Factors affecting the radon (222Rn) emanation from aquifer rock materials: Implications for radiological and groundwater tracer studies.

Groundwater discharge (GD) is an important component of the water budget in large urban areas with high water demands. Radon is a routinely used groundwater tracer in mass-balances for evaluating GD to surface water bodies. The diffusion of 222Rn from aquifers' sediments parameter is important for GD's assessments. Sediment equilibration experiments were employed with various sediment and rock materials, including sand, granite, gneiss and loess that constitute the Pampeano Aquifer (PA) in the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. These experiments allowed the 222Rn concentration determination in pore fluids at secular equilibrium and to examine the factors affecting the magnitude of radon 222Rn emanation from the materials under study. We found that radon emanation decreases in a power function (R2 = 0.9, n = 6) with the particle size of the tested PA sediment and rock materials. Based on our results, loess sediments with the smallest particle size and the largest particle surface area have the highest radon emanation. This strongly suggests that these two parameters are the parameters that govern the radon diffusive fluxes' magnitude in the PA. On the other hand, we found that PA basement rocks, primarily granite and gneiss, showed an exhalation rate of radon of 8.1 ± 0.81 Bq∙m-2∙h-1 and 13.2 ± 1.32 Bq∙m-2∙h-1. These rates are two orders of magnitude higher than loess sediments (0.3 ± 0.1 Bq∙m-2∙h-1), owning to the higher natural content of radon's parent isotopes from the 238U natural decay series. These high radon levels are consistent with currently available radon concentrations measured in groundwater in contact with the PA basement rock formations. This study demonstrates the importance of considering site-specific aquifer properties in the radon diffusive fluxes when utilizing radon as a groundwater tracer in hydrological studies. This is the first quantitative study that examines the aquifer characteristics affecting radon emanations in this large hydrogeological system.

Application of hydrochemical and multi-isotopic (87Sr/86Sr, δ13C-DIC, δ2H-H2O, δ18O-H2O) tools to determine contamination sources and processes in the Guadalhorce River Basin, southern Spain.

The integrated use of multi-isotopic (87Sr/86Sr, δ13C-DIC, δ2H-H2O, δ18O-H2O) and hydrochemical data was applied in the highly anthropized Guadalhorce river basin, southern Spain, to improve the knowledge about water contamination sources and processes and to achieve improved water resource management. The results obtained highlight the importance of the use of isotopes as tracers of pollutants. DIC, δ2H-H2O, δ18O-H2O and δ13C-DIC allowed differentiating two water recharge end members: direct rainwater, infiltrated into the upper and lower detritic aquifers of the sub-basins, and the Guadalhorce dam system, which act as a source in some groundwater and surface waters of the lower sub-basin. 87Sr/86Sr data supported the existing conclusions in relation to pollution sources in the study area. The Triassic basement (evaporites) of the carbonate and detritic aquifers of the basin generally controls the natural 87Sr/86Sr composition in waters of the upper sub-basin. Only one groundwater sample reflects the influence of a human organic source (sewage) in its composition. On the other hand, mixing of human inorganic (fertilizers and detergents) strontium sources is required to explain the 87Sr/86Sr contents of the lower sub-basin waters. Discriminating the use of domestic detergents as another anthropogenic source of strontium and sulphate in waters is a novel finding in this research. The conclusions reached can be extrapolated to other anthropized basins.

Control of the mobilization of arsenic and other natural pollutants in groundwater by calcium carbonate concretions in the Pampean Aquifer, southeast of the Buenos Aires province, Argentina.

The water supply for human consumption in the Chaco-Pampean region in Argentina is restricted by the low quality of groundwater due to elevated concentrations of arsenic and other trace elements. Previous studies indicated a complex concurrence of factors and processes that are believed responsible to control the distribution of arsenic in groundwater. For a better understanding of the origin of trace elements in the Pampean aquifer, flow-through experiments with loess and calcrete samples representative of the sediments that constitute the aquifer were carried out in continuous flow reactors. The aqueous solutions were collected and the concentrations of SiO2(aq), Ca2+, SO42-, Na+, Cl-, F- and trace elements (Ba, Sr, V, and As) were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis. The experiments showed differences in the release rate of elements to the solution according to the type of sediment. The highest concentrations of V, Ba, and As were measured in experiments conducted with loess, and these elements were released quickly to the solution in the first minute of the test. In the case of loess, V and As are suggested to be adsorbed on the solid particles surface. Conversely, the experiments conducted with calcrete showed a lower but continuous release of those elements. This last result may indicate that the trace elements were coprecipitated in the calcite. In addition, it was demonstrated that F did not come from the dissolution of minerals such as fluorapatite, but both desorption from solid surface and dissolution from calcite minerals account for the release of F. This study support that both dissolution and adsorption-desorption processes can control the mobility of trace elements, with an emphasis on the role of calcrete in the retention and the mobilization of trace elements in the Pampean aquifer.

Mobility of Heavy Metals (Pb, Cd, Zn) in the Pampeano and Puelche Aquifers, Argentina: Partition and Retardation Coefficients.

The prediction about metals behaviour in soil requires knowledge on their solid-liquid partitioning. Usually it is expressed with an empirical distribution coefficient or Kd, which gives the ratio of the metal concentration in the solid phase to that in the solution. Kd values have been determined for Zn, Pb and Cd from samples representing the two most exploited aquifers in Argentina, Pampeano and Puelche, at three different locations in the province of Buenos Aires. The Pampeano aquifer presented higher Kd values than the Puelche aquifer. Comparing Kd values, different relationships could be observed: (a) Pampeano aquifer: Pb > Zn > Cd, and (b) Puelche aquifer: Pb > Cd > Zn. Kd for Cd seems to be linked to cationic exchange capacity, but solid phases precipitation can be more determining for Pb and Zn.

The carbon budget of a large catchment in the Argentine Pampa plain through hydrochemical modeling.

Mar Chiquita is a coastal lagoon located in the Argentine Buenos Aires province in South America. The aim of this study is to estimate the annual contribution of inland waters to the carbon cycle in this lagoon's catchment by estimating the corresponding local carbon budget. Fifteen pairs of water samples were chosen to carry out hydrogeochemical modeling using PHREEQC software. Groundwater samples were considered as recharge water (initial solutions), while streamwater samples were taken as groundwater discharge (final solutions for inverse modeling/reference solutions for direct modeling). Fifteen direct models were performed, where each groundwater sample was constrained to calcite equilibrium under two different carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO2) conditions: atmospheric conditions (log PCO2 (atm) = -3.5) and a PCO2 value of log PCO2 (atm) = -3. Groundwater samples are close to calcite equilibrium conditions. The calcite precipitation process is kinetically slower than gas diffusion, causing oversaturation of this reactant phase in streamwater samples. This was accompanied by a pH increase of approximately two units due to a PCO2 decrease. From the fifteen inverse models it was estimated that, of the total carbon that enters per year in the hydrological cycle of the study area, about 11.9% is delivered to the atmosphere as CO2 and around 6.7% is buried in sediments. This would indicate that 81.4% of the remaining carbon is retained in equilibrium within the system or discharged into the Mar Chiquita lagoon and/or directly to the ocean through regional flows.

Phylogeny and biogeography of Hydra (Cnidaria: Hydridae) using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences.

The polyp hydra is ubiquitous in freshwater and is highly variable, with many species names assigned to different strains. Types of hydra do fall into four morphologically recognizable groups but many of the species determinations are confusing. To assess the diversity of hydra we collected 101 strains from six continents and built a phylogeny using three genetic markers. Each of the four well-defined groups of species represents a clade in our phylogeny. The green hydra group diverged first, followed by the braueri group and finally the sister groups vulgaris and oligactis. Each of eight species easily definable by morphological criteria represents a distinct clade in our phylogeny. Hydra of two clades, the green and the vulgaris hydra, are found on all continents (except Antarctica) and many islands, whereas hydra of the other two groups (braueri and oligactis) are restricted to the Northern Hemisphere. Our best estimate of the time of origin of hydra is about 60 Ma, long after the breakage of Pangea into northern and southern landmasses. Hydra appear to have diversified in the Northern Hemisphere, and their current diversity is greatest here. Two species were then able to disperse to the Southern Hemisphere, perhaps due to their thermal tolerance.

Senescence-associated degradation of chloroplast proteins inside and outside the organelle.

Leaf proteins, and in particular the photosynthetic proteins of plastids, are extensively degraded during senescence. Although this involves massive amounts of protein, the mechanisms responsible for chloroplast protein degradation are largely unknown. Degradation within the plastid itself is supported by the observation that chloroplasts contain active proteases, and that chloroplasts isolated from senescing leaves can cleave Rubisco to release partially digested fragments. It is less clear whether chloroplasts can complete Rubisco degradation. Chloroplastic proteases are likely involved in the breakdown of the D1 and LHCII proteins of photosystem II. Small senescence-associated vacuoles (SAVs) with high-proteolytic activity develop in senescing leaf cells, and there is evidence that SAVs contain chloroplast proteins. Thus, an extra-plastidic pathway involving SAVs might participate in the degradation of some chloroplast proteins. Plastidic and extra-plastidic pathways might cooperate in the degradation of chloroplast proteins, or they might represent alternative, redundant pathways for photosynthetic protein degradation.

Clinical remission of systemic lupus erythematosus after human immunodeficiency virus infection

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection during the course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is unusual. The clinical manifestations of SLE can be influenced by the HIV infection. Worsening of HIV has been documented after the use of immunosuppressives. We describe a case of a 37-year-old male patient who underwent complete clinical remission of SLE after serologic conversion.

Mortality patterns suggest lack of senescence in hydra.

Senescence, a deteriorative process that increases the probability of death of an organism with increasing chronological age, has been found in all metazoans where careful studies have been carried out. There has been much controversy, however, about the potential immortality of hydra, a solitary freshwater member of the phylum Cnidaria, one of the earliest diverging metazoan groups. Researchers have suggested that hydra is capable of escaping aging by constantly renewing the tissues of its body. But no data have been published to support this assertion. To test for the presence or absence of aging in hydra, mortality and reproductive rates for three hydra cohorts have been analyzed for a period of four years. The results provide no evidence for aging in hydra: mortality rates have remained extremely low and there are no apparent signs of decline in reproductive rates. Hydra may have indeed escaped senescence and may be potentially immortal.

Budhead, a fork head/HNF-3 homologue, is expressed during axis formation and head specification in hydra.

Accumulating evidence indicates that a common set of genes and mechanisms regulates the developmental processes of a variety of triploblastic organisms despite large variation in their body plans. To what extent these same genes and mechanisms are also conserved among diploblasts, which arose earlier in metazoan evolution, is unclear. We have characterized a hydra homologue of the fork head/HNF-3 class of winged-helix proteins, termed budhead, whose expression patterns suggest a role(s) similar to that found in vertebrates. The vertebrate HNF-3 beta homologues are expressed early in embryogenesis in regions that have organizer properties, and later they have several roles, among them an important role in rostral head formation. In the adult hydra, where axial patterning processes are continuously active, budhead is expressed in the upper part of the head, which has organizer properties. It is also expressed during the formation of a new axis as part of the development of a bud, hydra's asexual form of reproduction. Expression during later stages of budding, during head regeneration and the formation of ectopic heads, indicates a role in head formation. It is likely that budhead plays a critical role in head as well as axis formation in hydra.

Rejuvenation of the disposable soma: repeated injury extends lifespan in an asexual annelid.

The disposable soma theory of senescence proposes that aging is the result of the accumulation of somatic damage with age resulting from insufficient somatic maintenance and repair. Comparative studies that show a positive correlation between longevity and DNA excision repair efficiency in mammals provide support for the theory but their validity has been questioned. A more satisfactory approach to investigate the role of somatic damage accumulation in aging would be to manipulate experimentally the levels of somatic repair and observe its effect on longevity. Here I report the results of studies in the asexual annelid Paranais litoralis where I have experimentally extended the worms' lifespan by subjecting them to repeated injury. I propose that repeated injury enhanced the normal level of repair of the worms, resulting in a rejuvenation of the soma. These results provide experimental support for the disposable soma theory of senescence.

Asexual metazoans undergo senescence.

August Weismann popularized the notion that metazoans have a potentially immortal germ line separated from a mortal soma, and evolutionary biologists regard senescence as an evolved characteristic of the soma. Many have claimed that metazoans that do not sequester their germ line have no clear distinction between germ line and soma, and consequently they should lack senescence. Here we present experimental evidence that senescence occurs in the asexually reproducing marine oligochaete Paranais litoralis. We also analyze data reported in Sonneborn's classical study and show that the rhabdocoel Stenostomum incaudatum undergoes senescence. We argue that the stability of commitment to somatic function and the fact that asexual metazoans form their germ cells from undifferentiated stem cells are sufficient to allow for senescence of the asexual metazoan's soma. Thus the evolution of somatic differentiation, and not germ-line sequestration, would be the necessary condition for the evolution of senescence.

Asociacion VATER y seudohermafroditismo femenino. / VATER association and female pseudohermaphroditism

Presentamos una paciente con asociacion VATER y seudohermafroditismo femenino (SHF) probablemente "no adrenal". Se describen 6 pacientes con estas caracteristicas referidas en la literatura (tabla 1).Sobre la base del clasico concepto en Embiologia de Campo Complejo de Desarrollo, estos casos podrian ser considerados dentro de un complejo malformativo de amplio espectro y expresividad variable. El descubrimiento de los defectos integrantes de la asociacion VATER deberia conducir a la investigacion de la posible presencia de SHF

Asociacion VATER y seudohermafroditismo femenino. / VATER association and female pseudohermaphroditism

Presentamos una paciente con asociacion VATER y seudohermafroditismo femenino (SHF) probablemente "no adrenal". Se describen 6 pacientes con estas caracteristicas referidas en la literatura (tabla 1).Sobre la base del clasico concepto en Embiologia de Campo Complejo de Desarrollo, estos casos podrian ser considerados dentro de un complejo malformativo de amplio espectro y expresividad variable. El descubrimiento de los defectos integrantes de la asociacion VATER deberia conducir a la investigacion de la posible presencia de SHF