Isotopic evidence of Cr partitioning into Earth's core

The distribution of chemical elements in primitive meteorites (chondrites), as building blocks of terrestrial planets, provides insight into the formation and early differentiation of Earth. The processes that resulted in the depletion of some elements [such as chromium (Cr)] in the bulk silicate Earth relative to chondrites, however, remain debated between leading candidate causes: volatility versus core partitioning. We show through high-precision measurements of Cr stable isotopes in a range of meteorites, which deviate by up to ~0.4 per mil from those of the bulk silicate Earth, that Cr depletion resulted from its partitioning into Earth's core, with a preferential enrichment in light isotopes. Ab initio calculations suggest that the isotopic signature was established at mid-mantle magma ocean depth as Earth accreted planetary embryos and progressively became more oxidized.     

Activity-dependent internalization of smoothened mediated by beta-arrestin 2 and GRK2

Binding of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) to Patched (Ptc) relieves the latter's tonic inhibition of Smoothened (Smo), a receptor that spans the cell membrane seven times. This initiates signaling which, by unknown mechanisms, regulates vertebrate developmental processes. We find that two molecules interact with mammalian Smo in an activation-dependent manner: G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) leads to phosphorylation of Smo, and beta-arrestin 2 fused to green fluorescent protein interacts with Smo. These two processes promote endocytosis of Smo in clathrin-coated pits. Ptc inhibits association of beta-arrestin 2 with Smo, and this inhibition is relieved in cells treated with Shh. A Smo agonist stimulated and a Smo antagonist (cyclopamine) inhibited both phosphorylation of Smo by GRK2 and interaction of beta-arrestin 2 with Smo. beta-Arrestin 2 and GRK2 are thus potential mediators of signaling by activated Smo.     

Leaching of taurine from commercial type aquaculture feeds

Leaching of soluble compounds from pelleted feeds is an issue for the aquaculture industry through increased environmental impact and reduced ingestion essential components. This study was undertaken to examine the leaching rates of taurine, a non‐protein amino acid with critical physiological roles in teleosts. To this end we adapted a new liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) method for quantifying taurine. Twelve different feeds (4 mm dia.) varying in protein source and taurine levels were examined. Fishmeal content ranged from 0.0% to 45.5% with taurine supplementation ranging from 0.0% to 5.0%. Taurine was extracted and quantified from individual pellets in triplicate at six time points (0, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 min). Leaching rates ranged from 0.026 ± 0.005 to 0.826 ± 0.121 mg min^?1 over 40 min at 27°C and were strongly correlated to initial taurine content of the feeds (for distilled water n = 12, P < 0.001, R² = 0.91 for artificial seawater, 25 ppt, n = 4, P = 0.020, R² = 0.96). Loss of taurine from feeds was 59.5 ± 16.5% after 40 min. This study shows that a significant amount of taurine is lost over time from uneaten feed and that taurine supplementation should exceed requirement levels for slow consumers or feed being delivered as multiple additions.     

Brominated phenols as auxin-like molecules

2,6-Dibromophenol (DBP) was reported as an auxin-like molecule using molecular quantum similarity measures. In this study, the auxin activity of this molecule and its chlorinated homologue is further determined using a bacterial biosensor: the auxin-inducible ipdC promoter of Azospirillum brasilense. We were able to demonstrate that DBP can induce gene expression, but to a lesser extent than the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and that DBP is not an antagonist for the IAA signalling pathway. To investigate the role of the bromine groups, the molecule 2,6-dichlorophenol (DCP) was also tested for gene expression induction. However, no induction could be observed. In a second part, DBP and other molecules were modelled in the auxin-binding pocket of the plant auxin receptor TIR1 to evaluate theoretical binding energies. Both DBP and its chlorinated homologue DCP are not strong ligands compared to other known auxins such as IAA. The importance of a carboxylated side chain for optimal binding (and probably auxin activity) was demonstrated.     

Enhanced Mobilization of Field Contaminated Soil-bound PAHs to the Aqueous Phase under Anaerobic Conditions

Although microbially-mediated redox environments can alter the characteristics of soil/sediment organic matter (SOM) and its interactions with persistent hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) bound to soils and sediments, the nature of their effects has not been adequately addressed. In this study, a field soil collected from a manufacturer gas plant site and contaminated historically with creosotes was incubated under aerobic and anoxic/anaerobic conditions along with various amendments (extra carbon and enrichment minerals) for stimulating microbial activities. Anaerobic conditions stimulated significant fractions of bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) encompassing naphthalene through benzo[g,h,i]perylene to be mobilized to the aqueous phase, leaving their aqueous phase concentrations far in excess of solubility (increases in their apparent aqueous phase concentrations by factors as high as 62.8 relative to their initial aqueous phase concentrations). Such effects became more evident for high molecular weight PAHs. Dissolved organic matter exhibiting a high affinity for PAHs was liberated from soils during the anaerobic soil incubations. Feasibility of this concept for field applications was evaluated with a lab-scale continuous flow system composed of an anaerobic soil column followed by an aerobic bioreactor inoculated with PAH-degrading microbes. High quantities of PAHs exceeding their aqueous solubilities were eluted from the anaerobic soil column and those mobilized PAHs were readily bioavailable in the secondary aerobic bioreactor. This study may offer a potential method for cost-effective and performance-efficient ex situ remediation technologies (or in situ if appropriate hydrological control available in the contaminated field site) and risk assessment for the HOC-contaminated soils/sediments.     

Identifying road mortality threat at multiple spatial scales for semi-aquatic turtles

Prioritizing sites for localized mitigation measures, and forecasting the effect of interventions on an endangered population, requires an understanding of the spatial scales at which threat processes operate. Road mortality is among the greatest threats to semi-terrestrial freshwater turtles due to the group’s life-history traits. Declining throughout much of their range, spotted (Clemmys guttata) and Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) are exposed to high road densities and traffic volumes in the northeastern United States. We examine the distribution of roadkill risk for spotted and Blanding’s turtles at three spatial scales. Tortuosity during upland movements was used to predict road-crossing locations at the single-movement scale. A gravity model of wetland-to-wetland interactions was then developed to identify road mortality hot spots at a broader road segment scale. Finally, road-crossing risk was assessed at the scale of focal areas that support distinct populations, using a population viability analysis to evaluate the consequences of road mortality on resident populations. The observed spatial variability of road mortality risk was high for single road crossing movements, limiting the effectiveness of static mitigation measures conducted at this scale. At the broader road segment scale, road mortality hotspots were evident. The demographic risk associated with roads varied widely among discrete populations, with probabilities of extinction over 100-year projections reaching 5.1% for spotted turtles, and 58.8% for Blanding’s turtles. We conclude that conservation interventions are most likely to be effective in mitigating the effects of road mortality when implemented at the road segment and population scales.