Contrasts in Livelihoods and Protein Intake between Commercial and Subsistence Bushmeat Hunters in Two Villages on Bioko Island,Equatorial Guinea

Across West and Central Africa, wildlife provides a source of food and income. We investigated the relation between bushmeat hunting and household wealth and protein consumption in 2 rural communities in Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. One village was dedicated to commercial hunting, the other trapped game primarily for food. We tested whether commercial‐hunter households were nutritionally advantaged over subsistence‐hunter households due to their higher income from the bushmeat trade and greater access to wild‐animal protein. We conducted bushmeat‐offtake surveys in both villages (captures by hunters and carcasses arriving to each village). Mammals (including threatened primates: black colobus [Colobus satanas], Preussi's guenon [Allochrocebus preussi], and russet‐eared guenon [Cercopithecus erythrotis]), birds, and reptiles were hunted. The blue duiker (Philantomba monticola), giant pouched rat (Cricetomys emini), and brush‐tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus) contributed almost all the animal biomass hunted, consumed, or sold in both villages. Monkeys and Ogilbyi's duikers (Cephalophus ogilbyi) were hunted only by commercial hunters. Commercial hunters generated a mean of US$2000/year from bushmeat sales. Households with commercial hunters were on average wealthier, generated more income, spent more money on nonessential goods, and bought more products they did not grow. By contrast, households with subsistence hunters spent less on market items, spent more on essential products, and grew more of their own food. Despite these differences, average consumption of vegetable protein and domestic meat and bushmeat protein did not differ between villages. Our results highlight the importance of understanding the socioeconomic and nutritional context of commercial and subsistence bushmeat hunting to correctly interpret ways of reducing their effects on threatened species and to enable the sustainable offtake of more productive taxa. Contrastes en el Sustento y la Ingesta de Proteínas entre Carne de Caza de Subsistencia y Comercial en Dos Aldeas en Isla Bioko, Guinea Ecuatorial     

Uptake,elimination and biochemical effects of azadirachtin and tebufenozide in algae

Abstract

Effects of azadirachtin (isomer A, AZ‐A) and tebufenozide (TF) on freshwater algae were investigated using indoor aquatic microcosms. AZ‐A and TF were dosed at different concentrations to 10‐L microcosms. Chlorophyll and protein contents of the algae, and the concentrations of the insecticides in water and algae were monitored at intervals of time up to 20 d. Chlorophyll and protein contents in algae were inhibited at treatment levels of 3.0 and 4.5 μg AZ‐A/mL, whereas at 1.5 μg/mL, the chemical stimulated the chlorophyll production. The partition of AZ‐A between water and algae was reversible, and the bioconcentration factor (BCF) was low. In contrast, TF dosed at 0.25 to 0.75 μg/mL stimulated algal growth, probably due to its utilization of carbonaceous and nitrogenous intermediates and other breakdown products of TF as nutrients. The BCF was high and the organism functioned as a sink for the chemical. Extension of the laboratory findings to complex outdoor systems are discussed.     

Aluminum interaction with human brain tau protein phosphorylation by various Kinases

Abstract

Phosphorylation is an indispensable process for energy and signal transduction in biological systems. AlCl₃ at 10 nM to 10 uM range activated in‐vitro [γ‐³²P)ATP phosphorylation of the brain (tau) T protein in both normal human or E.coli expressed T forms; in the presence of the kinases P34, PKP, and PKC. However, higher concentrations of ALCl₃ inhibited the T phosphorylation with P34, PKP, and PKC to a maximum at 1 mM level. AlCl₃ at 100 uM to 500 uM range induced non‐enzymatic phosphorylation of T with γ‐ATP, γ‐GTP, and α‐GTP. AlCl₃ activated histone phosphorylation by P34 in a similar pattern. The hyperphosphorylation of T by Al³⁺ was accompanied by molecular shift and mobility retardation in SDS‐PAGE. This may demonstrate the mechanism of the longterm neurological effect of Al³⁺ in human brain leading to the formation of the neurofibrillary tangles related to Alzeheimer's disease.     

Determination of the carbon content of biomass—A prerequisite to estimate the complete biodegradation of polymers

This article presents a method to determine the carbon content of biomass, which is formed when degrading biodegradable polymers in an aerobic aqueous test system. Existing methods for determining the carbon content of biomass (e.g., fumigazation, protein assays, dry solids) have several disadvantages when applied for polymer degradation tests. In this work a protein assay based on the Lowry method was used. It was shown that the ratio between protein and carbon content is not constant but depends on the composition of the microbial population, the growth phase, and the substrate supply. This effect was used for the method presented in this article. For determining the carbon content of biomass the absorbance obtained by the Lowry test is correlated directly with the carbon content of biomass in dependence on the duration of the degradation test. The calibration curves are obtained by a mixed population of microorganisms during the course of a degradation test.     

Effect of Heavy Metals on the Blood Protein Biochemistry of the Fish CYPRINUS CARPIO AND ITS USE AS A BIO-INDICATOR OF POLLUTION STRESS

Cyprinus carpio were exposed to two non-essential (Hg and Pb)and two essential (Cu and Ni) heavy metal salts at lethal andsub-lethal concentrations. Blood serum total protein, serum globulinand serum albumin was analysed every 2 hr for 24 hrs andagain at 48 and 72 hrs. Serum protein and globulin level showedan intial sharp increase from 2 to 20 hrs, followed by decline thatextend over a period of 72 hrs. Serum albumin showed an initialimmediate decline from 2 to 4 hrs, followed by an intermittent period of recovery and decline that extend over a period of 72hrs. Both lethal and sub-lethal concentrations of metal salts elicited asimilar pattern of response varying only in magnitude. The use offish blood serum protein, albumin and globulin measurements as general indicators of pollutant stress response isdiscussed.     

Processing and Physical Properties of Plastics Made from Soy Protein Polyester Blends

Blending soy protein with polyesters using a polyvinyllactam as a compatibilizer successfully made soy protein-based plastics. The polyesters used to produce blends included polycaprolactone (PCL) and Biomax (a commercial biodegradable polyester). The blends were processed by compounding extrusion and injection molding. Blends containing soy protein/Biomax-poly(vinyl alcohol) had tensile strengths ranging from 16–22 MPa, with samples containing larger percentages of the synthetic polymer exhibiting greater strengths. Blends made from soy protein, Biomax, and PCL had tensile strengths ranging from 27–33 MPa. All the blends had high Young's moduli but demonstrated brittle characteristics as evident from their low elongations at break, ranging from 1.8–3.1%. Plastics made from soy protein/polyester blends exhibited low water absorption and had good stability under ambient conditions relative to the plastics made from soy protein alone. Blends made from soy protein flour produced plastics with the lowest water absorption.     

Effects of Storage Time on Properties of Soybean Protein-Based Plastics

Soybean protein has been considered as a potential biodegradable polymer in the manufacture of plastics. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize the effect of storage time on thermal and mechanical properties of soybean protein isolate (SPI) plastics. SPI was separated from defatted soy flour, modified with 1M or 2M urea, or plasticized with glycerol, and compression molded into plastics. Plastic made from SPI alone was used as a control. For all SPI plastics, glass transition temperatures and dynamic storage modulus increased and loss tangent decreased during storage. Excess enthalpy of relaxation of all SPI plastics had an exponential relationship with storage time, indicating a fast aging rate at the beginning of storage. All SPI plastics tended to be stiff and brittle during storage. The plastics with glycerol had the slowest aging rate and were fairly stable after 60 days, with about 8.8 MPa tensile strength and 168% strain at break. Plastics with the 2M urea-modification SPI also had a slow aging rate and became relative stable after 60 days, with about 10 MPa tensile strength and 72% elongation.     

混凝法从利福霉素SV钠药渣中回收蛋白质的研究

研究用钙盐和Polyacrylamide(PAM)混凝的处理方法,从利福霉素SV钠药渣中回收粗蛋白.药渣含水89%左右,具有蛋白质胶体溶液的性质.处理后机械脱水率提高到64%以上.与盐析法比较,机械脱水能耗上升,而处理药剂成本大幅度下降,产品成本降低200元/T左右.     

真鲷去毒相关基因cDNA序列的克隆与肝脏组成型表达分析

赤潮发生时产生的一些海洋生物毒素对人类和海洋动物的安全形成潜在的威胁甚至导致死亡.为从分子水平探讨鱼类中海洋藻毒素的去毒分子机理,采用RT-PCR法克隆了真鲷(Pagrus major)肝脏芳香烃受体核转位蛋白(ARNT)和I时相异生素代谢酶细胞色素P4501A(CYP1A)基因cDNA核心序列,同时,应用半定量RT-PCR方法,以β-肌动蛋白作为外参照,在其指数期增长的范围内研究了芳香烃受体(AHR)、ARNT、CYP1A、II时相异生素代谢酶alpha型谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GSTA1、GSTA2)、rho型谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GSTR)、热休克蛋白70(HSP70)基因组成型表达水平.结果发现,真鲷ARNT、CYP1A基因cDNA核心序列片段分别长438bp和908bp,分别编码146和302个氨基酸.序列同源性分析发现,真鲷与门齿鲷(Stenotomus chrysops)、石首鱼(Micropogon undulatus)ARNT基因氨基酸序列同源性高达97.2%、95.2%,与斑马鱼(Brachydanio rerio)、人、大鼠、小鼠ARNT同源性较低(77.2%～79.3%).真鲷与门齿鲷、金头鲷(Sparus auratus)、欧洲川鲽(Rhombus maximus)、欧洲海鲈(Dicentrachus labrax)CYP1A基因氨基酸序列同源性较高,为84.8%～94.0%,与斑马鱼、人、小鼠CYP1A同源性较低,为59.6%～77.8%.真鲷肝脏AHR、ARNT、CYP1A、GSTA1、GSTA2、GSTR和HSP70基因组成型表达水平分别为(25.32±6.56)%、(26.22±4.24)%、(146.5±16.06)%、(55.42±3.75)%、(48.82±10.89)%、(79.47±3.13)%、(107.42±14.34)%.