Strategies for remediating polluted soils

Editors: F. A. López, F. Puertas, F. J. Alguacil and A. Guerrero.-- 4 pages, 1 figure.For several years, a group of researchers from several institutions has been evaluating strategies for remediating soils polluted with heavy metals and inorganic compounds (such as salts that separate into their anions and metals). Both these substances may be taken up as mineral nutrients of the plants growing in these soils.This study was funded by the Programa IADES of the Comunidad de Madrid.Peer reviewe

Applicability of wild mushrooms to monitor environmental contamination of europium in Leicester, England

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although the current levels of europium (Eu) in topsoils monitored across Leicestershire (UK) did not represent an oral/dermal toxic risk for the population, wild mushrooms were collected in the same areas to gain a better picture of its environmental distribution and risks. METHOD: 106 mushrooms were collected from Leicester city and Bradgate Park, and species were identified by DNA barcoding. Eu was monitored by ICP-MS in cleaned/dried/homogenised mushrooms [LoD=0.00056 µg/g dry weight (dw)] and in 850 topsoils collected in these areas. RESULTS: Eu concentrations were higher in mushrooms collected in urban areas, although without significance (median and ranges, in µg/g dw): 0.0016 (0.0004-0.2891) vs. 0.0013 (0.00036-0.0529), which might be attributed to fertilisers. However, levels of Eu varied between mushrooms collected across the four cardinal subareas in which the city was divided (p-value=7E-9), which might indicate differences in urbanisation, as Eu is used in flat screen displays and optical fibres. Although a correlation between the content of Eu in mushrooms and their respective topsoil/subareas was not found, a similar distribution was found. Thus, significantly higher median concentrations of Eu were found in the NE (0.0047, 0.8110) and lower in the NW (0.00087, 0.5960), in mushrooms and topsoils (all in µg/g dw and µg/g, respectively). Moreover, Eu significantly varied between the three main mushroom species collected (ranges, in µg/g dw; p-value=7E-15): Agaricus bitorquis (edible; 0.00079-0.00706), Panaeolus foenisecii (poisonous; 0.00104-0.17146) and Mycena citrinomarginata (unclassified; 0.00123-0.07117). Moreover, Eu was only detected in 54.5% of the A. bitorquis samples, although detected in all the other main species collected. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of Eu found were similar/lower than those reported in other major monitoring studies performed in other European countries, suggesting that the environmental presence of Eu would represent a minimal risk for Leicestershires population, including those individuals that pick up wild mushrooms for consumption

Characterization of bacterial communities associated with Brassica napus L. growing on a Zn-contaminated soil and their effects on root growth

peerreview_statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope. aims_and_scope_url: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=bijp20The attached document is the author's final accepted/submitted version of the journal article. You are advised to consult the publisher's version if you wish to cite from it

Aging in Male Wistar Rats Associates with Changes in Intestinal Microbiota, Gut Structure, and Cholecystokinin-Mediated Gut-Brain Axis Function

Aging in mammals is characterized by failure of the homeostatic mechanisms that regulate energy balance. Several mechanisms have been proposed such as the presence of a low-grade chronic inflammation in different tissues, as well as leptin and insulin resistance, but the primary alteration is not fully elucidated. The gut microbiota has recently emerged as a key player in a variety of metabolic and neurological disorders. A main concept in this context is the gut–brain axis that refers to alterations in the gut that mediate effects in the central nervous system, including those related with the control of energy balance. Using 16S rRNA analysis, we demonstrate that aged male Wistar rats have increased presence of mucin-degrading and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-producing bacteria. In addition, old animals exhibit a lower number of neutral mucin secreting goblet cells, and a decrease of tight junctions and adherens junctions marker proteins, zonula occludens protein-1 (ZO-1) and β-catenin, respectively. These data are compatible with a thinner mucus layer and a weaker gut barrier in older animals that likely facilitate LPS leakage. Our data also show that cholecystokinin (CCK) satiating effect is impaired in aged rats, one of the expected effects of increased LPS leakage. In contrast, no overt signs of gut or systemic inflammation are observed. Changes in microbiota in old male Wistar rats present features of situations of increased adiposity, but different from those of obese animals. These could partly explain the increased adiposity and fat deposition in liver and heart as observed here.Spanish Government (grants BFU2008-04901-C03-01/BFI to J.M.C., BIO2016-76601-C3-2-R to M.F.-L., and RTI2018-094052-B-100 [MCI/AEI/FEDER, UE to A.M.V.] and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas (Instituto de Salud Carlos III) and Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (grants S2010/BMD-2423 to J.M.C., F.E., L.G.G., and A.M.V. and S2017/BMD-3684 to F.E. and A.M.V.). C.R. was supported by a predoctoral aid from Spanish Government. The Centro de Biología Molecular is recipient of institutional aids from Banco de Santander and Ramón Areces Foundation

The architectural drawing: a method of building analysis, a study of unique buildings

The aim of this educational innovation project is the study of the interesting building. In this case the exercises are focused in those similar tasks being currently performed by professionals. The detailed study of a building makes easier the understanding of it, as well as to analyze the building in all its dimensions. First of all, an initial assessment about knowledge and skills of the new students will be performed for the purpose of achieving an optimal adaptation. 1.-The Goals are: Study and analysis of interesting buildings ; Building as a study element for the future professionals in Building ; Analysis of the building elements like educational models, and documentation to be issued for educational purposes. 2. Description of the project and outcome phases Actions: An architectural survey (elevations and sections) of the Unique buildings will be produced ; - The selected buildings will be a nalyzed by producing the plans. Our plan is to use these types of activities to make the students perform similar works to those performed by professionals. In order to encourage the student s to participate in the educational process the following activities are proposed: a) With the aim students can get a better understanding on their achievements we address: - To do a self assessment; -To evaluate the exercises of other mates; -To comment corrections in public presentations; b) To motivate students for documenting the different topics of the subject program ; c) To identify practical exercises; d) To produce practical exercises; e) To increase the awareness of the students at the required exigency level as well as to be aware of their own failures; f) To gain a clear view of the objectives; g) To get a higher level of involvement and participation by the students; h) To acquire skills on finding and selecting, with valuable criteria the useful sources of information; i) To propose the elaboration of a monographic work to be realized in a team of students; j) To computerize the studied models for their publication in the existing educational platforms for the students. A subsequent application of them in the learning program of the Architectural Drawing I and II subjects ; k) To produce open information repositories to be available in the educational platforms. 3. Expected results: To improve and promote the team work in order to increase the exchange of knowledge’s and promote the integration of students in their future professional life. Incorporation of new t echnologies in the learning by: Applying new educational and assessment methodologies to be applied to the students and their works. We intend to continue progressing towards the convergence to the European Space of Higher Education. - The study of singular buildings and their realization on technical drawings by using learning systems with progressive difficulty level; This will allow extending the exercises in the program subject in the area of technical drawing systems and plans survey. This will help the student to know his city and is excellent way of helping us to bring students closer to the professional work, and thus making easier access to a job. What it is the fundamental objective of the university studies

The architectural drawing: a method of building analysis, a study of unique buildings

The aim of this educational innovation project is the study of the interesting building. In this case the exercises are focused in those similar tasks being currently performed by professionals. The detailed study of a building makes easier the understanding of it, as well as to analyze the building in all its dimensions. First of all, an initial assessment about knowledge and skills of the new students will be performed for the purpose of achieving an optimal adaptation. 1.-The Goals are: Study and analysis of interesting buildings ; Building as a study element for the future professionals in Building ; Analysis of the building elements like educational models, and documentation to be issued for educational purposes. 2. Description of the project and outcome phases Actions: An architectural survey (elevations and sections) of the Unique buildings will be produced ; - The selected buildings will be a nalyzed by producing the plans. Our plan is to use these types of activities to make the students perform similar works to those performed by professionals. In order to encourage the student s to participate in the educational process the following activities are proposed: a) With the aim students can get a better understanding on their achievements we address: - To do a self assessment; -To evaluate the exercises of other mates; -To comment corrections in public presentations; b) To motivate students for documenting the different topics of the subject program ; c) To identify practical exercises; d) To produce practical exercises; e) To increase the awareness of the students at the required exigency level as well as to be aware of their own failures; f) To gain a clear view of the objectives; g) To get a higher level of involvement and participation by the students; h) To acquire skills on finding and selecting, with valuable criteria the useful sources of information; i) To propose the elaboration of a monographic work to be realized in a team of students; j) To computerize the studied models for their publication in the existing educational platforms for the students. A subsequent application of them in the learning program of the Architectural Drawing I and II subjects ; k) To produce open information repositories to be available in the educational platforms. 3. Expected results: To improve and promote the team work in order to increase the exchange of knowledge’s and promote the integration of students in their future professional life. Incorporation of new t echnologies in the learning by: Applying new educational and assessment methodologies to be applied to the students and their works. We intend to continue progressing towards the convergence to the European Space of Higher Education. - The study of singular buildings and their realization on technical drawings by using learning systems with progressive difficulty level; This will allow extending the exercises in the program subject in the area of technical drawing systems and plans survey. This will help the student to know his city and is excellent way of helping us to bring students closer to the professional work, and thus making easier access to a job. What it is the fundamental objective of the university studies