bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Histidine-rich glycoprotein from the hemolymph of the marine musselMytilus edulisL. binds Class A, Class B, and borderline metals
Authors: Devoid Samantha J. , Etter Ron , Sugumaran Manickam , Wallace Gordon T. , Robinson William E. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractFew studies have directly addressed the question of how metals (both essential and nonessential) are transported in the circulatory system of bivalve mollusks. One potential metal-transport protein, histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG), has previously been isolated and characterized from the blood plasma of the marine mussel Mytilus edulis L. The present study was undertaken to investigate the extent to which mussel HRG can bind a variety of essential and nonessential metals in vitro, using immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) and sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The equilibrium metal speciation model MINTEQA2 was used to compute the amount of metal that bound to the IMAC packing material during the charging and initial wash steps. Results demonstrated that HRG can bind all seven of the metals tested (Ca, Cd, Hg, Mg, Ni, Pd, and Zn) and that HRG is the only metal-binding protein in IMAC eluents. Because HRG-metal binding strengths (log Ka) likely correspond with histidine–metal binding strengths, and because HRG is the predominant mussel plasma protein, the majority of each of the seven metals probably would be present in mussel blood as protein-bound metal rather than as free metal ion. The finding that a single mussel plasma protein may be responsible for binding all these metals raises important questions about how these different metals are subsequently transferred from HRG to different tissues of the mussel, where they may exhibit tissue-specific patterns of utilization, sequestration, elimination, and toxicity.
Adult tree swallow(Tachycineta bicolor)survival on the polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated Housatonic River, Massachusetts, USA
Authors: Custer Christine M. , Custer Thomas W. , Hines James E. , Nichols James D. , Dummer Paul M. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) were captured and banded at six sites that differed in polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination levels in the Housatonic River watershed, western Massachusetts, USA, from 2000 through 2004 to test the prediction that apparent survival rates of females in more contaminated areas were lower than those from less contaminated areas. We also tested whether plumage coloration affected over-winter survival and whether concentrations of PCBs in eggs differed between birds that did and that did not return the following year. Apparent survival rates were calculated using mark—recapture methods and compared using Akaike's Information Criterion. Model-adjusted survival rates ranged from 0.365 to 0.467 for PCB-contaminated females and between 0.404 and 0.476 for reference females. Models with either survival or capture probability modeled as functions of treatment (degree of PCB contamination), year, and age received some support. The model-averaged parameter estimate reflecting a treatment effect for high-PCB birds was negative ( = −0.046, SE() = 0.0939). Fifty-four percent of the total model weights involved models in which survival was a function of PCB treatment. Eggs were collected for contaminant analyses from a random sample of females that did and that did not return the following year. Concentrations of total PCBs were the same or higher in the eggs of females that returned compared to the eggs of those that did not return at both the highly and the moderately contaminated PCB sites. This may have resulted from higher-quality females with higher lipid reserves being more likely than lower-quality females to return the following year. Percentage lipid was positively correlated with total PCBs in eggs. Survival rates were similar among swallows with brown versus blue plumage.
Microcystin accumulation in freshwater bivalves from Lake Taihu, China, and the potential risk to human consumption
Authors: Chen Jun , Xie Ping 
Published: April 2007

Abstract
The potential risk through ingestion of microcystins (MC) in contaminated mollusks has not been well studied. The present paper studied seasonal changes of MC content (determined by liquid chromatography—mass spectrometry) in various organs of three species of bivalves (Cristaria plicata, Hyriopsis cumingii, and Lamprotula leai) in Lake Taihu, China, where toxic cyanobacterial blooms occurred. Coinciding with peaks of seston MC (maximum, 5.7 μg/L) and MC in cyanobacterial blooms (maximum, 0.534 mg/g), most organs showed sharp MC peaks during the summer, indicating both fast uptake and fast depuration by bivalves. Because hepatopancreas and intestine had considerably higher MC content than other organs, they are the most dangerous for human consumption. Both the present and previous studies show that the hepatopancreatic MC and total tissue MC often are correlated in various aquatic invertebrates. During the peak of the cyanobacterial blooms, C. plicata had higher hepatopancreatic MC content than the other bivalves, whereas H. cumingii had higher intestinal MC content than the other bivalves. Estimated daily intakes for humans from the consumption of whole tissues of the three bivalves were 0.48 to 0.94 μg MC-LR equivalent/kg body weight (12- to 23.5-fold the tolerable daily intake value proposed by the World Health Organization), which indicates a high risk for humans consuming these bivalves.
Biokinetics and tolerance development of toxic metals inDaphnia magna
Authors: Tsui Martin Tsz-Ki , Wang Wen-Xiong 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDaphnia magna is widespread in many freshwater systems of temperate regions and frequently is used to test metal toxicity. Recently, studies have been performed to determine metal biokinetics and development of tolerance in this important zooplankton species. In the present paper, we review the recent progress in these areas and suggest possible directions for future studies. Substantial differences exist in aqueous uptake, dietary assimilation, and elimination of several metals (Cd, Se, Zn, Ag, Hg, and MeHg) by D. magna. The routes of uptake are metal-specific, with Se and MeHg being accumulated predominantly through diet. All metals except Ag can be biomagnified from algae to D. magna, providing that metal concentrations in algae and algal food density are relatively low. Methylmercury is biomagnified in all situations. As a route for metal elimination in D. magna, maternal transfer is especially important for Se, Zn, and MeHg. On the other hand, the effect of single-generation exposure to metals on D. magna is very different from multigeneration exposure, which often results in a significantly higher metal tolerance. Moreover, D. magna easily loses metal tolerance developed through long-term exposure. Recovery from metal stress can temporarily increase the sensitivity of D. magna to metal toxicity. Finally, metallothionein-like protein is responsible for minimizing metal toxicity in D. magna. The results inferred from these studies can be extrapolated to other aquatic invertebrates as well as to other pollutants in the aquatic environment.
Relation of diclofop-methyl toxicity and degradation in algae cultures
Authors: Cai Xiyun , Liu Weiping , Jin Meiqing , Lin Kunde 
Published: April 2007

Abstract
Information on the effects of pesticide degradation on aquatic organisms is needed to properly evaluate the ecotoxicity arising from the use of pesticides and for aquatic risk assessment. This work evaluated the toxicity of diclofop-methyl (DM) and its two major metabolites, diclofop (DC) and 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-phenol (DP), to three freshwater microalgae, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Chlorella vulgaris, and Scenedesmus obliquus. The degradation of DM in the algal suspensions was determined. Diclofop-methyl was rapidly absorbed into the cells of the tested algae, in which it was hydrolyzed to DC and further degraded to DP. The half-lives derived from the first-order kinetics indicated that DP (t1/2 = 2.47–5.80/d) degraded faster than DC (t1/2 = 6.24–12.25/d). The 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-phenol was the strongest inhibitor of algal growth, followed by DM and DC, as indicated by their EC50 values of 0.17 to 0.25, 0.42 to 2.23, and 4.76 to 8.89 mg/L, respectively. The evaluation of overall DM toxicity to tested algae in the aquatic systems thus needs to take into consideration the degradation of DM. A positive relationship appears to exist between the toxicity of DM and DC and their degradability in algal suspensions. Such a relationship, if confirmed using more pesticides and aquatic organisms, would improve the quality and efficiency of the aquatic risk assessment and management associated with pesticide use.
Effects of salinity and hypoxia on cadmium bioaccumulation in the shrimp Palaemon longirostris
Authors: Pierron Fabien , Baudrimont Magalie , Boudou Alain , Massabuau Jean-Charles 
Published: April 2007

Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of two key environmental factors of estuarine ecosystems, salinity and hypoxia, on the Cd bioaccumulation by direct exposure in the white shrimp Palaemon longirostris. Two types of experiments were performed in the laboratory. First, we studied Cd accumulation by shrimp after metal exposure at two salinities (0.2 and 10‰) and/or water oxygen levels (21 and 6 kPa). We also investigated the role of hypoxia in more detail and, in particular, its interaction with water Cd concentration by subjecting shrimp at low salinity (0.2‰) to two oxygen levels (21 and 6 kPa) and four concentrations of dissolved Cd metal (0.2, 0.5, 2, and 10 μg/L). Second, we studied the ventilatory and circulatory responses of P. longirostris to changes in oxygen and Cd concentrations to understand some basic aspects of the underlying mechanisms involved in the accumulation process. Our findings allow us to confirm that salinity is the main factor acting on dissolved Cd bioaccumulation processes. However, we demonstrate that hypoxia also must be classified as being of primary importance. Through its physiological effect on the prawn, hypoxia strongly enhances the rate of Cd accumulation in gills and hepatopancreas. Its magnitude is inversely related to the metal concentration, because its influence increases when the metal concentration is low. Our results show that chemical speciation is, indeed, the primary factor that influences metal contamination. On the other hand, at low salinity, under conditions in which metal bioavailability is increased, we show that ventilation modifies metal accumulation in the gills by a factor of two.
Design of a near‐optimal adaptive filter in digital signal processor for active noise control
Authors: Yang S. M. , Lee K. F. , Tsai S. E. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAdaptive filter has been applied in adaptive feedback and feedforward control systems, where the filter dimension is often determined by trial‐and‐error. The controller design based on a near‐optimal adaptive filter in digital signal processor (DSP) is developed in this paper for real‐time applications. The design integrates the adaptive filter and the experimental design such that their advantages in stability and robustness can be combined. The near‐optimal set of controller parameters, including the sampling rate, the dimension of system identification model, the dimension (order) of adaptive controller in the form of an FIR filter, and the convergence rate of adaptation is shown to achieve the best possible system performance. In addition, the sensitivity of each design parameter can be determined by analysis of means and analysis of variance. Effectiveness of the adaptive controller on a DSP is validated by an active noise control experiment. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polyterthiophenes as Donors for Polymer Solar Cells
Authors: Koppe M. , Scharber M. , Brabec C. , Duffy W. , Heeney M. , McCulloch I. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThiophene‐containing polymers blended with fullerenes have recently demonstrated impressively high photovoltaic efficiencies. One drawback of this class of polymers is their relatively low ionization potential, which leads to rather low open‐circuit voltages. Polyterthiophenes belong to a material class that has recently captured a large amount of interest for polymer electronic applications because of its excellent transport properties. Because of the slightly lower ionization potential, this material class appears more attractive for photovoltaic applications than polythiophenes. In this work, the photovoltaic performance of bulk heterojunction solar cells from polyterthiophene/fullerene composites is discussed and compared to the polymer/fullerene blend morphology.
Triphenylphosphine‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Coupling Reaction of Carboxylic Acids with Silanes – A Convenient Method for the Preparation of Silyl Esters
Authors: Liu Guo‐Bin , Zhao Hong‐Yun , Thiemann Thies 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTriphenylphosphine has been found to be an efficient catalyst for the dehydrosilylation of carboxylic acids with silanes. In the presence of 4 mol % of triphenylphosphine (PPh3), dehydrosilylation reactions in DMF afforded the corresponding silyl esters at 120 °C in good yield.
New Highly Effective Phosphite‐Phosphoramidite Ligands for Palladium‐Catalysed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation Reactions
Authors: Pàmies Oscar , Diéguez Montserrat , Claver Carmen 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe have designed a new family of readily available highly‐modular phosphite‐phosphoramidite ligands for asymmetric allylic alkylation reactions. The introduction of a phosphoramidite moiety in the ligand design is highly advantageous in the product outcome. Thus, this ligand series affords high reaction rates and enantioselectivities and, at the same time, shows a broad scope for disubstituted hindered and unhindered substrate types.
Lung function and respiratory symptoms in subjects with asbestos‐related disorders: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Hilt Bjørn , Lien Jan T. , Lund‐Larsen Per G. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe prevalence of respiratory symptoms and lung function impairment was studied in a sample of men from a population screening of asbestos‐related disorders. When the rates were adjusted for age and smoking habits, 83 subjects with lung fibrosis had an increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms, in particular, phlegm when coughing and breathlessness grades 1–3. Among 200 subjects under 70 years of age who had pleural plaques only, a statistically significant increase was observed in the prevalence of breathlessness grade 1 compared to an external reference population. Among 98 asbestos‐exposed subjects who had normal chest X‐rays, there was an increase in the prevalence of breathlessness grade 2, cough during the day, and phlegm when coughing. There was a higher proportion of subjects with lung fibrosis who were below 80% of the predicted values for forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) than in the other groups. There was also a higher proportion of subjects with pleural plaques only who were below 90% of the predicted value for FVC than in a group of 90 subjects without asbestos exposure. In accordance with previous studies, these results indicate that pleural plaques in asbestos workers may be of greater importance as a clinical feature than has been recognized in the past.
Respiratory dysfunction after potroom asthma
Authors: Wergeland Ebba , Lund Eiliv , Waage Jan E. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThirty‐five men developed bronchial asthma while working in the potrooms in a primary aluminum production plant. Their asthma was diagnosed as work‐related (“potroom asthma”). When examined 1–43 months after cessation of exposure (average follow‐up period 2.5 yr), the group had an increased relative risk of morning cough (RR 1.7 CL95% 0.6–5.1), dyspnea on exertion (RR 2.8 CL95% 0.9–8.4), and wheezing (RR 6.1 CL95% 2.3–16.3) compared to controls from the same plant, in a 1:2 matched analysis. Matching criteria were age, smoking habits, and time of employment in the plant. The group means for FEV1 and MMEF were lower than for the controls, but the differences were not statistically significant. Ten of the 35 reported persisting asthma, dyspnea at night, or dyspnea on exertion. The study indicates an increased risk of respiratory dysfunction after potroom asthma. Medical folllow‐up after cessation of exposure is recommended.
Pilot study on health effects of environmental 2,3,7,8‐tcdd in missouri
Authors: Webb Karen , Evans R. Gregory , Stehr Paul , Ayres Stephen M. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWaste oil contaminated with 2,3,7,8‐TCDD was sprayed at various sites in the state of Missouri. Eighty‐two individuals who reported living or working in TCDD‐contaminated areas and 40 individuals with little or no exposure to TCDD were selected for study; 85% elected to participate in the study. Data were obtained from medical histories, general physicals, neurological and dermatological examinations, and laboratory tests. There were no cases of chloracne reported. The only hematologic comparison that was significant was a higher mean platelet count in the exposed group. This study did not produce any firm indication of increased disease prevalence related to environmental TCDD exposures. Since this was a pilot study, it is important that we continue to limit human exposure to dioxin to the lowest levels technologically feasible until definitive answers to the health consequences of exposure are determined.
A respiratory epidemiological survey of workers in a small South African foundry
Authors: Myers J. E. , Garisch D. , Myers H. S. , Cornell J. E. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA cross‐sectional study to assess prevalence of respiratory abnormality was conducted among 107 South African foundry workers. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis was 10.3% overall, increasing to 38% for workers with more than 15 years of service. Dyspnea was present in 38% of workers, chronic simple bronchitis in 15.9%, and asthmatic symptoms in 27%. Pneumoconiosis was not associated with higher prevalence rates of other respiratory abnormalities. The high overall prevalence of respiratory symptoms might be explained by exposure to environmental pollutants other than dust.
Delivery outcome among women employed in the plastics industry in Sweden and Norway
Authors: Ahlborg Gunnar , Bjerkedal Tor , Egenaes John 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn Sweden and Norway separate case‐control studies of pregnancy outcome for the period 1973–1981 among female workers in the plastics industry were carried out with similar design. Employment records were obtained from companies producing and/or processing plastics and these were matched with the national medical birth and malformation registers. Within the cohorts of pregnancies during which the mother held employment in a plastics industry (1.397 in the Swedish and 288 in the Norwegian study), cases of stillbirths or infant deaths, selected malformations, or low birthweight (< 2,000 g) were identified. For each case two controls from the same source were individually matched with regard to date of birth, age of mother, and parity. Exposure data concerning the 44 Swedish and ten Norwegian triplets were obtained from the employers. An increased odds ratio was found for processing of polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastics (95% CI Sweden 1.0–5.1; total material 1.1–4.5). However, processing of cold plastics yielded a higher odds ratio than processing of heated plastics. No increased odds ratio was found for processing of styrene or polyurethane plastics. Since not all of the plastics industries in the two countries participated in the studies and the number of cases was small, the result must be interpreted with caution.
Occupational exposure to benzene in the shoe industry
Authors: Karačić Višnja , Skender Ljiljana , Prpić‐Majić Danica 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn order to determine the possible actual exposure to benzene in the shoe industry from industrially used solvents, glues, and paints containing benzene as a nondeclared constituent, phenol in urine and benzene in blood, as indices of internal exposure to benzene, were measured in workers (N = 33). Since toluene, in contrast to benzene, is declared as a constituent in several glues, toluene in the blood of workers was also analysed. All analyses were performed using gas chromatography. Urine samples were collected on Monday morning (MI) before work and on Wednesday (WI) before and (WII) after work. Venous blood samples were taken on Wednesday only, 1/2 hour after work. There was no difference in the phenol concentrations of MI and WI, while the phenol concentration of WII was about twice as high as that in WI. In all blood samples, benzene was found, as well as toluene, which was about four times higher in comparison with benzene. A correlation (r = 0.465; p < .01) was found between the difference in preand postshift phenol concentrations (WII — WI) in urine and the benzene concentrations in blood. The results presented show that a trace amount of benzene, which is often not declared as a constitutent in industrially used chemicals, could be a source of marked exposure to benzene. It can also be concluded that changes in phenol in urine (if preshift and postshift samples are taken) might be a sufficiently sensitive parameter to assess exposure to benzene even when other data concerning the presence of benzene in the working atmosphere are not available.
Sister chromatid exchanges and DNA repair capability in sanitary workers exposed to ethylene oxide: Evaluation of the dose‐effect relationship
Authors: Sarto Franco , Clonfero Erminio , Bartolucci Giovanni B. , Franceschi Claudio , Chiricolo Mariella , Levis Angelo G. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDetermination of ethylene oxide (EtO) in the working environment and induction of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in peripheral lymphocytes of 10 exposed sanitary workers and 10 control subjects matched for sex, age, and smoking habits are reported. The relationship between the external dose of EtO and the frequency of SCE was determined in the above group and in a group of 41 sanitary workers previously studied. The 10 newly examined workers were exposed to EtO concentrations (1.84 ppm as time‐weighted average) intermediate between the high (10.7 ppm) and low (0.35 ppm) levels of exposure of the two previously examined groups (19 and 22 workers, respectively). A statistically significant (p < 0.002) increase of SCE frequency was observed between the present control and exposed groups. The inducibility of unscheduled DNA synthesis by gamma rays was lower in the lymphocytes of the exposed workers than in controls, but the difference was not statistically significant. A significant relationship between the frequency of SCE and the level of EtO exposure for the three exposed groups was demonstrated by two different statistical methods. It is suggested that the present Italian threshold limit value for EtO (3 ppm) may not protect the exposed workers against possible genotoxic effects and that even a chronic exposure to 1 ppm may not be devoid of genotoxic risk.