Analysis of six relevant toxaphene congeners in biological samples using ion trap MS/MS

Farmed and wild Scottish Atlantic salmon were obtained from retail suppliers, producers, and Stirling University in Scotland during January, 1999, for determination of 17 2,3,7,8-C1-substituted PCDDs and PCDFs, and seven nonortho- and mono-ortho-PCBs. The study confirms previous reports of relatively high concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs and, especially, PCBs in farmed Scottish salmon. The results indicate that high consumption of salmon, particularly by children under 5 years, could lead to intakes above the tolerable daily intake (TDI) and tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for these chemicals, especially the PCBs, when combined with mean or high level intakes from the typical UK diet. These results suggest further investigation of farmed salmon and salmon feed, including feed fortified with fish oil and feed fortified with selected vegetable oils, is warranted.     

Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmospheric particulate: focused microwaves for a faster extraction method

In this paper, improvements obtained by using focused microwaves for extraction, in the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) adsorbed on particulate matter, are discussed. The method was tested on the following PAHs, which are considered to be among the most harmful with regard to carcinogenicity: benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene. The extraction of PAHs and concentration of the sample can be performed in 3 h with a recovery of at least 70% and a maximum standard deviation of 4%. These steps are followed by clean-up on a SPE (solid-phase extraction) cartridge and analysis by GC-MS. Real samples collected in the urban area of Bari were analysed according to the proposed procedure.     

Testing the extended biotic index in Slovakia: consistency, advantages, and limitations versus the saprobic assessment method of water quality.

The European Union Water Framework Directive requires the achievement of environmental objectives for the ecological quality of water bodies. A comparable implementation of the Directive throughout member countries of the European Union is necessary to verify equal protection of surface waters. The Directive specifies that member states determine ecological quality by means of biological indices. To improve comparability of water quality assessment, this research carried out an intercalibration trial between the Slovak Saprobic Index and the Italian protocol of the Extended Biotic Index, as part of a cooperative program between Italy and the Slovak Republic. When assessing streams with no or low pollution, statistics showed similar results for both methods. In contrast, the comparison of indices was not accurate in the case of severely affected waters. Reliable conversion formulas are feasible to transform the Italian Extended Biotic Index into the Slovak Saprobic Index, and not vice versa.     

Prenatal diagnosis of recurrence of cystic hygroma with normal chromosomes

Cyst-like masses in the neck and back region, simulating an encephalocele, were detected by midtrimester ultrasound examinations in two sib fetuses. After termination, the fetuses were found to have large cystic hygromas. The present observation strongly suggests the existence of an autosomal recessive type of cystic hygroma.     

Prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with an extra idic(X) (q27)

A fetus with an extra idic(X) (q27) was ascertained during prenatal diagnosis. The derived X and one normal X chromosome were late replicating. Due to lack of previous experience, genetic counselling presented obvious difficulties and the fetal phenotype could be only tentatively predicted.     

The emergence of collective foraging in the arboreal<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Gnamptogenys menadensis</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Gnamptogenys menadensis is an arboreal nester that forages opportunistically almost exclusively on vegetation, sometimes recruiting others to participate in prey retrieval. The three-dimensional characteristics of vegetation suggest that functions describing recruitment decision thresholds or the pattern of recruitment in arboreal species may differ from those predicted by optimal foraging theory. To examine the effects of prey abundance and distance on the recruitment dynamics of G. menadensis, we baited nests with one termite, five termites or a number of termites between 20 and 40 either near to or far from the entrance and observed the ensuing behaviors. G. menadensis recruited others when encountering multiple termites regardless of the termite pile's distance from the nest, although a few individuals remained at the site and defended the resource. The pattern of arrivals at the site indicates that the majority and sometimes all arrivals were recruited from the branch trails. In combination, these results suggest that the architecture of the foraging habitat, which limits available return routes to the nest and thus increases encounter probabilities with potential recruits, shaped the process of information transfer and generated a collective pattern of foraging and prey retrieval.