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Selected AbstractsAryl hydrocarbon bioaccessibility to small mammals from arctic plants using in vitro techniquesENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2007Sarah A. Armstrong Abstract Through their diet, herbivores inhabiting contaminated sites may be chronically exposed to a variety of aryl hydrocarbons (e.g., dioxins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs]). However, little is known about how differences in morphology and physiology among plant species alter the environmental accumulation of aryl hydrocarbons or their release and subsequent activity in the gastrointestinal tract of herbivores after ingestion. In the present study, the activity of aryl hydrocarbons during digestion was examined using six Arctic plant species growing in impacted and reference sites near Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada. The plant species studied were black spruce (Picea mariana), labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum), bog birch (Betula glandulosa), green alder (Alnus crispa), water sedge (Carex aquatilis), and little-tree willow (Salix arbusculoides). Plants were digested using a simulator of the upper digestive tract, and aryl hydrocarbon release was evaluated using an aryl hydrocarbon-receptor assay. Bioaccessible aryl hydrocarbon activity varied among the plant species tested. The species with the greatest activity was green alder, and the species with the least activity was black spruce. Further investigation revealed that digested plant extracts may antagonize the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and prevent bioactivation of the aryl compound benzo[a]pyrene. Thus, PAH risk from the ingestion of vegetation varies among plant species and may depend on antagonists present in the vegetation. [source] Prefrontal cortex activity is reduced in gambling and nongambling substance users during decision-making,HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 12 2007Jody Tanabe Abstract Objective: Poor decision-making is a hallmark of addiction, whether to substances or activities. Performance on a widely used test of decision-making, the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), can discriminate controls from persons with ventral medial frontal lesions, substance-dependence, and pathological gambling. Positron emission tomography (PET) studies indicate that substance-dependent individuals show altered prefrontal activity on the task. Here we adapted the IGT to an fMRI setting to test the hypothesis that defects in ventral medial and prefrontal processing are associated with impaired decisions that involve risk but may differ depending on whether substance dependence is comorbid with gambling problems. Method: 18 controls, 14 substance-dependent individuals (SD), and 16 SD with gambling problems (SDPG) underwent fMRI while performing a modified version of the IGT. Result: Group differences were observed in ventral medial frontal, right frontopolar, and superior frontal cortex during decision-making. Controls showed the greatest activity, followed by SDPG, followed by SD. Conclusion: Our results support a hypothesis that defects in ventral medial frontal processing lead to impaired decisions that involve risk. Reductions in right prefrontal activity during decision-making appear to be modulated by the presence of gambling problems and may reflect impaired working memory, stimulus reward valuation, or cue reactivity in substance-dependent individuals. Hum Brain Mapp, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effect of cropping systems on phosphatases in soilsJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2003Daniel E. Dodor Abstract Phosphatases are widely distributed in nature and play a major role in phosphorus nutrition of plants. The effects of crop rotations and nitrogen fertilization on the activities of phosphatases (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and phosphodiesterase) were studied in soils from two long-term cropping systems at the Northeast Research Center (NERC) in Nashua and the Clarion Webster Research Center (CWRC) in Kanawha, Iowa, USA. Surface soils (0,15 cm) were taken in 1996 and 1997 from replicated field plots in corn, soybeans, oats, or meadow (alfalfa) that received 0 or 180 kg N ha,1 before corn. Because of differences in organic C contents among soils of the two sites, the soils from the CWRC sites contained greater enzyme activity values than those from the NERC site. Plots under oats or meadow showed the greatest activity values, whereas those under continuous corn at the CWRC site and soybean at the NERC site showed the least activities. Analysis of variance indicated that the activities of the phosphatases were significantly affected by crop rotation (P < 0.001) in both years at the NERC site but not at the CWRC site. Nitrogen fertilization affected the activity of acid phosphatase in soils from the CWRC site in both years and alkaline phosphatase only in 1997; but it did not affect the activities of the phosphatases in the soils from the NERC site. With the exception of alkaline phosphatase (CWRC) and phosphodiesterase (NERC) in soils sampled in 1997, activities of alkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase were significantly correlated with microbial biomass C (C mic) in soils from both sites and years, with r values ranging from 0.366* to 0.599***. Cropping systems and N fertilization affected the specific activities of phosphomonoesterases, especially acid phosphatase, but not of phosphodiesterase. Regression analysis showed that activities of phosphatases were significantly correlated with organic C contents of soils from the NERC site but not from the CWRC site. Einfluss von Managementsystemen auf Phosphatasen in Böden Phosphatasen sind weit verbreitet in der Natur und spielen eine entscheidende Rolle in der Phosphorversorgung von Pflanzen. Die Auswirkungen von Managementsystemen und Stickstoffdüngung auf Phosphataseaktivitäten in Böden (saure und alkalische Phosphatase, Phosphodiesterase) wurden in zwei langjährigen Feldversuchen am Northeast-Research Center (NERC) in Nashua und am Clarion-Webster Research Center (CWRC) in Kanawha, Iowa, USA untersucht. In den Jahren 1996 und 1997 wurden Oberbodenproben (0,15cm) von Parzellen unter Mais, Sojabohne, Hafer und Luzerne entnommen, welche in jeweils drei Wiederholungen angelegt waren. Die Parzellen erhielten zusätzlich Düngergaben von 0 bzw. 180 kg N ha,1 , die vor Mais appliziert wurden. Infolge der unterschiedlichen Gehalte der Böden an organischem Kohlenstoff waren die Enzymaktivitäten auf den CWRC-Flächen höher als auf den NERC-Flächen. Die Parzellen unter Hafer und Luzerne wiesen die höchsten, Parzellen unter Monokulturen von Mais (CWRC) bzw. Soja (NERC) die geringsten Aktivitäten auf. Die Ergebnisse der Varianzanalyse zeigten, dass die Phosphataseaktivitäten auf den NERC-Flächen in beiden Jahren signifikant durch das Managementsystem beeinflusst wurden (P < 0, 001). Die Stickstoffdüngung hatte auf den CWRC-Flächen in beiden Jahren einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die saure Phosphataseaktivität und auf die alkalische Phosphataseaktivität im Jahr 1997. Auf den NERC-Flächen war hingegen kein Düngungseinfluss nachzuweisen. Die alkalische Phosphatase und Phosphodiesterase waren, mit Ausnahme der alkalischen Phosphatase auf den CWRC-Flächen und der Phosphodiesterase auf den NERC-Flächen, signifikant mit dem Gehalt der Böden an mikrobieller Biomasse (C mic) korreliert (r = 0, 366* bis 0, 599***). Die Management- und N-Düngungssysteme beeinflussten die spezifischen Aktivitäten von Phosphomonoesterasen, v.a. von saurer Phosphatase, jedoch nicht die spezifischen Phosphodiesteraseaktivitäten. Regressionsanalysen ergaben einen signifikanten Zusammenhang zwischen den Phosphataseaktivitäten und dem Gehalt der Böden an organischem C für die NERC-Flächen, jedoch nicht für die CWRC-Flächen. [source] Population status and behaviours of the Samoan flying fox (Pteropus samoensis) on Tutuila Island, American SamoaJOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Anne P. Brooke Abstract The small population and limited range of the Samoan flying fox Pteropus samoensis has generated concern regarding the survival of this large, diurnally active bat. During 1995,96, surveys were conducted monthly in six study valleys on Tutuila Island, American Samoa, to assess population size. The amount of diurnal and nocturnal activity was investigated to gauge the accuracy of diurnal surveys, and territorial behaviours were observed to determine how they influenced local dispersion. Individuals showed long-term fidelity to a series of roosts and small core areas that were used both nocturnally and diurnally. Territorial defence was observed only of temporary feeding territories in fruiting or flowering trees. Bats defended food resources by aerial patrols and extended aerial chases in which intruders were frequently bitten. Foraging movements changed seasonally, with up to 80% of individuals observed bypassing study valleys. The mean density of bats observed within the study valleys was 6.1 bats/km2 (range = 0.9,18.5 bats/km2). Pteropus samoensis were active both nocturnally and diurnally with greatest activity in late afternoon and evening, 16:00,22:00. Because bats were most active at night, it is probable that daytime surveys of flying bats undercount the number of individuals present. Greatest densities were found in valleys that were contiguous with large tracts of forest inaccessible to people. Most observations of roosting bats were of solitary males on dead branches that jutted above the forest canopy, while females and dependant young roosted below the canopy, hidden within vegetation. Adult male,female pairs were rarely seen together other than during the mating period in August,January. The population has increased following a ban on hunting, but reliance on mature forest makes long-term species survival dependant on protection of the limited mature forest remaining and continued hunting restrictions. [source] Olyset Net® efficacy against pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus after 3 years' field use in Côte d'IvoireMEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2001R. N'Guessan Summary Pyrethroid-impregnated bednets are advocated for personal protection against malaria vectors. To avoid the need for periodic re-treatment, it would be advantageous to have nets that retain insecticidal efficacy for years and withstand repeated washing. Such a type of commercially produced bednet with permethrin 2% incorporated in polyethylene fibres (trademark Olyset Net® supplied by Sumika Life-Tech Co., Osaka, Japan) was evaluated against mosquitoes in veranda-trap huts at Yaokoffikro, near Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, by standard WHOPES phase II procedures. Four Olyset Nets were compared with a standard untreated polyester net as control. They comprised three examples previously used in a village for over 3 years (one washed, one dirty, one very dirty) and a previously unused Olyset Net, newly unwrapped, from the same original batch. Bioassays with 3 min exposure of susceptible Anopheles gambiae Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) gave >,99% mortality of female mosquitoes tested on the ,new' Olyset Net. The used Olyset Nets gave mortality rates averaging 83% for the washed net, 85% for the dirty net and 55% for the very dirty net (within 24-h following 3 min exposure). Thus, Olyset Nets were found to remain remarkably effective against susceptible An. gambiae for at least 3 years under field conditions. Wild pyrethroid-resistant populations of Culex quinquefasciatus Say and An. gambiae (savanna cytotype with 96% kdr) were assessed during June,August 1999 for their responses to sleepers protected by nets in the experimental huts. With regard to hut entry by foraging female mosquitoes, Olyset Nets showed some deterrency against An. gambiae (44% reduction by the new net, ,20% by the dirty nets, none by the washed net), but not against Cx. quinquefasciatus. Among mosquitoes entering the hut with untreated control net, 30,34% tried to leave (exophily) but were caught in the verandah trap. The permethrin repellency of Olyset Nets increased exophily by 19% for An. gambiae and 14% for Cx. quinquefasciatus. Blood-feeding rates were 16% An. gambiae and 35% Cx. quinquefasciatus in the hut with sleeper under the untreated net (showing considerable prevention of biting), 22,26% of both species in huts with washed or dirty used Olyset Nets (not significantly different from control), while the biting success rate of Cx. quinquefasciatus (but not kdr An. gambiae) was more than halved by the ,new' Olyset Net. Mortality rates of pyrethroid-resistant An. gambiae and Cx. quinquefasciatus from the huts were, respectively, 3% and 8% with the untreated polyester net, 27.5% and 17% with the ,new' Olyset, 15% and 17.5% with the washed Olyset, 16,25% and 17,20% with dirty old Olyset Nets. Kill differences between nets are significantly different for both An. gambiae and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Unfortunately the washed used Olyset Net showed least activity against resistant mosquitoes, despite its greatest activity against susceptible An. gambiae. In each case there was evidence that a high proportion of mosquitoes failed to feed through the net (many of them dying from starvation when they could not leave the closed hut), with indications that dirty Olyset nets enhanced this protective value. [source] Photocatalytic Coatings for Environmental Applications,PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005Norman S. Allen ABSTRACT A series of nano- and micronparticle-grade anatase and rutile titanium dioxide pigments have been prepared with various densities of surface treatments, particle size and surface area. Their photocatalytic activities have been determined in a series of paint films by FTIR, chalking, color, gloss change and weight loss after artificial weathering. The pigments have also been examined by rapid assessment methodologies using photodielectric microwave spectroscopy, 2-propanol oxidation and hydroxyl analysis. The microwave response under light and dark cycles provides an extended timescale probe of chargecarrier dynamics in the pigments. Pigment particle size, surface area and properties clearly play an important role in dispersion and any polymer-pigment interactions. Photooxidation studies on several types of paint films show a clear demarcation between nanoparticle- and pigmentary-grade titanium dioxide, with the former being more active because of their greater degree of catalytic surface activity. The photosensitivity of titanium dioxide is considered to arise from localized sites on the crystal surface (i.e. acidic OH), and occupation of these sites by surface treatments inhibits photoreduction of the pigment by ultraviolet radiation; hence, the destructive oxidation of the binder is inhibited. Coatings containing 2,5% by weight alumina or alumina and silica are satisfactory for generalpurpose paints. If greater resistance to weathering is desired, the pigments are coated more heavily to about 7,10% weight. The coating can consist of a combination of several materials, e.g. alumina, silica, zirconia, aluminum phosphates of other metals. For example, the presence of hydrous alumina particles lowers van der Waals forces between pigments particles by several orders of magnitude, decreasing particle-particle attractions. Hydrous aluminum oxide phases appear to improve dispersibility more effectively than most of the other hydroxides and oxides. Coated nanoparticles are shown to exhibit effective light stabilization in various water- and oilbased paint media in comparison with conventional organic stabilizers. Hindered piperidine stabilizers are shown to provide no additional benefits in this regard, often exhibiting strong antagonism. The use of photocatalytic titania nanoparticles in the development of self-cleaning paints and microbiological surfaces is also demonstrated in this study. In the former case, surface erosion is shown to be controlled by varying the ratio of admixture of durable pigmentary-grade rutile (heavily coated) and a catalytic-grade anatase nanoparticle. For environmental applications in the development of coatings for destroying atmospheric pollutants such as nitrogen oxide gases (NOX), stable substrates are developed with photocatalytic nanoparticle-grade anatase. In this study, porosity of the coatings through calcium carbonate doping is shown to be crucial in the control of the effective destruction of atmospheric NOx gases. For the development of microbiological substrates for the destruction of harmful bacteria, effective nanoparticle anatase titania is shown to be important, with hydrated high surface area particles giving the greatest activity. [source] Evaluation of anticancer activity of the alkaloid fraction of Alstonia scholaris (Sapthaparna) in vitro and in vivoPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 2 2006Ganesh Chandra Jagetia Abstract The anticancer effect of various doses of an alkaloid fraction of Sapthaparna, Alstonia scholaris (ASERS), was studied in vitro in cultured human neoplastic cell lines (HeLa, HepG2, HL60, KB and MCF-7) and in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing mice. Treatment of HeLa cells with 25 µg/mL ASERS resulted in a time dependent increase in the antineoplastic activity and the greatest activity was observed when the cells were exposed to ASERS for 24 h. However, exposure of cells to ASERS for 4 h resulted in 25% viable cells and hence this time interval was considered to be the optimum time for treatment and further studies were carried out using this time. Treatment of various cells with ASERS resulted in a concentration dependent decline in the viable cells and a nadir was reached at 200 µg/mL in all the cell lines studied. The IC50 was found to be 5.53, 25, 11.16, 10 and 29.76 µg/mL for HeLa, HePG2, HL60, KB and MCF-7 cells, respectively. Similarly, administration of ASERS, once daily for 9 consecutive days to the tumor bearing mice caused a dose dependent remission of the tumor up to 240 mg/kg body weight, where the greatest antitumor effect was observed. Since 240 mg/kg ASERS showed toxic manifestations, the next lower dose of 210 mg/kg was considered as the best effective dose, in which 20% of the animals survived up to 120 days post-tumor-cell inoculation as against no survivors in the saline treated control group. The ASERS treatment resulted in a dose dependent elevation in the median survival time (MST) and the average survival time (AST) up to 240 mg/kg ASERS and declined thereafter. The surviving animals were healthy and disease free. The effect of ASERS was better than cyclophosphamide, which was used as a positive control, where all the animals succumbed to death by 40 days and the MST and AST were 19.5 and 18.3 days, respectively. The effective dose of 210 mg of ASERS was 3/10 of the LD50 dose, which increased the MST and AST up to 54 and 49.5 days, respectively. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] CCAAT/ENHANCER binding protein , mediates expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 in human articular chondrocytes in inflammatory arthritisARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 3 2009Mitsumasa Hayashida Objective To determine the function of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein , (C/EBP,) in the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) in chondrocytes in inflammatory arthritis. Methods Cartilage obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis was immunostained for expression of C/EBP, or MMP-13. Interleukin-1,, or tumor necrosis factor , (TNF,),stimulated chondrocytes were subjected to Western blotting and real-time reverse transcriptase,polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). MMP-13 promoter assays were conducted, and the C/EBP, response element was characterized by deletion and mutation analysis. C-28/I2 cells were treated with TNF, and subjected to chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Finally, C/EBP,,liver-enriched activator protein (LAP) was overexpressed in C-28/I2 cells or cartilage tissues, and MMP-13 expression was analyzed. Results C/EBP, and MMP-13 expression was colocalized in chondrocytes in arthritic cartilage. MMP-13 promoter activity was stimulated by C/EBP, overexpression in a dose-dependent manner. Luciferase assays revealed that a ,981-bp promoter had the greatest activity, while deletion to ,936 bp strongly diminished promoter activity. Luciferase activity was repressed to basal levels by mutations in potential C/EBP binding sites. The stimulatory effects of C/EBP, overexpression were diminished by mutation. ChIP assays revealed that TNF, treatment enhanced the binding of C/EBP, to the MMP-13 promoter. When C/EBP,-LAP was overexpressed in C-28/I2 cells, endogenous MMP-13 expression was stimulated up to 32-fold as detected by real-time RT-PCR. Furthermore, following adenoviral overexpression of C/EBP,-LAP in organ culture of articular cartilage, stimulation of MMP-13 was also detected by immunohistochemistry. Conclusion C/EBP, directly binds to the MMP-13 promoter region and stimulates the expression of MMP-13 in chondrocytes in inflammatory arthritis. [source] Strong immunostimulatory activity of AT-oligodeoxynucleotide requires a six-base loop with a self-stabilized 5,-C,G-3, stem structureCELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006Takeshi Shimosato Summary Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2716 has recently been discovered as a probiotic that suppresses the growth of Helicobacter pylori and reduces gastric mucosal inflammation in humans. This has resulted in the development of a new type of probiotic yoghurt ,LG21' in Japan. In our previous study, we found an immunostimulatory AT5ACL oligodeoxynucleotide (AT-ODN) containing a unique core sequence (5,-ATTTTTAC-3,) in L. gasseri JCM1131T. Interestingly, although the AT-ODN does not contain any CpG sequences, it exerts mitogenic activity in B cells and augments Th-1-type immune responses via Toll-like receptor 9. These findings prompted us to identify strong immunostimulatory non-CpG AT-ODNs that contain the 5,-ATTTTTAC-3, motif in the genomic sequence of L. gasseri OLL2716. We identified 280 kinds of AT-ODNs in the L. gasseri OLL2716 genome. Mitogenicity and NF-,B gene reporting assays showed that 13 of the 280 AT-ODNs were strongly immunostimulatory when in the TLR9 transfectant. Of these, AT-ODNs LGAT-145 and LGAT-243 were the most potent. With respect to the induction of Th-1-type cytokines, LGAT-243 had the greatest activity and was more potent than the swine prototype, ODN D25. We further found that a six-base secondary loop structure containing a self-stabilized 5,-C,G-3, stem sequence is important for potent immunostimulatory activity. These results show for the first time that AT-ODNs with a specific loop and stem structure are important factors for immunostimulatory activity. Finally, we found that novel strong immunostimulatory non-CpG AT-ODNs exist in the genome of probiotic lactic acid bacteria. [source] Design of a pH-sensitive pore-forming peptide with improved performanceCHEMICAL BIOLOGY & DRUG DESIGN, Issue 1 2004D.H. Haas Abstract:, GALA is a 30 residue synthetic peptide designed to interact with membranes in a pH-sensitive manner, with potential applications for intracellular drug and gene delivery. Upon reduction of the pH from neutral to acidic, GALA switches from random coil to , -helix, inserts into lipid bilayers, and forms oligomeric pores of defined size. Its simple sequence and well-characterized behavior make the peptide an excellent starting point to explore the effects of sequence on structure, pH sensitivity, and membrane affinity. We describe synthesis and characterization of two derivatives of GALA, termed GALAdel3E and YALA. GALAdel3E has a deletion of three centrally located glutamate residues from GALA, while YALA replaces one glutamate residue with the unusual amino acid 3,5-diiodotyrosine. Both derived peptides retain pH sensitivity, showing no ability to cause leakage of an encapsulated dye from unilamellar vesicles at pH 7.4 but substantial activity at pH 5. Unlike GALA, neither peptide undergoes a conformational change upon reduction of the pH, remaining , -helical throughout. Interestingly, the pH at which the peptides activate is shifted, with GALA becoming active at pH ,5.7, GALAdel3E at pH ,6.2, and YALA at pH ,6.7. Furthermore, the peptides GALAdel3E and YALA show improved activity compared with GALA for cholesterol-containing membranes, with YALA retaining the greatest activity. Improved activity in the presence of cholesterol and onset of activity in the critical range between pH 6 and 7 may make these peptides useful in applications requiring intracellular delivery of macromolecules, such as gene delivery or anti-cancer treatments. [source] | |||||||||||||