Baylisascariosis—Infections of animals and humans with ‘unusual’ roundworms

The nematode genus Baylisascaris (order Ascaridida, superfamily Ascaridoidea) contains nine relatively host-specific, parasite species of carnivores, omnivores, herbivores, carnivorous marsupials or rodents. They have a facultative heteroxenous life cycle, at least under experimental conditions. Eggs passed in faeces embryonate in the environment and the second-stage larva infective for both definitive and intermediate hosts develops. In intermediate hosts larvae migrate extensively through tissues, where they grow and moult to the third-stage, causing extensive damage. All Baylisascaris spp. are considered a potential cause of visceral, ocular and/or neural larval migrans in mammals including humans and in birds. This paper summarises our current knowledge on the prevalence, biology, pathogenicity and zoonotic significance of three Baylisascaris species: B. transfuga, B. schroederi and B. procyonis which have as definitive hosts bears, giant pandas and raccoons (occasionally dogs), respectively.     

Extract from the Zooxanthellate Jellyfish Cotylorhiza tuberculata Modulates Gap Junction Intercellular Communication in Human Cell Cultures

On a global scale, jellyfish populations in coastal marine ecosystems exhibit increasing trends of abundance. High-density outbreaks may directly or indirectly affect human economical and recreational activities, as well as public health. As the interest in biology of marine jellyfish grows, a number of jellyfish metabolites with healthy potential, such as anticancer or antioxidant activities, is increasingly reported. In this study, the Mediterranean “fried egg jellyfish” Cotylorhiza tuberculata (Macri, 1778) has been targeted in the search forputative valuable bioactive compounds. A medusa extract was obtained, fractionated, characterized by HPLC, GC-MS and SDS-PAGE and assayed for its biological activity on breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKa). The composition of the jellyfish extract included photosynthetic pigments, valuable ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids, and polypeptides derived either from jellyfish tissues and their algal symbionts. Extract fractions showed antioxidant activity and the ability to affect cell viability and intercellular communication mediated by gap junctions (GJIC) differentially in MCF-7and HEKa cells. A significantly higher cytotoxicity and GJIC enhancement in MCF-7 compared to HEKa cells was recorded. A putative action mechanism for the anticancer bioactivity through the modulation of GJIC has been hypothesized and its nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potential was discussed.     

At sea movement of Macquarie Island giant petrels: Relationships with marine protected areas and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations

Satellite tracking devices were used to examine the at sea movements of southern and northern giant petrels from Macquarie Island during the Austral summers of 2005-06 and 2006-07. Time spent at sea for nine northern giant petrels (four breeding adults, five recently fledged juveniles) and 10 southern giant petrels (three breeding adults, one non-breeding adult, and six recently fledged juveniles) was examined in relation to marine protected areas and fishing activity in the area immediately adjacent to Macquarie Island in 2005-06, and in terms of the jurisdictions of Regional Fisheries Management Authorities (RFMOs) at a broader scale during both seasons. Breeding adult southern and northern giant petrels spent a large proportion of their time at sea in the Macquarie Island Marine Park (25% and 65%, respectively), primarily during chick rearing. Further from Macquarie Island, the most important foraging areas for adult giant petrels were the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) statistical sub-areas 58.4.1 and 88.1, where foraging activity was concentrated around the ice edge and the Polar Frontal Zone. Fledglings of both species spent time in the Marine Park immediately after fledging, before moving into international waters. We found significant temporal and spatial overlap in the areas used by recently fledged juvenile northern giant petrels and the areas utilised by the single trawler that operated in these waters during 2005-06. Adult giant petrels spent little time in RFMO waters other than those under the jurisdiction of CCAMLR, but fledgling southern and northern giant petrels spent considerable time (56% and 78% of total time at sea) on the high seas of the Pacific Ocean, in areas under the jurisdictions of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), the Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO). Band returns indicate that the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO) areas are likely to be extensively utilised by Macquarie Island giant petrels in the first three years after fledging. Overall, Macquarie Island’s giant petrel populations are well protected by marine reserves during the breeding season. However, after fledging birds move into RFMO areas that currently have low standards of observer coverage and by catch mitigation, and where fisheries related mortality is likely to pose a significant risk.     

海蜇头糖蛋白超声辅助提取工艺研究

为提高海蜇头糖蛋白提取效果,采用超声辅助提取工艺,在单因素试验的基础上,采用超声处理时间、超声功率和提取时间三因素三水平响应面分析试验以优化此工艺条件.结果表明:海蜇头目标糖蛋白超声辅助提取的最佳工艺条件为超声处理时间15 min,超声功率300 W,提取时间60 min;在此工艺条件下,糖蛋白实际得率为9.14%,与模型预测值之间具有较好的拟合性.在3个因素中,超声处理时间,超声功率对糖蛋白得率的影响极显著,提取时间影响不显著,且相互之间无交互效应.     

温度、投饵频次对海蜇碟状体生长的影响

实验室条件下,就温度和投饵频次对海蜇碟状体生长过程(伞径生长及活动灵敏度)的影响进行了研究。温度设置为17、21、25℃,投饵频次设置为0.5、1、2、3、4次/d,进行交叉实验。结果表明,温度、投饵频次对碟状体伞径生长的影响均十分显著,且二者的交互作用明显。温度、投饵频次与海蜇碟状体生长之间均存在正相关关系,但各温度下当饵料频次达到一定程度时,投饵频次的增加未对碟状体的平均日生长率产生差异,17℃时每天投饵1次,21℃、25℃时每天投饵2次即能满足碟状体正常生长发育的需求。温度、投饵频次对碟状体的收缩率影响均十分显著,二者的交互作用也很明显。温度与碟状体的收缩率之间成正相关关系,17~21℃时Q10值为2.74,21~25℃时Q10值为1.53,随温度的升高其灵敏度降低。综合本实验条件下的观察结果发现:饵料丰富(即投饵频次相对较高)时,高温(21~25℃)有利于碟状体的生长;饵料不足(即投饵频次相对较低)时,低温(17℃)也有利于碟状体的生长。     

超磁致伸缩微致动器结构优化与静态特性试验

采用超磁致伸缩材料作为微致动器的主要材料,详细阐述了超磁致伸缩微致动器的结构及性能。通过建立超磁致伸缩微致动器的2D轴对称模型,利用有限元方法对微致动器的电磁结构进行优化。试验结果表明超磁致伸缩致动器在合适的偏置磁场及预压力作用下,能达到较佳的输出电流-位移及电流-输出力响应特性。     

Swimming depths of the giant jellyfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nemopilema nomurai</Emphasis> investigated using pop-up archival transmitting tags and ultrasonic pingers

The swimming depths of 12 individual Nemopilema nomurai with bell diameters of 0.8–1.6 m were investigated using pop-up archival transmitting tags and ultrasonic pingers, and the validity of the research method was evaluated. The N. nomurai studied frequently showed vertical movement, with the swimming depth ranging from 0 to 176 m, The mean swimming depths of most individuals were less than 40 m. The swimming depths of N. nomurai in the northern Japan Sea in the winter were mostly deeper than those of this species in the southern Japan Sea in the autumn. This result suggests that the range of the depths almost depends on the vertical structure of the ocean. Swimming depths during the nighttime were significantly deeper than those during the daytime. More specifically, during the daytime, the swimming depths in the afternoon tended to be shallower than those in the morning, while during the nighttime, the swimming depths after midnight were deeper than those before midnight.     

Beneficial co‐culture of jellyfish Rhopilema esculenta (Kishinouye) and sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka): implications for pelagic‐benthic coupling

This study investigated monthly changes of sedimentation and sediment properties in three different culture systems (ponds) – i.e. jellyfish Rhopilema esculenta monoculture (J), sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus and jellyfish co‐culture (SJ) and sea cucumber monoculture (S) – to verify the feasibility of co‐culturing jellyfish and sea cucumbers. Results showed that jellyfish culture accelerated the settling velocity of total particulate matter (TPM). Average TPM settling velocities in the SJ (75.6 g m^?2 day^?1) and J (71.1 g m^?2 day^?1) ponds were significantly higher than that in the S pond (21.7 g m^?2 day^?1) from June to September during the jellyfish culture period. Average settling velocities of organic matter (OM), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in the SJ pond increased significantly by 3.0, 2.9, 3.3 and 3.8 times, respectively, compared with those in the S pond. Sediment contents of OM, TOC, TN and TP in the SJ and J ponds were significantly higher than those in the S pond during the jellyfish culture season. The specific growth rate of sea cucumbers feeding on SJ sediment was significantly higher than that of those feeding on S sediment. Co‐culturing sea cucumbers with jellyfish may help alleviate benthic nutrient loading due to the jellyfish and provide a secondary cash crop.     

Cradle-to-farm gate life cycle assessment in perennial energy crops

Life cycle assessment (LCA) can be an objective, strategic and immediate criteria in determining, case-by-case, the most suitable crop for energy. In this study, a cradle-to-farm gate LCA study was performed in 4 perennial energy crops and then compared to the environmental impacts of a conventional wheat–maize rotation. The functional units energy and hectare were used for ranking the crops. The results showed clear and constant environmental benefits, on average 50% lower impacts, by substituting the conventional rotation with perennial crops. Among the latter, little differences were found on hectare basis, while the differences were strictly dependent on biomass yield, on energy basis. Giant reed, the most productive crop, showed at this regard the best performance, while cynara resulted in the lowest ecological benefits. A similar trend was also registered as concern the energy gain and efficiency that ranged from 75 (cynara) to 349 (giant reed) GJ ha⁻¹, and from 7 to 30 (same order), respectively. On hectare basis, switchgrass achieved better results in six categories out of nine, and especially, it was from 27% to 32% less impacting than the other perennials on marine water ecotoxicity, which resulted in the clearly most affected category after normalisation on average European inhabitants. Weighting is not allowed for public comparison (ISO 14042), yet it can be helpful for some overall indications and conclusive comments. Comparing giant reed and switchgrass under different weighting sets, it emerged that resource depletion was the main discriminator for crop choice. Evenly weighting human health (HH), resource depletion (RD) and ecosystem quality (EQ) categories made the preference toward switchgrass or giant reed very uncertain. Taking three different weighting sets with RD, HH and EQ having 50% of relative importance (25% was set for the remaining two categories), switchgrass appeared the best choice in two cases (i.e. HH = 50% and EQ = 50%) out of three. Therefore, the preference toward a specific energy crop will strongly depend on weighting sets that may considerably change in space and time.     

大熊猫、羚牛和川金丝猴的生境利用比较

为了解同域分布的大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)、羚牛(Budorcas taxicolor)和川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellanae)的生境需求,采用野外调查方法,对小河沟保护区内大熊猫、羚牛和川金丝猴的生境利用进行了研究。结果显示:大熊猫、羚牛和川金丝猴在生境利用上既具有相似性,又具有差异性。与羚牛、川金丝猴相比较,大熊猫对环境有着更多的特殊生境需求。与环境样方(对照)相比较,大熊猫生境中的郁闭度和乔木密度都比较小,竹子盖度和竹子密度都比较大,距离灌木比较近;羚牛生境中的乔木密度比较小;川金丝猴生境中的灌木盖度比较大,距离灌木比较近。