The association between reproductive success with persistent organochlorine pollutants residue in feathers of spur-winged lapwing ( Vanellus spinosus L.)

Abstract

The reproductive and breeding success of wader species is negatively affected by various anthropogenic factors, including persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs). We aimed to study the association of POPs in feathers with the reproductive success of the spur-winged lapwing (Vanellus spinosus). For this purpose, data on reproductive parameters and feather samples were collected from a breeding population consisting of 19 pairs near Boğazkent district in Antalya, Turkey. Mean concentrations of total polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣPCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (ΣOCPs) were found to be 54 ± 16 ng/g and 520 ng/g in all samples, respectively. In particular, PCB 151 and β-hexachlorocyclohexane had a negative association the various reproductive parameters in the species under consideration. Fledgling success (n = 25) was calculated to be 37.4%, which was negatively associated with the ΣOCP concentrations (r = − 0.99, p = 0.01). According to the results, POP residues are one of the associated factors on the reproductive success of spur-winged lapwing along, with agricultural activity and predation. It is indicated that the species needs a protection plan for prevention declining reproductive success and population size species in Turkey. Besides, our results suggest that bird feathers are a non-destructive bio-monitoring tools to estimate of contamination levels of organic pollutants in a population.

La reconstruction de l’aréole et du mamelon

Publication date: Available online 7 July 2018

Source: Annales de Chirurgie Plastique Esthétique

Author(s): F. Bodin, C. Bruant-Rodier, L. Ruffenach, C. Dissaux

Résumé

La réfection du complexe aréolo-mamelonnaire est l'étape finale de la reconstruction mammaire. Elle restitue l'identité visuelle du sein. Les options les plus courantes pour refaire une aréole sont la dermopimentation, la greffe de peau totale de la racine interne de la cuisse et la greffe de peau totale prélevée sur l'aréole controlatérale. Les solutions de reconstruction mamelonnaire sont le dédoublement du mamelon controlatéral, le lambeau local, la greffe de peau totale et le tatouage en trompe l'œil. Le dédoublement du mamelon est la technique de choix parce qu'elle offre d'emblée une couleur, une texture et une projection optimales. La dermopigmentation aréolaire est la procédure la plus courante pour sa simplicité et sa reproductibilité.

Summary

The reconstruction of the nipple-areolar complex is the final stage of breast reconstruction that restores the visual identity of the breast. The most common options for reshaping the areola are tattooing, total skin grafting of the inner thigh and the total skin graft taken from the contralateral areola. Nipple reconstruction solutions include duplication of contralateral nipple, local flap, total skin graft and tattoo in three-dimension. Duplication of the nipple is the technique of choice because it immediately offers optimal color, texture and projection. The areolar tattoo is the most common procedure for its simplicity and reproducibility.

La reconstruction du sein avec le lambeau libre de gracilis à palette cutanée transversale (TMG flap)

Publication date: Available online 7 July 2018

Source: Annales de Chirurgie Plastique Esthétique

Author(s): F. Bodin, C. Bruant-Rodier, L. Ruffenach, C. Dissaux

Résumé

La reconstruction du sein par lambeau libre de gracilis est décrite depuis 2004. L'intervention consiste à prélever un lambeau composé du muscle gracilis et d'un fuseau cutané transversal provenant de la racine interne de la cuisse. Le pédicule nourricier du lambeau est le pédicule principal du muscle gracilis. Après sevrage, il est anastomosé aux vaisseaux thoraciques internes. Le modelage du sein s'effectue en repliant les pointes cutanées en avant du muscle pour obtenir la forme d'un cône. Cette technique chirurgicale permet d'effectuer des reconstructions mammaires autologues de taille petite à moyenne, immédiates ou différées, unilatérales ou bilatérales.

Summary

Breast reconstruction with free flap of gracilis has been described since 2004. The procedure consists in harvesting a flap made of the gracilis muscle and a transverse cutaneous paddle originating from the internal root of the thigh. The pedicle of the flap is the main pedicle of the gracilis muscle. After weaning, the vessels are anastomosed to the internal thoracic artery and vein. The modeling of the breast is done by folding the cut points in front of the muscle to obtain the shape of a cone. This surgical technique allows the realization of autologous breast reconstructions of small to medium size, immediate or delayed, unilateral or bilateral.

Inferring ancient relationships with genomic data: a commentary on current practices

Abstract

Contemporary phylogeneticists enjoy an embarrassment of riches, not only in the volumes of data now available, but also in the diversity of bioinformatic tools for handling these data. Here, I discuss a subset of these tools I consider well-suited to the task of inferring ancient relationships with coding sequence data in particular, encompassing data generation, orthology assignment, alignment and gene tree inference, supermatrix construction, and analysis under the best-fitting models applicable to large-scale datasets. Throughout, I compare and critique methods, considering both their theoretical principles and the details of their implementation, and offering practical tips on usage where appropriate. I also entertain different motivations for analysing what are almost always originally DNA sequence data as codons, amino acids, and higher-order recodings. Although presented in a linear order, I see value in using the diversity of tools available to us to assess the sensitivity of clades of biological interest to different gene and taxon sets and analytical modes, which can be an indication of the presence of systematic error, of which a few forms remain poorly controlled by even the best available inference methods.

Behavior, Electrophysiology and Robotics Experiments to Study Lateral Line Sensing in Fishes

Abstract

The lateral line system is a sensory system unique to fishes and amphibians. It is composed of distributed mechanosensory hair cell organs on the head and body (neuromasts), which are sensitive to pressure gradients and water movements. Over the last decade, we have pursued an interdisciplinary approach by combining behavioral, electrophysiology and robotics experiments to study this fascinating sensory system. In behavioral and electrophysiology experiments, we have studied the larval lateral line system in the model genetic organism, zebrafish (Danio rerio). We found that the lateral line system, even in five-day old larvae, is involved in an array of behaviors that are critical to survival, and the deflection of a single neuromast can elicit a swimming response. In robotics experiments, we used a range of physical models with distributed pressure sensors to better understand the hydrodynamic environments from the local perspective of a fish or robot. So far, our efforts have focused on extracting control-related information for a range of application scenarios including characterizing unsteady flows such as Kármán vortex streets for station holding. We also used robot models to test biological hypotheses on how morphology and movement of fishes affect lateral line sensing. Overall, with this review we aim to increase the visibility and accessibility of this multi-disciplinary research approach.

The mitochondrial contribution to animal performance, adaptation, and life-history variation

Abstract

Animals display tremendous variation in their rates of growth, reproductive output, and longevity. While the physiological and molecular mechanisms that underlie this variation remain poorly understood, the performance of the mitochondrion has emerged as a key player. Mitochondria not only impact the performance of eukaryotes via their capacity to produce ATP, but they also play a role in producing heat and reactive oxygen species and function as a major signalling hub for the cell. The papers included in this special issue emerged from a symposium titled "Inside the Black Box: The Mitochondrial Basis of Life-history Variation and Animal Performance". Based on studies of diverse animal taxa, three distinct themes emerged from these papers. 1) When linking mitochondrial function to components of fitness, it is crucial that mitochondrial assays are performed in conditions as close as the intracellular conditions experienced by the mitochondria in vivo. 2) Functional plasticity allows mitochondria to retain their performance, as well as that of their host, over a range of exogenous conditions, and selection on mitochondrial and nuclear-derived proteins can optimize the match between the environment and the bioenergetic capacity of the mitochondrion. Finally, 3) studies of wild and wild-derived animals suggest that mitochondria play a central role in animal performance and life history strategy. Taken as a whole, we hope that these papers will foster discussion and inspire new hypotheses and innovations that will further our understanding of the mitochondrial processes that underlie variation in life history traits and animal performance.

′The same thing that makes you live can kill you in the end′: exploring the effects of growth rates and longevity on cellular metabolic rates and oxidative stress in mammals and birds

Abstract

All aerobic organisms are subjected to metabolic by-products known as reactive species (RS).RS can wreak havoc on macromolecules by structurally altering proteins and inducing mutations in DNA, among other deleterious effects. . To combat accumulating damage, organisms have an antioxidant system to sequester RS before they cause cellular damage. The balance between RS production, antioxidant defences, and accumulated cellular damage is termed oxidative stress. Physiological ecologists, gerontologists and metabolic biochemists have turned their attention to whether oxidative stress is the principal, generalized mechanism that mediates and limits longevity, growth rates and other life-history trade-offs in animals, as may be the case in mammals and birds. At the crux of this theory lies the regulation and activities of the mitochondria with respect to the organism and its metabolic rate. At the whole-animal level, evolutionary theory suggests that developmental trajectories and growth rates can shape the onset and rate of aging. Mitochondrial function is important for aging since it is the main source of energy in cells, and the main source of RS. Altering oxidative stress levels, either increases in oxidative damage or reduction in antioxidants, has proven to also decrease growth rates, which implies that oxidative stress is a cost of, as well as a constraint on, growth. Yet, in nature, many animals exhibit fast growth rates that lead to higher loads of oxidative stress, which are often linked to shorter lifespans. In this paper, I summarize the latest findings on whole-animal life history trade-offs, such as growth rates and longevity, and how these can be affected by mitochondrial cellular metabolism, and oxidative stress.

The RCR and ATP/O indices can give contradictory messages about mitochondrial efficiency

Abstract

Mitochondrial efficiency is typically taken to represent an animal's capacity to convert its resources into ATP. However, the term mitochondrial efficiency, as currently used in the literature, can be calculated as either the respiratory control ratio, RCR (ratio of mitochondrial respiration supporting ATP synthesis to that required to offset the proton leak) or as the amount of ATP generated per unit of oxygen consumed, ATP/O ratio. The question of how flexibility in mitochondrial energy properties (i.e. in rates of respiration to support ATP synthesis and offset proton leak, and in the rate of ATP synthesis) affects these indices of mitochondrial efficiency has tended to be overlooked. Furthermore, little is known of whether the RCR and ATP/O ratio vary in parallel, either among individuals or in response to environmental conditions. Using data from brown trout Salmo trutta we show that experimental conditions affect mitochondrial efficiency, but the apparent direction of change depends on the index chosen: a reduction in food availability was associated with an increased RCR (i.e. increased efficiency) but a decreased ATP/O ratio (decreased efficiency) in liver mitochondria. Moreover, there was a negative correlation across individuals held in identical conditions between their RCR and their ATP/O ratio. These results show that the choice of index of mitochondrial efficiency can produce different, even opposing, conclusions about the capacity of the mitochondria to produce ATP. Neither ratio is necessarily a complete measure of efficiency of ATP production in the living animal (RCR because it contains no assessment of ATP production, and ATP/O because it contains no assessment of respiration to offset the proton leak). Consequently, we suggest that a measure of mitochondrial efficiency obtained nearer to conditions where respiration simultaneously offsets the proton leak and produce ATP would be sensitive to changes in both proton leakage and ATP production, and is thus likely to be more representative of the state of the mitochondria in vivo.

The distinct role and regulatory mechanism of IL-17 and IFN-γ in the initiation and development of plaque vs guttate psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disorder characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and by infiltration of activated Th1 and Th17 cells in the (epi)dermis [1–3]. The majority of T lymphocytes infiltrating psoriatic dermis are CD4+T lymphocytes while CD8+T lymphocytes mainly accumulate in epidermis [4,5]. Psoriasis vulgaris is classified into the guttate and plaque psoriasis according to clinical features, especially the size and distribution of skin lesions. Guttate psoriasis, known to have a better prognosis than plaque psoriasis, shows rapid involution and longer remission.

Fluoride removal studies using virgin and Ti (IV)-modified Musa paradisiaca (plantain pseudo-stem) carbons

Abstract

The preparation of carbons in virgin and Ti-modified forms under controlled conditions at low temperature from plantain pseudo-stem (Musa paradisiaca) was achieved. These prepared carbons were characterized for instrumental studies such as BET, FTIR, XRD, SEM with EDS and TGA to understand the chemistry and modification. The determination of IEP and pH_ZPC established the presence of positive surface sites on the virgin (VMPC) and Ti-modified (TiMPC) carbons to facilitate the sorption of fluoride. The fluoride removal efficiency as a function of time, pH, dose, initial fluoride concentration, temperature, and co-ion intervention was studied. The maximum fluoride removal of about 81.2 and 97.7% was achievable with VMPC and TiMPC, respectively, after 20 min at the pH of 2.04 and continued for the equilibrium of 60 min. Temperature was found to be influential both by way of initial increase followed by a decrease in the fluoride uptake of MPCs. Regeneration was very consistent up to 7 cycles with the residual fluoride concentration below the WHO guide line of 1.5 mg L⁻¹. Highest intervention due to hydrogen carbonate ions was observed during the fluoride removal process. Kinetic (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intra-particle diffusion) and isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, and DKR) were checked for their compliance with the present sorption system. These low temperature synthesized MPCs are found to be effective candidates in the process of fluoride abatement in water.

Forecasting riverine total nitrogen loads using wavelet analysis and support vector regression combination model in an agricultural watershed

Abstract

In the context of non-point source pollution management and algal blooms control, the reliable nutrient forecasting is of critical importance. Considering the highly stochastic, non-linear, and non-stationary natures involved in riverine total nitrogen (TN) load time series data, some traditional statistical and artificial intelligence models are inherently unable to give accurate nutrient forecasts due to their mechanism and structure characteristics. In this study, based on the wavelet analysis (WA) and support vector regression (SVR), a promising combined WA-SVR model was proposed for forecasting riverine TN loads. The data pro-processing tool WA was employed to decompose the time series data of riverine TN load for revealing its dominator. Subsequently, all wavelet components were used as inputs to SVR for WA-SVR model. The continuous riverine TN loads during 2004–2012 in the ChangLe River watershed of eastern China were estimated by using a calibrated Load Estimator model. Performance criteria, namely, determination coefficient (R²), Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency (NS), and mean square error (MSE) were applied to assess the performance of the developed models. The effects of different mother wavelets on the efficiency of the conjunction model were investigated. The results demonstrated that the mother wavelet played a crucial role for the successful implementation of the WA-SVR model. Among the 23 selected mother wavelet functions, dmey wavelet performed best in forecasting the daily and monthly TN loads. Furthermore, the performance of the optimal WA-SVR model was compared with that of single SVR model without wavelet decomposition. The comparison indicated that the hybrid model provided better accuracy than that of single SVR model. For daily riverine TN loads, the R², NS, and MSE values of WA-SVR model during the test stage were 0.9699, 0.9658, and 0.4885 × 10⁷ kg/day, respectively. For monthly riverine TN loads, the R², NS, and MSE values of the model during the test stage were 0.9163, 0.9159, and 0.3237 × 10¹⁰ kg/month, respectively. The overall results strongly suggested that the combined WA-SVR method can successfully forecast riverine TN loads in agricultural watersheds.

Performance and recovery of a completely separated partial nitritation and anammox process treating phenol-containing wastewater

Abstract

Anammox process is considered as a promising technology for removing total nitrogen from low-strength ammonium and phenol-containing wastewater. However, it is still a challenge for the anammox process to treat high-strength ammonium and phenol-containing wastewater. A completely separated partial nitritation and anammox (CSPN/A) process was developed to remove total nitrogen from high-strength phenol-containing wastewater. About 92% of COD, 100% of phenol, and 82.4% of total nitrogen were successfully removed at a NH₄⁺-N concentration of 200 mg L⁻¹ with a phenol/NH₄⁺-N mass ratio of 0.5 in the CSPN/A process. Furthermore, a shock loading of 300 mg phenol L⁻¹ with a phenol/NH₄⁺-N mass ratio of 1.5 led to a complete failure of partial nitritation, but the performance was rapidly recovered by the increase of NH₄⁺-N concentration. Although the activities of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria and anammox bacteria were severely inhibited at a phenol/NH₄⁺-N mass ratio of 1.5, the enrichment of efficient phenol degraders in the CSPN stage could strengthen the performance robustness of partial nitritation and anammox process. Therefore, this study presented a new insight on the feasibility of the anammox process for treating high-strength ammonium and phenol-containing wastewater.

Enhanced degradation of isoproturon in soil through persulfate activation by Fe-based layered double hydroxide: different reactive species comparing with activation by homogenous Fe(II)

Abstract

Phenylurea herbicide residuals in soil may continuously contaminate surface water and groundwater due to unregulated and improper use. Herein, we reported a stable and active oxidation system including heterogeneous Fe-based layered double hydroxide materials as persulfate (PS) activators. Under mild conditions, 1% LDH in weight and 70 mM PS can completely degrade 500 mg/kg isoproturon in soil within 10 h, during which less than 0.1 ppm heavy metal leaching was detected. This remarkable performance was consistent in a broad pH range (3~11) and was resistant to various inorganic anions (Cl⁻, Br⁻, NO₃⁻, HCO₃⁻) and humic acid. Mechanism studies from scavenging tests, EPR, and fluorescence spectra collectively proved that besides •OH and •SO₄⁻, singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and superoxide (•O₂⁻) were also generated and were accounted for the oxidative degradation. This unique mechanism of generating diverse radicals was clearly distinguished from classic Fe(II)/PS system, significantly reduced the influence of varying parameters in water and soil matrix, and was suggestive to chemical oxidation system in soil remediation to avoid scavenging effects by background electrolytes or other components in water/soil matrix.

Graphical abstract

ᅟ

Biogenic synthesis of gold nanoparticles and their application in photocatalytic degradation of toxic dyes

Publication date: Available online 7 July 2018

Source: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology

Author(s): Debjani Baruah, Monmi Goswami, Raj Narayan Singh Yadav, Archana Yadav, Archana Moni Das

Abstract

Plants and their extracts play an important role in the green synthesis of nanoparticles mainly because of their environmental benignity. Based on plant extracts number of metal nanoparticles have been synthesized. In our study, we report a green technique for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles using the aqueous extracts of Alpinia nigra leaves and their photocatalytic activities. The antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal potential of the synthesized nanoparticles were also evaluated. The aqueous extract of the plant is rich in flavonoids with Total Flavonoid Content of 491mgRE/g extract. The presence of flavonoids was further confirmed through analytical High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The A. nigra mediated syntheses of gold nanoparticles (ANL-AuNPs) were characterized by UV–Vis spectrophotometer, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The crystalline nature of the ANL-AuNPs was confirmed by the powder XRD analysis. The TEM micrographs showed that the ANL-AuNPs was predominantly spherical in shape and the average particle size was 21.52 nm. The polyphenolics and other functional groups present in the aqueous extract that acted as reducing and capping agent in the synthesis of the Au-NPs were identified via FTIR spectral analysis. These green synthesized nanoparticles exhibited antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ value of 52.16 μg/ml and showed inhibition in the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans was also susceptible to these nanoparticles. The ANL-AuNPs in the presence of sunlight catalyzed the degradation of the anthropogenic pollutant dyes, Methyl Orange and Rhodamine B with percent degradation of 83.25% and 87.64% respectively. The photodegradation process followed pseudo first order kinetic model. These results confirm that Alpinia nigra is a potential bioresource for the synthesis of Au-NPs with versatile applications.

Graphical Abstract