Temperature conditions in the Argentine chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) fishing ground: implications for fishery management

We describe the seasonal migrations of Argentine chub mackerel ( Scomber japonicus ) into the fishing ground in relation to sea surface temperature conditions and analyse the temperature evolution during the fishing season on the basis of 1955–97 time-series. The upper temperature limit for the presence of schools was around 19°C. At higher values, most schools leave coastal waters (< 50 m) for the shelf. An inverse relationship was observed between catches per unit of effort (CPUE) of the inshore fishery and sea surface temperature. The highest standardized CPUE values corresponded to temperatures lower than 19°C. Above this temperature, the probability of obtaining a standardized CPUE higher than 1 was extremely low, and the standard deviations were minimal. The economic benefit from catches was also analysed through the different months of the fishing season. It was found that the mean benefit corresponding to temperatures lower than 19°C exceeded approximately 15 times that obtained at higher temperatures. A simple fishing strategy was proposed to the commercial fleet in order to improve the economic benefit of the catches. The migratory pattern followed by mackerel during the spawning period was also analysed in relationship to other environmental factors like food availability. Zooplankton composition, size structure and abundance in coastal and shelf waters are described, and their implications for feeding ecology of larvae and adults of the species are discussed.     

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Monogalactosyl Diacylglycerols and a Monoacylglycerol from the Edible Brown Seaweed Fucus spiralis Linnaeus

A monoacylglycerol (1) and a 1:1 mixture of two monogalactosyl diacylglycerols (MGDGs) (2 and 3) were isolated from the brown seaweed Fucus spiralis Linnaeus. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic means (NMR and MS) and by comparison with the literature. Compound 1 was composed of a glycerol moiety linked to oleic acid (C18:1 Ω9). Compounds 2 and 3 contained a glycerol moiety linked to a galactose unit and eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 Ω3) combined with octadecatetraenoic acid (C18:4 Ω3) or linolenic acid (C18:3 Ω3), respectively. The isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. All of them inhibited NO production at non-cytotoxic concentrations. The fraction consisting of compounds 2 and 3, in a ratio of 1:1, was slightly more effective than compound 1 (IC₅₀ of 60.06 and 65.70 µg/mL, respectively). To our knowledge, this is the first report of these compounds from F. spiralis and on their anti-inflammatory capacity.     

Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Effects of Diterpenes Isolated from the Marine Alga,Dictyota menstrualis

Cardiovascular diseases represent a major cause of disability and death worldwide. Therapeutics are available, but they often have unsatisfactory results and may produce side effects. Alternative treatments based on the use of natural products have been extensively investigated, because of their low toxicity and side effects. Marine organisms are prime candidates for such products, as they are sources of numerous and complex substances with ecological and pharmacological effects. In this work, we investigated, through in vitro experiments, the effects of three diterpenes (pachydictyol A, isopachydictyol A and dichotomanol) from the Brazilian marine alga, Dictyota menstrualis, on platelet aggregation and plasma coagulation. Results showed that dichotomanol inhibited ADP- or collagen-induced aggregation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), but failed to inhibit washed platelets (WP). In contrast, pachydictyol A and isopachydictyol A failed to inhibit the aggregation of PRP, but inhibited WP aggregation induced by collagen or thrombin. These diterpenes also inhibited coagulation analyzed by the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time and on commercial fibrinogen. Moreover, diterpenes inhibited the catalytic activity of thrombin. Theoretical studies using the Osiris Property Explorer software showed that diterpenes have low theoretical toxicity profiles and a drug-score similar to commercial anticoagulant drugs. In conclusion, these diterpenes are promising candidates for use in anticoagulant therapy, and this study also highlights the biotechnological potential of oceans and the importance of bioprospecting to develop medicines.     

Deposition of gold mining tailings in tropical soils: metal pollution and toxicity to earthworms

Journal of Soils and Sediments - This study consists of the evaluation of metals acute toxicity levels taking into consideration a hypothetic scenario of dam breaking and land deposition of two...     

Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Effect of Inulin-Type Fructans,Used in Synbiotic Combination with Lactobacillus spp. Against Candida albicans

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - There is great interest in the search for new alternatives to antimicrobial drugs, and the use of prebiotics and probiotics is a promising approach to this...     

Dissolution Factors of Ta, Th, and U Oxides Present in Pyrochlore

Air pollution can be a problem in industrial processes, but monitoring and controling the aerosols in the work place is not enough to estimate the occupational risk due to dust particle inhalation. The solubility in lung fluid is considered to estimate this risk. The aim of this study is to determine in vitro specific dissolution parameters for thorium (Th), uranium (U), and tantalum (Ta) associated to crystal lattice of a niobium mineral (pyrochlore). Th, U, and Ta dissolution factors in vitro were obtained using the Gamble solution (simulant lung fluid, SLF), particle induced X-ray emission, and alpha spectrometry as analytical techniques. Ta, Th, and U are present in the pyrochlore crystal lattice as oxide; however, they have shown different dissolution parameters. The rapid dissolution fraction (f _r), rapid dissolution rate (λ _r), slow dissolution rate (f _s), and slow dissolution fraction (λ _s) measured for tantalum oxide were equal to 0.1 and 0.45 and 0.00007 day^?1, respectively. For uranium oxide, f _r was equal to 0.05, λ _r was equal to 1.1 day^?1, and λ _s was equal to 0.000068 day^?1. For thorium oxide, f _r was 0.025, λ _r was 1.5 day^?1, and λ _s was 0.000065 day^?1. These results show that chemical behavior of these three compounds in the SLF could not be represented by the same parameter. The ratio of uranium concentration in urine and feces samples from workers exposed to pyrochlore dust particle was determined. These values agree with the theoretical values of estimated uranium concentration using specific parameters for uranium oxide present in pyrochlore.     

Crossability relationships among wild potato species with different ploidies and Endosperm Balance Numbers (EBN)

Three wild potato species with different ploidies and Endosperm Balance Numbers (EBN) were crossed in a complete diallel design and the development of the embryo and endosperm as well as the type of seeds produced were analyzed. The compatible crosses – intraspecific intra-EBN and interspecific intra-EBN – produced more than 89% plump seeds, whereas in the incompatible crosses – intraspecific inter-EBN and interspecific inter-EBN – more than 85% of the seeds were not as well developed or were shrunken. The histological analysis revealed that inviable seeds had less developed or collapsed endosperms and thicker endotheliums than viable ones. A gradation of crossabilities was observed among species. The self-compatible species Solanum acaule had good performance as a female but not as a male parent. Among the self-incompatible species, Solanum gourlayi was the best male parent but had a poor performance as a female, whereas Solanum commersonii had an intermediate behavior. Differences in crossabilities among genotypes within species were also observed. These results can not be solely explained by the EBN hypothesis. It is, therefore, suggested that the EBN may be part of a more complex system of interspecific barriers acting at the pre- and post-zygotic levels. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of incubation temperature regimes and culture medium on broccoli microspore culture embryogenesis

Conditions for reliable induction of embryogenesis from isolated microspores were studied in ten genotypes of broccoli. Embryo yields were significantly increased in almost all of the broccoli genotypes by the incubation at 32.5 ^°C for 1 day, than when the standard incubation at 30 ^°C for 2 days was used. Treatments of 48 hours at 32.5 ^°C produced less than optimal results suggesting that broccoli microspores are more sensitive to high temperatures than those of B. napus. The use of the ¹/₂ NLN-13 medium yielded greater number of embryos than the standard NLN-13. The magnitude of the response to the redution of the concentration of major salts by half in the NLN medium varied with the different genotypes. High embryogenic broccoli cultivars, such as ‘Shogun’, ‘SDB9’, and ‘Green Valiant’, presented a better response to the reduction of the concentration of major salts by half in NLN-13. Reduction never produced a detrimental effect on embryo yield and seems not to have any effect in the subsequent development of embryos in plants. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.