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Selected AbstractsSediment transport in a highly regulated fluvial system during two consecutive floods (lower Ebro River, NE Iberian Peninsula)EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 4 2005Damia Vericat Abstract The transfer of sediment through a highly regulated large fluvial system (lower Ebro River) was analysed during two consecutive floods by means of sediment sampling. Suspended sediment and bedload transport were measured upstream and downstream of large reservoirs. The dams substantially altered flood timing, particularly the peaks, which were advanced downstream from the dams for flood control purposes. The suspended sediment yield upstream from the dams was 1 700 000 tonnes, which represented nearly 99 per cent of the total solid yield. The mean concentrations were close to 0·5 g l,1. The sediment yield downstream from the dams was an order of magnitude lower (173 000 tonnes), showing a mean concentration of 0·05 g l,1. The dams captured up to 95 per cent of the fine sediment carried in suspension in the river channel, preventing it from reaching the lowermost reaches of the river and the delta plain. Total bedload transport upstream from the dams was estimated to be about 25 000 tonnes, only 1·5 per cent of the total load. The median bedload rate was 100 gms,1. Below the dams, the river carried 178 000 tonnes, around 51 per cent of the total load, at a mean rate of 250 g ms,1. The results of sediment transport upstream and downstream from the large dams illustrate the magnitude of the sediment deficit in the lower Ebro River. The river mobilized a total of 350 000 tonnes in the downstream reaches, which were not replaced by sediment from upstream. Therefore, sediment was necessarily entrained from the riverbed and channel banks, causing a mean incision of 33 mm over the 27 km long study reach, altogether a significant step towards the long-term degradation of the lower Ebro River. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Wastewater treatment plants as a pathway for aquatic contamination by pharmaceuticals in the Ebro river basin (Northeast Spain)ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2007Meritxell Gros Abstract The occurrence of 28 pharmaceuticals of major human consumption in Spain, including analgesics and anti-inflam-matories, lipid regulators, psychiatric drugs, antibiotics, antihistamines, and ,-blockers, was assessed along the Ebro river basin, one of the biggest irrigated lands in that country. Target compounds were simultaneously analyzed by off-line solid-phase extraction, followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The loads of detected pharmaceuticals and their removal rates were studied in seven wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in the main cities along the basin. Total loads ranged from 2 to 5 and from 0.5 to 1.5 g/d/1,000 inhabitants in influent and effluent wastewaters, respectively. High removal rates (60,90%) were achieved mainly for analgesics and anti-inflammatories. The other groups showed lower rates, ranging from 20 to 60%, and in most cases, the antiepileptic carbamazepine, macrolide antibiotics, and trimethoprim were not eliminated at all. Finally, the contribution of WWTP effluents to the presence of pharmaceuticals in receiving river waters was surveyed. In receiving surface water, the most ubiquitous compounds were the analgesics and anti-inflammatories ibuprofen, diclofenac, and naproxen; the lipid regulators bezafibrate and gemfibrozil; the antibiotics erythromycin, azithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and less frequently, ofloxacin; the antiepileptic carbamazepine; the antihistamine ranitidine; and the ,-blockers atenolol and sotalol. Although levels found in WWTP effluents ranged from low ,g/L to high ng/L, pharmaceuticals in river waters occurred at levels at least one order of magnitude lower (low ng/L range) because of dilution effect. From the results obtained, it was proved that WWTP are hot spots of aquatic contamination concerning pharmaceuticals of human consumption. [source] Carboxydipeptidase activities of recombinant cysteine peptidasesFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 5 2004CPB of Leishmania mexicana, Cruzain of Trypanosoma cruzi The recombinant cysteine peptidases, cruzain from Trypanosoma cruzi and CPB2.8,CTE from Leishmania mexicana, are cathepsin L-like and characteristically endopeptidases. In this study, we characterized the carboxydipeptidase activities of these enzymes and compared them with those of human recombinant cathepsin B and cathepsin L. The analysis used the internally quenched fluorescent peptide Abz-FRFK*-OH and some of its analogues, where Abz is ortho -aminobenzoic acid and K* is (2,4-dinitrophenyl)-,-NH2 -lysine. These peptides were demonstrated to be very sensitive substrates, due to the strong quenching effect of K* on the fluorescence of the Abz group. The carboxydipeptidase activity of cruzain was shown to be very similar to that of cathepsin B, while that of CPB2.8,CTE is closer to the carboxydipeptidase activity of cathepsin L. The S2 subsite architecture of cruzain and the nature of the amino acid at the P2 position of the substrates determine its carboxydipeptidase activity and gives further and direct support to the notion that the carboxydipeptidase activity of the papain family cysteine peptidases rely on the S2,P2 interaction [Nägler D. K., Tam, W., Storer, A.C., Krupa, J.C., Mort, J.S. & Menard, R. (1999) Biochemistry38, 4868,4874]. Cruzain and CPB2.8,CTE presented a broad pH-range for both the endo- and exo-peptidase activities, although the later is approximately one order of magnitude lower. This feature, that is not common in related mammalian cysteine peptidases, is consistent with the enzymes being exposed to different environmental conditions and having different locations during parasite development. [source] NMR Studies of Proton Transport in Anhydrous Polymer Electrolytes for High Temperature Fuel Cells,FUEL CELLS, Issue 3-4 2008H. A. Every Abstract This paper presents an NMR study of the dynamic processes related to proton transport in a new polymer consisting of two blocks , poly(2,6-diphenylphenol) (P3O) and an imidazole functionalised poly(2,6-dimethylphenol) (imi-PPE) , and subsequently doped with polyphosphoric acid (PPA). From 1H and 31P NMR relaxation and diffusion measurements of the individual homopolymers and block copolymer, it was observed that addition of PPA significantly enhanced the mobility of imi-PPE and the imi-block copolymer, but not of P3O. The similarity in 1H T2 values between imi-PPE and the imi-block copolymer suggests that the relaxation behaviour in the block copolymer is dominated by the imi-PPE phase. 1H diffusion in P3O and the imi-block copolymer were comparable to pure PPA, suggesting that the proton diffusion is similar in each case. For imi-PPE, the diffusion coefficients were several orders of magnitude lower, reflecting a restricted diffusion process that is not indicative of the proton mobility. For all three polymers, the 31P T2 relaxation behaviour and inability to measure 31P diffusion coefficients imply hindered translational motion of the phosphonate groups. From these results, it can be concluded that hydrogen bonds between the phosphoric acid and the polymer form a network that facilitates proton transport via a hopping mechanism. [source] Carbon emission and sequestration by agricultural land use: a model study for EuropeGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2002L. M. Vleeshouwers Abstract A model was developed to calculate carbon fluxes from agricultural soils. The model includes the effects of crop (species, yield and rotation), climate (temperature, rainfall and evapotranspiration) and soil (carbon content and water retention capacity) on the carbon budget of agricultural land. The changes in quality of crop residues and organic material as a result of changes in CO2 concentration and changed management were not considered in this model. The model was parameterized for several arable crops and grassland. Data from agricultural, meteorological, soil, and land use databases were input to the model, and the model was used to evaluate the effects of different carbon dioxide mitigation measures on soil organic carbon in agricultural areas in Europe. Average carbon fluxes under the business as usual scenario in the 2008,2012 commitment period were estimated at 0.52 tC ha,1 y,1 in grassland and ,0.84 tC ha,1 y,1 in arable land. Conversion of arable land to grassland yielded a flux of 1.44 tC ha,1 y,1. Farm management related activities aiming at carbon sequestration ranged from 0.15 tC ha,1 y,1 for the incorporating of straw to 1.50 tC ha,1 y,1 for the application of farmyard manure. Reduced tillage yields a positive flux of 0.25 tC ha,1 y,1. The indirect effect associated with climate was an order of magnitude lower. A temperature rise of 1 °C resulted in a ,0.05 tC ha,1 y,1 change whereas the rising CO2 concentrations gave a 0.01 tC ha,1 y,1 change. Estimates are rendered on a 0.5 × 0.5° grid for the commitment period 2008,2012. The study reveals considerable regional differences in the effectiveness of carbon dioxide abatement measures, resulting from the interaction between crop, soil and climate. Besides, there are substantial differences between the spatial patterns of carbon fluxes that result from different measures. [source] Determining long time-scale hyporheic zone flow paths in Antarctic streamsHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 9 2003Michael N. Gooseff Abstract In the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, glaciers are the source of meltwater during the austral summer, and the streams and adjacent hyporheic zones constitute the entire physical watershed; there are no hillslope processes in these systems. Hyporheic zones can extend several metres from each side of the stream, and are up to 70 cm deep, corresponding to a lateral cross-section as large as 12 m2, and water resides in the subsurface year around. In this study, we differentiate between the near-stream hyporheic zone, which can be characterized with stream tracer experiments, and the extended hyporheic zone, which has a longer time-scale of exchange. We sampled stream water from Green Creek and from the adjacent saturated alluvium for stable isotopes of D and 18O to assess the significance and extent of stream-water exchange between the streams and extended hyporheic zones over long time-scales (days to weeks). Our results show that water residing in the extended hyporheic zone is much more isotopically enriched (up to 11, D and 2·2, 18O) than stream water. This result suggests a long residence time within the extended hyporheic zone, during which fractionation has occurred owing to summer evaporation and winter sublimation of hyporheic water. We found less enriched water in the extended hyporheic zone later in the flow season, suggesting that stream water may be exchanged into and out of this zone, on the time-scale of weeks to months. The transient storage model OTIS was used to characterize the exchange of stream water with the extended hyporheic zone. Model results yield exchange rates (,) generally an order magnitude lower (10,5 s,1) than those determined using stream-tracer techniques on the same stream. In light of previous studies in these streams, these results suggest that the hyporheic zones in Antarctic streams have near-stream zones of rapid stream-water exchange, where ,fast' biogeochemical reactions may influence water chemistry, and extended hyporheic zones, in which slower biogeochemical reaction rates may affect stream-water chemistry at longer time-scales. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Implications of foliar terpene content and hydration on leaf flammability of Quercus ilex and Pinus halepensisPLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2008G. A. Alessio Abstract We investigated the implications of foliar hydration and terpene content on leaf flammability in two widely distributed forest species of the Mediterranean basin, Quercus ilex, which does not store terpenes, and Pinus halepensis, a terpene-storing species. The experiments were carried out in plants grown under different water regimes that generated a wide range of foliar hydration and terpene contents. We monitored the temperatures and time elapsed to reach the smoke, pyrolysis and flame phases. Smoke appeared much earlier (37 versus 101 s) and at lower temperatures (96 versus 139 °C) in Quercus ilex than in Pinus halepensis. Quercus ilex reached pyrolysis earlier than Pinus halepensis (278 versus 338 s) but at the same temperature (365,371 °C). There were no significant differences in time elapsed nor in temperature for flammability (386,422 s; 505,487 °C in both species). Quercus ilex had lower water hydration than Pinus halepensis (41 versus 100%) and the leaf content of terpenes in Quercus was three orders of magnitude lower. The results of this study show no differences in the flame phase between the two species and the absence of a significant relationship between temperature and elapsed time of the different flammability phases in relation to monoterpene content; thus indicating that the role of monoterpenes in flammability phases is smaller than that of the water content. This, however, does not exclude the effects of terpene content on plant combustibility and fire propagation once fires start. [source] Differential Role of Naïve and Memory CD4+ T-Cell Subsets in Primary AlloresponsesAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 8 2010D. Golshayan The T cell response to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) alloantigens occurs via two main pathways. The direct pathway involves the recognition of intact allogeneic MHC:peptide complexes on donor cells and provokes uniquely high frequencies of responsive T cells. The indirect response results from alloantigens being processed like any other protein antigen and presented as peptide by autologous antigen-presenting cells. The frequencies of T cells with indirect allospecificity are orders of magnitude lower and comparable to other peptide-specific responses. In this study, we explored the contributions of naïve and memory CD4+ T cells to these two pathways. Using an adoptive transfer and skin transplantation model we found that naive and memory CD4+ T cells, both naturally occurring and induced by sensitization with multiple third-party alloantigens, contributed equally to graft rejection when only the direct pathway was operative. In contrast, the indirect response was predominantly mediated by the naïve subset. Elimination of regulatory CD4+CD25+ T cells enabled memory cells to reject grafts through the indirect pathway, but at a much slower tempo than for naïve cells. These findings have implications for better targeting of immunosuppression to inhibit immediate and later forms of alloimmunity. [source] Synthesis of a New Seleninic Acid Anhydride and Mechanistic Studies into Its Glutathione Peroxidase ActivityCHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 23 2008Sun-Chol Yu Dr. Abstract Starting from low toxic salicyloylglycine, a new seleninic acid anhydride 7 that lacks Se,,,N or Se,,,O non-bonded interactions was synthesized. This compound exhibits a fourfold higher glutathione peroxidase-like (GPx-like) activity than ebselen and inhibits plant and mammalian 12/15-lipoxygenases at lower micromolar concentrations. Because of these pharmacological properties, 7 may constitute a new lead compound for the development of anti-inflammatory low-molecular-weight seleno-organic compounds. Analyzing the redox products of 7 with glutathione (GSH) and tBuOOH, we identified three potential catalytic cycles (A, B, C) of GPx-like activity that are interconnected by key metabolites. To study the relative contribution of these cycles to the catalytic activity, we prepared selected reaction intermediates and found that the activity of seleninic acid anhydride 7 and of the corresponding diselenide 11 and selenol 14 compounds were in the same range. In contrast, the GPx-like activity of monoselenide 9 was more than one order of magnitude lower. These data suggested that cycles A and B may constitute the major routes of GPx-like activity of 7, whereas cycle C may not significantly contribute to catalysis. [source] | |||||||||||||