Efficiencies of selected biotreatments for the remediation of PAH in diluted bitumen contaminated soil microcosms

Unconventional oils such as diluted bitumen from oil sands differs from most of conventional oils in terms of physiochemical properties and PAHs composition. This raises concerns regarding the effectiveness of current remediation strategies and protocols originally developed for conventional oil. Here we evaluated the efficiency of different biotreatment approaches, such as fungi inoculation (bioaugmentation), sludge addition (bioaugmentation/biostimulation), perennial grasses plantation (phytoremediation) and their combinations as well as natural attenuation (as control condition), for the remediation of soil contaminated by synthetic crude oil (a product of diluted bitumen) in laboratory microcosms. We specifically monitored the PAHs loss percentage (alkylated PAHs and unsubstituted 16 EPA Priority PAHs), the residue of PAHs and evaluated the ecotoxicity of soil after treatment. All treatments were highly efficient with more than?~?80% of ∑PAHs loss after 60 days. Distinctive loss efficiencies between light PAHs (≤?3 rings,?~?96% average loss) and heavy PAHs (4–6 rings,?~?29% average loss) were observed. The lowest average PAHs residue (0.10?±?0.02 mg·kg^?1, for an initial concentration of 0.29?±?0.12 mg·kg^?1) was achieved with the “sludge—plants (grasses)” combination. Sludge addition was the only treatment that achieved significantly lower ecotoxicity (3%?±?4% of growth inhibition of L. sativa) than the control (natural attenuation, 13%?±?4% of inhibition). Sludge addition, grasses plantation and “sludge—fungi combination” treatments could result in lower PAH exposure (than other treatments) in post-treated soil when using the Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines for the protection of environmental and human health for potentially carcinogenic and other PAHs.

     

Training-Dependent Associative Learning Induced Neocortical Structural Plasticity: A Trace Eyeblink Conditioning Analysis

Studies utilizing general learning and memory tasks have suggested the importance of neocortical structural plasticity for memory consolidation. However, these learning tasks typically result in learning of multiple different tasks over several days of training, making it difficult to determine the synaptic time course mediating each learning event. The current study used trace-eyeblink conditioning to determine the time course for neocortical spine modification during learning. With eyeblink conditioning, subjects are presented with a neutral, conditioned stimulus (CS) paired with a salient, unconditioned stimulus (US) to elicit an unconditioned response (UR). With multiple CS-US pairings, subjects learn to associate the CS with the US and exhibit a conditioned response (CR) when presented with the CS. Trace conditioning is when there is a stimulus free interval between the CS and the US. Utilizing trace-eyeblink conditioning with whisker stimulation as the CS (whisker-trace-eyeblink: WTEB), previous findings have shown that primary somatosensory (barrel) cortex is required for both acquisition and retention of the trace-association. Additionally, prior findings demonstrated that WTEB acquisition results in an expansion of the cytochrome oxidase whisker representation and synaptic modification in layer IV of barrel cortex. To further explore these findings and determine the time course for neocortical learning-induced spine modification, the present study utilized WTEB conditioning to examine Golgi-Cox stained neurons in layer IV of barrel cortex. Findings from this study demonstrated a training-dependent spine proliferation in layer IV of barrel cortex during trace associative learning. Furthermore, findings from this study showing that filopodia-like spines exhibited a similar pattern to the overall spine density further suggests that reorganization of synaptic contacts set the foundation for learning-induced neocortical modifications through the different neocortical layers.     

Complete repair of dystrophic skeletal muscle by mesoangioblasts with enhanced migration ability

Efficient delivery of cells to target tissues is a major problem in cell therapy. We report that enhancing delivery of mesoangioblasts leads to a complete reconstitution of downstream skeletal muscles in a mouse model of severe muscular dystrophy (alpha-sarcoglycan ko). Mesoangioblasts, vessel-associated stem cells, were exposed to several cytokines, among which stromal- derived factor (SDF) 1 or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha were the most potent in enhancing transmigration in vitro and migration into dystrophic muscle in vivo. Transient expression of alpha4 integrins or L-selectin also increased several fold migration both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, combined pretreatment with SDF-1 or TNF-alpha and expression of alpha4 integrin leads to massive colonization (>50%) followed by reconstitution of >80% of alpha-sarcoglycan-expressing fibers, with a fivefold increase in efficiency in comparison with control cells. This study defines the requirements for efficient engraftment of mesoangioblasts and offers a new potent tool to optimize future cell therapy protocols for muscular dystrophies.     

Temporal tracking of quantum-dot apatite across in vitro mycorrhizal networks shows how host demand can influence fungal nutrient transfer strategies

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi function as conduits for underground nutrient transport. While the fungal partner is dependent on the plant host for its carbon (C) needs, the amount of nutrients that the fungus allocates to hosts can vary with context. Because fungal allocation patterns to hosts can change over time, they have historically been difficult to quantify accurately. We developed a technique to tag rock phosphorus (P) apatite with fluorescent quantum-dot (QD) nanoparticles of three different colors, allowing us to study nutrient transfer in an in vitro fungal network formed between two host roots of different ages and different P demands over a 3-week period. Using confocal microscopy and raster image correlation spectroscopy, we could distinguish between P transfer from the hyphae to the roots and P retention in the hyphae. By tracking QD-apatite from its point of origin, we found that the P demands of the younger root influenced both: (1) how the fungus distributed nutrients among different root hosts and (2) the storage patterns in the fungus itself. Our work highlights that fungal trade strategies are highly dynamic over time to local conditions, and stresses the need for precise measurements of symbiotic nutrient transfer across both space and time.Subject terms: Microbial ecology, Plant ecology, Evolution, Fungi     

Ranging behaviour of huemul in relation to habitat and landscape

The huemul Hippocamelus bisulcus is an endangered species of deer occupying temperate woodland habitats in the Andes of southern Chile and Argentina. Continuing declines due to a combination of hunting and habitat loss have created a need for more conservation measures. However, current information on ranging behaviour, dispersal and seasonal movements is very limited. Three sites were therefore selected in Aysén, Chilean Patagonia, to study the movements and habitat associations of huemul. Although seasonal migrations in elevation had been reported previously for the species, we found the extent of seasonal movement limited, much less than that reported for other deer species in mountainous environments. Huemul selected mid-slope elevations, and the winter ranges of most animals overlapped summer ranges. The extent of the seasonal movements that were undertaken were, however, the greatest at the highest site and insignificant at the lowest site. Previously published information shows that habitats used by huemul follow a latitudinal gradient in elevation (reducing c . 100 m °S⁻¹ in latitude), and our results suggest that seasonal movements are likely to be greater in sites above this line. The mean range size differed between sites, ranging from 357 to 656 ha (mean 444 ha; median 506 ha). These estimates excluded long-distance (>5 km) movements, which were infrequent.     

Model for population distributions of lymphocyte-target cell conjugates

A quantitative model for the population distributions of the different types of conjugates formed between cytotoxic T lymphocytes and target cells has been developed. The comparison of the theoretical predictions with data of the literature reveals that the transit populations among the different types of conjugates depends on the lymphocyte-to-target ratio, R, and two constants, k and k1. These constants (where k greater than k1) govern, respectively, the transit populations among conjugates of the type LTi (LTn----LTn-1----...LT), and among LjT conjugates (LT----L2T----...----LmT). We have found that high ratios are necessary to obtain conjugates where multiple T lymphocytes are bound to one target cell, and that under these conditions the predominant conjugate, LjT, varies according to j = 1 + k1R. Conversely, for low values of R the predominant population is of the type LTi, where i also shows a linear dependence on R. Our model explains also why the conjugate LT is normally the predominant population under the experimental conditions reported in the literature. A discussion of the influence exerted by the population distributions of lymphocyte-target cell conjugates on the kinetic of the lytic process for these kinds of effector-target systems has also been made.     

Inhibition of ruminal deamination in vitro by formaldehyde treatment of sunflower-seed,soya bean and fish meals: Response curves to protective treatment

The object of this study was to determine the response curves of three protein supplements to protective treatment with formaldehyde. The supplements in question were chosen because of their ruminal deamination. The samples were treated with increasing formaldehyde doses up to as much as 2 g of formaldehyde per 100 g of crude protein and then incubated. The results obtained indicate that sunflower-seed meal (69.0% fermentable N) was totally protected by a 1.06% dose. Soya bean meal (66.9% fermentable N) was totally protected by a dose of 0.44%. However, fish meal (38.4% fermentable N) was given only approximately 50% protection by a 1.82% dose. Observations made after 6 and 16 hours appear to indicate that the protected complex was unaffected by the incubation period.In the case of sunflower-seed meal it was observed that the slightest dose of formaldehyde had a highly fungistatic effect.