Differential anti-lipid peroxidative activity of melatonin

Scavenging activities of melatonin, which is a pineal secretory product and functions in circadian biology, and its related compounds against reactive oxygen species such as superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen as well as organic peroxide radical (t-BuOO”) were evaluated chemically by using electron spin resonance-spin trap and chemiluminescence methods. Antioxidative activity of the compounds was estimated by IC₅₀ value (µM), 50% inhibiting concentration of a compound against reactive oxygen species formed in each system, and the second-order rate constants (k₂) for the reactions of the compounds and superoxide anion radical or hydroxyl radical. Because melatonin has exhibited the highest scavenging activity against t-BuOO”, the biochemical anti-lipid peroxide radical scavenging activities of melatonin were examined. We found that melatonin exhibits higher anti-lipid peroxidative activity in the rat brain microsomes than in the rat liver microsomal and liposomal systems, suggesting that melatonin may function as a treatment for reactive oxygen species-related diseases of the brain.     

排列法检测围隔生态实验中加磷对浮游植物结构的影响

分析了1997和1998年3次围隔实验中的浮游生物结构和环境因子，检验加P及赤潮前后的变化和对它们的影响。采用因子分析（EA）和关联分析（CA），得出浮游植物种类集合的序列，根据因子分析和关 联分析的前两个轴建立平面坐标，并用方差分析（ANOVA）检验其差异，探讨加P及赤潮相关的群落结构模式。建立种类序列坐标轴，为确定种对结构分散的重要程度评估提供 客观方法，并用方差检验差异确立加P发生赤潮和 分浮游植物的体积进行了测量，并用经验公式计算了单个细胞的碳含量。     

Simple and rapid yeast reporter bioassay for dioxin screening: evaluation of the dioxin-like compounds in industrial and municipal waste incineration plants

The CROMIS AhR kit, a simple and rapid yeast bioassay kit, was developed and used to detect dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in 20 gas and solid samples collected from refuse incineration plants in Japan. The World Health Organization toxic equivalent (WHO-TEQ) values of the samples were also calculated using high-resolution gas chromatography/high--resolution mass spectrometry. The WHO-TEQ values of the samples varied greatly, ranging from 0.0021–6.3 ng/g to 0.00013–16 ng/m³N (normal cubic meter) in the solid and gas samples, respectively. 2,3,4,7,8-Pentachlorodibenzofuran (23478-PeCDF) and 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (12378-PeCDD) were the major contributors to the samples’ WHO-TEQ values. The yeast in the bioassay responded to these congeners, and the EC₅₀ values of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2378-TeCDD), 12378-PeCDD, and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF were 490, 560, and 590 nM, respectively. The incinerator samples were subjected to the bioassay to obtain 2378-TeCDD equivalent values (CROMIS-TEQ values). The CROMIS-TEQ values of the solid and gas samples ranged from 0.0019 to 5.64 ng/g and from 0.14 to 20 ng/m³N, respectively. The CROMIS-TEQ and WHO-TEQ values displayed good correlations (r ²?=?0.94 and 0.95 in the solid and gas samples, respectively), except for those of the samples with low dioxin concentrations (below the Japanese emission standards). Therefore, the CROMIS AhR kit is a useful tool for the initial screening of samples containing dioxin-like compounds.     

Identification and detection sensitivity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microcystis aeruginosa</Emphasis> from mixed and field samples using MALDI-TOF MS

To verify the applicability of identifying Microcystis aeruginosa by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), mixed and field samples were employed to study the sensitivity and the analysis power, respectively. Series diluted samples and artificially mixed samples by the M. aeruginosa NIES-843 strain were designed to verify the sensitivity. The lowest detection limit was 1.955?×?10⁶ cells in pure samples, while for mixed samples, the lowest detection limit and ratio of NIES-843 strain were 2.88?×?10⁶ cells and 33.7%, respectively. The results provided a reference for the reasonable volume of the water sample in which the M. aeruginosa could be detected. Ribosomal protein biomarkers for identifying M. aeruginosa which were successfully detected from the field samples in Taihu Lake, indicated that the identification of M. aeruginosa by MALDI-TOF MS could be applied in field samples. Furthermore, different genetic types of M. aeruginosa strains were also detected at different locations in Taihu Lake, which revealed the diversity of M. aeruginosa and the detection power of MALDI-TOF MS at the strain level for the field samples. The sensitivity and detection power in the analysis of M. aeruginosa by the MALDI-TOF MS demonstrated the applicability of this method in routine environmental monitoring.     

The relative contribution of dinoflagellate photosynthesis and stored lipids to the survivorship of symbiotic larvae of the reef-building corals

The long-distance dispersal of larvae provides important linkages between populations of reef-building corals and is a critical part of coral biology. Some coral planulae have symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp.) that probably provide energy in addition to the lipids provisioned within the egg. However, our understanding of the influence of symbionts on the energy metabolism and survivorship of planulae remains limited. This study examines the relative roles of symbiotic dinoflagellate photosynthesis and stored lipid content in the survivorship of the developing stages of the corals Pocillopora damicornis and Montipora digitata. We found that survivorship decreased under dark conditions (i.e. no photosynthetic activity) for P. damicornis and M. digitata at 31 and 22 days after release/spawning, respectively. The lipid content of P. damicornis and M. digitata planulae showed a significant decrease, at a higher rate, under dark conditions, when compared with light conditions. When converted to energy equivalents, the available energy provided by the depletion of lipids could account for 41.9 and 84.7% of larval metabolism for P. damicornis (by day 31) and 38.4 and 90.1% for M. digitata (by day 21) under light and dark conditions, respectively. This finding indicates that not all energy requirements of the larvae are met by lipids: energy is also sourced from the photosynthetic activities of the symbiotic dinoflagellates within these larvae, especially under light conditions. In addition, the amounts of three main lipid classes (wax esters, triglycerides, and phospholipids) decreased throughout the experiment in the planulae of both species, with the wax ester content decreasing more rapidly under dark conditions than under light conditions. The observations that the planulae of both species derive considerable amounts of energy from wax esters, and that symbiotic dinoflagellates enable larvae to use their stores at lower rates, suggested that symbiotic dinoflagellates have the potential to extend larval life under light conditions.     

The determinants of citizen complaints on environmental pollution: an empirical study from China

Using China’s environmental statistical data set for the period 2001-2006, this paper presents an extensive empirical analysis of the relationships among citizens’ environmental complaints, pollution intensities, and socio-economic characteristics. We found that exposure to harmful pollutants significantly influence people’s complaint behaviors because higher densities of chemical oxygen demand and SO₂ emissions are correlated with a higher incidence of citizen’s complaints of water pollution and air pollution, respectively. In terms of demographical variables, household income has significantly positive impacts on the likelihood of citizens lodging environmental complaints regarding air, water, and solid waste pollution. Citizens in municipality and coastal regions tend to complain more than those in interior regions. Our results support the view that environmental complaints can provide valuable information for regulators to efficiently allocate inspection resources; however, the information may be noisy since complaints are more likely to arise from wealthier and more-educated regions. In order to mitigate this problem, we argue that it may be helpful to strengthen basic education in poorer regions and to encourage environmental information disclosure for attracting more people’s attention to pollution problems. In addition, regular inspection capabilities in poor and seriously polluted regions must be enhanced for investigating regulatory violation.     

Woodchip-mixing porous mortar’s adsorption of cesium in aqueous media

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The radioactive cesium (radio-Cs) released following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident was unevenly distributed in soil, sediment,...