Impact of a Variable Tungsten Pollution on the Elemental Uptake of Two Plant Species

A radish and a grass species were grown in identical substrates either unpolluted or polluted by tungsten (W) at 1, 5, and 10 μg/g levels of watering solutions during 1 month under controlled laboratory conditions. Initially, at 4.1 μg/g, the W content in grass leaves reached 16 μg/g at the highest rate of W supply to the substrate. For radish, the content of W reached 22 and 29 μg/g in the leaves and roots, respectively. The overall W pollution increased significantly the mobility of major elements from substrate to grass leaves, especially at the 5 μg/g pollution level, whereas the W impact on radish leaves resulted in an increase of most contents, only Mn remaining unaffected. The roots from polluted radishes were enriched in Si by 21% and Al by 42% at low pollution, and in Si by 15% at high supply, whereas the uptake of the other elements remained unchanged. It looks like the W pollution at the levels chosen does not impact the transfer of the major and trace elements from roots to leaves of Raphanus sativus. Alternatively, metallic trace elements (Ba, Ni, Cr, Zn, W, Co) of the Raphanus sativus and Chloris gayana leaves outline similar content changes depending on the amount of W pollution. The total rare-earth element contents of the leaves of Raphanus sativus grown in the polluted substrates are lower than those of the leaves from unpolluted substrate. Their normalization in the leaves and roots of Raphanus sativus from the polluted substrates to those of the radish from non-polluted substrate provides flat patterns for both with a positive Eu anomaly for leaves, as for those of the grass and a negative Gd anomaly for roots. Also, addition of soluble W to the substrates induced an increase in the bacterial activity of the soil.     

Growth and leaf chemistry of Atriplex species from Northern Mexico as affected by salt stress

Atriplex species are tolerant to salinity and water stress and thus they are suitable for restoration of many degraded ecosystems. In addition, many Atriplex species offer good value as forages. We compared growth and leaf chemistry of Atriplex canescens, a well-known halophyte, and A. acanthocarpa, a poorly-studied species, as affected by salinity in a greenhouse study. Seeds and soil were collected in northern Mexico, the native range of these species. Plants were grown in pots containing native soil and irrigated with NaCl solutions of 0, 50, and 100 mM. Shoot growth of A. canescens declined 37% as NaCl treatments increased from 0 to 100 mM while shoot growth of A acanthocarpa was not significantly affected by salinity. The high salt tolerance of A. acanthocarpa was linked to a high accumulation of leaf sodium (Na) (7- to 13-fold higher than A. canescens). A. acanthocarpa had also higher growth rate than A. canescenes, making the former species a good candidate for cultivation, especially under saline conditions. Tissue concentration of potassium (K) in both species was minimally affected by the salinity treatments. Leaf nitrogen (N) concentration increased as plants faced higher salinity treatments, especially in A. canescens. The high salt tolerance and higher Na accumulation of A. acanthocarpa make this species an attractive choice for reclamation of saline areas. We suggest A. acanthocarpa should be explored as viable forage for cultivation and for reclamation of degraded areas just as A. canescens has been throughout the world.     

Red and white wines inhibit cholesterol oxidation induced by free radicals

The capabilities of two red (RW) and two white wines (WW) in inhibiting cholesterol oxidation were evaluated using a cholesterol emulsion (CE) system. Each RW or WW was mixed with CE at different (v/v) ratios. Cholesterol oxidation was accelerated by a free radical generator, 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH), at 37 °C. The major oxidation product, 7-ketocholesterol, was monitored to determine cholesterol stability in the CE system. At a ratio of 1:250 (RW/CE), 7-ketocholesterol production was not detected during 72 h of oxidation. At a 1:1000 ratio, the inhibition rate of each RW was maintained at 100% at 24 h but decreased afterward. Both WWs had 100% inhibition rate within 48 h at a ratio of 1:10. Also, the capabilities of catechin and resveratrol solutions (1 mg/mL) in inhibiting cholesterol oxidation were studied. Each of the wine polyphenolics showed a 100% of 7-ketocholesterol inhibition rate in 24 h at a ratio of 1:500 (solution/CE). However, the inhibition rate of resveratrol was lower than that of catechin at 48 or 72 h. The results demonstrated that red wine possesses great anti-cholesterol-oxidation capability, which may contribute to health benefits in preventing cardiovascular diseases. Catechin may play a more important role than resveratrol in inhibiting cholesterol oxidation.     

Dactylospongia elegans—A Promising Drug Source: Metabolites,Bioactivities, Biosynthesis,Synthesis, and Structural-Activity Relationship

Marine environment has been identified as a huge reservoir of novel biometabolites that are beneficial for medical treatments, as well as improving human health and well-being. Sponges have been highlighted as one of the most interesting phyla as new metabolites producers. Dactylospongia elegans Thiele (Thorectidae) is a wealth pool of various classes of sesquiterpenes, including hydroquinones, quinones, and tetronic acid derivatives. These metabolites possessed a wide array of potent bioactivities such as antitumor, cytotoxicity, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. In the current work, the reported metabolites from D. elegans have been reviewed, including their bioactivities, biosynthesis, and synthesis, as well as the structural-activity relationship studies. Reviewing the reported studies revealed that these metabolites could contribute to new drug discovery, however, further mechanistic and in vivo studies of these metabolites are needed.     

Evaluation of a Thermophilic,Psychrostable, and Heavy Metal-Resistant Red Sea Brine Pool Esterase

Lipolytic enzymes catalyze the hydrolysis and synthesis of ester compounds. They are valuable in the pulp, food, and textile industries. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the extreme properties of a hormone-sensitive lipase (EstATII-TM) isolated from the Red Sea Atlantis II brine pool. EstATII-TM was cloned, expressed, and its biochemical activities were assessed under different conditions. EstATII-TM catalytic properties and resistance to different metal ions were compared to commercial thermophilic esterases under different temperatures. Phylogenetically, EstATII-TM was assigned to the GDSAG motif subfamily of hormone-sensitive lipase. The optimal enzyme activity was evident at a temperature of 30 °C and pH 7–8. The enzyme retained 84.9% of its activity at 0.5 M NaCl. EstATII-TM maintained 93% to 97% activity at −40 and −20 °C, respectively. EstATII-TM activity was significantly enhanced, up to 10-fold, at temperatures ranging from 45 to 65 °C in the presence of 1 mM Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ba²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Zn²⁺. EstATII-TM showed superior catalytic activity and resistance-to/enhancement-by metal ions compared to two commercial thermophilic esterases. The Red Sea Atlantis II brine EstATII-TM is characterized by tolerance to high temperatures, stability to hot and cold conditions, as well as toxic heavy metal contamination, making it an ideal candidate for industrial processes.     

The contribution of livestock to urban resilience: the case of Bamako,Mali

Urban livestock keeping is increasing in many sub-Saharan African cities, but detailed contextual information on its extent, challenges, and potential is limited. A cross-sectional household study was done in 2010 in Bamako, Mali. Thirty-two of 67 quarters were randomly selected with selection probability proportional to the size of the human population of the communes. Questionnaire interviews were done with a head of household in 1141 households, comprising 19,816 people in total. Sheep were kept by 16% (95% CI 14–18), while 21% (95% CI 17–24) kept poultry. The sheep to human ratio was 4:100, with an extrapolated city-wide population of 67,636 sheep (95% CI 61,018–75,595). The poultry to human ratio was 11:100, with an extrapolated city-wide population of 191,802 chickens (95% CI 176,212–208,772). For urban livestock holders, household-level enterprise gross margins were calculated for sheep production at USD 103 and poultry production at USD 50 annually. The annual gross margin was estimated at USD 35 per sheep and USD 17 per chicken. Based on these figures, the city-wide urban livestock total gross margin for Bamako in 2010 was estimated at USD 5.6 million. Detailed population data help clarify the urban livestock animal human interface in diverse contexts and highlight the important contributions that urban small-holder production adds to food security and resilience. The potential for urban livestock production informs decision-makers in developing adapted, sustainable policies in resource-constrained environments.

     

Gender differences in the rat corpus callosum: An ultrastructure study

Sexual dimorphism exists at all levels of the nervous system, from genetic, anatomical and system levels. The sexual dimorphism in the axonal content of the corpus callosum (CC) has always been controversial; hence, the aim of this study was to analyse the differences in total, myelinated and unmyelinated axons density of various regions of the CC between male and female rats. To assess that, six pairs of adult male and female rats were perfused and the CC was removed and sectioned. Four sections from different subregions of the corpus callosum that represent the genu, anterior body, posterior body, and splenium, were stained, and electron microscopic images were captured using stereological guidelines. Later, the axons density for each subregion was calculated and compared between males and females. The findings of the present study indicated region‐specific differences in the myelinated, unmyelinated or the ratio of myelinated/total axons in the CC between male and female rats.     

Wirkungen einesBacillus thuringiensis-Präparats und eines Juvenilhormon-Analogons über den Erdboden aufSpodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lep.,Noctuidae)

Summary Sensitivy of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) to soils treated with preparations of Bacillus thuringiensis and of a juvenil hormone analogue Various instar larvae ofSpodoptera littoralis were exposed to soil treated, with aBacillus thuringiensis-containing preparation (Bactospeine) and a juvenile hormone analogue (Ro 20–36 000).After treatment with Bactospeine, only high concentrations could affect emergence. Suppressed egg laying and sterility were the most marked effects. Also, the produced eggs were smaller in size.The juvenile hormone analogue showed high activity, particularly against freshly moulted 6th. instar larvae. Greater effects were elicited after ecposing the larvae to treated soil than to treated leaves for 48 hours. It appears to be fairly stable in soil. Its morphogenetic activity could be detected 60 days after application.