The Occurrence of Metals in Composted Municipal Wastes and Their Removal

The organic fraction of municipal wastes has been composted on the laboratory scale. In the obtained compost the content of cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc were determined, as well as the speciation i.e, the form of their occurrence, making use of Rudd's method of sequential extraction. The investigations also concerned the way of removing these metals from the compost by means of leaching with solutions of sulphuric and nitric acid, as well as by electrochemically separating the metals from the solution after the compost had been leached with sulphuric acid. It has been found that the application of the electrochemical method with varying pH values of the leaching solution within the range of 6.8–2.8 allows for the separation of 83.5% Cd, 55.0% Co, 65.4% Cu, 59.4% Mn, 70.3% Ni, 90.5% Pb and 56.2% Zn.     

A method to generate the surface cell layer of the 3D virtual shoot apex from apical initials

Background

The development of cell pattern in the surface cell layer of the shoot apex can be investigated in vivo by use of a time-lapse confocal images, showing naked meristem in 3D in successive times. However, how this layer is originated from apical initials and develops as a result of growth and divisions of their descendants, remains unknown. This is an open area for computer modelling. A method to generate the surface cell layer is presented on the example of the 3D paraboloidal shoot apical dome. In the used model the layer originates from three apical initials that meet at the dome summit and develops through growth and cell divisions under the isotropic surface growth, defined by the growth tensor. The cells, which are described by polyhedrons, divide anticlinally with the smallest division plane that passes depending on the used mode through the cell center, or the point found randomly near this center. The formation of the surface cell pattern is described with the attention being paid to activity of the apical initials and fates of their descendants.

Results

The computer generated surface layer that included about 350 cells required about 1200 divisions of the apical initials and their derivatives. The derivatives were arranged into three more or less equal clonal sectors composed of cellular clones at different age. Each apical initial renewed itself 7–8 times to produce the sector. In the shape and location and the cellular clones the following divisions of the initial were manifested. The application of the random factor resulted in more realistic cell pattern in comparison to the pure mode. The cell divisions were analyzed statistically on the top view. When all of the division walls were considered, their angular distribution was uniform, whereas in the distribution that was limited to apical initials only, some preferences related to their arrangement at the dome summit were observed.

Conclusions

The realistic surface cell pattern was obtained. The present method is a useful tool to generate surface cell layer, study activity of initial cells and their derivatives, and how cell expansion and division are coordinated during growth. We expect its further application to clarify the question of a number and permanence or impermanence of initial cells, and possible relationship between their shape and oriented divisions, both on the ground of the growth tensor approach.

     

植酸酶对肉仔鸡不同锌源生物利用率的影响

为评定植酸酶添加对不同锌源生物利用率的影响 ,选用 5 6 0只 4日龄肉用公鸡进行为期 2 4d的饲养试验。结果表明 :不管日粮添加植酸酶与否 ,ZnAA的生物利用率均高于ZnSO4 。日粮添加植酸酶ZnAA的相对生物利用率(ZnSO4 为 10 0 )分别为 :10 3(体增重 ) ,10 3.7(饲料转化率 ) ,114 .4 (脱脂胫骨锌含量 ) ,114 .5 (胫骨灰分锌含量 )和 10 8.9(胫骨总锌含量 )。日粮不加植酸酶组这些值相应为 12 0 .8,116 .0 ,139.1,14 1.6和 116 .9。     

The effect of the source and dosage of dietary Cu on redox status in rat tissues

The aim of this experiment was to investigate whether the amount of Cu added to the diet of rats can be reduced without adversely affecting the antioxidant status of tissues and growth, and whether copper nanoparticles can be used for this purpose. For four weeks, four experimental groups of rats were fed diets with two dosages of added Cu (standard—6.5 or 3.25 mg/kg) in two forms (standard—CuCO₃ or copper nanoparticles). Replacing the CuCO₃ supplement with CuNPs resulted in a decreased lung weight and an increased Cu content in brain, kidney and lung, intensification of lipid peroxidation processes, and weakened antioxidant defence in the lungs and kidneys. This treatment also reduced the Cu content in heart, level of lipid oxidation in the liver and testes and improved antioxidant defence in the brain. Reducing the addition of Cu to the diet from 6.5 to 3.25 mg/kg reduced lung weight and increased lipid peroxidation in the liver, heart and lungs, and also weakened antioxidant defence in the lungs and testes. This treatment also weakened the lipid peroxidation process in the spleen, small intestine and brain and strengthened the antioxidant defence of the brain and kidneys. In conclusion, replacing CuCO₃ with CuNPs and reducing the level of Cu in the diet of rats has a particularly unfavourable effect on the respiratory system, causing adverse changes in the lungs. However, these treatments have a clearly positive effect on the redox status of the liver and brain.     

Potato after-cooking darkening

After-cooking darkening (ACD) is one of the most widespread, undesirable characteristics of cultivated potato. With the current expansion of the potato-processing industry around the world, there is a renewed interest in the development of new ways to prevent ACD. After-cooking darkening is caused by the oxidation of the ferri-chlorogenic acid in the boiled or fried potatoes. The severity of the darkening is dependent on the ratio of chlorogenic acid to citric acid concentrations in the potato tubers. Higher ratio normally results in darker tubers. The concentration of the chlorogenic and citric acids is genetically controlled and influenced by environmental conditions. This paper outlines the history of ACD and current status of knowledge of the chemistry of the dark pigment formation and its genetic and environmental determinants. Also discussed are the methods of chemical prevention of ACD presently used by the potato-processing industry and potential strategies for reducing tuber after cooking darkening using molecular approaches.     

In vitro effects of dexamethasone on bovine CD25(+)CD4(+) and CD25(-)CD4(+) cells

This paper investigates the in vitro effect of dexamethasone on bovine CD25(high)CD4(+), CD25(low)CD4(+) and CD25(-)CD4(+) T cells. Only a small percentage of bovine CD25(high)CD4(+) (2-4%) and CD25(low)CD4(+) (1-2%) cells expressed Foxp3. Dexamethasone caused considerable loss of CD25(-)CD4(+) cells, but it increased the relative and absolute numbers of CD25(high)CD4(+) and CD25(low)CD4(+) lymphocytes, while at the same time reducing the percentage of Foxp3(+) cells within the latter subpopulations. Considering all these, as well as the intrinsically poor Foxp3 expression in bovine CD25(+)CD4(+), it can be concluded that the drug most probably increased the number of activated non-regulatory CD4(+) lymphocytes. It has been found that changes in cell number were at least partly caused by proapoptotic effect of the drug on CD25(-)CD4(+) cells and antiapoptotic effect on CD25(high)CD4(+) and CD25(low)CD4(+) cells. The results obtained from this study indicate that the involvement of CD4(+) lymphocytes in producing the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effect of dexamethasone in cattle results from the fact that the drug had a depressive effect on the production of IFN-γ by CD25(-)CD4(+) cells. Secretion of TGF-β and IL-10 by CD4(+) lymphocytes was not involved in producing these pharmacological effects, because the drug did not affect production of TGF-β and, paradoxically, it reduced the percentage of IL-10(+)CD4(+) cells.     

Ingestion of Black Chokeberry Fruit Extract Leads to Intestinal and Systemic Changes in a Rat Model of Prediabetes and Hyperlipidemia

This report presents a complex analysis of changes proceeding in the gut, blood and internal organs of rats with induced oxidative stress, glucose intolerance and hyperlipidemia after dietary supplementation with an extract from black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) fruit, that is a condensed source of polyphenols (714 mg/g), especially anthocyanin glycosides (56.6%). The disturbances mimicking those observed in metabolic syndrome were induced by a high-fructose diet and simultaneous single injection of streptozotocin (20 mg/kg). Dietary supplementation with the chokeberry fruit extract (0.2%) decreased activity of maltase and sucrase as well as increased activity of lactase in the mucosa of the small intestine. Its ingestion led also to the improvement of antioxidant status, especially, the concentration of a lipid peroxidation indicator (TBARS) in organ tissues (liver, kidney and lung) was normalized; some cholesterol-lowering and distinct hypoglycemic actions were also observed. The mechanism of glucose reduction is likely to be multifactorial, and we suggest the factors related with the decreased activity of mucosal disaccharidases important for further investigation. In conclusion, chokeberry fruit derivatives may act as a promising supplementary therapeutic option in the prevention and treatment of disorders occurring in metabolic syndrome, as well as their complications.     

Chilling stress tolerance of two soya bean cultivars: Phenotypic and molecular responses

Chilling stress is a major factor limiting the yield of soya bean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] on a global scale. However, the regulatory network that controls the chilling response of soya bean remains unclear. In the present study, phenotyping and quantitative analyses of miRNAs in soya bean under chilling stress were carried out to determine the impact of environmental constraints on soya bean productivity. Measurements done during soya bean growth in chilling along with the results of field trials indicated that the cultivars Augusta and Fiskeby V responded differently to low temperatures. Although chilling affected the reproductive development of both cultivars, the final seed output remained unchanged. The differential expression of miR169, miR319, miR397 and miR398 under cold stress was detected using ddPCR. Upon chilling in the reproductive stage, we found that these miRNAs had contrasting expression profiles in Augusta and Fiskeby V. A set of candidate target genes was predicted based on degradome sequencing data. A negative correlation was found between the expression of miR169, miR319 and miR398 and their targets in the roots of both cultivars. Our work elucidates the impact of chilling stress on the productivity of two soya bean cultivars and reveals the importance of miRNA involvement in the low temperature response.     

Role of environmental filtering and seed source availability in natural regeneration processes following large-scale disturbances in mountain forests

European Journal of Forest Research - The relative importance of environmental factors and species pool in natural regeneration processes is still intensively disputed. Is environmental filtering...     

The influence of temperature on transmission of potato leaf roll virus byMyzus persicae Sulz

Summary Potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) was usually better transmitted byMyzus persicae from source plants kept during the pre-acquisition period at 12°C than from those kept at 26°C. Significantly more plants became infected when PLRV was acquired or inoculated at 26°C than at 12°C. The effect of temperature during the acquisition feeding period was found to be greater than that of temperature during the inoculation feeding period. PLRV was most frequently transmitted when it was both acquired and inoculated at 26°C.

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Zusammenfassung Der Einfluss der Temperatur auf die übertragung des Kartoffel-Blattrollvirus (PLRV) durchMyzus persicae wurde in drei Perioden vor der Infektion der Pflanzen mit diesem Virus ermittelt: Vegetationsperiode vor Aufnahme durch die Virusquellen, Periode w?hrend der Virusaufnahme und der Inokulationsperiode. Die Untersuchungen wurden in temperaturkonstanten Kammern und im Gew?chshaus mit Pflanzen der Kartoffelsorte Osa als Quelle mit ausgew?hlten PLRV-Isolaten durchgeführt. Das Virus wurde aufPhysalis floridana und Kartoffelsorten unterschiedlicher Anf?lligkeit übertragen. Die H?ufigkeit der PLRV-übertragung durchM. persicae sank mit ansteigender Temperatur, zu welcher die Quellenpflanzen in der Periode vor der Virusaufnahme aufwuchsen (Abb. 2 und 3), obwohl dieser Effekt ausgeschaltet werden konnte, wenn das Virus durch die Blattl?use bei h?herer Temperatur aufgenommen wurde (Abb. 2). Die H?ufigkeit der PLRV-übertragung durch Blattl?use war nach einer Aufnahmeperiode bei 26°C signifikant gr?sser als bei 12°C (Abb. 2 bis 4). Der Einfluss h?herer Temperatur k?nnte stark genug sein, die Unterschiede in der PLRV-übertragung durch den Einfluss auf die Quellenpflanzen in der Vor-Aufnahmezeit zu eliminieren oder zu vermindern (Abb. 2). ?hnliches zeigte sich bei zunehmendem Alter der Quellenpflanzen (Abb. 1). Eindeutig mehr Pflanzen wurden infiziert, wenn PLRV bei 26°C anstatt 12°C inokuliert wurde (Abb. 3 und 4). Der Einfluss der Temperatur war in der Aufnahmeperiode gr?sser als in der Inokulationsperiode. Eine signifikant gr?ssere Population vonP. floridana und/oder Kartoffelpflanzen wurden infiziert, wenn PLRV durchM. persicae bei 26°C aufgenommen und inokuliert wurde (Abb. 3 und 4). Darüberhinaus war der Einfluss h?herer Temperatur, w?hrend beider Aufnahmeperioden angewendet, günstiger für visuelle und serologische (ELISA) Differenzierung der resistenten und anf?lligen Kartoffeln, gemessen an der H?ufigkeit infizierter Pflanzen (Abb. 4).

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Résumé L'influence de la température sur la transmission du virus de l'Enroulement de la pomme de terre (VEPT) parMyzus persicae a été déterminée à trois périodes précédant l'infection des plantes par ce virus: période de végétation des plantes sources de virus avant acquisition (pré-acquisition), période d'acquisition, période d'inoculation. Les recherches ont été réalisées dans des salles à température contr?lée et en serre: des pommes de terre du cultivar Osa, infectées par des isolats sélectionnés de VEPT ont été utilisées comme plantes sources. Le virus a été transmis àPhysalis floridana et à des cultivars de pomme de terre de différentes sensibilités à l'infection par le VEPT. La fréquence de transmission du VEPT parM. persicae décro?t avec l'augmentation de la température à laquelle les plantes sources de virus ont été cultivées lors de la période de pré-acquisition (Figs 2 et 3), bien que cet effet ait pu être éliminé quand le virus a été prélevé par les pucerons à température plus élevée (Fig. 2). La fréquence de transmission du VEPT par les pucerons a été significativement plus grande après une période d'acquisition à 26° qu'à 12°C (Figs 2–4). L'effet de la température la plus élevée a pu être suffisamment fort pour supprimer ou réduire les différences de transmission du VEPT causées par l'effet de la température sur les plantes sources lors de la période de pré-acquisition (Fig. 2) ou par l'augmentation de l'age des plantes sources (Fig. 1). Un nombre significativement plus grand de plantes a été infecté quand le VEPT était inoculé à 26°C qu'à 12°C (Figs 3 et 4). L'effet de la température s'est avéré avoir une importance plus grande pendant la période d'acquisition que pendant la période d'inoculation. Une proportion significativement plus élevée deP. floridana et/ou de plants de pomme de terre a été infectée quand le VEPT était à la fois acquis et inoculé parM. persicae à 26°C (Figs 3 et 4). De plus, une température plus élevée appliquée pendant les deux périodes d'alimentation des pucerons s'est montrée plus favorable pour différencier visuellement et sérologiquement (ELISA) les pommes de terre résistantes, modérément résistantes et sensibles, lorsqu'on se base sur la fréquence des plantes infectées (Fig. 4).