Ecology of Australian Chats (Epthianura Gould): Aridity, Electrolytes and Water Economy.

1977 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 673 ◽  
Author(s):  
CK Williams ◽  
AR Main

The four species of Australian chats differentially occupy semiarid and arid regions where surface water commonly contains high concentrations of electrolytes, especially during the summer. The effects of variations in ambient temperature and salinity of drinking water on nutrition, water and electrolyte balances were compared between three species of chats in a split-plot, factorial design. The homeostatic responses revealed very complex interactions between thermoregulation, nutrition, and balances of electrolytes and water. All species have very low tolerance of electrolytes in the drinking water. Ingested electrolytes are not stored but are rapidly excreted in low concentrations at the expense of body water. Survival of chats in arid regions depends on a high degree of selectivity in avoiding water sources with even moderate concentrations of electrolytes. This avoidance is achieved by nomadism and seasonal movements to areas of recent rainfall, thereby increasing the access to water with low concentrations of electrolytes. The ability of the more xeric species to occupy regions of greater aridity cannot be explained by enhanced abilities to excrete electrolytes in high concentrations. The three species studied excrete electrolytes in similar, low concentrations. The more xeric species possess an advantage in water and electrolyte balances through lower evaporative losses of body water, especially at high ambient temperatures.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongli Zhou ◽  
Patrick Martin ◽  
Moritz Müller

Abstract. Southeast Asian peatlands supply ~ 10 % of the global flux of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from land to the ocean, but the biogeochemical cycling of this peat-derived DOC in coastal environments is still poorly understood. Here, we use fluorescence spectroscopy and parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis to distinguish different fractions of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in peat-draining rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters of Sarawak, Borneo. The terrigenous fractions showed high concentrations at freshwater stations within the rivers, and conservative mixing with seawater across the estuaries. The autochthonous DOM fraction, in contrast, showed low concentrations throughout our study area at all salinities. The DOM pool was also characterized by a high degree of humification in all rivers and estuaries up to salinity 25. These results indicate a predominantly terrestrial origin of the riverine DOM pool. Only at salinities > 25 did we observe an increase in the proportion of autochthonous relative to terrestrial DOM. Natural sunlight exposure experiments with river water and seawater showed high photolability of the terrigenous DOM fractions, suggesting that photodegradation may account for the observed changes in DOM composition in coastal waters. Nevertheless, we estimate based on our fluorescence data that at least 20 %–25 % of the DOC at even our most marine stations (salinity > 31) was terrestrial in origin, indicating that peatlands likely play an important role in the carbon biogeochemistry of Southeast Asian shelf seas.


1976 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 397 ◽  
Author(s):  
CK Williams ◽  
AR Main

The four species of Australian chats differ in their utilization of arid regions. Comparisons were made between the rates of metabolism and evaporative water loss of three species at moderate and high ambient temperatures, after trapping in the field during winter and after acclimation in the laboratory to 22�C and 14�C. When acclimated to winter temperatures the three species had similar rates of metabolism at moderate and high ambient temperatures. The rates of evaporative water loss at moderate temperatures were similar, but at temperatures above the thermoneutral zone the rates were lower in the more xeric than the more mesic species. When acclimated to summer temperatures the more xeric species had lower rates of metabolism and evaporative water loss than the more mesic species at temperatures within and above the thermoneutral zone. Variation in the rates of metabolism and evaporative water loss in field populations was greatest in the most mesic species and least in the most xeric species. Rates of metabolism and evaporative water loss were lower in all species after acclimation to 22�C than after acclimation to 14�C. The rates of metabolism and evaporative water loss tended to be lower than the rates predicted on the basis of body weight. In thermoregulation at high ambient temperatures the more xeric species evaporated relatively less body water in dissipating body heat than the more mesic species, apparently without a greater increase in body temperature. The ability of Australian chats to utilize semiarid and arid regions is explained by distributions and seasonal movements which complement the physiology of evaporative water loss and thermoregulation in a manner that enhances survival at high ambient temperatures.


1979 ◽  
Vol 42 (03) ◽  
pp. 864-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz N Dardik ◽  
John R Shainoff

SummaryThe acceleration of crosslinking that accompanies transformation of fibrinogen to fibrin has been suggested to arise from the aggregation of the fibrinogen rather than a change in affinity for the crosslinking enzyme, factor Xllla. A test of the importance of aggregation has been obtained from studies on the effect of removing fibrinopeptide B from fibrinogen. Specific removal of fibrinopeptide B through reaction of human fibrinogen with copperhead venom procoagulant enzyme at low temperatures yields fibrin which dissolves on warming to 37° C and dissociates fully into monomers on dilution to a concentration below 0.2 mg/ml. When this fibrin and a fibrin lacking both fibrinopeptides A and B were compared at high concentrations above 2 mg/ml which favored a high degree of aggregation of both forms, they underwent crosslinking at similar rates that were approximately thirty two (25 ± 0.5) times faster than crosslinking of fibrinogen. However, at concentrations below 0.2 mg/ml, the fibrin lacking B alone underwent crosslinking at only one sixty-fourth of the rate of fibrin lacking both fibrinopeptides A and B. The relatively slow crosslinking in dilute solutions of the fibrin lacking fibrinopeptide B appeared due to the unique dissociation of this fibrin into monomers at low concentrations. As judged from both the rate of stable clot formation and the rate of formation of dimeric y-chains, crosslinking of the monomers did not differ from that of fibrinogen.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (13) ◽  
pp. 2733-2749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongli Zhou ◽  
Patrick Martin ◽  
Moritz Müller

Abstract. Southeast Asian peatlands supply ∼10 % of the global flux of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from land to the ocean, but the biogeochemical cycling of this peat-derived DOC in coastal environments is still poorly understood. Here, we use fluorescence spectroscopy and parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis to distinguish different fractions of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in peat-draining rivers, estuaries and coastal waters of Sarawak, Borneo. The terrigenous fractions showed high concentrations at freshwater stations within the rivers, and conservative mixing with seawater across the estuaries. The autochthonous DOM fraction, in contrast, showed low concentrations throughout our study area at all salinities. The DOM pool was also characterized by a high degree of humification in all rivers and estuaries up to salinities of 25. These results indicate a predominantly terrestrial origin of the riverine DOM pool. Only at salinities > 25 did we observe an increase in the proportion of autochthonous relative to terrestrial DOM. Natural sunlight exposure experiments with river water and seawater showed high photolability of the terrigenous DOM fractions, suggesting that photodegradation may account for the observed changes in the DOM composition in coastal waters. Nevertheless, based on our fluorescence data, we estimate that at least 20 %–25 % of the DOC at even our most marine stations (salinity > 31) was terrestrial in origin, indicating that peatlands likely play an important role in the carbon biogeochemistry of Southeast Asian shelf seas.


2016 ◽  
Vol 85 (5-6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Domen Kanduti ◽  
Petra Šterbenk ◽  
Barbara Artnik

Appropriate oral health care is fundamental for any individual’s health. Dental caries is still one of the major public health problems. The most effective way of caries prevention is the use of fluoride. Fluoride occurs naturally in our environment and is always present in our lives. However, the concentration differs from area to area. Exposure can occur through diet, respiration and fluoride supplements. During pregnancy, the placenta acts as a barrier. The fluoride, therefore, crosses the placenta in low concentrations. Drinking water in Slovenia is not fluoridated; the amount of naturally present fluoride is very low. Fluoride can be toxic in extremely high concentrations. The most important effect of fluoride on caries incidence is through its role in the process of remineralisation and demineralisation of tooth enamel. The European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) recommends a preventive topical use of fluoride supplements because of their cariostatic effect. 


2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (16) ◽  
pp. 4272-4277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doreen Niether ◽  
Dzmitry Afanasenkau ◽  
Jan K. G. Dhont ◽  
Simone Wiegand

Formamide is one of the important compounds from which prebiotic molecules can be synthesized, provided that its concentration is sufficiently high. For nucleotides and short DNA strands, it has been shown that a high degree of accumulation in hydrothermal pores occurs, so that temperature gradients might play a role in the origin of life [Baaske P, et al. (2007) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104(22):9346−9351]. We show that the same combination of thermophoresis and convection in hydrothermal pores leads to accumulation of formamide up to concentrations where nucleobases are formed. The thermophoretic properties of aqueous formamide solutions are studied by means of Infrared Thermal Diffusion Forced Rayleigh Scattering. These data are used in numerical finite element calculations in hydrothermal pores for various initial concentrations, ambient temperatures, and pore sizes. The high degree of formamide accumulation is due to an unusual temperature and concentration dependence of the thermophoretic behavior of formamide. The accumulation fold in part of the pores increases strongly with increasing aspect ratio of the pores, and saturates to highly concentrated aqueous formamide solutions of ∼85 wt% at large aspect ratios. Time-dependent studies show that these high concentrations are reached after 45–90 d, starting with an initial formamide weight fraction of 10−3 wt % that is typical for concentrations in shallow lakes on early Earth.


1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (05) ◽  
pp. 570-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary A Selak

SummaryWe have previously demonstrated that human neutrophil cathepsin G is a strong platelet agonist that binds to a specific receptor. This work describes the effect of neutrophil elastase on cathepsin G-induced platelet responses. While platelets were not activated by high concentrations of neutrophil elastase by itself, elastase enhanced aggregation, secretion and calcium mobilization induced by low concentrations of cathepsin G. Platelet aggregation and secretion were potentiated in a concentration-dependent manner by neutrophil elastase with maximal responses observable at 200 nM. Enhancement was observed when elastase was preincubated with platelets for time intervals of 10–60 s prior to addition of a low concentration of cathepsin G and required catalytically-active elastase since phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride-inhibited enzyme failed to potentiate cell activation. Neutrophil elastase potentiation of platelet responses induced by low concentrations of cathepsin G was markedly inhibited by creatine phosphate/creatine phosphokinase and/or indomethacin, indicating that the synergism between elastase and cathepsin G required the participation of ADP and thromboxane A2. On the other hand, platelet responses were not attenuated by the PAF antagonist BN 52021, signifying that PAF-acether did not play a role in elastase potentiation. At higher concentrations porcine pancreatic elastase exhibits similar effects to neutrophil elastase, demonstrating that the effect of elastase was not unique to the neutrophil protease. While neutrophil elastase failed to alter the ability of cathepsin G to hydrolyze a synthetic chromogenic substrate, preincubation of platelets with elastase increased the apparent affinity of cathepsin G binding to platelets. In contrast to their effect on cathepsin G-induced platelet responses, neither neutrophil nor pancreatic elasatse potentiated aggregation or dense granule release initiated by ADP, PAF-acether, arachidonic acid or U46619, a thromboxane A2 mimetic. Moreover, unlike its effect on cathepsin G, neutrophil elastase inhibited thrombin-induced responses. The current observations demonstrate that elastase can potentiate platelet responses mediated by low concentrations of cathepsin G, suggesting that both enzymes may function synergistically to activate platelets under conditions where neutrophil degranulation occurs.


1989 ◽  
Vol 61 (02) ◽  
pp. 254-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret L Rand ◽  
Peter L Gross ◽  
Donna M Jakowec ◽  
Marian A Packham ◽  
J Fraser Mustard

SummaryEthanol, at physiologically tolerable concentrations, inhibits platelet responses to low concentrations of collagen or thrombin, but does not inhibit responses of washed rabbit platelets stimulated with high concentrations of ADP, collagen, or thrombin. However, when platelet responses to high concentrations of collagen or thrombin had been partially inhibited by prostacyclin (PGI2), ethanol had additional inhibitory effects on aggregation and secretion. These effects were also observed with aspirin- treated platelets stimulated with thrombin. Ethanol had no further inhibitory effect on aggregation of platelets stimulated with ADP, or the combination of ADP and epinephrine. Thus, the inhibitory effects of ethanol on platelet responses in the presence of PGI2 were very similar to its inhibitory effects in the absence of PGI2, when platelets were stimulated with lower concentrations of collagen or thrombin. Ethanol did not appear to exert its inhibitory effects by increasing cyclic AMP above basal levels and the additional inhibitory effects of ethanol in the presence of PGI2 did not appear to be brought about by further increases in platelet cyclic AMP levels.


1970 ◽  
Vol 23 (03) ◽  
pp. 601-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Th. B Tschopp

SummaryAggregation of cat platelets in the citrated plasma is examined by means of Born’s absorptiometer. A marked tendency of the platelets of this species to spontaneous aggregation necessitated first of all the development of an improved technique of blood collection.A hypothesis according to which 5-HT is released from the platelets, explains the absence of oscillations on the base line of the absorptiometer, the absence of platelet swelling, when ADP is added, and the effect of stirring on the aggregation curves in cat PRP. The average volume of cat platelets amounts to 10.46 μ3 when directly fixed in the blood, when fixed from PRP to 12.17 μ3, when fixed from stirred PRP to 13.51 μ3.In low concentrations (0.3-2 μM) ADP produce reversible aggregation; in narrowly restricted, individually dissimilar mean concentrations irreversible aggregation in two phases and in high concentrations, irreversible aggregation in one phase. Like ADP serotonin produces 2 phase irreversible aggregation in concentrations of 3-10 μM, but unlike ADP, the aggregation velocity decreases again with high 5-HT concentrations (>100 μM). Adrenaline does not produce aggregation and it is likely that adenosine and adenosine monophosphate inhibit the aggregation by serotonin but not by ADP. Species differences in the aggregation of human, rabbit and cat platelets are discussed.


1971 ◽  
Vol 26 (01) ◽  
pp. 145-166
Author(s):  
E Deutsch ◽  
K Lechner ◽  
K Moser ◽  
L Stockinger

Summary1. The aniline derivative AN 162, Donau Pharmazie, Linz, Austria, has a dual action on the blood coagulation: an anticoagulant and an coagulation enhancing effect.2. The anticoagulant action may only be demonstrated with high concentrations (over 1 X 10”3 M related to plasma) preferentially in PPP. It is partially caused by an inhibition of the endogenous way of generation of the prothrombin converting principle. In addition it is suggested that it interferes with the fibrinogen-fibrin reaction in a manner not yet understood.3. The coagulant action is caused by a greater availability of platelet constituents at low concentrations of AN 162 (over 1 × 10-4 M) and by the induction of a release reaction at higher concentrations. The platelet factors 3 and 4, serotonin, adenine, and acid phosphatase are released.4. AN 162 inhibits platelet aggregation. This inhibition can be demonstrated by the PAT of Breddin and in the stirred aggregation test of Born. It is more effective to inhibit the collagen-induced and the second phase of the adrenaline-induced aggregation than the ADP induced one. The platelet retention (test of Hellem) is also reduced.5. The action of AN 162 on the platelets is caused by a damage of the platelet membrane which becomes permeabel for both, soluble platelet constitutents and granula.6. AN 162 interferes with the energy metabolism of the platelets. It causes a loss of ATP, and inhibits the key-enzymes of glycolysis, citric acid cycle, fatty acid oxydation and glutathione reduction.7. AN 162 inhibits the growth of fibroblasts without influence on mitosis.


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