Determining acid phosphatase (AcP[E.C. 3.1.3.2.]) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase [E.C. 3.6.1.3.]) activity in the lungs of rats following a single administration of ashes from industrial high-heat facilities

There was examined pulmonary tissue of white rats, which had been administered intratrachealy a single dose of the respirable fraction of ashes sample from 6 different power stations elektrohasting plants and hasting plants in Poland (0.2 ml suspension; 50 mg of the examined sample in 0.6 cm3 of NaCl solution). 9 months after the application of the ashes, biopsies of the left lung were taken and there was determined the activity of acid phosphatase (AcP) and adenosinetriphosphatase (ATP-ase) histoenzymatically. There was found sensitivity of these hydrolases and changes of their activity connected with chemical composition of the examined ashes.     

Plant uptake and phytotoxicity of boron in Australian fly ashes

Summary French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Redland Pioneer) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana cv. Pioneer) were grown in glasshouse experiments to examine the potential for phytotoxicity of B in a range of Australian fly ashes. In each experiment, the ashes used were either untreated, leached or adjusted to pH 6.5 and subsequently leached.In the first eperiment, the yield and B status of plants grown on five fly ashes mixed (5 and 10% by weight) with an acid-washed sand were measured and, with the exception of one ash, yield differences among ash sources and among ash treatments were attributed to differences in the degree of B toxicity. In a subsequent experiment, a fly ash with properties representative of most Australian ashes was mixed (0, 15, 30, 70 and 100% by weight) with a sandy loam, and the yield and mineral composition of plants grown on these mixtures determined. Although the available water capacity of the soil was substantially increased by fly ash addition, incorporating large proportions of untreated fly ash resulted in poor plant growth primarily due to B toxicity. In both experiments, leaching the ash reduced the potential for B toxicity, whereas adjustment of the pH to 6.5 and subsequent leaching of the fly ash resulted in plants with normal levels of B.There were marked differences in both the tissue levels of B and the extent of B toxicity symptoms between the two species. Rhodes grass appeared to be able to tolerate higher B contents in the growing medium by taking up much less of the element than French bean. The results indicate that phytotoxicity of B would be a major problem in establishing vegetation on ash dams and in the agronomic utilization of unweathered fly ashes in Australia.     

Hydroxyproline in the rat lung following exposure to industrial ashes and surface dusts

Experimental animals (female white rats of Wistar strain) were given intratracheally a suspension of soil dusts and electroenergetic ashes. 3 months later, hydroxyproline contents in lung tissue was determined with PROKOP'S and UNDENFRIEND'S method modified by TOMASZEWSKI and HANZLIK. The highest hydroxyproline levels were found in animals from experimental groups, which had been administered electroenergetic ashes.     

Behavior of hydroxyproline in the rat lung following exposure to surface dust and industrial ashes

There was analysed, by means of biochemical examinations, the behaviour of hydroxyproline level in the lungs of experimental animals exposed to the action of soil dusts and electroenergetic ashes. 44 female white rats of Wistar strain were used in the experiment. The animals were administered intratracheally 0.2 ml dusts and electroenergetic ashes suspension. After decapitation, prepared material was taken from the left lung. Hydroxyproline determinations were performed according to Prokop's und Undenfried's method modified by Tomaszewski and Hanzlik. 9 months after the administration of the dusts, the contents of hydroxyproline slightly differed from the levels observed in control group.     

Coal fly ash as an amendment to container substrate for Spathiphyllum production

Coal fly ash, possessing alkalinity and containing some essential mineral elements, could be an alternative to lime amendment and a nutrient source of container substrates for ornamental plant growth. This study examined physiochemical properties of three fly ashes collected from Florida, Michigan, and North Carolina and container substrates formulated by incorporating commercial dolomite and the three fly ashes, respectively into a soilless basal substrate. The basal, dolomite- and fly ash-amended substrates were used to grow peace lily (Spathiphyllum Schott 'Ty's Pride'), a popular ornamental foliage plant, in 15-cm diameter containers in a shaded greenhouse. Electrical conductivities and pH of the substrates were monitored monthly. Plant canopy heights and widths, shoot fresh and dry weights were recorded five months after transplanting, and tissue nutrient contents were measured. Three fly ashes and the commercial dolomite were able to raise pH of the basal substrate from 3.8 to about 6.8. Canopy heights and widths as well as shoot fresh and dry weights of plants produced from fly ash-amended substrates were comparable to those produced from dolomite-amended substrate but significantly different from those produced from the basal substrate. On an average, five necrotic leaves appeared from plants produced in the basal substrate; however, less than one necrotic leaf occurred on plants produced in either dolomite- or fly ash-amended substrates. As a result, the quality grade of plants grown in the basal substrate was low, and plants were not marketable. Additionally, electrical conductivities of fly ash-amended substrates were consistently higher during the course of plant growth, suggesting that, in addition to neutralizing pH, the amended fly ashes provide nutrients for peace lily growth, which was confirmed by high nutrient contents in plant shoots. This study demonstrates that the three fly ashes can be alternatives to commercial dolomites used as amendments to soilless substrates for ornamental plant production. Utilization of fly ashes as container substrate amendments should represent a new market for the beneficial use of coal combustion byproducts.     

The influence of coal ashes and soil dust on the activity of two selected hydrolytic enzymes in the liver of laboratory animals

The effect of a single intratracheal application of the electroenergetic ashes and the soil dust on the liver cell was studied by means of the histoenzymatic methods for the determination of the activities of chosen hydrolases (AcP, E.C. 3.1.3.2. and ATP, E.C. 3.6.1.). The degree of the histochemical changes in hepatocytes depended on the kind of the applied dust and the trace elements' content in it. The activity's increase of the acid phosphatase and ATP-ase in each experimental group was observed, especially in the preparations collected from the animals were given the electroenergetic ashes.     

几种粉煤灰对磷素吸附与解吸特性的研究

通过吸附解吸和培养试验, 研究了几种粉煤灰对磷素吸附与解吸特性.结果表明,粉煤灰的全磷含量和有效磷含量分别为0.545～4.540 g·kg^-1和19.55～163.0 mg·kg^-1,显著高于土壤,粉煤灰对磷吸附量随着加入溶液磷浓度的增加而增加,但其吸附率随着加入溶液磷浓度的增加而减少;粉煤灰的吸磷率比土壤高,但其解吸率低.这主要是由于粉煤灰比土壤存在更多的磷吸附位点且结合能大,不易解吸.Langmuir方程、Freundlich方程和Temkin方程都能很好地拟合粉煤灰对磷吸附,其中Langmuir方程的MBC、Freundlich方程的a和Temkin方程的k2都可以表征粉煤灰对磷吸附能力, MBC、a和k2值越大,则吸磷能力越强.不同来源的粉煤灰的MBC、a和k2值不同,其大小顺序为：湘潭电厂(5 167.7,4 056.2,831.5)>岳阳纸厂(1 650.7,2 803.4,711.9)>华能电厂(303.0,1 677.6,368.7)>株洲电厂(76.2,464.2, 211.0) > 洞庭氮肥厂(34.7,413.48,213.8).粉煤灰对磷吸附固定作用随粉煤灰含水量的增加有增大的趋势.粉煤灰对磷吸附主要是专性吸附和化学沉淀反应,所以在施用粉煤灰改良土壤或利用粉煤灰制造复混肥时,须考虑粉煤灰对磷的固定作用及粉煤灰含水量的影响.     

Morphological evaluation and analysis of trace elements in the liver of rats who were fed with feed containing power station ashes

The experiment was carried out on white Wistar rats. The rats in the experimental groups received fodder containing power station ashes for various periods of time (from 6 to 18 weeks). During the experiment, the body weight of rats was recorded, the amount of trace elements in the liver was estimated, and morphological tests of the liver were carried out. The results of these experiments indicate that feeding the rats on fodder containing power station ashes causes several percent increase in the body weight and slight differences in accumulation of trace elements. Morphological changes in the liver are connected with the vacuolization of the hepatocytes' cytoplasma and an increase in the amount of phagocytic cells in hepatic sinuses. The intensity of morphological changes was correlated with the time of experiment.     

Selection and Combustion of Ni-Hyperaccumulators for the Phytomining Process

Ni recovery from serpentine soils by phytomining has proved feasible. Phytomining involves the crop of hyperaccumulating plants with high Ni contents and the valorization of Ni by pyro or hydrometallurgical process. In order to evaluate the Ni content of different plants, we analyzed the organs of 14 hyperaccumulators from three genera: Alyssum, Leptoplax and Bornmuellera. The highest concentration was recorded in the leaves of Leptoplax (34.3 ± 0.7 mg g^?1 _DM). Additionally, we investigated biomass combustion which is the first step of the process we designed to obtain a nickel salt. We showed that temperature and duration were important parameters to ensure a good quality of ashes. At the bench scale, the best conditions were 550°C and 3 h. In this way, we obtained ashes in which Ni could reach 20 wt%. Biomass ashes can be considered as a bio-ore for recovering metal value.     

Zinc content in selected tissues in streptozotocin-diabetic rats after maximal exercise

The Zn metabolism in experimental diabetic rats after maximal exercise was investigated. Forty male wistar rats were used, weighing 240±10 g at the beginning of this experiment. The animals were assigned to one of four experimental groups (n=10): control at rest (CR), control plus exercise (CE), diabetic at rest (DR), and diabetic plus exercise (DE). Experimental diabetes was produced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg). Thirty days after injection of streptozotocin, the animals of groups CE and DE were forced to acute exercise (swimming) until exhaustion. Glucose, rectal temperature (RT), pH, swimming time (ST), hematocrit (Hct), serum, and tissue (heart, liver, kidney, and muscle) Zn concentrations were measured. The streptozotocin treated animals used in the current experiment were diabetic. Increases in hepatic, renal muscle, and serum levels Zn at rest and after exercise until exhaustion were found in normal and diabetic rats. ST decreased (?180%) in the diabetic rat group. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that STZ-induced diabetes was associated with altered tissue Zn concentration, both at rest and after exercise.     

Density dependence in insect performance within individual plants: induced resistance to Spodoptera exigua in tomato

Net intraspecific density dependence experienced by insect herbivores at the scale of single plants can be a function both of induced resistance in the plant and other interactions among individual herbivores. Theory suggests that non‐linearity in the form of this density dependence can influence the effects of plants on herbivore population dynamics. This study examined both net density dependence at the scale of single plants, and changes in plant quality with herbivore density for Spodoptera exigua caterpillars on tomato plants. One experiment measured the growth of caterpillars moving freely about the plant at different densities, the distribution of damage by these caterpillars, and the quality of the plant as food for caterpillars (growth of caterpillars on undamaged leaf tissue excised from the plant). A second experiment measured plant quality for plants with different amounts of damage by caterpillars confined to particular leaves in mesh bags. Growth of S. exigua caterpillars was found to be negatively density dependent, and this was in part due to decreases in plant quality both as herbivore density increased and as the amount of damage increased. The response of plant quality to herbivores was found to have non‐linear features; there was both a threshold below which no significant decreases in quality (as measured by herbivore growth) occurred, and the decrease in herbivore performance saturated at the highest damage levels. In addition, it was found that caterpillar damage was significantly more aggregated than expected when multiple caterpillars occupy a single plant. This study confirms that host plants have the potential to be a source of density dependence that affects herbivore performance.     

Genetic aspects of the interrelation between alkaloids and chemical elements in Atropa belladonna L. and Glaucium flavum Grantz. plants

The variability of the contents of tropane and isoquinoline alkaloids, ashes, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Co, Mo, Cr, Al, Ba, V, Ni, Sr, Cd, Pb, J, and Ag was studied in individual plants of the industrial population of belladonna (Atropa belladonna L.) and yellow horned poppy (Glaucium flavum Crantz.). Numerous linear and nonlinear correlations of isoquinoline and tropane alkaloids with ashes and mineral elements were revealed by means of correlation and regression analyses. Alkaline earth elements (especially Sr and Ba) were shown to have a major role in the regulation of tropane alkaloid accumulation in belladonna leaves. K and Ni were of particular importance in the aerial part of yellow horned poppy. These elements at the suboptimal concentrations were most favorable for isoquinoline alkaloid accumulation in yellow horned poppy. Analytical mathematical models were derived for the regulation of alkaloid metabolism in test plants by some mineral elements (Ba, Mg, Al, Sr, Ni, Mn, and K). Our results indicate that the interrelation between alkaloids and elements in these plants is genetically determined.     

Tropical soils degraded by slash‐and‐burn cultivation can be recultivated when amended with ashes and compost

In many tropical regions, slash‐and‐burn agriculture is considered as a driver of deforestation; the forest is converted into agricultural land by cutting and burning the trees. However, the fields are abandoned after few years because of yield decrease and weed invasion. Consequently, new surfaces are regularly cleared from the primary forest. We propose a reclamation strategy for abandoned fields allowing and sustaining re‐cultivation. In the dry region of south‐western Madagascar, we tested, according to a split‐plot design, an alternative selective slash‐and‐burn cultivation technique coupled with compost amendment on 30–year‐old abandoned fields. Corn plants (Zea mays L.) were grown on four different types of soil amendments: no amendment (control), compost, ashes (as in traditional slash‐and‐burn cultivation), and compost + ashes additions. Furthermore, two tree cover treatments were applied: 0% tree cover (as in traditional slash‐and‐burn cultivation) and 50% tree cover (selective slash‐and‐burn). Both corn growth and soil fertility parameters were monitored during the growing season 2015 up to final harvest. The amendment compost + ashes strongly increased corn yield, which was multiplied by 4–5 in comparison with ashes or compost alone, reaching 1.5 t/ha compared to 0.25 and 0.35 t/ha for ashes and compost, respectively. On control plots, yield was negligible as expected on these degraded soils. Structural equation modeling evidenced that compost and ashes were complementary fertilizing pathways promoting soil fertility through positive effects on soil moisture, pH, organic matter, and microbial activity. Concerning the tree cover treatment, yield was reduced on shaded plots (50% tree cover) compared to sunny plots (0% tree cover) for all soil amendments, except ashes. To conclude, our results provide empirical evidence on the potential of recultivating tropical degraded soils with compost and ashes. This would help mitigating deforestation of the primary forest by increasing lifespan of agricultural lands.     

Effect of beta-carotene on the inhibition of lung metastasis in mice.

Effect of beta-carotene on the inhibition of lung metastasis induced by B16F-10 melanoma cells was studied in C57BL/6 mice. Simultaneous administration of the compound after tumor induction produced a significant reduction (71.36%) in tumor nodule formation. Increased lung collagen hydroxyproline (22.37 microg/mg protein) in the metastasized lungs of control animals compared to the normal animals (0.95 microg/mg protein) was significantly reduced (4.19 microg/mg protein) in the beta-carotene treated animals. High amount of uronic acid (355.83 microg/100mg tissue ) in the metastasized control animals was significantly reduced (87.87 microg/100 mg tissue) in the animals treated with beta-carotene. Lung hexosamine content also was inhibited significantly in the beta-carotene treated animals (1.58 mg/100 mg lyophilized tissue) compared to the untreated control animals (4.2 mg/100 mg lyophilized tissue). The elevated levels of serum sialic acid and serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase activity in the untreated control animals was significantly reduced in the animals treated with beta-carotene. Beta carotene treated animals were survived up to 69 days. Histopathology of the lung tissue also correlated with the above parameters and life span of the drug treated animals. Our results reveal the antimetastatic activity of beta-carotene which are abundantly present in green plants, vegetables and fruits.     

'Open minded' cells: how cells can change fate

It has long intrigued researchers why some but not all organisms can regenerate missing body parts. Plants are remarkable in that they can regenerate the entire organism from a small piece of tissue, or even a single cell. Epigenetic mechanisms that control chromatin organization are now known to regulate the cellular plasticity and reprogramming necessary for regeneration. Interestingly, although animals and plants have evolved different strategies and mechanisms to control developmental processes, they have maintained many similarities in the way they regulate chromatin organization. Given that plants can rapidly switch fate, we propose that an understanding of the mechanisms regulating this process in plant cells could provide a new perspective on cellular dedifferentiation in animals.     

Biological half-time and body burden of cadmium in dogs after a long-term oral administration of cadmium

To investigate the kinetic behavior of cadmium, we conducted a long-term oral administration experiment, using beagle dogs. The experimental animals were given a commercial diet and pelleted food containing 1, 3, 10, 50, and 100 mg of cadmium per day in the form of cadmium chloride for 8 yr. A single injection of cadmium (as CdCl2) into dogs was also performed in order to obtain fundamental kinetic information for a dog. The kinetic behavior of cadmium in chronic experiment is described theoretically, using a two-compartment model. The model was selected based on the elimination pattern of cadmium from the blood in the single injection experiment. The parameters of the model were estimated from the acute and chronic experimental data. The theoretical value of the cumulative amount of cadmium excreted in urine agreed with the experimental one. This result suggests that the two-compartment model used in this study is useful to elucidate the kinetic behavior of cadmium after a long-term exposure to cadmium. The terminal biological half-time in the two-compartment model was estimated at about 1 to 2 yr for both male and female dogs given 1, 3, 10, and 50 mg of cadmium, and for the male dog given 100 mg of cadmium, but only 0.3 to 0.5 yr for the female dog given 100 mg of cadmium. The amount of cadmium in the central compartment and tissue compartment increased continuously and then gradually reached a steady state. The amount of tissue compartment was much higher than that of the central compartment for each beagle dog.     

Genetic aspects of the interrelation between alkaloids and chemical elements in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Atropa belladonna</Emphasis> L. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glaucium flavum</Emphasis> Crantz. Plants

The variability of the contents of tropane and isoquinoline alkaloids, ashes, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Co, Mo, Cr, Al, Ba, V, Ni, Sr, Cd, Pb, J, and Ag was studied in individual plants of the industrial population of belladonna (Atropa belladonna L.) and yellow horned poppy (Glaucium flavum Crantz.). Numerous linear and nonlinear correlations of isoquinoline and tropane alkaloids with ashes and mineral elements were revealed by means of correlation and regression analyses. Alkaline earth elements (especially Sr and Ba) were shown to have a major role in the regulation of tropane alkaloid accumulation in belladonna leaves. K and Ni were of particular importance in the aerial part of yellow horned poppy. These elements at the suboptimal concentrations were most favorable for isoquinoline alkaloid accumulation in yellow horned poppy. Analytical mathematical models were derived for the regulation of alkaloid metabolism in test plants by some mineral elements (Ba, Mg, Al, Sr, Ni, Mn, and K). Our results indicate that the interrelation between alkaloids and elements in these plants is genetically determined.     

The Effect of Single and Repeated Gibberellic Acid Treatment on Internode Number and Length in Dwarf Peas

In long-term experiments comparing the results of single and repeated treatment of dwarf peas with gibberellic acid, both once-treated and weekly-treated plants formed more internodes than control plants. The initial high rate of internode formation in the once-treated peas dropped rapidly reaching that of control plants three weeks after treatment. Weekly-treated plants maintained a higher rate of internode formation. The ratio of internode lengths of once-treated plants to control plants was high (over 3) for the internodes which were elongating during or shortly after the single treatment but dropped rapidly and approached unity in later-developed internodes. The ratio of internode lengths of weekly-treated plants to control plants continued to be high throughout the experiment.     

Sodium selenite modulates tumour marker indices in N-nitrosodiethylamine-initiated and phenobarbital-promoted rat liver carcinogenesis

The effect of sodium selenite (Se) was investigated against two-stage rat liver carcinogenesis initiated by a single intraperitoneal injection of N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN, 200 mg kg(-1) i.p.) followed by promotion with phenobarbital (PB, 0.05%) in a basal diet. Se (4 p.p.m.) was administered per os daily throughout the entire experiment, before the initiation, or during the promotion stage. The plasma, liver (hepatoma and surrounding tissue) and kidney tissue were investigated biochemically for lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase. These enzyme activities were increased (p < 0.001) in plasma of hepatoma-bearing rats compared with normal control rats. The elevation of these enzyme activities in plasma was indicative of the persistent deteriorating effect of DEN in cancer-bearing animals. Aminotransferase levels were decreased in hepatoma and surrounding liver tissue, whereas lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase were increased in the cancer condition. These enzyme activities were reversed to near normal control values in animals treated with Se. It is apparent that the beneficial effect of Se is primarily exerted on the initiation phase and secondarily during the promotion stage of DEN-initiated rat liver carcinogenesis. The analysis of marker enzyme activities taken together with our previous findings clearly indicates the antitumour efficacy of sodium selenite on DEN-induced hepatoma animals.