Effect of some pesticides on in-vitro lipid and protein synthesis by the liver of the freshwater teleost, Channa punctatus (Bl.)

In vitro incorporation of (14)C-glucose/acetate into lipids and (14)C-leucine into proteins by the liver of Channa punctatus, exposed to safe application rate (SAR) and sublethal (SL) concentrations of malathion and carbaryl for 30 days (mid-February to mid-March) during the preparatory phase of the reproductive cycle, declined more in the fish exposed to SL concentrations than to SAR concentrations of the pesticides. The decline in incorporation was more marked in the malathion-exposed fish, than in those exposed to was more marked in the malathion-exposed fish, than in those exposed to carbaryl. Hence, malathion is considered more toxic than carbaryl in inhibiting the de-novo synthesis of lipids and proteins by the liver.     

Sorption behavior of metolachlor, isoproturon, and terbuthylazine in soils

The sorption-desorption of metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(ethyl-6-methyl phenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methyl ethyl) acetamide], isoproturon [3-(4-isopropyl phenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea] and terbuthylazine [N6-tert butyl-6-chloro-N4-ethyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine] herbicides was studied in two German soils at 1:10 soil to water ratio by batch method. Equilibrium of herbicides between soil and water (0.01 M CaCl2) was attained in 2 h. Sorption data fitted very well to Freundlich equation, represented by very high correlation coefficient (r2 > 0.934). Comparison of Freundlich K values indicated that sorption of all the three herbicides was most pronounced in soil having higher organic carbon content. Koc values were as expected nearly identical for each herbicide in the two soils. The Freundlich constant (1/n) was about 1 for metolachlor and less than 1 for terbuthylazine and isoproturon indicating a L-type of sorption isotherms. Desorption of all the three herbicides showed hysteresis. Nearly equal amounts of metolachlor, isoproturon and terbuthylazine were desorbed from both soils. There was a good correlation between Koc and solubility.     

Dynamical coupling of PBPK/PD and AUC-based toxicity models for arsenic in tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus from blackfoot disease area in Taiwan

A physiologically based pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PBPK/PD) models were developed for arsenic (As) in tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus from blackfoot disease area in Taiwan. The PBPK/PD model structure consisted of muscle, gill, gut wall, alimentary canal, and liver, which were interconnected by blood circulation. We integrate the target organ concentrations and dynamic response describing uptake, metabolism, and disposition of As and the associated area-under-curve (AUC)-based toxicological dynamics following an acute exposure. The model validations were compared against the field observations from real tilapia farms and previously published uptake/depuration experimental data, indicating that predicted and measured As concentrations in major organs of tilapia were in good agreement. The model was utilized to reasonably simulate and construct a dose-dependent dynamic response between mortality effect and equilibrium target organ concentrations. Model simulations suggest that tilapia gills may serve as a surrogate sensitive biomarker of short-term exposure to As. This integrated As PBPK/PD/AUC model quantitatively estimates target organ concentration and dynamic response in tilapia and is a strong framework for future waterborne metal model development and for refining a biologically-based risk assessment for exposure of aquatic species to waterborne metals under a variety of scenarios.     

High performance liquid chromatographic method for residue determination of sulfosulfuron

A method was developed for sulfosulfuron [(1-(2-ethylsulfonylimidazo [1,2-a] pyridin-3-ylsulfonyl)-3-(4,6-dimethoxy pyrimidin-2yl)] and its three major metabolites by HPLC utilizing photodiode array detector. The method makes use of Lichrosphere RP-8 column and acetonitrile:water:orthophosphoric acid (80:20:0.1 v/v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 ml min(-1). Using these condition sulfosulfuron, and compounds II, III and IV were resolved with distinct Rt of 2.088, 2.216, 2.302 and 2.476 minutes, respectively. Sulfosulfuron residues were analysed in soil, wheat grain and straw samples by extracting with a mixture of acetonitrile and 2 M ammonium carbonate (100 ml, 9:1, v/v) using horizontal shaker for soil and Soxhlet apparatus for wheat grain and straw samples. The extracts were cleaned up by partitioning with dichloromethane in case of soil and hexane followed by dichloromethane for plant samples. The percent recovery ranged between 71 to 75.2 for soil and 70.8 to 74.7 for plant samples. The limit of determination of sulfosulfuron was 0.25 microg g(-1).     

Effect of hypobaric hypoxia on visual evoked potential at high altitude

The effect of hypobaric hypoxia on visual evoked potential (VEP) was studied in 27 male volunteers at sea level (SL), during the 1st and 3rd weeks of their stay at high altitude (HA) of 3,500 m and in the 1st week of their return to the sea level (RSL). Exposure to high altitude (HA) led to significant changes in VEP. The N1 wave latency of both right and left eye was significantly increased (P<0.05) during 3rd week of stay at the altitude which persisted even after the return to the sea level. The latency of P1 wave of both right and left eye was higher in 3rd week at high altitude but not significant statistically. But the delay in P1 latency persisted in 1st week of their return to sea level which was significant (p<0.05) statistically as compared to sea level. The latency of N2 wave was significantly decreased (P<0.05) during the 1st week of stay at HA and returned back to basal value in the 3rd week of stay at HA in both right and left eye. However, the changes observed in NPN complex in terms of wave latencies were within the physiological limits. The amplitude of wave N1-P1 of both the right and left eye did not show any change. The changes observed reflect the process of acclimatisation to 3500m high altitude.     

Phototransformation of clodinafop-propargyl

Photodegradation of the herbicide clodinafop-propargyl was investigated on glass surface under sunlight and UV light. Four photoproducts were identified by NMR, IR, and MS. Major photolysis products were 2-[(5-chloro-3-fluoro-2-pyridyloxy) phenoxy] propanoic acid and prop-2-ynyl-2-[(5-chloro-3-hydroxy-2-pyridyloxy) phenoxy] propanoate, while minor were ethyl 2-[(5-chloro-3-fluoro-2-pyridyloxy) phenoxy] propanoate and 1-hydroxypropanyl-2-[(5-chloro-3-fluoro-2-pyridyloxy) phenoxy] propanoate. Rate of photodegradation followed first-order kinetics with significant correlation coefficient. The major photoproducts were observed in maximum quantity on the 7th and 10th day and further degraded within 15-20 days.     

Size-assortative mating and non-reciprocal copulation in a hermaphroditic intertidal limpet: test of the mate availability hypothesis

Mating behaviour and mating patterns are affected to a large extent by body size in both hermaphrodites and gonochorists. Detailed research on mating patterns, mate choice, pre- and post-copulatory sexual selection in marine pulmonates is wanting, thus warranting more attention as a study system in the future. The simultaneous hermaphroditic limpet Siphonaria capensis (Pulmonata: Basommatophora) shows size-dependent fecundity, and acts as a suitable organism to test the effects of body size on mating patterns, mating success, gender expression and reciprocity in hermaphroditic marine gastropods. We mainly used bootstrap resampling techniques to estimate the effects of different factors on mating patterns. In the populations studied, a strong size-assortative mating pattern was observed, where small-scale spatial distribution of potential mating partners (the mate availability hypothesis) could explain 65% of this pattern, while mate choice and mating constraints explaining the rest. No significant difference in mating success between limpets with different body size was found, even though in one population, the sperm recipients were larger than the non-copulating limpets. Interestingly, we found that intromission was non-reciprocal during copulations. This may mean that this species does not conform to the common rule of reciprocity predicted for hermaphrodites, unless there is sex-role alternation between individuals in a mating pair. The mating partners consisted of similar sized, acting males and females, thus without any indication of the body size determining the gender expression. The matings took place in early mornings only at spring tides and the animals were observed laying egg masses only during neap tides. Since siphonariid limpets possess both a spermatheca and a seminal vesicle, which may have either a sperm storing and/or digestive function, post-copulatory sexual selection (e.g., sperm competition) cannot be dismissed.     

Status and interconnections of selected environmental issues in the global coastal zones

This study focuses on assessing the state of population distribution, land cover distribution, biodiversity hotspots, and protected areas in global coastal zones. The coastal zone is defined as land within 100 km of the coastline. This study attempts to answer such questions as: how crowded are the coastal zones, what is the pattern of land cover distribution in these areas, how much of these areas are designated as protected areas, what is the state of the biodiversity hotspots, and what are the interconnections between people and coastal environment. This study uses globally consistent and comprehensive geospatial datasets based on remote sensing and other sources. The application of Geographic Information System (GIS) layering methods and consistent datasets has made it possible to identify and quantify selected coastal zones environmental issues and their interconnections. It is expected that such information provide a scientific basis for global coastal zones management and assist in policy formulations at the national and international levels.