Effect of prochloraz fungicide on biotransformation enzymes and oxidative stress parameters in three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.)

The aim of this study was to characterize biomarker responses in three-spined sticklebacks exposed to prochloraz (Pcz). For this purpose, adult sticklebacks were exposed for 2 weeks to prochloraz at 0, 10, 50, 100 and 500 μg/L prior to one week of depuration in clean water. At days 7, 14 and 21, several hepatic biomarkers were measured including 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), total glutathione (GSH) content and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Pcz induced a transient increase of antioxidant enzymes and a depletion of glutathione content during the first 7 days of exposure. This study showed that EROD activity and antioxidants were disrupted in a transient manner. GST was rapidly induced in a dose-dependent manner and this induction was persistent and observed also after depuration. GST appeared as a valuable biomarker to assess the exposure to Pcz.     

Corynebacterium glutamicum as an indicator for environmental cobalt and silver stress–A proteome analysis

Cobalt and silver are toxic for cells, but mechanisms of this toxicity are largely unknown. Analysis of Corynebacterium glutamicum proteome from cells grown in control and cobalt or silver enriched media was performed by two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) followed by mass spectrometry. Our results indicate that the cell adapted to cobalt stress by inducing five defense mechanisms: Scavenging of free radicals, promotion of the generation of energy, reparation of DNA, reparation and biogenesis of Fe-S cluster proteins and supporting and reparation of cell wall. In response to the detoxification of Ag⁺ many proteins were up-regulated, which involved reparation of damaged DNA, minimizing the toxic effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and energy generation. Overexpression of proteins involved in cell wall biosynthesis (1,4-alpha-glucan branching enzyme and nucleoside-diphosphate-sugar epimerase) upon cobalt stress and induction of proteins involved in energy metabolism (2-methylcitrate dehydratase and 1, 2-methylcitrate synthase) upon silver demonstrate the potential of these enzymes as biomarkers of sub-lethal Ag⁺ and Co toxicity.     

Oxidative stress and biochemical perturbations induced by insecticides mixture in rat testes

The joint action of pyrethroids, lambda-cyhalothrin (LC) in combination with organophosphates, fenitrothione (FNT) on antioxidant defense system and lipid peroxidation biomarkers in rat testes was studied. The results suggest that incubation of testes homogenate with different concentrations of insecticide mixture for different time intervals significantly decreased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, like glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and the level of reduced glutathione (GSH). In addition, a significant inhibition in transaminases (AST, ALT), phosphatases (AcP, AlP) activity and protein content were observed. On the other hand, FNT plus LC increased the cellular lipid peroxidation (LPO) level and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). In conclusion, the use of insecticides mixture might cause marked oxidative damage in a concentration and time-dependent manner.     

Oxidative stress,hematological and biochemical alterations in farmers exposed to pesticides

In this study, a cohort of farmers from the Mateur region in the North of Tunisia, were interviewed and examined for the biochemical effects of pesticides. We studied their haematological profile, lipid parameters, serum markers of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. We also evaluated the activities of Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and thiolactonase-paroxonase (PON). Moreover, lipid peroxidation and activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were determined. The duration of pesticide use and the farmers’ age were considered in the analysis. Our results revealed significant differences in some haematological parameters, in liver and kidney functions, in the lipidic status of the pesticide-exposed group. We also reported an increase in the index of incidence of cardiovascular risk in farmer populations. A significant decrease in AChE, BChE and PON levels was found among farmers. Lipid peroxidation, however, increased. The activities of SOD and CAT were remarkably elevated in farmer populations. There was a significant relation between changes in biological markers, the duration of pesticide use and the farmers’ age. This study indicates that a long-term exposure to pesticides may play an important role in the development of vascular diseases via metabolic disorders of lipoproteins, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, inhibition of BChE and decrease in thiolactonase-PON levels.     

对普光气田油菜的二氧化硫熏气实验

为探讨普光气田废气对周围农作物的影响和生物监测方法,选择气田周边油菜作为受试样本,对其进行二氧化硫现场熏气实验。结果表明,油菜在受到1.43 mg/m3浓度、3小时二氧化硫熏气后,植株耐受,不产生明显受害症状;叶片含硫量、MDA含量、可溶性蛋白含量等指标的测定结果与二氧化硫熏气浓度、熏气时间存在显著的相关关系。     

单体米黄大理石矿粉对小麦产量及各器官重金属含量的影响

采用盆栽法,研究大理石矿粉对小麦产量及对成熟期小麦根、茎叶、果实中重金属含量的影响。结果表明:添加大理石矿粉会显著影响小麦的生长及产量(P<0.05),添加矿粉的量不大于60g/kg时,小麦的结实小穗数、穗粒数、千粒重和产量随添加量的增加而增加,而含量再继续增大时,对小麦产量的促进作用将减弱;低含量的大理石矿粉能缓解Pb、Cu、Zn对小麦的毒害,而高含量的对小麦的影响各异,小麦各器官中重金属Cd、Cr与添加大理石矿粉含量呈显著正相关;重金属对小麦各器官的影响排序,根:Cd>Cr>Pb>Cu>Zn,茎叶:Cd>Cr>Cu>Pb>Zn,果实:Cd>Cr>Pb>Zn>Cu。在大理石开采区应该采取一定的措施,避免大量的大理石矿粉散入周围的耕地。     

干旱胁迫下壳聚糖对花生幼苗生理特性的影响

为了研究壳聚糖对花生幼苗抗旱言的影响,以花生品种“花育23号”为材料,在干旱胁迫下,用不同浓度的壳聚糖溶雍处理花生幼苗,连续处理5d后测定叶绿素、可溶性蛋白、MDA和脯氨酸的含量变化。结果表明,花生幼苗在干旱条件下喷施壳聚糖与蒸馏水相比,在干旱第10天叶绿素含量提高了42．2％,MDA含量降低了36．2％;在干旱第6天,可溶性蛋白含量提高了129．0％;在干旱第8天,脯氨酸含量提高了257．0％。喷施壳聚糖溶液的最适宜浓度为0．10g／L,喷施该浓度壳聚糖可促进植物生长,增强抗旱性。     

如何确定高加速寿命试验的应力极限

气锤驱动的高加速寿命试验,主要目的是确定试验样品的应力极限(包括工作极限和破坏极限),并通过改进试验所暴露的缺陷,按预期目标拓宽产品的应力极限。本文对一些应力极限的名词术语作了解释性说明,并具体论述了如何确定应力极限及快速温变循环试验的高低温温度极值。     

Seawater Intrusion and Sustainable Yield of Basal Aquifers1

Liu, Clark C.K. and John J. Dai, 2012. Seawater Intrusion and Sustainable Yield of Basal Aquifers. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(5): 861‐870. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2012.00659.x Abstract: Basal aquifers, in which freshwater floats on top of saltwater, are the major freshwater supply for the Hawaiian Islands, as well as many other coastal regions around the world. Under unexploited or natural conditions, freshwater and the underlying seawater are separated by a relatively sharp interface located below mean sea level at a depth of about 40 times the hydraulic head. With forced draft, the hydraulic head of a basal aquifer would decline and the sharp interface would move up. It is a serious problem of seawater intrusion as huge amounts of freshwater storage is replaced by saltwater. Also, with forced draft, the sharp interface is replaced by a transition zone in which the salinity increases downward from freshwater to saltwater. As pumping continues, the transition zone expands. The desirable source‐water salinity in Hawaii is about 2% of the seawater salinity. Therefore, the transition zone expansion is another serious problem of seawater intrusion. In this study, a robust analytical groundwater flow and salinity transport model (RAM2) was developed. RAM2 has a simple mathematical structure and its model parameters can be determined satisfactorily with the available field monitoring data. The usefulness of RAM2 as a viable management tool for coastal ground water management is demonstrated by applying it to determine the sustainable yield of the Pearl Harbor aquifer, a principal water supply source in Hawaii.     

Cornmeal-induced resistance to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin in enterococci

Triclosan is used as an antibacterial agent in household items and personal care products. Since this compound is found in maternal milk of humans and bodies of wild animals, there is growing concern among some consumer groups and scientific community that triclosan is adverse for humans and wild animals. In order to estimate adverse actions of triclosan, the effects of triclosan on intracellular Zn²⁺ concentration and cellular thiol content were studied in rat thymocytes by the use of flow cytometer with appropriate fluorescent probes. Triclosan at 1-3 μM (sublethal concentrations) increased the intensity of FluoZin-3 fluorescence (intracellular Zn²⁺ concentration) and decreased the intensity of 5-chloromethylfluorescein (5-CMF) fluorescence (cellular thiol content). Negative correlation (r = −0.985) between triclosan-induced changes in FluoZin-3 and 5-CMF fluorescences was found. Removal of external Zn²⁺ did not significantly affect the triclosan-induced augmentation of FluoZin-3 fluorescence, suggesting an intracellular Zn²⁺ release by triclosan. These actions of triclosan were similar to those of H₂O₂ and triclosan significantly potentiated the cytotoxicity of H₂O₂. Therefore, the results may suggest that triclosan at sublethal concentrations induces oxidative stress that decreases cellular thiol content, resulting in an increase in intracellular Zn²⁺ concentration by Zn²⁺ release from intracellular store(s). Since recent studies show many physiological roles of intracellular Zn²⁺ in cellular functions, the triclosan-induced disturbance of cellular Zn²⁺ homeostasis may induce adverse actions on the cells.