Fluoride Concentration in Drinking Water in The Province of Soria (Central Spain) and Caries in Children

The fluoride content in the water supply of the Soria province is not normally above 0.2mg L^–1 and its geographical distribution is related to the lithological and geological features of the zone, the highest concentration being associated with the Miocene clay formation of the Almazán Basin.A statistical analysis confirms a connection between this fluoride content and tooth decay among children in rural areas. However, other factors such as oral hygiene and diet have been found to affect tooth decay.     

Prelaying maternal condition modifies the association between egg mass and T cell-mediated immunity in kestrels

Theoretical models of parental care predict differential allocation in relation to the expected fitness of the offspring. As birds must allocate all the resources required for embryonic development in self-contained packages, maternal egg allocation takes a central role in avian life histories. It is predicted that mothers can influence offspring performance by varying the size or composition of their eggs. In this context, T cell-mediated immune response has been revealed as a valuable tool to evaluate fledgling fitness. However, little is known about its relationships to egg mass. I describe a negative association between egg mass and cellular immune response in Eurasian kestrel nestlings (Falco tinnunculus) throughout 3 years. To explore how environmental conditions could mediate this relationship, I experimentally supplied food to females before egg formation in the third study year. I found that this relationship turned to positive in food-supplied females without any effect on egg size. This result shows that environmental conditions before egg formation mediate the relationship between egg mass and future immune response of the nestlings. I suggest that females may be constrained in improving the future immune response of their offspring due to resource allocation trade-offs determined by their pre-laying condition.     

Environmental conditions influence egg color of reed warblers <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acrocephalus scirpaceus</Emphasis> and their parasite,the common cuckoo <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cuculus canorus</Emphasis>

The outer layer of the eggshell in birds is in many cases covered by pigments that are assumed to be genetically determined traits with a negligible environmental component. To test the hypothesis that spring environmental conditions (i.e., temperature and rainfall) may affect bird egg pigmentation, we measured by spectrophotometry and photography egg coloration and spottiness on reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus L.) clutches parasitized by the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus L.) collected over a period of 24 years and preserved in the Zoological Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark. In addition, we investigated whether spring environmental conditions may influence the coevolutionary relationship between the cuckoo and its host via changes in cuckoo–host egg matching. Generalized mixed models revealed that reed warbler eggs were more brilliant in those springs with a higher rainfall and tended to be bluer and greener in springs with a lower relative temperature. On the other hand, cuckoo eggs were bluer and greener in springs with a higher rainfall. Cuckoo–host egg matching in blue-greenness and spottiness was better in springs with a higher rainfall. These results provide support for the existence of an environmental component on bird egg coloration and suggest that environmental factors may potentially affect the outcome of important features of the arms race between cuckoos and reed warblers.     

Molecular receptive ranges of olfactory receptor neurones responding selectively to terpenoids, aliphatic green leaf volatiles and aromatic compounds, in the strawberry blossom weevil Anthonomus rubi

Summary. An important question in insect-plant interactions is which of the numerous plant compounds contribute to the perception of odour qualities in herbivorous insects and are likely to be used as cues in host-searching behaviour. In order to identify which plant-produced volatiles the strawberry blossom weevil Anthonomus rubi detects, we have used electrophysiological recordings from single olfactory neurones linked to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. We here present 15 receptor neurone types specialised for naturally produced compounds present in the host and nonhost plants and two types for two aggregation pheromone components. The active compounds were terpenoids, aromatic and aliphatic esters, alcohols and aldehydes, some of which are induced by feeding activity of the weevils. The neurones were characterised by a strong response to one or two primary odorants and weaker responses to a few others having similar chemical structure. With one exception, the molecular receptive range of each neurone type was within one chemical group. Enantiomers of linalool separated on a chiral column activated two neurone types with different enantioselectivity. Inhibition by linalool of another neurone type, excited by α-pinene, indicated an additional mechanism for coding the information about this compound. Altogether, detection of 54 compounds by olfactory receptor neurones is shown, of which 40 have been chemically identified in this study. Thus A. rubi has the ability to detect a large number of odorants that may be used in host selection behaviour.     

Emergence pattern of loggerhead turtle (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Caretta caretta</Emphasis>) hatchlings from Kyparissia Bay,Greece

The present study describes the emergence pattern of loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings (Caretta caretta) from a nesting beach in Kyparissia Bay (Greece). We try to establish the role played by hatchling biometry, nest relocation and distance from nest to the sea on this emergence pattern. We surveyed a total of 32 nests, and found long emergence periods (mean = 6.7 nights). The majority of emergences occurred at night, mainly between 0030 and 0100 hours, and in small groups. Most of the hatchlings emerged from the nests the first night. We found no clear trend when we studied the effect of hatchling biometry between successive emergence days. We also found that relocation of the nests did not significantly affect the emergence pattern. However, we noted that in the relocated nests, hatchlings emerged in smaller groups. Emergence periods were inversely related to distance from the sea. In short, factors such as climate conditions, relocation and nest distance to the sea appear to have some effect on the emergence pattern. Therefore, they should be taken into account in both biological studies and management plans for sea turtle nesting beaches. Our results suggest leaving an extended period between the first emergence of hatchlings and the excavation of nests by researchers in future studies in the area.     

Temporal trends of organochlorine contamination in Black Guillemots in Iceland from 1976 to 1996

The levels of several different persistent organochlorines (OCs) in Black Guillemots Cepphus grylle, collected during the summers of 1976-1996 at Breioafj?rour in W-Iceland, were investigated. The levels of about 40 different organochlorines (PCBs, DDTs, chlordanes, toxaphenes, HCH, HCB) were compared with respect to age, sex, fat content, and year of collection. The levels of PCBs correlated very closely with those of DDE, indicating long-range transport as the major source of these contaminants in Iceland, with the ratio PCBs/DDE mostly in the range of 2-5. Unlike the Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus, the organochlorine levels did not seem to accumulate substantially with age, neither in males nor females. The variation in the levels of OCs at the age of 2 years was even greater than the variation in OC levels over an age range of 12 years. In immature birds the levels of PCBs, DDE, HCB and beta-HCH declined very slowly (T(1/2) from 12 to 20 years) over the years 1976-1996, whereas the levels of alpha-HCH and p,p'-DDT declined much faster. The levels of trans-nonachlor, alpha-chlordane, gamma-chlordane, oxychlordane, and toxaphene did not correlate with the year of collection. As the Black Guillemot is mostly a resident seabird, feeding mainly on small fish and invertebrates, this investigation should give a good indication of the temporal trends of organochlorine pollution at Breioafj?rour, Iceland, during this 20 year period and is likely to reflect baseline trends in the marine environment of the North-Atlantic Ocean.     

Metal ion uptake from aqueous solution by olive stones: a carbon-13 solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and potentiometric study.

The use of biomasses that result from the agriculture and food industries in removing heavy metals from wastewaters is attracting increasing interest. We present a joined potentiometric and cross polarization magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) carbon-13 (13C) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study on the interaction of olive stones with copper(II), nickel(II), and cadmium(II). The potentiometric measurements allow both to distinguish two kind of basic sites in the olive stones and to postulate the coordination models for the three studied metals. The NMR spectral analysis allows the attribution of the different signals to the components of the olive stone matrix. A comparison of CP-MAS 13C NMR spectra of the samples after metal treatment suggests a specific complexation between metal ions and hydroxyl groups on guaiacyl and syringyl moieties.     

Antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic activity of Heliopsis longipes roots and affinin/spilanthol against Aspergillus parasiticus by downregulating the expression of alfD and aflR genes of the aflatoxins biosynthetic pathway

Abstract

In the present study, ethanolic extract from Heliopsis longipes roots and affinin/spilanthol against Aspergillus parasiticus growth and aflatoxins production were studied in relation to the expression of aflD and aflR, two key genes of aflatoxins biosynthetic pathway. Phytochemical analysis of the ethanolic extract by GC-EIMS identified affinin/spilanthol (7.84?±?0.27?mg g^?1) as the most abundant compounds in H. longipes roots. The antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic assays showed that affinin/spilanthol at 300?µg mL^?1 produced the higher inhibition of radial growth (95%), as well as, the higher aflatoxins production inhibition (61%) in comparison to H. longipes roots (87% and 48%, respectively). qRT-PCR revealed that the expression of aflD and aflR genes showed a higher downregulation in affinin/spilanthol at 300?µg mL^?1. The expression ratio of alfD was suppressed by affinin/spilanthol in 79% and aflR in 84%, while, a lower expression ratio suppressed by H. longipes was obtained, alfD (55%) and aflR (59%). Affinin/spilanthol possesses higher antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic activity against A. parasiticus rather than H. longipes roots, and this anti-aflaxotigenic activity occurring via downregulation of the aflD and aflR genes. Thus, H. longipes roots and affinin/spilanthol can be considered potent antifungal agents against aflatoxigenic fungus, especially, affinin/spilanthol.     

Generation and stability of bentonite colloids at the bentonite/granite interface of a deep geological radioactive waste repository

The possible mechanisms of colloid generation at the near field/far field interface of a radioactive repository have been investigated by means of novel column experiments simulating the granite/bentonite boundary, both in dynamic and in quasi-static water flow conditions. It has been shown that solid particles and colloids can be detached from the bulk and mobilised by the water flow. The higher the flow rate, the higher the concentration of particles found in the water, according to an erosion process. However, the gel formation and the intrinsic tactoid structure of the clay play an important role in the submicron particle generation even in the compacted clay and in a confined system. In fact, once a bentonite gel is formed, in the regions where the clay is contacted with water, clay colloids can be formed even in quasi-static flow conditions. The potential relevance of these colloids in radionuclide transport has been studied by evaluating their stability in different chemical environments. The coagulation kinetics of natural bentonite colloids was experimentally studied as a function of the ionic strength and pH, by means of time-resolved light scattering techniques. It has been shown that these colloids are very stable in low saline (approximately 1 x 10(-3) M) and alkaline (pH > or = 8) waters.     

Anaerobic digestion of thermo-oxidized excess municipal sludge.

The effect of a thermo-oxidative co-treatment placed between the two reactors of two-stage anaerobic digestion of excess municipal sludge was studied. The oxidant used was hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and moderate temperatures below the boiling point of water were considered. The first experiment was to elucidate the effect of two different temperatures (65 and 90 degrees C) of oxidation using a constant oxidant dose of 1.0 g H2O2/g influent volatile suspended solids (VSSinfluent). The use of thermo-oxidative co-treatment increased overall solids destruction by 24.9 and 33.5%, respectively, when operating at 65 and 90 degrees C, respectively. Because of this significant effect of temperature on the performance of the process, a second experiment was conducted using the higher temperature of 90 degrees C while decreasing the hydrogen peroxide dosage to 0.5, 0.25, and 0.1 g H2O2/g VSSinfluent. An increase in solids destruction of 13.9, 18.9, and 25.6% was observed when the thermo-oxidative co-treatment was used using oxidant dosages of 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 g H2O2/g VSSinfluent, respectively.