ABSTRACT
Chemical communication is widely used in aquatic environments, where visual or auditory signals may not be always effective. Fish of the superorder Ostariophysi are known to display epidermal cells (club cells) that produce and store alarm substances, which are released to the water when the skin is damaged. Responses to alarm substances range widely, between active searches for refuge to a complete stop in any locomotor activity. In this study a large number of binucleated club cells (average density of 11 cells /5m2) were histologically observed in the skin of the catfish Rhamdia quelen (known as jundia). Skin extract (2, 5, and 10% w/v) applied for 15 minutes to conspecifics elicited increase in swimming activity and in the area visited by the fish inside the tank. However, exposure to the epithelial alarm cue did not evoke any stress response: plasma osmolality, ions (sodium, chloride, magnesium, and potassium), glucose and cortisol remained unchanged. In conclusion, the conspecific alarm cue of the jundia induces behavioral responses but not an acute stress response upon short-term exposure, compatible with its role in fostering physical integrity without representing major stress activation. Considering that in the natural environment such stimuli must quickly disappear due to dilution and that rapid protection responses may be necessary upon the possibility of an approaching predator, a faster mechanism to assure survival may come into play, such as sympathetic nervous system activation. Comunicagco qummica i amplamente utilizada por animais que vivem em ambiente aquatico, onde sinais visuais e auditivos nem sempre sco facilmente identificados. Os Ostariophysi sco conhecidos por apresentarem cilulas club na epiderme, as quais produzem e estocam substbncia de alarme que sco liberadas para o ambiente quando a pele i lesionada. As respostas dos peixes a substbncia de alarme variam entre exploragco ativa por refzgios ati a parada completa de atividade locomotora. Neste estudo, grande nzmero de cilulas club binucleadas (densidade midia de 11 cilulas/5m2) foram histologicamente observadas na epiderme do jundia, Rhamdia quelen. Peixes expostos a extrato de pele de conspecmficos (2, 5, e 10% peso/vol) por 15 minutos apresentaram aumento da atividade locomotora e da area de dispersco. No entanto, essa exposigco nco promoveu nenhuma resposta de estresse - osmolalidade plasmatica, mons (ssdio, cloreto, magnisio e potassio), glicose e cortisol nco sofreram alteragco. Conclummos que a exposigco aguda a extrato de pele de conspecmficos promovem respostas comportamentais de fuga, que essa espicie apresenta grande concentragco de cilulas club, as quais devem estar envolvidas nessas respostas e que a exposigco aguda ao estmmulo nco promoveu respostas bioqummicas indicativas de estresse. Considerando que no ambiente natural tais estmmulos devem desaparecer rapidamente dados a diluigco do meio e que respostas rapidas de protegco devem ser desencadeadas frente ` possibilidade de presenga de predador, vias rapidas de suporte a essas respostas, como sistema nervoso simpatico, por exemplo, devem estar envolvidos.
Subject(s)
Animals , Epidermis/anatomy & histology , Chemistry/methods , Stress, Mechanical , Wounds and Injuries , Fishes/classificationABSTRACT
This study aims at evaluating the impacts of applying different compost types produced in Alexandria city on the soil and plant. Composting is the biological decomposition and stabilization of organic substrates. It is a means of converting objectionable wastes, such as sewage sludge, garbage, organic trash, food processing wastes and farm manures into materials suitable for application to land. Sandy soils and four types of compost with different rates were applied; composted sewage sludge, Composted domestic solid waste, composted plant residues, and composted animal manure. The Tested plant was Wheat [Giza 75]. Pot experiments were carried out at lab. the results revealed that application of different types of compost to sandy soil cultivated with wheat plant increased soil salinity [EC], organic matter [CM], available nitrogen, and trace element [Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Pb] contents while decreased pH and available phosphorus. As the soil treated with different compost types were enriched with macro and micronutrients, the fresh plants and oven-dried weights of the plants of treated soil were higher than those of plants of untreated control soil. It is clear that sewage sludge and domestic solid wastes composts application indicated a highest plant yield among other compost types. This study recommended Application of sewage sludge compost must be under special control, Aplication of domestic solid wastes could be used at the rate of 10 and 20% for sandy soil, plant residues compost could be applied on sandy soil, at the rate of 10% only for cultivation of all crops, and Application of animal manure compost could be applied at the range of 20-30% in case of sandy soil for all crops
Subject(s)
Fertilizers , Plants/growth & development , Sewage , Manure , Chemistry/methods , Metals, Heavy/analysisABSTRACT
Crayfish are fresh water crustacean that look like a tiny lobster, fresh water crayfish [Procombarus clarki] had been introduced accidentally and appear in the River Nile and its resource all over Egypt during the last years. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical quality and composition of crayfish as a human food, and to introduce a new high quality crustacean organism as a new cheap source of animal proteins. Total thirty crayfish samples collected from different markets in Alexandria were analysied for total protein, amino acids using amino acids analyzer, fat, cholesterol, fatty acids [using GLC], ash, minerals, and some heavy metals [using atomic absorption spectrophotometer]. Also, total volatile basic nitrogen, pH, free fatty acids, and thiobarbituric acid value as a chemical quality index were mmeasured. The obtained results revealed good freshness and high chemical quality of crayfish, with regard to their ranges of total volatile basic nitrogen [28-35 mg/100g], pH [7.01-7.21], thiobarbituric acid [0.084-0.412] mg molanaldhyde/kg, and free fatty acids [0.56-0.93] mg/kg. Chemical composition and nutritive value of crayfish revealed mean values of total protein, fat, ash, and cholesterol contents 18.076%, 1.057, 1.48%, and 22.417 mg/100g, respectively. Minerals concentrations level were 0.61%, 443.22, and 356.45 micro g/g for phosphorous, iron, and magnesium, respectively. Amino acid pattern showed that Glutamic, Aspartic, Arginine, and leucine were abundant essential amino acids and oleic acid represented 44% of total fatty acids. Crayfish evoked high nutritional value as respect to higher content of total unsaturated fatty acids [73.689%] with 56.56%, and 15.08% monoioneic and polyioneic [with [greek small letter omega] and [greek small letter omega]] fatty acids also, high quality of protein which contain 55.703% essential amino acids. Also, this investigation showed that heavy metals concentration residue decreased in this order zinc > manganese > copper > chromium > cadmium > lead > nikie. Copper, chromium, and cadmium concentration were within the Egyptian permissible limits in all samples, but lead levels exceeded the maximum permissible limits in all samples and zinc exceeded this limit in 75% of examined samples. Information obtained in the present study can assist in developing quality standard for fresh crayfish in Egypt and recommended rules for its safety were mentioned
Subject(s)
Fresh Water , Chemistry/methods , Evaluation Study , Nutritive Value , Maximum Allowable Concentration , Metals, Heavy/analysisABSTRACT
The objective of this research was to develop a laboratory test procedure to predict full-scale primary clarifier performance using Chemically Enhanced primary Treatment [CEPT]. A method was developed that simulated actual primary clarifier performance, with chemical enhancements, based on simulating full-scale surface overflow rate [SOR] and flocculation time in the laboratory. The method used for this test was adapted from a procedure used for sizing of Lamella Separators. Validation of the developed method was done by comparison of laboratory data, with stress test data from two full-scale clarifiers, at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Washington, DC, USA. The results indicated that the laboratory SOR test method could be calibrated to predict and optimize full-scale primary clarifier performance
Subject(s)
Flocculation , Chemistry/methods , LaboratoriesABSTRACT
As espécies estudadas neste trabalho foram selecionadas a partir de um estudo de triagem intitulado Bioprospecção da Biodiversidade Mineira e Desenvolvimento de Novas Drogas em Minas Gerais, em que extratos de espécies vegetais e fungos basidiomicetos, coletados em ecossistemas locais, foram submetidos a diversos ensaios biológicos. O extrato acetato em etila do meio líquido do fungo Lentinus strigosus inibiu a enzima tripanotiona redutase (TR) de Trypanosoma cruzi e seu fracionamento biomonitorado levou ao isolamento de quatro substâncias; neopanepoxidol, 6,7-epóxi-4(15)-hirsuteno-1,5-diol, hipnofilina e panepoxidona, sendo as duas últimas responsáveis pelas atividades biológicas do extrato. Esses dois metabólitos terpênicos apresentaram atividade citotóxica para três linhagens tumorais humanas (UACC-62 -melanoma; TK-10 - renal e MCF-7 - mama; CI de 3,2 μM a 11,0 μM), inibiram a proliferação de linfócitos induzidos por. fitohemaglutinina (CI de 5,9 μM e 10,0 μM), a enzima TR (CI de 48,5 μM a 1,0 μM) e o crescimento de formas amastigotas de T. cruzi (CI de 6,0 μM e 2,5 μM). Panepoxidona e hipnofilina já foram descritas anteriormente, porém, é a primeira vez que se relata o isolamento desses metabólitos em L. strigosus.
O extrato bruto etanólico de Habenaria petalodes (Orquidaceae) apresentou atividade citotóxica para três linhagens tumorais humanas a 20 μg/ mL (UACC-62 - melanoma; TK-10 -renal e MCF-7 - mama). O extrato etanólico bruto de toda a planta foi extraído com diclorometano (fração apolar) e metanol/água (fração polar) por extração líquidolíquido. A fração diclorometânica apresentou actividade citotóxica para as três linhagens de células tumorais a 20 μg/ mL e foi selecionada para posterior fracionamento biomonitorado devido a sua baixa massa e complexidade química. Devido à ausência de relatos sobre os constituintes químicos, as frações polares de Habenaria petalodes (Orquidaceae) foram priorizadas para estudo fitoquímico. A fração polar foi extraída em cartucho Sep-Pak C e forneceu as subfrações, metanólica e aquosa que foram fracionadas por técnicas cromatográficas, obtendose três derivados do ácido succínico; loroglossina, militarina e dactilorina acetilada no anel 2 e, três flavonóides: isoquercitrina, isoramnetina 3-O-β-glicopiranosídeo e 50 50 50 50. 18 isoramnetina 3,7-di-O-β-glicopiranosídeo, isolados pela primeira vez nesta espécie vegetal
Subject(s)
Humans , Basidiomycota/isolation & purification , Chagas Disease/chemically induced , Chemistry/methods , Trypanosoma cruzi/chemistryABSTRACT
As espécies estudadas neste trabalho foram selecionadas a partir de um estudo de triagem intitulado Bioprospecção da Biodiversidade Mineira e Desenvolvimento de Novas Drogas em Minas Gerais, em que extratos de espécies vegetais e fungos basidiomicetos, coletados em ecossistemas locais, foram submetidos a diversos ensaios biológicos. O extrato acetato em etila do meio líquido do fungo Lentinus strigosus inibiu a enzima tripanotiona redutase (TR) de Trypanosoma cruzi e seu fracionamento biomonitorado levou ao isolamento de quatro substâncias; neopanepoxidol, 6,7-epóxi-4(15)-hirsuteno-1,5-diol, hipnofilina e panepoxidona, sendo as duas últimas responsáveis pelas atividades biológicas do extrato. Esses dois metabólitos terpênicos apresentaram atividade citotóxica para três linhagens tumorais humanas (UACC-62 -melanoma; TK-10 - renal e MCF-7 - mama; CI de 3,2 μM a 11,0 μM), inibiram a proliferação de linfócitos induzidos por. fitohemaglutinina (CI de 5,9 μM e 10,0 μM), a enzima TR (CI de 48,5 μM a 1,0 μM) e o crescimento de formas amastigotas de T. cruzi (CI de 6,0 μM e 2,5 μM). Panepoxidona e hipnofilina já foram descritas anteriormente, porém, é a primeira vez que se relata o isolamento desses metabólitos em L. strigosus.
O extrato bruto etanólico de Habenaria petalodes (Orquidaceae) apresentou atividade citotóxica para três linhagens tumorais humanas a 20 μg/ mL (UACC-62 - melanoma; TK-10 -renal e MCF-7 - mama). O extrato etanólico bruto de toda a planta foi extraído com diclorometano (fração apolar) e metanol/água (fração polar) por extração líquidolíquido. A fração diclorometânica apresentou actividade citotóxica para as três linhagens de células tumorais a 20 μg/ mL e foi selecionada para posterior fracionamento biomonitorado devido a sua baixa massa e complexidade química. Devido à ausência de relatos sobre os constituintes químicos, as frações polares de Habenaria petalodes (Orquidaceae) foram priorizadas para estudo fitoquímico. A fração polar foi extraída em cartucho Sep-Pak C e forneceu as subfrações, metanólica e aquosa que foram fracionadas por técnicas cromatográficas, obtendose três derivados do ácido succínico; loroglossina, militarina e dactilorina acetilada no anel 2 e, três flavonóides: isoquercitrina, isoramnetina 3-O-β-glicopiranosídeo e 50 50 50 50. 18 isoramnetina 3,7-di-O-β-glicopiranosídeo, isolados pela primeira vez nesta espécie vegetal
Subject(s)
Humans , Biological Factors , Basidiomycota/isolation & purification , Chagas Disease/chemically induced , Chemistry/methods , Trypanosoma cruzi/chemistryABSTRACT
The present study is just an overview of the opening of the geochemical stage for the appearance of life. But that opening would not have been sufficient for the intellectual discovery of the origin of life! The excellent works and many commendable efforts that advance this explanation have not shown the fundamental elements that participate in the theoretical frame of biological evolution. The latter imply the existence of evolutionary transitions and the production of new levels of organization. In this brief analysis we do not intend to introduce the audience to the philosophy of biology. But we do expect to provide a modest overview, in which the geochemical chemolithoautotrophic opening of the stage should be seen, at most, as the initial metabolism that enabled organic compounds to follow the road where a chemical fluid machinery was thus able to undertake the more [quot ]sublime[quot ] course of organic biological evolution. We think that Tibor Gánti's chemoton is the most significant contribution to theoretical biology, and the only course now available to comprehend the unit of evolution problem without the structuralist and functionalist conflict prevalent in theoretical biology. In our opinion Gánti's chemoton theory travels to the [quot ]locus[quot ] where evolutionary theory dares to extend itself to entities at many levels of structural organization, beyond the gene or the group above. Therefore, in this and subsequent papers on the prebiotic conditions for the eventual appearance of the genetic code, we explore the formation and the presence of metal sulfide minerals, from the assembly of metal sulfide clusters through the precipitation of nanocrystals and the further reactions resulting in bulk metal sulfide phases. We endeavor to characterize pristine reactions and the modern surfaces, utilizing traditional surface science techniques and computational methods. Moreover, mechanistic details of the overall...
Subject(s)
Origin of Life , Biochemistry/methods , Chemistry/methods , Biological Evolution , Genetic Code , Evolution, Chemical , Geology/methods , Environment , Minerals/chemistry , Models, Biological , Models, Chemical , Oscillometry , Oxygen/chemistryABSTRACT
Las membranas epirretinianas, tejidos fibrocelulares que pueden formarse espontáneamente como resultado de un desórden idiopático o secundariamente a una amplia variedad de enfermedades oculares, y que se manifiestan con síntomas visuales de diversos grados de severidad, están constituídas por distintos tipos de células tales como células del epitelio pigmentario de la retina, células gliales de origen retiniano, fibroblastos y macrófagos, inmersas en una matríz extracelular con abunadante colágeno. En este trabajo reportamos las características clínicas e histopatológicas y los hallazgos resultantes de investigar, con técnicas inmunohistoquímicas, al colágeno tipo II presente en la matríz extracelular de dieciocho casos de membranas epirretinianas de diversas etiologías. Los resultados demuestran el importante rol de este componente en la formación de dichas membranas, lo cual puede ser útil para el desarrollo de nuevas estrategias terapéuticas dirigidas contra esta variedad de desórden proliferativo vitreorretinal