Genetic variation of Oratosquilla oratoria (Crustacea: Stomatopoda) across Hong Kong waters elucidated by mitochondrial DNA control region sequences

The population genetic structure of the mantis shrimp, Oratosquilla oratoria, in Hong Kong waters was determined using 923 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences. Samples were collected from six localities including the open-waters and sheltered bays in both the eastern and western waters of Hong Kong. Twenty-seven haplotypes were detected in 99 individuals. A high overall haplotype diversity (h=0.886), with a low nucleotide diversity (=0.0026), was observed, and the haplotype minimum spanning network suggested that rapid expansion might have occurred among the total stomatopod population. Genetic homogeneity was observed over a meso-scale distance (80-100km) whilst there were significant genetic differentiations between all pairs of the six samples. Partition of genetic variability based on hydrographic conditions did not reveal significant differentiations between: (1) eastern and western waters; and (2) open-waters and sheltered bays; but showed high levels of variation both within groups and within samples. Unexpectedly, genetic distance did not correlate with hydrographic distance among the samples. Results demonstrated a genetic patchiness pattern of O. oratoria in Hong Kong waters that may be attributable to the interplay between hydrographic conditions (e.g. salinity) and the species' life history traits. Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2009.published_or_final_versio

Choral singing therapy following stroke or Parkinsons disease: An exploration of participants experiences

© 2015 Informa UK Ltd. Purpose: People with stroke or Parkinsons disease (PD) live with reduced mood, social participation and quality of life (QOL). Communication difficulties affect 90% of people with PD (dysarthria) and over 33% of people with stroke (aphasia). These consequences are disabling in many ways. However, as singing is typically still possible, its therapeutic use is of increasing interest. This article explores the experiences of and factors influencing participation in choral singing therapy (CST) by people with stroke or PD and their significant others. Method: Participants (eight people with stroke, six with PD) were recruited from a community music therapy choir running CST. Significant others (seven for stroke, two for PD) were also recruited. Supported communication methods were used as needed to undertake semi-structured interviews (total N = 23). Results: Thematic analysis indicated participants had many unmet needs associated with their condition, which motivated them to explore self-management options. CST participation was described as an enjoyable social activity, and participation was perceived as improving mood, language, breathing and voice. Conclusions: Choral singing was perceived by people with stroke and PD to help them self-manage some of the consequences of their condition, including social isolation, low mood and communication difficulties.Implications for RehabilitationChoral singing therapy (CST) is sought out by people with stroke and PD to help self-manage symptoms of their condition.Participation is perceived as an enjoyable activity which improves mood, voice and language symptoms.CST may enable access to specialist music therapy and speech language therapy protocols within community frameworks

Temperature-dependent proteomic responses in the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma after waterborne exposure to copper

Poster presentationTheme: Learning from History and Applying Advancing Science to Build a Safer and Sustainable Environmen

Temperature-dependent toxicity of DDT to larvae of the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma: pollutant responses at thermal extremes

Conference Theme: Learning from History and Applying Advancing Science to Build a Safer and Sustainable EnvironmentOral presentatio

Temperature-dependent toxicities of nano zinc oxide (nZnO) to three marine organisms in relation to its aggregate size and ion dissolution

Conference Theme: Learning from History and Applying Advancing Science to Build a Safer and Sustainable EnvironmentOral presentatio

Photosynthetic and proteomic responses of the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana to triphenyltin exposure

Poster presentationSession: Endocrine Disruption (ED): no. 2

Differential proteomic responses of larvae of the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma upon cadmium exposure at thermal extremes

Poster Presentation: ET09P - Global climate change: implications for environmental toxicology and chemistry: abstract no. MO256Upon facing unpredictable extreme temperature events under the human-driven climate change, marine ectotherms would generally be more susceptible to additional stressors like toxicants. This study aimed to reveal the stress responses in marine medaka larvae Oryzias melastigma upon exposure to cadmium (Cd) under different thermal conditions including extreme temperatures. Larval fish were thermally treated by elevating or decreasing temperatures at a rate of 1ºC per hour followed by 7 days of acclimation to the test temperatures, before commencement of 4 days of Cd treatments. The associated toxic stress responses were elucidated using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled with multivariate statistical analyses. Proteins of fish larvae from temperature treatment groups (i.e., 10ºC, 25ºC and 32ºC) were successfully separated using IEF strip with pH 3-10 and gradient SDS-PAGE with gel percentage of 4-12.5%. The total- and phospho-proteins were visualized using Sypro Ruby and Pro-Q Diamond stains, respectively. Similar numbers of total protein spots (from 206 to 225) were detected in the three temperature treatments. Higher percentage number of phosphoprotein spots was however detected at 10ºC (25%) than at 25ºC (12%) and 32ºC (12%). This observation indicated that alteration of physiological pathways can take place at the low extreme temperature, i.e., 10ºC. In view of the progressive decrease in whole-organism aerobic scope and shift towards anaerobic metabolism under the extreme temperatures, and needs for extra energy for detoxification and cellular repairing processes under chemical exposure, adverse toxic responses could be expected under the extreme temperatures. Proteomic response of the fish larvae under combined Cd and thermal stresses is under investigation. The results of this study could provide certain essential and fundamental information to further advance our understanding on specific toxic effects of trace metals under temperature extremes.link_to_OA_fulltextThe 6th SETAC World Congress and 22nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), Berlin, Germany, 20-24 May 2012. In Abstracts Book of the 6th SETAC World Congress/SETAC Europe 22nd Annual Meeting, 2012, bk. 2, pt. 1, p. 191, abstract no. MO25

Temperature-dependent physiological responses of the marine medaka oryzias melastigma: Implication on pollutant responses at thermal extremes

The 15th International Symposium on Toxicity Assessment (ISTA15), Hong Kong, China, 3-8 July 2011

Temperature-dependent toxicities of nano-zinc oxides on three marine organisms

Oral Presentations: O-53The 15th International Symposium on Toxicity Assessment (ISTA15), Hong Kong, China, 3-8 July 2011

Temperature-dependent toxicities of nano-zinc oxides on three marine organisms

Micropollutants and Emerging Contaminants 3 - Abstract no. 031Nano zinc oxide (nZnO) is increasingly used in sunscreen products, with high potential of being released directly into marine environments. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that toxicity of nZnO on marine organisms can be attributed to the release of metal ions and aggregate sizes (Analytical Bioanalytical Chemistry 396: 609-618; 2010). Other recent studies have further showed that different temperatures can alter the agglomerate sizes (Journal of Applied Toxicology, 30:276-285; 2010) and ion release rates (Environmental Science & Technology 44: 2169-2175; 2010) of nanomaterials in water. In this study we, therefore, hypothesize that the toxicities of nanomaterials on marine organisms are augmented with increasing temperature within their thermal tolerance ranges. Acute toxicity tests were conducted using the marine diatom Thalassiosia pseudonana, the amphipod Elasmopus rapax, and the fish Oryzias melastigma exposed to nZnO under various temperatures (i.e., 10°C, 15°C, 25°C, 30°C and 35°C). Our results showed that toxicity of nZnO generally increases with increasing temperature. For example, the LC50 values of nZnO on the amphipod decreased from 8.33 mg L-1 at 15°C to 0.10 mg L-1 at 30°C. To further elucidate the mechanism, we are currently investigating the interacting effect of temperature and nZnO on the expression of stress proteins such as heat shock proteins in the fish while we will examine the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity of the diatom. The results will be discussed with reference to the temperature-dependent physicochemical properties of nZnO.The EnviroTox 2011 Conference: Sharing Knowledge for a Healthier Environment, Darwin, Australia, 17-20 April 2011