Effects of mucor mucedo on corncob decomposition in pyr-contaminated soil remediation

The effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and highly effective degradation fungi Mucor mucedo (MU) was studied on corncob decomposition in Pyr-contaminated soil for 120 days to identify the impact of a degradable immobilized carrier on the remediation of soil contaminated by persistent organic pollutants. Results showed that the corncob was mainly composed of hemicelluloses, cellulose, and water dissolved (WD) material, which accounted for 85 percent of its total weight. MU addition significantly affected corncob decomposition. Thus, humic acid production and WD and benzene-ethanol dissolved material degradation increased. The peaking of the WD content was delayed for 30 days or more. The extractable pyrene content positively correlated with the WD content in the corncob during the decomposition. These results theoretically support a refined remediation principle of immobilized microorganisms.

Lipid abundance in zebrafish embryos is regulated by complementary actions of the endocannabinoid system and retinoic acid pathway

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) and retinoic acid (RA) signaling have been associated with influencing lipid metabolism. We hypothesized that modulation of these pathways could modify lipid abundance in developing vertebrates and that these pathways could have a combinatorial effect on lipid levels. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to chemical treatments altering the activity of the ECS and RA pathway. Embryos were stained with the neutral lipid dye Oil-Red-O (ORO) and underwent whole-mount in situ hybridization. Mouse 3T3-L1 fibroblasts were differentiated under exposure to RA modulating chemicals and subsequently stained with ORO and analyzed for gene expression by qRT-PCR. ECS activation and RA exposure increased lipid abundance and the expression of lipoprotein lipase. Additionally, RA treatment increased expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha. Both ECS receptors and RA receptor subtypes were separately involved in modulating lipid abundance. Finally, increased ECS or RA activity ameliorated the reduced lipid abundance caused by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) inhibition. Therefore, the ECS and RA pathway influence lipid abundance in zebrafish embryos and have an additive effect when treated simultaneously. Furthermore, we demonstrated that these pathways act downstream or independently of PPARγ to influence lipid levels. Our study shows for the first time that the RA and ECS pathways have additive function in lipid abundance during vertebrate development.

Shareholder class actions - a critical analysis of the procedure under Part IVA of the Federal Court of Australia Act

Part IVA of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1974 (C’th) governs the class action procedure, which has been available in Australia since March 1992. The procedure was not popular amongst the shareholders until in the late 1990s, and since then the number of shareholder class actions has steadily increased. Many of these shareholder class actions settled before a final court hearing. This article critically examines the class action procedure and in doing so, it highlights the current issues that contribute to a rapid rise in shareholder class actions. The article calls for reform to the class action procedure. It identifies areas for reform in an attempt to improve the position of the group members so that they can receive a better outcome than what they can get under the current class action model.

Enzymes for food waste remediation and valorisation

Industrial food processing operations are among the largest contributors of environmental waste. The use of enzymes in food waste remediation and valorisation is the central theme of this chapter. Specifically, the chapter first discusses the sources and values of food waste in food supply chains. Different strategies for bioremediation of wastewater using enzymes are then reviewed. The last part of the chapter focuses on waste valorisation—how to turn food waste into valuable products using enzymes—including a discussion of emerging trends in this field.

Antidepressant actions of lateral habenula deep brain stimulation differentially correlate with CaMKII/GSK3/AMPK signaling locally and in the infralimbic cortex

High frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the lateral habenula (LHb) reduces symptoms of depression in severely treatment-resistant individuals. Despite the observed therapeutic effects, the molecular underpinnings of DBS are poorly understood. This study investigated the efficacy of high frequency LHb DBS (130Hz; 200μA; 90μs) in an animal model of tricyclic antidepressant resistance. Further, we reported DBS mediated changes in Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKIIα/β), glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3α/β) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) both locally and in the infralimbic cortex (IL). Protein expressions were then correlated to immobility time during the forced swim test (FST). Antidepressant actions were quantified via FST. Treatment groups comprised of animals treated with adrenocorticotropic hormone alone (ACTH; 100μg/day, 14days, n=7), ACTH with active DBS (n=7), sham DBS (n=8), surgery only (n=8) or control (n=8). Active DBS significantly reduced immobility in ACTH-treated animals (p<0.05). For this group, western blot results demonstrated phosphorylation status of LHb CaMKIIα/β and GSK3α/β significantly correlated to immobility time in the FST. Concurrently, we observed phosphorylation status of CaMKIIα/β, GSK3α/β, and AMPK in the IL to be negatively correlated with antidepressant actions of DBS. These findings suggest that activity dependent phosphorylation of CaMKIIα/β, and GSK3α/β in the LHb together with the downregulation of CaMKIIα/β, GSK3α/β, and AMPK in the IL, contribute to the antidepressant actions of DBS.

Mood regulatory actions of nucleus accumbens deep brain stimulation

The mood regulatory mechanisms of deep brain stimulation (DBS)therapy are yet to be fully understood. DBS is shown to have antidepressant actions in severe, treatment-resistant depression (TRD).Interestingly, DBS of mesoaccumbens neurologic targets, includingthe nucleus accumbens (NAc), have also been shown to induce mania in vulnerable individuals. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a critical node in the mesocorticolimbic system and plays a major role in mediating antidepressant behavioral responses in the forced swim test (FST), a preclinical screen for antidepressant efficacy. This study investigates the antidepressant effects of NAc DBS in an established animal model of TRD. Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: TRD-DBS (n = 9), TRD-Sham (n = 8), TRD (n = 10), and Control (n = 10). Bilateral stimulating electrodes were implanted into the NAc of TRD-Sham and TRD-DBS animals. Antidepressant-resistance and depression behaviors were induced through adrenocorticotropic-hormone (ACTH-(1–24); 100 lg/day; 2nd and 3rd weeks) administration and concurrent social isolation (all 3 weeks) respectively. DBS was administered throughout the 2nd week of ACTH treatment via a back mounted rodent DBS system. 24-hour locomotor activity counts were obtained using infrareddetectors and weekly sucrose preference tests were performedthroughout the 3 week protocol. Open field and FST were completedat the end of the 3 weeks. Brains were then removed and stored at 80°C. NAc tissue levels of brain-derived and glialderived neurotrophic factors (BDNF and GDNF, respectively) were quantified using western blot. Results demonstrate significant increases in locomotor activity for TRD-DBS animals (DBS-Vs-Sham: p = 0.0248). Lowered immobility was observed during FST for TRD-DBS animals (DBS-Vs-Sham: p = 0.0188). ACTHinduced BDNF expression increased in the outer region substructure NAc-shell (p = 0.0487) and decreased in the inner region substructure NAc-core (p = 0.0275) compared to controls. These datasupport antidepressant actions of NAc DBS in TRD. Local changes in neurotrophic factors may contribute to these mechanisms. Importantly, observed increases in locomotor activity over the 3 weeks highlight the potential for mesoaccumbens DBS to impact behaviors such as locomotor activity which may contribute to risk for induction of mania. Preliminary analysis of concurrent effects of daily dopamine reuptake inhibitor GBR12909 (16 mg/kg) administration coupled with NAc DBS demonstrates dopamine-mediated augmentation of these mania-like behaviors.

Assessment of a six-week computer-based remediation program for social cognition in chronic schizophrenia

Background: Programs to remediate cognitive deficits have shown promising results in schizophrenia, but remediation of social cognition deficits is less well understood. Social cognitive deficits may cause more disability than the widely recognized neurocognitive deficits, suggesting that this is an area worthy of further investigation. Aim: Implement and evaluate a brief computerized cognitive remediation program designed to improve memory, attention, and facial affect recognition (FAR) in outpatients with chronic schizophrenia.

Methods: Baseline assessments of FAR and of clinical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning were completed on 20 males with schizophrenia enrolled in an outpatient rehabilitation program at the Shanghai Mental Health Center (the intervention group) and on 20 males with schizophrenia recruited from among regular outpatients at the Center (the control group). Both groups received treatment as usual, but the intervention group also completed an average of 12.7 sessions of a computer-based remediation program for neurocognitive, social, and FAR functioning over a 6-week period. The baseline measures were repeated in both groups at the end of the 6-week trial.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the changes in clinical symptoms (assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, PANSS) or cognitive measures (assessed using the Hong Kong List Learning Test and the Letter-Number Sequencing Task) between the intervention and control groups over the 6-week trial, but there were modest improvements on the PANSS for the intervention group between baseline and after the intervention. There was a significantly greater improvement in the social functioning measure (the Personal and Social Performance scale, PSP) in the intervention group than in the control group. The pre-post change in the total facial recognition score in the intervention group was statistically significant (paired t-test=-2.60, p=0.018), and there was a statistical trend of a greater improvement in facial recognition in the intervention group than in the control group (F(1,37)=2.93; p=0.092).

Conclusions: Integration of FAR training with a short, computer-administrated cognitive remediation program may improve recognition of facial emotions by individuals with schizophrenia, and, thus, improve their social functioning. But more work on developing the FAR training modules and on testing them in larger, more diverse samples will be needed before this can be recommended as a standard part of cognitive remediation programs.