Use of Oxidation Onset Temperature Measurements for Evaluating the Oxidative Degradation of Isotatic Polypropylene

The widespread use of polymeric materials in many applications requires polymers that are weather resistant. The aim of this study is to examine the usefulness of oxidation onset temperature measurements as a tool for evaluating oxidative degradation of isotatic polypropylene. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to measure the oxidation onset temperature in formulations of isotatic polypropylene containing different concentrations of light and thermal stabilizers after aging in a Weather-Ometer. Oxidation onset temperature gave better results than oxidation induction time for evaluating the degradation of isotatic polypropylene during aging in a Weather-Ometer. However, both tests showed a poor correlation with the appearance of cracks seen by optical microscopy.     

Metal contamination of riverine sediments below the Avoca mines, south east Ireland

The River Avoca is severely polluted by discharges of acid mine drainage (AMD) from the abandoned sulphur and copper mines at Avoca. The riverine sediments were studied during a low flow period to establish the degree of contamination and to identify the major processes affecting sediment metal concentrations. pH plays a major role in the regulation of zinc adsorption and desorption in sediments, showing a significant correlation (p&0.001). The zinc concentration in the sediment falls below background levels after the input of AMD. However, the metal precipitated when the pH increased downstream of a fertiliser factory (pH8.0), some 7 km below the mine. In contrast Cu and Fe significantly increased (p0.001) both in the sediment (0--30 mm depth) and the surface ochre immediately below the mixing zone. Copper removal appears to be primarily by co-precipitation. Higher sediment enrichment factors for all metals were obtained in the surface sediment layer (ochre) deposited on larger stones and in floc material collected in sediment traps, compared with the subsurface sediment. Cadmium was not recorded in any of the sediment collected at the detection limit used (0.01 g g-1). Metal deposition in the sediments was found to be spacially variable, so sub-sampling is required, although replicates show little variation. Results indicate that short term variation in metal inputs is identified by sampling the surface layer only, whereas sampling of the subsurface layer (<63 m fraction) is more suitable for identifying long-term trends in sediment quality. The implication of sediment analysis in assessing environmental impact is discussed.     

Umbilical artery velocity waveforms before and after chorionic villus sampling

Because a vascular aetiology has been suggested for the limb and oromandibular defects described after chorionic villus sampling (CVS), to determine whether transabdominal (TA) CVS causes noticeable changes in umbilical artery velocity waveforms in first-trimester pregnancies, the pulsatility index (PI) of the umbilical artery was evaluated before and after TA-CVS in 175 pregnancies sampled between 10·0 and 13·0 weeks' gestation. In 139 uncomplicated pregnancies, the mean PI values (with 95 per cent confidence interval) were before TA-CVS 2·751 (2·692–2·809), after 10 min 2·723 (2·697–2·809), and after 1 h 2·781 (2·722–2·840). There were no significant changes in PI relative to the CVS procedure either in pregnancies with an abnormal result or in those ending in spontaneous abortion. Our data do not support any statistically significant change in umbilical artery PI relative to TA-CVS in first-trimester pregnancies. This procedure, despite its invasive character, does not appear to affect the feto-placental circulation.     

Lactation performance of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) does not respond to experimental manipulation of pup demands

To ensure proper development of young, mothers should react to offspring signals of need. Studies of such parent-offspring interaction often manipulated litter size to measure effects of changed offspring food demand. We used the extreme precociality of guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) pups to increase offspring demand without changing any other litter characteristic. As pups contribute to their own energy demands from birth by independent feeding, their food demand can be increased by withholding solid food early in lactation. We studied whether mothers reacted to increased food demand of offspring by enhanced parental care, especially by changes in the pattern of milk production and nursing. Pups deprived of solid food early in lactation grew more slowly and were in poorer body condition than pups in control litters, even after the former had access to solid food in late lactation. Mothers of deprived young reacted to offspring long-term need by maintaining nursing behaviour for longer than control mothers. However, this change in behaviour did not occur early in lactation when pup short-term need was greatest nor did it result in increased milk transfer at any time. Energy allocation of mothers measured by changes in their food intake, maternal body reserves, and milk production stayed the same whether offspring had early access to solid food or not. Thus mothers did not increase energy allocation to pups even though they apparently had information about the pups' poor state.     

Effect of different radiotracer labelling techniques on radionuclide excretion from marine organisms

Experiments were designed to assess the effect of different techniques of radiotracer labelling on subsequent radioisotope excretion rates in marine crustaceans. A small amphipod (Gammarus locusta) that accumulated ⁶⁵Zn under a close approximation of natural conditions excreted the radiotracer during a 3-month period at a markedly different rate than those of comparable amphipods labelled with ⁶⁵Zn in the laboratory via different combinations of radioactive food and seawater. Shrimp (Lysmata seticauda) administered ⁶⁵Zn by three different methods in the laboratory displayed different excretion kinetics during the first 2 months of loss. The difference between excretion rates most likely was a reflection of the degree to which the various zinc pools within the shrimp had equilibrated with the radiotracer. During the next several months all ⁶⁵Zn loss rates were quite similar, probably indicating that radiotracer excretion was taking place from similar zinc pools within the shrimp. The importance of adequate radiotracer labelling techniques as well as proper design of subsequent excretion experiments, used to gain reliable information on flux rates of the corresponding stable metal, is discussed. It is concluded that laboratory radiotracer experiments which are intended to supply information on actual situations in the sea require careful design and execution.     

First in vitro use of the phenylphosphate carboxylase enzyme in supercritical CO2 for the selective carboxylation of phenol to 4-hydroxybenzoic acid

A new biotechnological synthetic approach to 4-hydroxybenzoic acid is reported. Thauera aromatica cells produce the phenylphosphate carboxylase enzyme that selectively carboxylates phenylphosphate in the para position, without any formation of the ortho isomer. Here we show that the enzyme also works in supercritical carbon dioxide, opening a new technological solution to the recovery of the products that is a key problem when aqueous media are used. The enzyme shows an activity comparable with that shown under CO₂ pressure in aqueous media and does not require the presence of NaHCO₃.     

Factors affecting methyl and inorganic mercury dynamics in mussels and shrimp

Radiotracer experiments were designed to study the effect of certain factors on the accumulation and loss of methyl and inorganic mercury in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and benthic shrimp (Lysmata seticaudata). Methyl mercury was accumulated from both food and water to a greater degree than inorganic mercury by both species. There was a tendency for small mussels to concentrate more mercury than larger individuals, but the reason for this difference remains unclear. A trend towards greater mercury accumulation at higher temperatures was noted for mussels, but the temperature effect was relatively small over a 10 C^o range between 8° and 19°C. Methyl mercury residues were eliminated by both species more slowly than those of the inorganic form. Loss from mussels was somewhat more rapid at higher temperatures; however, as in the case of accumulation, the effect of temperature was relatively small. Loss rates for small mussels were not significantly different from those for large individuals. Enhanced methyl mercury elimination was noted for the group of mussels maintained in their natural environment. The more rapid metal turnover in these individuals compared with mussels held in the laboratory was attributed to differences in the availability of natural particulate food matter and, hence, subsequent growth of the animals in the two experimental systems. The observed differences underscore the need for caution in predicting in situ flux of metals such as mercury in certain species based solely on data derived from laboratory experiments.     

Vitamin E supplementation enhances growth and condition of nestling barn swallows (Hirundo rustica)

To optimize fitness, organisms may have to trade the number and quality of individual offspring against their own condition and survival. Limiting micronutrients such as antioxidants may be crucial to this trade-off. We investigated whether vitamin E, a major antioxidant in the diet of vertebrates, is limiting to barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) nestlings. We manipulated brood size to alter the intensity of sib–sib competition and supplemented nestlings with two different physiological doses of vitamin E while establishing a control group. Treatment effects were measured on body mass and size, feather growth, T cell-mediated immune response and hematocrit. Supplementation with vitamin E at intermediate physiological doses improved nestling mass and condition and feather growth, whereas higher physiological doses did not enhance offspring quality compared to a control treatment. The positive effects of vitamin E on body mass and condition were only detectable from days 6 to 10 when maximum growth rate is attained. Experimental enlargement of broods reduced body mass and size and T cell-mediated immune response only during the late nestling period. The effect of vitamin E supplementation did not depend on brood size manipulation, as revealed by the nonsignificant statistical interaction. This result contradicts the hypothesis that availability of vitamin E depends on intrabrood competition and instead suggests that it depends on concentration of vitamin E in the insect prey of swallows. Thus, antioxidants may be available in limited amounts to barn swallow nestlings and such limitation affects growth. In addition, present results confirm that barn swallow parents trade progeny number against growth and immunity of individual offspring.