The immune responses in Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis challenged with double-stranded RNA

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is a virus-associated molecular pattern which induces antiviral innate immune responses and RNA interference (RNAi) in mammals. In invertebrates, RNAi phenomenon has been widely studied, but dsRNA-induced innate immune response is seldom reported. In the present study, two different dsRNAs specific for green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the putative D1 protein of photosystem II (NoPSD) from Nannochloropsis oculata, were employed to challenge Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis. The temporal changes of phenoloxidase (PO), acid phosphatase (ACP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, as well as the mRNA expression of some immune-related genes were examined in order to estimate the effect of dsRNAs on the innate immunity of E. sinensis. The activities of PO, ACP and SOD significantly increased after dsRNA treatment, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) content did not change significantly. Among the examined genes, only the mRNA expression of EsALF, an antibacterial peptide in E. sinensis, was significantly up-regulated (about 5 fold, P < 0.05) at 12 h after dsRNA treatment, while no significant expression changes were observed among the other immune genes. The increase of PO, ACP and SOD activities, and mRNA expression level of EsALF after dsRNA stimulation indicate that phenoloxidase, hydrolytic enzyme, antioxidation and EsALF were involved in dsRNA-induced innate immunity, suggesting that broad-spectrum immune responses could be induced by dsRNA in E. sinensis. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Occurrence of double parasitism on black-barred halfbeak fish from the southeast coast of India

A double parasitism (isopod Cymothoidae and copepod Pennellidae) on black-barred halfbeak fish, Hemiramphus far, was recorded from Pazhayar coastal waters (southeast coast of India) during September 2008. This is the first report from this region and the infection is discussed in relation to environmental and biological parameters.

Boundary Element Method (BEM) Analysis for Galvanic Corrosion of Hot Dip Galvanized Steel Immersed in Seawater

A numerical analysis of galvanic corrosion of hot-dip galvanized steel immersed in seawater was presented. The analysis was based on the boundary element methods (BEMs) coupled with Newton-Raphson iterative technique to treat the nonlinear boundary conditions, which were determined by the experimental polarization curves. Results showed that galvanic current density concentrates on the boundary of steel substrate and zinc coating, and the sacrificial protection of zinc coating to steel substrate results in overprotection of steel cathode. Not only oxygen reduction but also hydrogen reduction could occur as cathode reactions, which probably led up to the adsorption and absorption of hydrogen atoms. Flat galvanized steel tensile sample shows a brittle behavior similar to hydrogen embrittlement according to the SSRT (show strain rate test) in seawater.

Corrosion behaviour of hot dip zinc and zinc-aluminium coatings on steel in seawater

A comparative investigation of hot dip Zn-25Al alloy, Zn-55Al-Si and Zn coatings on steel was performed with attention to their corrosion performance in seawater. The results of 2-year exposure testing of these at Zhoushan test site are reported here. In tidal and immersion environments, Zn-25Al alloy coating is several times more durable than zinc coating of double thickness. At long exposure times, corrosion rate for the Zn-25Al alloy coating remains indistinguishable from that for the Zn-55Al-Si coating of similar thickness in tidal zone, and is two to three times lower than the latter in immersion zone. The decrease in tensile strength suggested that galvanized and Zn-55Al-Si coated steel suffer intense pitting corrosion in immersion zone. The electrochemical tests showed that all these coatings provide cathodic protection to the substrate metal; the galvanic potentials are equal to - 1,050, - 1,025 and - 880 mV (SCE) for zinc, Zn-25Al alloy and Zn-55Al-Si coating, respectively, which are adequate to keep the steel inside the immunity region. It is believed that the superior performance of the Zn-25Al alloy coating is due to its optimal combination of the uniform corrosion resistance and pitting corrosion resistance. The inferior corrosion performance by comparison of the Zn coating mainly results from its larger dissolution rate, while the failure of the Zn-55Al-Si coating is probably related to its higher susceptibility to pitting corrosion in seawater.

Study on growth factors of intermetallic layer within hot-dipped 25% Al-Zn alloy coating on steel

25%Al-Zn alloy coating performs better than hot dip galvanized coating and 55%Al-Zn-Si coating with regard to general seawater corrosion protection. This study deals with the interfacial intermetallic layer's growth, which affects considerably the corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of 25%Al-Zn alloy coatings, by means of three-factor quadratic regressive orthogonal experiments, The regression equation shows that the intermetallic layer thickness decreases rapidly with increasing content of Si added to the Zn-Al alloy bath, increases with rise in bath temperature and prolonging dip time. The most effective factor that determined the thickness of intermetallic layer was the amount of Si added to Zn-Al alloy bath, while the effect of bath temperature and dip time on the thickness of intermetallic layer were not very obvious.

Unprecedented 5,5-connected (4(7)center dot 6(3)) (4(8)center dot 6(2)) structural topology: A lead biphosphonate with double layered structure

A new lead(II) phosphonate, Pb[(PO3)(2)C(OH)CH3]center dot H2O (1) was hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, UV, TGA, SEM, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. X-ray crystallographic study showed that complex 1 has a two-dimensional double layered hybrid structure containing interconnected 4- and 12-membered rings and shows an unusual (5,5)-connected (4(7) . 6(3)) (4(8) .6(2)) topology. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Molecular evidence for double maternal origins of the diploid hybrid Hippophae goniocarpa (Elaeagnaceae)

Homoploid hybrid plant species are rare, and the mechanisms of their speciation are largely unknown, especially for homoploid hybrid tree species. Two contrasting hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin of Hippophae goniocarpa: (1) it is a diploid hybrid originating from H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis x H. neurocarpa ssp. neurocarpa, and (2) it originated via marginal differentiation from H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis. Regardless of which of these hypotheses is true (if either), previous studies have suggested that H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis is the only maternal donor for this hybrid species. In this study, we aim to elucidate the maternal composition of H. goniocarpa and to test the two hypotheses. For this purpose, we sequenced the maternal chloroplast DNA trnL-F region of 75 individuals representing H. goniocarpa, H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis, and H. neurocarpa ssp. neurocarpa in two co-occurring sites of the taxa. Seven haplotypes were identified from three taxonomic units, and their phylogenetic relationships were further constructed by means of maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and network analyses. These seven haplotypes clustered into two distinct, highly divergent lineages. Two haplotypes from one lineage were found in H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis, and five (representing the other lineage) in H. neurocarpa ssp. neurocarpa. Hippophae goniocarpa shared four common haplotypes from both lineages, but the haplotypes detected from the two populations differed to some extent, and in each case were identical to local haplotypes of the putative parental species. Thus, both H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis and H. neurocarpa ssp. neurocarpa appear to have together contributed to the maternal establishment of H. goniocarpa. These results clearly demonstrate that the marginal origin hypothesis should be rejected, and support the hybrid origin hypothesis. Hippophae goniocarpa exhibits a sympatric distribution with its two parent species, without occupying new niches or displaying complete ecological isolation. However, this species has effectively developed reproductive isolation from its sympatric parent species. Our preliminary results suggest that H. goniocarpa may provide a useful model system for studying diploid hybrid speciation in trees. (c) 2008 The Linnean Society of London.