bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the effects of different storm events on shoreline dynamics of an artificially embayed beach
Authors: Archetti Renata , Romagnoli Claudia
Published: March 2011

A five‐year dataset of Argus‐derived mean intertidal positions has been analysed to characterize the shoreface variability in a beach protected by a system of groynes and a parallel low crested structure (Lido di Dante Ravenna, Italy). For the period 2004–2009, 84 intertidal beach bathymetries and shorelines at the zero sea level were used as indicators to assess beach changes in between a number of selected surveys and to determine characteristic patterns of the beach response to storm events from different directions. Variations in the shoreline at the zero sea levels have been quantified and analysed in conjunction with nearshore wave conditions and provenance linked to storm events. These fall into two categories: (1) storm events occurring during Bora (north‐eastern) wind conditions and (2) storm events occurring during Scirocco (south‐eastern) wind conditions. The results show that, apart from main beach advances of the whole protected beach due to nourishments periodically carried out, a marked variability is observed among the four sub‐cells into which the shoreface behaviour has been separately analysed. In particular, a dependence of beach rotation in the ‘artificially embayed’ area on the substantially bi‐directional wave climate has been shown: Bora and Scirocco storm events produce shoreline rotation in counterclockwise and clockwise directions, respectively, due to the occurrence of longshore currents in the opposite direction in the nearshore. An attempt was made to correlate the shoreface dynamics for the main rotation events (14 selected ones) to the wave attack intensity (as the total energy flux due to storm events). A relationship seems to occur (for each storm category) between the shoreline displacements estimated for each sub‐cell and the total energy flux computed for inter‐survey periods, supporting the occurrence of a link between the observed morphological changes and the hydrodynamic forcing associated with storm events in the five‐year monitoring period. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Equilibrium sampling of environmental pollutants in fish: Comparison with lipid-normalized concentrations and homogenization effects on chemical activity
Authors: Jahnke Annika , Mayer Philipp , Adolfsson-Erici Margaretha , McLachlan Michael S
Published: March 2011

Equilibrium sampling of organic pollutants into the silicone polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has recently been applied in biological tissues including fish. Pollutant concentrations in PDMS can then be multiplied with lipid/PDMS distribution coefficients (DLipid,PDMS) to obtain concentrations in fish lipids. In the present study, PDMS thin films were used for equilibrium sampling of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in intact tissue of two eels and one salmon. A classical exhaustive extraction technique to determine lipid-normalized PCB concentrations, which assigns the body burden of the chemical to the lipid fraction of the fish, was additionally applied. Lipid-based PCB concentrations obtained by equilibrium sampling were 85 to 106% (Norwegian Atlantic salmon), 108 to 128% (Baltic Sea eel), and 51 to 83% (Finnish lake eel) of those determined using total extraction. This supports the validity of the equilibrium sampling technique, while at the same time confirming that the fugacity capacity of these lipid-rich tissues for PCBs was dominated by the lipid fraction. Equilibrium sampling was also applied to homogenates of the same fish tissues. The PCB concentrations in the PDMS were 1.2 to 2.0 times higher in the homogenates (statistically significant in 18 of 21 cases, p < 0.05), indicating that homogenization increased the chemical activity of the PCBs and decreased the fugacity capacity of the tissue. This observation has implications for equilibrium sampling and partition coefficients determined using tissue homogenates. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011; 30:1515–1521. © 2011 SETAC
Comparative hepatic microsomal biotransformation of selected PBDEs, including decabromodiphenyl ether, and decabromodiphenyl ethane flame retardants in Arctic marine-feeding mammals
Authors: McKinney Melissa A , Dietz Rune , Sonne Christian , De Guise Sylvain , Skirnisson Karl , Karlsson Karl , Steingrímsson Egill , Letcher Robert J
Published: March 2011

The present study assessed and compared the oxidative and reductive biotransformation of brominated flame retardants, including established polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and emerging decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) using an in vitro system based on liver microsomes from various arctic marine-feeding mammals: polar bear (Ursus maritimus), beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), and ringed seal (Pusa hispida), and in laboratory rat as a mammalian model species. Greater depletion of fully brominated BDE209 (14–25% of 30 pmol) and DBDPE (44–74% of 90 pmol) occurred in individuals from all species relative to depletion of lower brominated PBDEs (BDEs 99, 100, and 154; 0–3% of 30 pmol). No evidence of simply debrominated metabolites was observed. Investigation of phenolic metabolites in rat and polar bear revealed formation of two phenolic, likely multiply debrominated, DBDPE metabolites in polar bear and one phenolic BDE154 metabolite in polar bear and rat microsomes. For BDE209 and DBDPE, observed metabolite concentrations were low to nondetectable, despite substantial parent depletion. These findings suggested possible underestimation of the ecosystem burden of total-BDE209, as well as its transformation products, and a need for research to identify and characterize the persistence and toxicity of major BDE209 metabolites. Similar cause for concern may exist regarding DBDPE, given similarities of physicochemical and environmental behavior to BDE209, current evidence of biotransformation, and increasing use of DBDPE as a replacement for BDE209. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011; 30:1506–1514. © 2011 SETAC
Morphological diversity and development of glia in Drosophila
Authors: Hartenstein Volker
Published: March 2011

Insect glia represents a conspicuous and diverse population of cells and plays a role in controlling neuronal progenitor proliferation, axonal growth, neuronal differentiation and maintenance, and neuronal function. Genetic studies in Drosophila have elucidated many aspects of glial structure, function, and development. Just as in vertebrates, it appears as if different classes of glial cells are specialized for different functions. On the basis of topology and cell shape, glial cells of the central nervous system fall into three classes (Fig. 1A–C): (i) surface glia that extend sheath‐like processes to wrap around the entire brain; (ii) cortex glia (also called cell body‐associated glia) that encapsulate neuronal somata and neuroblasts which form the outer layer (cortex) of the central nervous system; (iii) neuropile glia that are located at the interface between the cortex and the neuropile, the central domain of the nervous system formed by the highly branched neuronal processes and their synaptic contacts. Surface glia is further subdivided into an outer, perineurial layer, and an inner, subperineurial layer. Likewise, neuropile glia comprises a class of cells that remain at the surface of the neuropile (ensheathing glia), and a second class that forms profuse lamellar processes around nerve fibers within the neuropile (astrocyte‐like or reticular glia). Glia also surrounds the peripheral nerves and sensory organs; here, one also recognizes perineurial and subperineurial glia, and a third type called “wrapping glia” that most likely corresponds to the ensheathing glia of the central nervous system. Much more experimental work is needed to determine how fundamental these differences between classes of glial cells are, or how and when during development they are specified. To aid in this work the following review will briefly summarize our knowledge of the classes of glial cells encountered in the Drosophila nervous system, and then survey their development from the embryo to adult. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hippocampal but not amygdalar volume affects contextual fear conditioning in humans
Authors: Pohlack Sebastian T. , Nees Frauke , Liebscher Claudia , Cacciaglia Raffaele , Diener Slawomira J. , Ridder Stephanie , Woermann Friedrich G. , Flor Herta
Published: March 2011

Both animal and human studies have identified a critical role of the hippocampus in contextual fear conditioning. In humans mainly functional magnetic resonance imaging has been used. To extend these findings to volumetric properties, 58 healthy participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging and participated in a differential fear conditioning paradigm with contextual stimuli. Ratings of emotional valence, arousal, and contingency as well as skin conductance responses (SCRs) were used as indicators of conditioning. Twenty‐nine participants with the smallest hippocampal volumes were compared with 29 persons with the largest hippocampal volumes. Persons with larger hippocampal volume (especially on the right side) learned to discriminate between two conditioned contexts, whereas those with small hippocampal volumes did not, as indicated by SCRs. Further analyses showed that these results could not be explained by amygdalar volumes. In contrast, the participant answers on the self‐report measures were not significantly influenced by hippocampal or amygdalar, but by total brain volume, suggesting a role of cortical structures in these more cognitive evaluation processes. Reanalysis of the self‐report data using partial hippocampal volumes revealed a significant influence of the posterior but not anterior subvolumes, which is in accordance with theories and empirical findings on hippocampal functioning. This study shows the relevance of hippocampal volume for contextual fear conditioning in healthy volunteers and may have important implications for anxiety disorders. Hum Brain Mapp, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Budget allocation and the revealed social rate of time preference for health
Authors: Paulden Mike , Claxton Karl
Published: March 2011

Appropriate decisions based on cost‐effectiveness evaluations of health‐care technologies depend upon the cost‐effectiveness threshold and its rate of growth as well as some social rate of time preference for health. A more traditional approach to this problem is outlined before a social decision‐making approach is developed, which demonstrates that social time preference for health is revealed through the budget allocations made by a socially legitimate higher authority. The relationship between the social time preference rate for health, the growth rate of the cost‐effectiveness threshold and the rate at which the higher authority can borrow or invest is then examined. We establish that the social time preference rate for health is implied by the budget allocation and the health production functions in each period. As such, the social time preference rate for health depends not on the social time preference rate for consumption or growth in the consumption value of health but on growth in the cost‐effectiveness threshold and the rate at which the higher authority can save or borrow between periods. The implications for discounting and the policies of bodies such as NICE are then discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Valproic acid: Growth inhibition of head and neck cancer by induction of terminal differentiation and senescence
Authors: Gan Chai Phei , Hamid Sharifah , Hor Seen Yii , Zain Rosnah Binti , Ismail Siti Mazlipah , Wan Mustafa Wan Mahadzir , Teo Soo Hwang , Saunders Nicholas , Cheong Sok Ching
Published: March 2011

Background

There are limited studies on the effects of drugs that modulate epigenetic regulation for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study determined the effect of valproic acid (VPA) on HNSCC.

Methods

Growth inhibition effects of VPA alone or in combination with 5‐aza‐2′deoxycytidine (5‐aza‐dC) or all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) was evaluated with MTT and clonogenic assays on 5 HNSCC cell lines. The mechanism of growth inhibition was investigated by looking at markers of terminal differentiation and senescence.

Results

Growth inhibition profiles of HNSCC cell lines varied in response to VPA. Inhibition of clonogenic survival in response to VPA was associated with an upregulation of p21, expression of terminal differentiation markers, and cellular senescence. Notably, a combination treatment of 5‐Aza‐dC‐VPA‐ATRA enhanced growth inhibition in cells resistant to VPA.

Conclusion

VPA is a potent inhibitor of proliferation in some HNSCC cell lines, and may be used to treat HNSCC. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012
Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines based on benthic macrofauna responses
Authors: Ritter Kerry J. , Bay Steven M. , Smith Robert W. , Vidal-Dorsch Doris E. , Field L. Jay
Published: March 2011

Toxicity-based sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) are often used to assess the potential of sediment contamination to adversely affect benthic macrofauna, yet the correspondence of these guidelines to benthic community condition is poorly documented. This study compares the performance of 5 toxicity-based SQG approaches to a new benthos-based SQG approach relative to changes in benthic community condition. Four of the toxicity-based SQG approaches—effects range median, logistic regression modeling (LRM), sediment quality guideline quotient 1 (SQGQ1), and consensus—were derived in previous national studies in the United States, and one was developed as a regional variation of LRM calibrated to California data. The new benthos-based SQG approach, chemical score index, was derived from Southern California benthic community data. The chemical-specific guidelines for each approach were applied to matched chemical concentration, amphipod mortality, and benthic macrofauna abundance data for Southern California. Respective results for each SQG approach were then combined into a summary metric describing the overall contamination magnitude (e.g., mean quotient) and assessed in accordance with a set of thresholds in order to classify stations into 4 categories of expected biological effect. Results for each SQG approach were significantly correlated with changes in sediment toxicity and benthic community condition. Cumulative frequency plots and effect category thresholds for toxicity and benthic community condition were similar, indicating that both types of effect measures had similar sensitivity and specificity of response to contamination level. In terms of discriminating among multiple levels of benthic community condition, the toxicity-based SQG indices illustrated moderate capabilities, similar to those for multiple levels of toxicity. The National LRM, California LRM, and the chemical score index had the highest overall agreement with benthic categories. However, only the benthos-based chemical score index was consistently among the highest performing SQG indices for all measures of association (correlation, percent agreement, and weighted kappa) for both toxicity and benthos. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2012; 8: 610–624. © 2011 SETAC
Determining the insolvent estate – A comparative analysis
Authors: Rajak Harry
Published: March 2011

This article is part of a comparative research project in which the provisions of several different jurisdictions concerning the determination of the insolvent estate are examined. In particular, this part of the project examines those provisions which enable the administrator of the insolvent estate to seek to increase the size of the estate by (a) setting aside pre‐insolvency transactions and (b) seeking compensation from those who allegedly were negligent or fraudulent in the management of the debtor prior to the onset of the latter's insolvency. The overall purpose of the research study is to establish a basis for the possible substantive harmonization of the different provisions in those countries, which constitute the European Union. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
AIF‐mediated caspase‐independent necroptosis: A new chance for targeted therapeutics
Authors: Delavallée Laure , Cabon Lauriane , Galán‐Malo Patricia , Lorenzo Hans K. , Susin Santos A.
Published: March 2011

Cell death has been initially divided into apoptosis, in which the cell plays an active role, and necrosis, which is considered a passive cell death program. Intense research performed in the last decades has concluded that “programmed” cell death (PCD) is a more complex physiological process than initially thought. Indeed, although in most cases the PCD process is achieved via a family of Cys proteases known as caspases, an important number of regulated PCD pathways do not involve this family of proteases. As a consequence, active forms of PCD are initially referred to as caspase‐dependent and caspase‐independent. More recent data has revealed that there are also active caspase‐independent necrotic pathways defined as necroptosis (programmed necrosis). The existence of necroptotic forms of death was corroborated by the discovery of key executioners such as the kinase RIP1 or the mitochondrial protein apoptosis‐inducing factor (AIF). AIF is a Janus protein with a redox activity in the mitochondria and a pro‐apoptotic function in the nucleus. We have recently described a particular form of AIF‐mediated caspase‐independent necroptosis that also implicates other molecules such as PARP‐1, calpains, Bax, Bcl‐2, histone H2AX, and cyclophilin A. From a therapeutic point of view, the unraveling of this new form of PCD poses a question: is it possible to modulate this necroptotic pathway independently of the classical apoptotic paths? Because the answer is yes, a wider understanding of AIF‐mediated necroptosis could theoretically pave the way for the development of new drugs that modulate PCD. To this end, we present here an overview of the current knowledge of AIF and AIF‐mediated necroptosis. We also summarize the state of the art in some of the most interesting therapeutic strategies that could target AIF or the AIF‐mediated necroptotic pathway. © 2011 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 63(4): 221–232, 2011
Physiological unfolded protein response regulated by OASIS family members, transmembrane bZIP transcription factors
Authors: Kondo Shinichi , Saito Atsushi , Asada Rie , Kanemoto Soshi , Imaizumi Kazunori
Published: March 2011

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays role in the maintenance of numerous aspects of cellular and organismal homeostasis by folding, modifying, and exporting nascent secretory and transmembrane proteins. Failure of the ER's adaptive capacity results in accumulation of unfolded or malfolded proteins in the ER lumen (ER stress). To avoid cellular damage, mammalian cells activate the specific signals from the ER to the cytosol or nucleus to enhance the capacity for protein folding, attenuate the synthesis of proteins, and degrade unfolded proteins. These signaling pathways are collectively known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). The canonical branches of the UPR are mediated by three ER membrane‐bound proteins, PERK, IRE1, and ATF6. These ER stress transducers basically play important roles in cell survival after ER stress. Recently, novel types of ER stress transducers, OASIS family members that share a region of high sequence similarity with ATF6 have been identified. They have a transmembrane domain, which allows them to associate with the ER, and possess a transcription‐activation domain and a bZIP domain. OASIS family proteins include OASIS, BBF2H7, CREBH, AIbZIP, and Luman. Despite the structural similarities among OASIS family proteins and ATF6, differences in activating stimuli, tissue distribution, and response element binding indicate specialized functions of each member on regulating the UPR in the specific organs and tissues. Here, we summarize our current understanding of biochemical characteristics and in vivo functions of OASIS family proteins, particularly focusing on OASIS and BBF2H7. A growing body of new works suggests that the UPR branches regulated by OASIS family members play essential roles in cell differentiation and maturation or maintenance of basal cellular homeostasis in mammals. © 2011 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 63(4): 233–239, 2011
Toxicity of methyl tertiary‐butyl ether (MTBE) following exposure of Wistar Rats for 13 weeks or one year via drinking water
Authors: Bermudez Edilberto , Willson Gabrielle , Parkinson Horace , Dodd Darol
Published: March 2011

Thirteen‐week and one‐year toxicity studies of methyl tertiary‐butyl ether (MTBE) administered in drinking water to Wistar rats were conducted. Male and female rats were exposed to MTBE in drinking water at 0.5, 3, 7.5 and 15 mg ml−1 for 13 weeks and at 0.5, 3 and 7.5 (males) or 0.5, 3 and 15 mg ml−1 (females) for 1 year. Body weights were reduced only in males following 13 weeks of exposure. Reduced water consumption and urine output were observed in males and females exposed to MTBE. Kidney cell replication and α2u‐globulin levels in males were increased at 1 and 4 weeks of MTBE exposure and tubular cell regeneration was increased in male kidneys exposed to MTBE concentrations of 7.5 mg ml−1 or greater for 13 weeks. Wet weights of male kidneys were increased following 13 weeks, 6 months and 1 year of exposure to MTBE concentrations of 7.5 mg ml−1 or greater. Kidney wet weights were increased in females at MTBE concentrations of 15 mg ml−1 for 13 weeks. Tertiary‐butyl alcohol blood levels increased linearly with dose in males and females following 1 year of exposure. Chronic progressive nephropathy (CPN), of minimal to mild severity, increased in males, but not females, with 1 year of MTBE exposure. In summary, exposure of Wistar rats to MTBE in the drinking water resulted in minimal exposure‐related effects including limited renal changes in male rats suggestive of α2u‐globulin nephropathy following 13 weeks of exposure and an exacerbation of CPN in males at the end of 1 year of exposure. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Elastin‐like recombinamers as substrates for retinal pigment epithelial cell growth
Authors: Srivastava Girish K. , Martín Laura , Singh Amar K. , Fernandez‐Bueno Ivan , Gayoso Manuel J. , Garcia‐Gutierrez Maria T. , Girotti Alessandra , Alonso Matilde , Rodríguez‐Cabello José C. , Pastor José C.
Published: March 2011

The aim of this study is to investigate the use of elastin‐like recombinamers (ELRs) as a substrate that can maintain the growth, phenotype, and functional characteristics of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells efficiently and as a suitable carrier for the transplantation of autologous RPE cells for treatment of age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). ELR films containing a bioactive sequence, RGD (ELR‐RGD), and one with no specific sequence (ELR‐IK) as control, were obtained by solvent‐casting onto glass and subsequent cross‐linking. ARPE19 cells were seeded on sterilized ELR films as well as on the control surfaces. Cells were analysed after 4, 24, 72, and 120 h to study cell adhesion, proliferation, cell viability, morphology, and specificity by staining with Trypan blue, DAPI, Rhodamin‐Phalloidin and RPE65, ZO‐1 antibodies and observing under fluorescence as well as electron microscope. ARPE19 cells seeded on both ELR films and controls were 100% viable and maintained their morphology and set of characteristics at the different time points studied. Cell proliferation on ELR‐RGD was significantly higher than that found on ELR‐IK at all time points, although it was less than the growth rate on polystyrene. ARPE19 cells grow well on ELR‐RGD maintaining their phenotype. These results should be extended to further studies with fresh human RPE cells and in vivo studies to determine whether this ELR‐RGD matrix could be used as a Bruch's membrane prosthesis and carrier for transplantation of RPE cells in patients suffering with AMD. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A:, 2011.
Transforming growth factor‐β1 suppression of endotoxin‐induced heme oxygenase‐1 in macrophages involves activation of Smad2 and downregulation of Ets‐2
Authors: Chung Su Wol , Kwon Min‐Young , Kang Young‐Ho , Chung Hun‐Taeg , Lee Seon‐Jin , Kim Hong Pyo , Perrella Mark A.
Published: March 2011

Heme oxygenase (HO)‐1 is a cytoprotective molecule that is induced during the response to injury. An increase in HO‐1 is an acute indicator of inflammation, and early induction of HO‐1 has been suggested to correlate with severity of injury. While a great deal is known about the induction of HO‐1 by inflammatory mediators and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), much less is known about the effects of anti‐inflammatory mediators on HO‐1 expression. Transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β is known to play a critical role in suppressing the immune response, and the TGF‐β1 isoform is expressed in inflammatory cells. Thus, we wanted to investigate whether TGF‐β1 could inhibit the expression of HO‐1 during exposure to an inflammatory stimulus in macrophages. Here we demonstrate that TGF‐β1 is able to downregulate LPS‐induced HO‐1 in mouse macrophages, and this reduction in HO‐1 occurred through signaling of TGF‐β1 via its type I receptor, and activation of Smad2. This TGF‐β1 response is dependent on an intact Ets‐binding site (EBS) located 93 base pairs upstream from the mouse HO‐1 transcription start site. This EBS is known to be important for Ets‐2 transactivation of HO‐1 by LPS stimulation, and we show that TGF‐β1 is able to suppress LPS‐induced Ets‐2 mRNA and protein levels in macrophages. Moreover, silencing of Smad2 is able to prevent the suppression of both HO‐1 and Ets‐2 by TGF‐β1 during exposure to LPS. These data suggest that the return of HO‐1 to basal levels during the resolution of an inflammatory response may involve its downregulation by anti‐inflammatory mediators. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 351–360, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bone marrow and peripheral white blood cells number is affected by sleep deprivation in a murine experimental model
Authors: Guariniello Luciana Doria , Vicari Perla , Lee Kil Sun , de Oliveira Allan Chiaratti , Tufik Sergio
Published: March 2011

Sleep deficit and related disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent in modern life and an extensive literature has documented that acute or chronic sleep deprivation can lead to several physiological consequences. Here, we evaluated the effects of sleep deprivation on hematopoietic composition of either bone marrow or peripheral blood. Mice were subjected to paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) for 72 h by modified multiple platform method, with or without an additional sleep recovery (SR) period of 10 days. PSD decreased total cellularity of the bone marrow and peripheral blood concomitantly. Subsequent analysis of cell composition showed that absolute number of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and colony‐forming units was decreased. Moreover, the absolute number of granulocytes and monocytes in bone marrow was reduced in PSD group. These alterations were paralleled by an accumulation of neutrophils and monocytes in peripheral blood. PSD also induced lymphopenia in the circulation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates the importance of sleep on the hematopoietic microenvironment and provides new insights into the relationship between sleep and the immune system. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 361–366, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ceramide metabolism is affected by obesity and diabetes in human adipose tissue
Authors: Błachnio‐Zabielska A.U. , Pułka M. , Baranowski M. , Nikołajuk A. , Zabielski P. , Górska M. , Górski J.
Published: March 2011

Ceramide is involved in development of insulin resistance. However, there are no data on ceramide metabolism in human adipose tissue. The aim of our study was to examine sphingolipid metabolism in fat tissue from obese nondiabetic (n = 11), obese diabetic (n = 11), and lean nondiabetic (n = 8) subjects. The content of ceramide (Cer), dihydroceramide (dhCer), sphingosine (SPH), sphinganine (SPA), sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P; pmol/mg of protein), the expression (mRNA) and activity of key enzymes responsible for Cer metabolism: serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), neutral and acidic sphingomyelinase (nSMase and aSMase, respectively), and neutral and acidic ceramidase (nCDase and aCDase, respectively) were examined in human adipose tissue. The contents of SPA and Cer were significantly lower whereas the content of dhCer was higher in both obese groups than the respective values in the lean subjects. The expression of examined enzymes was elevated in both obese groups. The SPT and CDases activity increased whereas aSMase activity deceased in both obese groups. We have found correlation between adipose tissue Cer content and plasma adiponectin concentration (r = 0.69, P < 0.001) and negative correlation between total Cer content and HOMA‐IR index (homeostasis model of insulin resistance) (r = −0.67, P < 0.001). We have found that both obesity and diabetes affected pathways of sphingolipid metabolism in the adipose tissue. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 550–557, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ecotoxicological risk profile of ionic liquids: octanol‐water distribution coefficients and toxicological data
Authors: Ventura Sónia P.M. , Gardas Ramesh L. , Gonçalves Fernando , Coutinho João A.P.
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND: A knowledge of the toxicity of ionic liquids (ILs) and their influence on aquatic ecosystems must be assessed before an accurate judgment of their environmental benefits and prior to their industrial application. In the present work, the overall octanol‐water distribution coefficients (Dow) of imidazolium‐based ILs were measured using the slow‐stirring method. Biological tests were performed to establish the toxicity of some of these imidazolium‐based ILs and to relate it with the Dow.

RESULTS: The Dow values of the ILs investigated are low and concentration dependent, indicating that these ILs, at low concentrations, will not accumulate or bioconcentrate in the environment. Moreover, it is shown that the most hydrophobic anions present higher Dow and higher toxicity, which means lower EC50 values (the concentration of IL needed to decrease the luminescence of the marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri by 50% compared with the control organism luminescence).

CONCLUSIONS: A new and more accurate interpretation of the partition of ionic liquids between water and 1‐octanol is presented. The work included measurement of new Dow data and the study of their relation with water solubility and EC50 values. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
The politics of land reforms in Malawi: The case of the Community Based Rural Land Development Programme (CBRLDP)
Authors: Chinsinga Blessings
Published: March 2011

The implementation experiences of the CBRLDP demonstrate that the design, reform and implementation of pro‐poor institutional arrangements are not merely a technical or managerial matter but a profoundly political exercise. This is underscored by the sheer determination of stakeholders engaged with the CBRLDP to shift the burden of the reforms elsewhere by taking recourse mainly to informal institutions within the framework of the evolving institutional arrangements governing land ownership and use. In addition, the question of citizenship based on the notion of autochthony is invoked by communities with excess land to the extent that new settlers have to contend with the constant threat that their land is open to contestation by the natives. The main argument of this paper therefore is that these experiences have greatly undermined the prospects of the CBRLDP to generate valuable lessons as a potential blueprint for sustainable land reform across the country and for further fine‐tuning the draft land legislative framework. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Legislative democracy, economic growth and multi‐dimensional poverty in sub‐Sahara Africa
Authors: Saha Jean C.
Published: March 2011

We examine the consequence of legislative competition on the long‐term impact of growth on three‐dimensional poverty in a panel of 32 sub‐Saharan African countries. A measure of this poverty is constructed from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s Human Development Index (HDI). Legislative competition is considered as inversely proportional to the proportion of parliamentary seats occupied by the major political party. From the results, one success story emerges—Ethiopia, where growth reduces poverty thanks to virtuous legislative democracy—and one failure story emerges—Republic of Congo, where growth increases poverty because of vicious legislative competition. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid quantification and analysis of genetic diversity among Gordonia populations in foaming activated sludge plants
Authors: Marrengane Zinhle , Kumar Sheena Kumari Santhosh , Pillay Leneshri , Bux Faizal
Published: March 2011

Activated sludge plants, sporadically suffers malfunction due to the proliferation of filamentous bacteria mainly Gordonia and Microthrix species. Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction‐Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (nested PCR‐RFLP) in combination with quantitative real‐time PCR (q PCR) was applied to study the distribution of Gordonia in foaming samples. Samples of mixed liquor were collected from three full‐scale activated sludge plants that were experiencing filamentous biological foaming. Partial sequencing of 16S rRNA genes revealed the dominance of Gordonia amarae (60–80%), Gordonia terrae (10%), Gordonia polyisoprenivorans (30–40%) and an unidentified Gordonia species (20–50%). Restriction enzyme analysis of the amplicons exhibited 87.14 to 99.6% similarity at interspecies level. The q PCR results showed that there was an average of 15.6% Gordonia 16S rRNA copies with respect to the total bacterial 16S rRNA gene in foaming sludge samples with the highest being 23.51% and lowest being 10.28%. The presence of Gordonia spp. in the foaming samples was observed throughout the year but was lower during winter and its presence was significantly higher in foaming samples, compared to Microthrix parvicella (r = 0.007, P < 5%). This approach could help to quantify and confirm the existence of genetically diverse indigenous Gordonia spp. in foaming samples and can be used as an indicator of forthcoming foaming incidents. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Isolation and characterization of arsenic resistant Geobacillus kaustophilus strain from geothermal soils
Authors: Cuebas Mariola , Sannino David , Bini Elisabetta
Published: March 2011

A thermophilic, arsenate resistant bacterial strain was isolated from a geothermal field located in the area surrounding Monterotondo (Tuscany, Italy). Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis and recN comparisons the strain was identified as Geobacillus kaustophilus. Cells of the strain, designated A1, were rod‐shaped, 2–3 μm long and reacted negatively to Gram staining, despite its taxonomic classification as a Gram positive microorganism. Strain A1 is a thermophilic spore‐forming bacterium, and grows optimally at pH 6.5 and 55 °C. An arsenate MIC of 80 mM was determined for strain A1, and the close relative G. kaustophilus DSM 7263T showed similar levels of arsenate resistance. These observations were consistent with the presence of arsenic detoxification genes in the genome of G. kaustophilus HTA426. Furthermore, strain A1 growth was not inhibited by 5 mM antimonite and 15 mM arsenite, the highest tested concentrations. This is the first description of arsenic resistance in a Geobacillus strain and supports the hypothesis that members of the genus may have a role in the biogeochemical cycling of arsenic. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Culture‐dependent and ‐independent molecular analysis of the bacterial community within uranium ore
Authors: Islam Ekramul , Sar Pinaki
Published: March 2011

The bacterial community structure within a uranium ore was investigated using culture‐dependent and ‐independent clone library analysis and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rRNA genes. The major aerobic heterotrophic bacteria were isolated and identified, and their resistance to uranium and other heavy metals was characterized. Together with near neutral pH, moderate organic carbon content, elevated U and other heavy metals (V, Ni, Mn, Cu, etc.), the ore showed high microbial counts and phylotype richness. The bacterial community mainly consisted of uncultured Proteobacteria, with the predominance of γ ‐ over β ‐ and α ‐subdivisions, along with Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. A phylogenetic study revealed that nearly one‐third of the community was affiliated to as yet uncultured and unidentified bacteria having a closer relationship to Pseudomonas. Lineages of Burkholderiaceae and Moraxellaceae were relatively more abundant in the total community, while genera affiliated to Xanthomonadaceae and Microbacteriaceae and Exiguobacterium were detected in the culturable fraction. More than 50% of the bacterial isolates affiliated to Stenotrophomonas, Microbacterium, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and Enterobacter showed resistance to uranium and other heavy metals. The study showed for the first time that uranium ore harbors major bacterial groups related to organisms having a wide range of environmentally significant functional attributes, and the most abundant members are possibly new groups/taxa. These findings provide new insights into U‐ore geomicrobiology that could be useful in biohydrometallurgy and bioremediation applications. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Cellulases from psychrophilic microorganisms: a review
Authors: Kasana Ramesh C. , Gulati Arvind
Published: March 2011

Cellulases are hydrolytic enzymes that catalyze total hydrolysis of cellulose into sugars. Cellulases are produced by various groups of microorganisms and animals; however, psychro‐philes are the ideal candidates for the production of enzymes active at low temperature and stable under alkaline conditions, in the presence of oxidants and detergents, which are in large demand as laundry additives. The cellulases from psychrophiles also find application in environmental bioremediation, food industry and molecular biology. Research work on cellulase has been done over the last six decades, but there is no exclusive review available on the cellulases from psychrophiles. This review is an attempt to fill this gap by providing all the relevant information exclusively for cellulases from psychrophiles, with a focus on the present status of knowledge on their activity, molecular characteristics, gene cloning, statistical expe‐rimental designs, crystal structure, and strategies for the improvement of psychrophilic cel‐lulases. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Tree ring density‐based summer temperature reconstruction for Zajsan Lake area, East Kazakhstan
Authors: Chen Feng , Yuan Yujiang , Wei Wenshou , Wang Lily , Yu Shulong , Zhang Ruibo , Fan Ziang , Shang Huaming , Zhang Tongwen , Li Yang
Published: March 2011

Wood from Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) was collected in Hoboksar County, Xinjiang. Mean latewood densities (LWD) were measured by X‐ray densitometry; individual series were first cross‐dated and then combined to form a standard chronology. We developed a warm‐season (June–August) temperature reconstruction of Zajsan Lake area in East Kazakhstan that spans 1600–2002 based on the standard chronology (LWD). The climate/tree‐growth model accounts for 39.1% of the temperature variance from 1901 to 2002 and shows cold phase during the late 1600s early 1700s followed by a warmer period, with cooling again in the late 1700s early 1800s. Several severely cold warm seasons coincide with major volcanic eruptions. Some of the temperature variations also correspond to variations in solar activity. The similarities in trends of the Zajsan chronology (LWD) and the Qinghe chronology (LWD) in Altai Mountain show that there are common large‐scale climatic forcings in Central Asian. The low‐frequency change of temperature reconstruction is correlated positively with Northern Hemisphere temperatures. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Contents and bioavailability of rare earth elements in agricultural soils in Hesse (Germany)
Authors: Loell Mareike , Reiher Wolfgang , Felix‐Henningsen Peter
Published: March 2011

With increasing agricultural and industrial use of rare earth elements (REEs), input of REEs into the pedosphere has risen in parallel. Since total REE budgets for soils in Germany are mainly unknown, this pilot study investigates the concentrations of REEs in three loess soil profiles under agricultural land use in the Wetterau region, Germany. There were no significant REE applications in the past, so the presented data can be considered as background concentrations of REEs in soils. In addition to the total REE contents (aqua regia digestion), potentially plant‐available (EDTA) and at actual conditions available, mobile (NH4NO3) REEs have been determined for each horizon. Interactions between REE availability and properties of soils are explained after assessing several chemical and physical properties. The results reveal a wide range of total REE contents, ranging from 222 to 423 mg kg–1. With 10.1% of total REE amounts, the potentially plant‐available proportions of REEs are generally low. In contrast, yttrium, which showed high available proportion of 24.8%, was found to be comparable with Cd. Cerium is the most abundant REE in aqua regia digests, whereas only small amounts in the potentially plant‐available fraction were found. Thus negative cerium anomalies could be concluded concerning its potential availability. Generally, bioavailability of REE had significant correlations between clay contents and Fe and Mn oxides for the majority of REEs. Due to moderately high pH (CaCl2) in soils (average 6.6) the mobile fraction for most of the elements was not detectible.
A late Early Pleistocene pollen record from Fontana Ranuccio (central Italy)
Authors: Corrado Paolo , Magri Donatella
Published: March 2011

A pollen record from a sediment core drilled underneath the Acheulian site of Fontana Ranuccio provides new data on the vegetation characters in central Italy during the late Early Pleistocene, in a forest phase possibly corresponding to a substage of Marine Isotope Stage 21. A number of tree taxa nowadays extinct in Europe (Cathaya, Tsuga, Taxodium type, Carya and Pterocarya) are present at Fontana Ranuccio in a temperate phase characterised by dense forest conditions, dominated by Alnus and Pterocarya. The comparison of the Fontana Ranuccio record with other dated sites distributed along the Italian peninsula indicates that the floristic and vegetational characters of the Mid Pleistocene revolution present a rather distinct succession of biostratigraphic events. Compared to other Early Pleistocene pollen records from southern Europe, the Italian Peninsula shows greater floristic similarities with the Eastern Mediterranean regions than with the Iberian Peninsula. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The feasibility and accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy in clinically node‐negative patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer—a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tan Veronique K.M. , Goh Brian K.P. , Fook‐Chong Stephanie , Khin Lay‐Wai , Wong Wai‐Keong , Yong Wei‐Sean
Published: March 2011

The sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is now an accepted alternative to the axillary lymph node dissection for pathologic evaluation of the axilla in patients with early breast cancer. The use of SLNB after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is controversial. This meta‐analysis aims to determine the feasibility and the accuracy of SLNB in the population of patients who are clinically node‐negative after NAC for breast cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011;104:97–103. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tandem use of solid‐phase extraction and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the determination of mononitrotoluenes in aquatic environment
Authors: Sobhi Hamid Reza , Farahani Hadi , Kashtiaray Amir , Farahani Mohammad Reza
Published: March 2011

Solid‐phase extraction (SPE) in tandem with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) has been developed for the determination of mononitrotoluenes (MNTs) in several aquatic samples using gas chromatography‐flame ionization (GC‐FID) detection system. In the hyphenated SPE‐DLLME, initially MNTs were extracted from a large volume of aqueous samples (100 mL) into a 500‐mg octadecyl silane (C18) sorbent. After the elution of analytes from the sorbent with acetonitrile, the obtained solution was put under the DLLME procedure, so that the extra preconcentration factors could be achieved. The parameters influencing the extraction efficiency such as breakthrough volume, type and volume of the elution solvent (disperser solvent) and extracting solvent, as well as the salt addition, were studied and optimized. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.5–500 μg/L and the limit of detection for all analytes was found to be 0.2 μg/L. The relative standard deviations (for 0.75 μg/L of MNTs) without internal standard varied from 2.0 to 6.4% (n=5). The relative recoveries of the well, river and sea water samples, spiked at the concentration level of 0.75 μg/L of the analytes, were in the range of 85–118%.
Improved liquid chromatography fingerprint of fat‐soluble Radix isatidis extract using multi‐wavelength combination technique
Authors: Zhou Wei , Xie Mei‐Fen , Zhang Xiao‐Yan , Liu Ting‐Ting , Yu Ying‐Jia , Duan Geng‐Li
Published: March 2011

We first investigated liquid chromatography (LC) fingerprint method using multi‐wavelength combination technique, and successfully used this method for the analysis of a fat‐soluble extract from Radix isatidis. LC fingerprints of fat‐soluble R. isatidis extracts from 11 origins were established using the Origin software and Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprints of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The typical LC fingerprints of fat‐soluble extracts from R. isatidis were first established, and the reference chromatogram was also generated with 24 common peaks showing large peak areas and good separation from adjacent peaks. Seven common characteristic peaks were identified for the first time: anthranilic acid, syringic acid, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, tryptanthrin, indigo and indirubin. The total peak areas of 24 common peaks were more than 80% of the total peak areas. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) of 11 R. isatidis samples was performed, and the results show that the differences between 11 origin R. isatidis were large. Principal component analysis (PCA) on 24 common peaks was obtained to find the possible chemical markers for the discrimination of different samples. The loading plot indicated that peaks 8, 11, 13 and 14 may have more influence on the discrimination of the samples. All these were useful for evaluating and controlling the quality of R. isatidis. Our work provides a general model of chromatogram combination at multi‐wavelength detection to study the complex or the undeveloped materials, which can be used to scientifically ensure the quality of such samples and deeply do qualitative, quantitative and multicomponent pharmacodynamic research combined with modern advanced chromatographic technique.
Pathways to suicidal behavior in posttraumatic stress disorder*
Authors: Panagioti Maria , Gooding Patricia A. , Dunn Graham , Tarrier Nicholas
Published: March 2011

This study investigated paths to suicidal behavior in 94 civilian participants with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Two statistical modeling programs, TETRAD II version 2.1 and Mplus 5.21 were used to construct a working model of suicide in PTSD. Two paths to suicidal behavior were identified. In the first path, suicidal behavior was directly associated with greater life impairment, which in turn was associated with poorer occupational and social functioning. In the second path, suicidal behavior was directly associated with depressive symptoms, which in turn were associated with more severe PTSD symptoms. Psychotropic medication, employment status, and threat to life further contributed to the model. The findings suggest that negative perceptions of functional impairment and depression are strongly associated with suicidal behavior in PTSD.