Influence of pressure on pyrolysis of black liquor: 1. Swelling

This is the first of two papers concerning the behavior of black liquor during pyrolysis under pressurized conditions. Two industrial kraft liquors were pyrolyzed in a laboratory-scale pressurized single particle reactor and a pressurized grid heater at temperatures ranging from 650 to 1100 degrees C and at pressures between 1 and 20 bar. The dimensions of the chars produced were measured and the specific swollen volume was calculated. Swelling decreased roughly logarithmically over the pressure range 1-20 r. An expression is developed to predict the specific swollen volume at elevated pressure when the volume at 1 bar is known. The bulk density of the char increased with pressure, indicating that liquors will be entrained less easily at higher pressures.     

Allometric density responses in butterflies: the response to small and large patches by small and large species

Species are differentially affected by habitat fragmentation as a consequence of differences in mobility, area requirements, use of the matrix, and responses to edges. A quantitative understanding of these differences is essential not only for conservation biology but also for basic ecological theory. Here, we examine density responses by butterflies to patch size and use a quantitative theory on the scaling of population density with patch size to interpret results. Theory suggests that the density distribution of mobile species along a patch size gradient should depend on the scaling of net migration rates, whereas the density distribution of less mobile species should depend more on local growth. Using data from 11 localities in three European countries, we calculated the slope in the relationship between patch size and population density. These slopes were evaluated in relation to butterfly traits and matrix composition. As estimates of butterfly mobility we used both wing span and expert mobility rankings. The slope of the density–area relationship changed as predicted with wing span and the association of species to grasslands. Large and highly mobile species had a negative slope, similarly for grassland specialists and generalist species, and the slope matched quantitative predictions based on the scaling of net migration rates. Small and less mobile grassland specialists had a slope that was less negative than the slope of large and mobile grassland specialists, whereas the slope did not change with size for generalist species. These analyses suggest that the variability in response among butterfly species to patch size could be explained by accounting for body size/mobility and habitat associations among species. A caveat is that edge effects are not explicitly included in the model analysis, and future research should aim to combine area and edge effects in a common theoretical framework.     

Characteristics of the early flight phase in the Olympic ski jumping competition

Early flight phase (approximately 40 m) of the athletes participating in the final round of the individual large hill ski jumping competition in Salt Lake City Olympics was filmed with two high-speed pan & tilt video cameras. The results showed that jumpers' steady flight position was almost completed within 0.5s. The most significant correlation with the length of the jump was found in the angle between the skis and body (r=.714, p.001 at 1.1s after the take-off). This particular phase seemed to be important because the ski angle of attack was also related to the jumping distance at the same phase. Although the more upright ski position relative to flight path resulted in longer jumping distance, the winner of the competition had significantly lower ski position as compared to the other good jumpers. This may be due to the high altitude (>2000 m) of the ski jumping stadium in this competition. Because of the low air density, the aerodynamic forces were also low and this probably caused less skillful jumpers to lean too much forward at this phase. Maintenance of speed seemed to be emphasized in this particular competition.     

Use of forest corridors by boreal Xestia moths

Abstract We studied movements of the noctuid moths Xestia speciosa and X. fennica in a fragmented forest landscape including old-growth spruce forest corridors in eastern Finland. We individually marked and released 1,796 adults of the habitat generalist X. speciosa and 683 individuals of X. fennica, which prefers old-growth spruce forests. Moths were recaptured with 60 sugar-bait traps that were placed within habitat corridors, in the non-habitat matrix and in surrounding old-growth forest patches. Both species favoured the corridors during their movements and tended to avoid entering the matrix. We analysed recapture rates and movements of the recaptured moths. Results suggest that X. speciosa moves longer distances than X. fennica. Though corridors clearly canalized movements by both species, the impact of old-growth forest corridors at the larger landscape scale was less clear in X. fennica. Movement behaviour of the two sexes differed more than that of the two species.     

Gene expression profiles in chondrosarcoma cells subjected to cyclic stretching and hydrostatic pressure. A cDNA array study

Mechanical forces have a profound effect on cartilage tissue and chondrocyte metabolism. Strenuous loading inhibits the cellular metabolism, while optimal level of loading at correct frequency raises an anabolic response in chondrocytes. In this study, we used Atlas Human Cancer cDNA array to investigate mRNA expression profiles in human chondrosarcoma cells stretched 8% for 6 hours at a frequency of 0.5 Hz. In addition, cultures were exposed to continuous and cyclic (0.5 Hz) 5 MPa hydrostatic pressure. Cyclic stretch had a more profound effect on the gene expression profiles than 5 MPa hydrostatic pressure. Several genes involved with the regulation of cell cycle were increased in stretched cells, as well as mRNAs for PDGF-B, glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, Tiam1, cdc37 homolog, Gem, integrin alpha6, and matrix metalloproteinase-3. Among down-regulated genes were plakoglobin, TGF-alpha, retinoic acid receptor-alpha and Wnt8b. A smaller number of changes was detected after pressure treatments. Plakoglobin was increased under cyclic and continuous 5 MPa hydrostatic pressure, while mitogen-activated protein kinase-9, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Rad6, CD9 antigen, integrins alphaE and beta8, and vimentin were decreased. Cyclic and continuous pressurization induces a number of specific changes. In conclusion, a different set of genes were affected by three different types of mechanical stimuli applied on chondrosarcoma cells.     

Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA phylogeography of Thymallus spp (grayling) provides evidence of ice-age mediated environmental perturbations in the world's oldest body of fresh water,Lake Baikal

Theories on the hydrological history of Lake Baikal, the world's oldest and deepest body of freshwater, and its surrounding great rivers, are currently based solely on geological evidence and are conflicting. Baikal is inhabited by numerous zoogeographical enigmas but their high level of endemism has hindered phylogeographic inferences. We provide a biological perspective of the region's palaeo-hydrological development based on the demographic and genealogical history of the widespread Thymallus spp. (grayling). Phylogenetic reconstruction reveals that old lineages of grayling (pre-Pleistocene) currently inhabit the Enisey, Lena and Amur River basins. For Lake Baikal however, we conclude that a mid-Pleistocene colonization (110000-450000 years ago) of an unoccupied niche has occurred. Population genetic inferences support an Enisey-Angara river route of colonization into Baikal, corresponding to the cataclysmic palaeo-hydrological event that led to the formation of the lake's only contemporary outlet, and a subsequent range expansion several thousand kilometres into the uppermost reaches of the Selenga River basin. The evolutionary history of Lake Baikal grayling is congruent with the controversial hypothesis of repeated glaciation. However, considering the extraordinary levels of endemism and proposed Miocene or Oligocene coalescence of other faunal lineages, a less profound but equally consequential cycle of environmental perturbations may have taken place. Bi-parentally inherited microsatellite DNA loci supported the phylogenetic relationships of Thymallus spp. and the geographical expansion of Baikal grayling strikingly well. A Markov Chain Monte Carlo modelling approach suggested severe contemporary population decline during the last century, possibly reflecting the influence of an uncontrolled fishery on this treasured ecosystem. These complementary pictures of the demographic history of grayling underscore the breadth of historical inquiry that can be entertained through the modelling of sufficient molecular data, and may significantly alter the zoogeographical and limnological perspectives of Baikal's history.     

Oxygen-dependent cellular functions--why fishes and their aquatic environment are a prime choice of study

Owing to the variability of oxygen tension in aquatic, especially the freshwater environment, oxygen has been a major force in the evolution of fishes. Their long evolutionary history, and the present different oxygen requirements between species, and acclimatory responses to hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions make fishes prime models in the study of oxygen-dependent cellular functions and their regulation. In the present article oxygen-dependent membrane transport, cellular signalling, energy metabolism, gene expression and apoptosis are reviewed with an emphasis on available results on fish. Available data on oxygen sensing are described and examples on the cascade from sensing oxygen to its physiological effects are given. From the data it is clear that hitherto fish have not been utilised in the study of oxygen-dependent cellular regulation as much as their evolutionary history and present oxygen requirements would give possibilities to. Even more generally, oxygen has hitherto seldom been a carefully controlled key variable in experimental cell biology.     

Lessons of slicing membranes: interplay of packing, free area, and lateral diffusion in phospholipid/cholesterol bilayers

We employ 100-ns molecular dynamics simulations to study the influence of cholesterol on structural and dynamic properties of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers in the fluid phase. The effects of the cholesterol content on the bilayer structure are considered by varying the cholesterol concentration between 0 and 50%. We concentrate on the free area in the membrane and investigate quantities that are likely to be affected by changes in the free area and free volume properties. It is found that cholesterol has a strong impact on the free area properties of the bilayer. The changes in the amount of free area are shown to be intimately related to alterations in molecular packing, ordering of phospholipid tails, and behavior of compressibility moduli. Also the behavior of the lateral diffusion of both dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and cholesterol molecules with an increasing amount of cholesterol can in part be understood in terms of free area. Summarizing, our results highlight the central role of free area in comprehending the structural and dynamic properties of membranes containing cholesterol.