Trace elements in road-deposited and waterbed sediments in Kogarah Bay, Sydney: Enrichment, sources and fractionation

© 2015 CSIRO. Trace elements (TEs) in road-deposited sediments (RDS) can be transported by stormwater to neighbouring water bodies to cause aquatic pollution. A study was conducted in Kogarah Bay, Sydney, Australia, to assess the possible sources and potential mobility of TEs in RDS and the contribution to the TE load to the adjacent waterbed sediments in canals and the bay. Of the 11 TEs analysed, pseudo-total concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), and antimony (Sb) were greatly enriched in RDS over baseline soils (top 10cm depth) collected in bushlands. All TE concentrations in waterbed sediments (top 10cm depth) were similar to those in baseline soils but lower than in RDS. Correlation and principal component analyses revealed that Zn, Cu, Cr and Sb were related to each other in RDS, and probably originated from tyres and brake linings. Vanadium occurred in another component, likely to have originated mainly from road asphalt. Pseudo-total and mobile-fraction (0.1m acetic acid, pH 2.85 extraction) TE concentrations in RDS were: iron>manganese, Zn>Cu, lead>Cr, nickel, V, Sb, cadmium. The potential ecological TE risk was low to medium in RDS but low in baseline soils and waterbed sediments

Quantum key distribution using gaussian-modulated coherent states

Quantum continuous variables are being explored as an alternative means to implement quantum key distribution, which is usually based on single photon counting. The former approach is potentially advantageous because it should enable higher key distribution rates. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate a quantum key distribution protocol based on the transmission of gaussian-modulated coherent states (consisting of laser pulses containing a few hundred photons) and shot-noise-limited homodyne detection; squeezed or entangled beams are not required. Complete secret key extraction is achieved using a reverse reconciliation technique followed by privacy amplification. The reverse reconciliation technique is in principle secure for any value of the line transmission, against gaussian individual attacks based on entanglement and quantum memories. Our table-top experiment yields a net key transmission rate of about 1.7 megabits per second for a loss-free line, and 75 kilobits per second for a line with losses of 3.1 dB. We anticipate that the scheme should remain effective for lines with higher losses, particularly because the present limitations are essentially technical, so that significant margin for improvement is available on both the hardware and software.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Blood groups and evolutionary relationships among domestic Sheep (Ovis aries), domestic Goat (Capra hircus), Aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) and european Mouflon (Ovis musimon)

Data presented in this report are concerned with the results of blood typing of 7 aoudad (Ammotragus lervia), 20 european mouflons (Ovis musimon) and 260 domestic goats (Capra hircus). The blood samples were tested with 31 different sheep blood typing reagents to see if sheep-like blood-group antigens existed in the red cells of the three species. The polymorphism of serum transferrin and hemoglobin was analyzed by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Evidence is presented for the existence in european mouflon of blood-group antigens similar to or identical with those recognized in the eight blood group systems of deomstic sheep (i.e., the sheep blood-group systems A, B, C, D, M, R, F30 and F41 The electrophoretic pattern of the mouflon transferrin is also identical with that of domestic sheep homozygous for the transferrin D allele. Likewise, the two hemoglobin variants observed in mouflon are indistinguishable from the hemoglobins A and B of domestic sheep. On the basis of such extensive similarity in antigenic structures in the red cells and in the electrophoretic mobility of transferrins and hemoglobins, domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and european mouflon (Ovis musimon) may have close evolutionary affinity to each other. The present data also indicate that both aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) and domestic goat (Cap Hircus) have blood-group antigens related to those of the B, C, M, R, and F30 systems of sheep. With respect to serological reactions in the M and R systems, Ammotragus resembles Capra much more closely than Ovis. With respect to the A system, however, Ammotragus appears to be more closely related to Ovis than to Capra; the latter, unlike Ammotragus, apparently does not have blood-group antigens related to those recognized in the A system of sheep. On the other hand, the three genera seem to be quite distinct from each other on the basis of differences in the electrophoretic mobility of their major variants of transferrin and hemoglobin. These observations, in conjunction with those reported earlier and mentioned in the introductory remarks of this report, suggest that Ammotragus is intermediate between Capra and Ovis. But, on the basis of the data presently available, it is not possible to establish more precisely the evolutionary relationships among the three genera.Les antigènes érythrocytaires de mouflons à manchettes (Ammotragus Lervia), de 20 mouflons d’Europe (Ovis musimon) et de 260 chèvres (Capra Hircus) ont été examinés à l’aide de 31 réactifs préparés pour la détermination des groupes sanguins du mouton (Ovis aries). Le polymorphisme de la transferrine sérique et de l’hémoglobine de ces différentes espèces a été analysé par la technique d’électrophorèse en gel d’amidon. Les résultats de ces examens sérologiques ont montré que le mouflon d’Europe possède des antigènes de groupes sanguins similaires ou identiques à ceux qui font partie de 8 systèmes de groupes sanguins définis chez le mouton (systèmes A, B, C, D, M, R, F30 et F41. Ces 2 espèces du genre Ovis ne peuvent, d’ailleurs, être distinguées l’une à l’autre, sur la base de la mobilité électrophorétique de leur transferrine et de leur hémoglobine. Cette très grande ressemblance, tout au moins en ce qui concerne les caractères sanguins considérés, indique clairement que le mouflon d’Europe (Ovis musimon) et le mouton (Ovis aries) sont très proches l’un de l’autre sur l’échelle zoologique des espèces et que leur séparation doit donc être récente. Les résultats de cette comparaison ont révélé, en outre, que le mouflon à manchettes (Ammotragus) et la chèvre (Capra) possèdent également des antigènes de groupes sanguins similaires à ceux qui sont reconnus dans les systèmes B, C, M, R et F30 du mouton. Cependant, si les réactions sérologiques observées dans les systèmes M et R suggèrent que l’Ammotragus se rapproche plus du genre Capra que du genre Ovis, les données concernant le système A indiquent que l’Ammotragus paraît être plus proche du genre Ovis que du genre Capra. D’autre part, ces 3 genres semblent se différencier nettement entre eux, sur la base de la mobilité électrophorétique de leur transferrine et de leur hémoglobine. Ces observations, ainsi que celles rapportées dans la littérature et mentionnées dans ce rapport, permettent de penser que, sur l’échelle évolutive des espèces, l’Ammotragus occupe une position intermédiaire entre les genres Caprai et Ovis. Dans l’état actuel des connaissances, il n’est pas possible d’établir, avec plus de précision, les relations évolutives entre les 3 genres Capra, Ovis et Ammotragu

GIVE: portable genome browsers for personal websites.

Growing popularity and diversity of genomic data demand portable and versatile genome browsers. Here, we present an open source programming library called GIVE that facilitates the creation of personalized genome browsers without requiring a system administrator. By inserting HTML tags, one can add to a personal webpage interactive visualization of multiple types of genomics data, including genome annotation, "linear" quantitative data, and genome interaction data. GIVE includes a graphical interface called HUG (HTML Universal Generator) that automatically generates HTML code for displaying user chosen data, which can be copy-pasted into user's personal website or saved and shared with collaborators. GIVE is available at: https://www.givengine.org/

Assessing health and well-being among older people in rural South Africa

Background: The population in developing countries is ageing, which is likely to increase the burden of noncommunicable diseases and disability. Objective: To describe factors associated with self-reported health, disability and quality of life (QoL) of older people in the rural northeast of South Africa. Design: Cross-sectional survey of 6,206 individuals aged 50 and over. We used multivariate analysis to examine relationships between demographic variables and measures of self-reported health (Health Status), functional ability (WHODASi) and quality of life (WHOQoL). Results: About 4,085 of 6,206 people eligible (65.8%) completed the interview. Women (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.30, 95% CI 1.09, 1.55), older age (OR2.59, 95% CI 1.97, 3.40), lower education (OR1.62, 95% CI 1.31,2.00), single status (OR1.18, 95% CI 1.01, 1.37) and not working at present (OR1.29, 95% CI 1.06, 1.59) were associated with a low health status. Women were also more likely to report a higher level of disability (OR1.38, 95% CI 1.14, 1.66), as were older people (OR2.92, 95% CI 2.25, 3.78), those with no education (OR1.57, 95% CI 1.26, 1.97), with single status (OR1.25, 95% CI 1.06, 1.46) and not working at present (OR1.33, 95% CI 1.06, 1.66). Older age (OR1.35, 95% CI 1.06, 1.74), no education (OR1.39, 95% CI 1.11, 1.73), single status (OR1.28, 95% CI 1.10, 1.49), a low household asset score (OR1.52, 95% CI 1.19, 1.94) and not working at present (OR1.32; 95% CI 1.07, 1.64) were all associated with lower quality of life. Conclusions: This study presents the first population-based data from South Africa on health status, functional ability and quality of life among older people. Health and social services will need to be restructured to provide effective care for older people living in rural South Africa with impaired functionality and other health problems

Neuroinflammation, Mast Cells, and Glia: Dangerous Liaisons

The perspective of neuroinflammation as an epiphenomenon following neuron damage is being replaced by the awareness of glia and their importance in neural functions and disorders. Systemic inflammation generates signals that communicate with the brain and leads to changes in metabolism and behavior, with microglia assuming a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Identification of potential peripheral-to-central cellular links is thus a critical step in designing effective therapeutics. Mast cells may fulfill such a role. These resident immune cells are found close to and within peripheral nerves and in brain parenchyma/meninges, where they exercise a key role in orchestrating the inflammatory process from initiation through chronic activation. Mast cells and glia engage in crosstalk that contributes to accelerate disease progression; such interactions become exaggerated with aging and increased cell sensitivity to stress. Emerging evidence for oligodendrocytes, independent of myelin and support of axonal integrity, points to their having strong immune functions, innate immune receptor expression, and production/response to chemokines and cytokines that modulate immune responses in the central nervous system while engaging in crosstalk with microglia and astrocytes. In this review, we summarize the findings related to our understanding of the biology and cellular signaling mechanisms of neuroinflammation, with emphasis on mast cell-glia interactions

CD4 T lymphocyte autophagy is upregulated in the salivary glands of primary Sjögren’s syndrome patients and correlates with focus score and disease activity

Background: Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a common chronic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands and peripheral lymphocyte perturbation. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the possible pathogenic implication of autophagy in T lymphocytes in patients with pSS. Methods: Thirty consecutive pSS patients were recruited together with 20 patients affected by sicca syndrome a nd/or chronic sialoadenitis and 30 healthy controls. Disease activity and damage were evaluated according to SS disease activity index, EULAR SS disease activity index, and SS disease damage index. T lymphocytes were analyzed for the expression of autophagy-specific markers by biochemical, molecular, and histological assays in peripheral blood and labial gland biopsies. Serum interleukin (IL)-23 and IL-21 levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Our study provides evidence for the first time that autophagy is upregulated in CD4+ T lymphocyte salivary glands from pSS patients. Furthermore, a statistically significant correlation was detected between lymphocyte autophagy levels, disease activity, and damage indexes. We also found a positive correlation between autophagy enhancement and the increased salivary gland expression of IL-21 and IL-23, providing a further link between innate and adaptive immune responses in pSS. Conclusions: These findings suggest that CD4+ T lymphocyte autophagy could play a key role in pSS pathogenesis. Additionally, our data highlight the potential exploitation of T cell autophagy as a biomarker of disease activity and provide new ground to verify the therapeutic implications of autophagy as an innovative drug target in pSS

Environmentally Responsible Bioengineering for Spore Surface Expression of <em>Helicobacter pylori </em>Antigen

The development of genetic technologies and bioengineering are creating an increasing number of genetically engineered microorganisms with new traits for diverse industrial applications such as vaccines, drugs and pollutant degraders. However, the destiny of genetically engineered bacterial spores released into the environment as long-life organisms has remained a big environmental challenge. In this study, an environmentally responsible and sustainable gene technology solution based on the concept of thymine starvation is successfully applied for cloning and expression of a Helicobacter pylori antigen on Bacillus subtilis spore surface. As an example, a recombinant Bacillus subtilis strain A1.13 has been created from a gene fusion of the corresponding N-terminal fragment of spore coat protein CotB in B. subtilis and the entire urease subunit A (UreA) in H. pylori and the fusion showed a high stability of spore surface expression. The outcomes can open the door for developing highly safe spore vectored vaccines against this kind of pathogen and contributing to reduced potential risks of genetically engineered microorganisms released in the environment

Simultaneous adsorption of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn by an iron-coated Australian zeolite in batch and fixed-bed column studies

© 2015 Elsevier B.V. Excessive levels of heavy metals in water are an environmental hazard. An Australian zeolite with (ICZ) and without (Z) iron-coating, was used to remove five heavy metals from aqueous solutions using adsorption in batch and column experiments. The batch study showed that the Langmuir adsorption capacities of heavy metals on Z and ICZ at pH 6.5 and ionic strength 10-3M NaNO3 were in the order Pb>Cu>Cd>Cr, Zn for single metal (5.0-11.2mg/g) and for mixed metals solution (3.7-7.6mg/g). The data for the kinetics of adsorption satisfactory fitted to both the pseudo-first and second order models with fits slightly better for the latter model. Data fitted to a diffusion model revealed that adsorption took place in two or more than two different stages: a fast external surface adsorption, and a gradual adsorption controlled by both film diffusion and intra-particle diffusion. The column adsorption data were fairly well described by Thomas model, with the order of Thomas adsorption capacity following a similar trend as in the batch study. In both batch and column experiments, the adsorption capacities were higher for ICZ than for Z and were generally lower in mixed metals system than in single metals system. Leaching of used ICZ columns with 0.1M HCl, resulted in 64-93% of adsorbed metals being desorbed, and 10% of Fe being dissolved from the ICZ