Environmental persistence of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-dioxin in soil around hardstand 7 at eglin air force base,Florida

Background and Goal  A number of global events have generated intense scientific scrutiny and public concern of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (dioxin). DIoxins have been associated with a range of adverse health effects. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is recognized as among the most dangerous of the dioxin compounds, and was a contaminant found In one of the herbicides used for vegetation control during the Vietnam conflict: Agent Orange. As a result of purging spray systems and leaking drums of Agent Orange concentrate, TCDD contamination occurred in the soils surrounding Hardstand 7 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. This research uses a multimedia model to estimate the TCDD concentrations in surface soil around Hardstand 7 for a 70-year time Interval beginning with observed surface soil concentrations 1984. Methods  Hardstand 7 is a nearly 40-m circular concrete and asphalt aircraft parking area. The hardstand was used as a staging area for spraying equipment used to disseminate herbicide In a test area called C-52A within EAFB. Concentrated herbicide was also stored in 208-L barrels for use with the equipment, and later, for disposal. In 1984, a field investigation characterized the extent of TCDD contamination in surface soils around Hardstand 7 using a radial sampling protocol. The 1984 observed concentrations and locations was used in a multimedia model, CalTOX, as an initial source term concentrations and locations to estimate expected concentrations during the subsequent 70-years. Results  The results indicate that more than 94% of the TCDD observed in surface soils 1984 will remain after a 70-year period. Access restrictions and remediation activities at the site eliminate bar verification of the CalTOX estimates. Conclusions. TCDD is highly persistent in the soil medium and natural attenuation may not produce a significant decrease In soil concentrations. Recommendation  Active remediation actions may be required to prevent exposure to TCDD contamination surface soils. Verifying CalTOX concentration estimates an Important step that should be performed, however, the, model provides an easy to use tool to estimate TCDD surface soil contamination at herbicide storage or dispersion staging sites.     

底砂粒径对方斑东风螺生长、消化、抗氧化及底质的影响

为探究不同粒径养殖底砂对方斑东风螺(Babylonia areolata)稚螺养成效果的影响,在微流水养殖系统中采用3种不同粒径养殖底砂(细砂1 mm、中砂2 mm和粗砂3 mm)进行了养殖对比试验,比较其对稚螺生长、消化、抗氧化的影响以及对底质氨氮、亚硝酸盐氮含量的影响。试验稚螺的初始体质量、壳高、壳宽分别为(0.263 3±0.0033)g、(10.67±0.11)mm、(7.06±0.15)mm,试验周期为30 d。结果显示：试验结束时,细砂组稚螺的体质量、壳高、壳宽分别为(0.560 3±0.026 3)g、(12.72±0.06)mm、(8.50±0.16)mm,存活率为(92.67±0.94)%,均显著高于中砂组和粗砂组(P<0.05);随着养殖时间的推移,中砂组和粗砂组稚螺的存活率逐步降低,试验结束时分别降至(58.22±4.57)%、(48.44±1.13)%;中砂组稚螺最终的体质量、壳高、壳宽分别为(0.452 0±0.024 6)g、(12.13±0.17)mm、(7.91±0.13)mm,粗砂组分别为(0.427 5±0.019 6)g、(12.26±0.0...     

Erythrocyte distribution in ducks

A study on erythrocyte distribution was performed on 10 healthy, nonstressed adult white Pekin ducks. Results indicated 2 populations of erythrocytes, with average mean corpuscular volumes of 128.37 fl/cell and 308.50 fl/cell. Variations in erythrogram patterns were evident over time, when comparing specimens from different ducks or the same duck. There were 5 patterns of cell number/volume distribution observed between the 2 cell populations when all ducks were studied. Females had a greater change than did males when population density and volume percentage comparisons were made on erythrocyte compartments.     

Extenders modify the seminal plasma ability to minimize freeze‐thaw damage on ram sperm

Seminal plasma (SP) proteins interact with sperm plasma membrane (PM) modulating its functionality. It has been shown that SP proteins can reverse the damage caused by freeze‐thaw; however in these studies, SP has been added to washed sperm (i.e., cells depleted from homologous SP and extender). The aim of the current study was to assess whether the egg yolk‐based extender (EY) modifies SP ability to ameliorate sperm parameters in frozen‐thawed ram spermatozoa. Ejaculates were diluted in EY or soybean lecithin‐based extender (SL) and evaluated before and after freezing to measure the cell damage according to the extender. Even when all classical parameters decreased after freezing, as expected (p < .05), there was no effect of the extender. SP treatment was applied after freeze‐thaw. Sperm were incubated with SP (20% v/v) in the presence of either EY or SL, and sperm parameters were assessed after thawing compared with the same treatments after Percoll sperm selection (washed). Treatments with 20% SP improved sperm total and progressive motility compared with controls regardless of washing and extender (p < .05); however, washed sperm showed higher percentage of total sperm motility compared with those unwashed (p < .05). Moreover, treatment with 20% SP showed significantly higher percentages of PM integrity, sperm with intact acrosomes, integrity of chromatin and non‐capacitated sperm in samples diluted with EY when washed before treatment compared with the other conditions (p < .05). It was concluded that the presence of the extenders and particularly egg yolk alters the SP capacity to reduce the cryodamage.     

不同铵离子浓度与pH人工海水对栉江瑶精子激活效果的比较

栉江瑶(Atrina pectinata)为我国重要的海洋经济双壳贝类,近年来,其养殖生产活动备受养殖企业关注,为发展和优化其人工繁殖技术,本研究探究了人工海水中铵离子浓度和pH的变化对栉江瑶新鲜精子游泳运动的激活作用,定量描述了高度活化状态下精子曲线运动速率(VCL)、直线运动速率(VSL)、平均路径运动速率(VAP)和鞭毛摆动频率(BCF)的运动学特征,并对精子ATP含量、ATP酶与超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性进行了记录。结果显示,简单提高海水pH可略微提高栉江瑶精子运动率,但无法使精子进入高度活化状态;含有铵离子的碱化海水可有效激发精子游泳运动,3 mmol/L氨海水激活效果最佳。经3 mmol/L氨海水激活后,精子活力等级(MI)在21 min内一直保持在≥4的状态,在激活的前3 min内精子运动率都在80%以上,VCL>56 μm/s,VSL>17 μm/s,VAP>30 μm/s,BCF>6 Hz。精子ATP含量在激活5 min后降低至初始含量的30.29% [(128.80± 66.92) μmol/g prot],随后,无显著变化(P>0.05)。精子Na+-K+-ATP酶和Ca2+-Mg2+-ATP酶活性在运动过程中较为稳定,其中,Na+-K+-ATP酶活性较低[(0.62±0.03) U/mg prot],Ca2+-Mg2+-ATP酶活性较高[(6.08± 0.04) U/mg prot]。精子SOD活性在15 min内逐步降低至[(1.23±0.73) U/mg prot],随后维持稳定。本研究可为栉江瑶精子激活机制深入研究提供基础,助力发展栉江瑶人工繁育技术。     

Vibrogen‐2 vaccine trial in lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) against Vibrio anguillarum

Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus), a native fish of the North Atlantic Ocean, is utilized as cleaner fish to biocontrol sea lice infestations in Atlantic salmon aquaculture. However, bacterial infections are affecting cleaner fish performance. Vibrio anguillarum, the aetiological agent of vibriosis, is one of the most frequent bacterial infections in lumpfish, and effective vaccine programmes against this pathogen have been identified as a high priority for lumpfish. Vibrogen‐2 is a commercial polyvalent bath vaccine that contains formalin‐inactivated cultures of V. anguillarum serotypes O1 and O2, and Vibrio ordalii. In this study, we evaluated Vibrogen‐2 efficacy in lumpfish against a local isolated V. anguillarum strain. Two groups of 125 lumpfish were bath‐immunized, bath‐boost‐immunized at four weeks post‐primary immunization, and intraperitoneally (i.p.) boost‐immunized at eight weeks post‐primary immunization. The control groups were i.p. mock‐immunized with PBS. Twenty‐seven weeks post‐primary immunization, the fish were i.p. challenged with 10 or 100 times the V. anguillarum J360 LD₅₀ dose. After the challenge, survival was monitored daily, and samples of tissues were collected at ten days post‐challenge. Commercial vaccine Vibrogen‐2 reduced V. anguillarum tissue colonization and delayed mortality but did not confer immune protection to C. lumpus against the V. anguillarum i.p. challenge.