CADMIUM MOBILISATION UNDER CONDITIONS SIMULATING ANAEROBIC TO AEROBIC TRANSITION IN A LANDFILL LEACHATE-POLLUTED AQUIFER

The anaerobic conditions in landfill leachate-polluted aquifers can lead to trapping of many heavy metals as sulfide precipitates. In laboratory experiments with aqueous systems containing sulfidic solid phases (aquifer solids from a landfill leachate plume or amorphous FeS), cadmium previously trapped as a sulfide precipitate was released to the aqueous phase when conditions were changed from initially slightly anaerobic to aerobic. Cadmium was subsequently removed from solution either by adsorption on Fe oxyhydroxide phases or by precipitation as a carbonate mineral, groundwater pH being the major controlling variable.     

Development of monoclonal antibodies for the rapid identification of epizootic Vibrio species

Abstract. A library of monoclonal antibodies has been developed for use in rapid diagnosis of Vibrio infecftions. It covers the Vibrio Species that are regarded as the major fish and shellfish pathogens, many of which are also human pathogens. Blind tests confirm the accurary of the monoclonals as a diagnostic test. Conjugation of enzyme lable onto the monoclonals is providing rapid identification of Vibrio species by use of direct, rather than indirect, immunological testing.     

Leptin as an indicator for carcass composition in farm animals

The function of leptin in livestock species has been intensively studied during recent years. Due to the associations between plasma leptin concentrations and body fat, leptin could be used as an indicator for the in vivo evaluation of carcass composition in breeding programs. This review specifically discusses leptin mRNA expression in several fat tissues, the relationship between plasma leptin and body fat and the influence of fasting on this association. It also refers to the limitations of the use of plasma leptin concentrations as a predictor for selection purposes in breeding animals. Furthermore, single nucleotide polymorphisms in the leptin gene have some effects on carcass traits and the leptin gene is considered to be a candidate gene for a marker‐assisted selection. However, these results are very inconsistent across various populations and need to be confirmed in future studies before leptin can be used efficiently in breeding programs and management.