Distribution of Several Heavy Metals in Tidal Flats Sediments within Bahía Blanca Estuary (Argentina)

Sediment pollution by metals is of high interest considering that it can affect marine life. The estuaries' quality may be reflected by the environmental intertidal zone condition. Subsurface sediments collected at the nude tidal flats from three sampling stations in the Bahía Blanca Estuary were analyzed for total metals concentrations (Hg, Cd, Pb, and Cr), distribution, and geochemical partitioning. Most of the elements (Hg, Cd, and Cr) have shown highest concentration values in the industrial-influenced area. Maximum value of Pb was obtained where the main freshwater input discharges. Intertidal sediments have presented higher values of Cr than the subtidal ones. Cd and Pb contents near the industrial area were strongly higher in the subtidal zones. The distribution of Cd and Pb demonstrated the occurrence of a diffusion pattern from the land toward the sea, showing a dependence on both the metal itself and/or the source. Not all studied metals have shown the highest content in the fine fraction. The chemical partitioning in the fine fractions offered evidence that the tidal flats were an important source as well as sink of metals to the adjacent coastal area. The studies of intertidal sediments provide an integrative knowledge on the potential effects of different trace metals in the environment and they must be used in the contamination studies within coastal areas.     

Characterization of Newcastle disease viruses isolated from chicken,gamefowl, pigeon and quail in Mexico

Velogenic Newcastle disease has threatened the Mexican poultry industry since 1946. Seven strains of velogenic Newcastle disease virus were isolated from poultry and other avian species in central and northern Mexico from 1998 to 2006 and subjected to phylogenetic analysis and biological characterization using standard pathogenicity tests and challenge studies. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all velogenic strains belonged to genetic group V and are clearly divided in two lineages, since phylogenetic similarities between groups are of only 93–94%. Isolates from 1998 to 2001 are closely related to the strain responsible for the 2000 year outbreak raised in La Laguna region (Torreon strain), and are phylogenetically distinct from viruses isolated between 2004 and 2006 that are genetically related to the Chimalhuacan strain isolated in 1973. All the viruses of both, the Chimalhuacan and the Torreon groups, contained a virulent fusion protein cleavage site represented by the motif “GGRRQKRF”, revealing that evolutionary changes occurred at a different site. Chicken embryo mean death time value was shorter for the Chimalhuacan-like viruses (43.9 hours), when compared with the 1998–2001 average (54.3 hours). ICPI average value was higher (1.92) for viruses isolated during 2004–2006 than that for viruses isolated before 2001 (1.74). Microscopic evaluation of bursa of Fabricius and thymus of 5w-o broiler chickens challenged with 10⁶ LD₅₀/0.2 ml showed that Chimalhuacan-like isolate caused more severe lesions at 48 hpi in bursa and 72 and 96 hpi in thymus than Torreon-like isolate. Along with the MDT, ICPI and microscopic results, our findings suggest that some distinct selective pressure on the very virulent Chimalhuacan strain isolated in early 1970’s may have led to the appearance of the still velogenic but less virulent new group (Torreon-like) in the middle of 1990’s.     

Protected areas do not fulfil the wintering habitat needs of the trans-Saharan migratory Montagu’s harrier

Populations of migratory birds can be affected by events happening at both breeding and wintering grounds. The Sahel is a vast region holding a large number of wintering trans-Saharan migratory European birds, and current land-use changes there may represent a threat for these species. We used satellite tracking data from the migratory Montagu’s harrier to evaluate habitat use of the species during the wintering season, and whether the current network of protected areas is effective to provide their habitat needs during that season. We also developed an ecological niche model for the species in Western-Central Sahel to check if the most suitable sites are included within current protected areas. Tracked harriers occupied a large region encompassing a total of eight countries. The most preferred habitats during winter were croplands and some natural vegetation habitats, especially grasslands. Protected areas only covered a small proportion of the overall wintering grounds of tracked harriers and the most suitable areas for the species in Western-Central Sahel. Increasing the extent of preferred natural habitats within protected areas should benefit the conservation of this and probably other insect-eating raptors. However, substantial increases in extent and number of protected areas in sub-Saharan Africa are very unlike to occur. Conservation actions in the region should therefore be mostly focused on improving land use planning and management outside protected areas, specially enhancing agricultural practices to make biodiversity conservation compatible with poverty alleviation. These can be chiefly targeted at an area of <20,000 km² of very suitable habitat for these species.     

Clinical,metabolic, and genetic characterization of hereditary methemoglobinemia caused by cytochrome b5 reductase deficiency in cats

Two non‐pedigreed male castrated cats had persistent cyanosis over a 3‐year observation period. Clinical cardiopulmonary evaluations did not reveal abnormalities, but the blood remained dark after exposure to air. Erythrocytic methemoglobin concentrations were high (~40% of hemoglobin) and cytochrome b₅ reductase (CYB5R) activities in erythrocytes were low (≤15% of control). One cat remained intolerant of exertion, and the other cat developed anemia and died due to an unidentified comorbidity. Whole‐genome sequencing revealed a homozygous c.625G>A missense variant (B4:137967506) and a c.232‐1G>C splice acceptor variant (B4:137970815) in CYB5R3, respectively, which were absent in 193 unaffected additional cats. The p.Gly209Ser missense variant likely disrupts a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)‐binding domain, while the splicing error occurs at the acceptor site for exon 4, which likely affects downstream translation of the protein. The 2 novel CYB5R3 variants were associated with methemoglobinemia using clinical, biochemical, genomics, and in silico protein studies. The variant prevalence is unknown in the cat population.     

Potential role of lava lizards as pollinators across the Galápagos Islands

Lizards have been reported as important pollinators on several oceanic islands. Here we evaluate the potential role of Galápagos lava lizards (Microlophus spp.) as pollinators across their radiation. Over 3 years, we sampled pollen transport by 9 lava lizard species on the 10 islands where they are present, including 7 single‐island endemics. Overall, only 25 of 296 individuals sampled (8.4%) transported pollen of 10 plant species, the most common being Prosopis juliflora, Exodeconus miersii, Sesuvium sp. and Cordia leucophlyctis. At least 8 of these plant species were native, and none were confirmed as introduced to the archipelago. Despite the low overall proportion of individuals carrying pollen, this was observed in 7 of the nine lizard species, and on 8 of the ten main islands (Española, Fernandina, Floreana, Isabela, Marchena, Pinta, Santa Cruz and Santiago), suggesting that this is a widespread interaction. The results reported here support the potential role of lava lizards as pollinators across their radiation, although they may represent a relatively modest contribution when compared with birds and insects. However, we cannot discard that lizards may be ecologically significant for particular plant species and ecosystems given the specific climatic condition and functional diversity of each island.     

Entwicklung eines Computerverfahrens zur Berechnung der hydraulischen Leitfähigkeit von wassergesättigten Böden mit der Bohrlochmethode

A computer program for the calculation of the hydraulic conductivity with the auger hole method An iterative procedure is applied for the calculation of the hydraulic conductivity with the auger hole method. Results are compared with data from Ernst (1950) and from Boast and Kirkham (1971). It is found that the achieved results compare well with the data from Boast and Kirkham, but frequently deviate considerably from those of Ernst. It appears that results from Boast and Kirkham are more reliable than those from Ernst. An advantage of the iterative procedure, as compared to the method of Boast and Kirkham, is its simplicity. Calculations are easily performed for sets of data not tabulated by Boast and Kirkham. Calculations can be carried out on a desk-top computer, but do require some computer time. A computer program (in Quick-BASIC) has been developed and can be obtained on request.     

Uptake of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from an aqueous medium by polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene films

The sorption of selected polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners (from tri to deca chlorinated) by three food-packaging plastic films [polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene] from an aqueous solution was investigated. From the data generated, PCB uptake, partition, and diffusion coefficients were calculated for the various films. Polyethylene exhibited the highest PCB uptake, diffusion, and partition coefficients when compared to the other materials. Although PVC indicated larger sorption diffusion and partition coefficients for the lower chlorinated congeners than polystyrene, a reversal of this trend was observed for the higher congeners. For polyethylene and PVC, the PCB uptake decreased as the chlorine numbers in the congeners increased, confirming the correlation between increasing chlorination and increasing cohesive density within the PCB molecules. For polystyrene, the uptake decreased from tri to penta congeners, but showed an increase for the hexa, and then a decreased uptake until the deca chlorination. A comparison of the molecular sizes of the PCB congeners showed that the partition (Ke) and sorption diffusion (Ds) coefficients generally decreased with their increasing molar volumes. The resulting Ke values were used to determine the extent of sorption because these values indicate the affinity of PCBs for the plastic films. Results from this study can be of practical importance for cases of product quality related to the transfer of contaminants from the product to the packaging materials.     

Pretreatment mitochondrial priming correlates with clinical response to cytotoxic chemotherapy

Cytotoxic chemotherapy targets elements common to all nucleated human cells, such as DNA and microtubules, yet it selectively kills tumor cells. Here we show that clinical response to these drugs correlates with, and may be partially governed by, the pretreatment proximity of tumor cell mitochondria to the apoptotic threshold, a property called mitochondrial priming. We used BH3 profiling to measure priming in tumor cells from patients with multiple myeloma, acute myelogenous and lymphoblastic leukemia, and ovarian cancer. This assay measures mitochondrial response to peptides derived from proapoptotic BH3 domains of proteins critical for death signaling to mitochondria. Patients with highly primed cancers exhibited superior clinical response to chemotherapy. In contrast, chemoresistant cancers and normal tissues were poorly primed. Manipulation of mitochondrial priming might enhance the efficacy of cytotoxic agents.