The impact of former mining activity on soils and plants in the vicinity of an old mercury mine (Vallalta, Belluno, NE Italy)

Exploitation of ore minerals (cinnabar, chalcopyrite, sphalerite) from the old mine in Vallalta (Belluno, NE Italy) has resulted in serious environmental impacts, including the acidification of water, and the contamination of soils and plants. Forty-eight soil samples and four wild plants were examined at four sites in the vicinity of the mine ( Micronutrients Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn showed translocation factors (TFs) of between 0.5 and 1, suggesting that these elements are taken up to a critical concentration and are then arrested in the roots. Iron is less mobile, particularly in C. hirsutum, with the lowest TF of 0.38. The TF for Mn and Hg is >1 in S. nemorum and C. hirsutum; a TF of Soil contamination is confined to the proximity

Harnessing Garlic Extract and AI for Sustainable Disease Mitigation in Aquaculture

This comprehensive study delves into alternative and sustainable disease management in aquaculture, particularly in cultured rabbitfish (Siganus rivulatus) susceptible to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Acknowledging the vulnerabilities in conventional veterinary medications and the need for rapid diagnosis, the research investigates the use of raw garlic extract as a dietary supplement alongside machine learning-based diagnostic methodologies. Using histo-biochemical analyses, the study finds that fish treated with garlic extract showed significant resistance to infection without visible signs of lethality. Furthermore, machine learning classifiers achieved an accuracy rate of 97.2% in distinguishing healthy and infected fish. The study thus provides evidence for garlic's potential role as a sustainable antimicrobial agent, and machine learning's efficacy for rapid, accurate diagnosis

Seagrass as a Bioindicator for Heavy Metal Pollution in Semi-Enclosed Marine Ecosystems

This study delves into utilizing Seagrass as a bioindicator for heavy metal detection in semi-enclosed marine ecosystems, with a specific focus on the Jordanian coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. The research evaluates the relationship between human activities and the responses of marine organisms, employing the seagrass species Halophila stipulacea as a key subject. This research examines the ability of seagrass to sense and respond to environmental changes, particularly in terms of trace metal accumulation. These accumulations serve as indicators of the marine environment's health and the extent of human impact. Observations revealed differences in trace metal concentrations across three distinct habitats. Notably, varying levels of Cadmium (Cd) and Chromium (Cr) were found in seagrass leaves, while Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe) were more prevalent in roots. Increased concentrations of Malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of environmental stress as indicated by lipid peroxidation (LPO), point to a potential link between human activities, such as boating, and the health of seagrass. These findings underscore the complex interactions between marine biology, environmental management, and the innate abilities of organisms to perceive and adapt to changes in their environment. The study bridges the gap in understanding organismal responses to environmental changes and emphasizes the need for ongoing research. Such research is crucial to comprehend the broader effects of environmental shifts on marine life. By continuously monitoring trace metal levels and understanding the responses of seagrass over time, this study lays the groundwork for innovative conservation and management strategies. These strategies are aimed at protecting vital marine environments from the growing impacts of human disturbances

Assess the environmental health status of macrophyte ecosystems using an oxidative stress biomarker. Case studies: The Gulf of Aqaba and the Lagoon of Venice

Abstract The aim of this work was to evaluate the implementation of the oxidative stress biomarker (LPO) for the assessment and monitoring of the ecological status of macrophyte in relation to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the Gulf of Aqaba (Jordan) and the Lagoon of Venice (Italy). Results showed that the anthropic influences related to PTEs of the examined areas are evident. Moreover, changes in the LPO levels can precede significant changes in ecological health status of macrophyte ecosystems that can be used in the future as an early warning tool for the assessment and monitoring of polluted ecosystems worldwide

Hazardous effects of silver nanoparticles for primary producers in transitional water systems: The case of the seaweed Ulva rigida C. Agardh

Abstract The acute toxicity of citrate capped silver nanoparticles (AgNP) and silver nitrate was evaluated on the marine macroalga Ulva rigida C. Agardh (1823). Silver bioaccumulation, ultrastructural chloroplast damages verified by TEM microscopy, inhibition of primary production, neutral lipid production and oxidative stress were observed after 24 h of exposure to AgNP. The toxic effects of silver nitrate in artificial seawater started from a concentration of 0.05 ppm and was more toxic than AgNP that produced effects from a concentration of 0.1 ppm. However only AgNP induced lipid peroxidation in U. rigida. The addition of natural organic and inorganic ligands, represented by transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and clay, drastically reduced AgNP acute toxicity in a ratio AgNP:ligand of 1:100 and 1:200, respectively. The findings suggest a marked toxicity of Ag on marine macroalgae which however should be mitigated by the high natural ligand concentrations of the transitional environments

The exosome and human ribosome biogenesis

Exoribonucleases have many important functions in the cell including RNA processing, turnover and quality control. One of the key 3’-5’ exonucleases is the exosome, a multiprotein complex that has been extensively characterised in yeast. Many substrates that undergo maturation and/or degradation involving the yeast exosome have been identified and these include tRNAs, mRNAs, snRNAs, snoRNAs and rRNAs. By comparison, the human exosome is poorly understood and it is not clear whether functions of the yeast exosome are conserved in higher eukaryotes. We show that the human exosome has degradation functions including the turnover, but not the processing, of snoRNAs and the recycling of excised pre-rRNA fragments. We and others have shown that the human exosome also participates in pre-rRNA processing to form the mature 3’ end of 5.8S rRNA. Here we identify a novel role for the exosome in the processing of the pre-rRNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1). The small (18S) and large (5.8S and 28S) subunit rRNAs are co-transcribed as a single precursor. Processing of ITS1 is a key step in ribosome biogenesis as it separates 18S from the large subunit rRNAs and in higher eukaryotes it involves an additional processing step compared to yeast. We define alternative ITS1 processing pathways in human cells. In the major pathway, following an endonucleolytic cleavage to separate the small and large subunit rRNAs, the exosome, which is not involved in ITS1 processing in yeast, processes to within 25 nucleotides of the 3’ end of 18S. Our data highlight significant differences between the nucleases involved in ITS1 processing in yeast and humans. However, it appears that the roles of several yeast biogenesis factors are conserved in higher eukaryotes. Further, we have investigated mechanisms by which exonucleolytic processing of ITS1 may be regulated and suggest how this could be coordinated with the final maturation steps of the pre-40S complex.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceBBSRCWellcome TrustGBUnited Kingdo

SUBMERGED PEDOLOGY: THE SOILS OF MINOR ISLANDS IN THE VENICE LAGOON

Minor islands of the Venice lagoon are part of a delicate ecosystem, with equilibrium that depends on multiple factors deriving from both the aqueous and the terrestrial compartment, and represent useful indicators of the lagoon ecosystem status. Over centuries, some islands emerged, some others disappeared, others are being submerged in consequence of sea level rise, or are dismantled by marine erosion. Ecological survey and soil sampling evidenced rather homogeneous environment and soil characters, likely due to the same genesis from HTM during centuries, and to environmental conditions such as moisture and brackish groundwater. Four of the examined soils are Inceptisols, while the others present limited horizon differentiation, and are Entisols. All the profiles reflect udic or aquic conditions, and some of them are submerged for most time. Most soils are moderately alkaline (7.9 250 g/kg); organic carbon content at surface is within the normal range (8 <OC g/kg< 12), while at depth it is low (< 8 g/kg). The soils of shallow sandbanks differ from those of the islands having neutral pH (6.6 17 g/kg) and carbonates. Moreover, the textural class is generally silty-loam with increasing clay content with depth. Currently, the soils examined present hydromorphic pedofeatures, which are the result of the most important pedogenic process in the lagoon. Alternating reduction/oxidation processes would increase as a consequence of sea level rise, determining reducing conditions at bottom, and conversely enhancing salt concentration uppermost, with negative consequences for both pedogenic evolution and vegetation survival

Heavy metals accumulation in willows growing on Spolic Technosols from the abandoned Imperina Valley mine in Italy

Human activities such as metals mining and milling operations provide one of the most important sources of contamination in the environment. Abandoned mines can be an important source of toxic elements. The threat of heavy metal pollution posed by mine soils generally concerns more than one metal. The aim of this study was to assess total concentration of six potentially toxic metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn and Fe) in the soil and plant samples of three dominant willow species (Salix purpurea L., Salix caprea L. and Salix eleagnos Scop.) collected from abandoned mixed sulphide mine dumps (Imperina Valley, North-east Italy).Results demonstrate that metal concentrations in soils are in general above the Italian average limits and they are also significantly (except Cr), as compared with controls (p≤0.05), with averages of 2.12mgCdkg-1, 2267mgCukg-1, 9552mgPbkg-1, 1243mgZnkg-1 and 299,973mgFekg-1. The phytoremediation ability of selected Salix species for heavy metals was estimated. The results have revealed significant differences among willow species (p. ≤. 0.05) regardless of the species selected. The transfer factor and bioaccumulation coefficient of selected metals varied among plant species and from different sites. Some of the investigated species have potential for soil stabilization and extraction of heavy metals. The results indicate that there is an increasing need for further research projects mainly focused on the mechanisms whereby such willows are able to survive in contaminated soil