Geogenic arsenic contamination of wet-meadows associated with a geothermal system in an arid region and its relevance for drinking water.

Arsenic (As) is an important component in thermal springs, which can reach water sources constituting an important hazard for both the environment and people. For this reason, the aim of this paper is to analyze the geologic and geochemical processes that determine the presence and concentration of As in wet-meadows associated to a geothermal field in Patagonia (Argentina) which is used as water supply. To achieve this, during field surveys temperature, pH and electrical conductivity were measured and water and rock samples were taken.

MAP kinase phosphorylation is dispensable for cell division, but required for cell growth in Drosophila.

Proper activation of the Ras/MAPK pathway is broadly required during development, and in many cases, signal transduction downstream of the receptor is linear. Thus, different mechanisms exist to properly regulate the large number of specific developmental outputs that are required by the activation of this pathway. Previously, we have reported a regulated cytoplasmic sequestration of phosphorylated MAPK (pMAPK) in developing Drosophila compound eyes and wings "called MAPK Cytoplasmic Hold".

Characterization of gene expression profiles of normal canine retina and brain using a retinal cDNA microarray.

Purpose: Construction of a canine retinal custom cDNA microarray for comprehensive retinal gene expression profiling and application for the identification of genes that are preferentially expressed in the retina and brain lobes using a brain pool reference tissue.

Methods: A cDNA microarray was constructed utilizing clones obtained from a normalized canine retinal expressed sequence tag library. Gene expression profiles were analyzed for normal retina, as well as the cortex of the frontal, occipital, and temporal brain regions.