Is Hyalella azteca a Suitable Model Leaf-Shredding Benthic Crustacean for Testing the Toxicity of Sediment-Associated Metals in Europe?

2019 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jochen P. Zubrod ◽  
Dominic Englert ◽  
Alexander Feckler ◽  
Ricki R. Rosenfeldt ◽  
Hendrik Pasternack ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
T. J. Beveridge

The Bacillus subtilis cell wall provides a protective sacculus about the vital constituents of the bacterium and consists of a collection of anionic hetero- and homopolymers which are mainly polysaccharidic. We recently demonstrated that unfixed walls were able to trap and retain substantial amounts of metal when suspended in aqueous metal salt solutions. These walls were briefly mixed with low concentration metal solutions (5mM for 10 min at 22°C), were well washed with deionized distilled water, and the quantity of metal uptake (atomic absorption and X-ray fluorescence), the type of staining response (electron scattering profile of thin-sections), and the crystallinity of the deposition product (X-ray diffraction of embedded specimens) determined.Since most biological material possesses little electron scattering ability electron microscopists have been forced to depend on heavy metal impregnation of the specimen before obtaining thin-section data. Our experience with these walls suggested that they may provide a suitable model system with which to study the sites of reaction for this metal deposition.


1973 ◽  
Vol 30 (01) ◽  
pp. 138-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Muirhead

SummaryThe filter loop technique which measures platelet aggregation in vivo in the flowing-blood of the rat was compared to the optical density technique of Born which is carried out in vitro with platelet rich plasma. Using these two experimental models the effect on platelet aggregation of three known inhibitors sulfinpyrazone, dipyridamole and prostaglandin E1, and a novel compound 5-oxo-l-cyclopentene-l-heptanoic acid (AY-16, 804) was determined.The effects on platelet aggregation of the known inhibitors were consistent with information in the literature. Prostaglandin E1 was the most potent inhibitor in both techniques; sulfinpyrazone inhibited aggregation in both models but was less potent than prostaglandin E1. AY-16, 804 exhibited activity in vitro and in vivo similar to that of sulfinpyrazone. Dipyridamole did not inhibit platelet aggregation in vivo and did not inhibit aggregation in vitro in concentrations at which it remained soluble.The filter loop technique is a suitable model for measuring platelet aggregation in the flowing blood of the rat. It is a relatively simple method of determining aggregation and easily adapted to other species.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-99
Author(s):  
Lewis Tsuro ◽  
Stan Hardman

The Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was developed as a set of tools for identifying and making incremental steps to improve situations with poorly defined causes or solutions. The supply chain forms a key process of any construction project; however, on any given construction site, supply chain inefficiencies could arise from many different avenues. Opinions vary, though, on which of these avenues is more important for increasing supply chain efficiencies; whether any problem even exist across the different aspects of the supply chain; as well as what steps should be taken to resolve them. It was therefore studied, here, whether SSM could be employed as a useful tool to systematically apply in the supply chains of a construction project in South Africa, for understanding and targeting the problematic situations that arise. Following thorough cyclical open-ended interviews with 17 workers, supervisors, foremen, site clerks, senior managers, and the CEO of the principal contractor at a new office park construction project in Rosebank, Johannesburg, and a thematic analysis of the data, SSM was performed to understand the existing challenges, and develop a suitable model for improvement. The study found that SSM was a good tool for understanding the ‘messy’ circumstances surrounding the chosen construction project supply chain, as well as actions that could be taken to improve the supply chain’s efficiency on site. The findings add weight to the argument that SSM could be a good tool for project managers to systematically introduce into their project planning regimens


1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 55-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Alex ◽  
R. Tschepetzki ◽  
U. Jumar ◽  
F. Obenaus ◽  
K.-H. Rosenwinkel

Activated sludge models are widely used for planning and optimisation of wastewater treatment plants and on line applications are under development to support the operation of complex treatment plants. A proper model is crucial for all of these applications. The task of parameter calibration is focused in several papers and applications. An essential precondition for this task is an appropriately defined model structure, which is often given much less attention. Different model structures for a large scale treatment plant with circulation flow are discussed in this paper. A more systematic method to derive a suitable model structure is applied to this case. Results of a numerical hydraulic model are used for this purpose. The importance of these efforts are proven by a high sensitivity of the simulation results with respect to the selection of the model structure and the hydraulic conditions. Finally it is shown, that model calibration was possible only by adjusting to the hydraulic behaviour and without any changes of biological parameters.


1989 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 2021-2026
Author(s):  
Marie Stiborová ◽  
Befekadu Asfaw ◽  
Pavel Anzenbacher

Ce(IV) ions in acidic medium convert a carcinogenic non-aminoazo dye, 1-phenylazo-2-hydroxy-naphthalene (Sudan I) into an ultimate carcinogen, which binds to calf thymus DNA. The principal product of Sudan I oxidation by the Ce(IV) system is the benzenediazonium ion. A minor product is the dihydroxyderivative of Sudan I, 1-(4-hydroxyphenylazo)-2,6-dihydroxynaphthalene. Other minor coloured products (yellow and brown) were not identified. The principal product (the benzenediazonium ion) is responsible for the carcinogenicity of Sudan I, as it covalently binds to DNA. Ce(IV) ions in acidic medium represent a suitable model system, which imitates the activation route of carcinogenic azo dyes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (18) ◽  
pp. 4416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Console ◽  
Maria Tolomeo ◽  
Matilde Colella ◽  
Maria Barile ◽  
Cesare Indiveri

Background: the SLC52A2 gene encodes for the riboflavin transporter 2 (RFVT2). This transporter is ubiquitously expressed. It mediates the transport of Riboflavin across cell membranes. Riboflavin plays a crucial role in cells since its biologically active forms, FMN and FAD, are essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids. Mutation of the Riboflavin transporters is a risk factor for anemia, cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration. Inborn mutations of SLC52A2 are associated with Brown-Vialetto-van Laere syndrome, a rare neurological disorder characterized by infancy onset. In spite of the important metabolic and physio/pathological role of this transporter few data are available on its function and regulation. Methods: the human recombinant RFVT2 has been overexpressed in E. coli, purified and reconstituted into proteoliposomes in order to characterize its activity following the [3H]Riboflavin transport. Results: the recombinant hRFVT2 showed a Km of 0.26 ± 0.07 µM and was inhibited by lumiflavin, FMN and Mg2+. The Riboflavin uptake was also regulated by Ca2+. The native protein extracted from fibroblast and reconstituted in proteoliposomes also showed inhibition by FMN and lumiflavin. Conclusions: proteoliposomes represent a suitable model to assay the RFVT2 function. It will be useful for screening the mutation of RFVT2.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1997
Author(s):  
Maximilian Weiss ◽  
Sabrina Reinehr ◽  
Ana M. Mueller-Buehl ◽  
Johanna D. Doerner ◽  
Rudolf Fuchshofer ◽  
...  

To reveal the pathomechanisms of glaucoma, a common cause of blindness, suitable animal models are needed. As previously shown, retinal ganglion cell and optic nerve degeneration occur in βB1-CTGF mice. Here, we aimed to determine possible apoptotic mechanisms and degeneration of different retinal cells. Hence, retinae were processed for immunohistology (n = 5–9/group) and quantitative real-time PCR analysis (n = 5–7/group) in 5- and 10-week-old βB1-CTGF and wildtype controls. We noted significantly more cleaved caspase 3+ cells in βB1-CTGF retinae at 5 (p = 0.005) and 10 weeks (p = 0.02), and a significant upregulation of Casp3 and Bax/Bcl2 mRNA levels (p < 0.05). Furthermore, more terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL+) cells were detected in transgenic mice at 5 (p = 0.03) and 10 weeks (p = 0.02). Neurofilament H staining (p = 0.01) as well as Nefh (p = 0.02) and Tubb3 (p = 0.009) mRNA levels were significantly decreased at 10 weeks. GABAergic synapse intensity was lower at 5 weeks, while no alterations were noted at 10 weeks. The glutamatergic synapse intensity was decreased at 5 (p = 0.007) and 10 weeks (p = 0.01). No changes were observed for bipolar cells, photoreceptors, and macroglia. We conclude that apoptotic processes and synapse loss precede neuronal death in this model. This slow progression rate makes the βB1-CTGF mice a suitable model to study primary open-angle glaucoma.


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