Phytoremediation of fuel oil and lead co-contaminated soil by Chromolaena odorata in association with Micrococcus luteus

Phytoremediation is widely promoted as a cost-effective technology for treating heavy metal and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) co-contaminated soil. This study investigated the concurrent removal of TPHs and Pb in co-contaminated soil (27,000 mg kg^?1 TPHs, 780 mg kg^?1 Pb) by growing Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) in a pot experiment for 90 days. There were four treatments: co-contaminated soil; co-contaminated soil with C. odorata only; co-contaminated soil with C. odorata and Micrococcus luteus inoculum; and co-contaminated soil with M. luteus only. C. odorata survived and grew well in the co-contaminated soil. C. odorata with M. luteus showed the highest Pb accumulation (513.7 mg kg^?1) and uptake (7.7 mg plant^?1), and the highest reduction percentage of TPHs (52.2%). The higher TPH degradation in vegetated soils indicated the interaction between the rhizosphere microorganisms and plants. The results suggested that C. odorata together with M. luteus and other rhizosphere microorganisms is a promising candidate for the removal of Pb and TPHs in co-contaminated soils.     

Availability and toxicity of cadmium to forage grasses grown in contaminated soil

It is important to know the mechanisms for forage development, especially those related to the tolerance of potentially toxic elements, when considering their use in phytoremediation in heavy metal contaminated areas. In this study, we evaluated plant growth, concentration, and the availability of cadmium (Cd) for forage grasses (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Aruana and cv. Tanzânia; Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk; Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés and cv. Marandu) cultivated in Cd contaminated soils. The experiments were performed under greenhouse conditions over a 90-day evaluation period, and the Cd rates were 2, 4, and 12 mg/kg of soil. The relative growth rate of the forage grasses decreased as Cd rates increased, and the following descending order of susceptibility was observed: Marandu > Xaraés > Aruana > Tanzânia > Basilisk, with regard to phytotoxicity in these plants. The forage Cd concentration increased in line with increases in the Cd rates. Cd contents extracted by Mehlich-1 and by diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid presented high positive correlation with forage relative growth. The forage plants did not block Cd entry into the food chain because they were not capable of limiting Cd absorption.     

阴式全子宫切除术和腹腔镜下全子宫切除术的临床对比分析

目的:比较阴式全子宫切除术与腹腔镜下全子宫切除术的临床治疗效果。方法:回顾性分析2014年6月-2015年6月我院收治的137例子宫良性病变患者的临床病历资料,按照手术方式将其分为阴式组(行阴式全子宫切除术)和腹腔镜组(行腹腔镜下全子宫切除术),比较两组患者的术中、术后临床指标及术后并发症情况。结果:阴式组手术时间及术中出血量均少于腹腔镜组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。阴式组肛门排气时间、下床活动时间以及住院时间均短于腹腔镜组,住院总费用低于腹腔镜组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者并发症发生情况差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:阴式全子宫切除术较腹腔镜下全子宫切除术而言,具有手术创伤小、术后恢复快的特点,值得临床推广。     

Early stage of cytomegalovirus infection suppresses host microRNA expression regulation in human fibroblasts

Responses to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection are largely individual and cell type specific. We investigated molecular profiles in 2 primary cell cultures of human fibroblasts, which are highly or marginally sensitive to HCMV infection, respectively. We screened expression of genes and microRNAs (miRs) at the early (3 hours) stage of infection. To assess molecular pathway activation profiles, we applied bioinformatic algorithms OncoFinder and MiRImpact. In both cell types, pathway regulation properties at mRNA and miR levels were markedly different. Surprisingly, in the infected highly sensitive cells, we observed a “freeze” of miR expression profiles compared to uninfected controls. Our results evidence that in the sensitive cells, HCMV blocks intracellular regulation of microRNA expression already at the earliest stage of infection. These data suggest somewhat new functions for HCMV products and demonstrate dependence of miR expression arrest on the host-encoded factors.     

Feeding ecology of mackerel and dietary overlap with herring in Icelandic waters

The Northeast Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) has been extending its summer feeding distribution north and west, including around Iceland, since around 2006. The objective of this study is to quantify the weight gain and total food consumption of mackerel and to evaluate the food competition between mackerel and herring (Clupea harengus) feeding in the marine ecosystem around Iceland during the summers 2009–2011. Mackerel feeding in Icelandic waters gained around 43% on average in weight during these summers. Based on swept-area abundance estimates of mackerel from an international survey in 2011 and available estimates of food conversion efficiency in mackerel, the weight gain in Icelandic waters in 2011 corresponded to a total consumption of around 3.4 (2.4?4.5) million tonnes. Overall, 98% of 2314 mackerel, 91% of 398 Icelandic summer-spawning herring and 96% of 424 Norwegian spring-spawning herring stomachs, collected over the summers 2009?2011, contained food. The mean weight of the stomach content of mackerel was higher than for herring in all the years. While the stomach content weight of mackerel was generally highest in southeastern and southwestern areas, it was highest for herring in western, eastern and northern areas. Analysis of stomach contents showed that Copepoda were the most important food of mackerel in most areas, while Copepoda and Euphausiacea were the most important food items for herring. Fish prey contributed a higher proportion in stomachs of mackerel than herring, although relatively low for both species.     

Synthesis of the (9R,13R)-isomer of LDS1, a flower-inducing oxylipin isolated from Lemna paucicostata

The first synthesis of the (9R,13R)-stereoisomer of LDS1, a flower-inducing oxylipin isolated from Lemna paucicostata, has been achieved from a known allylic alcohol by a seven-step sequence that involves the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons olefination to construct its full carbon framework and an enzymatic hydrolysis of a penultimate methyl ester intermediate to provide the target molecule.     

Development and validation of a weight-bearing finite element model for total knee replacement

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a successful procedure for osteoarthritis. However, some patients (19%) do have pain after surgery. A finite element model was developed based on boundary conditions of a knee rig. A 3D-model of an anatomical full leg was generated from magnetic resonance image data and a total knee prosthesis was implanted without patella resurfacing. In the finite element model, a restarting procedure was programmed in order to hold the ground reaction force constant with an adapted quadriceps muscle force during a squat from 20° to 105° of flexion. Knee rig experimental data were used to validate the numerical model in the patellofemoral and femorotibial joint. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses of Young’s modulus of the patella cartilage, posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) stiffness, and patella tendon origin were performed. Pearson’s correlations for retropatellar contact area, pressure, patella flexion, and femorotibial ap-movement were near to 1. Lowest root mean square error for retropatellar pressure, patella flexion, and femorotibial ap-movement were found for the baseline model setup with Young’s modulus of 5 MPa for patella cartilage, a downscaled PCL stiffness of 25% compared to the literature given value and an anatomical origin of the patella tendon. The results of the conducted finite element model are comparable with the experimental results. Therefore, the finite element model developed in this study can be used for further clinical investigations and will help to better understand the clinical aspects after TKA with an unresurfaced patella.     

The influence of carbon dioxide-induced water acidification on the osmotic and metabolic responses of the Baltic amphipod Gammarus oceanicus

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CO₂-induced water acidification (pH values: 8.1 ? control, 7.5 and 7.0) on the hemolymph osmolality and total metabolic rate of amphipod Gammarus oceanicus under short-term exposure. The hemolymph osmolality was measured using a vapor pressure osmometer. The metabolic rate was determined based on the heat dissipation measurements using a Calvet-type isothermal twin calorimeter. The hemolymph osmolality remained unchanged after exposure to pH 7.5 and it increased in the lowest treatment. Acidification did not significantly affect the resting or active metabolic rate. The observed results indicate that high osmolality maintained during hypercapnia did not generate additional physiological costs. It may therefore be concluded that the studied species is preadapted for this factor. The long-term adaptation to hypoosmotic conditions in the brackish Baltic Sea might also have preadapted it to hypercapnia because similar physiological mechanisms are responsible for the resistance to both factors.     

真菌联合稀碱预处理杜仲叶提取杜仲胶的工艺研究

以杜仲干叶为原料,经稀碱和绿色木霉联合处理以除去杜仲表面覆盖的角质层,同时洗脱一些可溶性杂质,并且破坏杜仲叶的细胞壁与纤维结构,再以石油醚作为提取溶剂,得到粗胶再经丙酮浸洗获得杜仲精胶。用0.45%NaOH在75℃下除去杜仲叶表面的角质层,并且同时脱除一些可溶性活性成分(如:多糖、黄酮类、京尼平苷等),之后得杜仲叶干燥,利用绿色木霉去破坏杜仲叶的细胞壁与纤维结构,在85℃条件下以石油醚作为提取溶剂提取杜仲胶。最后,经测得未处理前杜仲叶中的杜仲胶的含量为1.78%,0.45%NaOH稀碱预处理后含量为3.16%,绿色木霉发酵后含量为4.36%。预处理前,有机溶剂一次提取率为0.73%,纯度为83.7%。稀碱与真菌联合预处理后一次提取率为2.85%,纯度为96.6%。本工艺以稀碱与绿色木霉共同作用,减少了有机溶剂的用量,与传统工艺相比,更加的绿色环保,安全有效,为杜仲胶的提取提供了科学有效的依据。     

Polyphenols of Leaf,Litter and Soil of Pinus bungeana across China and Their Responses to Ecological Factors

The importance of phenolic compounds for responding to various environmental conditions has been widely emphasized. However, the role of interactions between polyphenols and ecological factors, especially C, N, and P stoichiometry was little studied. Here, 15 sites across five provinces of Pinus bungeana in temperate regions of China were studied. The results showed that the higher values of total phenolic contents (TPC) of leaf and litter were distributed among the north distribution area of P. bungeana, lower values were in the south, whereas soil TPC were contrary to leaf and litter TPC. The stepwise regression, path analysis and decision index of path analysis for leaf TPC and ecological factors showed that altitude had the most direct impact on leaf TPC. Moreover, the principal determinants of leaf, litter and soil TPC were soil C/P ratios, longitude, and soil N/P ratios, respectively. In addition, the leaf, litter and soil TPC of P. bungeana were limited by soil C/N ratios, mean annual temperature, and soil P, respectively. Overall, our study provided evidence that ecological factors affected strongly the leaf, litter and soil TPC of P. bungeana.