Valuable alkaloids content is preserved in and grown in trace elements contaminated soil.

Phytoextraction of trace elements (TE) using woody species is an economically challenging soil remediation approach because of the long time needed. Yet, some trees contain alkaloids that can be exploited along structural components to enhance biomass value. As alkaloids are thought to be involved in plant defence mechanisms, we hypothesized that potentially hostile phytoremediation conditions could increase their level.

The use of willow microcuttings for phytoremediation in a copper, zinc and lead contaminated field trial in Shanghai, China.

A phytoremediation approach using willow microcuttings was tested on a large experimental site spiked with Cu, Pb and Zn. The objective was to verify if this approach allows plant establishment and effective extraction of contaminants. The experimental design consisted of four blocks divided into three plots, in which treatments (salts of the three metals) were randomly applied.

Biomass and phytoextraction potential of three ornamental shrub species tested over three years on a large-scale experimental site in Shanghai, China.

Issues related to environmental degradation are of increasing concern worldwide. In urban Shanghai, many plant species used for ornamental purposes grow under harsh conditions yet show good resistance to pollution. Twelve shrub species were tested in a previous study to evaluate their capacity to tolerate and absorb inorganic contaminants.

The Response of a 16S Ribosomal RNA Gene Fragment Amplified Community to Lead, Zinc, and Copper Pollution in a Shanghai Field Trial.

Industrial and agricultural activities have caused extensive metal contamination of land throughout China and across the globe. The pervasive nature of metal pollution can be harmful to human health and can potentially cause substantial negative impact to the biosphere. To investigate the impact of anthropogenic metal pollution found in high concentrations in industrial, agricultural, and urban environments, 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to track change in the amplified microbial community after metal contamination in a large-scale field experiment in Shanghai.

Plant growth and nutrient uptake in treatment wetlands for water with low pollutant concentration.

The objective of this study was to determine how macrophytes commonly used in treatment wetlands (TWs) respond to water with low pollutant concentration. We measured pollutant removal efficiency and compared growth and nutrient uptake of five macrophytes in demonstration scale units (volume >40 m) irrigated by water with pollutant concentrations representative of average urban stormwater quality. All species showed a strong productivity gradient along the beds, starting with high biomass - high density near the inlet, then decreasing progressively with distance.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of soluble CD14 subtype (Presepsin) for sepsis and community-acquired pneumonia in ICU patients.

Background: The soluble CD14 subtype, Presepsin, appears to be an accurate sepsis diagnostic marker, but data from intensive care units (ICUs) are scarce. This study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of Presepsin in ICU patients with severe sepsis (SS), septic shock (SSh) and severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP).

Methods: Presepsin and procalcitonin (PCT) levels were determined for patients at admission to ICU.