Ficus tikoua (F. tikoua) was a potential species for antimony (Sb) phytoremediation due to its wide growth in the mining area. However, little was known about its tolerance mechanisms toward Sb. The ...determination of the distribution and chemical speciation of Sb in F. tikoua is essential for understanding the mechanisms involved in Sb accumulation, transportation, and detoxification. The present study investigated the subcellular distribution and chemical forms of Sb in F. tikoua. The plant was exposed to different Sb concentrations (0, 30, 90, and 180 μmol/L) for 30 days. The results showed that F. tikoua possessed a marked ability to tolerate and accumulate Sb. The proportional Sb increased with increasing Sb concentration in the solution, and the highest Sb concentration occurred in roots (1274.5-1580.9 mg/kg), followed by stems (133.5-498.9 mg/kg) and leaves (4.1-15.7 mg/kg). In the subcellular sequestration of Sb in F. tikoua, the largest accumulation of Sb occurred in cell walls (72.4-87.5%) followed by cytoplasmic organelles (8.2-18.6%) and cytoplasmic supernatant. The results suggested that cell walls act as important protective barriers against Sb toxicity in F. tikoua. Although Sb in all plant tissues found primarily in the fractions extracted by ethanol and distilled water, the current study found that the Sb amounts in the HAc-extractable fraction, HCl-extractable fraction, and residue fraction increased at the highest Sb level (180 μmol/L) compared to that under lower Sb levels. These results indicate that excessive Sb accumulated in F. tikoua under Sb stress is bound to non-dissolved or low-bioavailable compounds, a biochemical mechanism that benefits F. tikoua because it helps alleviate Sb toxicity.
Excitation-inhibition (E-I) imbalance is considered a hallmark of various neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia and autism. How genetic risk factors disrupt coordinated glutamatergic ...and GABAergic synapse formation to cause an E-I imbalance is not well understood. Here, we show that knockdown of Disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), a risk gene for major mental disorders, leads to E-I imbalance in mature dentate granule neurons. We found that excessive GABAergic inputs from parvalbumin-, but not somatostatin-, expressing interneurons enhance the formation of both glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses in immature mutant neurons. Following the switch in GABAergic signaling polarity from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing during neuronal maturation, heightened inhibition from excessive parvalbumin+ GABAergic inputs causes loss of excitatory glutamatergic synapses in mature mutant neurons, resulting in an E-I imbalance. Our findings provide insights into the developmental role of depolarizing GABA in establishing E-I balance and how it can be influenced by genetic risk factors for mental disorders.
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•Interaction between DISC1 deficiency and depolarizing GABA leads to E-I imbalance•PV+ interneurons coordinate glutamatergic and GABAergic synapse formation•Polarity switch of GABA action plays a pivotal role in developing E-I imbalance
Kang et al. uncover a circuit-level homeostatic mechanism coordinating glutamatergic and GABAergic synapse formation during neuronal maturation and reveal how excitation-inhibition imbalance develops due to a genetic insult.
Abstract
Canola (
Brassica napus
L) is currently one of the most significant oily seeds. It has a variety of nutrients, and its oil is safe for people to ingest as well as medicinal properties that ...help to relieve the symptoms of a variety of disorders. Soil salinity is one of the major issues of decreasing canola crop productivity that correlated with declines in the photosynthetic potential, since salt levels that are damaging to crop growth affect large terrestrial regions around the world are seriously impaired by soil salinity this research focused on the capability of canola seeds to grow under saline environment before and after gamma irradiation. Also, the most recent study intended to employ nano-fertilizer in Iraq and characterize its influence on the chemical makeup of canola seeds. Simple technique employed as a tissue culture using ground water with different EC. Seeds treated by two gamma irradiation dose and grown over cotton irrigated with salty water. Field experiment was carried out in Al-zafraniya station in Baghdad, Iraq, to investigate the effect of khazra iron nano chelate fertilizer foliar application on one rapeseed variety for increasing yield and yield components. The native local variety pactol was more reliable than olifera var at germination rate, plant high, number of leave and root. Irradiation negatively affects the biological parameter of Canola seeds with capablity to germinate and developed. Percentage of fatty acids significantly differed between fertilizer treatments. The myristic (C14:0) ranged from 0.1±0.012 to 0.14±0.011, Palmitic (16:0) from 3.6±0.024 to 3.91±0.029, 3.91±0.029 from 1.5±0.11 to 1.7±0.012, Arachidic (20:0) from 0.6±0.038 to 0.84±0.065, Behenic (22:0) range from 0.3±0.0028 to 0.41±0.032, Lignoceric (24:0) from 0.2±0.012 to 0.27±0.018, Palmitoleic (16:1) from 0.2±0.010 to 0.26±0.0021, Oleic (18:1) from 61.6±5.78 to 67.8±5.91, 67.8±5.91 from 1.4±0.13 to 1.64±0.15, Erucic (22:1) from 0.2±0.014 to 0.23±0.019, Linoleic (18:2n-6) from 21.7±3.1 to 23.4±3.7, Alpha Linolenic (18:3n3) from 9.6±0.87 to 10.1±2.8, Total Saturated from 6.3±5.4 to 6.8±4.9, Total MUFA was in the rangier from 62.4±7.1 to 64.5±7.1 and Total PUFA range from 31.3±4.1 to 37.4±5.1 for conventional canola and nano canola oils respectively.
In view of increasing emissions of antimony (Sb) into the environment due to industrialization and consequent carcinogenicity, it is essential to remove this metal from the ecosystem. Antimony and ...arsenic (As) are analogs. Although numerous studies examined arsenic removal, few reports are available on Sb removal. In this review, various Sb removal techniques are described to understand how this process occurs and what research gaps are needed to improve efficiency. At present, surface adsorption technique is the most widely used for Sb removal. Biological treatment namely phytoremediation is also a promising method and more investigations are required in this regard. The selection of a suitable technique for a given area depends on the conditions including economic, environmental, and social conditions.
The efficiency of non-conventional, least cost organic wastes (OWs), for chromium adsorption, was investigated through batch experiment. Organic wastes (OWs) such as, pine bark (PB), garden peat ...(GP), fresh ash (FA), coconut shell (CS) and coconut fiber (CF), compared with the blank (control), were used as filter beds for chromium Cr(VI) adsorption. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models for Cr(VI) adsorption by OWs, were analyzed. Statistically, highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) differences in Cr(VI) adsorption by OWs were revealed. The efficiency of adsorbents was in the order of PB > GP > FA > CS > CF. Amongst all, the highest adsorption was by pine bark (98%) followed by garden peat (96%). For highest accuracy of Cr(VI) analysis, by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS), and a step towards energy and economy conservation, the flame composition of agitation gas (ethylene gas (C2H2)) of FAAS, was evaluated for optimization. Calculation of ethylene consumption serving as additional fuel, in Cr(VI) determination per treatment, revealed that at higher flow rates, C2H2 had no impact on Cr(VI) determination. Thus, to avoid and terminate the effect and wastage of C2H2, the flame composition of agitation gas was recommended to be optimized.
Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is an important yield limiting factor for sunflower production. The correlation between yield components and growth parameters of three sunflower hybrids (Hysun-33, Hysun-38, ...Pioneer-64A93) were studied with five N rates (0, 60, 120, 180, 240 kg ha⁻¹) at three different experimental sites during the two consecutive growing seasons 2008 and 2009. The results revealed that total dry matter (TDM) production and grain yield were positively and linearly associated with leaf area index (LAI), leaf area duration (LAD), and crop growth rate (CGR) at all three sites of the experiments. The significant association of yield with growth components indicated that the humid climate was most suitable for sunflower production. Furthermore, the association of these components can be successfully used to predict the grain yield under diverse climatic conditions. The application of N at increased rate of 180 kg ha⁻¹ resulted in maximum yield as compared to standard rate (120 kg ha⁻¹) at all the experimental sites. In this way, N application rate was significantly correlated with growth and development of sunflower under a variety of climatic conditions. Keeping in view such relationship, the N dose can be optimized for sunflower crop in a particular region to maximize the productivity. Multilocation trails help to predict the input rates precisely while taking climatic variations into account also. In the long run, results of this study provides basis for sustainable sunflower production under changing climate.
The aims of this study were to determine the presence and distribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) in dentigerous cysts ...compared with normal dental follicles as a control tissue and to evaluate endothelial cells and proliferating cells as indicators of angiogenic activity in these tissues. Twenty specimens histologically diagnosed as dentigerous cysts and 20 dental follicle specimens were included. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) using anti-VEGF and anti-VEGFR2 antibodies stained for the growth factor and its receptor, while anti-CD34 and anti-CD146 antibodies were used to identify endothelial cells. Anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibody detected proliferating cells within the specimens. Slides were examined microscopically and results evaluated using kappa statistics, negative binomial regression and ordinal logistic regression. The mean age for patients with dentigerous cysts was 23 years and they were more common in males. Proteins for VEGF, VEGFR2, PCNA, CD34, and CD146 were expressed in all dentigerous cysts and dental follicles. VEGF and VEGFR2 were expressed on several cell types within the tissues, however there was a significantly greater percentage of positive staining in dentigerous cysts compared with dental follicles (odds ratio= 31.24, p<0.001). CD34+, CD146+, and PCNA+ cells were observed in both dentigerous cysts and dental follicles but for all markers there were significantly more positive cells in dentigerous cysts (p<0.001); this was especially evident in cases associated with inflammation. PCNA was seen in most endothelial cells lining small thin walled blood vessels suggesting endothelial proliferation. There was a high level of intra- and inter-examiner agreement (kappa 0.77 and 0.75, respectively). VEGF and VEGFR2 and angiogenic activity are present in dental follicles and dentigerous cysts and may contribute to local bone resorption for tooth eruption or the development and progression of dentigerous cysts.
Atrial fibrillation is a common, clinically significant arrhythmic disorder that results in increased risk of morbidity and mortality in affected patients. Atrial fibrillation is more prevalent among ...men compared with women and the risk for developing atrial fibrillation increases with advancing age. Ischaemic stroke is the most common clinical manifestation of embolic events from atrial fibrillation. While anticoagulation treatment is the preferred treatment, unfortunately, many patients have contraindications for anticoagulation treatment making this option unavailable to them. Previous data have shown that most thrombi that form in association with non-valvular atrial fibrillation occur in the left atrial appendage (LAA). It has been suggested that isolating the LAA from the body of the left atrium might reduce the risk of embolic events and that LAA obliteration may be a treatment option for patients with atrial fibrillation who are not candidates for anticoagulation treatment. Several procedures have been developed for isolation of the LAA, including surgical procedures as well as catheter-based ones. In this paper, we will review the currently available techniques, emphasizing the catheter-based ones. We will examine the increasing role of real-time three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography for appropriate screening and patient selection for these procedures, intra-procedural guidance, and follow-up care.
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