Ecology of kin and nonkin larval interactions in Tribolium beetles

Summary The larvae of flour beetles Tribolium castaneum and T. confusum were reared in two kinds of groups: full siblings and unrelated individuats. These kin and nonkin groups were reared in open cultures, in which emigration was permitted (both species) and in closed cultures, in which emigration was prohibited (only T. confusum). We measured larval development time and survivorship, weight of pupae, and time of larval emigration from open cultures. The effects of age structure were investigated by establishing open cultures of larvae of uniform age (larvae hatched from eggs laid within 72 h) and cultures of larvae of variable age (eggs laid within 240 h). In closed cultures of siblings, T. confusum larvae pupated on an average 2.2 days earlier than larvae reared in nonsibling groups. In T. castaneum, more small and medium size and fewer large size larvae emigrated from groups of siblings compared to groups of nonsiblings. Males that emigrated and pupated remained with their sibs for a shorter time than did similar males raised with unrelated larvae. In T. castaneum, age structure variation reduced the sibs tendency to migrate, but did not influence interactions among unrelated larvae. The genetical effects of kinship and the ecological effects of age structure were shown to affect the interactions of Tribolium larvae reared in groups. Reducing the similarity between individuals, either genetically or demographically (using mixed broods or mixed age cohorts), changed the pattern of larval interactions. Upon occasion, the effects of kin interactions may well be the mechanical consequences of the coexistence of similar individuals rather than the effects of altruistic behavior.     

Microfibril angle in wood of Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris) after irradiation from the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident

The secondary cell wall structure of tracheids of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), especially the angle of microfibrils in the S(2) layer, was examined in wood deposited prior to and after the Chernobyl accident in 1986. Microscopic analysis was carried out on wood samples collected in October 1997 from breast height of three pine trees 16, 30 and 42 years old. The polluted site was located in a distance of 5 km south from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant where radioactive contamination in 1997 was 3.7 x 10(5) kBq m(-2). Anatomical analysis showed that the structure of the secondary cell wall in tracheids formed after the Chernobyl accident was changed. Changes occurred both in S(2) and S(3) layers. The angle of microfibrils in S(2) layer in wood deposited after the Chernobyl accident was different in comparison to this measured in wood formed prior to the disaster. The intensity of the changes, i.e. alteration of the microfibrils angle in S(2) layer and unusual pattern of the S(3) layer, depended on the age of the tree and was most intensive in a young tree.     

Increased levels of bacterial markers and CO2 in occupied school rooms

Our group previously demonstrated that carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in heavily occupied schools correlate with the levels of airborne bacterial markers. Since CO2 is derived from the room occupants, it was hypothesized that in schools, bacterial markers may be primarily increased in indoor air because of the presence of children; directly from skin microflora or indirectly, by stirring up dust from carpets and other sources. The purpose of this project was to test the hypothesis. Muramic acid (Mur) is found in almost all bacteria whereas 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OH FAs) are found only in Gram-negative bacteria. Thus Mur and 3-OH FA serve as markers to assess bacterial levels in indoor air (pmol m(-3)). In our previous school studies, airborne dust was collected only from occupied rooms. However, in the present study, additional dust samples were collected from the same rooms each weekend when unoccupied. Samples were also collected from outside air. The levels of dust, Mur and C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, and C16:0 3-OH FAs were each much higher (range 5-50 fold) in occupied rooms than in unoccupied school rooms. Levels in outdoor air were much lower than that of indoor air from occupied classrooms and higher than the levels in the same rooms when unoccupied. The mean CO2 concentrations were around 420 parts per million (ppm) in unoccupied rooms and outside air; and they ranged from 1017 to 1736 ppm in occupied rooms, regularly exceeding 800-1000 ppm, which are the maximum levels indicative of adequate indoor ventilation. This indicates that the children were responsible for the increased levels of bacterial markers. However, the concentration of Mur in dust was also 6 fold higher in occupied rooms (115.5 versus 18.2 pmole mg(-1)). This further suggests that airborne dust present in occupied and unoccupied rooms is quite distinct. In conclusion in unoccupied rooms, the dust was of environmental origin but the children were the primary source in occupied rooms.     

Changes in the peripheral blood flow in legs in response to the cold: own studies using plethysmography

The thermal environment in the workplace is an important factor which affects workers’ health. During 2011 in Poland, 14,781 workers were exposed to a cold working environment, i.e., 3.8% of persons employed in hazardous work conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the cardiovascular response to continuous (4 °C for 60 min) and intermittent (10 min at 4 °C and 10 min at room temperature alternately) exposure to the cold in 30 healthy men aged 20–27 years. Peripheral blood flow was assessed with impedance plethysmography. Heart rate and arterial blood pressure were monitored with the Holter system. Having assessed the results, it is difficult to say which kind of exposure has a more severe impact on the cardiovascular system. Longer observation and a more detailed analysis would be necessary (e.g., Doppler echocardiography).     

Improved degradation of azo dyes by lignin peroxidase following mutagenesis at two sites near the catalytic pocket and the application of peroxidase-coated yeast cell walls

• Mutations in Lignin peroxidase Trp171 environment improved azo dyes degradation. • Expression on yeast cell surface and cell lysis allowed reusability of biocatalyst. • Aga2-LiP chimeric variants were characterized. The enzymatic degradation of azo dyes is a promising alternative to ineffective chemical and physical remediation methods. Lignin peroxidase (LiP) from Phanerochaete chrysosporium is a heme-containing lignin-degrading oxidoreductase that catalyzes the peroxide-dependent oxidation of diverse molecules, including industrial dyes. This enzyme is therefore ideal as a starting point for protein engineering. Accordingly, we subjected two positions (165 and 264) in the environment of the catalytic Trp171 residue to saturation mutagenesis, and the resulting library of 10⁴ independent clones was expressed on the surface of yeast cells. This yeast display library was used for the selection of variants with the ability to break down structurally-distinct azo dyes more efficiently. We identified mutants with up to 10-fold greater affinity than wild-type LiP for three diverse azo dyes (Evans blue, amido black 10B and Guinea green) and up to 13-fold higher catalytic activity. Additionally, cell wall fragments displaying mutant LiP enzymes were prepared by toluene-induced cell lysis, achieving significant increases in both enzyme activity and stability compared to a whole-cell biocatalyst. LiP-coated cell wall fragments retained their initial dye degradation activity after 10 reaction cycles each lasting 8 h. The best-performing mutants removed up to 2.5-fold more of each dye than the wild-type LiP in multiple reaction cycles.     

Trace elements in size-segregated urban aerosol in relation to the anthropogenic emission sources and the resuspension

Size segregated particulate samples of atmospheric aerosols in urban site of continental part of Balkans were collected during 6 months in 2008. Six stages impactor in the size ranges: Dp?≤?0.49 μm, 0.49?2?≈?30 %) followed by traffic (PC2, σ²?≈?20 %) that are together contributing around 50 % of elements in the investigated urban aerosol. The EF model shows that major origin of Cd, K, V, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As in the fine mode is from the anthropogenic sources while increase of their contents in the coarse particles indicates their deposition from the atmosphere and soil contamination. This approach is useful for the assessment of the local resuspension influence on element’s contents in the aerosol and also for the evaluation of the historical pollution of soil caused by deposition of metals from the atmosphere.     

Cadmium,lead and mercury concentrations in pathologically altered human kidneys

Heavy metals, including cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) act as nephrotoxic agents, particularly in the renal cortex. The aim of the study was to determine the concentrations of Cd, Pb and Hg in kidneys removed from patients due to lesions of various etiologies and from patients after the rejection of transplanted kidneys. Additionally, we determined the influence of selected biological and environmental factors on the concentrations of toxic metals. The study material consisted of kidneys with tumor lesions (n = 27), without tumors (n = 7) and its extracted grafts (n = 10) obtained from patients belongs to the north-western areas of Poland. The determined metal concentrations in the renal cortex and medulla may be arranged in the following descending order: Cd > Pb > Hg. The highest concentrations of Cd and Hg were found in the cortex, while the maximum content Pb was observed in the medulla. Significant correlations were found in the concentrations of the same metals between cortex and medulla and between Pb and Hg in the renal medulla. Pb content was higher in the renal medulla of men than in the cortex of the elderly (above 60 years of age). The highest concentrations of Pb and Hg were found in the cortex and medulla, of the kidneys had not neoplastic changes, and lower content of these metals were found in the extracted kidney grafts. In summary, renal grafts accumulate less heavy metals than cancerous kidneys, what could have been caused by immunosuppressors taken by the graft recipients. Moreover, sex, age and smoking are key factors responsible for xenobiotics concentrations.     

Metal contamination of short-term snow cover near urban crossroads: correlation analysis of metal content and fine particles distribution

Snow samples were collected near crossroads in Novi Sad, Serbia, during December 2009 to assess metal concentrations (Ca, K, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Al, Pb and Na), fine particle distribution and pH value. The filtered samples of melted snow were analysed, with a focus on particles smaller than a few μm. The most common values of the frequency number distribution curve were either in the range of 0.05-0.07 μm or one order of magnitude higher (0.2-0.5 μm). At examined locations metal concentrations varied from 0.0004 mg L⁻¹ for Pb to 18.9 mg L⁻¹ for Na. Besides Na, which mostly originated from de-icing salt, Ca is found to be the most abundant element in snow indicating the dominant influence of natural factors on snow chemistry. No significant difference was found in concentration of the elements at locations near crossroads with either low or high traffic volume, except for Na and Zn.To investigate how metals were related a correlation analysis was done for the concentrations of metals and with respect to the particle size distribution parameters and pH values. The major influence on the fine particle volume (mass) was concluded to be due to the elements from anthropogenic sources. This conclusion was based on the significant positive correlation between Fe, Zn and Al and the fine particle volume based distribution parameters.     

Hydrological and environmental conditions as key drivers for spatial and seasonal changes in PCDD/PCDF concentrations, transport and deposition along urban cascade reservoirs

To investigate the drivers for transport and deposition of 17 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDDs/PCDFs along an urban river, water samples from five reservoirs located along the river course were collected in January and July 2008. The concentrations of 17 congeners of PCDD/PCDF were determined and compared to environmental - physical, chemical and biological - conditions. The obtained data revealed that the concentration of the sum of toxic PCDDs/PCDFs in water samples differ between reservoirs as well as between seasons, ranging from 12.04 pg L(-1) in UP (first in the cascade) to 1327.94 pg L(-1) in PR (last in the cascade) during winter of 2008; and from 34.94 pg L(-1) in UP to 1352.50 pg L(-1) in TR (next to last) in summer 2008. In comparison, water samples collected from the river had a concentration several times lower at the first two sites (sites no. 1 and 4) and no detectable values at the last three stations (sites no. 7, 8, 10). The obtained data demonstrated strong or moderate correlations between the sum of 17 PCDDs/PCDFs and TEQ in reservoir water samples and physical, chemical and biological conditions, such as: Mg(2+) (R=0.82; R=0.80, respectively), SO(4)(2-) (R=0.80; R=0.80, respectively), K(+) (R=0.80; R=0.80, respectively), Ca(2+) (R=0.67, R=0.70, respectively), OSM (R=0.63, R=0.70, respectively). In addition, the positive strong correlation between TEQ concentrations and the water temperature (R=0.63) and chlorophyll a content (R=0.90) was noted. The violent weather conditions occurred during the research season with periods of intensive storm events (up to 32 mm in mid July), and thus the increased river flow velocity (up to 0.45 m(3)s(-1)) could have a direct and indirect influence on PCDDs/PCDFs concentration through changes in the sedimentation/resuspension ratio and consequently in transport, deposition and degradation processes along the river/reservoirs.