out proved that potatoes production systems affect the chemical composition of tubers, which is additionally modified by whether condition and genetic features of cultivars. Potato tubers from organic farming contained by about 20% less N than tubers from conventional or integrated systems. Potato tubers from organic production system displayed lower content of Ca and Na in comparison with the conventional and integrated systems. The least of P and S were detected in tubers of the potatoes grown conventionally.     

Nutritional and physiological responses of young growing rats to diets containing raw cowpea seed meal,protein isolate (globulins), or starch

The nutritional and physiological effects of raw cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.) seed meal, protein isolate (globulins), or starch on the metabolism of young growing rats have been evaluated in 14-day trials. Wet and dry weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, and lipid and protein accretion were significantly reduced as a result of inclusion of seed meal, globulins, or starch in the diet, with growth retardation being most marked with the seed meal. The proportional weights of the small intestine and pancreas were increased by meal diets, and serum cholesterol levels were slightly reduced. The globulins and raw starch also increased relative small intestine weights but had no effect on the pancreas or serum constituents. The effects of cowpeas on rats appeared to be due primarily to the combined actions of globulins, resistant starches, protease inhibitors, and possibly fiber and non-starch polysaccharides on intestinal and systemic metabolism.     

Use of Enrichment,and Contamination Factors Together with Geoaccumulation Indexes to Evaluate the Content of Cd,Cu, and Ni in the Rybnik Water Reservoir in Poland

In this paper, the contamination degree of the Rybnik Reservoir with cadmium, copper and nickel was analyzed. Quality of the water from the reservoir was determined by drawing comparisons between the metal content in the water and both the officially permitted levels (contamination factor) and levels of metals occurring in the water of non-contaminated areas (enrichment factor). Contamination of bottom sediment with chosen metals was analyzed with reference to the metal content in mudstone (geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor, contamination factor). Trends towards changing the metal content in the bottom sediment was analyzed by determining the enrichment factor of the surface layer of the bottom sediments in relation to a deeper layer. Enrichment of the bottom sediments with metals coming from the water was also determined.     

Mutations in a human ROBO gene disrupt hindbrain axon pathway crossing and morphogenesis

The mechanisms controlling axon guidance are of fundamental importance in understanding brain development. Growing corticospinal and somatosensory axons cross the midline in the medulla to reach their targets and thus form the basis of contralateral motor control and sensory input. The motor and sensory projections appeared uncrossed in patients with horizontal gaze palsy with progressive scoliosis (HGPPS). In patients affected with HGPPS, we identified mutations in the ROBO3 gene, which shares homology with roundabout genes important in axon guidance in developing Drosophila, zebrafish, and mouse. Like its murine homolog Rig1/Robo3, but unlike other Robo proteins, ROBO3 is required for hindbrain axon midline crossing.     

High-throughput mapping of a dynamic signaling network in mammalian cells

Signaling pathways transmit information through protein interaction networks that are dynamically regulated by complex extracellular cues. We developed LUMIER (for luminescence-based mammalian interactome mapping), an automated high-throughput technology, to map protein-protein interaction networks systematically in mammalian cells and applied it to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) pathway. Analysis using self-organizing maps and k-means clustering identified links of the TGFbeta pathway to the p21-activated kinase (PAK) network, to the polarity complex, and to Occludin, a structural component of tight junctions. We show that Occludin regulates TGFbeta type I receptor localization for efficient TGFbeta-dependent dissolution of tight junctions during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions.     

Graduate students' teaching experiences improve their methodological research skills

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduate students are often encouraged to maximize their engagement with supervised research and minimize teaching obligations. However, the process of teaching students engaged in inquiry provides practice in the application of important research skills. Using a performance rubric, we compared the quality of methodological skills demonstrated in written research proposals for two groups of early career graduate students (those with both teaching and research responsibilities and those with only research responsibilities) at the beginning and end of an academic year. After statistically controlling for preexisting differences between groups, students who both taught and conducted research demonstrate significantly greater improvement in their abilities to generate testable hypotheses and design valid experiments. These results indicate that teaching experience can contribute substantially to the improvement of essential research skills.     

Species-specific sensitivity of earthworm coelomocytes to dermal metal (Cd,Cu, Ni,Pb, Zn) exposures: Methodological approach

Earthworm immune-competent cells (coelomocytes) can be adversely affected by soil metal contamination. The aim of the present paper was to perform comparative studies on the coelomocytes of four lumbricid species dermally exposed for 2 days to filter paper soaked with Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, or Pb chlorides (1 mM). Coelomocytes were expelled by electro-stimulation, counted, and assayed ex vivo by flow cytometry and spectrofluorometry. The coelomocytes of Allolobophora chlorotica and Dendrobaena veneta contain both amoebocytes and riboflavin-storing eleocytes; consequently, they were subjected to assays based on flow cytometric quantification of autofluorescent eleocytes and spectrofluorometric measurement of riboflavin content in coelomocyte lysates. In Al. chlorotica, the number of coelomocytes, the percentage of eleocytes, and the amount of riboflavin were significantly lower in Cu-exposed worms although these cytometric parameters were less affected by Ni, Zn, Cd exposure, and entirely unaffected by Pb exposure. In D. veneta, such cellular effects were also only observed in Cu-exposed worms. The coelomic fluids of Aporrectodea caliginosa and Lumbricus rubellus are constitutionally impoverished of eleocytes; therefore, these species could not be subjected to assays measuring the riboflavin content of these granular cells. Rather, the amoebocytes of Ap. caliginosa and L. rubellus were subjected to flow cytometric measurements of in vitro neutral red uptake (NR). However, the NR uptake assay was technically demanding, requiring a strictly normalized incubation period over all samples to yield useful comparative data. In contrast, the riboflavin content in the coelomocyte lysates of eleocyte-rich species appears to be a robust and convenient immune-function biomarker of environmental stress.     

The examination of biophysical parameters of skin (transepidermal water loss, skin hydration and pH value) in different body regions of normal cats of both sexes

The purpose of this study was to evaluate transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration and skin pH in normal cats. Twenty shorthaired European cats of both sexes were examined in the study. Measurements were taken from five different sites: the lumbar region, the axillary fossa, the inguinal region, the ventral abdominal region and the left thoracic region. In each of the regions, TEWL, skin hydration and skin pH were measured. The highest TEWL value was observed in the axillary fossa (18.22g/h/m(2)) and the lowest in the lumbar region (10.53g/h/m(2)). The highest skin hydration was found in the inguinal region (18.29CU) and the lowest in the lumbar region (4.62CU). The highest skin pH was observed in the inguinal region (6.64) and the lowest in the lumbar region (6.39). Statistically significant differences in TEWL were observed between the lumbar region and the left side of the thorax region (P=0.016), the axillary fossa (P=0.0004), the ventral region (P=0.005), and the inguinal region (P=0.009). There were significant differences in skin hydration between the lumbar region and the left thorax (P=0.000003), the axillary fossa (P=0.002), the ventral abdomen (P=0.03), and the inguinal region (P=0.0003) as well as between the thorax and the ventral abdomen (P=0.005). TEWL was higher in females (15g/h/m(2)) than in males (4.57g/h/m(2)). Skin hydration was higher in females (13.89CU) than in males (12.28CU). Significant differences were not found between males and females for TEWL and skin hydration. Skin pH was higher in males (6.94) than in females (6.54), which was significant (P=0.004).