Application of cold-adaptive Pseudomonas sp. SDR4 and Mortierella alpina JDR7 co-immobilized on maize cob in remediating PAH-contaminated freeze-thawed soil

There are large areas of contaminated soils with low- and medium-concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the coldest regions of the earth, potentially threatening ecological safety and human health. Using maize cobs (MC) as the carrier, two cold-adaptive PAHs-degrading microorganisms, bacterial (Pseudomonas sp., SDR4) and fungal (Mortierella alpine, JDR7) strains were co-immobilized. The degradation characteristics of phenanthrene (Phe), pyrene (Pyr) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in freeze-thawed soil by both co-immobilized and free microorganism were studied. The removal rate of Phe, Pyr and BaP using the co-immobilized fungal-bacterial consortium within 60 d was 59.2±3.7%, 46.6±3.3%, and 36.8±2.7%, respectively, which was obviously higher than that of free fungal-bacterial consortium in the same time. Ten percent (w/w) was the optimal amount of inoculum for PAH degradation in the co-immobilized fungal-bacterial consortium. Under low-temperature conditions, when the initial concentration of PAH was between 10-100 mg•kg−1, the immobilized cold-adaptive fungal-bacterial consortium displayed the desired degradation of PAHs. The scanning electronic microscope (SEM) observation and mass transmission showed that the microstructure of co-immobilized mixed system was beneficial to the growth of SDR4 and JDR7 at low temperature. These results imply that the cold-adaptive fungal-bacterial consortium, co-immobilized on MC, has the potential for application in remediating PAH contaminated soil under the freeze-thawing environment

Risk of falls in 4 years of follow-up among Chinese adults with diabetes: findings from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

Objectives This study was to determine the incidence of falls and identify baseline factors increased risk for incident falls over time among people with diabetes.Design This study was a secondary analysis using the baseline and 4 years of follow-up data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).Setting A nationally representative survey of 17 500 Chinese residents aged 45 years and older were recruited in the baseline national survey in 2011. These participants were followed up every 2 years.Participants A total of 1238 middle-aged and older adults with diabetes and no history of falls at baseline were included in the current study.Primary and secondary outcome measures Information on incidence of falls and medical treatment resulting from falls were determined by self-report.Results The findings showed that the incidence of falls was 29.4% during 4 years of follow-up. Participants with incident falls were younger, were more likely to be women, had lower education level and were less likely to be current drinkers. In addition, former drinkers were 2.22 times more likely to fall. Socially active individuals were 47% less likely to fall compared with those without social activities. Every 5 kg increase in grip strength was associated with a 13% lower risk of falls. A 10 mg/dL higher total cholesterol and 1 mg/dL higher blood urea nitrogen were associated with a 4% and 6% higher risk of falls. Finally, participants with depressive symptoms were 1.47 times more likely to fall compared with those without depressive symptoms.Conclusions These findings underscore the importance of developing a fall prevention programme for those with diabetes, and this programme should address potentially modifiable risk factors, including levels of total cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen, social activity, depressive symptoms and grip strength

pH-dependent Cargo Sorting from the Golgi*

The vacuolar proton-translocating ATPase (V-ATPase) plays a major role in organelle acidification and works together with other ion transporters to maintain pH homeostasis in eukaryotic cells. We analyzed a requirement for V-ATPase activity in protein trafficking in the yeast secretory pathway. Deficiency of V-ATPase activity caused by subunit deletion or glucose deprivation results in missorting of newly synthesized plasma membrane proteins Pma1 and Can1 directly from the Golgi to the vacuole. Vacuolar mislocalization of Pma1 is dependent on Gga adaptors although no Pma1 ubiquitination was detected. Proper cell surface targeting of Pma1 was rescued in V-ATPase-deficient cells by increasing the pH of the medium, suggesting that missorting is the result of aberrant cytosolic pH. In addition to mislocalization of the plasma membrane proteins, Golgi membrane proteins Kex2 and Vrg4 are also missorted to the vacuole upon loss of V-ATPase activity. Because the missorted cargos have distinct trafficking routes, we suggest a pH dependence for multiple cargo sorting events at the Golgi

Erratum to: Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition) (Autophagy, 12, 1, 1-222, 10.1080/15548627.2015.1100356

non present