Leaf-applied sodium chloride promotes cadmium accumulation in durum wheat grain

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in durum wheat grain is a growing concern. Among the factors affecting Cd accumulation in plants, soil chloride (Cl) concentration plays a critical role. The effect of leaf NaCl application on grain Cd was studied in greenhouse-grown durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. durum, cv. Balcali-2000) by immersing (10 s) intact flag leaves into Cd and/or NaCl-containing solutions for 14 times during heading and dough stages. Immersing flag leaves in solutions containing increasing amount of Cd resulted in substantial increases in grain Cd concentration. Adding NaCl alone or in combination with the Cd-containing immersion solution promoted accumulation of Cd in the grains, by up to 41%. In contrast, Zn concentrations of grains were not affected or even decreased by the NaCl treatments. This is likely due to the effect of Cl complexing Cd and reducing positive charge on the metal ion, an effect that is much smaller for Zn. Charge reduction or removal (CdCl2 0 species) would increase the diffusivity/lipophilicity of Cd and enhance its capability to penetrate the leaf epidermis and across membranes. Of even more significance to human health was the ability of Cl alone to penetrate leaf tissue and mobilize and enhance shoot Cd transfer to grains, yet reducing or not affecting Zn transfer

Divorce reform and the image of the child

This article analyses the images of the child which underpinned debates on the Family Law Act 1996 and which justified particular provisions of that Act in relation to the substantive law and procedure of the divorce process. It argues that, notwithstanding other developing images of the child by the end of the 20th century, the image of the victim was still influential in the passage of legislation

Cadmium in newborns

Cadmium (Cd) is a well-known nephrotoxic environmental contaminant but there are indications that the developing nervous system might be even more sensitive to Cd than the kidneys in adults. Infants are exposed to Cd from various formulas and infant diets and the gastrointestinal Cd uptake is believed to be higher in newborns than in adults. Cd levels monitored in infant foods ranged between 0.74 and 27.0 µg/kg. Cow's milk formulas had the lowest levels and cereal-based formulas had up to 21 times higher mean levels. The mean weekly Cd exposure from the recommended formula intake was calculated to vary between 0.10 and 3.05 µg/kg body weight. Rat pups received an oral dose of 109Cd in water or four different formulas. The whole-body Cd retention was higher in the pups than previously reported in adult animals and highest in the water and in the cow's milk formula groups. The small intestinal Cd retention was high, even 9 days after exposure indicating a long absorption period in the newborns. Cd levels in kidney increased still 12 days after exposure in all diet groups. Piglets received low daily doses of Cd in water or wheat/oat/milk-based follow-up formula. The formula reduced Cd uptake in comparison to water, but the distribution of Cd to the kidneys was unexpectedly higher when Cd was given in formula than in water. Simulated infant digestion of infant foods resulted in lower solubility of Cd compared to adult digestion. In a human Caco-2 cell model, cellular Cd uptake and transport from five different infant food digests was approximately one order of magnitude lower than the solubility and varied between 4-6 % and 1-2 % of the dose, respectively. Binding of Cd to dietary fibres and phytic acid reduces intestinal Cd retention and probably explains the lower Cd bioavailability from cereal-based formulas compared to water or cow's milk formula. The exposure of Cd is higher from infant formulas than from breast milk and age-specific digestion conditions as well as composition of diets affect both the Cd solubility and bioavailability. The calculated Cd intake from recommended amount of infant formulas is below the established provisional tolerable weekly intake, which however, does not include a safety factor and is based on renal effects in adults

Pembangunan CD interaktif pengajaran dan pembelajaran bagi mata pelajaran kemahiran hidup bersepadu tingkatan 2

Kajian ini dijalankan bertujuan untuk membangun dan membuat penilaian ke atas CD Interaktif melalui penggunaan pendekatan strategi pembelajaran tutorial bagi tajuk Ternakan Ikan Air Tawar. CD Interaktif ini disediakan mengikut sukatan pelajaran bagi mata pelajaran Kemahiran Hidup Bersepadu Tingkatan 2. CD Interaktif ini dibangunkan dengan menggunakan perisian Abobe Flash CS6 dengan berasaskan Model ADDIE. Pengujian Alfa dan pengujian Beta telah dilakukan dalam membangunkan CD Interaktif ini. Dalam kajian ini, teknik persampelan bertujuan digunakan dan seramai 3 orang pakar bidang serta 3 orang pakar media terlibat sebagai responden bagi menentukan kebolehfungsian CD Interaktif yang dibangunkan. Bagi mengenal pasti tahap kebolehgunaan CD Interaktif, seramai 103 orang pelajar tingakatan 2 terlibat sebagai responden kajian dengan mengisi borang soal selidik berskala Likert empat mata. Hasil dapatan kajian mendapati, ketiga-tiga orang pakar bidang dan pakar media bersetuju bahawa CD Interaktif ini telah menepati kriteria kebolehfungsian yang telah ditetapkan. Pelajar pula bersetuju bahawa tahap kebolehgunaan CD interaktif ini berada di tahap yang tinggi

X-Ray Probing of the Central Regions of Clusters of Galaxies

Results of ASCA X-ray study of central regions of medium-richness clusters of galaxies are summarized, emphasizing differences between cD and non-cD clusters. The intra-cluster medium (ICM) is likely to consist of two (hot and cool) phases within $\sim 100$ kpc of a cD galaxy, where the ICM metallicity is also enhanced. In contrast, the ICM in non-cD clusters appears to be isothermal with little metallicity gradient right to the center. The gravitational potential exhibits a hierarchical nesting around cD galaxies, while a total mass-density profile with a central cusp is indicated for a non-cD cluster Abell~1060. The iron-mass-to-light ratio of the ICM decreases toward the center in both types of clusters, although it is radially constant in peripheral regions. The silicon-to-iron abundance ratio in the ICM increases with the cluster richness, but remains close to the solar ratio around cD galaxies. These overall results are interpreted without appealing to the popular cooling-flow hypothesis. Instead, an emphasis is put on the halo-in-halo structure formed around cD galaxies.Comment: 22 pages with 9 figures, Latex, accepted to PAS