Gathering new knowledge from existing monitoring dataset of Campania marine coastal area (Southern Italy)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study we propose, a multi-step strategy of selection and characterization of long-term dataset of contaminant concentrations in different...     

Uptake and toxicity of Cr(III) in celery seedlings

The present study shows that in celery Cr(III) induces deleterious effects on seedling development and morphology, and a number of metabolic responses related to stress. Exogenous CrCl3 from 0.01 to 1 mM increasingly inhibited seed germination and hypocotyl elongation, or completely blocked it (10 mM), while the root apparatus was dramatically damaged even at the lowest dose. Seedlings took up exogenous Cr(III) in a dose-dependent manner, roots being the site of major metal accumulation; translocation towards the hypocotyl and cotyledonary leaves was also detected. Either total or chlorophyll a content was significantly reduced by chromium as low as 0.01 mM. A large accumulation of free and, to a lesser extent, conjugated polyamines occurred in all segments of treated plants. A dose-dependent relationship linking actual amounts of Cr(III) recovered in the entire seedling or organ and the respective polyamine titre was evidenced. Free putrescine, in particular, was the polyamine exhibiting the highest rate of increase, and cotyledonary leaves the organ where the major response occurred. A marked increase in ubiquitin-protein conjugates after Cr(III) treatment was also observed, particularly in roots. Thus, the study suggests for the first time a possible relationship between ubiquitination and Cr(III)-stress. The putative function of polyamines as a stress response, and the recruitment of the ubiquitin pathway to remove damaged or aberrant proteins which might have been produced in metal-treated seedlings are discussed.     

Fetal aortic root dilation: a prenatal feature of the Loeys-Dietz syndrome

Loeys-Dietz syndrome is a recently described autosomal dominant disorder with cardinal manifestations in cardiovascular, craniofacial and skeletal systems. Although the disease has some phenotypic overlap with Marfan syndrome, the disease, that is caused by mutations in the transforming growth factor beta-receptor 1 (TGFBR1) or transforming growth factor beta-receptor 2 (TGFBR2) genes, presents many distinctive features and a particularly aggressive cardiovascular course. We describe prenatal identification of an aortic root aneurysm in a fetus of 19 week of gestation as an early marker of Loeys-Dietz syndrome. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impacts of the deforestation driven by agribusiness on urban population and economic activity in the Dry Chaco of Argentina

Agriculture expansion oriented to global market has changed the relation between population and deforestation in South America. Actually, the population dynamic in an agricultural frontier turned into a consequence of deforestation (rather than the cause). For Dry Chaco of Argentina during the period 1991–2001, we explore the impacts of deforestation over urban population and employment dynamics in small- and medium-size urban centers. We used deforestation maps from remote sensing data and demographic information from the national census. We found a positive relation between population growth and deforestation. Additionally, urban centers in a context of new and active deforestation stages generate more jobs than in a context of advanced stages. Based on our results, we suggest a boom and bust pattern. Agriculture expansion and deforestation generate transient jobs and benefits, but in a long-run perspective, positive impacts are uncertain.     

A retrospective statistical review of deaths owing to migration through the southeasternmost land borders of the European Union,Greece 2000–14

The land borders of Evros, Greece, have been a common entry point for undocumented migrants on their way to Europe through Turkey. Adverse conditions, however, have resulted in many human casualties over the years. On the Greek side, 334 cadavers were retrieved between 2000 and 2014. This study provides a detailed forensic account of the humanitarian disaster in Evros to create an official scientific record of the situation. It showcases the gravity of the global issue of migration relating to health and mortality, and encourages communication and continual improvement of the approach and patterns of practices surrounding the subject. A retrospective statistical research review was conducted of border‐related fatalities between 2000 and 2014, assessing the age and gender of victims, the cause of death, the location of bodies, identification rates, and country of origin. Age ranged generally from 24 to 29 years, but infants and children were among the deceased.     

Agro-Biodiversity Conservation in Europe: Ethical Issues

While it is commonly acknowledged that the ecosystemic, and the inter- and intra-specific diversity of natural life is under threat of being irremediably lost, there is much less awareness that the diversity in agro-ecosystems is also under threat. This paper is focused on the biodiverse agro-ecosystems generated by landraces (LRs), i.e., farmer-developed populations of cultivated species that show among- and within-population diversity and are linked to traditional cultures. The aim of this work is to arouse concern about their loss, to explain how they can be conserved, and to discuss values that support maintaining and/or restoring on-farm agro-biodiversity. Although agriculture has relied on biodiverse agro-ecosystems for millennia, most of them have disappeared or are disappearing due to profound transformations in the socio-economic context. This is discussed with particular reference to the European situation. The positive values of LRs and LR systems that support their conservation are discussed along with possible objections. The conservation of LRs and LR systems can be well justified on ethical grounds. In particular, the complex intertwining of the biological and cultural contexts of LR systems, which continuously creates new adaptive responses to the changing socio-economic and eco-physical processes, is a value that strongly motivates conservation, particularly when the needs of future generations are considered.     

Chemometric data analysis application to Sparus aurata samples from two offshore farming plants along the Apulian (Italy) coastline

The levels of polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs), dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls (DL-PCBs), non-dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls (NDL-PCBs), and polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in fish collected from two marine offshore farming plants were determined. Each sample was constituted by specimens of the same size collected at the same time in four different seasons along the farming year. The feeds given were of industrial origin and the plants were positioned in two different sites respectively exposed to different environmental characteristics. A chemometric approach was applied to interpret the subtle differences observed in fish body burdens across the three chemical groups taken into consideration. The approach consisted in a stepwise multivariate process including a hierarchical cluster analysis (CA) and a linear discriminant analysis (DA). The two main clusters determined by CA were subjected to the canonical DA, backward and forward selection procedures to select the best discriminative functions. A clear temporal and spatial discrimination was found among the samples. Across the three chemical groups, the monthly separation seemed to depend on the growth process and the main exposure was due to the feed. In addition, the two plants differed significantly from the environmental point of view and the most important discriminating group of chemicals were the NDL-PCBs. The approach resulted really effective in discriminating the subtle differences and in individuating suggestions to improve the quality of culturing conditions.     

Biochemical modifications in Pinus pinaster Ait. as a result of environmental pollution

Exposure to chemical pollution can cause significant damage to plants by imposing conditions of oxidative stress. Plants combat oxidative stress by inducing antioxidant metabolites, enzymatic scavengers of activated oxygen and heat shock proteins. The accumulation of these proteins, in particular heat shock protein 70 and heme oxygenase, is correlated with the acquisition of thermal and chemical adaptations and protection against oxidative stress. In this study, we used Pinus pinaster Ait. collected in the areas of Priolo and Aci Castello representing sites with elevated pollution and reference conditions, respectively. The presence of heavy metals and the levels of markers of oxidative stress (lipid hydroperoxide levels, thiol groups, superoxide dismutase activity and expression of heat shock protein 70, heme oxygenase and superoxide dismutase) were evaluated, and we measured in field-collected needles the response to environmental pollution. P. pinaster Ait. collected from a site characterized by industrial pollution including heavy metals had elevated stress response as indicated by significantly elevated lipid hydroperoxide levels and decreased thiol groups. In particular, we observed that following a chronic chemical exposure, P. pinaster Ait. showed significantly increased expression of heat shock protein 70, heme oxygenase and superoxide dismutase. This increased expression may have protective effects against oxidative stress and represents an adaptative cellular defence mechanism. These results suggest that evaluation of heme oxygenase, heat shock protein 70 and superoxide dismutase expression in P. pinaster Ait. could represent a useful tool for monitoring environmental contamination of a region and to better understand mechanisms involved in plant defence and stress tolerance.     

Stereochemistry of LinB-catalyzed biotransformation of δ-HBCD to 1R,2R,5S,6R,9R,10S-pentabromocyclododecanol

The haloalkane dehalogenase LinB from Sphingobium indicum B90A converts β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), the most persistent HCH stereoisomer, to mono- and dihydroxylated metabolites. Recently, we reported that LinB also transforms α-, β- and γ-hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), which are structurally related to HCHs. Here, we show that LinB catalyzes the hydroxylation of δ-HBCD to two pentabromocyclododecanols (PBCDOHs) and two tetrabromocyclododecadiols (TBCDDOHs). The stereochemistry of this enzymatic transformation was deduced from XRD crystal structure data of the substrate δ-HBCD and α₂-PBCDOH, one of the biotransformation products. Five stereocenters of δ-HBCD are unchanged but the one at C6 is converted to an alcohol with inversion from S- to R-configuration in a nucleophilic, S_N2-like substitution reaction. Only α₂-PBCDOH with the 1R,2R,5S,6R,9R,10S-configuration is obtained but not its enantiomer. With only two of the 64 PBCDOHs formed, these transformations indeed are regio- and stereoselective. A conformational analysis revealed that the triple-turn motive, which is predominant in δ-HBCD and in several other HBCD stereoisomers, is also found in the product. This shows that LinB preferentially converted reactive bromine atoms but not those in the conserved triple-turn motive. The widespread contamination with HCHs triggered the bacterial evolution of dehalogenases which acquired the ability to convert these pollutants and their metabolites. We here demonstrate that LinB of S. indicum also transforms HBCDs regio- and stereoselectively following a similar mechanism.     

Both trivalent and hexavalent chromium strongly alter in vitro germination and ultrastructure of kiwifruit pollen

Due to its widespread industrial use, chromium is considered a dangerous environmental pollutant. It is known to inhibit plant growth and development. The present study provides the first evidence of the toxicity of this metal on the male haploid generation of a higher plant. Both Cr(III) and Cr(VI) species, supplied as CrCl(3) and CrO(3), respectively, exerted a strong dose-dependent inhibitory effect on kiwifruit pollen tube emergence and growth. Cr(III) resulted more effective than Cr(VI) in the 16-75microM interval; moreover, complete inhibition of germination was attained at much lower doses than Cr(VI). Also tube morphology was affected. While the plasma membrane was still undamaged in the large majority of the treated pollen grains, dramatic ultrastructural alterations were induced by chromium including chromatin condensation, swelling of mitochondria, cytoplasmic vacuolization, and perturbed arrangement of endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. Thus, it seems that the impact of the two chromium species on kiwifruit pollen may result in severe compromission of both essential structures and functions of the male gametophyte.