The effect of certain intrinsic and extrinsic variables on the acute toxicity of selected organophosphorus insecticides to the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus.

The acute toxicity of two organophosphorus (OP) insecticides, azinphosmethyl and acephate, was evaluated in the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus. In addition, the effects of certain intrinsic (sex) and extrinsic (salinity and multiple toxicant interraction) variables on the toxic response were also investigated. Azinphosmethyl was by far the most toxic of the two OP insecticides with a 96h LC50 approximately 100,000 x lower than that for acephate. Slight sex differences were observed in the sensitivity of mummichogs to each of the OP insecticides with male fish being marginally more sensitive. Significant effects of low salinity stress were observed only with acephate exposure and, in this case, low salinity appeared to be slightly protective. In general, all of the insecticide mixtures (azinphosmethyl/endosulfan, azinphosmethyl/fenvalerate and acephate/fenvalerate) tested exhibited simple additive toxicity.     

Direct fetal chromosome studies from chorionic villi

An easy and reproducible technique for direct fetal chromosome analysis after chorionic biopsy is described. Very high colchicine concentration and rehydratation of the fixed villi are the two original points of this method.     

Trisomy 2 due to a 3:1 segregation in an abortion studied by QF-PCR and CGH

Balanced reciprocal translocation is one of the known causes of recurrent spontaneous abortions. Cytogenetic studies of unbalanced miscarriages are difficult due to the growth failure of early loss and usually macerated abortions. We present a molecular study of an abortion in which the father carries a balanced reciprocal translocation t(2;17)(q32.1;q24.3) using QF-PCR and CGH techniques. DNA analysis showed the presence of a trisomy 2 due to a 3:1 interchange segregation. Recombinant events could also be investigated by comparing DNA samples from the family. We propose QF-PCR in addition to CGH as an efficient diagnostic method to improve our knowledge of unbalanced offspring in balanced translocation carriers. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bagasse-assisted bioremediation of ammonia from shrimp farm wastewater.

Development of new economically feasible ecofriendly products from agricultural wastes or byproducts for shrimp farm wastewater treatment is the objective of our continued research. Ammonia is a nitrogenous toxicant, which is commonly found in wastewater from shrimp farms. In the present study, we explored the possibility of the use of simply and inexpensively prepared bagasse products so that this abundant crop byproduct could be used to remove ammonia from shrimp farm wastewater. Bagasse, a natural highly fibrous lignocellulosic byproduct of sugarcane, was converted into five different products. Experimental results have shown that ammonia is efficiently removed from wastewater by four bagasse products with a dose of 1 to 6 g/L within 24 hours. The effect of bagasse products on other water quality parameters and growth kinetics of biofilm bacteria onto bagasse fiber have also been studied. Efficacies of products were compared by using statistical analysis. Products developed from bagasse are useful and economical.     

Correlated northward distribution of macrolepidopterans and their food plants along the Ural Mountains

Lists of macrolepidopterans inhabiting the Southern, Middle, and Polar Urals have been used for analyzing the relationship between the species richness of these insects with that of the families of plants on which their larvae feed. The results have shown that this factor in the Southern Urals accounts for approximately 75% and 65% of variation in the species richness of lepidopterans on woody and herbaceous plants, respectively. In the Polar Urals, this correlation is markedly weaker. Latitudinal trends in trophic preferences of individual lepidopteran taxa have been revealed. Probable causes of changes in the relative abundance of lepidopterans north of the forest zone are discussed.     

Composting of vegetable waste.

The effects of the aeration, seeding, and agitation on the composting of vegetable waste were studied in a laboratory-scale reactor. Experimental results showed that the final product at the end of a 4-day composting period met multiple maturity indices suggested by many researchers. The evolution of carbon dioxide during the composting process could be modelled with a modified Gompertz equation that described the bacteria growth successfully. Multivariate regression analysis was used to study the effects of operating parameters on the carbon conversion. The response surface contour plots were constructed using the regression equation for the examination of the dependence of carbon conversion on operating parameters. The maximum carbon conversion of 14.54% was obtained when the percentage of seeding was set at 14.5%, the air suction rate was set at 2.6 L kg(-1) dry-solid min(-1), and the agitator operated half of the time, alternating on and off for every 5 min. Future work will focus on the application of the data and the experience gained in this work to composters of pilot and semi-commercial scales.