Part 2: A Field Study of Enhanced Remediation of Toluene in the Vadose Zone Using a Nutrient Solution

The objective of this study was to test the effectiveness of a nitrate-rich nutrient solution and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to enhance in-situ microbial remediation of toluene in the unsaturated zone. Three sand-filled plots were tested in three phases (each phase lasting approximately 2 weeks). During the control phase, toluene was applied uniformly via sprinkler irrigation. Passive remediation was allowed to occur during this phase. A modified Hoagland nutrient solution, concentrated in 150 L of water, was tested during the second phase. The final phase involved addition of 230 moles of H₂O₂ in 150 L of water to increase the available oxygen needed for aerobic biodegradation. During the first phase, measured toluene concentrations in soil gas were reduced from 120 ppm to 25 ppm in 14 days. After the addition of nutrients during the second phase, concentrations were reduced from 90 ppm to about 8 ppm within 14 days, and for the third phase (H₂O₂), toluene concentrations were about 1 ppm after only 5 days. Initial results suggest that this method could be an effective means of remediating a contaminated site, directly after a BTEX spill, without the intrusiveness and high cost of other abatement technologies such as bioventing or soil-vapor extraction. However, further tests need to be completed to determine the effect of each of the BTEX components.     

Feedback control of juvenile hormone synthesis in cockroaches: possible role for ecdysterone

Inactive female corpora allata implanted into adult males become active and continue to synthesize juvenile hormone at high rates. However, when an ovary is implanted together with the corpora allata, rates of juvenile hormone synthesis decline as the oocytes complete maturation. Injections of ecdysterone mimic the effect of an implanted ovary.     

H3N2亚型犬流感病毒HA1基因的原核表达及抗原性分析

为原核表达H3N2亚型犬流感病毒(CIV)HA1蛋白,本研究利用特异性引物扩增CIV H3分离株的HA1基因,将其克隆到pMD18-T载体后进行序列测定。再将其亚克隆于pET-32a(+)中构建重组表达质粒pET-HA1。将该质粒转化于大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中,经IPTG诱导,SDS-PAGE电泳分析,表达的重组蛋白约为58 ku。纯化的HA1蛋白经western blot和Dot-ELISA鉴定表明,表达的重组HA1蛋白可以与H3N2亚型CIV阳性血清发生特异性反应。     

Gross Morphometry of the Bovine Placentome during Gestation

Forty-seven pregnant uteri were collected from an abattoir at eight chronological stages of gestation. Assessments were made of placentome number, weight, length shape and ratio of foetal to maternal tissue by weight. The study showed that there was a great variation in number, size, weight and shape of placentomes. There was no significant change in the total number of placentomes during gestation. Both mean weight and length increased significantly during gestation, but there was a significant change in the relationship between the two as gestation progressed. There was no correlation between the number of placentomes and the mean weight or length of the placentomes. The development of the placenta in the non-pregnant horn was significantly different from that of the pregnant horn, with fewer, smaller, lighter placentomes. However, there was no evidence that placentome development in the non-pregnant horn was affected by placentome development in the pregnant horn. The proportion of the placentome that was maternal tissue increased during gestation, but there was no significant effect of placentome number, or individual placentome weight or length on this proportion. Two placentome shapes were identified, but no effect on foeto-maternal proportion or relationship between shape and total placentome number or weight was identified.     

Prickly paddy melon (Cucumis myriocarpus) poisoning of cattle

Twenty-six Hereford heifers died after eating mostly ripe fruit of Cucumis myriocarpus growing in a fallowed cultivation paddock. Four affected cattle were dehydrated and apparently had abdominal pain. Necropsy of three revealed intense congestion with haemorrhage of the alimentary tract, numerous C. myriocarpus seeds in ruminal contents, pulmonary congestion and oedema and, in two, swollen livers. Midzonal swelling and vacuolation of hepatocytes occurred in these two. C. myriocarpus fruit (83% by weight ripe) were dosed to two calves at 60 g wet weight/kg live weight. Both collapsed with tachycardia and dyspnoea and died within 6 h. Their packed cell volumes just before death had increased to 0.7. They had hydropic degeneration and necrosis of the ruminal mucosa, intense congestion and oedema of the rumen, abomasum and intestines, swollen and vacuolated hepatocytes and foci of myocardial degeneration and necrosis. Two other calves were dosed daily with 20 g fruit/kg for three days, then 40 g/kg for three days. One calf received a further 40 g/kg next day. Both calves developed persistent diarrhoea and neutrophilia, and their plasma gamma glutamyltransferase and bilirubin concentrations increased. Necropsy revealed necrosis and oedema of the rumen and swollen degenerate hepatocytes.