Effect of Exogenous Organic Matter on Phosphorus Forms in Middle-High Fertility Cinnamon Soil.

OBJECTIVES: To slow down the chemical fixation of phosphate fertilizer, reduce the risk of active phosphorus leaching, stimulate the inherent phosphorus resource activity of soil, and improve phosphorus supply capacity. METHODS: This study utilized a combination of field experiments and indoor chemical analysis. Six types of exogenous organic matter (fulvic acid, biochar, compound microbial fertilizer, high-energy microbial inoculum, pig manure-vermicompost, cow manure-vermicompost) were added based on conventional fertilization. The experiment was conducted under the wheat-maize rotation system in the Huang-Huai-Hai region. RESULTS: Compared with control (CK) without exogenous organic matter (EOM), all the other treatments with EOM had an enhancing effect on the available phosphorus of the cultivated soil. During the maize harvest, the combined application of biochar, pig manure-vermicompost and cow manure-vermicompost treatment significantly increased the content of available phosphorus in 0-20 cm soil by 45.87-56.59% compared with CK. The combined application of fulvic acid, biochar, pig manure-vermicompost and cow manure-vermicompost treatment significantly increased the content of Ca2-P in 0-20 cm soil by 34.04-65.14%. The content of Ca10-P in each treatment with EOM exhibited a lower level compared to CK. EOM could slow down the fixation of phosphorus to some degree. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between Ca2-P, Ca8-P, Al-P, Fe-P, neutral phosphatase activity, acid phosphatase activity, and the available phosphorus content in the soil. The combined application of fulvic acid, biochar, and cow manure-vermicompost could enhance the activity of neutral and acid phosphatase in topsoil to a certain extent, thereby facilitating the conversion of phosphorus into highly available Ca2-P. EOM could enhance the soil phosphorus availability and decelerate the conversion of soil phosphorus into O-P and Ca10-P forms with low availability. Among all treatments, biochar exhibited the most pronounced efficiency in mitigating phosphorus leaching downward. CONCLUSIONS: All the EOMs had the potential to enhance the conversion of phosphorus into soluble phosphorus (Ca2-P), thereby mitigating the chemical fixation of soil phosphorus and ameliorating non-point source pollution caused by phosphorus. EOM enhanced the activity of neutral and acid phosphatase, which was beneficial to the conversion of organic phosphorus to inorganic phosphorus and increasing the content of available phosphorus. All EOMs had good effects on the retention of soil effective phosphorus, among which biochar had the best effect on retaining effective phosphorus in the tillage layer and blocking phosphorus leaching downward.

Seaweeds as a major source of dietary microplastics exposure in East Asia.

Microplastics (MPs) occurrence in marine ecosystems is well known, but their accumulation in seaweeds and subsequent human exposure remain understudied. This research quantifies MPs presence in two commonly consumed seaweeds, kelp (Saccharina japonica) and nori (Pyropia yezoensis), in East Asia, revealing widespread contamination dominated by microfibers (<500 µm). Based on dietary patterns, human uptake through seaweed consumption was estimated and quantified. Notably, Chinese people consume an estimated 17,034 MPs/person/year through seaweed consumption, representing 13.1% of their total annual MPs intake. This seaweeds-derived exposure surpasses all other dietary sources, contributing up to 45.5% of overall MPs intake. The highest intake was in South Korea, followed by North Korea, China, and Japan. This research identifies seaweeds as a major, previously overlooked route of dietary MPs exposure. These findings are crucial for comprehensive risk assessments of seaweed consumption and the development of mitigation strategies, particularly for populations in East Asian countries.

Dissolved biochar fractions and solid biochar particles inhibit soil acidification induced by nitrification through different mechanisms.

Biochar can inhibit soil acidification by decreasing the H+ input from nitrification and improving soil pH buffering capacity (pHBC). However, biochar is a complex material and the roles of its different components in inhibiting soil acidification induced by nitrification remain unclear. To address this knowledge gap, dissolved biochar fractions (DBC) and solid biochar particles (SBC) were separated and mixed thoroughly with an amended Ultisol. Following a urea addition, the soils were subjected to an incubation study. The results showed that both the DBC and SBC inhibited soil acidification by nitrification. The DBC inhibited soil acidification by decreasing the H+ input from nitrification, while SBC enhanced the soil pHBC. The DBC from peanut straw biochar (PBC) and rice straw biochar (RBC) decreased the H+ release by 16 % and 18 % at the end of incubation. The decrease in H+ release was attributed to the inhibition of soil nitrification and net mineralization caused by the toxicity of the phenols in DBC to soil bacteria. The abundance of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and total bacteria decreased by >60 % in the treatments with DBC. The opposite effects were observed in the treatments with SBC. Soil pHBC increased by 7 % and 19 % after the application of solid RBC and PBC particles, respectively. The abundance of carboxyl on the surface of SBC was mainly responsible for the increase in soil pHBC. Generally, the mixed application of DBC and SBC was more effective at inhibiting soil acidification than their individual applications. The negative impacts of dissolved biochar components on soil microorganisms need to be closely monitored.

Air Pollution and Adolescent Development: Evidence from a 3-Year Longitudinal Study in China.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of air pollution on the development of adolescents and the mediating role of students' emotional disorders. Participants came from a longitudinal sample group of adolescents (n = 1301) in Southern China from the years 2016 to 2018. They were assessed for the Positive Youth Development and emotional disorders, and air pollution was measured by the Air Quality Index. The results show that students' higher degree of exposure to air pollution was negatively associated with their positive development. Three out of four emotional disorders (i.e., anxiety, neuroticism, and withdrawal) mediate this association. The results suggest that the physical environment can have a paramount influence on the emotional status and overall development of adolescents, calling for intervention programs by policymakers.

The Relationship Between Social Support and Internet Addiction Among Chinese Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multiple Mediation Model of Resilience and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: Lockdowns and online homeschooling during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic have significantly increased Internet use and adolescents' risk of developing or reinforcing related addictive behaviors. While various theoretical propositions have suggested that social support, resilience, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms can predict Internet addiction, no study has yet examined the combined influence of these factors on Internet addiction. This study therefore aimed to investigate the mediating roles of resilience and PTSD symptoms in the relationship between perceived social support and the Internet addiction of Chinese adolescents in the context of COVID-19. METHODS: This study included 2544 adolescents living in the south China city of Qinzhou. The participants completed a self-report questionnaire one week before their return to classes after homeschooling. To examine whether resilience and PTSD symptoms mediated the relationship between social support and Internet addiction, we performed serial mediation analysis using the Model 6 PROCESS macro developed by Hayes (2013). RESULTS: Social support was negatively and directly associated with Internet addiction and indirectly via resilience, PTSD symptoms, and by the multiple mediation of resilience to PTSD symptoms. DISCUSSION: The results of this study suggest that, to address Internet addiction, it may be more effective to focus not on addictive behaviors themselves but on individuals' existing mental health. It is important to provide adequate social support to improve the resilience of adolescents, thereby reducing PTSD symptoms and Internet addiction.

Comparing ameliorative effects of biomass ash and alkaline slag on an acidic Ultisol under artificial Masson pine: A field experiment.

Forest soil acidification caused by acid deposition is a serious threat to the forest ecosystem. To investigate the liming effects of biomass ash (BA) and alkaline slag (AS) on the acidic topsoil and subsoil, a three-year field experiment under artificial Masson pine was conducted at Langxi, Anhui province in Southern China. The surface application of BA and AS significantly increased the soil pH, and thus decreased exchangeable acidity and active Al in the topsoil. Soil exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ in topsoil were significantly increased by the surface application of BA and AS, while an increase in soil exchangeable K+ was only observed in BA treatments. The soil acidity and active Al in subsoil were decreased by the surface application of AS. Compared with the control, soluble monomeric and exchangeable Al in the subsoil was decreased by 38.0% and 29.4% after 3 years of AS surface application. There was a minimal effect on soluble monomeric and exchangeable Al after the application of BA. The soil exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the subsoil increased respectively by 54% and 141% after surface application of 10 t ha-1 AS. The decrease of soil active Al and increase of base cations in subsoil were mainly attributed to the high migration capacity of base cations in AS. In conclusion, the effect of surface application of AS was superior to BA in ameliorating soil acidity and alleviating soil Al toxicity in the subsoil of this Ultisol.

Alleviation of lead toxicity and phytostimulation in perennial ryegrass by the Pb-resistant fungus Trichoderma asperellum SD-5.

Lead (Pb), a highly toxic metal ion, is detrimental to plants and humans. Existing botanical techniques for Pb-contaminated soil remediation are limited in their efficiency. Here, we investigated the use of the fungus Trichoderma asperellum Samuels, Lieckf & Nirenberg SD-5, which we identified previously as being Pb-resistant, for phytoremediation and for its effects on plant growth, Pb adsorption, and physiological responses in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. 'Lark'). We set up four soil treatments: CK (uncontaminated by Pb), T1 (1000 mg kg-1 Pb), T2 (1:9 ratio of sawdust to T1), and T3 (T2 inoculated with T. asperellum SD-5). A pot experiment revealed that the addition of the Pb-resistant microorganism promoted growth and increased biomass in ryegrass under Pb stress, in addition to significantly enhancing photosynthesis by increasing the leaf chlorophyll content and improving the total protein content and expression of the pAPX, POD, SOD, and GPX genes, evidence of an improved antioxidant system and the alleviation of Pb stress. We demonstrated that Pb-resistant microorganisms can enhance Pb extraction from the soil, thus improving remediation. Mitigation mechanisms operating at the physiological and gene expression levels were also determined, providing a scientific basis for the role of combined plant-microorganism methods in remediating Pb-contaminated soil.

The Relationship between Positive Youth Development and Depressive Symptoms among Chinese Early Adolescents: A Three-Year Cross-Lagged Analysis.

Based on the development assets theory and the scar model, the present study examined the relationship between positive youth development (PYD) and depressive symptoms among Chinese early adolescents using a three-year longitudinal study design. Data from three waves were collected from 1301 students (Mean age = 12.46, SD = 0.63 years and 51.2% boys at wave 1) across the junior high school period (Grades 7-9). All participants completed a questionnaire that included the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale (CPYD) once a year over three years. After controlling for age and gender, this study found that PYD significantly predicted subsequent depressive symptoms. However, depressive symptoms did not significantly predict subsequent PYD. The results indicated a unidirectional relationship between PYD and depressive symptoms, where a reduction in PYD may increase subsequent depressive symptoms, though not vice versa. Besides, the negative cross-sectional correlation between PYD and depressive symptoms remains significant and stable from first year (T1) to third year (T3). These findings suggest that promoting PYD may be a promising approach to preventing/reducing adolescent depressive symptoms.

Ameliorating effects of exogenous Ca2+ on foxtail millet seedlings under salt stress.

In the present study, we investigated whether Ca2+ application alleviates salinity-induced damage in foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.). We evaluated the stress-related ion balance, physiological activity and gene expression involved in plant defences against salinity exposure. Twenty-one-day-old foxtail millet was maintained in sand culture for 7 days and subjected to one of seven treatments: half-strength modified Hoagland solution (the control), 1.0% NaCl, 1.0% NaCl+2.5mM Ca2+, 1.0% NaCl+5.0mM Ca2+, 1.0% NaCl+7.5mM Ca2+, 1.0% NaCl+10.0mM Ca2+, 1.0% NaCl+12.5mM Ca2+. The addition of Ca2+ significantly increased shoot and root height and weight relative to calcium absent treatment and corrected the ion imbalance by increasing Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+, and decreasing Na+ in the leaves and roots. It increased chlorophyll content and root activity and decreased the relative electrolyte leakage in the roots and leaves. Calcium application significantly upregulated superoxide dismutase and catalase, increased total protein, and decreased malondialdehyde and H2O2. Finally, the addition of Ca2+ upregulated the expression of APX, SOD and CAT. It was found that 10.0mM Ca2+ was the optimal concentration for alleviating salt stress injury in foxtail millet.

Spermidine application alleviates salinity damage to antioxidant enzyme activity and gene expression in alfalfa.

We investigated whether spermidine (Spd) application alleviates salinity-induced damage in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L), and explored defence mechanisms associated with stress-related ion balance, antioxidant metabolism, and gene expression. We examined the response of 30-day-old alfalfa maintained in hydroponic culture tests for 7 days and subjected to one of six treatments: half-strength Hoagland solution (control); 1% NaCl; 10 µM Spd + 1% NaCl; 20 µM Spd + 1% NaCl; 40 µM Spd + 1% NaCl; and 60 µM Spd + 1% NaCl. In salinity-stressed plants, chlorophyll b, chlorophyll a + b, and total protein showed significant decreases, while marked increases were detected in relative electrolyte leakage, H2O2 content, glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), glutathione reductase (GR) activity, the Na+/K+ ratio, and APX1, APX2, GR, and SOD gene expression levels. Chlorophyll a and total protein content markedly increased under exogenous application of 20 µM Spd, while H2O2 content, GSH, SOD, CAT, POD, GR activity, the Na+/K+ ratio, and APX2, GR, and SOD expression levels all decreased. These results indicated that exogenous application of 20 µM spermidine effectively alleviates salinity-induced damage in alfalfa. These findings could benefit alfalfa cultivation and promote the development and utilization of saline-alkali soil.

Characterization of three Pb-resistant fungi and their potential Pb2+ ions adsorption capacities.

Bioremediation is preferred in heavy metal remediation, and the high-performance microbe is of prime importance. In the present research, three Pb-resistant microbes were isolated and growth characteristics and adsorption capacities were evaluated. The results showed that R. oryzae SD-1, T. asperellum SD-5, and M. irregularis SD-8 can grow well under 100 mg L-1 Pb2+ ions stress. There is a higher minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Pb but lower MICs of Cd and Zn in T. asperellum SD-5. However, there were similar MICs of Cu among the three microbes. R. oryzae SD-1 exhibited a higher adsorption capacity and removal rate relative to the other two microbes under various Pb2+ ion levels. The Langmuir equation was fitted for the adsorption capacity of T. asperellum SD-5 and M. irregularis SD-8, and their maximum adsorption capacities were approximately 456.62 mg g-1 and 93.62 mg g-1. Moreover, the Elovich equation and the double constant equation can describe the adsorption process of Pb2+ ions in Pb-resistant microbes well. The strongest adsorption capacity under lower Pb2+ ion level was observed in M. irregularis SD-8, while the strongest adsorption capacities under higher Pb2+ ion levels were seen in R. oryzae SD-1 and T. asperellum SD-5. Therefore, three novel Pb-resistant microbes may be used as efficient, easily cultivated materials for Pb-contaminated soil remediation.

Alleviating effects of exogenous NO on tomato seedlings under combined Cu and Cd stress.

To investigate the effect of NO on the different origin and regulation of oxidative stress of Cu and/or Cd, tomato seedlings were treated with Cu, Cd, or Cu + Cd in a nutrient solution culture system. The main effect of Cu(2+) was a significant reduction in root activity and nitrate reductase (NR) activity, which was similar to that under 50 µM Cd treatment, but promoted Cu accumulation. The supply of Cu under Cd treatment decreased Cd concentration, while not altered Cu concentration by contrast with Cu treatment, which is suggestive of a replacement of Cu(2+) with Cd(2+) and effective decrease in the boiotoxicity of 50 µM Cd(2+) to tomato seedlings. However, NO alleviated the restriction to NR activity significantly and made the biomass of tomato seedlings recover under Cd treatment, and also increased root activity under Cu and Cu + Cd treatment. Exogenous NO markedly reduced the absorption and transportation of Cu but did not obviously change the translocation of Cd to the aboveground parts under Cu + Cd treatment. Both metals induced lipid peroxidation via the decreasing activation of antioxidant enzymes. The antioxidant enzyme system worked differently under Cu, Cd, or Cu + Cd stress. The activities of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) were higher under single Cd stress than under the control. Meanwhile, Cu + Cd treatment decreased the activities of POD, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbic acid peroxidase (APX). Exogenous NO increased POD and SOD activities in the leaves and roots, and CAT activity in the roots under combined Cu and Cd stress. These results suggest that a different response and regulation mechanism that involves exogenous NO is present in tomato seedlings under Cu and Cd stress.

[Effects of NO3- stress on photosynthetic characteristics and nitrogen metabolism of strawber- ry seedlings].

In order to explore the effects of NO3- stress on photosynthetic characteristics and nitrogen metabolism, strawberry seedlings were grown in sand culture condition under different concentrations of NO3- (64, 112 and 160 mmol · L(-1)) with the control of 16 mmol NO3- · L(-1). The results indicated that at the 8th day after treatment, with the increased NO3- concentration, the strawberry leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (g(s)), PS II actual photochemical efficiency (ΦPS II), PS II maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), and photochemical quenching coefficient (q(P)) significantly decreased, and decreased by 67.7%, 68.4%, 35.7%, 23.2% and 26.9%, respectively, when NO3- concentration reached 160 mmol · L(-1) compared with the control. The non-photochemical quenching coefficient (q(N)) increased by 4.4%, 10.9% and 75.8% respectively in the treatments of 64, 112 and 160 mmol NO3- · L(-1) compared with the control. The intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) decreased under low NO3- concentration stress and then increased under high NO3- concentration stress, while the stomatal limitation (Ls) was vice versa. With the increased NO3- concentration, the nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen and Kjeldahl nitrogen contents in the strawberry leaves and roots increased, but the protein nitrogen content decreased. The activities of nitrate reductase (NR) , glutamine sybthetase (GS), glutamate synthase (GOGAT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) increased at low NO3- concentration and then decreased at high NO3 concentration. Consequently, the net photosynthetic rate of strawberry seedling leaves decreased, the PS II electron transfer was blocked, the nitrogen accumulated with the increasing NO3- concentration, and the nitrogen metabolism enzyme activity decreased at high NO3- concentrations. When the NO3- concentration reached 64 mmol · L(-1) or higher in the nutrient solution, the growth of strawberry seedlings were inhibited significantly.

[Exogenous NO mediated GSH-PCs synthesis pathway in tomato under copper stress].

Nitric oxide (NO), as a biologically active molecule, widely involved in the biotic and abiotic stresses. By using solution culture, this paper reported the dynamic changes in enzyme activity and metabolites related to GSH-PCs synthesis way mediated by exogenous NO in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). The results showed that exogenous NO could affect the metabolic pathway of GSH-PCs in tomato seedlings under copper stress. Compared with CK, the activity of γ-ECS and GS was significantly activated, consequently resulting in a sharp rise in GSH and PCs contents in tomato root. Moreover, γ-ECS and GS activity, GSH and PCs contents constantly rise with the extension of processing time under copper stress. Adding exogenous SNP could further improve γ-ECS and GS activity in tomato, and promote the production of GSH and PCs, which contributed to enhancing the ability of removing superoxide and chelating excess Cu2+ to reduce its biological toxicity. To a certain extent, GSH-PCs metabolic changes in leaf lagged behind that in roots. Exogenous BSO could significantly inhibit γ-ECS activity, and applying SNP could significantly reverse the inhibition on GSH and PCs synthesis by BSO. BSO had little effects on PCs content in leaf. Under copper stress, exogenous NO may initiate a signal mechanism and reduce the biotoxicity and oxidative damage caused by excessive Cu2+ by activating or enhancing the enzymatic and non-enzymatic systems in the GSH-PCs synthesis path.

[Effects of exogenous nitric oxide on ascorbate-glutathione cycle in tomato seedlings roots under copper stress].

By using solution culture method, this paper studied the effects of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) on the antioxidants and antioxidases in the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. ) seedling roots under copper stress.Exogenous NO could affect the metabolic cycle of AsA-GSH in tomato roots under copper stress. Applying appropriate amount of exogenous NO increased the AsA and GSH contents, AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG ratios, and decreased the DHA and GSSG contents in tomato roots under copper stress. With the addition of 100 micro mol L-1 of BSO, exogenous NO increased the AsA content, AsA/DHA ratio, and the AAO, MDHAR, and DHAR activities, and decreased the DHA, GSH, and GSSG contents and the APX and GR activities. When 250 micro mol L-1 of BSO was added, exogenous NO increased the contents of AsA, GSH, and GSSG, AsA/DHA ratio, and the activities of APX and GR, and decreased the DHA content and the AAO, DHAR and MDHAR activities. It was suggested that exogenous NO could affect the metabolic cycle of AsA-GSH in tomato roots under copper stress, and mitigate the damage of copper stress to tomato roots via regulating the AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG ratios to alleviate oxidative stress.

Effect of flow on endothelial endocytosis of nanocarriers targeted to ICAM-1.

Delivery of drugs into the endothelium by nanocarriers targeted to endothelial determinants may improve treatment of vascular maladies. This is the case for intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), a glycoprotein overexpressed on endothelial cells (ECs) in many pathologies. ICAM-1-targeted nanocarriers bind to and are internalized by ECs via a non-classical pathway, CAM-mediated endocytosis. In this work we studied the effects of endothelial adaptation to physiological flow on the endocytosis of model polymer nanocarriers targeted to ICAM-1 (anti-ICAM/NCs, ~180 nm diameter). Culturing established endothelial-like cells (EAhy926 cells) and primary human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) under 4 dyn/cm(2) laminar shear stress for 24 h resulted in flow adaptation: cell elongation and formation of actin stress fibers aligned to the flow direction. Fluorescence microscopy showed that flow-adapted cells internalized anti-ICAM/NCs under flow, although at slower rate versus non flow-adapted cells under static incubation (~35% reduction). Uptake was inhibited by amiloride, whereas marginally affected by filipin and cadaverine, implicating that CAM-endocytosis accounts for anti-ICAM/NC uptake under flow. Internalization under flow was more modestly affected by inhibiting protein kinase C, which regulates actin remodeling during CAM-endocytosis. Actin recruitment to stress fibers that maintain the cell shape under flow may delay uptake of anti-ICAM/NCs under this condition by interfering with actin reorganization needed for CAM-endocytosis. Electron microscopy revealed somewhat slow, yet effective endocytosis of anti-ICAM/NCs by pulmonary endothelium after i.v. injection in mice, similar to that of flow-adapted cell cultures: ~40% (30 min) and 80% (3 h) internalization. Similar to cell culture data, uptake was slightly faster in capillaries with lower shear stress. Further, LPS treatment accelerated internalization of anti-ICAM/NCs in mice. Therefore, regulation of endocytosis of ICAM-1-targeted nanocarriers by flow and endothelial status may modulate drug delivery into ECs exposed to different physiological (capillaries vs. arterioles/venules) or pathological (ischemia, inflammation) levels and patterns of blood flow.

[Effects of exogenous nitric oxide on the subcellular distribution and chemical forms of copper in tomato seedlings under copper stress].

A nutrient solution culture experiment was conducted to study the effects of exogenous NO donor (sodium nitroprusside) on the subcellular distribution and chemical form of copper (Cu) in tomato seedlings under the stress of 50 micromol x L(-1) of Cu2+ (CuCl2). Under this stress, the biomass and plant height of tomato seedlings decreased by 33.7% and 23.1%, respectively. Exogenous NO alleviated this inhibition effect significantly, but the Cu concentration and accumulation in the seedling organs still had a significant increase. Under the Cu stress, the Cu concentration and accumulation in the seedling organs were in the order of root > leaf > stem > petiole. Exogenous NO limited the absorbed Cu transferred from root to shoot, but could not remove this translocation. Exogenous NO increased the Cu concentration in vacuole and cell wall significantly, and decreased the Cu concentration in organelle, which lessened the damage of Cu on the regular metabolic balance in cytoplasm and increased the tolerance of organelle against Cu. Exogenous NO increased the acetic acid-extractable Cu (F(HAc)) in root, sodium chloride-extractable Cu (F(NaCl)) in stem, F(HAc) in petiole, and ethanol-extractable Cu (F(E)) and F(NaCl) in leaf, while decreased the concentration and distribution of water-extractable Cu (F(W)) in different organs, which efficiently reduced the bio-toxicity of excessive copper.

[Effects of exogenous nitric oxide on active oxygen metabolism and photosynthetic characteristics of tomato seedlings under cadmium stress].

A hydroponic experiment was conducted to study the effects of exogenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, on the active oxygen metabolism and photosynthetic characteristics of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedlings under Cd stress. The results showed that under the stress, applying 100 micromol x L(-1) SNP promoted the activities of plant superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) significantly, increased the leaf- and root calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) contents and the leaf chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate (P(n)), transpiration rate (T(r)), and stomatal conductance (G(s)), and decreased the contents of H2O2 and MDA and the concentration of intercellular CO2 (C(i)). The addition of hemoglobin, a NO scavenger, eliminated the effects of SNP, while applying 100 micromol x L(-1) sodium nitrate or nitrite (the decomposition products of NO or its donor SNP) or 100 micromol x L(-1) sodium ferrocyanide (an analog of SNP) had no significant alleviation effects on Cd stress. This study suggested that exogenous NO could promote the scavenging of reactive oxygen, keep the mineral nutrition in balance, and alleviate the damage of Cd stress to the leaf photosynthetic apparatus, making the tomato seedlings preserve their photosynthetic efficiency.

Endothelial targeting of high-affinity multivalent polymer nanocarriers directed to intercellular adhesion molecule 1.

Targeting of diagnostic and therapeutic agents to endothelial cells (ECs) provides an avenue to improve treatment of many maladies. For example, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), a constitutive endothelial cell adhesion molecule up-regulated in many diseases, is a good determinant for endothelial targeting of therapeutic enzymes and polymer nanocarriers (PNCs) conjugated with anti-ICAM (anti-ICAM/PNCs). However, intrinsic and extrinsic factors that control targeting of anti-ICAM/PNCs to ECs (e.g., anti-ICAM affinity and PNC valency and flow) have not been defined. In this study we tested in vitro and in vivo parameters of targeting to ECs of anti-ICAM/PNCs consisting of either prototype polystyrene or biodegradable poly(lactic-coglycolic) acid polymers (approximately 200 nm diameter spheres carrying approximately 200 anti-ICAM molecules). Anti-ICAM/PNCs, but not control IgG/PNCs 1) rapidly (t1/2 approximately 5 min) and specifically bound to tumor necrosis factor-activated ECs in a dose-dependent manner (Bmax approximately 350 PNC/cell) at both static and physiological shear stress conditions and 2) bound to ECs and accumulated in the pulmonary vasculature after i.v. injection in mice. Anti-ICAM/PNCs displayed markedly higher EC affinity versus naked anti-ICAM (Kd approximately 80 pM versus approximately 8 nM) in cell culture and, probably because of this factor, higher value (185.3 +/- 24.2 versus 50.5 +/- 1.5% injected dose/g) and selectivity (lung/blood ratio 81.0 +/- 10.9 versus 2.1 +/- 0.02, in part due to faster blood clearance) of pulmonary targeting. These results 1) show that reformatting monomolecular anti-ICAM into high-affinity multivalent PNCs boosts their vascular immuno-targeting, which withstands physiological hydrodynamics and 2) support potential anti-ICAM/PNCs utility for medical applications.

The in vivo degradation, absorption and excretion of PCL-based implant.

The in vivo degradation of poly (epsilon-caprolactone)(PCL) was observed for 3 years in rats. The distribution, absorption and excretion of PCL were traced in rats by radioactive labeling. The results showed that PCL capsules with initial molecular weight (Mw) of 66000 remained intact in shape during 2-year implantation. It broke into low molecular weight (Mw=8000) pieces at the end of 30 months. The Mw of PCL deceased with time and followed a linear relationship between logMw and time. Tritium-labeled PCL (Mw 3000) was subcutaneous implanted in rats to investigate its absorption and excretion. The radioactive tracer was first detected in plasma 15 days after implantation. At the same time radioactive excreta was recovered from feces and urine. An accumulative 92% of the implanted radioactive tracer was excreted from feces and urine by 135 days after implantation. In the mean while, the plasma radioactivity dropped to the background level. Radioactivity in the organs was all close to the background level confirming that the material did not cumulate in body tissue and could be completely excreted.