Abnormal amniotic fluid levels of CA 125 in second-trimester Down syndrome pregnancies

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of CA 125 in second trimester amniotic fluid from Down syndrome pregnancies. CA 125 was measured in stored amniotic fluid samples from pregnancies of 14–19 weeks' gestation with and without Down syndrome fetuses. CA 125 levels were expressed in multiples of the median (MOM) for normal pregnancies of the same gestational age. Twenty-one pregnancies with Down syndrome fetuses and 63 unaffected controls matched for maternal age, gestational age, and duration of storage were studied. The median MOM values of the affected pregnancies were significantly higher than those of the controls (1·41 MOM versus 0·99 MOM). These findings show that there is an increased concentration of CA 125 in second-trimester amniotic fluid from Down syndrome pregnancies.     

Modelling of the acid-base properties of natural and synthetic adsorbent materials used for heavy metal removal from aqueous solutions

In this paper a comparison about kinetic behaviour, acid-base properties and copper removal capacities was carried out between two different adsorbent materials used for heavy metal removal from aqueous solutions: an aminodiacetic chelating resin as commercial product (Lewatit TP207) and a lyophilised bacterial biomass of Sphaerotilus natans. The acid-base properties of a S. natans cell suspension were well described by simplified mechanistic models without electrostatic corrections considering two kinds of weakly acidic active sites. In particular the introduction of two-peak distribution function for the proton affinity constants allows a better representation of the experimental data reproducing the site heterogeneity. A priori knowledge about resin functional groups (aminodiacetic groups) is the base for preliminary simulations of titration curve assuming a Donnan gel structure for the resin phase considered as a concentrated aqueous solution of aminodiacetic acid (ADA). Departures from experimental and simulated data can be interpreted by considering the heterogeneity of the functional groups and the effect of ionic concentration in the resin phase. Two-site continuous model describes adequately the experimental data. Moreover the values of apparent protonation constants (as adjustable parameters found by non-linear regression) are very near to the apparent constants evaluated by a Donnan model assuming the intrinsic constants in resin phase equal to the equilibrium constants in aqueous solution of ADA and considering the amphoteric nature of active sites for the evaluation of counter-ion concentration in the resin phase. Copper removal outlined the strong affinity of the active groups of the resin for this ion in solution compared to the S. natans biomass according to the complexation constants between aminodiacetic and mono-carboxylic groups and copper ions.     

Fungal biodegradation of naphthalene: microcosms studies

The present work is aimed to ascertain naphthalene biodegradation capability of P. chrysosporium and T. harzianum in soil microcosms. Considering the high naphthalene volatility, a suitable soil microcosm was set-up and used. Several degradation tests were conducted with different C/N ratio media for the two fungi in order to enquire the best range of working conditions. The kinetic studies were conducted at a maximal naphthalene concentration of 600 mg kg(-1). During experimental time course naphthalene concentration, CO2 evolution as well as phytotoxicity tests were performed as monitoring parameters. The results shown in the current paper, put in evidence that T. harzianum, differently than in liquid culture, is not able to biodegrade naphthalene directly in soil microcosm, while P. chrysosporium in the same conditions biodegrades the PAH till about 600 mg kg(-1). As concern the founded kinetics for P. chrysosporium, a saturation shape in presence of N-limited medium (high C/N ratio) was evaluated while a growing form more than linear in no-N limited medium (normal C/N ratio) was determined.     

Shell acquisition by hermit crabs: which tactic is more efficient?

Gastropod shells are limited resources for most hermit crab species, acting as primary factors in various aspects of their biology. To investigate the efficacy of different behavioral tactics adopted for their acquisition (locomotion, attendance at shell-supplying sites, interactions with conspecifics in aggregation) we conducted observations and experiments at a salt marsh in New England (USA). Locomotion, fast and meandering, significantly increased the chances of encountering empty shells and conspecifics. However, shell exchanges were rare. Simulated gastropod predation sites quickly attracted a larger number of hermit crabs than the other shell-supplying sites tested (live and dead conspecifics, live snails) and induced the rapid occupancy of all the empty shells offered, usually by the first crabs arriving at the site. Aggregations seemed not to function as shell exchange markets, as previously suggested for several other species. In the short run, exploitation seems to be more efficient for the acquisition of new shells by Pagurus longicarpus. In the long run, it is the density of nondestructive gastropod predators that regulates the availability of new shells of good quality in the pool available to this hermit crab species.     

The systematic position of some boring sponges (Demospongiae,Hadromerida) studied by molecular analysis

A phylogenetic analysis of some bioeroding sponges of the family Clionaidae (Order Hadromerida) was performed to resolve some taxonomic problems both at the specific and the supraspecific level using the D2 and D3 regions of 28S rDNA. Species belonging to the genera Cliona, Cliothosa, Spheciospongia (fam. Clionaidae) and Diplastrella (fam. Spirastrellidae) from the Mediterranean Sea and Celebes Sea (Indonesia) were analysed. In the phylogenetic tree, the species clustered on two main branches, one comprising Cliona celata, C. rhodensis, C. utricularis, and Cliothosa hancocki, and the other made up of C. viridis, C. nigricans, C. schmidti, C. jullieni, Spheciospongia solida and S. vagabunda. Above the species level, data do not support the separation of the genus Cliothosa from Cliona, while they do support the inclusion of some massive boring species, previously assigned to the genus Spirastrella, in the family Clionaidae. At the species level, data demonstrated the genetic identity of taxa C. viridis and C. nigricans, in spite of their considerable morphological differences. In contrast, the yellow species commonly attributed to C. celata are probably to be considered as a complex of sibling species with a number of distinct taxa present in the Mediterranean. Data also showed the identity of the Mediterranean and Pacific populations of C. schmidti, suggesting the status of a Tethyan relict for this species.     

Reframing the concept of alternative livelihoods

Alternative livelihood project (ALP) is a widely used term for interventions that aim to reduce the prevalence of activities deemed to be environmentally damaging by substituting them with lower impact livelihood activities that provide at least equivalent benefits. ALPs are widely implemented in conservation, but in 2012, an International Union for Conservation of Nature resolution called for a critical review of such projects based on concern that their effectiveness was unproven. We focused on the conceptual design of ALPs by considering their underlying assumptions. We placed ALPs within a broad category of livelihood‐focused interventions to better understand their role in conservation and their intended impacts. We dissected 3 flawed assumptions about ALPs based on the notions of substitution, the homogenous community, and impact scalability. Interventions based on flawed assumptions about people's needs, aspirations, and the factors that influence livelihood choice are unlikely to achieve conservation objectives. We therefore recommend use of a sustainable livelihoods approach to understand the role and function of environmentally damaging behaviors within livelihood strategies; differentiate between households in a community that have the greatest environmental impact and those most vulnerable to resource access restrictions to improve intervention targeting; and learn more about the social–ecological system within which household livelihood strategies are embedded. Rather than using livelihood‐focused interventions as a direct behavior‐change tool, it may be more appropriate to focus on either enhancing the existing livelihood strategies of those most vulnerable to conservation‐imposed resource access restrictions or on use of livelihood‐focused interventions that establish a clear link to conservation as a means of building good community relations. However, we recommend that the term ALP be replaced by the broader term livelihood‐focused intervention. This avoids the implicit assumption that alternatives can fully substitute for natural resource‐based livelihood activities.     

Environmental monitoring in the Mar Grande basin (Ionian Sea,Southern Italy)

Hydrodynamic and water quality data has been recorded since February 2014 by a meteo-oceanographic station installed in the inner part of the Gulf of Taranto, in the northeastern part of the Ionian Sea (Southern Italy). This monitoring action, managed by the research unit of the Technical University of Bari, DICATECh Department, could play a pivotal role in a vulnerable and sensitive area, affected by massive chemical and biological pollutant discharges due to the presence of heavy industry and intense maritime traffic. Monthly trends of winds, waves, currents, and biochemical parameters, such as dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, and turbidity, are analyzed and discussed. The analysis exhibits that the wave regime is slightly controlled by wind forcing; rather, topography strongly affects the wave propagation direction. Surface currents appear wind induced in the measuring station, while near the bottom a quasi-steady current directed towards southwest is formed. The selected water quality indicators show monthly trends consistent with the typical seasonal convective fluxes and mixing.