Dopamine release by the green alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ulvaria obscura</Emphasis> after simulated immersion by incoming tides

Ulvaria obscura, a prominent component of green tide blooms in Washington, is unique among macroalgae because it contains dopamine. To examine dopamine release by U. obscura following simulated low tides, we conducted 6 field experiments in which algae were emersed for 75 min and then immersed in filtered seawater (FSW). Dopamine was measured in algal tissues prior to emersion and 3 h after immersion and in seawater for 3 h following immersion. In our experiments, algae released 7–100% of their tissue dopamine, resulting in average seawater concentrations of 3–563 μM. In 5 of 6 experiments, seawater dopamine concentrations were highest immediately after immersion, and then decreased over time. The percentages of dopamine released were not correlated with tissue dopamine concentrations, but were positively correlated with solar radiation during emersion. The release of dopamine, which is both cytotoxic and genotoxic, may explain the negative effects of U. obscura exudates on marine organisms.     

Age and sex influence marmot antipredator behavior during periods of heightened risk

Animals adjust their antipredator behavior according to environmental variation in risk, and to account for their ability to respond to threats. Intrinsic factors that influence an animal’s ability to respond to predators (e.g., age, body condition) should explain variation in antipredator behavior. For example, a juvenile might allocate more time to vigilance than an adult because mortality as a result of predation is often high for this age class; however, the relationship between age/vulnerability and antipredator behavior is not always clear or as predicted. We explored the influence of intrinsic factors on yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris) antipredator behavior using data pooled from 4 years of experiments. We hypothesized that inherently vulnerable animals (e.g., young, males, and individuals in poor condition) would exhibit more antipredator behavior prior to and immediately following conspecific alarm calls. As expected, males and yearlings suppressed foraging more than females and adults following alarm call playbacks. In contrast to predictions, animals in better condition respond more than animals in below average condition. Interestingly, these intrinsic properties did not influence baseline time budgets; animals of all ages, sexes, and condition levels devoted comparable amounts of time to foraging prior to alarm calls. Our results support the hypothesis that inherent differences in vulnerability influence antipredator behavior; furthermore, it appears that a crucial, but poorly acknowledged, interaction exists between risk and state-dependence. Elevated risk may be required to reveal the workings of state-dependent behavior, and studies of antipredator behavior in a single context may draw incomplete conclusions about age- or sex-specific strategies.     

Behavioral and physiological factors associated with juvenile hormone in Polistes wasp foundresses

Although there is increasing interest in the evolution of endocrine systems, relatively little is known about the factors associated with natural endocrine variation in invertebrates. Here, we assess juvenile hormone (JH) titers among nest-founding queens of the wasp Polistes dominulus over 2 years. We allowed unfamiliar wasps to battle for dominance and examined the relationships between dominance rank, JH, ovarian development, and facial patterns. The relationship between JH-titer and dominance varied across years; there was a stronger relationship between JH-titer and dominance in 2006 than in 2008. Across years, wasps that won dominance contests had facial patterns with more broken black spots than wasps that lost dominance contests. There was no relationship between dominance rank and ovarian development. The individual characteristics associated with JH-titer were also tested; JH-titers were correlated with facial pattern brokenness and ovarian development. This study adds to previous work indicating that P. dominulus facial patterns function as a signal of fighting ability. Furthermore, the correlation between JH-titers and facial patterns parallels previous work on testosterone and vertebrate signals and suggests that links between signals of fighting ability and hormones that mediate fighting ability may be common across taxa. Overall, individual JH-titers vary, though they are typically associated with factors related to individual reproductive success, including dominance, fertility, and facial pattern brokenness. Future studies in additional contexts and taxa will be important to test how and why JH-titers vary.     

Physical,chemical, and mechanical properties of landfilled waste from Campina Grande,Brazil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The properties of municipal solid waste (MSW) in landfills vary considerably, depending on the waste’s composition, time, and density. This...     

Reproductive health in Turner syndrome: A narrative review

Turner syndrome (TS), a common chromosomal abnormality affecting females, is associated with partial or complete loss of the second sex chromosome. Although the classic karyotype is 45, X, the detection of mosaic TS is increasing. TS is a multi-system disorder with significant endocrine, cardiovascular and reproductive impacts. Accelerated ovarian follicular loss leads to primary amenorrhoea or premature ovarian insufficiency and infertility. Early diagnosis and counselling regarding hormone replacement therapy and future reproductive capacity, including fertility preservation, are essential to improve reproductive outcomes. Pubertal induction or estrogen replacement is usually required to optimise long-term health outcomes; however, initiation may be delayed due to delayed diagnosis. Spontaneous pregnancy occurs in a small number of women; however, many require donor oocytes and assisted reproductive technology to achieve a pregnancy. Pregnancy is a high risk especially when associated with congenital heart disease. Prepregnancy counselling by the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to identify contraindications and optimise pre-existing health issues is essential. Pregnancy management should be led by a maternal-fetal medicine unit with input from the MDT. This review examines reproductive health outcomes in women with TS and how best to manage them to reduce health risks and improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.     

Development of a simulator for training of fetoscopic myelomeningocele surgery

Objective

To develop a realistic simulation model for laparotomy-assisted fetoscopic spina bifida aperta (SBa) surgery, to be used for training purposes and preoperative planning.

Methods

The predefined general requirement was a realistic model of an exteriorized uterus, allowing all neurosurgical steps of the intervention. The uterus was modelled using ultrasound and MRI images of a 25 weeks’ gravid uterus, consisting of flexible polyurethane foam coated with pigmented silicone. The fetal model, contained an opening on the dorsal side for a customizable spinal insert with all the aspects of a SBa, including a cele, placode, and myofascial and skin layer. The model was assessed in a series of validation experiments.

Results

Production costs are low, uterus and fetus are reusable. Placental localization and the level and size of the spinal defect are adjustable, enabling case-specific adaptations. All aspects of the simulator were scored close to realistic or higher for both appearance and functional capacities.

Conclusions

This innovative model provides an excellent training opportunity for centers that are starting a fetoscopic SBa repair program. It is the first simulation model with adjustable spinal defect and placental localisation. Further objective validation is required, but the potential for using this model in preoperative planning is promising.     

Characterization of seawater and aerosol particle surfactants using solid phase extraction and mass spectrometry

Surface-active organic molecules (surfactants) may influence the ability of an aerosol particle to act as a cloud condensation nuclei by reducing its surface tension. One source of organic mass in aerosol particles, which may also contain surfactants, is bubble bursting on the sea surface. In order to directly compare these molecules in the ocean and aerosol particles, we developed a method using multiple solid phase extractions and high resolution mass spectrometry to characterize surface active organic molecules in both. This method has extraction efficiencies greater than 85%, 75%, and 60% for anionic, cationic, and nonionic surfactant standards, respectively. In this study, we demonstrate the presence of three ionic classes of surface active organics in atmospheric aerosol particles and estuarine water from Skidaway Island, GA. With this extraction method, organic molecules from both estuarine water and atmospheric aerosol particles significantly reduced surface tension of pure water (surface tension depression of ~ 18 mN/m) and had high ratios of hydrogen to carbon (H/C) and low ratios of oxygen to carbon (O/C), indicative of surfactants. While previous work has observed a larger fraction of anionic surface active organics in seawater and marine aerosol particles, here we show cationic surface active organics may make up a large fraction of the total surface active molecules in estuarine water (43%–47%).     

Commercially available garden products as important sources of antibiotic resistance genes—a survey

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment contributes to the global rise in antibiotic resistant infections....     

Influence of sewage sludge,as a substrate,in the plasticity of functional characteristics of plants

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of sewage sludge application as fertilizer on the plasticity of functional characteristics of species commonly found in the Caatinga. The research was developed in the nursery of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Ceará (IFCE), Quixadá campus, located in northeastern Brazil. Three treatments were applied: raw sludge, sanitized sludge, and no manipulation. In each treatment, five species were planted, each with five individuals, totaling 75 individuals, which were tagged, and 4 months after germination, they were destroyed to obtain dry matter content (TMSF) from leaf, stem (TMSC), fine root (TMSRF), and thick root (TMSRG); leaf area; height and diameter of the seedling; and length above and below the ground. The sanitized sludge was responsible for giving higher values for leaf area, height of the seedlings, and diameter and length of stem and root. However, the dry matter content of the fine roots was higher in the treatment without manipulation. At the community level, as TMSRG increased, TMSC also increased, the same occurred between TMSRG and TMSRF, TMSC and TMSRF, and stem length and leaf area. In the treatment without manipulation, there was a positive correlation between leaf area, height and plant diameter, and negative correlation between root length and plant diameter. Thus, it can be concluded that the use of sanitized sludge is a good tool to increase the availability of soil resources, conferring to individuals’ greater dry matter content, greater leaf area, and higher height and diameter above the ground.     

Perceived changes in environmental degradation and loss of ecosystem services,and their implications in human well-being

ABSTRACT

Rural communities worldwide face a decrease of critical ecosystem services caused by replacement of native forests by commercial plantations. Replacement of native forest by commercial plantations decreases water provisioning, with possible negative impacts over well-being. We tested this hypothesis in Central Chile. We assessed subjective well-being (SWB) and local perceptions of changes in forest cover and water provision among 78 rural families. We also assessed if the Shifting Baseline Syndrome (SBS) affects the perceptions of environmental changes and their implications in SWB. Individuals perceived less forest cover than 20 years ago, and this is seen as a factor of decreased livelihood, availability of forest products, and water provisioning for households. People also reported less water available than 20 years ago. The main drivers associated with decreased water provision were the establishment of pine plantations (44% of individuals) and drought (44%). A better-off SWB was associated with perception of lower rate of deforestation. The perceptions of forest degradation and its association to SWB are affected by SBS. Paradoxically, a better-off SWB was also associated with an improvement of water quality, although the quantity and quality of water have decreased according to biophysical data, which ought to decrease the SWB. Impacts of environmental degradation in SWB are masked by factors such as more infrastructure for drinking water, assisted by governments. This masking of environmental degradation reduces the opportunity to avoid negative impacts over well-being among rural communities that are dependent on assistance around the world.