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Predominant Species (predominant + species)
Selected AbstractsComparison of three pyrethroid treatments of top-sheets for malaria control in emergencies: entomological and user acceptance studies in an Afghan refugee camp in PakistanMEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2002K. Graham Abstract Insecticide-treated bedding materials (sheets and blankets) could be protective against vectors of malaria and leishmaniasis , especially in complex emergencies, epidemics and natural disasters where people are more likely to sleep in exposed situations. Comparison of cotton top-sheets impregnated with different pyrethroids (permethrin 500 mg/m2, deltamethrin 25 mg/m2 or alphacypermethrin 25 mg/m2) for effectiveness against mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) was undertaken in a refugee camp in Pakistan. Predominant species encountered were Anopheles stephensi Liston, An. pulcherrimus Theobald, An. nigerrimus Giles, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus Giles and other culicine mosquitoes. All three pyrethroid treatments performed significantly better than the untreated sheets in deterrence and killing of mosquitoes. No significant differences were found between the three insecticides tested in terms of entomological effect. Washing of the treated sheets greatly reduced their effectiveness. In a user acceptance study conducted among 88 families (divided into four groups), six families complained of irritation of the skin and mucous membranes. Of these reports, one was from the placebo group (using untreated sheets) and the other five (5/22 = 23%) from families using deltamethrin-treated sheets. All families allocated to permethrin and alphacypermethrin groups declared an appreciation for the intervention and reported no side-effects. Ten of the placebo group disliked the intervention, citing no prevention of mosquito biting as the reason. Side-effects associated with deltamethrin indicate that alphacypermethrin and permethrin are more appropriate first choice insecticides for treatment of sheets and blankets. [source] Interspecific and intraspecific differences in two Liriomyza leafminer species in CaliforniaENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 2 2002Stuart R. Reitz Abstract In recent years, the pest status of Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) and L. huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) has changed in California, as well as other areas of the world. In California, L. huidobrensis has become the predominant Liriomyza species in valleys along the central coast, while L. trifolii remains the predominant species in southern California. To investigate possible reasons for this change in status, differences in host plant use and reproductive success of intraspecific populations were examined for Liriomyza trifolii and L. huidobrensis from both central and southern California. The southern L. trifolii fed, oviposited and reproduced successfully on all five hosts tested, but the central population fed significantly less on all hosts and was restricted to reproducing on pepper only. With the exception of pepper, southern L. trifolii had significantly greater larval survival on all hosts than central L. trifolii. In contrast, the central L. huidobrensis population had greater reproductive success than the southern population of that species on all hosts plants tested. However, pepper was not a suitable host for either L. huidobrensis population. Both species showed positive assortative mating, with homotypic mating occurring more frequently than heterotypic mating; however, the difference between L. trifolii populations was much more pronounced than between L. huidobrensis populations. These data indicate that central and southern California populations of each species are distinct biotypes. Furthermore when coupled with previous genetic data, our results suggest the possible existence of cryptic species within L. trifolii. [source] Binding of ciprofloxacin by humic substances: A molecular dynamics studyENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2010Ludmilla Aristilde Abstract A comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of antimicrobials released into the environment requires an understanding of their sequestration by natural particles. Of particular interest are the strong interactions of antimicrobials with natural organic matter (NOM), which are believed to reduce their bioavailability, retard their abiotic and biotic degradation, and facilitate their persistence in soils and aquatic sediments. Molecular dynamics (MD) relaxation studies of a widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotic, ciprofloxacin (Cipro), interacting with a model humic substance (HS) in a hydrated environment, were performed to elucidate the mechanisms of these interactions. Specifically, a zwitterionic Cipro molecule, the predominant species at circumneutral pH, was reacted either with protonated HS or deprotonated HS bearing Ca, Mg, or Fe(II) cations. The HS underwent conformational changes through rearrangements of its hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions and disruption of its intramolecular H-bonds to facilitate favorable intermolecular H-bonding interactions with Cipro. Complexation of the metal cations with HS carboxylates appeared to impede binding of the positively charged amino group of Cipro with these negatively charged HS complexation sites. On the other hand, an outer-sphere complex between Cipro and the HS-bound cation led to ternary Cipro,metal,HS complexes in the case of Mg,HS and Fe(II),HS, but no such bridging interaction occurred with Ca,HS. The results suggested that the ionic potential (valence/ionic radius) of the divalent cation may be a determining factor in the formation of the ternary complex, with high ionic potential favoring the bridging interaction. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:90,98. © 2009 SETAC [source] Avian distribution in treefall gaps and understorey of terra firme forest in the lowland AmazonIBIS, Issue 1 2005JOSEPH M. WUNDERLE JR We compared the bird distributions in the understorey of treefall gaps and sites with intact canopy in Amazonian terra firme forest in Brazil. We compiled 2216 mist-net captures (116 species) in 32 gap and 32 forest sites over 22.3 months. Gap habitats differed from forest habitats in having higher capture rates, total captures, species richness and diversity. Seventeen species showed a significantly different distribution of captures between the two habitats (13 higher in gap and four higher in forest). Gap habitats had higher capture rates for nectarivores, frugivores and insectivores. Among insectivores, capture rates for solitary insectivores and army ant followers did not differ between the two habitats. In contrast, capture rates were higher in gaps for members of mixed-species insectivore flocks and mixed-species insectivore,frugivore flocks. Insectivores, especially members of mixed-species flocks, were the predominant species in gap habitats, where frugivores and nectarivores were relatively uncommon. Although few canopy species were captured in gap or forest habitats, visitors from forest mid-storey constituted 42% of the gap specialist species (0% forest) and 46% of rare gap species (38% forest). Insectivore, and total, captures increased over time, but did so more rapidly in gap than in forest habitats, possibly as a response to gap succession. However, an influx of birds displaced by nearby timber harvest also may have caused these increases. Avian gap-use in Amazonian terra firme forests differs from gap-use elsewhere, partly because of differences in forest characteristics such as stature and soil fertility, indicating that the avian response to gaps is context dependent. [source] Surveys of rodent-borne disease in Thailand with a focus on scrub typhus assessmentINTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2008Kriangkrai Lerdthusnee Abstract The epidemiology of many rodent-borne diseases in South-East Asia remains ill-defined. Scrub typhus and lep-tospirosis are common and medically significant, while other zoonotic diseases, such as spotted fever group Rickettsiae have been identified, but their overall medical significance is unknown. Rodent surveillance was conducted from June 2002 to July 2004 in 18 provinces from Thailand. Traps were set up for one to three nights. Blood and serum samples and animal tissue samples (liver, spleen, kidney and urinary bladder) were collected. Chiggermites, ticks and fleas were removed from captured rodents. A total of 4536 wild-caught rodents from 27 species were captured over two years of animal trapping. Rattus rattus was the dominant species, followed by Rattus exulans and Bandicota indica. Almost 43 000 ectoparasites were removed from the captured animals. Approximately 98% of the ectoparasites were chigger-mites, of which 46% belonged to the genus Leptotrombidium (scrub typhus vector). Other genera included Schoengastia and Blankaartia. Tick and flea specimens together comprised less than 1% of the sample. Among the five species of ticks collected, Haemaphysalis bandicota was the predominant species caught, followed by Ixodes granulatus other Haemaphysalis spp., Rhipicephalus spp. and Dermacentor spp. Only two species of fleas were collected and Xenopsylla cheopis (rat flea) was the predominant species. Using both commercial diagnostic kits and in-house molecular assays, animal tissue samples were examined and screened for zoonotic diseases. Seven zoonotic diseases were detected: scrub typhus, leptospirosis, murine typhus, tick typhus, bartonella, babesiosis and trypanosomiasis. Most samples were positive for scrub typhus. Other zoonotic diseases still under investigation include borrelosis, ehrlichiosis, the plague, and other rickettsial diseases. Using geographic information systems, global positioning systems and remote sensing technology, epidemiological and environmental data were combined to assess the relative risk in different biotopes within highly endemic areas of scrub typhus in Thailand. [source] The reactivity of Ni(II) toward aspartic and glutamic monohydroxamatesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL KINETICS, Issue 9 2006Fawzia Al-Sogair The formation of complexes of Ni(II) with aspartic and glutamic acid hydroxamates was determined by potentiometric methods at I = 0.15 M NaCl and T = 25°C. The equilibrium study of Ni(II) with ASX or GLX revealed that the predominant species formed in solution were (M:L:H+): (1:1:0), (1:1:1), (2:1:0), and (2:1:1) in the whole pH range (,3,11). The formation of polymeric species was not observed. The octahedral structures were predicted in which the ligands act as tridentate ligands. The kinetics of complex formation between Ni(II) with ASX system as well as Ni(II) with GLX were also studied in a wide pH range. The observed rate constants for the Ni(II)-hydroxamates were found to be dependent on the total concentration of hydroxamates at a given pH through the following relations: kobs = Y0 + Z(TASX) and kobs = Y0 + Z(TGLX) + W(TGLX)2. The trans effect of the hydroxyl group present in the reacting species of Ni(OH)+ as well as a ring closure resulted from ligand chelation are introduced as explanations for the rate constants obtained for the reactions of Ni(II) with ASX or GLX. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 540,552, 2006 [source] Characterization of enterococci populations collected from a subsurface flow constructed wetlandJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2010A.K. Graves Abstract Aims:, The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the population of Enterococcus sp. in domestic wastewater as it flows through a constructed wetland. Methods and Results:, Four hundred and eighty-four Enterococcus isolates were collected from the inlet, various sites within and from the outlet of a plastic lined constructed wetland in College Station, TX. The wetland treated septic tank effluent that passed sequentially through two 1·89 m3 septic tanks and a 1·89 m3 pump tank allowing 48 l doses at a 24 l min,1 rate. The Enterococcus isolates were identified to species using the commercial Biolog system. The 484 Enterococcus isolates were comprised of ten different species, including Enterococcus faecalis (30·6%), Enterococcus pseudoavium (24·0%), Enterococcus casseliflavus (12·8%), Enterococcus faecium (11·2%), Enterococcus mundtii (7·9%), Enterococcus gallinarum (6·2%), Enterococcus dispar (3·7%), Enterococcus hirae (2·1%), Enterococcus durans and Enterococcus flavescens both 0·8%. Of the 88 isolates collected from the inlet, only 9·1% of the isolates were identified as Ent. faecalis and Ent. pseudoavium (36·4%) was identified as the predominant species. Whereas of the 74 isolates collected from the outlet, the predominant species were identified as Ent. faecalis (29·7%). Species identification varied among sites within the wetland, but often Ent. faecalis was the predominant species. Conclusions:, Our data suggest that while Ent. faecalis is the predominant species of Enterococcus found in domestic wastewater, the populations may shift during treatment as the wastewater flows through the constructed wetland. Significance and Impact of the Study:, We found that shifts in Enterococcus species composition occurred during domestic wastewater treatment. This has implications for the identification of faecal pollution based on the presence of specific bacterial types associated with domestic wastewater. [source] Descriptive biogeography of Tomicus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) species in SpainJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 12 2004D. Gallego Abstract Aim, location,Tomicus (Coleoptera, Scolytidae) species are some of the principal pests of Eurasian forest and are represented by three coexisting species in Spain, Tomicus piniperda (Linnaeus, 1758), Tomicus destruens (Wollaston, 1865) and Tomicus minor (Harting, 1834). The distribution of two taxa are unknown as they have until recently been considered separate species. Therefore, we model the potential distribution centres and establish the potential distribution limits of Tomicus species in Iberia. We also assess the effectiveness of different models by comparing predicted results with observed data. These results will have application in forest pest management. Methods, Molecular and morphological techniques were used to identify species from 254 specimens of 81 plots. For each plot, a Geographical Information System was used to extract a set of 14 environmental (one topographic, six climatic) and biotic variables (seven host tree distributions). General Additive Models and Ecological Niche Factor Analysis models are applied for modelling and predicting the potential distribution of the three especies of Tomicus. Results, The results of both modelling methodologies are in agreement. Tomicus destruens is the predominant species in Spain, living in low and hot areas. Tomicus piniperda occurs in lower frequency and prefers wet and cold areas of north-central Spain. We detected sympatric populations of T. destruens and T. piniperda in Northern coast of Spain, infesting mainly P. pinaster. Tomicus minor is the rarest species, and it occupies a fragmented distribution located in high and wet areas. The remarkable biotic variable is the distribution of P. sylvestris, incorporated into the models of T. destruens and T. piniperda. Main conclusions, These results indicate that in wet areas of north-central Spain where T. piniperda occurs (and possibly the high altitudes of the southern mountains), T. destruens has a climatic distribution limit. In the northern border of this area, both species overlap their distributions and some co-occurrences were detected. Tomicus minor potentially occurs in high and wet fragmented areas. [source] Ability of stress-related volatiles to attract and induce attacks by Xylosandrus germanus and other ambrosia beetlesAGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Christopher M. Ranger 1Xylosandrus germanus typically colonizes physiologically-stressed deciduous hosts but it is increasingly being recognized as a key pest of ornamental nursery stock. We tested the attractiveness of common plant stress-related volatiles to ambrosia beetles occupying the nursery agroecosystem, as well as their ability to induce attacks on selected trees. Experiments were conducted in Ohio, U.S.A. 2Stress volatile attractiveness was first assessed by positioning traps baited with acetaldehyde, acetone, ethanol and methanol in ornamental nurseries. Cumulative trap counts confirmed that ethanol was the most attractive stress-related volatile to X. germanus. Methanol-baited traps were slightly attractive to X. germanus, whereas traps baited with acetaldehyde and acetone were not attractive to any ambrosia beetle. 3A series of tree injection experiments were also conducted to determine the ability of these volatiles to induce attacks by ambrosia beetles under field conditions. Injection of ethanol into Magnolia virginiana induced the largest number of attacks, whereas injection of acetaldehyde induced more attacks than methanol or acetone. Xylosandrus germanus was the most predominant species emerging from M. virginiana injected with each of the stress-related volatiles. No attacks by wood-boring beetles were observed on water injected or uninjected control trees. 4Solid-phase microextraction,gas chromatography,mass spectrometry confirmed the emission of acetaldehyde, acetone, ethanol and methanol after their injection into M. virginiana. 5Xylosandrus germanus has an efficient olfactory-based mechanism for differentiating among host volatile cues. Injecting select trees with stress-related volatiles, particularly ethanol, shows promise as a trap tree strategy for X. germanus and other ambrosia beetles. [source] Molecular typing and epidemiology of non-polio enteroviruses isolated from Yunnan Province, the People's Republic of ChinaJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 4 2008Tian Bingjun Abstract This report presents an overview of human enteroviruses in Yunnan Province, the People's Republic of China. A total of 210 non-polioviruses isolated under acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance during a total study period of 5 years,1997 to 2000 and 2004,were examined. Of the 210 non-poliovirus isolates, 12 adenoviruses were serologically identified, and the remaining 198 isolates were used for molecular typing. The viral genomes of 195 non-polio enteroviruses (NPEVs) on VP1 partial region of virus capsid were translated to the corresponding amino acid sequences; these were compared with those of prototype strains. Based on molecular typing, 5 isolates were classified into 5 serotypes of the human enterovirus A species, 158 isolates, into 35 serotypes of the human enterovirus B species; and 32 isolates, into 6 serotypes of the human enterovirus C species. Viruses belonging to the human enterovirus D species were not isolated. Thus, under AFP surveillance, the human enterovirus B species accounted for 75.2% of the 210 isolates, and it was considered the predominant species. This was followed by human enterovirus C (12.2%), adenovirus (5.7%), and human enterovirus A (2.4%). Further, molecular analysis suggested that several serotypes of human enteroviruses B and C that exhibited genetic polymorphism were indigenous. Molecular typing methods may aid in understanding the epidemiology of NPEVs in Yunnan Province. J. Med. Virol. 80:670,679, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Biomass accumulation and clogging in trickle-bed bioreactorsAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 10 2004Ion Iliuta Abstract Excessive biomass formation in two-phase flow trickle-bed bioreactors induces clogging and leads to the progressive obstruction of the bed that is accompanied with a buildup in pressure drop and flow channeling. Currently, physical models linking the two-phase flow to the space-time evolution of biological clogging are virtually nonexistent. An attempt has been made with this contribution to fill in this gap by developing a unidirectional dynamic multiphase flow model based on the volume-average mass, momentum, and species balance equations. Phenol biodegradation by Pseudomonas putida as the predominant species immobilized on activated carbon was chosen as a case study to illustrate the consequences of formation of excessive amounts of biomass. Furthermore, in developing the transient model, the following basic processes were assumed to occur and have been accounted for in the mathematical model: oxygen transport from gas into liquid bulks, phenol, and oxygen transport from the liquid phase to the biofilm surface, simultaneous diffusion and reaction of phenol and oxygen within biofilm, as well as their simultaneous diffusion and adsorption within the porous supporting particles. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50: 2541,2551, 2004 [source] Arsenic accumulation by rice grown in soil treated with roxarsoneJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2009Chen-Wuing Liu Abstract Poultry litter is widely used as a fertilizer for lowland rice in Taiwan and China. However, the organic-arsenic compound roxarsone (additive of poultry feed) in poultry litter can be absorbed by the plants and the resulting arsenic (As) contamination may pose a serious threat to human health. This study used various amounts of poultry litter contaminated with roxarsone in pot experiments to evaluate the effect of roxarsone on rice agronomic parameters and the bioaccumulation of total and inorganic As in rice-plant tissues. Rice-grain yield decreased significantly with increasing As content of the soil, and the critical threshold that killed rice was 200 mg roxarsone (kg soil),1. The As concentrations in root, straw, leaf, husk, and grain increased with increasing soil As (p < 1%). At 100 mg roxarsone per,kg of soil, the As concentration in the rice grain exceeded the statutory permissible limit of 1.0 mg As (kg dry weight),1 and at 25 mg roxarsone (kg soil),1, the inorganic As concentrations in grains exceeded the statutory limit of 0.15 mg of inorganic As,kg,1 in China. For all treatments, the As concentrations in various plant tissues at maturity follow the order: root > stem > leaf > husk > grain. Arsenite was the predominant species in root, straw, and grain, while arsenate was the predominant species in leaf and husk. No significant difference existed between the amounts of arsenite and arsenate when various amounts of poultry litter were applied. This result illustrates that large amounts of added roxarsone are not only toxic to rice but also accumulate in grains in the inorganic As forms, potentially posing a threat to human health via the food chain. [source] Influence of baking enzymes on antimicrobial activity of five bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances produced by lactic acid bacteria isolated from Lithuanian sourdoughsLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2008V. Narbutaite Abstract Aim:, To evaluate the effect of four different baking enzymes on the inhibitory activity of five bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS) produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from Lithuanian sourdoughs. Methods and Results:, The overlay assay and the Bioscreen methods revealed that the five BLIS exhibited an inhibitory effect against spore germination and vegetative outgrowth of Bacillus subtilis, the predominant species causing ropiness in bread. The possibility that the observed antibacterial activity of BLIS might be lost after treatment with enzymes used for baking purposes was also examined. Conclusions:, The enzymes tested; hemicellulase, lipase, amyloglucosidase and amylase had little or no effect on the majority of the antimicrobial activities associated with the five BLIS studied. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This study suggests a potential application in the sourdough baking industry for these antimicrobial producing LAB strains in the control of B. subtilis spore germination and vegetative outgrowth. [source] Trends in species causing fungaemia in a tertiary care medical centre over 12 yearsMYCOSES, Issue 11-12 2001Preeti N. Malani Candida albicans; Candida glabrata; Fungämie; Candidämie; Fluconazol. Summary., Trends in the species of yeast causing fungaemia over a 12-year period at a large tertiary care medical centre were reviewed. A total of 966 unique episodes of fungaemia occurred in 898 patients. There was an overall trend toward fewer fungaemic episodes due to Candida albicans and more due to Candida glabrata and Candida parapsilosis. However, C. albicans remained the predominant species causing fungaemia, and the proportion due to other species varied from year to year. Candida glabrata was disproportionately isolated from older adults, whereas C. parapsilosis was common among neonates and infants. The trends of increasing isolation of C. glabrata and decreasing isolation of C. albicans were associated with increasing usage of fluconazole, but changes in the proportion of fungaemias due to other species appeared to have no association with fluconazole usage. Zusammenfassung., U¨ber eine 12-Jahresperiode hin wurden in einer Großklinik die Hefeisolate von Funga¨mie-Patienten statistisch erfasst. Bei 898 Patienten wurden 966 Funga¨mie-Episoden beobachtet. Insgesamt zeigte sich ein Trend zu weniger Funga¨mie-Episoden durch Candida albicans und zu mehr durch Candida glabrata und Candida parapsilosis. Trotzdem blieb C. albicans die dominante Art als Funga¨mie-Erreger; der Anteil anderer Hefearten variierte von Jahr zu Jahr. Candida glabrata wurde relativ ha¨ufiger von a¨lteren Patienten isoliert, C. parapsilosis ha¨ufiger von Neugeborenen und Kindern. Die Trends zunehmender Isolierung von C. glabrata und sinkender Isolierungsha¨ufigkeit von C. albicans waren mit dem steigenden Einsatz von Fluconazol assoziiert. A¨nderungen in den Anteilen der Funga¨mie-Fa¨lle durch andere Arten zeigten jedoch keine Beziehung zum Fluonazol-Einsatz. [source] Electrochemical preparation of MoO3 buffer layer deposited onto the anode in organic solar cellsPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 8 2010M. Gacitua Abstract In this work the authors have studied the advantages of using electrochemically deposited molybdenum oxide as a buffer layer in an organic bilayer heterojunction solar cell arrangement. Furthermore, it has been probed that electrochemistry provides an alternative low cost, reproducible and less laborious method to prepare thin layered deposits. The precursor solution is composed by a concentrated molybdic acid solution in a sulphuric media in order to ensure the obtainment of low reduced molybdenum species. Therefore, by means of potentiostatic techniques, ITO/molybdenum oxide transparent anodes were tested for the photovoltaic device showing improved surface properties. XDR and AFM techniques were used to characterize the morphology of the deposits. The films with optimum thickness (5,nm) are amorphous. XPS analysis indicates that the best results in solar cell performance are in hand with a heterogeneous composition of the molybdenum oxide film presenting MoV and MoVI as predominant species. The MoO3 films deposited by cyclic voltammetry are not as homogeneous as those deposited by potentiostatic technique and only MoVI species are present. These differences may justify the different behaviour of the solar cells using these different buffer layers. Only buffer layers deposited by potentiostatic technique allow improving the cells performances in the same way than those achieved by evaporation. [source] Increased aggregation propensity of IgG2 subclass over IgG1: Role of conformational changes and covalent character in isolated aggregatesPROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 9 2010Heather Franey Abstract Aggregation of human therapeutic antibodies represents a significant hurdle to product development. In a test across multiple antibodies, it was observed that IgG1 antibodies aggregated less, on average, than IgG2 antibodies under physiological pH and mildly elevated temperature. This phenomenon was also observed for IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses of anti-streptavidin, which shared 95% sequence identity but varied in interchain disulfide connectivity. To investigate the structural and covalent changes associated with greater aggregation in IgG2 subclasses, soluble aggregates from the two forms of anti-streptavidin were isolated and characterized. Sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation (SV-AUC) measurements confirmed that the aggregates were present in solution, and revealed that the IgG1 aggregate was composed of a predominant species, whereas the IgG2 aggregate was heterogeneous. Tertiary structural changes accompanied antibody aggregation as evidenced by greater ANS (8-Anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid) binding to the aggregates over monomer, and differences in disulfide character and tryptophan environments between monomer, oligomer and aggregate species, as observed by near-UV circular dichroism (CD). Differences between subclasses were observed in the secondary structural changes that accompanied aggregation, particularly in the intermolecular ,-sheet and turn structures between the monomer and aggregate species. Free thiol determination showed ,2.4-fold lower quantity of free cysteines in the IgG1 subclass, consistent with the 2.4-fold reduction in aggregation of the IgG1 form when compared with IgG2 under these conditions. These observations suggested an important role for disulfide bond formation, as well as secondary and tertiary structural transitions, during antibody aggregation. Such degradations may be minimized using appropriate formulation conditions. [source] Spontaneous Vegetation on Overburden Piles in the Coal Basin of Santa Catarina, BrazilRESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Robson Dos Santos Abstract The objective of this work was to select indigenous vegetal species for restoration programs aiming at the regeneration of ombrophilous dense forest. Thirty-five spoil piles located in the county of Sideropolis, Santa Catarina, that received overburden disposal for 39 years (1950,1989) were selected for study because they exhibited remarkable spontaneous regrowth of trees compared to surrounding spoil piles. Floristic inventory covered the whole area of the 35 piles, whereas survey on phytosociology and natural regeneration studies were conducted in 70 plots distributed along the 35 piles. Floristic inventory recorded 83 species from 28 botanical families. Herbaceous terricolous plants constituted the predominant species (47.0%), followed by shrubs (26.5%), trees (19.3%), and vines (7.2%). Results from surveys on phytosociology and natural regeneration, focused on shrubs and trees, recorded incipient ecological succession. In addition, the most adapted species recorded on the overburden piles, as ranked by index of natural regeneration (RNT) plus importance value index (IVI), were as follows: Clethra scabra (RNT = 23.93%; IVI = 17.28%), Myrsine coriacea (RNT = 20.93%, IVI = 11.26%), Eupatorium intermedium (RNT = 7.56%, IVI = 0.40%), Miconia ligustroides (RNT = 5.84%, IVI = 2.37%), Ossaea amygdaloides (RNT = 3.84%, IVI = 1.30%), Tibouchina sellowiana (RNT = 3.29%, IVI = 1.94%), Eup. inulaefolium (RNT = 2.65%, IVI = 0.80%), and Baccharis dracunculifolia (RNT = 2.28%; IVI = 0.56%). High values of IVI and RNT exhibited by the exotic species Eucalyptus saligna (IVI = 21.73%, RNT = 51.41%) indicated strong competition between exotic and indigenous species. Severe chemical (acidic pH and lack of nutrients) and physical (coarse substrate and slope angle of 40,50°) characteristics displayed by the overburden piles constituted limitations to floristic diversity and size of indigenous trees, indicating the need for substrate reclamation prior to forest restoration. [source] Brevican in the developing hippocampal fimbria: Differential expression in myelinating oligodendrocytes and adult astrocytes suggests a dual role for brevican in central nervous system fiber tract developmentTHE JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2001Tokiko Ogawa Abstract Brevican is one of the most abundant extracellular matrix proteoglycans in the mammalian brain. We have previously shown that brevican produced by gray matter astrocytes constitutes a major component of perineuronal extracellular matrix in the adult brain. In this paper, we investigate the expression of brevican in the postnatal hippocampal fimbria to explore the role of the proteoglycan in central nervous system fiber tract development. We demonstrate that brevican is expressed by both oligodendrocytes and white matter astrocytes in the fimbria, but the expression of brevican in these two glial cell types is differently regulated during development. At P14, brevican immunoreactivity was observed throughout the fimbria, with particularly strong immunoreactivity in the developing interfascicular glial rows. In situ hybridization showed that oligodendrocytes in the glial rows strongly express brevican during the second and third postnatal weeks. Expression in oligodendrocytes was then down-regulated after P21. In the adult fimbria, no brevican expression was observed in oligodendrocytes. The time window of brevican expression coincides with the phase in which immature oligodendrocytes actively extend membrane processes and enwrap axon fibers. In contrast, the expression in astrocytes started around P21 as oligodendrocytes began to down-regulate the expression. In the adult fimbria, brevican expression was restricted to astrocytes. In situ hybridization with isoform-specific probes and RNase protection assays showed that the authentic, secreted form of brevican, not the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored variant, is the predominant species expressed in the developing fimbria. Our results suggest that brevican plays a dual role in developing and adult fiber tracts. J. Comp. Neurol. 432:285,295, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Cryptosporidium Species and Genotypes in HIV-Positive Patients in Lima, PeruTHE JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2003Vitaliano A. Cama ABSTRACT: Cryptosporidium parasites from a cross-sectional study conducted in two national hospitals in Lima, Peru were genetically characterized to deteimine the diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in HIV-positive people. A total of 2,672 patients participated in this study and provided 13,937 specimens. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected by microscopy in 354 (13.3%) of the patients. Analysis of 951 Cryptosporidium - positive specimens from 300 patients using a small subunit rRNA-based PCR-RFLP tool identified 6 genotypes; Cryptosporidium hominis was the species most frequently detected (67.5%), followed by C. meleagridis (12.6%) and C. parvum (11.3%). Cryptosporidium canis (4.0%), C. felis (3.3%), and Cryptosporidium pig genotype (0.5%) were also found. These findings indicate that C. hominis is the predominant species in Peruvian HIV-positive persons, and that zoonotic Cryptosporidium spp. account for about 30% of cryptosporidiosis in these patients. [source] Major microbiota of lactic acid bacteria from Matsoni, a traditional Georgian fermented milkANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2007Kenji UCHIDA ABSTRACT A total of 26 samples of Matsoni were collected in Georgia. From these samples 80 strains of lactic acid cocci and 173 strains of lactobacilli were isolated. The number of lactic acid bacteria varied between 105 and 1010 colony forming unit (CFU)/mL. All the isolated lactic acid bacteria were thermophilic bacteria that could grow at 45°C. The predominant lactic acid bacteria were Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii spp. bulgaricus in 25 samples of Matsoni, while Lactobacillus helveticus was also a predominant species, together with the two previous species in one sample of Matsoni. We showed there was diversity in both S. thermophilus and L. delbrueckii spp. bulgaricus at the strain level by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis. [source] Volatile organoselenium monitoring in production and gastric digestion processes of selenized yeast by solid-phase microextraction-multicapillary gas chromatography coupled microwave-induced plasma atomic emission spectrometry,APPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2004J. Sanz Landaluze Abstract Evolution of volatile organoselenium compounds in the production and gastric digestion of selenized yeast has been monitored. The industrial production of these kinds of material, employed as food supplements, has been simulated in a process of yeast enrichment with inorganic selenium selenium (IV) in different growth media, with variation of the pH value. The in vitro gastric digestion process was carried out with pepsin in an acid and salt mixture. Determination of volatile species of selenium was achieved coupling solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for preconcentration and sample,matrix separation and microwave-induced plasma atomic emission spectrometry, in combination with multicapillary (MC) gas chromatography for separation and detection of the selenium species. The MC column was operated at low temperatures (,30 °C). The method was optimized, using a chemometric approach, with respect to the detection of organoselenium species such as dimethylselenide, diethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide. SPME sampling was carried out in the headspace above the corresponding solutions. Separation is fast, with a chromatogram being obtained in less than 5 min, and the detection limits were at the low parts per billion level for all species investigated. The results of the yeast enrichment process demonstrate inorganic selenium transformation into volatile organic species. The presence of inorganic selenium gave rise to at least five different volatile species after metabolization by yeast, with dimethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide being the predominant species. Commercial pasteurized yeast, containing mainly selenomethionine for use as a food supplement, and tablets were found to be still active under conditions of the simulation of the digestion process, even though producing relatively low amounts of organoselenium compounds. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] An experimental assessment on the effects of photoperiod treatments on the somatic and gonadal growth of the juvenile European purple sea urchin Paracentrotus lividusAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 7 2010Eimear McCarron Abstract Determining the optimum light conditions for sea urchins reared in land-based systems is vital for the future use and assessment of possible commercial systems of sea urchin farming. The effects of two different light regimes, complete darkness and a long day photoperiod of 16 h light:8 h darkness, on the somatic and gonadal growth of the European sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (19.5,23.0 mm) was investigated using the commercial UrchinPlatterÔ System over a 6-month period (5 March to 5 September). Hatchery-produced P. lividus were transported to the Aquaculture Fisheries Development Centre (AFDC, University College, Cork UCC). Before arrival at the AFDC, sea urchins were reared on a diet of Laminaria digitata. Females were the predominant species of the animal group, displaying a reproductive Stage III (growing stage) where gametogenesis was commencing. Results show that darkness supports higher somatic growth than the photoperiod treatment. Feeding rates were higher for sea urchins reared under darkness with gonadal growth increasing for both experimental treatments. Individuals reared under darkness had a higher per cent change in gonad index from the initial sample taken at the beginning of the experiment. [source] Declining catch rates of reef fish in Aldabra's marine protected areaAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue S1 2009Pierre A. Pistorius Abstract 1.Fish landings from a small-scale subsistence fishery at Aldabra, Seychelles, were monitored from late 1995 to early 2007 to describe the predominant species caught, catch per unit effort (CPUE) and patterns in yield over time. 2.During this period a total of 19.5 tons of piscivores were caught, varying between 0.99 and 2.46 tons per annum. Effort data allowing for estimation of CPUE were available for 259 fishing trips and from 1998 onwards. 3.Over the study period, and in order of importance, Lutjanus bohar, Variola louti, Lethrinus nebulosus, Epinephelus multinotatus and Epinephelus polyphekadion made up over 80% of the total catch in terms of biomass. Using a general linear model, including fishing location and season as predictor variables, it was shown that CPUE declined significantly over the study period. Annual CPUE varied between 3.0 and 5.1 kg h,1 per person. 4.Throughout the period fishing pressure was low, and largely limited to the subsistence fishery. It is argued that changing catch rates are likely to have been independent of direct anthropogenic influences but a result of reef degradation following the 1998 bleaching event. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Biologically mediated mobilization of arsenic from granular ferric hydroxide in anaerobic columns fed landfill leachateBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 6 2008Irail Cortinas Abstract To gain insight on the fate of arsenic (As) from drinking water treatment residuals in landfills, the mobilization of arsenate adsorbed onto granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) was studied in continuous anaerobic columns fed with a synthetic landfill leachate. The release of As was compared in biologically active and abiotic columns. More than 150 days of incubation were required before noteworthy As release occurred. After 400 days of operation, 19% of the As was mobilized as identified species in the biologically active column, which was 25.5-fold greater than that of the abiotic column. Fine colloids accounted for up to 81% of the As released. Arsenite was the predominant species identified in filtered (0.45 µm) effluent samples. Dimethylarsinic acid and monomethylarsonic acid were also observed as metabolites. During column operation, approximately 30% of the iron (hydr)oxide mass was lost and most of the mass loss was attributed to changes in iron mineralogy that could be demonstrated in a batch bioassay. The results indicate that As-laden GFH residuals from drinking water treatment are subject to mobilization in municipal landfills and that biologically mediated changes in the iron mineralogy may play an important role in the mobilization mechanism. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 1205,1213. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Molecular identification of coliform bacteria from colicky breastfed infantsACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 10 2009F Savino Abstract Objective:, To determine the presence of intestinal coliform bacteria in colicky vs healthy infants. Study design:, We isolated coliform strains from faeces and performed quantitative bacterial cultures in 41 colicky and 39 healthy breastfed infants, identified using PCR with species-specific primers, strain-specific Automated Ribotyping and the API-50E kit for Enterobacteriaceae to identify the most frequent strains. Results:, Coliform strains were more abundant in colicky infants (median 6.04 log10 CFU/g faeces, range 2.00,8.76) vs controls (median 4.47 log10 CFU/g faeces, range 1.00,8.08) (p = 0.026). Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, K. oxytoca, Enterobacter cloacae, E. aerogenes and Enterococcus faecalis were the predominant species in colicky and healthy infants. The counts of each bacterial species differed between the two groups, and the difference was significant (p = 0.002) for E. coli: median 6.30 log10 CFU/g faeces (range 3.00,8.74) in colicky infants, and median 4.70 log10 CFU/g faeces (range 2.00,5.85) in controls. Conclusions:, This is the first study to evaluate the colonization patterns of gas-forming coliforms in colicky infants and healthy controls identified by molecular methods. Coliform bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli, were found to be more abundant in colicky infants. Our data could help to shed light on the cause of infantile colic. 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