Investigation of the extent of contamination of heavy metals in agricultural soil using statistical analyses and contamination indices

To examine the level of contamination of Eshghabad region, Neyshabur, the concentration of heavy metals in soil was measured. For this purpose, 37 samples were taken from surface soil and the total concentration of heavy elements was measured by inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The mean concentration of Pb, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Fe was obtained to be 195, 87.3, 22.8, 274.8, and 2.5%, respectively. Using five valid indicators, the intensity of metal contamination in soil was calculated and compared. Furthermore, using statistical analyses, the relationships between the elements, their origins, and the spatial distribution of metals across various stations were investigated. The results indicated that the mean value of all of the studied metals (except for iron and copper) is greater than the mean concentration of metals in the Earth's crust. The indicators showed very high contamination for lead, while low to medium contamination for other elements of interest in the farming soils of the region. Statistical analyses indicated that there is a relatively similar contamination intensity across all of the studied stations. Considering the quality standards, the soils of this region are threatened by contamination of lead.     

Identification and Fine Mapping of Candidate Gene for Yellow Leaf Mutant (ygl54) Exhibiting Yellow Leaf Colour in Rice

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology - Yellow leaf mutants are useful genetic variants to explore the mechanism of chloroplast development. In this study, we developed and characterized a new rice...     

Vegetation Patterns of the Irano-Turanian Steppe along a 3,000 m Altitudinal Gradient in the Alborz Mountains of Northern Iran

The Irano-Turanian floristic region is a major center of endemism in the Holarctic of Eurasia. The Alborz Mountains of northern Iran are a complex and heterogeneous environmental system with rich water resources and great habitat diversity. We have investigated steppe plant communities along an altitudinal gradient ranging from approximately 1,000 m a.s.l. in the semi-desert steppes near Tehran to a height of 3,966 m a.s.l. at the summit of Mount Tochal. Our two-way indicator species analysis of 1,069 vegetation samples resulted in classification of five major vegetation zones: (1) a semi-desert Artemisia steppe near Tehran, (2) a Stipa grassland in the alluvial undulating hills north and west of Tehran, (3) a submontane and steppe zone, (4) a subalpine cushion formation zone and (5) an alpine meadow and subnival zone of Mount Tochal. Annuals and ephemerals in the semi-desert vegetation decline as altitude increases and almost disappear in the alpine zone. Past human impacts of ancient Persian civilization and a traditional pastoral economy have affected the physiognomy of plant communities; thorny dwarf shrubs now dominate the treeless vegetation of the region. Lower competition for space, different phenology and the presence of edaphic and hydrological layers associated with anthropogenic impacts are major reasons for entanglement of different plant communities in the arid- and semi-arid steppe. The phytogeography of the region changes from omni-Irano-Turanian and Saharo-Sindian transgressive species at lower altitudes to a more limited range of western Irano-Turanian species and local endemics at higher altitudes.     

Blood hormone profiles,physiological variables,and behavioral criteria in Corriedale ewes fed different TMR moisture levels during thermal–humidity exposure

In this study, blood hormone profiles, physiological variables, and behavioral criteria in Corriedale ewes fed total mixed ration (TMR) at different moisture levels during thermal–humidity exposure were evaluated. Nine non-pregnant Corriedale ewes (ave. BW = 41 ± 3.5 kg) were individually fed diets based on maintenance requirements in metabolic crates. Ewes were assigned to three treatment groups according to a 3 × 3 Latin Square design for 3 periods of 21 days duration each (9 ewes per treatment). Treatments were TMR (CP (crude protein) = 16.1, TDN (total digestible nutrients) = 69.1%) moisture levels at 40, 50, and 60%. No differences were found in blood hormone profiles including cortisol (μg/dL), immunoglobulin G (mg/dL), triiodothyronine (ng/mL), thyroxin (μg/dL), growth hormone (ng/mL), prolactin (ng/mL), insulin (μU/mL), insulin-like growth factor 1 (ng/mL), aldostrone (ng/dL), antidiuretic hormone (pg/mL), and creatinine (mg/dL) among all treatment groups (p > 0.05). Measurements of physiological variables indicated that heart rate (number of beats/min) in the afternoon was higher in 50 and 60% TMR group than in the 40% group (p < 0.05). No differences were observed in respiratory rate (number/min), panting score, and fecal score among the groups (p > 0.05). The behavior criteria including urine excretion frequency (number/d), fecal excretion frequency (number/d), standing frequency (number/d), resting frequency (number/d), standing duration (min/d), and resting duration (min/d) showed no differences among the treatment groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions drawn indicate the minor impacts of TMR moisture levels up to 60% on behavioral criterions of Corriedale ewes during thermal–humidity exposure, but help smooth down the intensified heat stress conditions over physiological variables and endocrine system.     

Resistance of tumor cells to cytolytic T lymphocytes involves Rho-GTPases and focal adhesion kinase activation

Tumor cells evade adaptive immunity by a variety of mechanisms, including selection of variants that are resistant to specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) pressure. Recently, we have reported that the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton can be used by tumor cells as a strategy to promote their resistance to CTL-mediated lysis. In this study, we further examined the functional features of a CTL-resistant tumor variant and investigated the relationship between cytoskeleton alteration, the acquisition of tumor resistance to CTL-induced cell death, Rho-GTPases, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathways. Our data indicate that although the resistant cells do not display an increased migratory potential, an alteration of adhesion to the extracellular matrix was observed. When Rho-GTPases were activated in cells by the bacterial CNF1 (cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1), striking changes in the cell morphology, including actin cytoskeleton, focal adhesions, and membrane extensions, were observed. More importantly, such activation also resulted in a significant attenuation of resistance to CTL-induced cell death. Furthermore, we demonstrate that FAK signaling pathways were constitutively defective in the resistant cells. Silencing of FAK in the sensitive target cells resulted in the inhibition of immune synapse formation with specific CTLs and their subsequent lysis. Expression of the FAK mutant (Y397F) resulted in an inhibition of IGR-Heu cell adhesion and of their susceptibility to specific lysis. These results suggest that FAK activation plays a role in the control of tumor cell susceptibility to CTL-mediated lysis.     

Synthesis,biological evaluation,and molecular docking study of sulfonate derivatives as nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (NPP) inhibitors

A new series of sulfonate derivatives 1a–zk were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of nucleotide pyrophosphatases. Most of the compounds exhibited good to moderate inhibition towards NPP1, NPP2, and NPP3 isozymes. Compound 1m was a potent and selective inhibitor of NPP1 with an IC₅₀ value of 0.387 ± 0.007 µM. However, the most potent inhibitor of NPP3 was found as 1x with an IC₅₀ value of 0.214 ± 0.012 µM. In addition, compound 1e was the most active inhibitor of NPP2 with an IC₅₀ value of 0.659 ± 0.007 µM. Docking studies of the most potent compounds were carried out, and the computational results supported the in vitro results.