Using profitable chrysanthemums for phytoremediation of Cd- and Zn-contaminated soils in the suburb of Shanghai

Purpose

We studied the profitable phytoremediation method with commercial chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum L.) in order to remediate the soils contaminated with heavy metals and generate economy income from the contaminated sites.

Materials and methods

A field experiment was carried out to remediate the contaminated soil through growing the commercial chrysanthemum plants in a farmland polluted with heavy metals of Cd and Zn due to application of creek sediments in the western suburb of Shanghai, Southeast China, since June 2013.

Results and discussion

After the consecutive 3 years of phytoremediation, Cd and Zn contents in the soil were reduced by 78.1% and 28.4%, respectively. We also found that the rice grain growing on the 3-year phytoremediated soil met the requirements of dietary safety, so did the vegetable growing on the 5-year phytoremediated soil.

Conclusions

Growing chrysanthemum plants as a method of phytoremediation can not only remove a large amount of toxic heavy metals from the contaminated soil but also be highly profitable from the sales of chrysanthemum flowers.

     

Comparison of characteristics of actomyosin from white, pink, and red muscle fiber types in cultured carp

ABSTRACT: The present study compared and examined the characteristics of actomyosin among white (W), pink (P), and red (R) muscle fiber types in carp (cultured). Both the superprecipitation reaction and the Mg²⁺-ATPase activity of actomyosin became higher with increased Ca²⁺ concentration (pCa 7.0–pCa 5.0) and with decreased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration (3.0–0.5 mM) in all three muscle fiber types. A comparison of the three fiber types shows that the superprecipitation reaction of actomysoin was lower in the order of W < P < R and, in contrast, was higher for Mg²⁺-ATPase activity in the order of W > P > R. A significantly positive correlation between both values was found for each of the three muscle fiber types, but these correlations were clearly different among the three muscle fiber types, and the superprecipitation reaction of actomyosin was lower in the order of W < P < R when Mg²⁺-ATPase activity was at the same level. In conclusion, the characteristics of actomyosin were remarkably different among white, pink, and red muscle fiber types.     

Elucidation of the neurological effects of clothianidin exposure at the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) using two-photon microscopy in vivo imaging

Neonicotinoid pesticides (NNs) cause behavioral abnormalities in mammals, raising concerns about their effects on neural circuit activity. We herein examined the neurological effects of the NN clothianidin (CLO) by in vivo Ca²⁺ imaging using two-photon microscopy. Mice were fed the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) dose of CLO for 2 weeks and their neuronal activity in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) was observed weekly for 2 weeks. CLO exposure caused a sustained influx of Ca²⁺ in neurons in the S1 2/3 layers, indicating hyperactivation of neurons. In addition, microarray gene expression analysis suggested the induction of neuroinflammation and changes in synaptic activity. These results demonstrate that exposure to the NOAEL dose of CLO can overactivate neurons and disrupt neuronal homeostasis.     

Adipogenic potential of satellite cells from distinct skeletal muscle origins in the rat

The possible relationship between myofiber type composition and adipose tissue development in skeletal muscle in vivo has been suggested. Recent evidence indicated that satellite cells are multipotent cells that can undergo not only myogenic, but also adipogenic differentiation. In the present study, rat satellite cells were isolated from soleus, back, extensor digitorum longus, tibialis anterior and quadriceps muscles, and their adipogenic potentials were compared by culturing them under adipogenic conditions in vitro. Cells from soleus muscle exhibited the highest adipogenic potential as judged from Oil Red-staining and immunocytochemical C/EBPalpha-staining. The adipogenic potential of satellite cells was positively correlated with type I myofiber distribution in the corresponding muscle of origin. These results demonstrated that the adipogenic potential of satellite cells differs according to the muscle of origin and suggested that its possible correlation to type I myofiber distribution may account for preferential adipose tissue development in slow oxidative muscles.     

Imatinib mesylate treatment in a dog with gastrointestinal stromal tumors with a c-kit mutation

A 13-year-old spayed mixed-breed dog was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) after histopathological examination of an abdominal mass. Five months after surgical resection of the tumor, we detected the recurrence of GIST with multiple disseminated abdominal lesions. A sequence analysis of cDNA obtained from a biopsy of the recurrent tumors revealed a mutation within exon 9 of the c-kit gene (1523A>T, Asn⁵⁰⁸Ile), which has been shown to cause ligand-independent phosphorylation of the KIT protein in GISTs and canine mast cell tumors (MCTs). Upon detection of the recurrent tumors, we initiated treatment with imatinib mesylate (10 mg/kg, q 24 hr). After 2 months, the dog achieved complete remission. Our findings indicate that canine GIST, and possibly MCT, may be responsive to molecular-targeted therapy.     

Ontogenic and morphological study of gonadal formation in genetically-modified sex reversal XYPOS mice

Mammalian sexual fate is determined by the presence or absence of sex determining region of the Y chromosome (Sry) in the “bipotential” gonads. Recent studies have demonstrated that both male and female sexual development are induced by distinct and active genetic pathways. Breeding the Y chromosome from Mus m. domesticus poschiavinus (POS) strains into C57BL/6J (B6J) mice (B6J-XY^POS) has been shown to induce sex reversal (75%: bilateral ovary, 25%: true hermaphrodites). However, our B6N-XY^POS mice, which were generated by backcrossing of B6J-XY^POS on an inbred B6N-XX, develop as males (36%: bilateral testis with fertility as well as bilateral ovary (34%), and the remainder develop as true hermaphrodites. Here, we investigated in detail the expressions of essential sex-related genes and histological features in B6N-XY^POS mice from the fetal period to adulthood. The onsets of both Sry and SRY-box 9 (Sox9) expressions as determined spatiotemporally by whole-mount immunohistochemistry in the B6N-XY^POS gonads occurred 2–3 tail somites later than those in B6N-XY^B6 gonads, but earlier than those in B6J-XY^POS, respectively. It is possible that such a small difference in timing of the Sry expression underlies testicular development in our B6N-XY^POS. Our study is the first to histologically show the expression and ectopic localization of a female-related gene in the XY^POS testes and a male-related gene in the XY^POS ovaries. The results from these and previous experiments indicate that the interplay between genome variants, epigenetics and developmental gene regulation is crucial for testis development.     

The combined effect of clothianidin and environmental stress on the behavioral and reproductive function in male mice

Neonicotinoids, some of the most widely used pesticides in the world, act as agonists to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of insects, resulting in death from abnormal excitability. Neonicotinoids unexpectedly became a major topic as a compelling cause of honeybee colony collapse disorder, which is damaging crop production that requires pollination worldwide. Mammal nAChRs appear to have a certain affinity for neonicotinoids with lower levels than those of insects; there is thus rising concern about unpredictable adverse effects of neonicotinoids on vertebrates. We hypothesized that the effects of neonicotinoids would be enhanced under a chronic stressed condition, which is known to alter the expression of targets of neonicotinoids, i.e., neuronal nAChRs. We performed immunohistochemical and behavioral analyses in male mice actively administered a neonicotinoid, clothianidin (CTD; 0, 10, 50 and 250 mg/kg/day), for 4 weeks under an unpredictable chronic stress procedure. Vacuolated seminiferous epithelia and a decrease in the immunoreactivity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase 4 were observed in the testes of the CTD+stress mice. In an open field test, although the locomotor activities were not affected, the anxiety-like behaviors of the mice were elevated by both CTD and stress. The present study demonstrates that the behavioral and reproductive effects of CTD become more serious in combination with environmental stress, which may reflect our actual situation of multiple exposure.     

Forestomach developmental failure in an 11-month-old Japanese Black steer with severely retarded growth and chronic ruminal tympany

This study reports findings from the pathological examination of the forestomach of an 11-month-old Japanese Black steer with severely retarded growth (41% of expected weight) and chronic ruminal tympany. The ruminal papillae were weakly formed (0.3–0.5 cm long) and unevenly distributed. The cellulae and cristae reticuli were underdeveloped; the cristae were 0.4–0.7 cm in height and milky white. The keratinized layer in the stratified squamous epithelium was thickened. Ruminal pH was 5.25, and ruminal volatile fatty acid concentration was 11.7 mM. The steer’s severely retarded growth was considered to be caused by malnutrition due to developmental and functional failure of the forestomach.     

LONG‐TERM LAND USE INFLUENCES SOIL MICROBIAL BIOMASS P AND S,PHOSPHATASE AND ARYLSULFATASE ACTIVITIES,AND S MINERALIZATION IN A BRAZILIAN OXISOL

Land use choices differentially affect soil physical and biological properties. Tillage choices in particular affect soil erosion, the retention of soil organic matter, and the biological activity that organic matter supports. The present study evaluated the consequences of different cropping and tillage systems (undisturbed forest, coffee plantation, conventional, and no‐tillage row cropping) for soil microbial indicators and sulfur mineralization after 24 years of cropping on an Oxisol (Typic Haplorthox) in an experimental area at Londrina, Brazil. Soil samples were taken at 0–5, 5–10, and 10–20 cm depths and evaluated for microbial biomass P and S, S mineralization, and phosphatase and arylsulfatase activities. Land use affected microbial biomass P and S, and enzyme activity at all depths studied. The cultivated sites had lower values of microbial activity than the undisturbed forested site. Although the coffee site was not tilled and had high organic carbon content, there was low microbial activity, probably due to higher soil acidity and Al content. The estimates of pool stock for microbial P and annual P flux through the soil microbial biomass suggest that these pools are large enough to significantly affect plant nutrient availability. The greater microbial biomass and activity under forested and no‐tillage sites may be attributed, at least partially, to higher organic matter content. The soil microbial variables examined proved to be strong indicators of soil sustainability. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Three-dimensional structure of Hayabusa samples: origin and evolution of Itokawa regolith

Regolith particles on the asteroid Itokawa were recovered by the Hayabusa mission. Their three-dimensional (3D) structure and other properties, revealed by x-ray microtomography, provide information on regolith formation. Modal abundances of minerals, bulk density (3.4 grams per cubic centimeter), and the 3D textures indicate that the particles represent a mixture of equilibrated and less-equilibrated LL chondrite materials. Evidence for melting was not seen on any of the particles. Some particles have rounded edges. Overall, the particles' size and shape are different from those seen in particles from the lunar regolith. These features suggest that meteoroid impacts on the asteroid surface primarily form much of the regolith particle, and that seismic-induced grain motion in the smooth terrain abrades them over time.