P450 in wild animals as a biomarker of environmental impact

Abstract. Sugars and amino acids are major classes of organic components in atmospheric fine particles and play important roles in atmospheric processes. However, the identification of their sources in different regions is explored little. To characterize local primary sources (biomass burning, plant, and soil sources) and evaluate their contributions to the total sugar compound and amino acid (AA) pool in different regions, fine particulate matter samples were collected from the urban, rural, and forest areas in Nanchang, China. The concentrations and compositions of sugar compounds (anhydrosugars, primary sugars, and sugar alcohols), free amino acids (FAAs), and combined amino acids (CAAs) were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after silylation derivatization. Urban areas had significantly higher average Σ sugar concentration (317±139 ng m−3) than that of the rural (181±72 ng m−3) and forest (275±154 ng m−3) areas (p<0.05). Overall, the distribution pattern of sugar compounds and CAAs in PM2.5 was generally similar in three areas. Levoglucosan accounted for 24.4 %, 22.0 %, and 21.7 %, respectively, of the total sugar pool in the urban, rural, and forest areas. This suggests that plant and soil sources, as well as biomass burning (BB), provide important contributions to aerosol sugars and CAAs in three areas. In the urban area, the concentrations of anhydrosugars showed a positive correlation with combined Gly concentrations, but no correlation was found between these two compounds in the rural and forest areas, indicating that the urban area is mainly affected by local combustion sources. This conclusion was also supported by the positive correlation between levoglucosan and non-sea-salt potassium, only observed in the urban area (Lev=0.07 K++37.7,r=0.6,p<0.05). In addition, the average levoglucosan / mannosan (L/M) ratio in the urban area (59.9) was much higher than in the rural (6.9) and forest areas (7.2), implying BB aerosols collected in the urban area originated from lignite burning, while the type of biofuels used in the rural and forest areas is mainly softwood. The concentrations of sugar alcohols in the rural and forest areas were positively correlated with that of CAAs, which are abundant in the topsoil (r=0.53∼0.62,p<0.05), suggesting that the contribution of local topsoil sources is large in these two areas. In the rural and forest areas, the concentrations of primary sugars were positively correlated with those of combined CAA species abundant in local dominant vegetation. Our findings suggest that combining specific sugar tracers and chemical profiles of CAAs in local emission sources can provide insight into primary source characteristics, including the types of biofuels burned, the contribution of topsoil sources, and local vegetation types.

Organochlorine residues in common terns and associated estuarine organisms, Massachusetts, USA, 1971–81

Surveillance of Echinococcus multilocularis infection among 156 shelter dogs was conducted in an urban area (Sapporo city) in Hokkaido, where the parasite is endemic in Japan using copro-DNA and fecal egg examination from September 2013 to April 2017. Echinococcus infection was detected in three dogs (1.9%), including one dog that excreted eggs. The results suggested that free-roaming or stray dogs in urban area may be infected by capturing wild voles containing parasitic cysts and could be a source of human infection. Dog-to-human transmission is a significant concern, and the risk of such transmission is present even in urban areas in Hokkaido. We recommend deworming within 1 month (e.g., before egg excretion) of capture for free-roaming or stray dogs in Echinococcus-endemic area to prevent potential human infection.

Starch, the major component of grain, consists of amylose and amylopectin. It is synthesized and accumulated during grain filling in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and regulated by many enzymes including sucrose synthase (SS), adenosine diphos- phorate glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), uridine diphosphorate glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPase), soluble starch syn- thase (SSS), granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS), starch branching enzyme (SBE) and so on. According to recent studies, AG- Pase, starch synthase, and SBE are the key enzymes controlling starch synthesis. Previous researches have revealed that the allo- cation of carbohydrate, grain weight, and the transformation of sucrose to starch were significantly different between superior and inferior grains of wheat. But to date, there are few reports about the differences of starch accumulation and the relationship be- tween starch accumulation and related enzyme activities in superior and inferior grains. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out, and two large-spike type cultivars, SN 12 and PH01-35 were used to investigate the mechanism of starch accumulation and the relationship with related enzyme activities in superior and inferior grains. Forty spikes was sampled at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 d after anthesis, and partitioned into two groups, superior grain (the 1st and 2nd grains from the basal part of a spikelet) and inferior grain (the 3rd and 4th grains from the basal part of a spikelet). Half grains of each group were used to determine the enzyme ac- tivities, and the other half for starch content measurement. The result showed that the accumulation of amylose and amylopectin in superior grain were significantly higher than those in inferior grain. The simulation with Logistic equation showed that the accu- mulation rate and initial potential were higher, the accumulation duration was longer, so the starch final amount was higher in superior grain. The activities of SS, AGPase, UGPase, SSS, and GBSS changed in the pattern of a single-peak curve during grain filling. The related enzyme activities in superior grain, which had higher starch accumulation, were higher than those in inferior grain. The sucrose content in inferior grain was much higher than that in superior grain at 7–14 d after anthesis, indicating that the substrate of starch synthesis should not be the limiting factor for starch accumulation in inferior grain, which related to starch synthesis efficiency, also the number of endosperm cells at early grain filling stage.

The hepatopancreases of freshwater crabs (Eriocheir japonicus) collected from three Japanese rivers (Barato, Shiribetsu, and Tone) were analyzed for planar halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs), including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The hepatic glutathione S-transferase (GST)-dependent enzyme activities in the crab hepatopancreas were also measured to examine their potential as biomarkers for the contaminants. Crabs from the Tone River, which runs through industrial, agricultural, and urban areas, have the highest concentrations of HAHs (4,100 pg/g fat weight), followed by those from the Barato River (2,430-2,970 pg/g fat weight), whereas crabs from the Shiribetsu River were relatively less contaminated (1,350–1,800 pg/g fat weight). Identification of numerous PCDD and PCDF congeners in crabs from all three rivers provided evidence that one of the major sources of PCDDs and PCDFs was waste incineration. In addition, crabs from the Barato and Shiribetsu Rivers were notably contaminated with 1,3,6,8- and 1,3,7,9-TeCDD congeners, which suggests that a possible source was chlornitrofen, which has been extensively used in paddy fields as a herbicide. Calculation of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin toxic equivalents (TEQs) showed that the causal contaminants of higher TEQs in crabs from the Tone River (94.7 TEQ picograms per gram fat weight) were PCDDs and PCDFs, although the most important contributor to the total TEQs was coplanar PCBs (49.95%). The crab hepatopancreas appeared to have abilities to transfer glutathione to 1-chloro-2,4-nitrobenzene (CDNB) and 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene (DCNB). The crabs with the highest TEQ levels showed the highest GST activities. The current results and our previous data lead us to conclude that cytochrome P450 and GST-dependent enzyme activities (benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation and CDNB and DCNB conjugation) in freshwater crab hepatopancreases are likely to be useful biomarkers for the contamination of planar aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo[a]pyrene, PCDDs, PCDFs, and coplanar PCBs.

Stingless bees from four different places in Penang, northern peninsular Malaysia includingUniversiti Sains Malaysia campus(USM), Botanical Garden, Balik Pulau and Teluk Bahang weresampled randomly and identified. A total of six species of stingless bee were successfully recorded; Heterotrigona itama, Lepidotrigona terminata, Tetrigona apicalis, Tetragonula iridipennis, Tetragonula laeviceps, and Tetragonula pagdeni. Heterotrigona itama is the most abundance species in both urban and forest area. Their hive can be found in all study areas. The results showed that Balik Pulau (forest) had the most diverse stingless bee species (5 species) compared to other selected sites. Morphometrical studies comprising fifteen characters of H.itama were measured. There were significant difference for H. itama body length and appendages between samples collected from urban and forest areas. H.itama in forest areas have larger body size compared to those in the urban area. Overall, stingless bees in urban areas was less diverse compared to forest area

Article Modulated human maternal and premature neonatal erythrocyte membrane enzyme activities in relation to the mode of delivery: in vitro restoration with L-Carnitine was published on March 1, 2011 in the journal Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM) (volume 49, issue 3).

Recently reported research indicate that forest environments have physiological and psychological relaxing effects compared to urban environments. However, some researchers claim that the stress of the subjects from being watched by others during measurements can affect the measurement result in urban experiments conducted in the center of a street. The present study was conducted to determine whether forest environments have physiological and psychological relaxing effects, using comparison of viewing a forest area with viewing an urban area from the roof of an urban building without being watched by others. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurement was performed on subjects while they viewed scenery for 15 min at each experimental site (urban and forest areas). Subjective assessments were performed after the NIRS measurement was complete. Total hemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin concentrations were significantly lower in the forest area than in the urban area. For semantic differential in subjective assessments, feelings of “comfortable”, “natural”, and “soothed” were significantly higher in the forest area than in the urban area, and for profile of mood states, negative emotions were significantly lower in the forest area than in the urban area. The results of physiological and psychological measurements show that viewing the forest enabled effective relaxation.

Sugar content is one of the main characteristics related to the quality of fruit. Research confirms that nitric oxide (NO) involves a physiological process and prolongs the storage life of fruit. However, little attention has been paid to the effects of NO on sugar metabolism in fruit during storage. In this study, the effect of different concentrations (0, 10, 30 µmol L⁻¹) of exogenous NO treatment on sugar content and related enzyme activities in 'Feicheng' peach fruit was investigated during storage (0-12 days after harvest) at room temperature (25 °C). Results showed that the decrease of firmness and accumulation of sugar and acid:sugar ratio in peach fruit during storage were significantly inhibited by treatment with 10 µmol L⁻¹ NO. Treatment with 10 µmol L⁻¹ NO could promote fructose and glucose metabolism during the first 4 days of storage, and increase the content of sucrose and the activities of sorbitol dehydrogenase, sorbitol oxidase and sucrose phosphate synthase in peach fruit during storage. However, acid invertase activity from 8 to 12 days of storage and neutral invertase activity during the first 4 days of storage were inhibited by treatment with 10 µmol L⁻¹ NO. At the same time, treatment with 10 µmol L⁻¹ NO inhibited sucrose synthase (SS) activity in decomposition during storage and SS activity in synthesis from 8 to 12 days of storage. Treatment with 10 µmol L⁻¹ NO had a significant impact on content of soluble sugars and related enzyme activities in 'Feicheng' peach fruit during storage (0-12 days) at room temperature (25 °C).

Knowledge of planting density and lodging resistance is essential to developing effective cropping systems. This study determined (i) the lodging resistance of different genotypes of oilseed flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) under different planting densities, and (ii) the effect of density on lignin content and related enzyme activities in different genotypes in Northwest China. We hypothesized that (i) lignin content and related enzyme activities varied with different planting densities, and (ii) a planting density of 750 × 104 grains ha−1 increased the lignin content and related enzyme activities of stem tissues and improved lodging resistance. The characteristics of oilseed flax from three different cultivars—‘Dingya 23’(V1), ‘Jinya 10’(V2), and ‘Neiya 9’(V3)—were evaluated under different planting densities. Results indicated that increasing plant density increased the phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL) and tyrosine ammonia‐lyase (TAL) activities but decreased the 4‐coumarate:CoA ligase (4CL) activity and lignin content of a high‐lodging‐resistance cultivar. However, increasing plant density decreased the PAL and TAL activities but increased the 4CL and lignin content of a low‐lodging‐resistance cultivar. We conclude that plant density affected the plant lignin content by regulating the 4CL activity. Flax seed yield increases with density were mainly due to increased lignin content, bending strength, and regulated PAL, TAL, and 4CL activities. The study concluded that optimizing planting density could play an important role in crop lodging resistance and grain yields in the northwest of China.

Patterns in ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) assemblages along an urbanisation gradient in Denmark

An enhanced ionic liquid-tolerant immobilized cellulase system via hydrogel microsphere for improving in situ saccharification of biomass

Sealing of soils prevents the exchange of gas, water and nutrient between soil and other environmental compartments, and affects urban N flux, thereby resulting in certain negative impacts on soil functioning and urban environment. However, little information is available on the biogeochemical cycling and biological activities after sealing of soils in urban areas. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of soil sealing on N transformation and associated microbial properties. Soil samples were collected at four depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–30, 30–40 cm) from three land cover types: impervious land (sealing of soil), forest (vegetation) and bare land (no sealing and no vegetation) in Beijing, China. Soil inorganic N, net potential N-mineralization and nitrification rates, physicochemical properties, microbial biomass and activities of urease, protease and nitrate reductase were analyzed. Sealing of soils affected soil physicochemical properties, nutrient availability and microbial characterizations, which resulted in the reduction of soil net potential mineralization and nitrification. Soil pH and C/N ratio were increased while soil organic matter and total N were decreased after sealing of soils, especially in the 0–10 cm layer. Impervious sites had the lowest soil microbial biomass C (10.52–26.26 mg kg−1) and N (10.52–26.26 mg kg−1) among the three types of soils. In addition, microbial biomass increased along the depth gradient. Soil enzyme activities were also significantly affected by sealing of soils. Canonical correlation analysis suggested that reduction of soil net potential mineralization and nitrification in impervious sites was mainly caused by the variation of soil total N, soil organic matter and soil microbial biomass. Sealing of soils remarkably influenced the soil N transformation process and soil microbial activities in urban areas. Thus, our results suggested that reducing the negative effects of soil sealing on paved and unpaved areas could be useful measures to improve urban soil functions, and hence facilitate the remediation of the adverse impacts caused by urban N deposition.

Sealing of soils prevents the exchange of gas, water and nutrient between soil and other environmental compartments, and affects urban N flux, thereby resulting in certain negative impacts on soil functioning and urban environment. However, little information is available on the biogeochemical cycling and biological activities after sealing of soils in urban areas. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of soil sealing on N transformation and associated microbial properties. Soil samples were collected at four depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–30, 30–40 cm) from three land cover types: impervious land (sealing of soil), forest (vegetation) and bare land (no sealing and no vegetation) in Beijing, China. Soil inorganic N, net potential N-mineralization and nitrification rates, physicochemical properties, microbial biomass and activities of urease, protease and nitrate reductase were analyzed. Sealing of soils affected soil physicochemical properties, nutrient availability and microbial characterizations, which resulted in the reduction of soil net potential mineralization and nitrification. Soil pH and C/N ratio were increased while soil organic matter and total N were decreased after sealing of soils, especially in the 0–10 cm layer. Impervious sites had the lowest soil microbial biomass C (10.52–26.26 mg kg−1) and N (10.52–26.26 mg kg−1) among the three types of soils. In addition, microbial biomass increased along the depth gradient. Soil enzyme activities were also significantly affected by sealing of soils. Canonical correlation analysis suggested that reduction of soil net potential mineralization and nitrification in impervious sites was mainly caused by the variation of soil total N, soil organic matter and soil microbial biomass. Sealing of soils remarkably influenced the soil N transformation process and soil microbial activities in urban areas. Thus, our results suggested that reducing the negative effects of soil sealing on paved and unpaved areas could be useful measures to improve urban soil functions, and hence facilitate the remediation of the adverse impacts caused by urban N deposition.

Heterocyclic nitrogen compounds containing two adjacent nitrogen atoms generally have a significant effect on soil nitrification inhibition, and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (DMP) is a typical representative of this structure. However, the inhibitory effect and the regulatory mechanism of DMP on soil N transformation are unclear. In this study, a microcosm with different concentrations of DMP was carried out in brown soil to detect the dynamic changes of soil NH4+–N, NO3–N and related soil enzyme activities. Results showed that DMP inhibited soil nitrification effectively and decreased soil nitrate reductase activity, while increasing nitrite reductase and dehydrogenase activities. The inhibition effects were dose dependent, and DMP at the rate of 0.025 g kg−1 dry soil showed the strongest inhibitory effect on N transformation in brown soil. The soil dehydrogenase activity was increased with an increasing DMP application rate. The changes in the soil’s chemical and biological properties caused by DMP application provided a new idea for systematically explaining how DMP participated in the soil N transformation process. This study further implied that DMP would play positive roles in alleviating environmental pressure by delaying nitrate-N formation and decreasing the activity of nitrate reductase.