Plant-associated bacteria and their role in the success or failure of metal phytoextraction projects: first observations of a field-related experiment

Phytoextraction has been reported as an economically and ecologically sound alternative for the remediation of metal-contaminated soils. Willow is a metal phytoextractor of interest because it allows to combine a gradual contaminant removal with production of biomass that can be valorized in different ways. In this work two willow clones growing on a metal-contaminated site were selected: ‘Belgisch Rood’ (BR) with a moderate metal extraction capacity and ‘Tora’ (TO) with a twice as high metal accumulation. All cultivable bacteria associated with both willow clones were isolated and identified using 16SrDNA ARDRA analysis followed by 16SrDNA sequencing. Further all isolated bacteria were investigated for characteristics that might promote plant growth (production of siderophores, organic acids and indol acetic acid) and for their metal resistance. The genotypic and phenotypic characterization of the isolated bacteria showed that the TO endophytic bacterial population is more diverse and contains a higher percentage of metal-resistant plant growth promoting bacteria than the endophytic population associated with BR. We hypothesize that the difference in the metal accumulation capacity between BR and TO clones might be at least partly related to differences in characteristics of their associated bacterial population.     

Optogenetic fUSI for brain-wide mapping of neural activity mediating collicular-dependent behaviors

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Hydroxychloroquine decreases human MSC‐derived osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in vitro

We recently showed that patients with primary Sjögren Syndrome (pSS) have significantly higher bone mineral density (BMD) compared to healthy controls. The majority of those patients (69%) was using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which may have favourable effects on BMD. To study the direct effects of HCQ on human MSC‐derived osteoblast activity. Osteoblasts were cultured from human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs). Cultures were treated with different HCQ doses (control, 1 and 5 µg/ml). Alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium measurements were performed to evaluate osteoblast differentiation and activity, respectively. Detailed microarray analysis was performed in 5 µg/ml HCQ‐treated cells and controls followed by qPCR validation. Additional cultures were performed using the cholesterol synthesis inhibitor simvastatin (SIM) to evaluate a potential mechanism of action. We showed that HCQ inhibits both MSC‐derived osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in vitro. Microarray analysis and additional PCR validation revealed a highly significant up‐regulation of the cholesterol biosynthesis, lysosomal and extracellular matrix pathways in the 5 µg/ml HCQ‐treated cells compared to controls. Besides, we demonstrated that 1 µM SIM also decreases MSC‐derived osteoblast differentiation and mineralization compared to controls. It appears that the positive effect of HCQ on BMD cannot be explained by a stimulating effect on the MSC‐derived osteoblast. The discrepancy between high BMD and decreased MSC‐derived osteoblast function due to HCQ treatment might be caused by systemic factors that stimulate bone formation and/or local factors that reduce bone resorption, which is lacking in cell cultures.     

Maternal effects and parent–offspring conflict

Maternal effects can provide offspring with reliable information about the environment they are likely to experience, but also offer scope for maternal manipulation of young when interests diverge between parents and offspring. To predict the impact of parent–offspring conflict, we model the evolution of maternal effects on local adaptation of young. We find that parent–offspring conflict strongly influences the stability of maternal effects; moreover, the nature of the disagreement between parents and young predicts how conflict is resolved: when mothers favor less extreme mixtures of phenotypes relative to offspring (i.e., when mothers stand to gain by hedging their bets), mothers win the conflict by providing offspring with limited amounts of information. When offspring favor overproduction of one and the same phenotype across all environments compared to mothers (e.g., when offspring favor a larger body size), neither side wins the conflict and signaling breaks down. Only when offspring favor less extreme mixtures relative to their mothers (something no current model predicts), offspring win the conflict and obtain full information about the environment. We conclude that a partial or complete breakdown of informative maternal effects will be the norm rather than the exception in the presence of parent–offspring conflict.     

Defining Ecosystem Assets for Natural Capital Accounting

In natural capital accounting, ecosystems are assets that provide ecosystem services to people. Assets can be measured using both physical and monetary units. In the international System of Environmental-Economic Accounting, ecosystem assets are generally valued on the basis of the net present value of the expected flow of ecosystem services. In this paper we argue that several additional conceptualisations of ecosystem assets are needed to understand ecosystems as assets, in support of ecosystem assessments, ecosystem accounting and ecosystem management. In particular, we define ecosystems’ capacity and capability to supply ecosystem services, as well as the potential supply of ecosystem services. Capacity relates to sustainable use levels of multiple ecosystem services, capability involves prioritising the use of one ecosystem service over a basket of services, and potential supply considers the ability of ecosystems to generate services regardless of demand for these services. We ground our definitions in the ecosystem services and accounting literature, and illustrate and compare the concepts of flow, capacity, capability, and potential supply with a range of conceptual and real-world examples drawn from case studies in Europe and North America. Our paper contributes to the development of measurement frameworks for natural capital to support environmental accounting and other assessment frameworks.     

Quantification of Calcium Amount in a New Experimental Model: A Comparison between Ultrasound and Computed Tomography

Purpose

Calcification is an important prognostic factor in aortic valve stenosis. However, there is no ultrasound (US) method available to accurately quantify calcification in this setting to date. We aimed to validate a new US method for measuring the amount of calcium in an in vitro model, and compare it to computed tomography (CT), the current imaging gold standard.

Materials and Methods

An agar phantom (2% agar) was made, containing 9 different amounts of calcium-hydroxyapatite Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH (2 to 50mg). The phantoms were imaged with micro-CT and US (10 MHz probe). The calcium area (area_calcium) and its maximum pixel value (PV_max) were obtained. These values were summed to calculate CT and US calcium scores (∑(area_calcium × PV_max)) and volumes (∑area_calcium). Both US- and CT-calcium scores were compared with the calcium amounts, and with each other.

Results

Both calcium scores correlated significantly with the calcium amount (R² = 0.9788, p<0.0001 and R² = 0.8154, p<0.0001 for CT and US respectively). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between US and CT for calcium volumes (R² = 0.7392, p<0.0001) and scores (R² = 0.7391, p<0.0001).

Conclusion

We developed a new US method that accurately quantifies the amount of calcium in an in vitro model. Moreover it is strongly correlated with CT.     

The Reeuwijk lakes: A five years water quality study in an eutrophic ecosystem

The Reeuwijk Lakes (The Netherlands) present a typical example of eutrophication in the lower Rhine catchment area. In 1986 restoration of these lakes started by reducing the external P-loading. Two lakes, Lake Elfhoeven and Lake Nieuwenbroek, differing in P-load and residence time were selected for monitoring water quality parameters before (1983–1985) and after (1986–1987) these restoration measures. Reduction of the external P-loading did not result in lower P-concentrations in both lakes. In contrast, P and N increased. This may have been caused by an increase in diffuse discharges. However, seasonal cycles of P and N point to a strong internal loading of nutrients. The concentrations of chlorophyll a and carotene decreased, indicating a lower phytoplankton biomass. However, as C-phycocyanine concentrations increased the relative abundance of cyanobacteria became higher. Seston concentrations and zooplankton densities did not change. Transparency in the lakes slightly decreased after P-reduction and is far too low for the development of any vegetation of submerged waterplants. The typical differences between both lakes remained after restoration measures. The inverse relationship between the concentrations of chlorophyll a and total phosphorus at the two sampled stations remained constant. The differences in phytoplankton composition and the zooplankton biomass give a plausible explanation for this inverse relationship, between the two stations. Restoring the lakes after four decades of P-loading can presumably, not simply be done by lowering the external P-load alone. Supplementary in-lake measures may accelerate the restoration process.     

The application of algal growth potential tests (AGP) to the canals and lakes of western Netherlands

Four hundred and forty bioassays with Scenedesmus quadricauda (Turp.) Bréb. as a test organism have been carried out with samples from canals and lakes in the western part of the Netherlands. The results are used to assess the algal growth potential (AGP) and to determine the limiting nutrient(s) for maximum biomass production. Special attention has been paid to the effects of deep-freezing and autoclaving as pretreatment of water samples on pH and nutrient concentrations.The AGP ranged from very low in the relatively isolated polder lakes to very high in canals and lakes, which form part of the basin system of Rijnland. The lowest yields are observed in nitrogen and phosphorus co-limited waters, while the highest are found in waters limited by nitrogen alone. AGP proved to be primarily determined by the amount of nitrogen, especially nitrate, in the samples and only secondarily by the amount of phosphorus.The observed ranges indicating phosphorus limitation, > 50 for inorganic and > 30 for total N/P ratios, lie considerably higher than reported so far. It is concluded that, once the relations between AGP and nutrients are established, AGP tests do not have to be carried out routinely, but still can be very useful in special studies, e.g. in lake restoration projects.