Ethical and political problems in third world biotechnology

Third World countries are not pursuing scientific and technological policies leading to the development of strong biotechnological industries. Their leaders have been misled into believing that modern biotechnological industries can be built in the absence of strong, intellectually aggressive, and original scientific schools. Hence, they do not strive to reform their universities, which have weak commitments to research, and do not see the importance of having research hospitals able to generate excellent and relevant clinical investigation. These strategic gaps in scientific capability, the lack of governmental and corporate research funding, and the dependent nature of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries of the Third World make the development of competitive biotechnology a highly improbable event. If the present trend continues, underdeveloped countries will continue to be testing grounds for biological materials and agents, sources of valuable germplasm, and markets for high-value-added products and processes invented and manufactured in the First World. This article recommends that the international organizations collaborate in the urgent task of educating the Third World political leaders and administrators in the real problems connected with the generation of high technology.     

Reproductive status and body condition of Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Gulf of Maine, 2000–2002

The reproductive status and body condition of 195 (≥185 cm curved fork length, CFL; assigned age 7 and above) Atlantic bluefin tuna were assessed in the Gulf of Maine during the commercial fishing season of June–October, 2000–2002. Given the distance between known spawning and feeding grounds, the prevailing paradigm for Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus thynnus, L.) suggests that the most likely histological state for females arriving in the Gulf of Maine after spawning would be a resting or quiescent state with little or no perigonadal fat. Alternatively, the presence of mature or mature-inactive histological states in some females supports a more varied or individualistic model for bluefin reproduction. No relationship was found between body condition and reproductive status. Males were found in all reproductive stages, but were more likely to be in spawning condition (stages 4 and 5) or a mature-inactive state (stage 6) in June and July. Female bluefin tuna were found in stage 1 (immature or non-spawning) and stage 6 (mature-inactive). Stage 6 females were only present in June and July and smaller females (<235 cm CFL) were more likely to be in stage 6 than large females (>235 cm CFL) sampled during those same months. The presence of smaller females in stage 6 arriving at the same time as larger females in stage 1 indicates that Western Atlantic bluefin tuna may have an asynchronous reproductive schedule and may mature at a smaller size than the currently accepted paradigm suggests.     

Anxiety in women with low maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening results

The purpose of this study was to measure anxiety in pregnant women who had low maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening test levels, received genetic counselling and chose to undergo amniocentesis for fetal chromosome analysis. Their anxiety levels were compared with the levels in women undergoing amniocentesis because of advanced maternal age. The results indicate a higher level of anxiety in women with low alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels.     

COMPARISON OF TRACE ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS IN TISSUE OF COMMON CARP AND IMPLICATIONS FOR MONITORING1

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) collected from four sites in the Red River of the North in 1994 were analyzed for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), selenium (So), and zinc (Zn). Concentrations differed among liver, muscle, and whole body. Generally, trace element concentrations were the greatest in livers while concentrations in whole bodies were greater than those in muscle for Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, and concentrations in muscle were similar to whole body for As and Se. Concentrations of Cr were lower in liver than either muscle or whole body. Correlations between liver and whole body concentrations were stronger than those between liver and muscle concentrations, but the strongest correlations were between muscle and whole body concentrations. Examination of tissue concentrations by collection sites suggested that, for a general survey, the whole body may be the most effective matrix to analyze.     

Differential aggressiveness between fire salamander (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salamandra infraimmaculata</Emphasis>) larvae covaries with their genetic similarity

Responding differentially to kin and non-kin is known to be adaptive in many species. One example is the inclusive fitness benefits of reducing aggression toward closer relatives. Little is known, however, about the ability of animals to assess differential degrees of genetic relatedness and to respond accordingly with differential levels of aggression. In the present study, we tested whether aggressiveness between body mass-matched pairs of fire salamander (Salamandra infraimmaculata) larvae covaried with the genetic similarity between them. We quantified aggressiveness at three levels of genetic similarity by selecting pairs within and across pools from recently genotyped populations. We also assessed aggression between pairs of siblings. Aggression and associated injuries decreased as genetic similarity increased across the groups. These findings suggest that cannibalistic salamanders can assess their degree of genetic relatedness to conspecifics and vary their behavioral responses depending on the degree of similarity between them along a genetic relatedness continuum.     

Adverse effects of chromium on amino acid levels in freshwater fish Clarias batrachus (Linn.)

Various heavy metals released into the rivers and lakes affect aquatic fauna including Clarias batrachus. Elevated levels of chromium (Cr) in aquatic organisms, especially fish, represent an ecological and human concern. Amino acid levels were estimated in five tissues (gills, liver, kidneys, muscle, and brain) of C. batrachus after 28 days of exposure to Cr. This study showed that Cr elevated levels of free amino acids in organs of fish C. batrachus, indicating a compensatory mechanism to counter sublethal metallic stress. Data suggest that the measurement of amino acids may serve as a biomarker for Cr toxicity in fish.     

The effects of elevated carbon dioxide levels on a Vibrio sp. isolated from the deep-sea

Introduction

The effect of oceanic CO₂ sequestration was examined exposing a deep-sea bacterium identified as Vibrio alginolyticus (9NA) to elevated levels of carbon dioxide and monitoring its growth at 2,750 psi (1,846 m depth).

Findings

The wild-type strain of 9NA could not grow in acidified marine broth below a pH of 5. The pH of marine broth did not drop below this level until at least 20.8 mM of CO₂ was injected into the medium. 9NA did not grow at this CO₂ concentration or higher concentrations (31.2 and 41.6 mM) for at least 72 h. Carbon dioxide at 10.4 mM also inhibited growth, but the bacterium was able to recover and grow. Exposure to CO₂ caused the cell to undergo a morphological change and form a dimple-like structure. The membrane was also damaged but with no protein leakage.     

Ozone uptake by citrus trees exposed to a range of ozone concentrations

The Citrus genus includes a large number of species and varieties widely cultivated in the Central Valley of California and in many other countries having similar Mediterranean climates. In the summer, orchards in California experience high levels of tropospheric ozone, formed by reactions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) with oxides of nitrogen (NO_x). Citrus trees may improve air quality in the orchard environment by taking up ozone through stomatal and non-stomatal mechanisms, but they may ultimately be detrimental to regional air quality by emitting biogenic VOC (BVOC) that oxidize to form ozone and secondary organic aerosol downwind of the site of emission. BVOC also play a key role in removing ozone through gas-phase chemical reactions in the intercellular spaces of the leaves and in ambient air outside the plants. Ozone is known to oxidize leaf tissues after entering stomata, resulting in decreased carbon assimilation and crop yield. To characterize ozone deposition and BVOC emissions for lemon (Citrus limon), mandarin (Citrus reticulata), and orange (Citrus sinensis), we designed branch enclosures that allowed direct measurement of fluxes under different physiological conditions in a controlled greenhouse environment. Average ozone uptake was up to 11 nmol s^?1 m^?2 of leaf. At low concentrations of ozone (40 ppb), measured ozone deposition was higher than expected ozone deposition modeled on the basis of stomatal aperture and ozone concentration. Our results were in better agreement with modeled values when we included non-stomatal ozone loss by reaction with gas-phase BVOC emitted from the citrus plants. At high ozone concentrations (160 ppb), the measured ozone deposition was lower than modeled, and we speculate that this indicates ozone accumulation in the leaf mesophyll.     

Long‐term evaluation of an EHC injection permeable reactive barrier in a sulfate‐rich,high‐flow aquifer

Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) have traditionally been constructed via trenching backfilled with granular, long‐lasting materials. Over the last decade, direct push injection PRBs with fine‐grained injectable reagents have gained popularity as a more cost‐efficient and less‐invasive approach compared to trenching. A direct push injection PRB was installed in 2005 to intercept a 2,500 feet (760 meter) long carbon tetrachloride (CT) groundwater plume at a site in Kansas. The PRB was constructed by injecting EHC^® in situ chemical reduction reagent slurry into a line of direct push injection points. EHC is composed of slow‐release plant‐derived organic carbon plus microscale zero‐valent iron (ZVI) particles, specifically formulated for injection applications. This project was the first full‐scale application of EHC into a flow‐through reactive zone and provided valuable information about substrate longevity and PRB performance over time. Groundwater velocity at the site is high (1.8 feet per day) and sulfate‐rich (~120 milligrams per liter), potentially affecting the rate of substrate consumption and the PRB reactive life. CT removal rates peaked 16 months after PRB installation with >99% removal observed. Two years post‐installation removal rates decreased to approximately 95% and have since stabilized at that level for the 12 years of monitoring data available after injection. Geochemical data indicate that the organic carbon component of EHC was mostly consumed after 2 years; however, reducing conditions and a high degree of chloromethane treatment were maintained for several years after total organic carbon concentrations returned to background. Redox conditions are slowly reverting and have returned close to background conditions after 12 years, indicating that the PRB may be nearing the end of its reactive life. Direct measurements of iron have not been performed, but stoichiometric demand calculations suggest that the ZVI component of EHC may, in theory, last for up to 33 years. However, the ZVI component by itself would not be expected to support the level of treatment observed after the organic carbon substrate had been depleted. A longevity of up to 5 years was originally estimated for the EHC PRB based on the maximum expected longevity of the organic carbon substrate. While the organic carbon was consumed faster than expected, the PRB has continued to support a high degree of chloromethane treatment for a significantly longer time period of over 12 years. Recycling of biomass and the contribution from a reduced iron sulfide mineral zone are discussed as possible explanations for the sustained reducing conditions and continued chloromethane treatment.     

Climate Engagement in a Digital Age: Exploring the Drivers of Participation in Climate Discourse Online in the Context of COP21

Various scholars underscore the importance of public engagement with climate change to successfully respond to the challenges of global warming. However, although online media provide various new opportunities to actively engage in climate discourse so far very little is known about the drivers of this form of engagement. Against this background, this study tested a theoretical model on the effects of media and interpersonal communication on participation in climate discourse online using data from a representative online survey of German citizens (n?=?1392) carried out while COP21. Overall, the results show that receiving information on climate change from social media (social networks, Twitter, blogs), active information seeking online and interpersonal conversations about COP21 strongly encourage participation in climate discourse online. Moreover, results provide relevant insights on the role of interest in climate politics, personal issue relevance and climate scepticism as preconditions of communication effects.