Tolerance Mechanisms in Mercury-exposed Chromolaena Odorata (L.f.) R.M. King Et H. Robinson, a Potential Phytoremediator

Chromolaena odorata (L.f.) R.M. King et H. Robinson plants were grown in Hoagland\u27s solutions with 0.00 ppm and 1.00 ppm Hg(NO3)2. The calcium, magnesium, iron, and sulfur levels in the leaves were found to be not significantly affected by presence of the uptaken Hg2+. The chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll contents of its leaves also remained within normal levels, which may indicate that the photosynthetic machinery of the Hg-exposed C. odorata was unaffected by the presence of Hg2+. The results of the ICP-AES analyses of the Hg2+ contents established the presence of Hg2+ in all the subcellular components obtained from the leaves of the Hg-treated C. odorata plants, and that the ultimate localization of Hg2+ is in the vacuoles. The findings revealed no significant differences in the degree of oxidative injury between the cells from the control and Hg-treated plants, as evidenced by the low lipid peroxidation levels obtained with the TBARS assay. The SH-containing biomolecules that were initially detected through DTNB assay manifested a predominant peak in the RP-HPLC chromatographs of both the control and Hg-treated plants, with their retention times falling within the ranges of GSH, MT, and cysteine standards. However, the concentrations of the GSH- and/or MT-like, Cys-containing biomolecules detected in the leaves of Hg-treated C. odorata plants were ten times higher than those of the control.The findings of this study suggest that the enhanced antioxidative capacity, the production of Hg-binding biomolecules, and the localization of Hg2+ ions ultimately in the vacuoles of the leaves are the mechanisms which bring about Hg2+ tolerance and homeostasis in C. odorata plant. These results indicate that C. odorata is a potentially effective phytoremediator for Hg2+

Quantile regression with interval-censored data in questionnaire-based studies

Interval-censored data can arise in questionnaire-based studies when the respondent gives an answer in the form of an interval without having pre-specified ranges. Such data are called self-selected interval data. In this case, the assumption of independent censoring is not fulfilled, and therefore the ordinary methods for interval-censored data are not suitable. This paper explores a quantile regression model for self-selected interval data and suggests an estimator based on estimating equations. The consistency of the estimator is shown. Bootstrap procedures for constructing confidence intervals are considered. A simulation study indicates satisfactory performance of the proposed methods. An application to data concerning price estimates is presented

Effectiveness of Mobile Phones as Learning Aid among Senior High School Students

Mobile phone usage by students is beneficial and found to have a great impact on students learning. This study assessed the effectiveness of mobile phones as a learning aid among senior high school students. The assessment is based on the dimensions using Gavriel Salomon’s symbol system theory. The study used the descriptive method of research, respondents are randomly selected using the cluster sampling technique. The principal instrument used is the survey questionnaire and a face-to-face survey is conducted. The survey used the 5-point Likert scale. For inferential statistics, the independent t-test is employed to compare the means based on gender. Results yield that there is no significant difference in the scores for males and females in the dimensions such as content, connectivity, and cognitive abilities. There is a significant difference in the dimensions such as convenience and digital literacy. There is no significant difference in the scores for males and females for the overall assessment of the effectiveness of mobile phones as learning aid across dimensions. Gender has no moderating effect. Implications for future research on capability infrastructures both for teachers and students across levels addressing gaps in institutionalizing online education portals/ applications for Filipino learners

Reduction of hexavalent chromium by Ochrobactrum intermedium BCR400 isolated from a chromium-contaminated soil

Hexavalent chromium-resistant Ochrobactrum intermedium BCR400 was isolated from chromium contaminated soil collected from Vadodara, Gujarat. It reduced 100 mg Cr(VI)/L completely in 52 h with initial Cr(VI) reduction rate of 1.98 mg/L/h. The Cr(VI) reduction rate decreased with increase in Cr(VI) concentration from 100 to 500 mg/L. The addition of anthraquinone-2-sulphonic acid (AQS) to culture O. intermedium BCR400 significantly enhanced its chromium reduction rate. The activation energy of AQS-mediated Cr(VI) reduction (120.69 KJ/mol) was 1.1-fold lower than non-mediated Cr(VI) reduction. An increase in the activities of quinone reductase and chromate reductase in cells grown in presence of AQS/AQS + Cr(VI) suggests their role in reduction of Cr(VI) by O. intermedium. Both chromate reductase and quinone reductase activities were FAD independent, required NADH as reductant, displayed maximum activity at pH (7.0) and temperature (30 °C). Thus Cr(VI) bioremediation potential of O. intermedium can be enhanced by augmentation of system with AQS as redox mediator

Quantile regression with interval-censored data in questionnaire-based studies

Interval-censored data can arise in questionnaire-based studies when the respondent gives an answer in the form of an interval without having pre-specified ranges. Such data are called self-selected interval data. In this case, the assumption of independent censoring is not fulfilled, and therefore the ordinary methods for interval-censored data are not suitable. This paper explores a quantile regression model for self-selected interval data and suggests an estimator based on estimating equations. The consistency of the estimator is shown. Bootstrap procedures for constructing confidence intervals are considered. A simulation study indicates satisfactory performance of the proposed methods. An application to data concerning price estimates is presented

Biofilm and related amoebas in an UK chlorinated drinking water system

Drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) can host pathogenic amoebae, but the role of biofilms in supporting the occurrence of these organisms needs to be fully explored in the UK systems. The presence of amoebae and associated bacteria in biofilms attached to inner pipe surfaces was studied in an experimental full-scale chlorinated distribution system in the UK. Quantitative polymerase change reaction (qPCR) was used to identify and quantify amoebae, whilst the bacterial communities in the biofilms were characterised by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Despite the maintenance of a chlorine residual in the network (free chlorine ≥ 0.24 mg/L), several species of amoebae belonging to the genera Acanthamoeba, Vermamoeba, and Naegleria were identified in 30-day-old biofilm samples; however, no amoebae were detected in the water samples analysed. The dominant bacterial communities present in the biofilm samples were Variovorax, Pseudomonas, and Aquabacterium. These results indicate that the biofilm samples contained potential pathogenic amoebae and bacteria, such as Acanthamoeba and Pseudomonas, respectively, which implies a potential public health risk if the biofilms are mobilised into the bulk water. Several of the amoebae identified in this study are able to support the presence of resistant bacteria that can remain viable within these prokaryotic organisms until they reach people’s taps. The identification of the microorganisms associated with the pathogenic amoeba species in biofilms could be used to improve the surveillance of DWDS in order to protect public health

A novel activating anti-beta1 integrin monoclonal antibody binds to the cysteine-rich repeats in the beta1 chain

The functional status of an integrin depends on the conformation of its extracellular domain, which is controlled by the cell expressing that receptor. The transmission of regulatory signals from within the cell is considered to be via propagated conformational changes from the receptor's cytoplasmic tails to the extracellular ligand binding “pocket.” The end result is increased accessibility of the ligand binding pocket in the high affinity (“active”) form of integrins. We report a novel monoclonal antibody (QE.2E5) that binds within the cysteine-rich repeats in the integrin β1 chain and induces high affinity binding of fibronectin to the integrin α5β1. The QE.2E5 epitope is located approximately 200 residues both from the predicted binding site for fibronectin and from the epitopes recognized by other activating anti-β1 monoclonal antibodies. It is also expressed on β1 integrins from a number of nonhuman species. Although they have the same functional effects, the binding of QE.2E5 and another activating antibody (8A2) to the receptor have contrasting effects on the expression of an activation-dependent epitope in the β1 chain. We propose that the cysteine-rich repeats contain a regulatory region that is distinct from those previously described in the integrin β1 chain.Randall J. Faull, Jian Wang, David I. Leavesley, Wilma Puzon, Graeme R. Russ, Dietmar Vestweber and Yoshikazu Takad