Effects of metal lead on growth and mycorrhizae of an invasive plant species (Solidago canadensis L.)

It is less known whether and how soil metal lead （Pb） impacts the invasion of exotic plants. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to estimate the effects of lead on the growth and mycorrhizae of an invasive species （Solidago canadensis L.） in a microcosm system. Each microcosm unit was separated into HOST and TEST compartments by a replaceable mesh screen that allowed arbuscular mycorrhizal （AM） fungal hyphae rather than plant roots to grow into the TEST compartments. Three Pb levels （control, 300, and 600 mg/kg soil） were used in this study to simulate ambient soil and two pollution sites where S. canadensis grows. Mycorrhizal inoculum comprised five indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species （ Glomus mosseae, Glomus versiform, Glomus diaphanum, Glomus geosporum, and Glomus etunicatum）. The ^15N isotope tracer was used to quantify the mycorrhizally mediated nitrogen acquisition of plants. The results showed that S. canadensis was highly dependent on mycorrhizae. The Pb additions significantly decreased biomass and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization （root length colonized, RLC%） but did not affect spore numbers, N （including total N and ^15N） and P uptake. The facilitating efficiency of mycorrhizae on nutrient acquisition was promoted by Pb treatments. The Pb was mostly sequestered in belowground of plant （root and rhizome）. The results suggest that the high efficiency of mycorrhizae on nutrient uptake might give S. canadensis a great advantage over native species in Pb polluted soils.

Influence of Iron Supplementation on DMT1(IRE)-induced Transport of Lead by Brain Barrier Systems in vivo

Objective To investigate the potential involvement of DMT1（IRE） protein in the brain vascular system in vivo during Pb exposure. Methods Three groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to Pb in drinking water, among which two groups were concurrently administered by oral gavage once every other day as the low and high Fe treatment group, respectively, for 6 weeks. At the same time, the group only supplied with high Fe was also set as a reference. The animals were decapitated, then brain capillary-rich fraction was isolate from cerebral cortex. Western blot method was used to identify protein expression, and RT-PCR to detect the change of the m RNA. Results Pb exposure significantly increased Pb concentrations in cerebral cortex. Low Fe dose significantly reduced the cortex Pb levels, However, high Fe dose increased the cortex Pb levels. Interestingly, changes of DMT1（IRE） protein in brain capillary-rich fraction were highly related to the Pb level, but those of DMT1（IRE） m RNA were not significantly different. Moreover, the consistent changes in the levels of p-ERK1/2 or IRP1 with the changes in the levels of DMT1（IRE）. Conclusion These results suggest that Pb is transported into the brain through DMT1（IRE）, and the ERK MAPK pathway is involved in DMT1（IRE）-mediated transport regulation in brain vascular system in vivo.

A barrier to metal movement: Synchrotron study of iron plaque on roots of wetland plants

A wetland with attractive plants hosting birds and other wildlife is an esthetically pleasing prospect that is gaining popularity as a way of stabilizing or remediating metalcontaminated soils and sediment（Weber and Gagnon,2014;

Rapid adsorption of toxic Pb(Ⅱ) ions from aqueous solution using multiwall carbon nanotubes synthesized by microwave chemical vapor deposition technique

Multiwall carbon nanotubes（MWCNTs） were synthesized using a tubular microwave chemical vapor deposition technique, using acetylene and hydrogen as the precursor gases and ferrocene as catalyst. The novel MWCNT samples were tested for their performance in terms of Pb（Ⅱ）binding. The synthesized MWCNT samples were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared（FT-IR）, Brunauer, Emmett and Teller（BET）, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy（FESEM） analysis, and the adsorption of Pb（Ⅱ） was studied as a function of p H,initial Pb（Ⅱ） concentration, MWCNT dosage, agitation speed, and adsorption time, and process parameters were optimized. The adsorption data followed both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. On the basis of the Langmuir model, Qmaxwas calculated to be 104.2 mg/g for the microwave-synthesized MWCNTs. In order to investigate the dynamic behavior of MWCNTs as an adsorbent, the kinetic data were modeled using pseudo first-order and pseudo second-order equations. Different thermodynamic parameters, viz., ΔH0, ΔS0and ΔG0were evaluated and it was found that the adsorption was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The statistical analysis revealed that the optimum conditions for the highest removal（99.9%） of Pb（Ⅱ） are at p H 5, MWCNT dosage 0.1 g, agitation speed 160 r/min and time of 22.5 min with the initial concentration of 10 mg/L. Our results proved that microwave-synthesized MWCNTs can be used as an effective Pb（Ⅱ） adsorbent due to their high adsorption capacity as well as the short adsorption time needed to achieve equilibrium.