Saline and Alkaline tolerance of wetland plants — what are the most representative evaluation indicators?

The increasing discharge of wastewater containing inorganic salts, sometimes accompanied by high pH, has been a worldwide environmental problem. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are considered a viable technology for treating saline and/or alkaline wastewater provided that saline-alkaline tolerant plant species are selected and applied. The influence of both saline and alkaline stress on four wetland plant species during their seed germination, early growth, vegetative propagation and continued growth stages was evaluated by three experiments. Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted for selecting representative indicators for evaluating the saline and alkaline tolerance of plants during vegetative propagation and plant growth stages. The saline and alkaline stress inhibited the vegetative propagation and plant growth of all tested plant species to varying degrees, therein the influences of saline-alkaline stress on plants were more marked than saline stress. The length of new roots, Na+ accumulation in plant tissue, Na+/K+ ratios in aerial tissue and the total dry biomass were selected as most representative indicators for evaluating the saline and alkaline tolerance of plants. Iris sibirica and Lythrum salicaria showed better saline and alkaline tolerance ability among tested species and could be grown in CWs for treating saline and/or alkaline wastewater

Sal003 alleviated intervertebral disc degeneration by inhibiting apoptosis and extracellular matrix degradation through suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway in rats

Apoptosis and extracellular matrix degradation of the nucleus pulposus are the main initiators of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) and can be explained by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Thus, pharmacological therapy aimed at suppressing this pathway may be a promising approach for the management of intervertebral disc degeneration. In this study, we aimed to explore the protective effects of Sal003 against intervertebral disc degeneration and its underlying mechanisms. Thapsigargin (Tg)-stimulated rat nucleus pulposus cells and a needle puncture-induced intervertebral disc degeneration rat model were used to explore the protective effects of Sal003. Our results showed that Sal003 inhibited apoptosis and extracellular matrix degradation by suppressing the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway. The therapeutic effects of Sal003 were also observed in the intervertebral disc degeneration rat model, as evidenced by improved degeneration along with decreased apoptosis and extracellular matrix degradation in intervertebral discs. Our results demonstrated Sal003 as a potential treatment for intervertebral disc degeneration

Microorganisms in coastal wetland sediments: a review on microbial community structure, functional gene, and environmental potential

Coastal wetlands (CW) are the junction of the terrestrial and marine ecosystems and have special ecological compositions and functions, which are important for maintaining biogeochemical cycles. Microorganisms inhabiting in sediments play key roles in the material cycle of CW. Due to the variable environment of CW and the fact that most CW are affected by human activities and climate change, CW are severely degraded. In-depth understanding of the community structure, function, and environmental potential of microorganisms in CW sediments is essential for wetland restoration and function enhancement. Therefore, this paper summarizes microbial community structure and its influencing factors, discusses the change patterns of microbial functional genes, reveals the potential environmental functions of microorganisms, and further proposes future prospects about CW studies. These results provide some important references for promoting the application of microorganisms in material cycling and pollution remediation of CW

Distribution Characteristics of Organochlorine Pesticides in Western Songnen Plain, China

Concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexane (BHC) metabolites and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) derivatives in the soil, runoff from paddy and dry land as well. as mallard eggs in western Songnen Plain were invesdgated. The concentrations of BHC and DDT in soil and runoff were low and beta-BHC accountin gfor 73.5%-99.5% of the total BHC concentrations was the main metabolite of BHC in runoff, and four metabolites descended in the order; beta>alpha>gamma>delta. DDT is still used locally as p, p'-DDT was detected in the study area. Dissoluble fraction was the dominant form of metabolites and derivatives, and the particle size of suspended substance had significant effect on the pesticide residues in runoff. There were organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) accumulated in the mallard eggs in Songnen Plain, and the residue levels of OCPs were at the same order of magnitude as that in topsoil and suspended substance, but one order of magnitude higher than that of runoff and return flow in farmland. For organism, especially benthon, DDT concentrations posed low ecological risk, while BHC had potential ecological risk in suspended substance of return flow in paddy field

Snowmelt Runoff: A New Focus of Urban Nonpoint Source Pollution

Irregular precipitation associated with global climate change had been causing various problems in urban regions. Besides the runoff due to rainfall in summer, the snowmelt runoff in early spring could also play an important role in deteriorating the water quality of the receiving waters. Due to global climate change, the snowfall has increased gradually in individual regions, and snowstorms occur more frequently, which leads to an enhancement of snowmelt runoff flow during the melting seasons. What is more, rivers just awaking from freezing cosntitute a frail ecosystem, with poor self-purification capacity, however, the urban snowmelt runoff could carry diverse pollutants accumulated during the winter, such as coal and/or gas combustion products, snowmelting agents, automotive exhaust and so on, which seriously threaten the receiving water quality. Nevertheless, most of the research focused on the rainfall runoff in rainy seasons, and the study on snowmelt runoff is still a neglected field in many countries and regions. In conclusion, due to the considerable water quantity and the worrisome water quality, snowmelt runoff in urban regions with large impervious surface areas should be listed among the important targets in urban nonpoint source pollution management and control