Localities In Finland Research Articles

Effects of human placental S9 and induced rat liver S9 on the mutagenicity of drinking waters processed from humus‐rich surface waters

The mutagenicity of chlorinated drinking waters processed from humus-rich surface waters has been shown to be very high. The effect of placental S9 on the mutagenicity of drinking waters has not been studied previously. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of human placental and rat liver microsomal fractions on the mutagenicity of drinking waters processed from humus-rich surface waters. The samples of 34 drinking and two raw waters from 26 localities in Finland were tested for mutagenicity in Ames Salmonella typhimurium tester strain TA100 with and without metabolic activations. Between the drinking water samples, clear differences were recorded in the presence of placental and rat liver S9, suggesting different mutagens in the drinking waters. Rat liver S9 decreased the mutagenicities of drinking water concentrates, but placental S9 increased, decreased, or had no effect. It is not known if placental mutagenicity enhancing system might cause any health hazard to a developing fetus.

Ames mutagenicity and concentration of the strong mutagen 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5 H)-furanone and of its geometric isomer E-2-chloro-3-(dichloromethyl)-4-oxo-butenoic acid in chlorine-treated tap waters

The Ames mutagenicity and the concentration of the strong Ames mutagen 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5 H)-furanone (MX) and its geometric isomer E-2-chloro-3-(dichloromethyl)-4-oxobutenoic acid (E-MX), derived from chlorination of humus, were determined in XAD extracts of tap water collected from 26 localities in Finland. The 23 tap waters treated with disinfectants gave a positive response in strain TA100. MX and E-MX were detected in all extracts exhibiting mutagenicity with the exception of 3 extracts of marginal activity. MX accounted for 15–57% (average 33%) of the observed mutagenicity. The concentration of E-MX was slightly lower than the corresponding concentration of MX. Linear correlations were observed between mutagenicity and concentration of MX and E-MX, with correlation coefficients of 0.894 for MX and 0.910 for E-MX.

The fluoride content of Finnish honey

The content of fluoride was determined with an ion-specific electrode on 59 samples of honey from 47 localities in Finland. The concentrations ranged from 25 to 550/µg/kg and the mean for all the localities was 85.7 µg F-/kg fresh weight honey. The concentrations were lowest in eastern and northern Finland, where the amount of fluoride in the soil is small, and higher on the coast and areas where more fluoride occurs in the groundwater and bedrock. However, the highest levels of fluoride in honey were detected in the vicinity of Helsinki and some other places where the amount in the groundwater is not especially high. The higher levels in some honey may be due to fluorides introduced into the environment by the activity of man. The effects of fluoride on human health are discussed.

Application of headspace gas chromatography in essential oil analysis x. variation in the terpenes of juniper leaves and berries in some localities in Finland

Application of headspace gas chromatography in essential oil analysis x. variation in the terpenes of juniper leaves and berries in some localities in Finland

The content and composition of aroma compounds in three different cultivars of dill,Anethum grapeolens L.

The content and composition of aroma compounds in the three dill cultivars Dura Sv, Dukat OE and Mammut WW at an early stage of maturity (before bud formation) were studied during two seasons at two different localities in Finland. The aroma compounds were isolated by solvent extraction and the concentrated extracts were analysed by capillary GC-MS. Great differences in the total aroma content were found between the three cultivars. Dura gave the best results (2,200 mg/kg fresh weight, 1.1 % of dry weight), 2- to 3-fold compared with the two other cultivars. Although 22 aroma compounds were identified the amounts of only five main components α-phellandrene, 3,6-dimethyl-2,3,3a,4,5,7a-hexahydrobenzofuran, β-phellandrene, limonene and p-cymene were compared in the three cultivars. They composed of 70–90% of the total aroma compounds. In all cultivars α-phellandrene and the benzofuranoid were the major components. Theircontents were highest in the Dura cultivar (680 and 1,110 mg/kg of fresh dill, respectively). The selection of cultivars is the best way to improve the quality of the dill herb.

Genetic variation in the male courtship sound of Drosophila littoralis.

Drosophila littoralis males and females emit sounds during courtship by vibrating their wings. Genetic variation in the male courtship sound of this species was studied by analyzing the sounds of males of 42 fresh isofemale strains from three localities in Finland and those of several laboratory strains originating from Europe and Caucasus. Among the fresh strains, the mean number of sound cycles in a pulse varied from 12 to 17 cycles, the length of a pulse from 39 to 51 ms, the length of a sound cycle from 2.9 to 3.6 ms, and the length of an interpulse interval (ipi) from 280 to 400 ms. The sounds of the old laboratory strains differed from each other more than the sounds of the fresh strains. There was, however, no sign of geographic differentiation.

Organogenesis and fine structure in megagametophyte callus lines of Picea abies

Differentiation and fine structure were studied in 63 callus lines originating from the haploid megagametophyte of Picea abies (L.) Karst. Developing cones were collected from 27 trees growing in 13 localities in Finland. Vernalization of cones for 12–42 days at 4°C was optimal for callus initiation from the immature megagametophyte (primary endosperm). Five combinations of media based on the macronutrient elements of Chu et al. (1975; Sci. Sin. 18: 659–668) and the micronutrient elements and vitamins of Murashige and Skoog were tested for callus induction, growth and differentiation. Only about 1.5% of the megagametophytes produced subculturable callus (which may be partly due to the high frequency of lethal genes), although in certain mother trees callus production was as high as 20%. In most of the trees sampled, polyamines could not replace casein hydrolysate and glutamine in induction of megagametophyte callus. About half of the originally haploid, diploid and mixoploid callus lines were able to differentiate. A combination of three polyamines (putrescine 0.25, spermidine 0.1 and spermine 0.025 mM) favoured development of roots. In five callus lines shoots and roots developed in the same piece of callus, but these organs usually had no connection with each other. The fine structure of the callus cells was normal, but their starch stores were rather abundant. Mesophyll cells of needles differentiated from originally haploid callus had chloroplasts with fairly well‐developed grana. Secondary metabolites were observed in the vacuoles of some callus cells and in organ initials. Plasmodesmata were very rare in callus cells but they were characteristic of those of the needles. The electron microscope observations showed that the poor capacity for differentiation of P. abies callus cultures was not due to cytological instability.

Mineral composition of enamel and dentin of primary and permanent teeth in Finland

The concentrations of 12 different elements were measured in dentin and enamel of primary and permanent teeth collected in six different localities in Finland. Na, Cl, Al, Mn, Ca, and P were determined by neutron activation analysis, K, Mg, Zn, Cu, and Fe by the atomic absorption method, and F with the fluoride-specific electrode. Most elements were present in higher concentrations in the enamel than in the dentin: Mg, however, was higher in the dentin. Compared with the permanent teeth, the primary teeth contained more K and Mn in enamel and K and Mg in dentin, but less Na and Zn in enamel. Differences between the six localities were significant for F, Cl, K, Zn, Na, and Mn. Fe, Cu, and Mn contents of teeth were much lower in Finland than elsewhere; in the typical Finnish diet the contents of Fe and Cu are relatively low and iron deficiency anemia is usually common in Finland.

Various species of Gloeosporium in stored apples in Finland

Gloeosporium perennans Zeller & Childs and G. album Osterw. were determined as the most important causal agents of apple rot in storage among 20 apple varieties from 17 localities in Finland. G. fructigenum Berk, was relatively insignificant in causing the disease. Infection spots of both G. perennans and G. album began to appear in the fruit at approximately the same time during January. All of the apple varieties investigated were found to be susceptible to Gloeosporium rot, although there were distinct differences in the susceptibility of certain varieties to one or another of the two species. The occurrence of the Gloeosporium species varied considerably in the same apple variety between different orchards. External factors such as dry weather in the late summer, fungicidal sprays, and carbon dioxide during storage were found to decrease the occurrence of Gloeosporium rot in stored apples as well as to cause changes in the relative proportions of the two species G. perennans and G. album.