Effect of Aluminum and Silicon in Solution on the Growth of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) uspension Cells

Cells of two indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties, one aluminum-tolerant (IAC3), and the other aluminum-sensitive (IR45), were grown in suspension culture in a medium with or without Al (0-800 µM), Si (0-2,000 µM), or Al and Si in combination as well as in R2 medium as control. The influence of Al or Si on cell growth was evaluated based on the growth of the cells in the treatment medium as well as in the R2 medium and compared with the effect on rice seedlings. Similar responses were observed for the cells and the seedlings; Al treatment resulted in a significant reduction of cell growth in both varieties, and the growth was reduced with the increase of the Al uptake by the cells. IAC3 was more tolerant to Al and it absorbed more Al than IR45. On the contrary, Si alone had almost no effect or exerted a negligible effect on the cell growth in both varieties and Si was hardly absorbed by the cells. There was a slight alleviative effect of Si on Al toxicity in the suspension cells of IR45, whereas, a considerable ameliorative effect in the seedlings. The content of total Al and of AI insoluble in citric acid in the cells were higher in the sole Al (800 µM) treatment than in the Al-Si combination treatment. This tendency was also observed in aluminon staining. The differences in the alleviative effects of Si and the uptake of Al and Si between the suspension cells and seedlings may have resulted from the presence of roots and morphological differences in the apoplastic tissues.     

Effects of selected natural factors on soil ph and element dynamics studied in columns of pyritic sediments

Two sets of column (70 cm)-leaching experiments were carried out by using pyritic marine sediments of Kojima lake (Okayama, Japan) to evaluate the influence of soil microorganisms (SMO), duration of oxidation, intensity of rainfall, and groundwater level on the changes in soil pH and dynamics of associated elements. The soil contained 6.5 g kg^-1 pyrite, 43 g kg^-1 organic carbon, and had a pH value of 8.0 determined by the sticky point method. The pH of the non-sterile soils (with SMO=set I) showed an acidic range (pH <6.5) after 2 weeks of incubation. A pronounced decrease of the pH (3–4) was detected during the 32-week period of incubation, while a more alkaline range of pH (>8.5) was recorded at the lower depths (40–50 cm) with the passage of time in most of the soils initially sterilized (without SMO=set II). When the water (25±2% air v.) content was about 200%, the pH of the non-sterile soils was less than 6 after 16 weeks of incubation, while for the same water content at 32 weeks after incubation, the pH of the soils was about 1 unit lower than that of the 16 weeks after incubation. However, the pH in sterilized soils was less than 6 after 32 weeks of incubation for a water content of about 150% (40±2% air v.), whereas, at such (40±2% air v.) levels of water or oxygenation, the pH of the soils decreased to about 3 in all the treatments with SMO. Application of rainfall and changes in the groundwater significantly (p≤0.01) enhanced the development of acidity in the top soils (0–15 cm) through leaching losses of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, and led to a substantial increase of the amounts of water-extractable Fe³⁺ and A1³⁺, indicating that the soils may have become permanently acidic through leaching.     

Bioremediation of Arsenic-Contaminated Water: Recent Advances and Future Prospects

Arsenic contamination of groundwater and surface water is widespread throughout the world. Considering its carcinogenicity and toxicity to human and animal health, remediation of arsenic-contaminated water has become a high priority. There are several physicochemical-based conventional technologies available for removing arsenic from water. However, these technologies possess a number of limitations such as high cost and generation of toxic by-products, etc. Therefore, research on new sustainable and cost-effective arsenic removal technologies for water has recently become an area of intense research activity. Bioremediation technology offers great potential for possible future application in decontamination of pollutants from the natural environment. It is not only environmentally friendly but cost-effective as well. This review focuses on the state-of-art knowledge of currently available arsenic remediation methods, their prospects, and recent advances with particular emphasis on bioremediation strategies.     

Subcutaneous ω-Conotoxins Alleviate Mechanical Pain in Rodent Models of Acute Peripheral Neuropathy

The peripheral effects of ω-conotoxins, selective blockers of N-type voltage-gated calcium channels (Ca_V2.2), have not been characterised across different clinically relevant pain models. This study examines the effects of locally administered ω-conotoxin MVIIA, GVIA, and CVIF on mechanical and thermal paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) in postsurgical pain (PSP), cisplatin-induced neuropathy (CisIPN), and oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy (OIPN) rodent models. Intraplantar injection of 300, 100 and 30 nM MVIIA significantly (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, and p < 0.05, respectively) alleviated mechanical allodynia of mice in PSP model compared to vehicle control group. Similarly, intraplantar injection of 300, 100, and 30 nM MVIIA (p < 0.0001, p < 0.01, and p < 0.05, respectively), and 300 nM and 100 nM GVIA (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.05, respectively) significantly increased mechanical thresholds of mice in OIPN model. The ED₅₀ of GVIA and MVIIA in OIPN was found to be 1.8 pmol/paw and 0.8 pmol/paw, respectively. However, none of the ω-conotoxins were effective in a mouse model of CisIPN. The intraplantar administration of 300 nM GVIA, MVIIA, and CVIF did not cause any locomotor side effects. The intraplantar administration of MVIIA can alleviate incision-induced mechanical allodynia, and GVIA and MVIIA effectively reduce OIPN associated mechanical pain, without locomotor side effects, in rodent models. In contrast, CVIF was inactive in these pain models, suggesting it is unable to block a subset of N-type voltage-gated calcium channels associated with nociceptors in the skin.     

Anti-Alzheimer’s Molecules Derived from Marine Life: Understanding Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia. It has been confirmed that the pathological processes that intervene in AD development are linked with oxidative damage to neurons, neuroinflammation, tau phosphorylation, amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregation, glutamate excitotoxicity, and cholinergic deficit. Still, there is no available therapy that can cure AD. Available therapies only manage some of the AD symptoms at the early stages of AD. Various studies have revealed that bioactive compounds derived from marine organisms and plants can exert neuroprotective activities with fewer adverse events, as compared with synthetic drugs. Furthermore, marine organisms have been identified as a source of novel compounds with therapeutic potential. Thus, there is a growing interest regarding bioactive compounds derived from marine sources that have anti-AD potentials. Various marine drugs including bryostatin-1, homotaurine, anabaseine and its derivative, rifampicins, anhydroexfoliamycin, undecylprodigioisin, gracilins, 13-desmethyl spirolide-C, and dictyostatin displayed excellent bioavailability and efficacy against AD. Most of these marine drugs were found to be well-tolerated in AD patients, along with no significant drug-associated adverse events. In this review, we focus on the drugs derived from marine life that can be useful in AD treatment and also summarize the therapeutic agents that are currently used to treat AD.     

Age-related functional changes in the follicle-associated epithelium of the bursa of Fabricius in Shaver Cockerels

A study of the age-related functions of immunologically important components of the bursa of Fabricius in Shaver cockerels showed that endocytosis of carbon particles by the specialised follicle-associated epithelium was at a high level from hatching until 5 weeks of age and thereafter declined until at 18 weeks it could no longer be detected. The follicle-associated epithelium had marked non-specific esterase activity during the first 15 weeks of life as determined by a standard acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase method. The absolute weight of the bursa was at a maximum at 9 to 10 weeks. Involution began before 14 weeks and was complete by 22 weeks. The results indicate that the critical period for the bursa in regard to acquiring immunity from either local vaccination or environmental challenge is likely to be within the first five weeks of life.     

Outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Peninsular Malaysia from 2001 to 2007

This is a retrospective study of the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Peninsular Malaysia between 2001 and May 2007. In total, 270 outbreaks of FMD were recorded. Serotype O virus (89.95 %) and serotype A (7.7 %) had caused the outbreaks. Significant differences on the occurrence of FMD were found between the years (t?=?5.73, P?=?0.000, df?=?11), months (t?=?4.7, P?=?0.000, df?=?11), monsoon season (t?=?2.63, P?=?0.025, df?=?10) and states (t?=?4.84, P?=?0.001, df?=?10). A peak of outbreaks observed in 2003 could be due to increased animal movement and the other peak in 2006 could be due to a compromised FMD control activities due to activities on the eradication of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Cattle (86 % of outbreaks) suffered the most. However, no difference in disease occurrence between species was observed. The populations of cattle (r?=?0.672, P?=?0.023) and sheep (r?=?0.678, P?=?0.022) were significantly correlated with occurrence of FMD. Movement of animals (66 % of outbreaks) was the main source for outbreaks. A combination of control measures were implemented during outbreaks. In conclusion, the findings of this study show that FMD is endemic in Peninsular Malaysia, and information gained could be used to improve the existing control strategy.     

Variation in photosensitivity of flowering in the world soybean mini-core collections (GmWMC)

ABSTRACT

Photosensitivity of flowering is the main yield limiting factor for soybean production in tropical areas. Our objective was to evaluate the variation of photosensitivity in the world soybean mini-core collections (GmWMC) under controlled environment. Ten and 13 h were selected as short- and long- photoperiods. The days from emergence to first flower open (DEF) were 20–49 days under 13 h, whereas 20–31 days under 10 h photoperiods. The variation in DEF under short photoperiod might be caused by juvenile growth phase or post-inductive phase, because 10 h was the photoperiod which induction phase of most genotypes were minimized. Index of photosensitivity of flowering (IPF) varied from 0.00 to 0.47 and correlated positively with DEF under short photoperiod. However, some genotypes were found having higher IPF but shorter DEF, or lower IPF but longer DEF. Results provided the valuable information for soybean production in tropical areas.