Distribution of Rare Earth Elements and Structure Characterization of Chlorophyll-Lanthanum in a Natural Plant Fern Dicranopteris dichotoma

The distribution pattern of La, Ce, Nd, Th, Dy was in the order as leaf > root > stem, that of Pr, Sm, Eu, Cd, Ho, Y was as root > leaf > stem in fern Dicranopteris dichotoma Underw. Light and moderately heavy rare earth elements were easily selectively absorbed and then accumulated by the fern D. dichotoma. Many mainly light rare earth elements are bound to chlorophyll in D. dichotoma. Among the 15 detectable rare earth elements binding to chlorophyll, lanthanum content (50.08 % ) was the highest, and cerium content (19.40%) is the second of all. FXAFS (Fluorescence X-ray absorption fine structure) spectral analysis revealed that lanthanum coordinated 2 porphyrin rings and La-chlorophyll-a may have bilayer structure in D.d/chotoma.     

A new tool for determining degrees of mineralization in fossil amphibian skeletons: The example of the Late Palaeozoic branchiosaurid Apateon from the Autun Basin,France

Studying ontogenetic features of fossil tetrapods is of major interest for investigating the adaptive strategies of early tetrapods to their palaeoenvironments. To determine the degree of calcification of skeletal elements, biologists have until now relied on X-ray radiographs of organisms or isolated bones, or on thin sections. An X-ray tomographic scan of Apateon, a Carboniferous – Permian branchiosaurid from the Autun Basin, France, reveals distinct density properties related to different mineralized tissues (calcified cartilage versus bone). The rendering of Apateon as a “test individual” provides a 3D map of the degrees of ossification of the axial and cranial elements. The combination of these anatomical observations with histological information from classical thin sections made in limb bones of several other specimens of the same locality allows the detailed determination of their ontogenetic stage. A comparison with the well-known specimens of the Saar-Nahe Basin, Germany, makes it possible to investigate the influence of different palaeoenvironments on ontogenetic features.     

茶园土壤类型对铁观音茶叶稀土元素分布和组成的影响

为探明铁观音茶的质量安全状况,追溯隐患来源,对福建安溪县不同土壤茶园的铁观音茶叶进行稀土元素的分布、组成、迁移和富集能力进行研究。结果表明,安溪县红壤、黄红壤、黄壤茶园稀土组成均以镧、铈、钕、钇为主,但具体组成特征各异。3种类型土壤茶园铁观音茶叶片、叶柄稀土元素组成均以钇、镧、铈、钕4种元素为主,且含量均以第3叶第2叶第1叶叶柄。同种土壤类型茶园铁观音茶树不同部位叶片的稀土元素组成特征类似,但叶与叶柄对稀土元素的吸收能力不同。土壤类型对茶叶稀土元素的累积有显著影响,黄红壤茶园的茶叶稀土元素含量要显著低于红壤、黄壤茶园的(P0.05)。土壤与茶叶中稀土元素组成的相关系数为0.886～0.985,P 0.001,表明二者稀土元素组成密切相关。因此,铁观音茶叶中稀土元素累积、分布与茶园土壤类型有显著相关性。     

Taphonomy of the reference Miocene vertebrate mammal site of Cerro de la Garita,Spain

This article reports a detailed taphonomic study of the reference Miocene vertebrate site of Cerro de la Garita, (Concud, Teruel, Spain). The sedimentary record of the site indicates that it was a palaeo‐lakeshore, and this conclusion is supported by aquatic environment‐related taphonomic modifications of its fossils (both on their surfaces and internally). The site provided a water source that appears to have been regularly visited by herbivores. It was, therefore, also likely to have been a good feeding ground for predators and scavengers. Hyaena coprolites have been found at the site, and tooth marks were identified on some fossil bone surfaces. Bone fragments 2–5 cm in length showed clear evidence of heavy digestion and probable regurgitation. Abundant trampling marks were seen on the surface of many of the fossil bones, traits that are congruent with a damp lakeshore environment. Most of the remains were broken, and only a few anatomical elements belonging to the same individual were found close together, although never articulated (i.e. in a manner reflecting their anatomical connections). The fossils showed no signs of selection (either by shape or size) or abrasion, although a certain re‐orientation suggests the influence of wave or strand line activity. Despite being an open‐air site, none of the fossils appeared to be weathered, further suggesting that the surrounding environment was a damp lakeshore probably shaded by vegetation. Indeed, abundant signs of root activity were observed. No evidence of reworking, that is, post‐burial disturbance or diachronic mixing of fossils, was seen, confirming the international value of Cerro de la Garita as a reference site for continental Miocene mammal assemblages.     

Research of the entry of rare earth elements Eu3+ and La3+ into plant cell

Whether rare earth elements can enter into plant cells remains controversial. This article discusses the ultracellular structural localization of lanthanum (La³⁺) and europium (Eu³⁺) in the intact plant cells fed by rare earth elements Eu³⁺ and La³⁺. Eu-TTA fluorescence analysis of the plasmalemma, cytoplast, and mitochondria showed that Eu³⁺ fluorescence intensities in such structures significantly increased. Eu³⁺ can directly enter or be carried by the artificial ion carrier A23187 into plant cells through the calcium ion (Ca²⁺) channel and then partially resume the synthesis of amaranthin in the Amaranthus caudatus growing in the dark. Locations of rare earth elements La³⁺ and Eu³⁺ in all kinds of components of cytoplasmatic organelles were determined with transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The results of energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis indicated that Eu³⁺ and La³⁺ can be absorbed into plant cells and bind to the membranes of protoplasm, chloroplast, mitochondrion, cytoplast, and karyon. These results provide experimental evidence that rare earth elements can be absorbed into plant cells, which would be the basis for interpreting physiological and biochemical effects of rare earth elements on plant cells.     

Evaluation of texture features in spatial and frequency domain for automatic discrimination of histologic tissue

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the applicability of different texture features in automatic discrimination of microscopic views from benign common nevi and malignant melanoma lesions. STUDY DESIGN: In tissue counter analysis (TCA) the images are dissected into square elements used for feature calculation. The first class of features is based on the histogram, the co-occurrence matrix and the texture moments. The second class is derived from spectral properties of the wavelet Daubechie 4 and the Fourier transform. Square elements from images of a training set are classified by Classification and Regression Trees analysis. RESULTS: Features from the histogram and the co-occurrence matrix enable correct classification of 94.7% of nevi elements and 92.6% of melanoma elements in the training set. Classification results are applied to individual test set cases. Discriminant analysis based on the percentage of "malignant elements" showed correct classification of all nevi cases and 95% of melanoma cases. Features derived from the wavelet and Fourier spectrum showed correct results for 88.8% and 79.3% of nevi and 85.6% and 81.5% of melanoma elements, respectively. CONCLUSION: TCA is a potential diagnostic tool in automatic analysis of melanocytic skin tumors. Histogram and co-occurrence matrix features are superior to the wavelet and the Fourier features.     

Local x-ray spectral microanalysis in cell biology. The study of sections of hydrated biological tissues

Rules required for fixation of tissues are considered aimed for a further localization of chemical elements in these tissue by means of local X-ray microanalysis. In addition, difficulties involved in fixation of diffusible elements, such as potassium or sodium, are mentioned. Physical bases of preparation of hydrated tissues for X-ray analysis are discussed.     

天然植物铁芒萁体内稀土元素的分布及其叶绿素镧的结构表征

Ｌａ、Ｃｅ、Ｎｄ、Ｔｂ、Ｄｙ 等稀土元素在铁芒萁（ Ｄｉｃｒａｎｏｐｔｅｒｉｓｄｉｃｈｏｔｏｍａ Ｕｎｄｅｒｗ） 体内的分布规律是叶＞ 根＞ 茎, 而Ｐｒ、Ｓｍ 、Ｅｕ、Ｇｄ、Ｈｏ 和Ｙ等稀土元素在铁芒萁体内的分布规律是根＞ 叶＞ 茎。轻、中稀土元素容易被吸收和积累,并表现出选择性吸收。铁芒萁叶绿素中结合有较多的稀土元素,且主要是轻稀土元素,其中Ｌａ 含量最高,占５６ ．０８％ ,其次是Ｃｅ,占１９ ．４０％ 。利用荧光Ｘ射线吸收精细结构（ＦＸＡＦＳ）光谱表征出,在铁芒萁体内Ｌａ 是与两个卟啉环配位的,推断叶绿素镧为双层结构     

寒武纪早期宽川铺生物群中圆管螺化石显微结构及显微谱学分析

陕南寒武系底部宽川铺组不仅保存了大量的小壳化石,还以磷酸盐化的方式立体保存了多种软躯体动物的胚胎和成体化石,为研究早期动物矿化模式、个体发育方式以及动物躯体构型的早期辐射过程提供了非常关键的信息。然而宽川铺生物群的研究大多聚焦于化石系统分类及亲缘关系探索,对生物群的沉积背景、埋藏过程和保存模式的分析甚少。本文以宽川铺生物群的核心产出层位——陕西省西乡县大河镇宽川铺组下部磷质碎屑灰岩为研究对象,对其中的一类管状化石圆管螺及其围岩进行了显微结构学和显微谱学综合分析,获得了化石显微结构和关键结构对应的元素、矿物成分等信息,讨论了管状化石圆管螺的埋藏过程和保存模式,并在此基础上对其生物学特征进行了初步探讨。该研究对理解宽川铺生物群的埋藏机制提供了新的线索。     

Accumulation of rare earth elements in maize plants (Zea mays L.) after application of mixtures of rare earth elements and lanthanum

Rare earth elements are applied in China to improve crop production, and the distribution patterns of individual rare earth elements in native plants have widely been reported. But our knowledge is still limited about the dose-dependent accumulation of individual rare earth elements in agricultural crops after application of rare earth elements. Effects of lanthanum and mixtures of rare earth elements were studied in pot experiments on the accumulation of individual rare earth elements in maize plants. All plant samples were divided into plant tops and roots. On addition of mixtures of rare earth elements and lanthanum to the soil, a significant dose-dependent accumulation of individual rare earth element(s) was found in the roots and in the plant tops. Application of mixtures of rare earth elements at >10 mg kg^–1 soil, resulted in a significant increase in contents of light rare earth elements in the roots, and at a dose of 50 mg kg^–1 soil, a similar phenomenon was found in the plant tops. When mixtures of rare earth elements were replaced by lanthanum alone, at a dose higher than 10 mg La kg^–1 soil, a significant increase in La content occurred in the roots and in the plant tops. The content ratio of La to Ce in maize plants appeared to increase as the application doses of rare earth element(s) increased. At a highest dose (50 mg kg^–1soil), the transport of the absorbed La from the roots to the plant tops might be substantially reduced after treatment with lanthanum alone, compared with mixtures of rare earth elements. Increasing the application doses of rare earth element(s) appeared to cause a positive Gd and negative Ce anomaly in the roots and in the plant tops, and the anomaly was more obvious in the plant tops than in the roots. The results indicated that the Gd and Ce anomaly in corns might be considered as important parameters for the safety assessment of agricultural application of rare earth elements.     

Exceptional fossil preservation and the cambrian explosion

Exceptionally preserved, non-biomineralizing fossils contributeimportantly to resolving details of the Cambrian explosion,but little to its overall patterns. Six distinct "types" ofexceptional preservation are identified for the terminal Proterozoic-Cambrianinterval, each of which is dependent on particular taphonomiccircumstances, typically restricted both in space and time.Taphonomic pathways yielding exceptional preservation were particularlyvariable through the Proterozoic-Cambrian transition, at leastin part a consequence of contemporaneous evolutionary innovations.Combined with the reasonably continuous record of "Doushantuo-typepreservation," and the fundamentally more robust records ofshelly fossils, phytoplankton cysts and trace fossils, thesetaphonomic perturbations contribute to the documentation ofmajor evolutionary and biogeochemical shifts through the terminalProterozoic and early Cambrian. Appreciation of the relationship between taphonomic pathwayand fossil expression serves as a useful tool for interpretingexceptionally preserved, often problematic, early Cambrian fossils.In shale facies, for example, flattened non-biomineralizingstructures typically represent the remains of degradation-resistantacellular and extracellular "tissues" such as chaetae and cuticles,whereas three-dimensional preservation represents labile cellulartissues with a propensity for attracting and precipitating earlydiagenetic minerals. Such distinction helps to identify theacuticular integument of hyolithids, the chaetae-like natureof Wiwaxia sclerites, the chaetognath-like integument of Amiskwia,the midgut glands of various Burgess Shale arthropods, and themisidentification of deposit-feeding arthropods in the Chengjiangbiota. By the same reasoning, putative lobopods in the SiriusPasset biota and putative deuterostomes in the Chengiang biotaare better interpreted as arthropods.     

New Silurian cooksonias from dolostones of north-eastern North America

New specimens of Cooksonia and Hostinella are described from the Bertie Group of Ontario and New York State, which is dated by faunas as latest Silurian (Přídolí). The rare plant fossils are unusual in that they are preserved in fine-grained, slightly argillaceous dolostones ('waterlime') rather than clastic rocks. At least two species of Cooksonia are present, one with ± globular sporangial morphology close to C. hemisphaerica Lang. Those with ellipsoidal/discoidal sporangia are compared with C. pertoni Lang, C .  paranensis Gerrienne et al . and C. bohemica Schweitzer, the latter represented by a single specimen from the Přídolí of the Czech Republic. However, the paucity of specimens, which prevents assessment of taphonomic influences on shape, combined with the absence of any anatomical features and the gross morphological simplicity of the fossils, precludes specific assignment. Specimens of Hostinella include one in which apices and a lateral basal structure resembling a root are preserved. It is concluded that the Laurentian assemblage of Ontario and New York State is less diverse and disparate than coeval assemblages, which are also preserved in marine rocks. Its preservation in limestones may have been facilitated by the hypersalinity inferred from various sedimentary features, which would restrict the activity of many decomposers.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 146 , 399–413.     

Microspectroscopic evidence of cretaceous bone proteins

Low concentrations of the structural protein collagen have recently been reported in dinosaur fossils based primarily on mass spectrometric analyses of whole bone extracts. However, direct spectroscopic characterization of isolated fibrous bone tissues, a crucial test of hypotheses of biomolecular preservation over deep time, has not been performed. Here, we demonstrate that endogenous proteinaceous molecules are retained in a humerus from a Late Cretaceous mosasaur (an extinct giant marine lizard). In situ immunofluorescence of demineralized bone extracts shows reactivity to antibodies raised against type I collagen, and amino acid analyses of soluble proteins extracted from the bone exhibit a composition indicative of structural proteins or their breakdown products. These data are corroborated by synchrotron radiation-based infrared microspectroscopic studies demonstrating that amino acid containing matter is located in bone matrix fibrils that express imprints of the characteristic 67 nm D-periodicity typical of collagen. Moreover, the fibrils differ significantly in spectral signature from those of potential modern bacterial contaminants, such as biofilms and collagen-like proteins. Thus, the preservation of primary soft tissues and biomolecules is not limited to large-sized bones buried in fluvial sandstone environments, but also occurs in relatively small-sized skeletal elements deposited in marine sediments.     

Evaluation of the suitability of ex vivo handled ovarian tissues for optical diagnosis by Raman microspectroscopy

A pilot Raman microspectroscopy study of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, and deparaffinized sections from the same ovarian normal and malignant tissues was carried out. This approach was considered in order to evaluate the suitability of these ex vivo tissue handling procedures in discrimination as well as biochemical characterization. The spectra of formalin-fixed normal and malignant tissues exhibited no contamination due to formalin, which is indicated by the absence of strong formalin peaks; spectral features also show significant differences for normal and malignant tissues. The differences between spectral profiles of deparaffinized normal and malignant tissues are subtle and spectra show few residual sharp peaks of paraffin. Complete dominance of paraffin swamping signals from tissues was observed in the spectra of paraffin-embedded tissues. Principal components analysis (PCA), which was employed for discrimination of tissue type, provided good discrimination for formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue spectra. PCA of deparaffinized tissues resulted in a poor classification with significant overlap among the clusters. Thus, this study indicates that formalin fixation is the most suitable among the three procedures employed in the study. Significant differences between spectral profiles of normal and malignant formalin-fixed tissues can not only be exploited for discrimination but can also provide information on biochemical characteristics of the tissues. Deparaffinized tissues provide poor discrimination and information on tissue biochemistry is lost. Paraffin-embedded tissues may provide good discrimination, but predominance of paraffin in the spectra could jeopardize biochemical characterization. Prospectively, as a result of the better availability of paraffin-embedded tissues and problems associated with frozen sectioning of formalin-fixed tissues, the results of this study using paraffin-embedded tissues are very encouraging.     

稀土元素对农田生态系统的影响研究进展

稀土矿的开采和冶炼、稀土农用等导致农田土壤稀土元素含量不断积累,对农田生态系统结构和功能稳定产生严重的影响。综述了近20年来国内外农田生态系统稀土元素的主要来源、分配和输出,土壤和植物中稀土元素的测定方法,稀土元素对农田生态系统中植物、微生物、动物以及人类健康影响的研究进展。探讨了农田生态系统稀土元素的毒性评价和稀土污染土壤的修复措施。最后提出开展稀土元素对农田生态系统影响研究还需要加强的一些问题。     

塔里木盆地西北缘志留系塔塔埃尔塔格组上段的遗迹化石

通过对塔里木盆地柯坪地区志留系塔塔埃尔塔格组上段遗迹化石的研究,识别出8属8种。根据组成、产状、分布规律及其围岩沉积特征,划分为2种不同沉积环境条件下的遗迹组合,即(1)Thalassinoides-Maca-ronichnus遗迹组合,主要组成分子有Thalassinoides suevicus,Macaronichnus segregatis和Rhizocorallium ganx-iensis等,形成于高氧高能的砂坪沉积环境;(2)Scoyenia-Beaconites遗迹组合,常见组成分子有Scoyenia gracilis,Beaconites antarcticus,Planolites vulgaris,Palaeophycus wutingensis和Monocraterioncf.tentaculatum,形成于混合坪-泥坪沉积环境。     

稀土元素对植物的生物效应及其作用机理

综述了稀土元素对植物根系发育、生物量、品质和抗逆性的影响.适量稀土浓度可促进植物生长,提高种子萌发能力和根系发育,提高植物生物量,并改善植物果实的品质.施用适量稀土元素还可以增强植物的抗逆性并且对一些植物病害有一定防治作用.介绍了植物对稀土元素的吸收特性和稀土元素在植物体内的含量、分布、存在形式及细胞定位.重点探讨了稀土元素对植物光合作用、叶绿素形成、植物吸收营养元素、稀土元素与钙相关性和稀土元素对细胞膜及酶的作用机理,内容包括稀土元素可提高植物叶绿素含量,增强光合效率,从而增加植物生物量.适量的稀土元素能够促进植物对营养元素的吸收、转化和利用.稀土元素有类似钙的功能,可置换出酶中的钙离子而参与酶的反应.稀土离子可以维持细胞膜的透性和稳定性,提高膜的保护功能,增强植物对不良环境的抵御能力.最后,对稀土元素的研究前景进行了展望.     

Suprastructures of extracellular matrices: paradigms of functions controlled by aggregates rather than molecules

Extracellular matrices (ECM) not only serve as structural scaffolds in organs and tissues, but also determine critical cellular functions through cell-matrix interactions. These are mediated by cell surface receptors that recognise specific structural features of ECMs and, hence, overall physical properties of the acellular environment. ECM structures are subject to hierarchic organisations, which are tightly adapted to the functions of tissues and organs. Only a few specialised tasks are reserved for isolated ECM macromolecules. Instead, molecular ECM components attain their prominent functions only after polymerising into insoluble suprastructural elements, i.e. fibrils, microfibrils, or networks that, in turn, are assembled into regional tissue structures, such as fibres or basement membranes. As an outstanding feature, most, if not all, ECM suprastructures are co-polymers of more than one molecular species that differ in their identity and relative abundance. Thus, ECM suprastructures are composite biological amalgamates. The analogy to metal alloys refers to structural and functional characteristics of ECM composites, which differ from those of each homo-polymeric aggregate. At the tissue level, biological alloys can themselves be assembled into conglomerates that again assume properties distinct from those of each individual alloy. Nevertheless, most studies in matrix biology solely focus on molecular features and mechanisms. Progress has however been made in identifying principles of interactions within suprastructural elements and their functional consequences. We are now only beginning to understand the impact of suprastructural organisation on the assembly and the functions of whole tissues and many fundamental issues in this almost pristine field await discovery.     

Life cycle assessment with primary data on heavy rare earth oxides from ion-adsorption clays

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - Heavy and light rare earth elements (REEs) are critical to clean energy technologies, and thus the environmental impacts from their production...