Cesium, iodine and tritium in NW Pacific waters - a comparison of the Fukushima impact with global fallout

Radionuclide impact of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident on the distribution of radionuclides in seawater of the NW Pacific Ocean is compared with global fallout from atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons. Surface and water column samples collected during the <i>Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa</i> (<i>KOK</i>) international expedition carried out in June 2011 were analyzed for ¹³⁴Cs, ¹³⁷Cs, ¹²⁹I and ³H. The ¹³⁷Cs, ¹²⁹I and ³H levels in surface seawater offshore Fukushima varied between 0.002–3.5 Bq L⁻¹, 0.01–0.8 μBq L⁻¹, and 0.05–0.15 Bq L⁻¹, respectively. At the sampling site about 40 km from the coast, where all three radionuclides were analyzed, the Fukushima impact on the levels of these three radionuclides represents an increase above the global fallout background by factors of about 1000, 50 and 3, respectively. The water column data indicate that the transport of Fukushima-derived radionuclides downward to the depth of 300 m has already occurred. The observed ¹³⁷Cs levels in surface waters and in the water column are compared with predictions obtained from the ocean general circulation model, which indicates that the Kuroshio Current acts as a southern boundary for the transport of the radionuclides, which have been transported from the Fukushima coast eastward in the NW Pacific Ocean. The ¹³⁷Cs inventory in the water column is estimated to be about 2.2 PBq, what can be regarded as a lower limit of the direct liquid discharges into the sea as the seawater sampling was carried out only in the area from 34 to 37° N, and from 142 to 147° E. About 4.6 GBq of ¹²⁹I was deposited in the NW Pacific Ocean, and 2.4–7 GBq of ¹²⁹I was directly discharged as liquid wastes into the sea offshore Fukushima. The total amount of ³H released and deposited over the NW Pacific Ocean was estimated to be 0.1–0.5 PBq. These estimations depend, however, on the evaluation of the total ¹³⁷Cs activities released as liquid wastes directly into the sea, which should improve when more data are available. Due to a suitable residence time in the ocean, Fukushima-derived radionuclides will provide useful tracers for isotope oceanography studies on the transport of water masses during the next decades in the NW Pacific Ocean

Empirical agent-based modelling of everyday pro-environmental behaviours at work

We report on agent-based modelling work in the LOCAW project (Low Carbon at Work: Modelling Agents and Organisations to Achieve Transition to a Low Carbon Europe). The project explored the effectiveness of various backcasting scenarios conducted with case study organisations in bringing about pro-environmental change in the workforce in the domains of transport, energy use and waste. The model used qualitative representations of workspaces in formalising each scenario, and decision trees learned from questionnaire responses to represent decision-making. We describe the process by which the decision trees were constructed, noting that the use of decision trees in agent-based models requires particular considerations owing to the potential use of explanatory variables in model dynamics. The results of the modelling in various scenarios emphasise the importance of structural environmental changes in facilitating everyday pro-environmental behaviour, but also show there is a role for psychological variables such as norms, values and efficacy. As such, the topology of social interactions is a potentially important driver, raising the interesting prospect that both workplace geography and organisational hierarchy have a role to play in influencing workplace pro-environmental behaviours

The Large Enriched Germanium Experiment for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay (LEGEND)

The observation of neutrinoless double-beta decay (0${\nu}{\beta}{\beta}$) would show that lepton number is violated, reveal that neutrinos are Majorana particles, and provide information on neutrino mass. A discovery-capable experiment covering the inverted ordering region, with effective Majorana neutrino masses of 15 - 50 meV, will require a tonne-scale experiment with excellent energy resolution and extremely low backgrounds, at the level of $\sim$0.1 count /(FWHM$\cdot$t$\cdot$yr) in the region of the signal. The current generation $^{76}$Ge experiments GERDA and the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR utilizing high purity Germanium detectors with an intrinsic energy resolution of 0.12%, have achieved the lowest backgrounds by over an order of magnitude in the 0${\nu}{\beta}{\beta}$ signal region of all 0${\nu}{\beta}{\beta}$ experiments. Building on this success, the LEGEND collaboration has been formed to pursue a tonne-scale $^{76}$Ge experiment. The collaboration aims to develop a phased 0${\nu}{\beta}{\beta}$ experimental program with discovery potential at a half-life approaching or at $10^{28}$ years, using existing resources as appropriate to expedite physics results.Comment: Proceedings of the MEDEX'17 meeting (Prague, May 29 - June 2, 2017

Conjugated docosahexaenoic acid suppresses KPL-1 human breast cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo: potential mechanisms of action

Introduction The present study was conducted to examine the effect of conjugated docosahexaenoic acid (CDHA) on cell growth, cell cycle progression, mode of cell death, and expression of cell cycle regulatory and/or apoptosis-related proteins in KPL-1 human breast cancer cell line. This effect of CDHA was compared with that of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Methods KPL-1 cell growth was assessed by colorimetric 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay; cell cycle progression and mode of cell death were examined by flow cytometry; and levels of expression of p53, p21Cip1/Waf1, cyclin D1, Bax, and Bcl-2 proteins were examined by Western blotting analysis. In vivo tumor growth was examined by injecting KPL-1 cells subcutaneously into the area of the right thoracic mammary fat pad of female athymic mice fed a CDHA diet. Results CDHA inhibited KPL-1 cells more effectively than did DHA (50% inhibitory concentration for 72 hours: 97 μmol/l and 270 μmol/l, respectively). With both CDHA and DHA growth inhibition was due to apoptosis, as indicated by the appearance of a sub-G1 fraction. The apoptosis cascade involved downregulation of Bcl-2 protein; Bax expression was unchanged. Cell cycle progression was due to G0/G1 arrest, which involved increased expression of p53 and p21Cip1/Waf1, and decreased expression of cyclin D1. CDHA modulated cell cycle regulatory proteins and apoptosis-related proteins in a manner similar to that of parent DHA. In the athymic mouse system 1.0% dietary CDHA, but not 0.2%, significantly suppressed growth of KPL-1 tumor cells; CDHA tended to decrease regional lymph node metastasis in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion CDHA inhibited growth of KPL-1 human breast cancer cells in vitro more effectively than did DHA. The mechanisms of action involved modulation of apoptosis cascade and cell cycle progression. Dietary CDHA at 1.0% suppressed KPL-1 cell growth in the athymic mouse system.</p

Soundscapes: Species Richness and Community Composition of Neotropical Atlantic Forest Avifauna

As tropical forests become increasingly vulnerable to land use changes, fragmentation, and climate shifts, efforts to minimise species loss are essential. Prevalent in most environments and having complex vocalisations, birds are key indicators of ecosystem health and a good model for acoustic monitoring. In Brazil, the Caparaó National Park (CNP) is a preserved remnant of the Atlantic Forest with great avian endemism. Despite having >600 species, limited research has utilised bioacoustics for species assessment. This study employed bioacoustics to examine soundscapes and community composition at two CNP locations—one with ombrophilous montane forest (OMF) and another with semi-deciduous seasonal forest (SSF). Four SongMeters were deployed, recording bird choruses from 08:00 to 11:00 a.m. for two months. Soundscape profiles and species composition were characterised using Raven Pro. Acoustic indices assessed correlations with avian species richness, and sites were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. Ninety-eight species were detected, and species richness was greater within SSF. While acoustic indices had little impact on richness, they identified differing soundscapes: more ambient noise in OMF, and gunshots detected in SSF. The results indicate that bioacoustics can aid monitoring strategies. Given the presence of rare species and illegal activities, more studies are needed to support the conservation of birds in this critical environmen

Biologically Relevant Small Radicals

Biologically relevant small radicals are at the focus of the working group 4 (WG4) of the COST Action CM0603 (Free Radicals in Chemical Biology, CHEMBIORADICAL). This article surveys the areas of research being undertaken by the partners in WG4. The character of the radicals is described together with experimental techniques utilized to follow their structure and reactivity. Specifically, C-, S-, N- and O-centered radicals of small size, and their interaction with different biomolecules are described. Processes at the molecular level exemplifying important biological signaling and damaging pathways are introduced

Esophageal anatomy and physiology vary across spastic and non‐spastic phenotypes of disorders of esophagogastric junction outflow

BackgroundPathophysiologic mechanisms of disorders of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) outflow are poorly understood. We aimed to compare anatomic and physiologic characteristics among patients with disorders of EGJ outflow and normal motility.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated adult patients with achalasia types 1, 2, 3, EGJ outflow obstruction (EGJOO) or normal motility on high-resolution manometry who underwent endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) from January 2019 to August 2022. Thickened circular muscle was defined as ≥1.6 mm. Characteristics from barium esophagram (BE) and functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) were additionally assessed.Key resultsOf 71 patients (mean age 56.2 years; 49% male), there were 8 (11%) normal motility, 58 (82%) had achalasia (5 (7%) type 1, 32 (45%) classic type 2, 21 (30%) type 3 [including 12 type 2 with FEPs]), and 7 (7%) had EGJOO. A significantly greater proportion of type 3 achalasia had thickened distal circular muscle (76.2%) versus normal motility (0%; p &lt; 0.001) or type 2 achalasia (25%; p &lt; 0.001). Type 1 achalasia had significantly wider mean maximum esophageal diameter on BE (57.8 mm) compared to type 2 achalasia (32.8 mm), type 3 achalasia (23.4 mm), EGJOO (15.9 mm), and normal motility (13.5 mm). 100% type 3 achalasia versus 0% type 1 achalasia/normal motility had tertiary contractions on BE. Mean EGJ distensibility index on FLIP was lower for type 3 achalasia (1.2 mmHg/mm2 ) and EGJOO (1.2 mmHg/mm2 ) versus type 2 (2.3 mmHg/mm2 ) and type 1 achalasia (2.9 mmHg/mm2 ).ConclusionsOur findings suggest distinct pathologic pathways may exist: type 3 achalasia and EGJOO may represent a spastic outflow phenotype consisting of a thickened, spastic circular muscle, which is distinct from type 1 and 2 achalasia consisting of a thin caliber circular muscle layer with more prominent esophageal dilation

Snapshot of the Atlantic Forest canopy: surveying arboreal mammals in a biodiversity hotspot

The Atlantic Forest of South America supports a rich terrestrial biodiversity but has been reduced to only a small extent of its original forest cover. It hosts a large number of endemic mammalian species but our knowledge of arboreal mammal ecology and conservation has been limited because of the challenges of observing arboreal species from ground level. Camera trapping has proven to be an effective tool in terrestrial mammal monitoring but the technique has rarely been used for arboreal species. For the first time in the Atlantic Forest, we obtained data on the arboreal mammal community using arboreal camera trapping, focusing on Caparaó National Park, Brazil. We placed 24 infrared camera traps in the forest canopy in seven areas within the Park, operating them continuously during January 2017–June 2019. During this period the camera traps accumulated 4,736 camera-days of footage and generated a total of 2,256 photographs and 30-s videos of vertebrates. The arboreal camera traps were able to detect arboreal mammals of a range of body sizes. The mammal assemblage comprised 15 identifiable species, including the Critically Endangered northern muriqui Brachyteles hypoxanthus and buffy-headed marmoset Callithrix flaviceps as well as other rare, nocturnal and inconspicuous species. We confirmed for the first time the occurrence of the thin-spined porcupine Chaetomys subspinosus in the Park. Species richness varied across survey areas and forest types. Our findings demonstrate the potential of arboreal camera trapping to inform conservation strategies

Mechanistic implications of the active species involved in the oxidation of hydrocarbons by iron complexes of pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid

The reactivity towards H2O2 of the complexes [Fe(pca)2(py)2]·py (1) and Na2{[Fe(pca3)]2O}·2H2O·CH3CN (2) (where pca− is pyrazine-2-carboxylate) and their catalytic activity in the oxidation of hydrocarbons is reported. Addition of H2O2 to 1 results in the formation of a dinuclear Fe(III)–(µ-O)–Fe(III) species characterized spectroscopically and by cyclic voltammetry. By contrast, treatment of 2 with H2O2 results in the formation of mononuclear iron(II) complexes, [Fe(pca)2(solvent)2]. The experimental results indicate that the catalytic activity of the starting complexes 1 and 2 is strongly dependent on the species formed in solution.

Características fisiológicas de plantas hibernais com potencial fitorremediador sob influência dos herbicidas fomesafen e sulfentrazone.

The use of plant species for phytoremediation of soil contaminated with persistent herbicides, such as inhibitors of the protoporphyrinogen oxidase enzyme (PROTOX), is an interesting alternative from the economic and environmental point of view. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of fomesafen and sulfentrazone on the characteristics related to the physiology of winter species with potential for phytoremediation of soil contaminated by these herbicides. Two experiments were installed in a greenhouse, one with the herbicide fomesafen and another with the sulfentrazone, in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Fomesafen (0.0, 0.125, 0.250, and 0.5 kg ha-1) and sulfentrazone (0.0, 0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 kg ha-1), commercial brands Flex® and Boral 500®, respectively, were applied pre-emergence on species with phytoremediation potential (black oats, vetch, turnip and lotus). The chlorophyll index, the carboxylation efficiency (EC - mol CO2 m-2 s-1), the stomatal conductance of water vapors (Gs - mol m-1 s-1), the internal CO2 concentration (Ci - μmol mol-1), the transpiration rate (E - mol H2O m-2 s-1), the amount of CO2 consumed (QT - μmol mol-1) and the water use efficiency (UEA - mol CO2 mol H2O-1), the leaf temperature ΔT (ºC), the photosynthetic rate (A - μmol m-2 s-1) and the shoot dry mass (g vase-1) were evaluated 45 days after plant emergence. It was observed that the vetch presented the best results for all evaluated variables, thus demonstrating potential to be further tested for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with the herbicides fomesafen and sulfentrazone.O emprego de espécies vegetais para fitorremediação de solos contaminados com herbicidas persistentes, como os inibidores da enzima protoporfirinogênio oxidase (PROTOX), é uma alternativa interessante dos pontos de vista econômico e ambiental. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de fomesafen e sulfentrazone nas características relacionadas à fisiologia de espécies hibernais com potencial para aplicação como fitorremediadoras de solo contaminado por esses herbicidas. Dois experimentos foram instalados em casa de vegetação, um com o herbicida fomesafen e outro com o sulfentrazone, no delineamento de blocos casualizados com quatro repetições. Foram testadas doses dos herbicidas fomesafen (0,0; 0,125; 0,250; e 0,5 kg ha-1) e sulfentrazone (0,0; 0,3; 0,6; e 1,2 kg ha-1), marcas comerciais Flex® e Boral 500®, respectivamente, aplicadas na pré-emergência das espécies com potencial fitorremediador (aveia-preta, ervilhaca, nabo e cornichão). Aos 45 dias após a emergência das plantas, foram avaliados o índice de clorofila, a eficiência de carboxilação (EC- mol CO2 m-2 s-1), a condutância estomática de vapores de água (Gs - mol m-1 s-1), a concentração interna de CO2 (Ci - µmol mol-1), a taxa de transpiração (E - mol H2O m-2 s-1), a quantidade de CO2 consumido (QT - µmol mol-1), o uso eficiente da água (UEA - mol CO2 mol H2O-1), a temperatura da folha ΔT (ºC), a taxa fotossintética (A - µmol m-2 s-1) e a massa seca (g vaso-1) da parte aérea. Observou-se que a ervilhaca apresenta os melhores resultados para todas as variáveis avaliadas, demonstrando assim potencial para ser testada como fitorremediadora de solos contaminados com os herbicidas fomesafen e sulfentrazone