Use of grain-size and elemental normalization in the interpretation of trace metal concentrations in soils of the reclaimed area adjoining Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia

Cobalt, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and As concentrations in the grain size and elemental normalization using Fe in gravel-free total soil ((X_m/Fe)_{total sample}; X_m = Cu, Pb, Zn, etc.) were used to determine the influence of variable grain size on the concentration of anthropogenic trace metal contaminants in the reclaimed area adjacent to Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia. Trace metal concentrations in soils in reclaimed area are greatly influenced by the heterogeneous nature of the waste materials buried at the site. The confounding effects of variable grain size in soils can be reduced by analyzing the contaminant concentration of the material after removing > 2 mm size in sample. An example from Sydney Harbour is used to demonstrate the comparability between grain size normalized data and elemental normalized data using Fe in soils from reclaimed areas. Results from the current study reveal that the vertical distribution of trace metal concentrations in soils is remarkably similar between the grain size and elemental normalization, using Fe. Normalization methods might be beneficial in overcoming texturally driven variations of contaminant concentrations in soils in the reclaimed or infilled land area.     

Oxygenic Photoautotrophic Growth Without Photosystem I

Contrary to the prediction of the Z-scheme model of photosynthesis, experiments demonstrated that mutants of Chlamydomonas containing photosystem II (PSII) but lacking photosystem I (PSI) can grow photoautotrophically with O2 evolution, using atmospheric CO2 as the sole carbon source. Autotrophic photosynthesis by PSI-deficient mutants was stable both under anaerobic conditions and in air (21 percent O2) at an actinic intensity of 200 microeinsteins per square meter per second. This PSII photosynthesis, which was sufficient to support cell development and mobility, may also occur in wild-type green algae and higher plants. The mutants can survive under 2000 microeinsteins per square meter per second with air, although they have less resistance to photoinhibition.     

Comparative stomach contents and growth of the juvenile black rockfish Sebastes inermis reared in illuminated and unilluminated cages

ABSTRACT:   The principal objective of the present study was to determine the positive effects of artificial illumination on the juvenile black rockfish Sebastes inermis by comparing stomach contents and growth between juveniles exposed to light and those maintained in the absence of light. The major prey items of juvenile black rockfish in illuminated cages were: copepods (% IRI  = 62.6); amphipods (% IRI  = 36.7); and polychaetes (% IRI  = 0.3), whereas those in unilluminated cages were: copepods (% IRI  = 93.3); amphipods (% IRI  = 6.1); and polychaetes (% IRI  = 0.4). The specific growth rates of the juveniles reared in illuminated cages (0.67%) were significantly higher than those juveniles maintained in the unilluminated cages (0.27%).     

Morphological characteristics of C1 and C2 adrenergic neurone groups in marmoset monkey brainstem by using antibody against phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase

This work describes a mapping study of phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) immunoreactive neurones and fibres in the medulla oblongata of the marmoset monkey, Callithrix jacchus. Two groups of PNMT-immunoreactive neurones were found in the marmoset monkey medulla oblongata: a ventrolateral (C1 group) and a dorsomedial PNMT-immunoreactive cells group (C2 group). The PNMT-immunoreactive cells in the ventrolateral group C1 were found to be located around the lateral reticular nucleus. The PNMT-immunoreactive somata within the ventrolateral medulla are round to oval, and mostly multipolar with branched processes. In the dorsomedial group C2, PNMT-immunoreactive cell bodies appeared near the obex. The majority of the dorsomedial PNMT-immunoreactive neurones were observed in the nucleus tractus solitarius; although some were present in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. The PNMT-immunoreactive somata in the dorsomedial medulla were small and round or ovoid. These results provide information upon the adrenergic system in the medulla oblongata of a species that presents a useful model of a small primate brain, the marmoset monkey.     

Galanin-immunoreactive cells and their relation to calcitonin gene-related peptide-, substance P- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells in rat lumbar dorsal root ganglia

We report upon the distribution of galanin-immunoreactive (GAL-IR) cells in the lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of the rat, and upon the distribution of GAL-IR cells, which also contain calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-, substance P (SP)- and somatostatin (SOM)-immunoreactivity. Neuropeptide-immunoreactive lumbar DRG cells were 55.8% for CGRP, 12.7% for SP, and 6.5% for GAL in lumbar DRG cells. There was no significant difference between the right and left DRGs (L1-L6) for any neuropeptide-immunoreactive cell (P < 0.01). In terms of size distribution, CGRP-immunoreactive cells were identified below 1500 microm2, and SP-, and GAL-IR cells below 600 microm2. Neuropeptide immunoreactive cells showed various immunoreactivities in the cytoplasm according to each neuropeptide. CGRP and SP immunoreactive cells were colocalized with GAL immunoreactive cells in the serial sections about 83.3 and 60% respectively, but SOM colocalizing with GAL-IR cells were not in evidence. The current results confirm and extend previous results, and show that neuropeptides can coexist in single sensory neurones of the rat DRG. In addition, our results demonstrate that the normal distribution of some neurotransmitters modulating sensory action in Wistar Kyoto rat, make this model more prone to develop neuropathic pain than Sprague-Dawley rat.     

Silk fibroin hydrolysate exerts an anti-diabetic effect by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice

Components of silk including silk fibroin have long been used as anti-diabetic remedies in oriental medicine. However, detailed mechanisms underlying these anti-diabetic effects remain unclear. In this study, we examined the anti-diabetic activity of silk fibroin hydrolysate (SFH) in C57BL/KsJ-db/db (db/db) mice, a well-known animal model of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. When the db/db mice were administered SFH in drinking water for 6 weeks, hyperglycemia in the animals gradually disappeared and the level of glycosylated hemoglobin decreased, indicating that SFH plays important role in reducing the symptoms of diabetes. In addition, SFH-treated db/db mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance with increased plasma insulin levels. Immunohistochemical and morphological analyses showed that SFH up-regulated insulin production by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in the mice. In summary, our results suggest that SFH exerts anti-diabetic effects by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in a non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus mouse model.     

Protective Effects of Platycodon grandiflorum Aqueous Extract on Thioacetamide-induced Fulminant Hepatic Failure in Mice

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective activity of aqueous extract from Platycodon grandiflorum (BC703) on thioacetamide (TA)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. We found that BC703 significantly decreased mortality and the change in serum transaminase following TA administration. The group treated with BC703 at doses of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg produced significant hepatoprotective effects against TA-induced liver damage by decreasing the activities of serum enzymes, nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation in dose-dependent manners. Histopathological studies further substantiated the protective effect of BC703. These results show the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract from Platycodon grandiflorum on thioacetamide-induced fulminant hepatic failure.