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Selected AbstractsIn vivo and in vitro toxicity of decabromodiphenyl ethane, a flame retardantENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Tarja Nakari Abstract Toxicity of a relative new flame retardant, namely decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), marketed as an alternative to decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) was assessed both in vivo and in vitro using the freshly separated fish hepatocyte assay and standardized water flea and zebrafish egg-larvae tests. The fish hepatocyte assay, based on the synthesis and secretion of vitellogenin from isolated male liver cells produced a clear dose-response curve in the presence of DBDPE. DBDPE induced the induction of hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity at low test concentrations, but started to inhibit the activity at higher concentrations. Also, the induction of the hepatocyte conjugation activity, uridinediphosphoglucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT), was induced with no signs of inhibition even at the highest test concentration. The reduced EROD activity resulted in a drop in the production of vitellogenin by the cells. In vivo tests showed that DBDPE was acutely toxic to water fleas, the 48 h EC-50 value being 19 ,g/L. Moreover, DBDPE reduced the hatching rates of exposed zebra-fish eggs and raised significantly the mortality of hatched larvae. Because there is hardly any information available on the effects of DBDPE on the aquatic environments, it is crucial to obtain more data on the effects and effective concentrations of DBDPE along with its occurrence in the environment. Such data would enable reliable assessments of the risks posed by this flame retardant. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 25: 333,338, 2010. [source] Seasonal variation in rates of methane production from peat of various botanical origins: effects of temperature and substrate qualityFEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2000Inger Bergman Abstract The methane produced in peat soils can vary over the growing season due to variations in the supply of available substrate, the activity of the microbial community or changes in temperature. Our aim was to study how these factors regulate the methane production over the season from five different peat types of different botanical origin. Peat samples were collected on seven occasions between June and September. After each sampling, the peat soils were incubated at five different temperatures (7, 10, 15, 20 and 25°C) without added substrate, or at 20°C with added substrate (glucose, or H2/CO2, or starch). Rates of methane production averaged over the season differed significantly (P<0.05, R2=0.76) among the five peat types, the minerotrophic lawn producing the highest rates, and the hummock peat producing the lowest. The seasonal average Q10 values for each plant community varied between 4.6 and 9.2, the highest value being associated with the ombrotrophic lawn and the lowest value with the mud-bottom plant community. For the unamended peat samples, the rates of methane production from each plant community varied significantly (P<0.05) over the season. This implies that the quality of organic matter, in combination with changes in temperature, explains the seasonal variation in methane production. However, addition of saturating amounts of glucose, H2/CO2 or starch at 20°C significantly reduced the seasonal variation (P<0.05) in methane production in peat from the minerotrophic lawn, wet carpet and mud-bottom plant communities. This suggests that substrate supply (e.g. root exudates) for the micro-organisms also varied over the season at these sites. Seasonal variation in methane production rates was apparent in peat from the hummock and ombrotrophic lawn plant communities even after addition of substrates, suggesting that the active biomass of the anaerobic microbial populations at these sites was regulated by other factors than the ones studied. [source] Selective extraction of organic compounds from transesterification reaction mixtures by using ionic liquidsAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 5 2010F. J. Hernández-Fernández Abstract In this article, we describe assays carried out to determine the suitability of 13 ionic liquids based on 1- n -alkyl-3-methylimidazolium and n -alkylpyridinium cations and a wide range of anions (hexafluorophophate, bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}imide, tetrafluoroborate, methylsulfate, 2(2-methoxyethoxy)ethylsulfate, ethylsulfate, n -octylsulfate, dicyanamide, nitrate, tetrafluoroborate and chloride) to carry out the selective separation of the organic compounds involved in a transesterification reaction (butyl butyrate, vinyl butyrate, 1-butanol, and butyric acid) from hexane solutions. The assayed ionic liquids were shown to be suitable solvents for the selective separation of the target compounds, the extraction process being controlled by the hydrophobicity of the compounds. The anion composition of the ionic liquid was seen to strongly influence the average extraction ratio, the highest value being reached with the chloride-based ionic liquid. As regards the cation composition of the ionic liquids, it was seen that the average distribution ratio increased with decreasing length of alkyl chain. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010 [source] The adjustment of prediction intervals to account for errors in parameter estimationJOURNAL OF TIME SERIES ANALYSIS, Issue 3 2004Paul Kabaila Abstract., Standard approximate 1 , , prediction intervals (PIs) need to be adjusted to take account of the error in estimating the parameters. This adjustment may be aimed at setting the (unconditional) probability that the PI includes the value being predicted equal to 1 , ,. Alternatively, this adjustment may be aimed at setting the probability that the PI includes the value being predicted equal to 1 , ,, conditional on an appropriate statistic T. For an autoregressive process of order p, it has been suggested that T consist of the last p observations. We provide a new criterion by which both forms of adjustment can be compared on an equal footing. This new criterion of performance is the closeness of the coverage probability, conditional on all of the data, of the adjusted PI and 1 , ,. In this paper, we measure this closeness by the mean square of the difference between this conditional coverage probability and 1 , ,. We illustrate the application of this new criterion to a Gaussian zero-mean autoregressive process of order 1 and one-step-ahead prediction. For this example, this comparison shows that the adjustment which is aimed at setting the coverage probability equal to 1 , , conditional on the last observation is the better of the two adjustments. [source] Increased liver mast cell recruitment in patients with chronic C virus-related hepatitis and histologically documented steatosisJOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS, Issue 8 2007B. Franceschini Summary., Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is still one of the major causes of chronic viral infection worldwide, and hepatic steatosis is a frequent pathological finding in patients with chronic HCV-related diseases. It is unclear whether the steatosis is associated with host factors or the virus itself, although a consistent relationship has been found between steatosis and a necro-inflammatory reaction with the increased secretion of immuno-regulators. A primary sources of inflammatory mediators are mast cells (MCs) bone marrow-derived cells that are detected in both normal and diseased livers. We determined MC density and correlated it with the fibrosis, inflammatory reaction and steatosis observed in the liver biopsies of patients affected by HCV with or without steatosis. All the histological features were assessed using a computer-aided image analysis system. There was a statistically significant difference in MC density between the HCV-infected patients with and without steatosis, with the lower mean value being detected in those without (P < 0.02). Furthermore, a nonstatistically significant difference in fibrosis and inflammation between the two patient groups was found. In conclusion, this is the first study showing a significant increase in MC density in the tissues of patients with chronic HCV infection and histologically documented steatosis. [source] Particle energies and filling fractions of radio bubbles in cluster coresMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 3 2004R. J. H. Dunn ABSTRACT Using Chandra images of cluster cores with clear radio bubbles, we have determined k, which is the ratio of the total particle energy to that of the electrons radiating between 10 MHz and 10 GHz. Radiative and dynamical constraints on the bubbles indicate that the ratio of the energy factor, k, to the volume filling factor, f, lies within the range 1 ,k/f, 1000. Assuming pressure equilibrium between the radio-emitting plasma and the surrounding X-ray gas, none of the lobes has equipartition between relativistic particles and magnetic field. There is no evidence for any dependence of the upper limit of the k/f ratio on any physical parameter of the cluster or the radio source. The distribution of the upper limit on k/f appears to be bimodal, the value being ,3 for some clusters and ,300 for the others. We show that this may be due to the composition of the jet which forms the bubbles, the variation in the volume filling fraction or variation in the amount of reacceleration occurring in the bubble. [source] Low-dose broad-band UVA in morphea using a new method for evaluationPHOTODERMATOLOGY, PHOTOIMMUNOLOGY & PHOTOMEDICINE, Issue 2 2000M. El-Mofty Until recently, various therapies for localized scleroderma have been used with limited success. Recently, phototherapy, with or without psoralen, was proposed as a successful treatment modality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of broad-band low-dose ultraviolet A (UVA) phototherapy in patients with localized scleroderma, using a new method for evaluation. Twelve patients complaining of morphea were exposed to UVA irradiation at a dose of 20 J/cm2 3 times per week for 20 sessions. Selected covered plaques served as internal controls. The efficacy of therapy was judged clinically by sequential inspection and palpation. In biopsy specimens from exposed and covered plaques stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and Masson trichrome stains, the concentration of collagen per dermal surface area was measured with the use of a computerized image analyzer. All patients reported remarkable softening of skin lesions, confirmed by sequential palpatory assessment. A significant reduction in the mean concentration of collagen per surface area was detected in the plaques exposed to UVA (the P value being 0.007, P<0.01), whereas in the covered plaques the difference was not statistically significant (the P value being 0.10, P>0.05). The conclusion is that low-dose broad-band UVA phototherapy is a very effective and safe treatment modality for localized scleroderma. [source] Band structure of a harmonically confined electron with an impenetrable boundaryPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (B) BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 2 2004W. Hai Abstract We study finite-size effects of the spatially bounded quantum systems exemplified by a single-electron quantum dot with a harmonic potential and an impenetrable boundary. A general solution of the corresponding Schrödinger equation is obtained and the unique special solution for any energy is derived from the normalization and boundary conditions. The classical-mechanically allowable eigenenergies form the continuous spectrum or piecewise continuous bands with the minimum value being much less than the zero point energy of a free harmonic oscillator. As the increase of the confining size, the band widths reduce and the energies finally close to the discrete level of the free oscillator. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Contribution of a haplotype in the HLA region to anti,cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody positivity in rheumatoid arthritis, independently of HLA,DRB1ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 12 2009Yukinori Okada Objective To examine the risk of anti,cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody positivity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients carrying certain haplotypes in the HLA region. Methods A total of 1,389 Japanese patients with RA were genotyped for 30 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the HLA region using commercial oligonucleotide arrays (from Perlegen or Affymetrix) as well as for HLA,DRB1 alleles using a sequence-specific polymerase chain reaction method. Stepwise logistic regression was used to select from among the 30 SNPs the ones that represented a risk of anti-CCP antibody positivity. Haplotypes of the selected SNPs were inferred using an expectation-maximization algorithm. Associations of individual SNPs were evaluated with the Cochran-Armitage test for trend. DRB1 alleles and haplotypes were evaluated with the chi-square test. Heterogeneities of risks among the shared epitope (SE) and non-SE HLA,DRB1 alleles were examined using the exact test. Haplotype associations that were independent of individual HLA,DRB1 alleles were evaluated using the likelihood ratio test. Results Significant associations were found for 9 SNPs (smallest P value being 2.4 × 10,8) and in 4 HLA,DRB1 alleles (smallest P value being 2.0 × 10,10 in DRB1*0405). Stepwise logistic regression selected 4 SNPs (rs9262638, rs7775228, rs4713580, and rs9277359). Among the 16 inferred haplotypes of these 4 SNPs, 6 indicated significant associations (smallest P value being 1.9 × 10,11). Risks among SE and non-SE alleles were significantly heterogeneous (P = 0.0095 and P = 9.8 × 10,9, respectively), indicating the importance of stratification with individual DRB1 alleles rather than SE alleles. Conditional analysis of the risk associated with individual DRB1 alleles identified a risk haplotype that was independent of DRB1 (odds ratio 2.00 [95% confidence interval 1.44,2.79], P = 2.6 × 10,5). Conclusion Heterogeneous risks of anti-CCP antibody positivity were confirmed among SE and non-SE alleles in our patient population. A risk haplotype in the HLA region that is independent of HLA,DRB1 was confirmed. [source] People with a life-threatening illness who attend a day hospice program value being involved in occupationAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2005Michael Curtin No abstract is available for this article. [source] Analysis and objective mapping of extreme daily rainfall in CataloniaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2007M. Carmen Casas Abstract The main objective of this study is to determine the maximum daily precipitation in Catalonia for several established return periods with a high spatial resolution. For this purpose, the maximum daily rainfall annual series from 145 pluviometric stations of the Instituto Nacional de Meteorología (INM) (Spanish Weather Service) in Catalonia have been analyzed. Using the L-moments method of Hosking, every series has been fitted by the extreme value distribution function of Gumbel. From this fitting, the maximum daily precipitation for each of the pluviometric stations corresponding to return periods between 2 and 500 years, have been determined. Applying the Cressman method, the spatial analysis of these values has been achieved. Monthly precipitation climatological data, obtained from the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques, have been used as the initial field for the analysis. The maximum daily precipitation at 1 km2 spatial resolution on Catalonia has been objectively determined by the method employed, and structures with wavelength longer than approximately 35 km can be identified. The results show that places where the maximum daily precipitation values are expected are the zone of Guilleries in the Transversal Range, in the highest zones of the Catalan Pyrenees and Cape Creus zone at the northeastern end of Catalonia and in the south, around the Prelittoral Mountain Range between the Mountains of Prades and Montsià. A good fit between the distribution of minimum values and the driest Catalan areas has been found, the lowest values being on the western end of the Central Basin. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society. [source] Growth and mortality of common octopus Octopus vulgaris reared at different stocking densities in Mediterranean offshore cagesAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 10 2009Benjamín García García Abstract Four ongrowing cycles of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris), each with two stocking densities, were carried out in an offshore area in order to evaluate the effect of the following variables on growth (G, % body weight day,1) and mortality (M, % day,1): weight (W, 0.5,3.0 kg), temperature (T, 14,26 °C), stocking density (SD, 6,46 kg m,3), size dispersion, expressed as coefficient of variation (CV, 13,42%) and significant wave height (SWH: 0.4,1.2 m). The assays were performed in an 8 m3 stainless-steel floating cage divided into two compartments of 4 m3 each. For the range of temperatures considered (14,26 °C), G depended significantly on T and SWH, with maximum G values being obtained at 18.5 °C and with an important negative effect of SWH. M depended significantly on T, W and CV, mortality being minimal at 18 °C. The two other variables had an antagonistic effect, mortality increasing with greater size dispersion , suggesting that animals should be graded throughout the process , although the effect diminished as the sizes increased. The results point towards two alternatives for the commercial ongrowing of octopus under the particular conditions of the present study: (A) two ongrowing cycles of 3.5 months to reach a final weight of 2.5 kg or (B) one 5-month cycle to reach a final weight of 3.5 kg. [source] Elevational gradients in species abundance, assemblage structure and energy use of rainforest birds in the Australian Wet Tropics bioregionAUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2010STEPHEN E. WILLIAMS Abstract Elevational patterns of species richness, local abundance and assemblage structure of rainforest birds of north-eastern Australia were explored using data from extensive standardized surveys throughout the region. Eighty-two species of birds were recorded with strong turnover in assemblage structure across the elevational gradient and high levels of regional endemism in the uplands. Both species richness and bird abundance exhibited a humped-shaped pattern with elevation with the highest values being between 600 and 800 m elevation. While much of the variability in species richness could be explained by the species,area relationship, analyses of net primary productivity (NPP) and total daily energy consumption of the bird community (energy use) suggest that ecosystem energy flow or constraints may be a significant determinant of species richness. Species richness is positively correlated with local bird abundance which itself is closely related to total energy use of the bird community. We suggest the hypothesis that lower NPP limits bird abundance and energy use in the uplands (>500 m) and that low bird energy use and species richness in the lowlands is limited by a seasonal bottleneck in available primary productivity and/or a species pool previously truncated by an extinction filter imposed by the almost complete disappearance of rainforest in the lowlands during the glacial maxima. We suggest that some of the previously predicted impacts of global warming on biodiversity in the uplands may be partially ameliorated by increases in NPP because of increasing temperatures. However, these relationships are complex and require further data specifically in regard to direct estimates of primary productivity and detailed estimates of energy flow within the assemblage. [source] In Vitro Protective Effect of Hypericum androsaemum Extract Against Oxygen and Nitrogen Reactive SpeciesBASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Isabel F. Almeida Oxidative stress and nitrosative stress are common pathogenetic mechanisms contributing to initiation and progression of hepatic damage in several liver disorders. In the present study, an ethanol:water (4:6) extract from H. androsaemum branches and leaves were evaluated for its putative in vitro scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil radical, on reactive oxygen species, namely HO,, O2,,, ROO,, 1O2 and H2O2 and on reactive nitrogen species, namely ,NO and ONOO,. The hypericum extract presented a remarkable capacity to scavenge all the tested reactive species, all the IC50 values being found at the ,g/ml level. IC50 values for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil, and for the reactive oxygen species O2,,, H2O2, HO, and 1O2 were 11.3 ± 0.7, 32.7 ± 3.4, 944 ± 47, 595 ± 82, 28.3 ± 1.2 ,g/ml respectively. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity value obtained for ROO, was 1.5 ± 0.1 ,mol Trolox equivalents/mg extract. The IC50 values for ,NO and ONOO, were 2.2 ± 0.2 and 1.2 ± 0.1 ,g/ml respectively. The content of total phenolics was 281 ± 2 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g of lyophilized extract. The observed antioxidant activity provides scientific support for the reported therapeutic use of H. androsaemum, though further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to ascertain the risk/benefit score at therapeutic concentrations. [source] Regulation of ,-Chymotrypsin Catalysis by Ferric Porphyrins and CyclodextrinsCHEMISTRY - AN ASIAN JOURNAL, Issue 4 2008Koji Kano Prof. Abstract Positively charged ,-chymotrypsin (ChT) formed a 1:1 complex with negatively charged 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrinato iron(III) (FeTPPS) in phosphate buffer at pH,7.4 through electrostatic interaction. In spite of the large binding constant (K=4.8×105,M,1), FeTPPS could not completely inhibit the catalysis of ChT in the hydrolysis of the model substrate, N -succinyl- L -phenylalanine p -nitroanilide (SPNA). The degree of inhibition (60,%) was saturated at 1.6,equivalents of FeTPPS, which indicates that covering of the active site of ChT by FeTPPS was insufficient. The enzymatic activity lowered by FeTPPS was entirely recovered for the freshly prepared sample when the porphyrin on the protein surface was detached by per- O -methylated ,-cyclodextrin (TMe-,-CD), which formed a stable 1:2 inclusion complex with FeTPPS (K1=1.26×106,M,1, K2=6.3×104,M,1). FeTPPS gradually induced irreversible denaturation of ChT, and the denatured ChT further lost its catalytic ability. No repairing effect of TMe-,-CD was observed with irreversibly denatured ChT. A new reversible inhibitor, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(3,5-dicarboxyphenylmethoxy)phenyl]porphyrinato iron(III) (FeP8M), was then designed, and its inhibitory behavior was examined. FeP8M formed very stable 1:1 and 1:2 FeP8M/ChT complexes with ChT, the K1 and K2 values being 2.0×108 and 1.0×106,M,1, respectively. FeP8M effectively inhibited the ChT-catalyzed hydrolysis of SPNA (maximum degree of inhibition=85,%), and the activity of ChT was recovered by per- O -methylated ,-cyclodextrin. No irreversible denaturation of ChT occurred upon binding with FeP8M. The kinetic data support the observation that, for nonincubated samples, both inhibitors did not cause significant conformational change in ChT and inhibited the ChT activity by covering the active site of the enzyme. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||