1,293 research outputs found
Imaging ionospheric light emissions (ELVES) with the Pierre Auger Observatory
No full textIncludes bibliographical references
Release of reactive organic halogens by the brown macroalga Saccharina latissima after exposure to ultraviolet radiation
No full textThe brown macroalga Saccharina latissima (Linnaeus) C.E. Lane, C. Mayes, Druehl & G.W. Saunders (formerly Laminaria saccharina [L.] Lamouroux) was exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in the mW UV-A and mW UV-B range in the laboratory for up to 28 days. The release rates of volatile organohalogens, such as chloroform, bromoform, dibromomethane and methyl iodide, were determined. From these rates, the total emission of reactive organic halogens was calculated. The results revealed that exposure to UVR significantly affected the emission of reactive organic halogens by the macroalga under investigation. An increase in the release of reactive organic iodine was observed for the algal species. In contrast, for reactive organic bromine and reactive organic chlorine, a decrease in emission by the macroalga was observed. Apparently, the potential for increased levels of UVR resulting from further ongoing destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer may increase the importance of marine macroalgae in atmospheric reactions involving organic halogens.Original Publication: Frank Laturnus, Teresia Svensson and Christian Wiencke, Release of reactive organic halogens by the brown macroalga Saccharina latissima after exposure to ultraviolet radiation, 2010, Polar Research, (29), 3, 379-384. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-8369.2010.00167.x Copyright: Norsk Polarinstitutt Oslo http://npweb.npolar.no/</p
Utility of arsenic-treated bird skins for DNA extraction
No full textBackground: Natural history museums receive a rapidly growing number of requests for tissue samples from preserved specimens for DNA-based studies. Traditionally, dried vertebrate specimens were treated with arsenic because of its toxicity and insect-repellent effect. Arsenic has negative effects on in vivo DNA repair enzymes and consequently may inhibit PCR performance. In bird collections, foot pad samples are often requested since the feet were not regularly treated with arsenic and because they are assumed to provide substantial amounts of DNA. However, the actual influence of arsenic on DNA analyses has never been tested. Findings: PCR success of both foot pad and body skin samples was significantly lower in arsenic-treated samples. In general, foot pads performed better than body skin samples. Moreover, PCR success depends on collection date in which younger samples yielded better results. While the addition of arsenic solution to the PCR mixture had a clear negative effect on PCR performance after the threshold of 5.4 μg/μl, such high doses of arsenic are highly unlikely to occur in dried zoological specimens. Conclusions: While lower PCR success in older samples might be due to age effects and/or DNA damage through arsenic treatment, our results show no inhibiting effect on DNA polymerase. We assume that DNA degradation proceeds more rapidly in thin tissue layers with low cell numbers that are susceptible to external abiotic influences. In contrast, in thicker parts of a specimen, such as foot pads, the outermost horny skin may act as an additional barrier. Since foot pads often performed better than body skin samples, the intention to preserve morphologically important structures of a specimen still conflicts with the aim to obtain optimal PCR success. Thus, body skin samples from recently collected specimens should be considered as alternative sources of DNA
Avaliação dos efeitos de temperatura e nutrientes sobre a ecofisiologia de Laurencia catarinensis (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta)
Get PDFDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Fungos, Algas e Plantas, Florianópolis, 2015.Dentre as algas vermelhas os representantes com metabolismo secundário mais rico estão delimitados pelo gênero Laurencia (Ceramiales, Rhodomelaceae). Estes metabólitos apresentam importante papel ecológico e destacado potencial biotecnológico. Diversas espécies deste gênero possuem um metabolismo capaz de sintetizar substâncias de classes distintas, sendo os sesquiterpenos os mais abundantes e característicos do gênero. Estes papéis importantes nos ecossistemas marinhos são ameaçados, pelo aquecimento global e estressores locais uma vez que estas mudanças ambientais podem comprometer a aptidão fisiológica, empobrecendo o metabolismo secundário. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho teve com objetivo conhecer a fenologia reprodutiva de Laurencia catarinensis nos períodos de verão e inverno para então avaliar os impactos causados pelo aquecimento global e poluição antrópica sobre aspectos bioquímicos e fisiológicos da alga.Primeiramente, este trabalho avaliou a variação sazonal das concentrações dos pigmentos fotossintetizantes, Amido, compostos fenólicos totais, atividade antioxidante e no geral, pode-se observar que ocorreu aumento do conteúdo de clorofila a, Ficobiliproteínas e amido no perído de inverno e aumento das concentrações para os compostos fenólicos e carotenoides no período de verão, para praticamente todos os estádios reprodutivos.Dentro deste contexto, foi possível inferir, através do experimento realizado com a macroalga, que poderá ocorrer o aumento da sensibilidade de L. catarinensis a fatores como aquecimento global e poluição antrópica. Para a Taxa de crescimento relativo nas menores temperaturas com adição de nutrientes, o crescimento da macroalga foi maior variando entre (0,58 mg/gMF a 3,37 mg/gMF). Níveis altos de poluentes e o aumento da temperatura demonstraram toxicidade a macroalga podendo causar alterações bioquímicas e fisiológicas, diminuindo a produção de clorofila a nos tratamentos com concentrações altas de nutrientes (CAN) e temperatura de 28°C, em contrapartida o aumento das concentrações dos pigmentos acessóriosFicocianina e Ficoeritrina para aumento da captação de luz ao aparato fotossintético. Dessa forma, a análise do perfil dos carotenoides determinados por cromatografia liquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) identificou a Luteína, Zeaxantina e a- caroteno. A Luteína foi o composto majoritário em todos os tratamentos. Com relação ao perfil de compostos fenolicos (determinados por CLAE) foram detectados os seguintes compostos: epicatequina, galocatequina, epigalocatequina, acido cafeico, 4,5 dicafeoilquinico, acido Cumárico e dois compostos ainda não identificados (Composto X-Rt 4,3 min e Composto Y-Rt 9,2 min), sendo o composto majoritário a Epicatequina. O conteúdo de carotenoides e compostos fenólicos pode ser associado ao aumento de temperatura e fotoproteção e ao estresse causado pelo incremento de nutrientes, sendo que o mesmo pode ser verificado pelo teste de atividade antioxidante que foi observado em maior porcentagem no tratamento a 28°C. Com relação aos conteúdos de açucares totais e amido, ocorreu diminuição do conteúdo destes compostos produzidos pelas algas na temperatura de 28°C e no tratamento CAN.Para os dados da fluorescencia da clorofila a analisados através do PAM, verificou-se decréscimo da irradiância de saturação (Ik) da alga L.catarinensis na temperatura de 28°C, o mesmo também foi observado nos parâmetros ?F/F´m, ETR e a ETR. Para os dados de Fv/Fm tanto os tratamentos CBN quanto CAN decresceram seus valores em temperaturas de 28°C.Abstract : Among the red algae, representatives with richest secondary metabolism are delimited by genus Laurencia (Ceramiales, Rhodomelaceae). These metabolites have important ecological role and highlighted biotechnological potential. Several species of this genus have a metabolism able to synthesize different classes of substances, sesquiterpenes being the most abundant and characteristic of the genus. These important roles in marine ecosystems are threatened by global warming and local stressors because these environmental changes can impair the physiological fitness, impoverishing the secondary metabolism. Thus, this study was carried out to know the reproductive phenology of L. catarinensis in the summer and winter seasons and then evaluate the impacts of global warming and anthropogenic pollution on biochemical and physiological aspects of seaweed.First, this study evaluated the seasonal variation of concentrations of photosynthetic pigments, Total sugars, starch, total phenolics, antioxidant activity and can be seen that there was an increase of chlorophyll content, Phycobiliproteins, total sugars and starch in the winter period prescribed and increasing concentrations for the phenolic compounds and carotenoids in the summer period, for practically all reproductive stages. Inside this context, it was possible to conclude, with this study, which could take the increased sensitivity of L. catarinensis to factors such as global warming and anthropogenic pollution. For the growth rate on the lower temperatures with the addition of nutrients, the growth of macroalgae was higher ranging from (0.58 mg / gDW to 3.37 mg / gDW). High levels of pollutants and increasing temperature to demonstrate toxicity seaweed causing biochemical and physiological changes, reducing the production of chlorophyll in treatments with high concentrations of nutrients (HNC) and of 28 °C, however increasing concentrations of pigments acessories Phycoerythrin and Phycocyanin and for increased light reception the photosynthetic apparatus. Thus, the profile analysis of carotenoids determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) identified Lutein, Zeaxanthin and a-carotene. Lutein was the major compound in all treatments. Regarding the profile of phenolic compounds (determined by HPLC) The following compounds were detected: epicatechin, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, caffeic acid, 4,5 dicaffeoylquinic, coumaric acid and two as yet unidentified compounds (Compound X-Rt 4.3 min, compound Y-Rt 9.2 min), being the major compound epicatechin. The content of phenolic compounds and carotenoids was associated with increases in temperature and photoprotection and stress caused by the increase of nutrients, where it can be verified by the test that the antioxidant activity was observed in a greater percentage in the treatment at 28°C. Relative to those of total sugars and starch content, a decrease in the temperature of 28°C and HNC, these compounds produced by algae. For the chlorophyll a fluorescence , there was a decrease in saturation irradiance (Ik) of the algae L.catarinensis at 28°C, it was also observed in parameters ?F/ F'm parameters ETR and a ETR. For data Fv / Fm both treatments LNC and HNC decreased their values in temperatures of 28°C
A fiber-optic-based calibration system for the High Resolution Fly's Eye cosmic ray observatory
No full textCopyright © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.This article describes the fiber-optic-based calibration system installed at the High Resolution Fly's Eye (HiRes) astro-particle physics observatory. The HiRes detectors measure ultra violet scintillation light from distant extensive air showers. This automated calibration system delivers light from a frequency tripled 355 nm YAG laser to the 10,752 photo-multiplier tubes of the 42 HiRes-II detectors.J. H. V. Girard, L. R. Wiencke, G. C.Archbold, J. A. Bellido, K. Belov, J. H. Boyer, A. A. Everett, R. C. Gray, C. C. H. Jui, B. C. Knapp, E. J. Mannel, J. N. Matthews, S. A. Moore, J. R. Mumford, M. D. Roberts, P. Shen, P. V. Sokolsky, R. W. Springer and S. B. Thomashttp://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/505701/description#descriptio
Efeitos da radiação ultravioleta-B na germinação e desenvolvimento dos tetrásporos de Gelidium floridanum (Gelidiales, Rhodophyta): crescimento, morfologia e ultraestrutura
Get PDFDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Florianópolis, 2010O aumento na incidência de radiação ultravioleta-B, como consequência da depleção da camada de ozônio, tem ampliado o interesse sobre os efeitos desta faixa do espectro solar sobre as comunidades de macroalgas marinhas. Estudos previamente realizados têm comprovado a sensibilidade dos estágios iniciais do desenvolvimento das algas frente à radiação ultravioleta-B. Gelidium floridanum é uma macroalga vermelha produtora de ágar, encontrada na região do mesolitoral inferior dos costões rochosos e, por isso, frequentemente exposta à radiação UV-B. Com o objetivo de investigar os efeitos da radiação UV-B sobre tetrásporos e plântulas de G. floridanum, foram realizados em laboratório uma série de experimentos onde foram estabelecidos dois grupos: controle (PAR) e tratado (PAR+UV-B). Ambos os grupos foram cultivados sob fotoperíodo de 12h, temperatura de 24°C, irradiância PAR de ±80 ?mol.fótons.m-2.s-1 e salinidade de 35ups. O meio no qual as amostras foram cultivadas foi composto de água do mar esterilizada e filtrada, enriquecida com solução von Stosch (4mL.L-1). Além disto, as amostras tratadas foram submetidas a 0,12 W.m-2 de radiação UV-B artificial, 2h por dia, ao longo de 15 dias. A avaliação das amostras foi realizada a cada 3 dias, após a exposição, visando acompanhar os efeitos da radiação UV-B sobre o processo germinativo. Os parâmetros avaliados tidos como marcadores de efeito da RUV-B, sobre o processo germinativo, foram: a taxa de crescimento, razão comprimento/largura (C/L) e a frequência de tipos morfológicos ao longo do tempo. Os efeitos também foram observados sob microscopia de luz e eletrônica de transmissão visando identificar alterações na organização celular e sub-celular. Comparativamente ao controle, as plântulas irradiadas apresentaram a taxa de crescimento potencialmente reduzida e alteração da razão C/L com nítido atraso do processo germinativo. Com relação às alterações morfológicas, foram observadas torções do talo, perda na pigmentação, formação de várias células apicais, alterações no direcionamento do crescimento do talo e a formação de regiões de expansão da parede celular. As principais alterações ultraestruturais foram especialmente relacionadas ao aparato fotossintético, com danos à estrutura dos tilacóides, aumento no número de plastoglóbulos e formação de vesículas no estroma. Outras alterações como redução do número de corpos de Golgi, espessamento da parede celular, vacuolização citoplasmática e aumento do número de grãos de amido acumulados foram observadas nas amostras irradiadas. Estas observações forneceram evidências experimentais indicando que os estágios iniciais de desenvolvimento de G. floridanum são bastante sensíveis à radiação UV-B, com potenciais danos ao crescimento e à diferenciação do talo
Marionina grisea Stephenson 1932
No full textMARIONINA GRISEA STEPHENSON, 1932 (FIG. 12) Marionina grisea Stephenson, 1932: 243–246, figs 4, 5. Lumbricillus griseus – Nielsen & Christensen, 1959: 96. Type material: BMNH 1933.2.23.901–903, three sectioned specimens (studied). Syntypes. Loc. Wiencke Island, Palmer Archipelago. ‘ Discovery’ 1925–1927 (Stephenson, 1932). Type locality: Shore of Port Lockroy, Wiencke Island, Palmer Archipelago. Additions to Stephenson’s original description: Chaetae ~75 µm long. Epidermis covered with rows of pale gland cells and deeply staining granular gland cells. Dorsal vessel with peristomial bifurcation. Nephridia (Fig. 12B) in 7/8–10/11 and postclitellar segments. Ventral nerve cord with small anterior subbuccal bulb; see Marionina discussion above. Sperm funnels ≥ 450 µm long, 160 µm wide. Spermathecae (Fig. 12A) ≥ 300 µm long, 110 µm wide at duct and 70 µm wide at ampulla, with glands ~75 µm wide surrounding pore. Remarks: This species is discussed together with M. aestuum and M. fusca.Published as part of Klinth, Mårten J., Rota, Emilia, Martinsson, Svante, Prantoni, Alessandro L. & Erséus, Christer, 2022, New insights into the systematics of Lumbricillus and Marionina (Clitellata: Enchytraeidae) inferred from Southern Hemisphere samples, including three new species, pp. 1103-1133 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 (4) on pages 1126-1127, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab073, http://zenodo.org/record/646108
Erratum to “Atmospheric effects on extensive air showers observed with the surface detector of the Pierre Auger observatory” [Astroparticle Physics 32(2) (2009), 89-99]
Get PDFThe affiliations were incorrectly published in the original version of this article for the following authors D. Allard, J.A. Bellido, R.M. Kieckhafer, L. Nellen, R. Pelayo, I. Rodriguez-Cabo, B.E. Smith, D. Veberic, L. Wiencke, D. Zavrtanik and M. Zavrtanik which has been corrected now.Este documento es una errata de "Atmospheric effects on extensive air showers observed with the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory" (ver "Documentos relacionados").La lista completa de autores puede verse en el archivo asociado.Instituto de Física La Plat
Respiration and photosynthesis in the intertidal alga Cladophora rupestris (L.) Kütz. under fluctuating salinity regimes
No full textCladophora rupestris (L.) Kütz. can encounter either abrupt or more gentle declines of salinity down to full fresh water during combined low tide and rainfall. With the rising tide salinity increases immediately. Such salinity regimes were simulated in the laboratory (“abrupt regime” and “gentle regime”) and respiration and photosynthesis were measured during exposure to them. Respiration changed little but was partly enhanced after sudden salinity changes. Photosynthesis was stimulated at the beginning of gentle regimes but was later somewhat inhibited as hypoosmotic stress became greater. In the abrupt regime photosynthesis was inhibited strongly during the low salinity period and showed only partial recovery after re-immersion in full strength sea water indicating severe damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. This damage occurs only when low salinity exposure is accompanied by high illumination (480 μE · m−2 · s−1). Although Cladophora can grow in the field in full sunlight it does not encounter these combined conditions because intense self-shading and epiphytic growth on the alga prevents exposure to high illumination. As a result photosynthesis is not inhibited after re-immersion in full sea water
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