Cuscuta jepsonii (Convolvulaceae): An invasive weed or an extinct endemic?

Despite their ecological significance, parasitic plants face more conservation challenges than do autotrophic plants. This is especially true for the groups that include weedy or invasive species such as Cuscuta. While approximately half of the Cuscuta (dodders) species may require conservation measures, the genus as a whole is sometimes posted on governmental lists of noxious or quarantine weeds.

Synthesis of size-controlled faceted pentagonal silver nanorods with tunable plasmonic properties and self-assembly of these nanorods.

Monodisperse size-controlled faceted pentagonal silver nanorods were synthesized by thermal regrowth of decahedral silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) in aqueous solution at 95 degrees C, using citrate as a reducing agent. The width of the silver nanorods was determined by the size of the starting decahedral particle, while the length was varied from 50 nm to 2 mum by the amount of new silver added to the growth solution. Controlled regrowth allowed us to produce monodisperse AgNPs with a shape of elongated pentagonal dipyramid (regular Johnson solid, J(16)).

Influence of acclimation and cross-acclimation of metals on acute Cd toxicity and Cd uptake and distribution in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

The development of chronic metal toxicity models for fresh water fish is complicated by the physiological adjustments made by the animal during exposure which results in acclimation. This study examines the influence of a pre-exposure to a chronic sublethal waterborne metal on acclimation responses as well as the uptake and distribution of new metal into juvenile rainbow trout. In one series of tests, trout were exposed to either 20 or 60 microg/L Cu, or 150 microg/L Zn for a month in moderately hard water and then cross-acclimation responses to Cd were measured in 96 h LC(50) tests.