Selection and breeding of plant cultivars to minimize cadmium accumulation

Natural variation occurs in the uptake and distribution of essential and nonessential trace elements among crop species and among cultivars within species. Such variation can be responsible for trace element deficiencies and toxicities, which in turn can affect the quality of food. Plant breeding can be an important tool to both increase the concentration of desirable trace elements and reduce that of potentially harmful trace elements such as cadmium (Cd). Selection programs for a low-Cd content of various crops, including durum wheat, sunflower, rice and soybean have been established and low-Cd durum wheat cultivars and sunflower hybrids have been developed. In durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var durum), low-Cd concentration is controlled by a single dominant gene. The trait is highly heritable, and incorporation of the low-Cd allele can help to reduce the average grain Cd to levels below proposed international limits. The allele for low-Cd concentration does not appear to affect major economic traits and should not cause problems when incorporated into durum cultivars. The cost of Cd selection in a breeding program is initially large both in terms of Cd determination and reduced progress towards development of other economic traits, but declines as more breeding lines in the program carry the low-Cd trait and are utilized in new crosses. Production of low-Cd crop cultivars can be used as a tool to reduce the risk of movement of Cd into the human diet.     

Assessing nickel bioavailability in smelter-contaminated soils

Metal contaminants in soil environments derived from industrial pollution have clearly established the need for research on bioavailability and potential health risks. Much research has been conducted on metal sorption in soils. However, there is still a need to better understand the availability of metal contaminants to plants and microbes. Such information will enhance both human health and decisions about remediation efforts. In this study, Welland Loam (Typic epiaquoll) and Quarry Muck (Terric haplohemist) Ni contaminated soils from Port Colborne (Canada) which had been treated and untreated with limestone, were employed in greenhouse and bioavailability studies. These soils varied in pH from 5.1 to 7.5, in organic matter content from 6% to 72%, and in total Ni from 63 to 22,000 mg/kg. Oat (Avena sativa), a nonhyperaccumulator, and Alyssum murale, a hyperaccumulating plant species, were grown on these soils in greenhouse studies for 45 and 120 days, respectively, to estimate Ni accumulation. A Ni specific bacterial biosensor was also used to determine Ni bioavailability, and the results were compared to those from the greenhouse studies and more conventional, indirect chemical extraction techniques (employing MgCl2 and a Sr(NO3)2). Results from the greenhouse, chemical extraction, and biosensor studies suggested that as the pH of the soil was increased with liming, Ni bioavailability decreased. However, the phytoextraction capability of A. murale increased as soil pH increased, which was not the case for A. sativa. Furthermore, the Ni specific bacterial biosensor was successful in predicting Ni bioavailability in the soils and suggested that higher Ni bioavailabilities occur in the soils at pH values of 5.1 and 6. The combination of plant growth, chemical extraction, and bacterial biosensor approaches are recommended for assessing bioavailability of toxic metals.     

The differential effect of child age on the illness intrusiveness–parent distress relationship in juvenile rheumatic disease.

Objective: Examine age-related patterns of association between parent-reported illness intrusiveness and parent distress in parents of youth with juvenile rheumatic diseases (JRDs). Study Design: Cross-sectional multiple regression analysis tested child age as a moderator in the illness intrusiveness–distress relationship. Participants: Fifty-two parents of children ages 9–17 diagnosed with JRD. Main Outcome Measures: The Illness Intrusiveness Scale—Parent Version and the Brief Symptom Inventory. Results: Parent-reported illness intrusiveness demonstrated a significant main effect on distress for all parents in the sample. This was qualified by an Illness Intrusiveness × Child Age interaction. Illness intrusiveness was found to be significantly related to distress among parents of older youth, but was only marginally related to distress for parents of younger children. Conclusions: Results are consistent with family life cycle development models of adjustment to childhood chronic illness. The clinical implications of the findings are also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Molecular modeling of the Abeta1-42 peptide from Alzheimer's disease

The three-dimensional structure of the Alzheimer's disease Abeta1-42 peptide was predicted by sequence homology, threading approaches and by experimental observations. The Abeta molecule displayed a Greek key motif with four antiparallel beta-strands. To shield thermodynamically unfavorable domains, two Abeta molecules interact with each other to generate a beta-barrel structure with a hydrophilic surface and a hydrophobic core. The N-terminal domains of the dimer form crevices into which the non-polar C-termini are accommodated to yield a globular structure 27x32 A in diameter. Alternatively, the C-terminal domains of two opposing dimers could be extended to form an antiparallel beta-sheet. The stacking of these building blocks generates a helical protofilament. To create a thermodynamically more favorable structure, three protofilaments associate into a right-handed triple helix with a hydrophobic beta-sheet completely surrounded by the hydrophilic beta-barrels made of residues 1-28. Two triple helical strands can further associate into a right-handed amyloid filament. Although our model did not meet all the expected criteria, it nevertheless exhibited a series of naturally disposed structural features, revealed by other biophysical studies utilizing synthetic Abeta peptides. These characteristics are of functional significance in terms of Abeta-topology, fibril formation and cytotoxicity. The model also suggests that Abeta may not exist in a thermodynamically stable conformation, but rather as an ensemble of metastable dimeric structures some of which are capable of generating an extended C-terminal antiparallel beta-sheet essential in the promotion of fibrillogenesis.     

Absorption, tissue distribution, and elimination of residues after 2,4,6-trinitro[14C]toluene administration to sheep

The compound 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a persistent contaminant of some industrial and military sites. Biological bioremediation techniques typically rely on the immobilization of TNT reduction products rather than on TNT mineralization. We hypothesized that sheep ruminal microbes would be suitable for TNT destruction after phytoremediation of TNT-contaminated soils by cool-season grasses. Therefore we investigated the fate of [14C]TNT in ruminating sheep to determine the utility of ruminant animals as a portion of the bioremediation process. Three wether sheep were dosed with 35.5 mg each of dietary unlabeled TNT for 21 consecutive days. On day 22 sheep (41.9 +/- 3.0 kg) were orally dosed with 35.5 mg of [14C]TNT (129 microCi; 99.1% radiochemical purity). Blood, urine, and feces were collected at regular intervals for 72 h. At slaughter, tissues were quantitatively collected. Tissues and blood were analyzed for total radioactive residues (TRR); excreta were analyzed for TRR, bound residues, and TNT metabolites. Plasma radioactivity peaked within 1 h of dosing and was essentially depleted within 18 h. Approximately 76% of the radiocarbon was excreted in feces, 17% in urine, with 5% being retained in the gastrointestinal tract and 1% retained in tissues. Parent TNT, dinitroamino metabolites, and diaminonitro metabolites were not detected in excreta. Ruminal and fecal radioactivity was essentially nonextractable using ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol; covalent binding of fecal radioactive residues was evenly distributed among extractable organic molecules (i.e., soluble organic matter, soluble carbohydrate, protein, lipid, and nucleic acid fractions) and undigested fibers (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin). This study demonstrated that TNT reduction within the ruminant gastrointestinal tract leads to substantial immobilization of residues to organic matter, a fate similar to TNT in other strongly reducing environments.     

Designing nanostructures for sensor applications

Nanostructured materials have shown great potential in improving the sensitivity and reliability of chemical and biological sensors. The ability to control the geometric shape (size, separation, orientation, alignment, etc.) of nanostructures and to integrate nanostructures from different materials becomes one of the great challenges for sensor fabrication. Glancing angle deposition techniques can fabricate well-aligned three-dimensional nanostructures through computer programming. By rotating the substrate in both polar and azimuthal directions, one can fabricate desired nanostructures, such as nanorod arrays with different shapes, nanospring arrays, and even multilayer nanostructures. This method offers full three-dimensional control of the nanostructure with the additional capability of self-alignment and can be easily integrated into microdevices and optical devices. With the high surface area and high aspect ratio of those nanostructures, different sensors such as enzyme-based biosensors and optical sensors with higher sensitivity have been demonstrated.     

Biosolids compost amendment for reducing soil lead hazards: a pilot study of Orgro amendment and grass seeding in urban yards

In situ inactivation of soil Pb is an alternative to soil removal and replacement that has been demonstrated in recent years at industrial sites with hazardous soil Pb concentrations. Most children exposed to elevated soil Pb, however, reside in urban areas, and no government programs exist to remediate such soils unless an industrial source caused the contamination. Modern regulated biosolids composts have low Pb concentrations and low bioaccessible Pb fractions and can improve grass growth on urban soils. High Fe and P biosolids composts can reduce the bioavailability and bioaccessibility of soil Pb and can aid in establishing vegetation that would reduce soil transfer into homes. For these reasons, we conducted a field test of their use to reduce Pb bioaccessibility in urban soils in Baltimore, MD USA. We chose biosolids compost for its expected reduction in the bioaccessible Pb fraction of urban soils, ease of use by urban residents, and ability to beautify urban areas. Nine urban yards with mean soil Pb concentrations >800 mg Pb kg(-1) were selected and sampled at several distances from the house foundation before soil treatment. The soils were rototilled to 20 cm depth to prepare the sites, and resampled. The yards were then amended with 6-8 cm depth of Orgro biosolids compost (110-180 dry t/ha) rich in Fe and P, mixed well by rototilling, and resampled. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) was seeded and became well established. Soils were resampled 1 year later. At each sampling time, total soil Pb was measured using a modified U.S. EPA nitric acid hotplate digestion method (SW 846 Method 3050) and bioaccessible Pb fraction was measured using the Solubility/Bioaccesibility Research Consortium standard operating procedure with modifications, including the use of glycine-buffered HCl at pH 2.2. Samples of untreated soils were collected from each yard and mixed well to serve as controls for the Pb bioaccessibility of field treated soils over time independent of positional variance within yards. At 1-year post-treatment, grass cover was healthy and reductions in bioaccessible Pb concentrations compared to pre-tillage were 64% (from 1655 to 595 mg kg(-1)) and 67% (from 1381 to 453 mg kg(-1)) at the sampling lines closest to the houses. Little or no reduction in bioaccessible Pb concentration was observed at sampling lines more remote from the house that also had the lowest bioaccessible Pb concentrations at pre-tillage (620 and 436 mg kg(-1), respectively). For the control soils, changes over time in total Pb and bioaccessible Pb concentrations and the bioaccessible Pb fraction were insignificant. This study confirms the viability of in situ remediation of soils in urban areas where children are at risk of high Pb exposure from lead in paint, dust and soil.     

Bioavailability as an issue in risk assessment and management of food cadmium: a review

The bioavailability of cadmium (Cd) from food is an important determinant of the potential risk of this toxic element. This review summarizes the effects of marginal deficiencies of the essential nutrients zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and calcium (Ca) on the enhancement of absorption and organ accumulation and retention of dietary Cd in laboratory animals. These marginal deficiencies enhanced Cd absorption as much as ten-fold from diets containing low Cd concentrations similar to that consumed by some human populations, indicating that people who are nutritionally marginal with respect to Zn, Fe, and Ca are at higher risk of Cd disease than those who are nutritionally adequate. Results from these studies also suggest that the bioavailability of Cd is different for different food sources. This has implications for the design of food safety rules for Cd in that if the dietary source plays such a significant role in the risk of Cd, then different foods would require different Cd limits. Lastly, the importance of food-level exposures of Cd and other potentially toxic elements in the study of risk assessment are emphasized. Most foods contain low concentrations of Cd that are poorly absorbed, and it is neither relevant nor practical to use toxic doses of Cd in experimental diets to study food Cd risks. A more comprehensive understanding of the biochemistry involved in the bioavailability of Cd from foods would help resolve food safety questions and provide the support for a badly needed advance in international policies regarding Cd in crops and foods.     

The Plant Design Management System

Considerable experience in using PDMS (Plant Design Management System) has been achieved in design offices spanning a number of industries. The range of tasks which have been undertaken extend beyond some of the original concepts. PDMS remains the cornerstone of the mainstream process design function, but it has also been used in a stand-alone role to carry out checks on specific design aspects.

The ability to have a full process plant design built up and stored in such a way as to have ready access to any part, at any stage of the design, is now readily appreciated by design engineers. It is expected that other agencies involved in the design process, such as certification and safety authorities, will benefit from having a process design available which has been scrutinised using design compatibility routines.