The Impacts of Atlantic Salmon Stocking on Rainbow Trout in Barnum House Creek,Lake Ontario

We compared the impacts of stocking age-0 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) at high and low densities, and no stocking on abundance and growth of age-0 rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) in Barnum House Creek, Ontario during 1993 to 2005. A similar stream, Shelter Valley Creek, was chosen as an appropriate reference stream where age-0 Atlantic salmon were not stocked. The catches of age-0 rainbow trout in Barnum House and the reference stream were highly correlated (r = 0.96) during years when no stocking occurred; however, this relationship did not persist in years when Atlantic salmon were stocked. The catch of age-0 rainbow trout in Barnum House Creek was significantly lower under both high (P = 0.00026) and low (P = 0.011) density Atlantic salmon stocking treatments compared with the no stocking treatment. The catches of age-0 rainbow trout and age-0 Atlantic salmon were negatively correlated in Barnum House Creek (r = −0.63). The length of age-0 rainbow trout in Barnum House Creek was depressed significantly (P = 0.004), under the high intensity Atlantic salmon stocking treatment, but not under the low intensity treatment (P = 0.20). In contrast, the length of age-0 rainbow trout in Shelter Valley Creek was unchanged over the same period. Restoration stocking of Atlantic salmon in Lake Ontario tributaries may impact rainbow trout abundance and growth.     

Crystallographic and physical properties of new ternary R2T3X9 (R=La, Ce, U, T=Rh, Ir, X=Al, Ga) compounds

Ternary compounds with the stoichiometry R₂T₃X₉ (R=La, Ce, U, T=Rh, Ir, X=Al, Ga) were synthesized for the first time and were found to crystallize in the orthorhombic Y₂Co₃Ga₉-type structure. Preliminary measurements of the resistivity, the susceptibility, the specific heat, and the Seebeck coefficient revealed a rather unconventional behavior for the Ce-compounds, which exhibit characteristics of both intermediate valent and of heavy fermion compounds. The U counterparts were found to order antiferromagnetically at temperatures below 40 K.     

Electrocrystallization of nanocrystallite calcium phosphate coatings on titanium substrate at different current densities

Calcium phosphates were electrocrystallized on titanium substrate by electrochemical deposition technique, in which the electrolyte was 0.167 M CaCl₂ and 0.1 M NH₄H₂PO₄. Different current densities (0.375, 1.5, 3, 6 mA/cm²) were applied. The pH of the solution after mixing of equal volumes was 4.6. The surface morphology, chemical composition and phase identification of the coatings were investigated by scanning electron microscopy associated with an energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDXS) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Effects of the current density on the morphology and the structure of the coating were also discussed.The results showed that at all current densities tested, the coating is brushite (dicalcium phosphate dihydrate CaHPO₄ · 2H₂O). Furthermore, the results showed that coating thickness and weight gain are increased and the morphology changed with increasing deposition current density (from 0.375 to 6 mA/cm²). On contrary, thickness and weight gain are decreased with sodium hydroxide treatment. NaOH treatment converts brushite of Ca/P ratio 1:1 to hydroxyapatite of Ca/P ratio of 1.667. So, chemical analysis of the solution shows soluble P₂O₅ content. Coating thickness at 6 mA/cm² was about 20 and 30 µm with and without treatment, respectively. It decreased to about 9.5 and 12 µm at 0.375 mA/cm² current density, with and without treatment, respectively. However, the formed phase is not changed with increasing current density. In addition, it is found that, even at high current density (6 mA/cm²), no hydroxyapatite was directly electrocrystallized due to low corresponding potential (less than 5 V) and low corresponding voltage (468 mV).     

Signal processing in an optical polarization diversity receiver for560-Mbit/s ASK heterodyne detection

Polarization diversity is an alternative technique for coherent receivers to prevent loss to signal due to variations in the states of polarization (SOP) of the received signal field. It is shown experimentally and theoretically that there is no significant power penalty difference between a receiver with optimally adjusted gains and receivers with linear envelope detection and square-law detection. Experimentally, two amplitude-shift keying (ASK) heterodyne polarization diversity receivers with envelope detectors were demonstrated at 560 Mb/s, one using linear rectifiers, the other using square-law rectifiers. In both cases, the receiver sensitivity of -35 dBm at BER=10 ^-9 was degraded by less than 1 dB as the received signal SOP was varied, in agreement with theory     

Semiconductor laser optical amplifiers for multichannel coherentoptical transmission

The application of semiconductor laser optical amplifiers in multichannel coherent optical transmission systems is investigated. The amplifiers considered (λ=1.3 μm) exhibit a gain of 24 dB at a grain ripple <2 dB and a 3-dB bandwidth of about 4000 GHz. The characteristics of these amplifiers and transmission experiments with these amplifiers are described. The investigations concern noise accumulation in an amplifier chain, generation of echoes due to backward gain in cascaded amplifiers, crosstalk in multichannel transmission, and the effect of gain saturation due to spontaneous emission. A good fit is shown between the advantages of multichannel coherent optical transmission systems and the properties of semiconductor laser optical amplifiers, which are very promising for future long-haul optical transmission systems     

Extrusion of Rice,Bean and Corn Starches: Extrudate Structure and Molecular Changes in Amylose and Amylopectin

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of starch source and amylose content on the expansion ratio, density, and texture of expanded extrudates, as well as to investigate the structural and molecular changes that occur in starch granules as a function of extrusion. The starches employed were rice starches (8%, 20%, and 32% amylose), carioca bean starch (35% amylose), and Hylon V^® corn starch (55% amylose). The extrudates from rice starches containing 20% and 32% amylose exhibited the highest expansion ratio, while, extrudates from Hylon V^® corn starch containing 55% amylose exhibited the lowest expansion ratio. The hardness values of the extrudates with 55% amylose were twice those of the extrudates with 20%, 32%, and 35% amylose. An additional finding was that although the amylopectin promoted the expansion of the gelatinized starch matrix, it failed to strengthen and sustain the walls of the extrudate bubbles during expansion.     

Katalysatoruntersuchungen an einer Technikumsanlage für Biomasse‐Kleinfeuerungen

In addition to the reduction of particulate matter, a catalytic supported emission reduction in small scale biomass combustion systems can also enable a conversion of toxic organic components into carbon dioxide and water. For catalyst investigations under practical conditions a special test facility was designed. The results show that products of incomplete combustion like carbon monoxide from stoves can be reduced by catalytic processes. Further developments and studies are necessary to achieve the targeted emission limits.     

Rhus coriaria L. (Sumac) Demonstrates Oncostatic Activity in the Therapeutic and Preventive Model of Breast Carcinoma

Comprehensive scientific data provide evidence that isolated phytochemicals or whole plant foods may beneficially modify carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oncostatic activities of Rhus coriaria L. (sumac) using animal models (rat and mouse), and cell lines of breast carcinoma. R. coriaria (as a powder) was administered through the diet at two concentrations (low dose: 0.1% (w/w) and high dose: 1 % (w/w)) for the duration of the experiment in a syngeneic 4T1 mouse and chemically-induced rat mammary carcinoma models. After autopsy, histopathological and molecular analyses of tumor samples in rodents were performed. Moreover, in vitro analyses using MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were conducted. The dominant metabolites present in tested R. coriaria methanolic extract were glycosides of gallic acid (possible gallotannins). In the mouse model, R. coriaria at a higher dose (1%) significantly decreased tumor volume by 27% when compared to controls. In addition, treated tumors showed significant dose-dependent decrease in mitotic activity index by 36.5% and 51% in comparison with the control group. In the chemoprevention study using rats, R. coriaria at a higher dose significantly reduced the tumor incidence by 20% and in lower dose non-significantly reduced tumor frequency by 29% when compared to controls. Evaluations of the mechanism of oncostatic action using valid clinical markers demonstrated several positive alterations in rat tumor cells after the treatment with R. coriaria. In this regard, histopathological analysis of treated tumor specimens showed robust dose-dependent decrease in the ratio of high-/low-grade carcinomas by 66% and 73% compared to controls. In treated rat carcinomas, we found significant caspase-3, Bax, and Bax/Bcl-2 expression increases; on the other side, a significant down-regulation of Bcl-2, Ki67, CD24, ALDH1, and EpCam expressions and MDA levels. When compared to control specimens, evaluation of epigenetic alterations in rat tumor cells in vivo showed significant dose-dependent decrease in lysine methylation status of H3K4m3 and H3K9m3 and dose-dependent increase in lysine acetylation in H4K16ac levels (H4K20m3 was not changed) in treated groups. However, only in lower dose of sumac were significant decreases in the expression of oncogenic miR210 and increase of tumor-suppressive miR145 (miR21, miR22, and miR155 were not changed) observed. Finally, only in lower sumac dose, significant decreases in methylation status of three out of five gene promoters–ATM, PTEN, and TIMP3 (PITX2 and RASSF1 promoters were not changed). In vitro evaluations using methanolic extract of R. coriaria showed significant anticancer efficacy in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells (using Resazurin, cell cycle, annexin V/PI, caspase-3/7, Bcl-2, PARP, and mitochondrial membrane potential analyses). In conclusion, sumac demonstrated significant oncostatic activities in rodent models of breast carcinoma that were validated by mechanistic studies in vivo and in vitro.