Microcystin-LR inhibited hippocampal long-term potential via regulation of the glycogen synthase kinase-3β pathway

We previously demonstrated that Cyanobacteria-derived microcystin-LR (MCLR) is able to induce cognitive dysfunction, but the mechanism is not understood. Long-term potential (LTP) in hippocampus is regarded as an important cellular mechanism of learning and memory. Here, the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of MCLR in LTP of hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) by in vivo electrophysiological recording. We found that MCLR could suppress the induction of LTP in rat hippocampus, whereas simultaneous inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) by LiCl or SB216763 attenuated the LTP impairments by MCLR. Furthermore, a decrease of the phosphorylated level at Ser9 of GSK-3β was observed by western blotting after intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of MCLR, indicating GSK-3β was activated by MCLR. In addition, we showed that ICV administration of MCLR slightly stimulated activity of protein phosphatases (PPs) in the brain, which might activate GSK-3β via dephosphorylation of Ser9 site. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that GSK-3β plays a crucial role in regulating MCLR-induced cognitive deficit.     

Microbial degradation of 17β -estradiol and 17α -ethinylestradiol followed by a validated HPLC-DAD method

This work aimed at studying the biodegradation of two estrogens, 17α -estradiol (E2) and 17β -ethinylestradiol (EE2), and their potential metabolism to estrone (E1) by microbial consortia. The biodegradation studies were followed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Diode Array Detector (HPLC–DAD) using a specifically developed and validated method. Biodegradation studies of the estrogens (E2 and EE2) were carried out with activated sludge (consortium A, CA) obtained from a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and with a microbial consortium able to degrade recalcitrant compounds, namely fluorobenzene (consortium B, CB). E2 was more extensively degraded than EE2 by CA whereas CB was only able to degrade E2. The addition of acetate as a supplementary carbon source led to a faster biodegradation of E2 and EE2. E1 was detected as a metabolite only during the degradation of E2. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses of strains recovered from the degrading cultures revealed the presence of the genera Pseudomonas, Chryseobacterium and Alcaligenes. The genera Pseudomonas and Chryseobacterium were retrieved from cultures supplied with E2 and EE2, while the genus Alcaligenes was found in the presence of E2, suggesting that they might be involved in the degradation of these compounds.     

Comparison of biochemical characteristics between PAO and DPAO sludges

A successful enhanced biological phosphorus removal(EBPR) was observed in both anaerobicaerobic sequencing batch reactor(An-Ox SBR) to induce growth of phosphorus accumulating organism(PAO) and anaerobic-anoxic(An-Ax) SBR to induce growth of denitrifying PAO(DPAO).Although the EBPR performance of An-Ox SBR was higher by 11.3% than that of An-Ax SBR,specific phosphorus release rates in the An-Ax SBR(22.8 ± 3.5 mg P/(g VSS·hr)) and the An-Ox SBR(22.4 ± 4.8 mg P/(g VSS·hr)) were similar. Specific phosphorus uptake rates under anoxic and aerobic conditions were 26.3 ± 4.8 mg P/(g VSS·hr)(An-Ax SBR) and 25.6 ± 2.8 mg P/(g VSS·hr)(An-Ox SBR), respectively, which were also similar. In addition, an analysis of relationship of poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates(PHA) synthesized under anaerobic conditions with phosphorous release(Preleased/PHAsynthesized) and of PHA utilized under anoxic and aerobic conditions with phosphorous uptake(Puptaked/PHAutilized) verified that biological activities of EBPR per unit biomass between DPAO and PAO were similar. An analysis of the specific denitrification rate of DPAO showed that NO-3-N can be denitrified at a rate that does not substantially differ from that of an ordinary denitrifier without additional consumption of organic carbon when the PHA stored inside the cell under anaerobic conditions is sufficiently secured.     

用于磷吸附的载铁（β-FeOOH）沸石制备及特性

以天然沸石为载体,采用FeCl3水解法制备用于磷吸附的载铁沸石（β-FeOOH-Z）,优化β-FeOOH-Z的制备条件,包括FeCl,溶液浓度、负载pH值、负载时间、负载温度和烘干温度,并利用x射线衍射（XRD）和傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）对β-FeOOH-Z及其磷吸附特性进行分析。结果表明,β-FeOOH-Z的优化制备条件为：FeCl3溶液浓度1mol／L、负载pH值6、负载时间24h、负载温度25℃和烘干温度60℃。优化制备条件下,100-120目沸石的载铁量为100．2mg／g,铁的负载率为18％,其磷吸附量为7．68mg／g,比天然沸石提高79．6％。XRD分析结果表明,β-FeOOH-Z中的杂质元素较天然沸石减少,并有效负载β-FeOOH;制备条件对β-FeOOH-Z的成分有较大影响,FeCl,溶液浓度较低、负载温度和烘干温度过高均使β-FeOOH-Z中含有α-Fe2O3,并导致其磷吸附效率降低。FTIR分析结果表明,β-FeOOH-Z的表面羟基在其吸附磷过程中起重要作用,羟基与磷酸根离子的配位交换是β-FeOOH-Z吸附磷的主要作用机制。     

集约化养猪废水SBR中17β-雌二醇高效降解菌的分离鉴定及其降解特性

从集约化养猪废水生物处理SBR的活性污泥中分离到3株高效降解17β-雌二醇(E2)的菌株,分别命名为ha、chs和hc。研究表明,这3株菌以E2为惟一碳源,在4 d内对初始浓度为1 mg/L E2的降解率为70%～95%。25℃条件下菌ha、chs和hc的一级反应动力学常数分别为0.0086、0.072和0.013。在温度为37℃时,3株菌的降解效率最高,在高浓度的氨氮和碱性pH的条件下,这3株菌均存在降解作用。其中,pH 9.05时,一级动力学常数菌ha降至0.0066,菌chs升至0.076,菌hc降至0.012。同时,在添加C源后,对降解有促进作用,并且C/N比在15∶1时降解效果较好。3株菌的一级反应动力学常数分别升到0.027、0.73和0.021。经16S rRNA基因序列分析鉴定为枯草芽孢肝菌(Bacillus subtilis)。     

Estimation of β-cyfluthrin and imidacloprid in okra fruits and soil by chromatography techniques

Dissipation of β-cyfluthrin and imidacloprid in okra was studied following three applications of a combination formulation of Solomon 300 OD (β-cyfluthrin 9 % + imidacloprid 21 %) @ 60 and 120 g a.i. ha^?1 at 7 days interval. Residues of β-cyfluthrin and imidacloprid in okra were estimated by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. Residues of β-cyfluthrin were confirmed by gas chromatograph–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and that of imidacloprid by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). Half-life periods for β-cyfluthrin were found to be 0.91 and 0.68 days whereas for imidacloprid these values were observed to be 0.85 and 0.96 days at single and double the application rates, respectively. Residues of β-cyfluthrin dissipated below its limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.01 mg kg^?1 after 3 and 5 days at single and double the application dosage, respectively. Similarly, residues of imidacloprid took 5 and 7 days to reach LOQ of 0.01 mg kg^?1, at single and double dosages respectively. Soil samples collected after 15 days of the last application did not show the presence of β-cyfluthrin and imidacloprid at their detection limit of 0.01 mg kg^?1.     

Host-guest complexes of phenoxy alkyl acid herbicides and cyclodextrins. MCPA and β-cyclodextrin

The chlorophenoxy herbicide MCPA (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid), widely used for the control of broad-leaf weeds primarily in cereal and grass seed crops, still remains one of the most often used herbicides in Portugal. As the formation of inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins can improve its solubility properties, the interaction between the herbicide MCPA and β-cyclodextrin was investigated. The stability constants describing the extent of formation of the complexes have been determined by phase-solubility studies. Different analytical techniques [ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR)] were employed for a thorough investigation of the structural characteristics of the obtained complexes, which exhibited distinct features and properties from both “guest” and “host” molecules. FTIR and ¹H NMR data obtained for the MCPA/β-CD complexes gave information about the interaction between MCPA and the nonpolar cyclodextrin cavity. The dramatic change observed in band frequency and proton displacements of OCH₂ group and H6 aromatic proton confirmed the inclusion of MCPA in β-CD.

The formation of an inclusion complex between MCPA and β-CD increased the aqueous solubility of this herbicide which could be a particularly advantageous property for some specific applications, namely to improve commercial formulation and for environmental protection.     

Bio-efficacy evaluation of nanoformulations of β-cyfluthrin against Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

In the present investigation, bioefficacy of developed β-cyfluthrin formulations, utilizing laboratory synthesized poly(ethylene glycols) based amphiphilic copolymers, were evaluated against Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). The bioefficacy data indicated that the formulations developed by utilizing polymers having PEG – 1500 (3c) and PEG – 2000 (3d) as the hydrophilic segment showed greater efficacy after 14 days as evident from EC₅₀ values (2.2 and 1.58 mg L^?1 respectively). Also, release from the commercial SC formulation was faster than developed formulations as the commercial formulation had the lowest EC₅₀ value on the first day (0.51 mg L^?1). The mean EC₅₀ of the commercial formulation against C. maculatus was quite high as compared to those of developed formulations. The results suggest that depending upon the polymer matrix used, the application rate of β-cyfluthrin can be optimized to achieve insect control at the desired level and period. The results described in this paper are promising and provide a comparison of developed formulations with the commercial one showing an earlier degradation of β-cyfluthrin in the latter and relatively prolonged activity in the former.     

Dissipation,half-lives,and mass spectrometric identification of endosulfan isomers and the sulfate metabolite on three field-grown vegetables

Endosulfan 3 EC, a mixture of α- and β-stereo isomers, was sprayed on field-grown pepper, melon, and sweet potato plants at the recommended rate of 0.44 kg A.I. acre^?1. Plant tissue samples (leaves, fruits, or edible roots) were collected 1 h to 30 days following spraying and analyzed for endosulfan isomers (α- and β-isomers). Analysis of samples was accomplished using a gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with a mass detector in total ion mode. The results indicated the formation of endosulfan sulfate as the major metabolite of endosulfan sulfite and the relatively higher persistence of the β-isomers as compared to the α-isomer. The initial total residues (α- and β-isomers plus endosulfan sulfate) were higher on leaves than on fruits. On pepper and melon fruits, the α-isomer, which is the more toxic to mammals, dissipated faster (T_1/2 = 1.22 and 0.95 d, respectively) than the less toxic β-isomer (T_1/2 = 3.0 and 2.5 d, respectively). These results confirm the greater loss of the α-isomer compared to the β-isomer, which can ultimately impact endosulfan dissipation in the environment. Additionally, the higher initial residues of endosulfan on pepper and sweet potato leaves should be considered of great importance for timing field operations and the safe entry of harvesters due to the high mammalian toxicity of endosulfan.