bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial distribution of polychlorinated naphthalenes in air over the Great Lakes and air-water gas exchange in Lake Ontario
Authors: Helm Paul A. , Jantunen Liisa M. , Ridal Jeff , Bidleman Terry F.
Published: March 2010

High-volume air sample were collected during research cruises of Lake Superior in August 1996 and May 1977 and of Lake Ontario (North America) in July and September 1998 and June 2000 and analyzed for polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs). Levels of tetra- to octachloronaphthalene (ΣPCN) varied spatially, with mean values (±SD) of 1.78 ± 0.74 and 1.46 ± 1.07 pg m−3 for Lake Superior in 1996 and 1997, respectively, and of 5.53 ± 2.19 and 5.60 ± 2.24 pg m−3 for Lake Ontario in 1998 and 2000, respectively. Evaporative sources were predominant, although combustion marker congeners such as tetrachloronaphthalenes 44 and 29 and pentachloronaphthalene 54 were present in most samples and were enhanced relative to technical PCN mixtures. The ΣPCN concentrations were higher in Lake Ontario samples collected in the western half of the lake and when winds were from the west. Greater proportions of the population and industrial areas are located around the western part of Lake Ontario. Water-air fugacity ratios, calculated from air and water samples collected in June 2000, indicate that the trichloronaphthalenes are volatilizing from Lake Ontario, whereas the tetrachloronaphthalenes are close to equilibrium and the net deposition of tetrachloronaphthalenes can occur when the urban air plume influences levels over the lake.
Toxicity of cyanobacterial bloom in the eutrophic dam reservoir (Southeast Poland)
Authors: Sierosławska Anna , Rymuszka Anna , Kalinowska Renata , Skowroński Tadeusz , Bownik Adam , Pawlik-Skowrońska Barbara
Published: March 2010

Cyanobacterial bloom was observed in a highly eutrophic dam reservoir, Zemborzycki, near Lublin (SE Poland) over a warm period in the year 2007. The water bloom consisted of several cyanobacterial taxa: Anabaena circinalis, Anabaena spiroides, Anabaena flos-aquae, Planktothrix agardhii, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Aphanizomenon gracile, and Microcystis flos-aquae. Anabaena spp., and Aphanizomenon spp., potential producers of neurotoxic anatoxin-a, quantitatively predominated in the studied bloom. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of surface scum sampled during Anabaena circinalis domination revealed the presence of anatoxin-a at a high concentration (1,035.59 µg per liter of surface scum). At the same time, neither gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) nor microcystin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test showed the presence of other frequently found cyanotoxins, microcystins. Toxicity of cyanobacterial bloom was assessed by the crustacean acute toxicity test Daphtoxkit F™ pulex using Daphnia pulex, and by the chronic toxicity test Protoxkit F™ with a ciliate protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila. The crude extract of cyanobacterial scum showed high toxicity for Daphnia pulex, with 24-h median effective concentration (EC50) value of 90.3 µg/L of anatoxin-a, which corresponded to the cyanobacterial density in the scum of 1.01 g dry weight/L. For Tetrahymena thermophila, 24-h EC50 was lower, evaluated to be 60.48 µg/L of anatoxin-a, which corresponded to a cyanobacterial density of 0.68 g dry weight/L of the scum. On the basis of evaluated toxicity units, the cyanobacterial extract was classified at class IV toxicity, which means high toxic hazard. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:556–560. © 2009 SETAC
New directions in cancer therapy ‐ HDAC inhibitors
Authors: Schey Stephen
Published: March 2010

The HDACis (histone deacetylation inhibitors) are an active class of drugs that have been used to treat a wide variety of tumours including breast cancer, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, thyroid cancer and Hodgkin's and non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma. One HDAC, vorinostat, has been licensed by the FDA, but more work is needed to identify and delineate the histone and nonhistone targets of these agents. In this article, Dr Steve Schey considers the place of HDACis in future cancer therapy. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
COPD management: new and existing therapy options
Authors: Price David , Siddall Rhonda
Published: March 2010

Early detection and appropriate management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may help to reduce the high mortality and morbidity associated with this disease. New pharmacological treatments for COPD, along with the implementation of recommendations of the National Strategy for COPD due for publication later this year, will help to raise the standard of care and improve outcomes for COPD patients. In this article, Professor Price and Rhonda Siddall consider current COPD therapy and look at future treatment options for COPD. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High Performance Carbon‐Supported Core@Shell PdSn@Pt Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Zhang W. , Wang R. , Wang H. , Lei Z.
Published: March 2010

In this report, a low‐cost and high performance PdSn@Pt/C catalyst with core–shell structure is prepared by two‐stage route. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examinations show that the composite catalyst particles distribution is quite homogeneous and has a high surface area and the PdSn@Pt/C catalyst has an average diameter of ca. 5.6 nm. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of PdSn@Pt/C was higher than commercial Pt/C catalyst. Catalytic activity is studied by cyclic voltammetry. High electrocatalytic activities could be attributed to the synergistic effect between Pt and PdSn.
The role of chromosome 21 in hematology and oncology
Authors: Fonatsch Christa
Published: March 2010

Newborns and children with Down syndrome (DS) often present with congenital transient leukemia and have an increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Thus, constitutional trisomy 21 represents an excellent model to study the origin and progression of leukemia. However, trisomy 21 can also occur as a somatic chromosome aberration leading to sporadic leukemia. During the 50 years, since the discovery of constitutional trisomy 21 in DS, we have also learned that this small chromosome 21, harboring about 300 genes, may be involved in numerous structural aberrations, e.g., translocations, deletions, and amplifications, in leukemias, lymphomas, and solid tumors. Moreover, genes located on chromosome 21 have been identified that play an important role in tumorigenesis. Somatic mutations of several of these genes have been shown to be associated with different solid tumors, but also constitutional mutations of a specific gene on chromosome 21 leading to myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia have been described. In this review, the specific forms of myeloid leukemia as well as of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children with DS will be presented and possible explanations for the paucity of solid tumors in DS will be given. Somatic numerical as well as structural chromosome 21 aberrations in association with leukemias will be described. Finally, the nature and function of specific genes, like RUNX1, TMPRSS2, and TFF, located in 21q, and their role in tumorigenesis will be exemplified. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Deletion of Interleukin-6 in Mice With the Dominant Negative Form of Transforming Growth Factor β Receptor II Improves Colitis but Exacerbates Autoimmune Cholangitis
Authors: Zhang Weici , Tsuda Masanobu , Yang Guo-Xiang , Tsuneyama Koichi , Rong Guanghua , Ridgway William M. , Ansari Aftab A. , Flavell Richard A. , Coppel Ross L. , Lian Zhe-Xiong , Gershwin Eric M.
Published: March 2010

The role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in autoimmunity attracts attention because of the clinical usage of monoclonal antibodies to IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), designed to block IL-6 pathways. In autoimmune liver disease, activation of the hepatocyte IL-6/STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) pathway is associated with modulating pathology in acute liver failure, in liver regeneration, and in the murine model of concanavalin A–induced liver inflammation. We have reported that mice expressing a dominant negative form of transforming growth factor β receptor II (dnTGFβRII) under control of the CD4 promoter develop both colitis and autoimmune cholangitis with elevated serum levels of IL-6. Based on this observation, we generated IL-6–deficient mice on a dnTGF-βRII background (dnTGFβRII IL-6−/−) and examined for the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies, levels of cytokines, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry of liver and colon tissues. As expected, based on reports of the use of anti–IL-6R in inflammatory bowel disease, dnTGFβRII IL-6−/− mice manifest a dramatic improvement in their inflammatory bowel disease, including reduced diarrhea and significant reduction in intestinal lymphocytic infiltrates. Importantly, however, autoimmune cholangitis in dnTGFβRII IL-6−/− mice was significantly exacerbated, including elevated inflammatory cytokines, increased numbers of activated T cells, and worsening hepatic pathology.

Conclusion:

The data from these observations emphasize that there are distinct mechanisms involved in inducing pathology in inflammatory bowel disease compared to autoimmune cholangitis. These data also suggest that patients with inflammatory bowel disease may not be the best candidates for treatment with anti–IL-6R if they have accompanying autoimmune liver disease and emphasize caution for therapeutic use of anti–IL-6R antibody. Hepatology 2010
Theophylline Improves Steroid Sensitivity in Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis
Authors: Kendrick Stuart F. W. , Henderson Elsbeth , Palmer Jeremy , Jones David E. J. , Day Chris P.
Published: March 2010

Corticosteroid therapy has shown some benefit in severe acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH); however, this is limited by uncertainty in patient selection and variable clinical response. Theophylline has been shown to ameliorate impaired steroid sensitivity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by facilitating corticosteroid-induced silencing of proinflammatory genes. We aimed to explore the mechanistic basis of the variable response to corticosteroid therapy seen in patients with AAH and to address the extent to which theophylline can improve this response. The ability of dexamethasone to inhibit phytohemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte proliferation was assessed by 3H-thymidine incorporation in 12 severe AAH patients and age-matched and sex-matched controls. Steroid sensitivity was measured in terms of Imax, the maximum inhibition of proliferation. The effect of 10−5 M theophylline and, in survivors, change in Imax during recovery were observed. Lymphocyte steroid sensitivity was found to be significantly reduced in AAH compared with controls (Imax 67[±4.5]% versus 95[±2.3]%,

P

= 0.0002) and correlated with clinical markers of steroid responsiveness. In survivors, Imax increased in recovery. Theophylline 10−5 M significantly increased lymphocyte steroid sensitivity (Imax 86[±6.6]% versus 67[±5.0]%,

P

= 0.027).

Conclusion:

Acute alcoholic hepatitis is associated with significant lymphocyte steroid insensitivity, which improves in recovery and can be ameliorated

ex vivo

by theophylline. This offers potential to rationalize corticosteroid prescribing in AAH and, furthermore, justifies investigation of this novel role for an existing pharmacological agent in this common and frequently fatal condition. (Hepatology 2010;)
Reduced expression of the ATRX gene, a chromatin‐remodeling factor, causes hippocampal dysfunction in mice
Authors: Nogami Tatsuya , Beppu Hideyuki , Tokoro Takashi , Moriguchi Shigeki , Shioda Norifumi , Fukunaga Kohji , Ohtsuka Toshihisa , Ishii Yoko , Sasahara Masakiyo , Shimada Yutaka , Nishijo Hisao , Li En , Kitajima Isao
Published: March 2010

Mutations of the ATRX gene, which encodes an ATP‐dependent chromatin‐remodeling factor, were identified in patients with α‐thalassemia X‐linked mental retardation (ATR‐X) syndrome. There is a milder variant of ATR‐X syndrome caused by mutations in the Exon 2 of the gene. To examine the impact of the Exon 2 mutation on neuronal development, we generated ATRX mutant (ATRXΔE2) mice. Truncated ATRX protein was produced from the ATRXΔE2 mutant allele with reduced expression level. The ATRXΔE2 mice survived and reproduced normally. There was no significant difference in Morris water maze test between wild‐type and ATRXΔE2 mice. In a contextual fear conditioning test, however, total freezing time was decreased in ATRXΔE2 mice compared to wild‐type mice, suggesting that ATRXΔE2 mice have impaired contextual fear memory. ATRXΔE2 mice showed significantly reduced long‐term potentiation in the hippocampal CA1 region evoked by high‐frequency stimulation. Moreover, autophosphorylation of calcium‐calmodulin‐dependent kinase II (αCaMKII) and phosphorylation of glutamate receptor, ionotropic, AMPA 1 (GluR1) were decreased in the hippocampi of the ATRXΔE2 mice compared to wild‐type mice. These findings suggest that ATRXΔE2 mice may have fear‐associated learning impairment with the dysfunction of αCaMKII and GluR1. The ATRXΔE2 mice would be useful tools to investigate the role of the chromatin‐remodeling factor in the pathogenesis of abnormal behaviors and learning impairment. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Incremental ecological exposure risks from contaminated sediments in an urban estuarine river
Authors: Ludwig David F. , Iannuzzi Timothy J.
Published: March 2010

Estuaries in urban regions present unique environmental management challenges. Ecosystems in urban estuaries are typically impacted by habitat loss and degradation, watershed modification, and nonpoint and point sources of many chemicals. Restoring such systems requires an understanding of the relative contribution of various stressors to overall ecological conditions and an understanding of shifting patterns of stress over time. In this article, we present the results of a multiparameter environmental assessment of a quintessential urbanized waterway: the lower Passaic River in the vicinity of Newark, New Jersey, USA. To provide the foundation for effective management decision making, we quantified baseline conditions (habitat losses and degradation), chemical concentrations in sediment and biota relative to published toxic effect levels, direct toxicity of sediments to benthic organisms, and food-web mediated risks to fish-eating birds. Habitat losses have been severe (greater than 85% of wetlands, nearly 100% of the total length of tidal and nontidal tributaries, and 100% of natural shoreline habitat have been lost), resulting in substantial habitat constraints on biota. Despite this, biological communities are present in the lower Passaic. In general, concentrations of toxic chemicals in surface sediments have fallen with time, and natural recovery processes are proceeding. Chemical concentrations remain high enough to impair survival of amphipods, but not amphipod growth or polychaete growth or survival as measured in laboratory bioassays using field-collected sediment. Fish and blue crab body burdens of some metals, PCBs, and the pesticide, DDT, are at concentrations sufficiently high to exceed toxicity thresholds. The resident fish-eating bird—the belted kingfisher—is at exposure risk from some metals, PCBs, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo furans (PCDD/Fs). Migratory waders—the herons and egrets—are not at risk from chemical exposure. These complex findings suggest that restoring the lower Passaic River to ecological health is a correspondingly complex task. Habitat constraints must be eased for biotic components of the ecosystem, and chemical effects must be reduced for those organisms that are present. Only a coordinated, multidisciplinary restoration program will succeed in this challenging environment.
Why confined aquatic disposal cells often make sense
Authors: Fredette Thomas J
Published: March 2010

Confined aquatic disposal (CAD) cells are increasingly becoming the selected option for the management of unacceptably contaminated sediments. CAD cells are selected as the preferred alternative because this approach provides an acceptable compromise when cost, logistics, regulatory acceptance, environmental risk, and perception of various alternatives are considered. This preference for CAD cells often occurs even when other alternatives with similar risk reduction and less cost, such as an open water capping alternative, are considered as options. This paradox is largely a result of subjective factors that affect regulatory acceptance such as public perceptions.
Panel discussion: Remedy effectiveness: What works, what doesn't?
Authors: Zeller Craig , Cushing Bradford
Published: March 2010

As contaminated sediment sites in freshwater and marine environments come under increasing scrutiny, and the importance of these sites with regard to ecological and human health is better understood, the number of contaminated sediment sites requiring risk characterization and management is increasing. Risk reduction must be the long-term goal of all sediment management practices. Risk management strategies in aquatic environments focus on mitigating potential exposure pathways for contaminants that may pose an ecological or human health risk over time. Sediment management practices include dredging (“environmental dredging”), capping, monitored natural recovery, and combinations of these generic response actions. A Remedy Effectiveness Panel was selected to identify and discuss the key issues associated with the performance of these generic response actions for contaminated sediments. The panel convened in New Orleans on 26 January 2005 at Battelle's Third International Conference on the Remediation of Contaminated Sediments and made 3 presentations on response actions to conference attendees followed by an open dialog between attendees and panel members. This article introduces the 3 generic response actions, identifies key topics from the open dialog and presents opinions expressed, and provides a summary and observations.
Ecological impact in ditch mesocosms of simulated spray drift from a crop protection program for potatoes
Authors: Arts Gertie HP , Buijse-Bogdan Laura L , Belgers J Dick M , van Rhenen-Kersten Caroline H , van Wijngaarden Rene PA , Roessink Ivo , Maund Steve J , van den Brink Paul J , Brock Theo CM
Published: March 2010

Outdoor aquatic ditch mesocosms were treated with a range of pesticides to simulate various spray drift rates resulting from a typical crop protection program used in the cultivation of potatoes in The Netherlands. The main experimental aims of the present study were to provide information on the fate and ecological effects of drift of the pesticides into surface water and to evaluate the effectiveness of drift-reduction measures in mitigating risks. The pesticides selected and the dosage, frequency, and timing of application were based on normal agricultural practices in the potato crop. Applications of prosulfocarb, metribuzin (both herbicides), lambda-cyhalothrin (insecticide), chlorothalonil, and fluazinam (both fungicides) were made in the sequence typical of the spray calendar for potatoes. A total of 15 treatments with the various compounds were made by spray application to the water surface at 0.2%, 1%, and 5% of the recommended label rates. Chemical fate and effects on ecosystem function and structure (phytoplankton, zooplankton, chlorophyll-a, macroinvertebrates, macrophytes, breakdown of plant litter) were investigated. To interpret the observed effects, treatment concentrations were also expressed in toxic units (TU), which describe the relative toxicity of the compounds with standard toxicity test organisms (Daphnia and algae). After treatment, each compound disappeared from the water phase within 2 d, with the exception of prosulfocarb, for which 50% dissipation time (DT50) values ranged between 6 and 7 d. At the 5% treatment level, an exposure peak of 0.9 TUalgae was observed, which resulted in short-term responses of pH, oxygen, and phytoplankton. At the 5% treatment level, exposure concentrations also exceeded 0.1 TUDaphnia, and this resulted in long-term effects on zooplankton and macroinvertebrates, some of which did not fully recover by the end of the present study. At the 1% treatment level, only slight transient effects were observed on a limited number of zooplankton and macro-invertebrate species and on pH. At the 0.2% level, no consistent treatment-related effects were observed. Most of the observed effects were consistent with the results from higher-tier and mesocosm studies with the individual compounds. Multi and repeated stress played a small role within the applied pesticide package, because of rapid dissipation of most substances and the absence of many simultaneous applications. This suggests that risk assessments based on the individual compounds would in this case have been sufficiently protective for their uses in a crop protection program.
Residential energy use and potential conservation through reduced laundering temperatures in the United States and Canada
Authors: Sabaliunas Darius , Pittinger Charles , Kessel Cristy , Masscheleyn Patrick
Published: March 2010

A residential energy-use model was developed to estimate energy budgets for household laundering practices in the United States and Canada. The thermal energy for heating water and mechanical energy for agitating clothes in conventional washing machines were calculated for representative households in the United States and Canada. Comparisons in energy consumption among hot-, warm-, and cold-water wash and rinse cycles, horizontal- and vertical-axis washing machines, and gas and electric water heaters, were calculated on a per-wash-load basis. Demographic data for current laundering practices in the United States and Canada were then incorporated to estimate household and national energy consumption on an annual basis for each country. On average, the thermal energy required to heat water using either gas or electric energy constitutes 80% to 85% of the total energy consumed per wash in conventional, vertical-axis (top-loading) washing machines. The balance of energy used is mechanical energy. Consequently, the potential energy savings per load in converting from hot-and-warm- to cold-wash temperatures can be significant. Annual potential energy and cost savings and reductions in carbon dioxide emissions are also estimated for each country, assuming full conversion to cold-wash water temperatures. This study provides useful information to consumers for conserving energy in the home, as well as to manufacturers in the design of more energy-efficient laundry formulations and appliances.
Valuation of biodiversity effects from reduced pesticide use
Authors: Schou Jesper S. , Hasler Berit , Nahrstedt Birgit
Published: March 2010

This study deals with the effects on biodiversity of pesticide-free buffer zones along field margins. Using choice modeling, the majority of respondents to a survey on pesticide use in the environment are willing to accept an increase in the price of bread if the survival of partridge chicks and the number of wild plants increase. The study identifies the need for further empirical work with respect to methodological validation, price estimation, and the use of survey results in policy analysis. In particular, the environmental effects of pesticide use are complex and, therefore, present difficult challenges when presenting information to lay people. Forty-one percent of respondents changed their responses regarding willingness to pay more for bread when references to pesticide use were introduced in the questionnaire. This indicates that scenarios depicting changes in pesticide use can be difficult to present to lay people in an economically rational and well-defined context. Thus, in the study of valuation related to changes in pesticide use, much attention should be devoted to the design and definition of the context. Furthermore, the effects of providing different background information, e.g., with or without the mention of pesticides, should be tested.
Democracy and sustainable development—what is the alternative to cost–benefit analysis?
Authors: Söderbaum Peter
Published: March 2010

Cost–benefit analysis (CBA) is part of neoclassical economics, a specific paradigm, or theoretical perspective. In searching for alternatives to CBA, competing theoretical frameworks in economics appear to be a natural starting point. Positional analysis (PA) as an alternative to CBA is built on institutional theory and a different set of assumptions about human beings, organizations, markets, etc. Sustainable development (SD) is a multidimensional concept that includes social and ecological dimensions in addition to monetary aspects. If the political commitment to SD in the European Union and elsewhere is taken seriously, then approaches to decision making should be chosen that 1st open the door for multidimensional analysis rather than close it. Sustainable development suggests a direction for development in a broad sense but is still open to different interpretations. Each such interpretation is political in kind, and a 2nd criterion for judging different approaches is whether they are ideologically open rather than closed. Although methods for decision making have traditionally been connected with mathematical objective functions and optimization, the purpose of PA is to illuminate a decision situation in a many-sided way with respect to possibly relevant ideological orientations, alternatives, and consequences. Decisions are understood in terms of matching the ideological orientation of each decision maker with the expected effects profile of each alternative considered. Appropriateness and pattern recognition are other concepts in understanding this process.
Minimizing environmental impacts of a major construction: The øresund link
Authors: Gray john S.
Published: March 2010

The Øresund Link is a 4-lane motorway with a 2-line rail link between Copenhagen, Denmark, and Malmö, Sweden, built across the Øresund Sound between the 2 countries. The environmental concerns associated with construction of the Link were that that it might affect the water and salt flow through the Sound and into and out of the Baltic Sea, lead to destruction of the cod fishery, and affect other biological systems. An International Expert Panel was formed to design mitigation strategies to avoid negative environmental impacts. The Panel designed stringent environmental controls for the construction, of which the most significant was to limit sediment discharges to 5% of the dredged material. This was one-fifth of the discharge limit construction companies usually accept as normal for such a large-scale project. An environmental monitoring program was instituted to monitor compliance with the environmental control measures. As a result of the imposition of tough environmental requirements, the Link was built with little environmental impact and 3 y after it was completed, environmental conditions have returned to normal.
Ecological significance of residual exposures and effects from the Exxon Valdez oil spill
Authors: Harwell Mark A , Gentile John H
Published: March 2010

An ecological significance framework is used to assess the ecological condition of Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska, USA, in order to address the current management question: 17 y following the Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS), are there any remaining and continuing ecologically significant exposures or effects on the PWS ecosystem caused by EVOS? We examined the extensive scientific literature funded by the Exxon Valdez Trustees or by ExxonMobil to assess exposures and effects from EVOS. Criteria to assess ecological significance include whether a change in a valued ecosystem component (VEC) is sufficient to affect the structure, function, and/or health of the system and whether such a change exceeds natural variability. The EVOS occurred on 24 March 1989, releasing over 250,000 barrels of crude oil into PWS. Because PWS is highly dynamic, the residual oil was largely eliminated in the first few years, and now only widely dispersed, highly weathered, or isolated small pockets of residual contamination remain. Many other sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exist in PWS from past or present human activities or natural oil seeps. Multiple-lines-of-evidence analyses indicate that residual PAHs from EVOS no longer represent an ecologically significant exposure risk to PWS. To assess the ecological significance of any residual effects from EVOS, we examined the literature on more than 20 VECs, including primary producers, filter feeders, fish and bird primary consumers, fish and bird top predators, a bird scavenger, mammalian primary consumers and top predators, biotic communities, ecosystem-level properties of trophodynamics and biogeochemical processes, and landscape-level properties of habitat mosaic and wilderness quality. None of these has any ecologically significant effects that are detectable at present, with the exception of 1 pod of orcas and possibly 1 subpopulation of sea otters; however, in both those cases, PWS-wide populations appear to have fully recovered. Many other stressors continue to affect PWS adversely, including climate and oceanographic variability, increased tourism and shipping, invasive species, the 1964 earthquake, and overexploitation of marine resources, with associated cascading effects on populations of PWS fish and predators. We conclude that the PWS ecosystem has now effectively recovered from EVOS.
A method to incorporate ecology into residence time of chemicals in embayments: Local effect time
Authors: Abdelrhman Mohamed A
Published: March 2010

Residence times are defined classically by the physical and chemical aspects of water bodies rather than by their ecological implications. Therefore, a more clear and direct connection between the residence times and ecological effects is necessary to relate these timescales quantitatively to ecology. The concept of local effect time (LET) is proposed in this paper as a timescale with spatial resolution that relates to ecological components and their spatial distribution within an embayment. The LET can predict the susceptibility of real-world ecological components to change from one condition to another. It can provide an efficient way to allow managers and agencies to evaluate the degree of stress or relief from current or projected changes in the loading of contaminants or nutrients. The steps for calculating LETs and defining their correlation with the existing ecological components in an embayment are presented along with illustrative applications to loading from riverine inflow and a wastewater treatment plant. The LET successfully identified the areas within the water body that could be prone to ecological changes due to perturbations in the loading rate of riverine water and its constituents. An example is given that shows how the LET method can be used to delineate the distribution and duration of high levels of coliform bacteria due to a pulsed effluent from the treatment plant.
Brownfields and health risks—air dispersion modeling and health risk assessment at landfill redevelopment sites
Authors: Ofungwu Joseph , Eget Steven
Published: March 2010

Redevelopment of landfill sites in the New Jersey–New York metropolitan area for recreational (golf courses), commercial, and even residential purposes seems to be gaining acceptance among municipal planners and developers. Landfill gas generation, which includes methane and potentially toxic nonmethane compounds usually continues long after closure of the landfill exercise phase. It is therefore prudent to evaluate potential health risks associated with exposure to gas emissions before redevelopment of the landfill sites as recreational, commercial, and, especially, residential properties. Unacceptably high health risks would call for risk management measures such as limiting the development to commercial/recreational rather than residential uses, stringent gas control mechanisms, interior air filtration, etc. A methodology is presented for applying existing models to estimate residual landfill hazardous compounds emissions and to quantify associated health risks. Besides the toxic gas constituents of landfill emissions, other risk-related issues concerning buried waste, landfill leachate, and explosive gases were qualitatively evaluated. Five contiguously located landfill sites in New Jersey intended for residential and recreational redevelopment were used to exemplify the approach.
Sequential analysis of lines of evidence—an advanced weight-of-evidence approach for ecological risk assessment
Authors: Hull Ruth N , Swanson Stella
Published: March 2010

Weight-of-evidence (WOE) approaches have been used in ecological risk assessment (ERA) for many years. The approaches integrate various types of data (e.g., from chemistry, bioassay, and field studies) to make an overall conclusion of risk. However, the current practice of WOE has several important difficulties, including a lack of transparency related to how each line of evidence is weighted or integrated into the overall weight-of-evidence conclusion. Therefore, a sequential analysis of lines of evidence (SALE) approach has been developed that advances the practice of WOE. It was developed for an ERA of chemical stressors but also can be used for nonchemical stressors and is equally applicable to the aquatic and terrestrial environments. The sequential aspect of the SALE process is a significant advancement and is based on 2 primary ideas. First, risks can be ruled out with the use of certain lines of evidence, including modeled hazard quotients (HQs) and comparisons of soil, water, or sediment quality with conservative soil, water or sediment quality guidelines. Thus, the SALE process recognizes that HQs are most useful in ruling out risk rather than predicting risk to ecological populations or communities. Second, the SALE process provides several opportunities to exit the risk assessment process, not only when risks are ruled out, but also when magnitude of effect is acceptable or when little or no evidence exists that associations between stressors and effects may be causal. Thus, the SALE approach explicitly includes interaction between assessors and managers. It illustrates to risk managers how risk management can go beyond the simple derivation of risk-based concentrations of chemicals of concern to risk management goals based on ecological metrics (e.g., species diversity). It also can be used to stimulate discussion of the limitations of the ERA science, and how scientists deal with uncertainty. It should assist risk managers by allowing their decisions to be based on a sequential, flexible, and transparent process that includes direct toxicity risks, indirect risks (via changes in habitat suitability), and the spatial and temporal factors that can influence the risk assessment.
Biomarkers and integrated environmental risk assessment: Are there more questions than answers?
Authors: Hagger Josephine A , Jones Malcolm B , Leonard DR Paul , Owen Richard , Galloway Tamara S
Published: March 2010

The introduction of the European Commission's Water Framework Directive (WFD; 2000/60/EC) established a new era in environmental risk assessment. In addition to incorporating the compliance of chemical quality standards, the key objective of the WFD is the general protection of the aquatic environment in its entirety. This new approach emphasizes the need for an integrated environmental risk assessment and offers the potential for the incorporation of biological effects measures, including the use of biomarkers in this process. Biomarkers have been suggested as practical tools for environmental management for a number of decades, but their inclusion has not been universally accepted because of a number of unanswered questions regarding sensitivity, practicality, and reproducibility. With this in mind, this paper addresses these potential questions and shows how, by taking a weight-of-evidence approach, biomarkers may be successfully incorporated within environmental risk assessment frameworks such as the WFD.
Development and implementation of a right-to-know web site that presents estimated cancer risks for air emissions of large industrial facilities
Authors: Ragas Ad M.J. , Huijbregts Mark A.J. , van Kaathoven Eric H. , Wolsink Johan H. , Wemmenhove Jeroen
Published: March 2010

A publicly accessible web site was developed that provides environmental information on air emissions of local facilities in 3 regions in the Netherlands. Compared with other environmental right-to-know initiatives, the main innovative aspect of this web site is the presentation of emissions data in terms of estimated increased cancer risk. The basic idea is that this type of information will help people 1) to put the health effects of air emissions of the selected facilities into perspective and 2) to form a personal opinion about the acceptability of these risks. In the 1st 5 months, the web site was visited more than 77,000 times, with more than 33,000 visits in the 1st month (March 2004). The web site triggered a discussion on the accessibility and presentation of environmental risk information in The Netherlands, which even reached the Dutch parliament. To improve and maintain this type of right-to-know initiative, it is important that 1) responsible authorities establish and maintain a detailed and up-to-date database of national, regional, and local emissions data, 2) the initiative is implemented in a legal framework or adopted by an independent body, and 3) more knowledge becomes available about the understanding and effects of environmental risk information on the general public.
Animal use replacement, reduction, and refinement: Development of an integrated testing strategy for bioconcentration of chemicals in fish
Authors: de Wolf Watze , Comber Mike , Douben Peter , Gimeno Sylvia , Holt Martin , Léonard Marc , Lillicrap Adam , Sijm Dick , van Egmond Roger , Weisbrod Anne , Whale Graham
Published: March 2010

When addressing the use of fish for the environmental safety of chemicals and effluents, there are many opportunities for applying the principles of the 3Rs: Reduce, Refine, and Replace. The current environmental regulatory testing strategy for bioconcentration and secondary poisoning has been reviewed, and alternative approaches that provide useful information are described. Several approaches can be used to reduce the number of fish used in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Test Guideline 305, including alternative in vivo test methods such as the dietary accumulation test and the static exposure approach. The best replacement approach would seem to use read-across, chemical grouping, and quantitative structure-activity relationships with an assessment of the key processes in bioconcentration: Adsorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Biomimetic extraction has particular usefulness in addressing bioavailable chemicals and is in some circumstances capable of predicting uptake. Use of alternative organisms such as invertebrates should also be considered. A single cut-off value for molecular weight and size beyond which no absorption will take place cannot be identified. Recommendations for their use in bioaccumulative (B) categorization schemes are provided. Assessment of biotransformation with in vitro assays and in silico approaches holds significant promise. Further research is needed to identify their variability and confidence limits and the ways to use this as a basis to estimate bioconcentration factors. A tiered bioconcentration testing strategy has been developed taking account of the alternatives discussed.
Predicting metal toxicity in sediments: A critique of current approaches
Authors: Simpson Stuart L , Batley Graeme E
Published: March 2010

The ability to predict metal toxicity in sediments based on measurements of simple chemical parameters is not possible using currently available sediment-quality guidelines (SQGs). Past evaluations of available SQGs for metals indicated little difference in their predictive abilities; however, the scientific understanding of cause-effect relationships is progressing rapidly. Today, it is clear that they can be protective of benthic ecosystem health, but single-value SQGs will be ineffective for predicting the toxicity of metals in sediments. Recent exposure-effects models and the sediment biotic ligand model both indicate that a better approach would be to have SQG concentrations, or ranges, that are applied to different sediment types. This review indicates that significant improvements in laboratory and field-based measurements, better recording of parameters that influence metal toxicity in sediments, as well as quantification of the metal exposure routes and the relative contribution of dissolved and particulate sources to toxic effects are needed to improve the power of predictive models and the overall effectiveness of SQGs for metals. Simply exposing benthic organisms to contaminated sediments and reporting effects concentrations or thresholds based on particulate metal concentrations will provide little information to aid future SQG development. For all tests, careful measurement and reporting of concentrations of particulate metal-binding phases (e.g., sulfide, organic carbon, and iron phases), metal partitioning between porewater and sediments, and porewater pH are considered as minimum data requirements. When using metal-spiked sediments, much better efforts are required to achieve sediment properties that resemble those of naturally contaminated sediments. Our current understanding of metal toxicity indicates that considerably greater information requirements will be needed to predict sublethal and chronic effects of metals, because the toxic, metabolically available concentration of metals within an organism will fluctuate over time. Based on the review of exposure and effects models, along with improved measurement of metal exposure-related parameters, the measurement of the short-term uptake rate of metals into organisms is likely to improve future models.
Application of risk assessment and decision analysis to aquatic nuisance species
Authors: Suedel Burton C , Bridges Todd S , Kim Jongbum , Payne Barry S , Miller Andrew C
Published: March 2010

The spread of nonindigenous (nonnative) species introduced into the United States is a significant and growing national problem and results in lost agricultural productivity, increased health problems, native species extinctions, and expensive prevention and eradication efforts. Thousands of nonindigenous species have either become established or spread, and introduction of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) into freshwater lakes threaten aquatic biodiversity. Expanding global trade is likely to increase the number of species that are spread across the globe, so the need to develop an approach to predict potential ANS invasions is great. Risk assessments currently being used to assess ANS risk rely on qualitative or semiquantitative information and expert opinion; thus, such approaches lack transparency and repeatability. A more quantitative approach is needed to augment the qualitative approaches currently in use. A quantitative approach with the use of the traditional ecological risk assessment (traditional ERA) framework combined with decision analysis tools was developed for assessing ANS risks in which the causative ecological risk agent is an organism rather than a chemical. This paper presents a systematic risk assessment framework that includes structured decision analysis to help organize and analyze pertinent data, state assumptions, address uncertainties in estimating the probability of an undesired ANS introduction, or spread and integrate these outputs with stakeholder values. This paper also describes when and how decision analysis tools can be used in such assessments for ANS. This framework and methodology will enable risk managers to systematically evaluate and compare alternatives and actions supporting ANS risk management and thus credibly prioritize resources.
Selenium effects: A weight-of-evidence approach
Authors: McDonald Blair G , Chapman Peter M
Published: March 2010

Selenium is increasingly an issue for a wide range of mining, industrial, and agricultural operations. Appropriate methods for evaluating the impacts of selenium in aquatic ecosystems are vigorously debated in the literature. Two common approaches include the use of tissue residue guidelines and reproductive toxicity testing using field-collected fish; however, each approach on its own does not provide sufficient evidence that wild fish populations are in fact impaired. The limitations of each method are discussed, and recommendations to improve the relevance of each line of evidence are provided. A 3rd line of evidence, field measurement of fish population dynamics, is proposed and also discussed. A framework, consistent with an ecological risk assessment methodology, for the design, application, and interpretation of selenium weight-of-evidence investigations is proposed.
Adjuvant effects of formalin‐inactivated HSV through activation of dendritic cells and inactivation of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells in cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Ohkusu‐Tsukada Kozo , Ohta Shigeki , Kawakami Yutaka , Toda Masahiro
Published: March 2010

Use of adequate adjuvant is necessary for induction of effective antitumor immune responses. To develop an effective adjuvant for cancer immunotherapy, we selected formalin‐inactivated (f)‐HSV as an adjuvant component, and analyzed the mechanisms underlying its adjuvant effects. First, we found that f‐HSV can induce the tumor antigen‐specific CTLs by enhancing antigen cross‐presentation by dendritic cells (DCs), mainly through TLR2, but not TLR9. Next, f‐HSV was also found to prevent the accumulation of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). We demonstrated that the expansion of MDSCs in the blood and spleen during tumor progression required B cells producing the inflammatory angiogenesis factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐A and neuropilin‐1 (NRP‐1), a co‐receptor for VEGF receptor‐2 (VEGFR‐2). Interestingly, the transmembrane‐type NRP‐1 on B cells changed to soluble‐type NRP‐1 (sNRP‐1) by f‐HSV treatment. We further showed that the sNRP‐1 and VEGF‐A secreted from B cells by f‐HSV treatment could abrogate the immunosuppressive ability of MDSCs. These results suggest that f‐HSV can enhance antitumor immune responses as an adjuvant, not only through activation of DCs, but also inactivation of MDSCs via B cells.
Downregulation of the Rho GTPase signaling pathway is involved in the microRNA‐138‐mediated inhibition of cell migration and invasion in tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Jiang Lu , Liu Xiqiang , Kolokythas Antonia , Yu Jinsheng , Wang Anxun , Heidbreder Caroline E. , Shi Fei , Zhou Xiaofeng
Published: March 2010

Tumor metastasis is the dominant cause of death in cancer patients, including patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). Previously, we reported that reduced miR‐138 level is correlated with enhanced metastatic potential in TSCC cells. Here, we demonstrate that miR‐138 suppresses TSCC cell migration and invasion by regulating 2 key genes in the Rho GTPase signaling pathway: RhoC and ROCK2. Direct targeting of miR‐138 to specific sequences located in the 3′‐untranslated regions of both RhoC and ROCK2 mRNAs was confirmed using luciferase reporter gene assays. Ectopic transfection of miR‐138 reduced the expression of both RhoC and ROCK2 in TSCC cells. These reduced expressions, in consequence, led to the reorganization of the stress fibers and the subsequent cell morphology change to a round bleb‐like shape as well as the suppression of cell migration and invasion. In contrast, knockdown of miR‐138 in TSCC cells enhanced the expression of RhoC and ROCK2, which resulted in an altered, elongated cell morphology, enhanced cell stress fiber formation and accelerated cell migration and invasion. Taken together, our results suggest that miR‐138 plays an important role in TSCC cell migration and invasion by concurrently targeting RhoC and ROCK2, and miR‐138 may serve as a novel therapeutic target for TSCC patients at risk of metastatic disease.