bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Soil respiration, ATP content, and Photobacterium toxicity test as indicators of metal pollution in soil
Authors: Vanhala P. T. , Ahtiainen J. H. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe effects of heavy metal deposition from four different metalworks on soil respiration, ATP content, and toxicity to Photobacterium phosphoreum were examined. Soil samples were collected along a transect through the pollution gradients. Vegetation and soil types were homogeneous throughout the transects. Soil respiration was measured as CO2 production in closed bottles using an IR‐gas analyzer. The ATP content was measured with a bioluminometric assay after trichloracetic acid extraction of soil. The toxicities of distilled water extracts of soil samples were evaluated by the standard P. phosphoreum toxicity test and the metal content of these water extracts was measured as the bioavailable fraction of the heavy metal pollution in the soil. Soil respiration and ATP content were strongly affected by the heavy metal content in the soil. The correlation between the methods was high. The P. phosphoreum procedure can be used to estimate the toxicity of soils heavily polluted by metals. However, soil respiration and ATP content appear to be more sensitive indicators of soil pollution. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc..
Peroxidation levels in Eschericia coli as a potential toxicity marker: Effect of nickel and methyl‐parathion
Authors: Espigares M. , Lucadamo L. , Coca C. , Aloj E. , Gálvez R. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe effects of nickel and methyl‐parathion were studied in subinhibiting concentrations (40 and 62.5 μg/mL, respectively) on the levels of cellular peroxidation in Escherichia coli. These effects were evaluated using the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) test and the determination of lipofuscin‐like substances. Both toxicants caused an increase in cellular peroxidation levels, although at the concentrations used, nickel was shown to be a better inducer than methyl‐parathion. The TBA test gave more significant differences than the determination of lipofuscin‐like substances when the control cultures were compared to those containing the toxicant. This finding reveals that the TBA test could be used as a toxicity marker in E. coli for the development of ecotoxicity biotests. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc..
Construction of umu‐fhuA operon fusions to detect genotoxic potential by an antibody—cell surface reaction
Authors: Stubner Stephan , Schloter Michael , Moeck Gregory S. , Coulton J. W. , Ahne Fred , Hartmann Anton 
Published: October 2006

AbstractFor the environmental monitoring of genotoxic effects of chemicals, a new test system was developed using immunochemical detection of a cell surface reporter protein of Escherichia coli. A umu‐fhuA operon fusion was constructed on plasmid pST12, which is inducible via the SOS system by the mutagenic agent methyl‐methane‐sulfonate (MMS). The expression of the outer membrane protein FhuA as a reporter was detectable on the cell surface with a monoclonal anti‐FhuA antibody. Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay tests and immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that the operon fusion of PST12 led to specific and strong induction of the reporter protein FhuA after genotoxic treatment with MMS. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc..
Studies on the water quality of river Ganga at Fatehgarh and Kannauj, U.P., India
Authors: Malik Abdul , Qadri Shafat A. , Musarrat Javed , Ahmad Masood 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe comprehensive water quality studies on the River Ganga were undertaken at Fatehgarh and Kannauj (U.P.) during 1987–1990. The data revealed significant seasonal variations in the physicochemical and bacteriological properties of the river water. The remarkably high level of coliforms, fecal coliforms, and fecal streptococci reflects the poor quality of the water. Some of the Escherichia coli isolates from the test stretch also exhibited multiple drug resistance. These pollutants render the water unfit for drinking and bathing and may pose serious problems related to public health. © by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Comparison of gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains cloned with different types of luciferase genes in bioluminescence cytotoxicity tests
Authors: Lampinen Jorma , Virta Marko , Karp Matti 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe bacterial bioluminescence assay is widely used to estimate chemical cytotoxicity. This assay is performed most often by using luminescent bacteria Vibrio fisheri NRRL‐B‐11177 (earlier cited as Photobacterium phosphoreum NRRL‐B‐11177) as a test organism. In this work we have used cloned gram(+) and gram(‐) bacterial strains for the evaluation of chemical toxicity. Two types of luciferase genes were used as reporter genes, one of which was ATP‐dependent eukaryotic luciferase from Pyrophorus plagiophthalamus and the other was FMN‐dependent bacterial luciferase from Vibrio harveyi. These cloned strains were used to evaluate the effects of differences in cell wall structures in the bioluminescence cytotoxicity test using small molecular weight toxic chemicals as model compounds. The strains were found to have remarkably similar behavior and sensitivity toward test toxicants regardless of rather different kinds of membrane structure. However, the eukaryotic luciferase was found in every aspect more useful in toxicity tests than bacterial luciferase mainly because of increased sensitivity and ease of operation. The general behavior of the light emission is described and several aspects affecting the usefulness of the strains are discussed. © by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Practical experiences with the biological early warning system “mosselmonitor”
Authors: de Zwart Dick , Kramer Kees J. M. , Jenner Henk A. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractBiological early warning systems (BEWS) for water pollution involve organisms as sentinels for the quality of the environment. The organisms are usually fast in their response (minutes) to a multitude of pollutants. BEWS devices are very useful for continuous monitoring of (industrial) effluents, water intake, and river or seawater quality control.The “Mosselmonitor” is a commercially available BEWS that uses the behavioral valve movement response of freshwater or marine mussels (e.g., Dreissena polymorpha or Mytilus edulis). As an indication of unfavorable conditions in the water, the closure of the shells, or a marked increase in the valve movement frequency, is automatically evaluated.During the last few years the authors have gained practical experience with the Mosselmonitor in a number of field experiments. Examples of monitoring practice will be presented that involve the following monitoring situations:

–intake of drinking water from a river system;
–continuous monitoring of the rivers Rhine and Meuse, partly in combination with other BEWS devices and physicochemical monitoring;
–monitoring of industrial effluents in a tidal estuary; and
–control of cooling water chlorination for antifouling purposes.
In addition,
–the system has been used for toxicological laboratory studies on selected compounds.

© by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Microbial transformation of metolachlor
Authors: Liu D. , Maguire R. J. , Pacepavicius G. J. , Aoyama I. , Okamura H. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractMetolachlor is an important selective herbicide used for the control of several annual grassy weeds and certain broad‐leafed weeds in corn, soybean, peanut, and other crops. It is the most heavily used agricultural pesticide in Ontario. There is, however, very little information in the open literature on the aquatic fate and persistence of metolachlor, a fact that hinders the assessment of its ultimate impact on the aquatic ecosystem. This study showed that metolachlor was very stable in natural water systems. No apparent biodegradation or biotransformation of metolachlor was observed in three test lake waters after an incubation period of 170 days. With a polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degrading bacterial culture as the test organism, metolachlor was estimated to have an environmental persistence much greater than medium molecular weight PAHs. Thus the extensive herbicidal use of metolachlor may have a long‐lasting impact on Canadian aquatic ecosystems. The white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium was able to biotransform metolachlor. Based on the three identified metabolites, a tentative metabolic pathway of metolachlor biotransformation by P. chrysosporium was proposed, involving demethylation, hydroxylation, and hydrolytic dechlorination. © by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Coliphage association with coliform indicators: A case study—Brazil
Authors: Martins M. T. , El‐Shaarawi A. , Dutka B. J. , Pellizari V. H. , Alfredo G. , Ribeiro G. , Matsumoto E. F. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractMany microbiological tests are currently available for evaluating the suitability of water resources for human use. Cost, speed, simplicity, and the ability of the test to detect microbial contamination are some of the key factors involved in selecting the appropriate test. The performance of the test often depends on the nature of the tested water and hence it is necessary to evaluate the test under local conditions. This paper compares the performance of several microbiological tests on Brazilian waters. These tests include traditional coliform tests, and the presence/absence and coliphage tests.
Preliminary characterization of neurotoxic cyanobacteria blooms and strains from Finland
Authors: Sivonen K. , Himberg K. , Luukkainen R. , Niemelä S. I. , Poon G. K. , Codd G. A. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractTwo hundred fifteen cyanobacteria bloom samples collected from different parts of Finland were studied, 35 of which proved to be neurotoxic. Toxicity was determined by mouse bioassay. Anabaena species were present in all neurotoxic samples except one, in which Oscillatoria dominated. The presence of anatoxin‐a in the blooms and in the isolated strains was studied from freeze‐dried materials by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The simultaneous occurrence of neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in some samples was studied by high performance liquid chromatography and high performance thin layer chromatography. Thirteen out of 30 bloom samples contained anatoxin‐a. In the remaining samples, neurotoxicity was caused by unknown toxin(s). Strains producing anatoxin‐a were isolated from the genera Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Oscillatoria, and Cylindrospermum. Anatoxin‐a content of the blooms varied from 12 to 4360 μg/g freeze‐dried material. Some strains were able to produce about three times as much anatoxin‐a as was detected in natural blooms. Simultaneous occurrence of neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity was found in some samples as well as atypical toxic responses in mouse bioassay.
Production, detection, and quantification of cyanobacterial toxins
Authors: Codd G. A. , Brooks W. P. , Priestley I. M. , Poon G. K. , Bell S. G. , Fawell J. K. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractCyanobacterial blooms from several British freshwaters have been toxic by mouse bioassay each year since annual sampling began in 1981. Toxic blooms of Microcystis aeruginosa, Anabaena spp., Gloeotrichia echinulata, Oscillatoria spp., and Aphanizomenon flos‐aquae occur, with peptide toxin‐producing Microcystis and Anabaena being most often encountered. We are developing a range of detection and quantification methods for cyanobacterial peptide and alkaloid toxins to supplement the standard mouse bioassay. Both types of toxins can be readily assayed by high performance liquid chromatography, and we have developed facile high performance thin layer chromatographic procedures for their detection from natural blooms and laboratory cultures. We have also produced polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for the assay of Microcystis toxins by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and have developed in vitro fibroblast cytotoxicity assays for the toxins of Microcystis and other cyanobacteria.
Causes and extent of yield losses in cocoa progenies
Authors: Adomako B 
Published: October 2006

AbstractCocoa (Theobroma cacao) progenies in a field trial showed a mean yield loss of 10.3% due to unusable pods. This was equivalent to an annual loss of 98 kg ha−1 of dry beans, and 64.1% (62.8 kg ha−1), 30.5% (29.9 kg ha−1), 4.1% (4.0 kg ha−1) and 1.3% (1.4 kg ha−1) were due to black pods, immature ripe pods, rodent damage and other damage, respectively. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Design and implementation of a tool for translating SBML into the biochemical stochastic π-calculus
Authors: Eccher Claudio , Priami Corrado 
Published: October 2006

Abstract
Motivation: SBML is becoming a standard ‘de-facto’ to represent and store biological models. Although SBML is very useful in defining ways of exchanging and storing biological information, it is not formal enough to allow direct translation into non ambiguous formal representation languages to perform analysis and simulation of models. We here suggest to map SBML models into process calculi representations.
Results: We implemented and validated a tool that translates SBML descriptions into stochastic π-calculus specifications.
Availability: Source code is freely available for academic use by contacting the authors.
Contact: cleccher@itc.it
sGAL: a computational method for finding surface exposed sites in proteins suitable for Cys-mediated cross-linking
Authors: Woolley G. Andrew , Lee En-shiun , Zhang Fuzhong 
Published: October 2006

Abstract
sGAL is a computer program designed to find pairs of sites suitable for introducing chemical cross-links into proteins. sGAL takes a protein structure file in PDB format as input, truncates each residue sequentially to its gamma side chain atom to mimic mutation to Cys, and calculates the exposed surface area of the gamma atom. The user then inputs the minimum and maximum lengths of the cross-linker. sGAL provides as output pairs of residues that would have exposed gamma atom separations that fall within this range. Furthermore, if a line joining the pair of gamma atoms contacts more than a given number of buried atoms, that pair is discarded. In this way, sites for which the protein would sterically interfere with cross-linking are avoided.
Availability: ; (Surface Racer is also required see: ).
Contact: awoolley@chem.utoronto.ca
hTERT expression in melanocytic lesions: an immunohistochemical study on paraffin‐embedded tissue
Authors: Fullen Douglas R. , Zhu Weijian , Thomas Dafydd , Su Lyndon D. 
Published: October 2006

Background:  Telomerase plays a role in the immortalization of cells and carcinogenesis. Previous studies have yielded conflicting results on whether human telomerase RNA (hTER) expression differs in nevi, atypical nevi and melanomas using polymerase chain reaction‐based telomeric repeat amplification protocol or in situ hybridization assays. The aim of this study was to evaluate human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) staining in melanocytic lesions on paraffin‐embedded tissues.Methods:  Paraffin‐embedded sections from 12 acquired nevi, seven dysplastic nevi, 11 Spitz nevi, eight primary invasive melanomas, and three metastatic melanomas were studied for staining intensity (0–3+) and percentage of labeled cells with anti‐hTERT.Results:  hTERT staining was observed in most cells (>75%), in all but three lesions, and was of greater intensity in the nucleus, especially the nucleolus, compared with the cytoplasm. Spitz nevi tended to have weaker hTERT staining (mean = 1.7) compared with acquired nevi (mean = 2.2), dysplastic nevi (mean = 2.4), primary melanomas (mean = 2.4), or metastatic melanomas (mean = 3).Conclusions:  Although telomerase activity was weaker in Spitz nevi, there was overlap with other nevi and primary invasive melanomas in our small series. Thus, hTERT expression does not appear to be a reliable adjunct to the histological diagnosis of primary melanocytic lesions.
Extensin over‐expression in Arabidopsis limits pathogen invasiveness
Authors: WEI GUO , SHIRSAT ANIL H. 
Published: October 2006

SUMMARYThe function of the cell wall protein extensin has been the subject of much speculation since it was first isolated over 40 years ago. In order to investigate the role of extensins in plant defence, we used the gain‐of‐function strategy to generate transgenic Arabidopsis plants over‐expressing the EXT1 extensin gene. These were infected with the virulent bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 and symptom development was monitored. Lesions on the transgenics were on average five‐fold smaller than those on the wild‐type, did not increase in area over the time period of infection, accumulated a small bacterial load and showed very little chlorosis outside the lesion boundary. By contrast, lesions on the wild‐type were large, spread to over 50% of the leaf area, continued to increase in size over the time course of the infection, accumulated a bacterial load 100‐fold higher than that found in the transgenics, and showed a large chlorotic area outside the lesion boundary. SEM of lesions showed no evidence of bacteria at the lesion boundary in the extensin‐over‐expressing transgenics, whereas bacteria were always seen at the lesion boundary on the wild‐type. Analysis of transgenics carrying an EXT1–GUS promoter–reporter fusion showed expression of GUS in a ring around the boundary of the lesion. Basal defences and signal transduction pathways involved in plant defence were not perturbed in the transgenics, as shown by the analysis of the expression of PR1 and PDF1.2 genes. These results show that extensin over‐expression limits pathogen invasiveness.
Enamel defects and ectopic eruption in a child with Usher syndrome and a cochlear implant
Authors: BALMER RICHARD , FAYLE STEPHEN A. F. 
Published: October 2006

Background.  Usher syndrome is a genetic disorder consisting of progressive loss of vision and hearing.Case Report.  The paper describes an 8‐year‐old girl with Usher syndrome type I who presented with generalized defects of the permanent dentition and ectopic eruption of the right maxillary first permanent molar. A cochlear implant had been fitted for her hearing loss, and the report reviews the implications of this device for dental treatment. The impacted first permanent molar was encouraged to erupt into the correct position by shaving the distal surface of the second primary molar.Conclusion.  This is the first report to describe in detail an association between Usher syndrome and enamel defects.
Clinical judgement in the interpretation of evidence: a Bayesian approach
Authors: Harbison Jean 
Published: October 2006

Aim. This paper presents an argument for the use of Bayesian reasoning in considering the value of evidence in making nursing judgements.Background. Nursing has taken on board the drive towards evidence‐based practice. There has been little discussion, however, of how evidence should be interpreted. There is a growing interest in health care in the use of Bayesian reasoning for evidence interpretation, both in research and in clinical practice; as yet, there is a limited discussion in the literature of relevance to nursing.Objectives. To provide a short tutorial in the application of Bayes rule to a clinical judgement. To discuss the implications for practice of adopting a Bayesian perspective.Discussion. The relationship between evidence and clinical judgement is outlined. The need to accept uncertainty, and be equipped to deal adequately with this, is discussed: some basic ideas of probability are rehearsed. An outline of Bayesian reasoning is offered and a demonstration of the application of Bayes rule to a nursing judgement is presented.Relevance to practice. A rationale for adopting a Bayesian perspective on evidence interpretation is offered: namely the changing context of practice, with the blurring of professional boundaries and the need to articulate judgements, the avoidance of error and the opportunity to identify the appropriate areas for investigation in nursing.
The provision of psychological therapy to people with intellectual disabilities: an investigation into some of the relevant factors
Authors: Mason J. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractBackground  Five factors are proposed as important in influencing the provision of psychological therapy to people with intellectual disabilities (IDs): the perceived effectiveness of psychological therapy, individual clinician competence, service resources (number of trained clinicians), the level of the client’s disability and the diagnostic overshadowing bias.Method  A prospective questionnaire design was used. A survey style questionnaire was sent out to clinical psychologists (n = 412) and psychiatrists (n = 274) working in ID services in the UK. Responses were received from 133 psychologists and 90 psychiatrists.Results  Perceived competence, the level of the client’s disability and the diagnostic overshadowing bias all appeared to be important factors. The perceived effectiveness of psychological therapy with this client group and service resources appeared less important than hypothesized.Conclusion  Whereas the debates in research publications tend to focus on broad issues of effectiveness, clinicians themselves appear more concerned with their personal skill levels. The issue of the appropriateness of psychological therapies for people with more severe levels of disability remains largely unresearched.
Comparative phylogeography of eastern chipmunks and white‐footed mice in relation to the individualistic nature of species
Authors: ROWE KEVIN C. , HESKE EDWARD J. , PAIGE KEN N. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractPalaeoecological studies have demonstrated that ecological communities as a whole did not remain stable throughout the climatic fluctuations of the Quaternary. The result is that long‐term associations of species cannot be inferred by contemporary associations in ecological communities. Therefore, the evolutionary significance of any contemporary ecological interactions among species and of the biotic community within which species have evolved also cannot be assumed from contemporary conditions. Comparative phylogeographic data provide a method to identify species within ecological communities that have shared biogeographic histories. We present an example of a long‐term association between populations of two mammalian species, eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) and white‐footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), which are commonly associated with deciduous forest habitats. The distribution of mitochondrial DNA variation in T. striatus and P. leucopus from previously glaciated regions of the eastern United States support the hypothesis that, in at least part of their range, genetic lineages of the two species have expanded from similar population sources since the Last Glacial Maximum. In addition, the spatial concordance of genetic lineages of T. striatus and P. leucopus with the oak‐savannah forest formations of Wisconsin and Illinois, suggest that populations associated with this community colonized the area in association with a set of arboreal species that comprise their deciduous forest habitat.