bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Toxicity assessment of industrial effluents from S. Paulo state, Brazil, using short‐term microbial assays
Authors: Sanchez Petra S. , Sato Maria I. Z. , Paschoal Clarice M. R. B. , Alves Maria N. , Furlan Eloisa V. , Martins Maria T. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractMicroorganisms have demonstrated several attributes that make them attractive for use in quick screening of effluents and chemicals for toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute toxicity and mutagenicity of industrial effluents from São Paulo State using short‐term microbial bioassays. Samples of industrial effluents and receiving waters were analyzed for acute toxicity by the Microtox system, a motility test using Spirillum volutans, growth inhibition of Pseudomonas fluorescens, and dehydrogenase assay; for mutagenicity, these samples were analyzed by Salmonella typhimurium (Ames test), Escherichia coli WP2, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae reversion mutation assays. Among the acute toxicity assays carried out in this study, the Microtox and S. volutans tests showed good sensitivity and general good agreement with the Daphnia similis assay, which demonstrates that these tests are potentially useful as toxicity indicators for the industrial effluents and receiving waters considered. In relation to mutagenicity assays, good results were obtained with the three methods tested. The detection of mutagens in the industrial effluents considered indicates that some constituents of these waste waters discharged in receiving waters can cause adverse biological effects and could be deleterious from a public health standpoint. The data of this research emphasize the importance of acute toxicity and mutagenicity assays as supplementary approaches for a rapid and efficient action in water pollution control, and for evaluation of potential toxic chemical effects.
Microbial toxicity of triclopyr and related herbicides
Authors: Baarschers William H. , Donnelly James G. , Heitland Holger S. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractMicrobial toxicity of triclopyr (3,5,6‐trichloropyridinyloxyacetic acid, Garlon) was measured with several microorganisms in comparison with the related herbicides 2,4‐D (2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and picloram (4‐amino‐3,5,6‐trichloropicolinic acid). Growth inhibition of three fungi (Trichoderma viride, Mortierella isabellina, and Saprolegnia parasitica) was measured in terms of colony size on agar plates and in terms of cell counts for two algae (Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella pyrenoidosa). Dehydrogenase measurement by a direct 2‐(4‐lodophenyl)‐3‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐5‐phenyl tetrazolium chloride method was used for the bacteria Pseudomonas pictorum and Arthrobacter globiformis. Dose‐response curves were determined to obtain EC50 values for triclopyr, 2,4‐D, picloram, their commonly used amine salts, and the degradation products, 3,5,6‐trichloro‐2‐pyridinol, 2,4‐dichlorophenol, and decarboxy picloram. Toxicities of triclopyr and 2,4‐D were similar in most cases, and both compounds were more toxic than picloram. The three degradation products were substantially more toxic than the respective parent compounds. The algae were most sensitive and gave much lower EC50 values than the fungi and bacteria.
Metabolism of 1,8‐dinitropyrene by human, rhesus monkey, and rat intestinal microflora
Authors: Cerniglia Carl E. , Lambert Kenneth J. , White Gail L. , Heflich Robert H. , Franklin Wirt , Fifer E. Kim , Beland Frederick A. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractDinitropyrenes (DNPs) are highly mutagenic in the Salmonella reversion assay and are tumorigenic in rodents. Bacterial nitroreductases have been implicated in the mutagenic activation of DNPs. In this study, we investigated the metabolism of 1,8‐dinitropyrene (1,8‐DNP) by anaerobic bacterial suspensions derived from human feces, and the intestinal contents of rhesus monkeys and rats. The 1,8‐DNP metabolites were isolated by reversed‐phase high performance liquid chromatography, and identified by comparison of their chromatographic and mass spectral properties with those of authentic compounds. All of the intestinal microflora metabolized 1,8‐DNP to 1‐amino‐8‐nitropyrene and 1,8‐diaminopyrene. The mutagenic activity of samples extracted from incubations of human or rat intestinal microflora cultured with 1,8‐DNP was measured by reversion of Salmonella typhimurium TA98. There was a decrease in the mutagenic activities of the extracts with time of incubation that correlated with increased 1‐amino‐8‐nitropyrene and 1,8‐diaminopyrene formation. The decreased mutagenicity of the 1,8‐DNP metabolites was confirmed by conducting assays with authentic 1‐amino‐8‐nitropyrene and 1,8‐diaminopyrene. Both compounds showed much lower mutagenic activity compared to 1,8‐DNP. The results indicate that intestinal microflora have the ability to metabolize 1,8‐DNP to amine derivatives that are less mutagenic than the parent compound.
Evaluation of surrogate tests in toxicant impact assessments
Authors: Burton G. Allen , Stemmer B. L. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractA surrogate test battery was evaluated at several stream and landfill sites where toxicant contamination had occurred. The battery consisted of microbial activity assays and macrofaunal organisms: alkaline phosphatase, amylase, arylsulfatase, electron transport system activity, β‐galactosidase, β‐glucosidase, protease, metal resistance, heterotrophic uptake (14C), zooplankton (Daphnia magna, Ceriodaphnia), amphipods (Hyalella azteca), and fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Waters, leachates, and sediments were tested for toxicity from sites in 5 states. Surrogate responses were correlated with in situ biological and/or chemical parameters. At each test site, statistically significant relationships were observed between microbial test responses and in situ biological or chemical responses, revealing both toxicant impacts and natural variations. Field validation of this test approach revealed its sensitivity and versatility, supporting its use in routine toxicant impact assessments.
Comparison of three rapid toxicity test procedures: Microtox,® polytox,® and activated sludge respiration inhibition
Authors: Elnabarawy M. T. , Robideau R. R. , Beach S. A. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractMethods for measuring respiratory activity can detect adverse effects on heterotrophic microorganisms. These methods are useful tools for assessing the impact of chemicals on biological wastewater treatment processes. They are also well suited for evaluating the treatability potential of individual wastes. However, varying results are often reported when using municipal or industrial activated sludge substrate in toxicity assessments. The lack of reproducibility of these tests has also greatly limited efforts to measure the effectiveness of treatment plants in removing toxic contaminants. The toxicity of waste‐waters and chemicals to biological treatment systems can be determined in 30 min with the new Polytox® toxicity procedure. The Polytox® kit utilizes a specialized blend of bacterial cultures. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the relative sensitivity of the new Polytox® toxicity procedure with two accepted microbial assay procedures; namely, the Microtox® bioluminescence assay and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's Activated Sludge Respiration Inhibition test. This paper compares toxicity values for selected inorganic and organic chemicals as determined in the three microbial assay systems. The sensitivity and reliability of the new Polytox® toxicity procedure is discussed.
Biological testing—development, application, and trends in canadian environmental protection laboratories
Authors: Blaise C. , Sergy G. , Wellis P. , Bermingham N. , Van Coillie R. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractPast and present Canadian experiences with biological tests for controlling the quality of wastewaters are discussed. Test use has evolved from data acquisition on acute toxicities, to physicochemical and biological parameters being regulated and monitored by industrial sector in the 1970s, and hazard assessments conducted by the 1980s. At a time when Environment Canada is reviewing its ecotoxicological procedures, new opportunities for waste assessment with “second generation” biotests are emerging. Recent experiences suggest that small‐scale, sensitive, biological tests can be employed for environmentally and economically effective control of effluents entering aquatic environments. It is also expected that biotesting activities will increase because of new environmental strategies and regulations. These will stimulate biological research and development, and promote a partnership between ecotoxicology, environmental chemistry, and biotechnology.
Coliphage association with coliform indicators: A case study in Peru
Authors: Ratto A. , El‐Shaarawi A. H. , Dutka B. J. , Lopez C. , Vega C. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe associations between traditional coliform/fecal coliform indicator tests and coliphage, Presence/Absence (P/A), A‐1 broth, and H2S paper strip tests are evaluated for Peruvian waters.Drinking water samples showed that the P/A test was the most sensitive, producing the greatest number of positive results. In drinking water, in some of the samples, the only indicator organisms present were coliphage. The incidence of coliphage in these potable water supplies reflects the probability of human pathogenic viruses also surviving the treatment processes accorded those samples.
Effect of Jejunal and Biliary Decompression on Postoperative Complications and Pancreatic Leakage Arising from Pancreatojejunostomy after Pancreatoduodenectomy
Authors: Ishizaki Yoichi , Yoshimoto Jiro , Sugo Hiroyuki , Miwa Ken , Kawasaki Seiji 
Published: October 2006

AbstractBackgroundSince its introduction, reconstruction after pancreatoduodenectomy has undergone numerous modifications, leading to a dramatic decline in the mortality rate. However, the reported morbidity rate, due mainly to pancreatic leakage, still remains high.MethodsBetween January 1999 and April 2005, 102 consecutive patients underwent pancreatojejunostomy after pancreatoduodenectomy. Patients treated by biliary decompression alone (n = 58) were compared with patients treated by jejunal decompression alone (n = 40). Four patients who underwent both biliary and jejunal decompression were excluded from the study.ResultsPatients who underwent jejunal decompression had a significantly lower incidence of overall postoperative complications (P = 0.028), pancreatic leakage (P = 0.009), and infection (P = 0.011) than patients who underwent biliary decompression. Only one patient who underwent biliary decompression died as a direct result of pancreatic leakage.ConclusionsDiscontinuation of biliary decompression with postoperative jejunal decompression using tube jejunostomy may be a good option in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy, because it appears to reduce the incidence of overall postoperative complications, pancreatic leakage, and infection.
Activity patterns of reintroduced lion Panthera leo and spotted hyaena Crocuta crocuta in the Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa
Authors: Hayward Matt W. , Hayward Gina J. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractAfrica's large predator guild competes for a limited food resource base. To minimize the degree of competition, we hypothesized that the two largest members of this guild and its fiercest competitors, the lion and the spotted hyaena, would partition their activity patterns to avoid interacting. We used 96‐h continuous follows of focal animal(s) to determine when the six radio‐collared lions and eight radio‐collared spotted hyaenas, reintroduced into Addo Elephant National Park in 2003/2004, were active using a binomial measure of activity which was defined as movements >100 m during each hourly period. Contrary to our predictions, lions and hyaenas did not partition their activity times, probably because of their current low population densities. Both species exhibited a crepuscular activity pattern although hyaenas were far less active during daylight. A sub‐adult lioness minimized competitive interactions by becoming diurnal. This is likely to be a common strategy for lions that have been expelled from their natal pride to become nomadic, as it allows them to minimize kleptoparasitic and agonistic interactions from competitively dominant conspecifics and competitors. The increase in testosterone that occurs in males upon reaching sexual maturity, darkens their pelage and causes them to be more directly impacted by the heat, and thereby affords females an opportunity to escape from males during hot temperatures. Similarly, the longer pelage of young hyaenas restricts their activity to the cooler night‐time.
Rheological behaviour of weaning food formulations as affected by addition of malt
Authors: Badau Mamudu Halidu , JideanI Israel Afam , Nkama Iro 
Published: October 2006

SummaryEight weaning food formulations were prepared from the mixture of pearl millet, cowpea and groundnut in the ratio of 70:20:10. The viscosities of gruels from the eight weaning food formulations were determined at eight shear rates and five temperatures, and data obtained were subjected to power‐law and Arrhenius equations. The viscosity of the weaning food gruels decreased with increase in shear rate and temperature. The gruels from the eight weaning food formulations exhibited pseudoplastic behaviour. The power‐law indices (‘n’ values) were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the formulations and changes in temperature. Weaning food formulations that had no malt showed the least sensitivity to temperature, while the one that had 5% ICMV‐IS 94206 malt showed the highest. The correlation coefficient ranged from −0.9993 to −0.9524, showing that the power‐law model adequately described the viscosity and shear rate characteristics of the weaning food gruels.
Association between intestinal parasitic infections and type of sanitation system in rural El Salvador
Authors: Corrales Lana F. , Izurieta Ricardo , Moe Christine L. 
Published: October 2006

SummaryObjective  To identify demographic, behavioural and environmental determinants of intestinal parasitic infection, evaluate the impact of a variety of dry sanitation systems on intestinal parasitic infection, and evaluate the safety of using stored biosolids in agriculture in order to guide future sanitation interventions in rural areas of El Salvador.Methods  Interviews were conducted with 109 households in eight communities where double‐vaulted and solar urine‐diverting desiccating latrines, pit latrines or no latrines were used. Faecal samples from 499 individuals were tested for enteric helminths and protozoa.Results  Users of solar desiccating latrines had the lowest prevalence of enteric parasite infection. Double‐vault, urine‐diverting desiccating latrines effectively reduced the transmission of some pathogens, but may not achieve the conditions sufficient for the complete destruction of the more environmentally persistent pathogens, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura. Contact with inadequately treated latrine biosolids was associated with an increased risk of Ascaris infection.Conclusions  Solar latrines were associated with the overall lowest prevalence of enteric parasitic infections. Members of households where latrine biosolids were used in agriculture had a higher prevalence of infection than those where biosolids were buried. We therefore recommend the promotion of solar latrines in rural areas of El Salvador over other dry sanitation systems, and recommend that stored biosolids not be used in agriculture.
Men's experiences of violence: extent, nature and ‘determinants’
Authors: Soares Joaquim J.F. , Luo Jiayou , Jablonska Beata , Sundin Örjan 
Published: October 2006

We examined the extent, nature and ‘determinants’ of violence in a randomly selected sample of men from the general population (18–64 years, n = 520). The men were assessed on various factors (e.g. demographics). The design was cross‐sectional and data were collected over eight consecutive weeks. About 68 per cent of the men reported experiencing violence at some point during their lifetime, and just over 14 per cent in the past 12 months. The violence occurred mainly in public and work settings, with threatening/aggressive language/physical assaults as the most common forms. The main perpetrators were strangers or clients. Sexual abuse was rare. Repeated/multiple abuses were common and injuries were sustained. The victims and non‐victims were similar for many factors (e.g. alcohol use). Only younger age and being a blue‐collar/low white‐collar worker were risk factors for violence. Men's experiences of violence (e.g. physical assaults/multiple abuses) should be a source of concern as they can have profound negative effects. Extensive research on the impact of violence on men's health appears necessary in light of the present findings.
Report on three species of Plesionika (Crustacea: Decapoda: Pandalidae) from the East China Sea
Authors: LI Xinzheng 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe Plesionika material, collected by the National Comprehensive Oceanography Survey from the East China Sea in 1959, has been found to contain three species: P. izumiae Omori, 1971, P. marita orientalis Chace, 1985, and P. ortmanni Doflein, 1902. The ranges, population numbers, population density, and ratios of males, non‐ovigerous females and ovigerous females of P. izumiae were found to vary seasonally.
A preliminary analysis of the response of an avian community to silvicultural treatments in the southern Cumberland Plateau, Alabama, USA
Authors: WANG Yong , LESAK Adrian A. , FELIX Zachary , SCHWEITZER Callie Jo 
Published: October 2006

AbstractWe simulated a shelterwood forest regeneration treatment by reducing basal area, and monitored the response of an avian community in oak‐hickory forest on the southern Cumberland Plateau, northern Alabama, USA. We used five treatments: control (no removal), clear‐cut (100% removal), and 25, 50, and 75% removal of basal area. Territory mapping was used to quantify bird community between mid‐April and July of both 2002 and 2003. Microclimate variables were recorded at each plot. The residual basal area and canopy cover showed three distinct conditions after treatment: closed canopy, open forest, and clear‐cut. The microclimate varied among treatments: air temperature was highest in clear‐cut plots and lowest in control plots, whereas soil moisture had the opposite pattern. A total of 71 bird species were detected, with 36 of them defending territories. Territory density, species richness, and Shannon diversity index differed among the treatments; the relationship between these bird community indices and the level of basal area removal was quadratic, lowest in the clear‐cut plots and highest in the intermediate levels. Although species richness was similar among the control, 25, 50, and 75% removal treatments, species composition varied. The richness difference among treatments became smaller in the second year post‐treatment (2003) with an increase in bird density and richness occurring in the clear‐cut plots.
Different working and living conditions and their associations with persistent neck/shoulder and/or low back disorders
Authors: Leijon Ola , Lindberg Per , Josephson Malin , Wiktorin Christina 
Published: October 2006

Objectives:To investigate whether different combinations of working and living conditions are associated with the risk for persistent neck/shoulder and/or low back disorders. The underlying purpose of this contextual approach was to identify target groups for primary/secondary prevention.Methods:In a baseline study, 11 groups with different working and living conditions were identified by cluster analysis. In this study, these 11 groups were followed up by a postal questionnaire 5 years after baseline (response rate 82%, n = 1095).Results:Five of the groups—the onerous human services job, the free agent, the family burden, the mentally stretched and the physically strained groups—had an increased risk for persistent disorders (OR 2.38–2.70). Four of these groups had rather sex-specific working and living conditions.Conclusions:The results support the hypothesis that different combinations of working and living conditions may increase the risk for persistent neck/shoulder and/or low back disorders to different degrees. Sex-specific working and living conditions increased the risk for women as well as for men, irrespective of whether the conditions were specific to women or men.
Long-Term Stimulation of Adenosine A2b Receptors Begun After Myocardial Infarction Prevents Cardiac Remodeling in Rats
Authors: Wakeno Masakatsu , Minamino Tetsuo , Seguchi Osamu , Okazaki Hidetoshi , Tsukamoto Osamu , Okada Ken-ichiro , Hirata Akio , Fujita Masashi , Asanuma Hiroshi , Kim Jiyoong , Komamura Kazuo , Takashima Seiji , Mochizuki Naoki , Kitakaze Masafumi 
Published: October 2006

Background—Adenosine inhibits proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts and hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes, both of which may play crucial roles in cardiac remodeling. In the present study, we investigated whether chronic stimulation of adenosine receptors begun after myocardial infarction (MI) prevents cardiac remodeling.Methods and Results—MI was produced in Wistar rats by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. One week after the onset of MI, animals were randomized into 8 groups: vehicle, dipyridamole (DIP; the adenosine uptake inhibitor, 50 mg/kg), 2-chroloadenosine (CADO; the stable analogue of adenosine, 2 mg/kg), and CADO in the presence of the nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist 8-sulfophenyltheophylline (8-SPT) or the selective antagonist for adenosine A1, A2a, A2b, or A3 receptor. Three weeks after treatment, hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters in the DIP and CADO groups were significantly improved compared with the vehicle group. These hemodynamic and echocardiographic improvements were blunted by either 8-SPT or the selective adenosine A2b antagonist MRS1754 but not by the selective antagonists for other subtypes of adenosine receptors. The collagen volume fraction was smaller, and gene expression of the molecules associated with cardiac remodeling such as matrix metalloproteinase in noninfarcted areas was reduced in the DIP and CADO groups compared with the vehicle group, both of which were attenuated by either 8-SPT or MRS1754.Conclusions—Long-term stimulation of adenosine A2b receptors begun after MI attenuates cardiac fibrosis in the noninfarcted myocardium and improves cardiac function. Drugs that stimulate adenosine A2b receptors or increase adenosine levels are new candidates for preventing cardiac remodeling after MI.