904 research outputs found
The influence of tributyltin on various aspects of activation and reactive oxygen formation in oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau) macrophages
The effects of tributyltin (TBT) on phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)- and calcium ionophore (A23187)-stimulated peritoneal macrophages from oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau) were evaluated in a luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) assay. PMA-stimulated CL responses were increased by in vitro exposure to 50 ug/L TBT, but depressed to baseline values by 500 ug/L TBT. A23187-stimulated CL increased with 5 ug/L and 50 ug/L TBT, and depressed by 500 ug/L TBT. Responses stimulated by synergistic doses of PMA and A23187 were increased by 50 ug/L TBT and depressed by 500 ug/L TBT. Enhanced PMA- and A23187-stimulated CL following TBT exposure returned to baseline values after extracellular calcium was removed. In the absence of PMA or A23187, 50 ug/L TBT stimulated a significant CL response that was inhibited by chelation of extracellular calcium. Uptake of calcium-45 was greatly increased with 50 ug/L TBT but depressed by 500 ug/L TBT. Results suggest that low TBT concentrations stimulate calcium influx and enhancement of reactive oxygen intermediate formation, while high TBT concentrations cause membrane dysfunctions which inhibit calcium flux and depress activation sequences. The physiological basis of TBT-stimulated macrophage activation was investigated in vitro. Inhibition of TBT-stimulated CL by sodium benzoate (.OH scavenger) and superoxide dismutase (.O&\sb2& scavenger) was most similar to PMA-stimulated CL, indicating a role of NADPH oxidase activity in TBT-stimulated CL. Inhibition by nordihydroquaiaretic acid (lipoxygenase antagonist) was similar to PMA-, PMA + A23187-, and A23187-stimulated CL, indicating a common role of leukotrienes in activation responses. Inhibition by indomethacin (cyclooxygenase antagonist) was most similar to PMA + A23187-, and A23187-stimulated CL, indicating a common role of prostaglandins in activation responses. Inhibition by isobutylmethylxanthine (phosphodiesterase antagonist) was most similar to PMA- and A23187-stimulated CL, indicating a role of cyclic neucleotides in activation regulation. Inhibition of TBT-stimulated CL by verapamil (calcium channel antagonist) and trifluoperazine (calmodulin antagonist) were most similar to PMA + A23187- and A23187-stimulated CL, indicating the role of calcium in TBT-stimulated macrophage activation. Therefore, TBT-stimulated macrophage activation is initiated by an increased plasma-membrane calcium flux. The influence of in vivo TBT exposure was compared with the effects of in vitro exposure. Fish were treated (i.p. injections) weekly for six weeks with either sham, vehicle, 0.250, 0.750, or 2.5 mg/kg TBT. Macrophages were isolated and PMA + A23187- and TBT (50 ug/L)-stimulated CL was compared between treatment groups. Chemiluminescence was reduced in a dose-dependent manner in response to both PMA + A23187 and TBT (50 ug/L). It is concluded that TBT supresses macrophage function following both in vivo and in vitro exposure. The mode of action appears to be an interference with plasma membrane calcium transport, therefore inhibiting both intracellular and intercellular signal transduction
COLONIZATION OF NORTHERN LOUISIANA BY THE MEDITERRANEAN GECKO, HEMIDACTYLUS TURCICUS
The Mediterranean Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus, is known to have colonized nearly every state in the southern United States. In Louisiana, the Mediterranean Gecko has been documented in many of the southern parishes, but records for the northern portion of the state are limited. We sampled northern Louisiana parishes to document the presence of the Mediterranean Gecko. We sampled a total of 21 parishes in northern Louisiana and found geckos in 17 of those parishes, 16 of which represent new distribution records for the species. This indicates a significant range expansion of this introduced species throughout northern Louisiana. Geckos were found across a temperature range of 14.0–28.0°C and had a strong association with buildings. The species’ affinity for anthropogenic association and the continual nature of anthropogenic expansion facilitate the high vagility of this species. The result is a successful colonization throughout much of Louisiana and likely continued range expansion throughout the southern United States
Soil Degradation: Will Humankind Ever Learn?
Citation: Karlen, D. L., & Rice, C. W. (2015). Soil Degradation: Will Humankind Ever Learn? Sustainability, 7(9), 12490-12501. doi:10.3390/su70912490Soil degradation is a global problem caused by many factors including excessive tillage, inappropriate crop rotations, excessive grazing or crop residue removal, deforestation, mining, construction and urban sprawl. To meet the needs of an expanding global population, it is essential for humankind to recognize and understand that improving soil health by adopting sustainable agricultural and land management practices is the best solution for mitigating and reversing current soil degradation trends. This research editorial is intended to provide an overview for this Special Issue of Sustainability that examines the global problem of soil degradation through reviews and recent research studies addressing soil health in Africa, Australia, China, Europe, India, North and South America, and Russia. Two common factorssoil erosion and depletion of soil organic matter (SOM)emerge as consistent indicators of how the thin layer covering the planet that stands between us and starvation is being degraded. Soil degradation is not a new problem but failing to acknowledge, mitigate, and remediate the multiple factors leading to it is no longer a viable option for humankind. We optimistically conclude that the most promising strategies to mitigate soil degradation are to select appropriate land uses and improve soil management practices so that SOM is increased, soil biology is enhanced, and all forms of erosion are reduced. Collectively, these actions will enable humankind to take care of the soil so it can take care of us.Soil degradation is a global problem caused by many factors including excessive tillage, inappropriate crop rotations, excessive grazing or crop residue removal, deforestation, mining, construction and urban sprawl. To meet the needs of an expanding global population, it is essential for humankind to recognize and understand that improving soil health by adopting sustainable agricultural and land management practices is the best solution for mitigating and reversing current soil degradation trends. This research editorial is intended to provide an overview for this Special Issue of Sustainability that examines the global problem of soil degradation through reviews and recent research studies addressing soil health in Africa, Australia, China, Europe, India, North and South America, and Russia. Two common factors—soil erosion and depletion of soil organic matter (SOM)—emerge as consistent indicators of how “the thin layer covering the planet that stands between us and starvation” is being degraded. Soil degradation is not a new problem but failing to acknowledge, mitigate, and remediate the multiple factors leading to it is no longer a viable option for humankind. We optimistically conclude that the most promising strategies to mitigate soil degradation are to select appropriate land uses and improve soil management practices so that SOM is increased, soil biology is enhanced, and all forms of erosion are reduced. Collectively, these actions will enable humankind to “take care of the soil so it can take care of us”
The Epizoology of an Outbreak of Anthrax in Iowa
On July the twenty-first, 1923, a shipment of cows and calves from Bone Steel, South Dakota arrived in Battle Creek, Iowa. Two cows were dead in one car and were removed by the rendering plant employee, the rest of the herd were taken to The United Farms, two days later three head died and were skinned. The manager refused to allow the carcasses to be fed to the hogs
An Economic Analysis of Carbon Sequestration for Wheat and Grain Sorghum Production in Kansas
This study examined the economic potential with and without carbon credit payments of two crop and tillage systems in South Central Kansas that could reduce carbon dioxide emissions and sequester carbon in the soil. Experiment station cropping practices, yield data, and soil carbon data for continuously cropped wheat and grain sorghum produced with conventional tillage and no-tillage from1986 to 1995 were used to determine soil carbon changes and to develop enterprise budgets to determine expected net returns for a typical dryland farm in South Central Kansas. No-till had lower net returns because of lower yields and higher overall costs. Both crops produced under no-till had higher annual soil C gains than under conventional tillage. Carbon credit payments may be critical to induce farm managers to use cropping practices, such as no-till, that sequester soil carbon. The carbon credit payments needed will be highly dependent on cropping system production costs, especially herbicide costs, which substitute for tillage as a means of weed control. The C values estimated in this study that would provide an incentive to adopt no-tillage range from 95.991ton/year, depending upon the assumption about herbicide costs. In addition, if producers were compensated for other environmental benefits associated with no-till, carbon credits could be reduced.carbon credit value, carbon sequestration, grain sorghum, no-tillage, wheat, Crop Production/Industries,
Oxidized low-density lipoprotein inhibits hepatitis C virus cell entry in human hepatoma cells.
Cell entry of hepatitis C virus, pseudoparticles (HCVpp) and cell culture grown virus (HCVcc), requires the interaction of viral glycoproteins with CD81 and other as yet unknown cellular factors. One of these is likely to be the scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI). To further understand the role of SR-BI, we examined the effect of SR-BI ligands on HCVpp and HCVcc infectivity. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), but not native LDL, potently inhibited HCVpp and HCVcc cell entry. Pseudoparticles bearing unrelated viral glycoproteins or bovine viral diarrhea virus were not affected. A dose-dependent inhibition was observed for HCVpp bearing diverse viral glycoproteins with an approximate IC50 of 1.5 microg/mL apolipoprotein content, which is within the range of oxLDL reported to be present in human plasma. The ability of lipoprotein components to bind to target cells associated with their antiviral activity, suggesting a mechanism of action which targets a cell surface receptor critical for HCV infection of the host cell. However, binding of soluble E2 to SR-BI or CD81 was not affected by oxLDL, suggesting that oxLDL does not act as a simple receptor blocker. At the same time, oxLDL incubation altered the biophysical properties of HCVpp, suggesting a ternary interaction of oxLDL with both virus and target cells. In conclusion, the SR-BI ligand oxLDL is a potent cell entry inhibitor for a broad range of HCV strains in vitro. These findings suggest that SR-BI is an essential component of the cellular HCV receptor complex
Derived Carbon Credit Values for Carbon Sequestration: Do CO2 Emissions From Production Inputs Matter?
Environmental Economics and Policy,
DERIVED CARBON CREDIT VALUES FOR CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DO CO2 EMISSIONS FROM PRODUCTION INPUTS MATTER ?
An economic analysis was conducted involving wheat and grain sorghum production systems that affect carbon dioxide emissions and sequester soil carbon. Parameters examined were expected net returns, changes in net carbon sequestered and the value of carbon credits necessary to equate net returns from systems that sequester more carbon to those that sequester less with and without adjustments for CO2 emissions from production inputs. Evaluations were based on experiment station cropping practices, yield, and soil carbon data for continuously cropped and rotated wheat and grain sorghum produced with conventional and no-tillage. No-till had lower net returns because of lower yields and higher overall costs. Both crops produced under no-till had higher annual soil C gains than under conventional tillage. However, no-till systems had higher total atmospheric emissions of C from production inputs. The differences were relatively small. The C values estimated in this study that would equate net returns of no-tillage to conventional tillage range from 58.69/ton/yr when C emissions from production inputs were subtracted from soil carbon sequestered and 54.99/ton/yr when atmospheric emissions were not considered.Environmental Economics and Policy,
Biomarkers of Aryl-hydrocarbon Receptor Activity in Gulf Killifish (Fundulus grandis) From Northern Gulf of Mexico Marshes Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York. Following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, shorelines throughout the Barataria Basin of the northern Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana were heavily oiled for months with Macondo-252 oil, potentially impacting estuarine species. The Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) has been identified as a sentinel species for the study of site-specific effects of crude oil contamination on biological function. In November and December 2010, 4–5 months after the Macondo well was plugged and new oil was no longer spilling into the Gulf waters, Gulf killifish were collected across the Barataria Basin from 14 sites with varying degrees of oiling. Fish collected from oiled sites exhibited biological indications of exposure to oil, including increase in cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) mRNA transcript and protein abundances in liver tissues. Immunohistochemistry revealed increases in gill, head kidney, and intestinal CYP1A protein at heavily oiled sites. Intestinal CYP1A protein was a sensitive indicator of exposure, indicating that intestinal tissue plays a key role in biotransformation of AHR ligands and that ingestion is a probable route of exposure, warranting additional consideration in future studies
Multitissue molecular, genomic, and developmental effects of the deepwater horizon oil spill on resident Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis)
The Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster resulted in crude oil contamination along the Gulf coast in sensitive estuaries. Toxicity from exposure to crude oil can affect populations of fish that live or breed in oiled habitats as seen following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. In an ongoing study of the effects of Deepwater Horizon crude oil on fish, Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) were collected from an oiled site (Grande Terre, LA) and two reference locations (coastal MS and AL) and monitored for measures of exposure to crude oil. Killifish collected from Grande Terre had divergent gene expression in the liver and gill tissue coincident with the arrival of contaminating oil and up-regulation of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) protein in gill, liver, intestine, and head kidney for over one year following peak landfall of oil (August 2011) compared to fish collected from reference sites. Furthermore, laboratory exposures of Gulf killifish embryos to field-collected sediments from Grande Terre and Barataria Bay, LA, also resulted in increased CYP1A and developmental abnormalities when exposed to sediments collected from oiled sites compared to exposure to sediments collected from a reference site. These data are predictive of population-level impacts in fish exposed to sediments from oiled locations along the Gulf of Mexico coast. © 2013 American Chemical Society
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