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has been unclear: they might facilitate the growth of new cells and blood vessels in the brain, act as anti-oxidants preventing the death of existing neurons, or act independently. To find out, Ken Lukowiak, professor in the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary, turned to a unique model organism: the great pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis). Because the snails absorb drugs through their skin, have an open circulatory system and can be trained in only 30 minutes, the effects of growing or dying blood vessels and neurons on memory can be eliminated. The team lowered the oxygen content of the water the snails live in by bubbling nitrogen through it. This caused the snails to open up their pneumostome (breathing tube) to get oxygen from the air. By gently tapping them with a stick, the researchers
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trained the snails to keep their tubes closed. Most snails remember this lesson for only about three hours, but in a paper published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, the team showed that snails exposed to 15 mg/L of the flavonoid (-)epicatechin through the water remembered the task even after 24 hours. “To get a 24-hour memory, you have to have altered gene activity, implying a significant change to the neuron,” says Lukowiak. The team is now testing neurons isolated from snails to figure out what those biochemical changes might be. As for effects in humans, Lukowiak is circumspect. “As far as I know, no one has actually looked at this in humans, but if I had to bet money, I’d say it probably helps. If tea, wine or dark chocolate makes you happier and less stressed, your memory will probably improve as well.”
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Great Lakes Biodiesel Inc.
Canada’s biodiesel production to double this fall
The largest biodiesel plant built in Canada to date is set to open this month in Welland, Ont. In a stroke, the 170 million litres per annum operation will almost double this country’s current biodiesel production of about 200 million litres per year. The plant cost approximately $25 million and will produce biodiesel primarily from soya oil, as well as some canola oil. “Ontario is a large grower of soybeans, so we have a good source in our close proximity,” says Barry Kramble, CEO of Great Lakes Biodiesel, the company founded in 2007 to build the facility. Kramble cites other advantages of the Welland site such as its links to road, rail and water transportation and its strategic location for both the primary Canadian markets in Ontario and Quebec and American markets to the south. In July 2011, Canada’s government mandated that all diesel and home heating fuel must contain an average of 2 per cent biodiesel over the next reporting period. In addition to this, the federal government’s ecoENERGY program pays incentives for each litre of biofuel produced. Great Lakes Biodiesel expects to collect $63.5 million dollars from this program over the next five years. Still, there’s room for even more production in the future. “The mandate created an inherent demand of approximately 600 million litres of biodiesel per year,” says Kramble. “So there’s still a fair way to go in order for Canada to produce enough to support its own mandate.”
An artist’s conception of Canada’s largest biodiesel plant, set to open in November in Welland, Ont. The plant will almost double nationwide capacity.
november | December 2012 CAnadian Chemical News 11