Physiological and behavioral responses of Orchestia gammarellus (Amphipoda,Talitridae) towards trace elements contamination soil

Effects of trace elements on the hepatopancreas ultrastructure and on the locomotor activity rhythm were investigated in the amphipod talitrid Orchestia gammarellus collected from Bizerte lagoon banks situated in the north of Tunisia. Animals were exposed to a series of contaminated soil with different concentrations of cadmium and zinc. The locomotor activity rhythm was studied under constant darkness. Histopathological analysis showed that the trace elements, especially the Cd, induced significant changes in the morphology and in the ultrastructural organization of hepatopancreatic cells. The significant alterations obtained were dose dependent. Concerning the behavioral response, results revealed the presence of two components whatever the experimental conditions. In addition, a great inter-individual variability of the locomotor rhythm was observed. Patterns were in majority bimodal for the control individuals and became unimodal and multimodal when exposed under Cd and Zn, respectively. Furthermore, ultradian and circadian periods were determined. The circadian period lengthened after Zn exposure. In addition, the locomotor activity rhythm was more stable for control individuals. However, those exposed to Cd were less active.     

Evaluation of trace element contamination using Armadillo officinalis Duméril, 1816 (Crustacea,Isopoda) as a tool: An ultrastructural study

To estimate trace element bioaccumulation in Armadillo officinalis, specimens were collected from Ghar El Melh lagoon then exposed for 3 weeks in contaminated sediments with copper, zinc, and cadmium. From the first week until the end of the experiment, a decrease in A. officinalis growth related to the increase of Cd concentration in the sediment was recorded. However, a mass gain was highlighted under Cu and Zn exposures. At the end of experiment, body metal concentrations were measured using flame atomic emission spectrometry. Results of the bioaccumulation factor showed that the species could be considered as a macroconcentrator of copper (BAF > 2) and a deconcentrator of zinc (BAF < 2). Microscopy observations of hepatopancreas cells showed morphological and histological changes even at the lowest concentration. They consisted in the microvillus border destruction, lipid droplets modifications, trace element accumulation, and the condensation of the majority of cellular organelles. The degree of these alterations was found to be dose‐dependent. Through these results, the isopod A. officinalis could be used as relevant monitor organisms for soil metal contamination.     

Effects of trace metal elements on ultrastructural features of hepatopancreas of Armadillidium granulatum Brandt, 1833 (Crustacea,Isopoda)

This study was conducted to compare metals bioaccumulation in the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium granulatum collected from Ghar El Melh lagoon. We focused on recognizing the effects of trace elements on hepatopancreas functional role. To this end, isopod specimens were exposed for 3 weeks to sediments contaminated with cadmium, copper, zinc, mercury, and nickel. Three concentrations were used in duplicate for each experimental condition. At the end of the experiment, metal body burdens were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Results of the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) showed that the species A. granulatum was classified as a Cu macroconcentrator (BAF > 2) and a Zn deconcentrator (BAF < 2). Dose dependent morphological and histological changes were observed in the hepatopancreas cells using transmission electron microscopy. The predominant features were: microvillus border disruption, condensation of the cytoplasm with increasing endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, lysosomes and granules that accumulated metals in B and S cells. The number of lipid droplets decreased especially after Cd, Zn, Hg, and Ni treatments. This study demonstrated that the terrestrial isopod A. gramulatum could be a good indicator of soil metal contamination.     

Morphostructural and immunohistochemical study for evaluation of nano‐TiO2 toxicity in Armadillo officinalis Duméril, 1816 (Crustacea,Isopoda, Oniscidea)

Invertebrates are precious organisms in order to study environmental pollution. In particular, they appear to be suitable as a bioindicator species for pioneer ecotoxicity studies on new xenobiotics such as nanoparticles. In fact, they are able to absorb nanomaterials scattered in the environment in different ways and it's known the compartmentalization of nano‐sized contaminants in selected tissues and intracellular organelles. Titanium dioxide represents the most used nanoparticulate, destined to become probably ubiquitous in the environment. Recently, some research has been published on the toxic potential of nano‐TiO₂ in several animal species. Among all invertebrates, Oniscidean Isopods are the only taxon of Crustaceans that has become completely terrestrial, known as excellent bioindicators and bioaccumulators. They have a digestive gland, the hepatopancreas, which is the location of election for the accumulation of pollutants. For this reason, they are considered efficient animal models to ecological studies. For this study, we collected Armadillo officinalis from Natural Oriented Reserve of “Vendicari” (Sicily, Italy), to evaluate the toxicity of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) on their hepatopancreas, after a short period of exposure. We conducted morphostructural and immunohistochemistry assays. The results suggested a great capacity of the species of bioaccumulation of nanoparticles in the hepatopancreas, where a strong positivity to the metallothioneins was highlighted. Our study confirms that Oniscidean Isopods, in particular Armadillo officinalis, proved to be an appropriate indicator of pollution in terrestrial ecosystems from nanoparticles.     

Focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy studies of Porcellio scaber (Isopoda, Crustacea) digestive gland epithelium cells

The focused ion beam (FIB) was used to prepare cross sections of precisely selected regions of the digestive gland epithelium of a terrestrial isopod P. scaber (Isopoda, Crustacea) for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The FIB/SEM system allows ad libitum selection of a region for gross morphologic to ultrastructural investigation, as the repetition of FIB/SEM operations is unrestricted. The milling parameters used in our work proved to be satisfactory to produce serial two-dimensional (2-D) cuts and/or three-dimensional (3-D) shapes on a submicrometer scale. A final, cleaning mill at lower ion currents was employed to minimize the milling artifacts. After cleaning, the milled surface was free of filament- and ridge-like milling artifacts. No other effects of the cleaning mill were observed.     

Egg envelopes of Armadillidium vulgare (Latreille, 1804) (Crustacea,Isopoda Oniscidea): Ultrastructure and lectins binding

The ultrastructural study carried out on (a) oocytes of Armadillidium vulgare during vitellogenesis, (b) mature eggs taken from the ovaries during the parturial moult of the posterior half of the body, and (c) fertilized eggs collected within a few hours of their release into the brood pouch, has clearly demonstrated that before the fertilization the chorion is the only envelope present in the egg of oniscidean isopods. In the mature eggs, the chorion appears as a uniformly electron‐dense lamina, about 0.4–0.5 µm thick, which does not show any specialized area. A second envelope, described by other authors as vitelline envelope, is formed above the oolemma only right after fertilization and appears separated from the chorion by a space full of liquid. The ways in which the genesis of this envelope is realized are not yet clear; it could be interpreted rather as a fertilization membrane. The investigations carried out with the aid of a battery of FITC‐lectins have highlighted the presence at the chorion surface of unfertilized eggs of various saccharide residues distributed in uniform way. No significant change was observed in the pattern of lectins binding to the chorion of eggs taken from the brood pouch, thus demonstrating how, after the fertilization, no significant rearrangement in the distribution of saccharide residues present on the egg surface occurs in A. vulgare. The ways in which, therefore, the recognition, the binding and the entry of the peculiar sperm of oniscidean isopods into the egg occur, still remain all to be deciphered. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:792–798, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Trace elements bioaccumulation in Porcellionides pruinosus (Brandt, 1833) and related biomarkers of exposure

In the last years, the increase of anthropogenic activities has led to a progressive pollution of ecosystems. Oniscidean isopods are a group of terrestrial animals known as excellent bio‐indicators and bio‐accumulators, because of their capacity to accumulate contaminants and to implement appropriate strategies of detoxification. For this study, we collected Porcellionides pruinosus from two different sites in the Corinth region (Greece), a polluted site and a control site, to assess the heavy metal pollution status. We conducted an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) analysis for the detection of trace elements in animals' hepatopancreas and soil; we performed also immunohistochemistry for detection of metallothioneins 1 (MT1) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70s). The results suggest a great capacity of the species in trace elements bioaccumulation and the high degree of pollution of the area near Agioi Theodoroi where the metal pollution index (MPI) is threefolds higher than the control site, due to the presence of significantly higher concentration of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, and lead found in hepatopancreas and soil. The environmental stress is confirmed by the expression of the relative biomarkers of exposure MT1 and HSP70. Our study, with a multimarker approach, consents getting a complete analysis of environmental quality and the effect of pollution on organisms and shows for the first time the heavy metals contamination status in certain Greece area. Furthermore, P. pruinosus proved to be an appropriate indicator of pollution in terrestrial ecosystems.     

Presence and distribution of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in the cyprid of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite (Cirripedia, Crustacea)

The presence and distribution of FMRFamide-like peptides (FLPs) in the cyprid larvae of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite were investigated using immunohistochemical methods. Barnacles are considered to be one of the most important constituents of animal fouling communities, and the cyprid stage is specialized for settlement and metamorphosis in to the sessile adult condition. FLPs immunoreactive (IR) neuronal cell bodies were detected in both the central and the peripheral nervous system. One bilateral group of neurons somata was immunodetected in the brain, and IR nerve fibers were observed in the neuropil area and optic lobes. Intense immunostaining was also observed in the frontal filament complex: frontal filament tracts leaving the optic lobes and projecting towards the compound eyes, swollen nerve endings in the frontal filament vesicles, and thin nerve endings in the external frontal filament. Thin IR nerve fibers were also present in the cement glands. Two pairs of neuronal cell bodies were immunodetected in the posterior ganglion; some of their axons appear to project to the cirri. FLPs IR neuronal cell bodies were also localized in the wall of the dilated midgut and in the narrow hindgut; their processes surround the gut wall and allow gut neurons to synapse with one another. Our data demonstrated the presence of FLPs IR substances in the barnacle cyprid. We hypothesize that these peptides act as integrators in the central nervous system, perform neuromuscular functions for thoracic limbs, trigger intestinal movements and, at the level of the frontal filament, play a neurosecretory role.     

Distribution of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in the alimentary tract and hindgut ganglia of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite (Cirripedia, Crustacea)

In this study, the presence and distribution of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in the alimentary tract of barnacle Balanus amphitrite were investigated. A net of nerve fibers strongly immunoreactive to FMRFamide-like molecules was localized in the posterior midgut and hindgut. Positive varicose nerve terminals were also localized close to the circular muscle cells and, in the hindgut, close to the radial muscular fibers. Besides this nerve fibers network, one pair of contralateral ganglia was localized in the hindgut, each of them constituted by two strongly FMRFamide-labeled neurons and one nonlabeled neuron. Their immunoreactive axons directed toward the hindgut and posterior midgut suggest an involvement of FMRFamide-like substances in adult B. amphitrite gut motility. The hindgut associated ganglia of barnacles seem to correspond to the terminal abdominal ganglia of the other crustaceans. Since they are the only residual gut ganglia in the barnacle's reduced nervous system, we can hypothesize that gut motility needs a nervous system regulation partially independent of the central nervous system.     

Tribologie: Reibung, Verschleiss, Schmierung: Documentation of the Research and Development Programme of the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology (BMFT) Volume seven. Surface Processing, Methods of Treatment

This review considers what inferences regarding the mechanism of wear can be derived from recent investigations into the functioning of machine elements operating under conditions representative of engineering practice. Among the subjects discussed are particle analysis, surface texture effects, stress system, thermal effects, chemical aspects of wear, and ehd effects     

Thermal analysis of dry sleeve bearings — a comparison between analytical, numerical (finite element) and experimental results

Thermal analysis of a plastic sleeve bearing in dry operation was investigated experimentally by Floquet et al. [Trans. ASME, J. Lubr. Technol. 99 (1977) 277]. For a comparison with the experimental results, Kennedy [Trans. ASME, J. Tribol. 103 (1981) 90] developed a numerical approach using the finite element method (FEM) that included the development of finite element equations for the case of a moving body heat conduction. In this investigation, both the experimental results of Floquet [Docteur-Ingenier thesis, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon, 1978] and the numerical results of Kennedy were compared with the results of the analytical method developed using the classical heat source method introduced by Jaeger [Proc. Roy. Soc. NSW 76 (1942) 203] and the heat partition principles of Blok [Proc. Inst. Mech. Engrs. 2 (1937) 222], which involves matching of the temperatures on either side of the contact interface. The non-uniform distribution of heat partition (as one body is stationary and the other moving) along the interface is addressed by matching the temperatures at the interface between the stationary and the moving bodies in relative sliding contact using the functional analysis approach originally introduced by Chao and Trigger [Trans. ASME 72 (1955) 1107]. The analytical results are found to be in excellent agreement with both the experimental and the numerical results.     

The chemistry,mechanism and function of tricresyl phosphate (TCP) as an anti‐wear lubricant additive

The detailed understanding of the physical and reaction chemistry of engineering lubricants is key to new developments in the future. Here, we draw together the main chemical/engineering literature in the first systematic review of the standard anti‐wear additive used as an aviation lubricant, tricresyl phosphate (TCP), focusing on understanding the links between the surface chemistry, tribology and decomposition of TCP. While there is still debate concerning the mechanism of TCP, it is clear that it is activated by moisture, oxygen or oxidised metal surfaces. Its anti‐wear properties arise from the resulting formation of iron phosphate or polyphosphate on the contact surfaces. Evidence stresses the importance of chemistry at the boundary layer and a mechanism involving pre‐coordination of TCP at the surface, resulting in activation at the P‐centre and subsequent attack by residual H₂O or surface O²⁻. This perspective provides a potential baseline for the development of future phosphorus‐based high‐performance additives. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) embedding and subsequent de-embedding as a method for the correlation of light microscopy,scanning electron microscopy,and transmission electron microscopy

The polyethylene glycol (PEG) embedding and subsequent deembedding method was applied to the observation of general tissues in scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Resulting SEM images were of high quality. It was demonstrated that intermicroscopic correlation of images between light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is easily and reliably done by means of the PEG method. In particular, the exact correlation of immuno-LM with SEM is shown to be of potential value.     

Friction and wear behaviour of Sialon/ (Ca,Mg)‐Sialon with lubrication by coated PbS nanoparticles as oil additives

The friction and wear behaviour of Sialon/(Ca,Mg)‐Sialon with lubrication by liquid paraffin containing PbS nano‐particles coated with dialkyldithiophosphate or oleic acid as additives was investigated using an SRV ball‐on‐disc test rig. It was found that the addition of such nanoparticles reduced the friction coefficient of the friction couple irrespective of the concentration of the additive and the wear volume of (Ca,Mg)‐Sialon, especially under relatively high loads such as 150 N or more. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron probe microanalysis revealed that a tribochemical film composed of PbSO₄, PbS₂O₃, PbSO₃, etc., was formed on the worn surface, and contributed to the lubricity of the PbS nanoparticles.     

Friction and wear behaviors of a (Ca, Mg)-sialon/SAE 52100 steel pair under the lubrication of various polyols as water-based lubricating additives

The friction and wear behaviors of (Ca, Mg)-sialon/SAE 52100 steel pair under the lubrication of water or various polyol aqueous solutions were investigated with an SRV friction and wear tester in a ball-on-disc configuration. This was conducted to simulate the effect of polyols as aqueous additive in machining sialon ceramic. The morphologies of and elemental distributions in the worn surfaces of the lubricated sialon ceramics and counterpart steel were observed and determined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). All solutions of the tested polyols decreased the friction coefficient of (Ca, Mg)-sialon/SAE 52100 steel effectively and increased the wear volume loss of (Ca, Mg)-sialon to some extent as compared with dry sliding. The friction coefficients under the lubrication of distilled water and various polyols aqueous solutions of polyols showed almost no difference, and propanetriol was found to be the most effective for machining (Ca, Mg)-sialon with the concentration of polyols in water fixed as 5 wt%. The friction coefficients under the lubrication of propanetriol aqueous solutions in varied concentrations are closely related with the concentration, which came to the lowest value of 0.04 at a concentration of 75%. The friction-reducing performance of the polyols as additives in water was roughly correlated with their wetting behaviors on the sialon ceramic surface. In other words, the higher the wetting ability is, the lower the friction coefficients will be. Moreover, the wear volume losses of (Ca, Mg)-sialon also varied with the variation in the concentration of propanetriol in water. Accounting for the friction-reduction and wear behavior, 20% concentration of propanetriol in water could be recommended for machining (Ca, Mg)-sialon. Electron microscopic analysis indicates that polyols as additives in water enhanced the corrosive wear of sialon ceramic, which could be beneficial for increasing the machining efficiency. There existed interactions among water, polyols and sialon surfaces, which were dependent on the compositions of the lubricant solution. This accounts for the variations in the friction and wear behaviors with the concentration of polyols in water.