CORAL: Building up QSAR models for the chromosome aberration test

A high level of chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes may be an early marker of cancer risk, but data on risk of specific cancers and types of chromosomal aberrations are limited. Consequently, the development of predictive models for chromosomal aberrations test is important task. Majority of models for chromosomal aberrations test are so-called knowledge-based rules system. The CORAL software (http://www.insilico.eu/coral, abbreviation of “CORrelation And Logic”) is an alternative for knowledge-based rules system. In contrast to knowledge-based rules system, the CORAL software gives possibility to estimate the influence upon the predictive potential of a model of different molecular alerts as well as different splits into the training set and validation set. This possibility is not available for the approaches based on the knowledge-based rules system. Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationships (QSAR) for chromosome aberration test are established for five random splits into the training, calibration, and validation sets. The QSAR approach is based on representation of the molecular structure by simplified molecular input-line entry system (SMILES) without data on physicochemical and/or biochemical parameters. In spite of this limitation, the statistical quality of these models is quite good.     

Identifying key factors,actors and relevant scales in landscape and conservation planning,management and decision making: Promoting effective citizen involvement

The paper analyses the current limitations of the constraints of decision and action processes in land-use, resource management and conservation policies and approaches, identifying their main factors, proposing alternative strategies to solve the present gaps and limitations. It identifies the need for a new paradigmatic approach based on innovative forms of involvement, commitment and individual and community rewarding systems. This approach is developed based on the characterization of the main drivers of land-use, resource management and conservation policies, namely α-perceptions (immediate and primary satisfaction) and k-perceptions (more mediate and complex consideration of satisfaction, implying long-term perceptions and collective benefits beyond the individual interests). It also analyses the effects of the introduction of new forms of income and incentives (such as trade-offs and payments for environmental services) or management approaches such as Ecological-Based Management or the use of Nature-Based Solutions. The main axioms and instruments necessary to build such a new paradigmatic approach (namely trade-offs, accountability and contractualization) are described. On this basis, it is possible to present a concept for an innovative institutional and social culture and a governance system aimed at an effective land-use, resource management and conservation policies. This governance concept is described and its sustaining individual, social and institutional drivers enunciated.     

海南坡鹿围栏种群动态与食物资源关系的初步分析

1986年海南省大田国家级自然保护区在境内设立面积为95公顷的围栏,将86只海南坡鹿分隔成一个孤立的种群。经过3个繁殖年度,种群发展到158只。随着种群数量的增加,坡鹿采食植物的种类密度、高度和频率均明显减少,而坡鹿不食的植物种类则明显增加。种群出生率和年度增长率随种群数量增加而逐年降低,而种群死亡率却有增加趋势。种群密度过高产生的拥挤效应和食物资源不足是造成种群出生率和年度增长率下降的主要原因。本文还就保护区应采取的管理措施,提出了相应的建议。     

Amplification of bacterial DNA bound on clay minerals by the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique

Abstract: Chromosomal DNA from Bacillus subtilis , bound on the clay minerals, montmorillonite (Wyoming (W) and Apache County (Ap)) and kaolinite (K), was subjected to the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. DNA bound on the clays was not amplified with 0.625, 1.875, 6.25, and 12.5 U of Taq DNA polymerase, but amplification occurred when the clay-DNA complexes were diluted 10- and 20-fold or when 21 U of Taq DNA polymerase was added. DNA desorbed from the Ap-DNA and K-DNA equilibrium complexes was amplified with 0.625 U of Taq DNA polymerase, whereas amplification of DNA desorbed from the W-DNA complex occurred only after a 10-fold dilution or when 1.875 U of Taq DNA polymerase was used. These observations indicate that clay minerals differentially affect the amplification process, probably by inhibiting the activity of Taq DNA polymerase.     

Fungal population in the atmosphere of Ismailia City

Fungal spore populations in the outdoor and indoor atmosphere of Ismailia have been studied during the period from March 1992 to May 1993. A total of 23 350 cfu and 73 species were recorded,Cladosporium cladosporioides, Aureobasidium pullulans andAspergillus flavus were the most abundant. The indoor and outdoor mycoflora showed marked quantitative and qualitative differences. In view of count, recorded species could be categorized into three groups as follows: (a) species showing higher counts in out- than indoor, (b) species showing the opposite trend i.e. lower counts in out-door than indoor, (c) species showing approximately equal counts in out- and indoor. Regarding seasonal periodicity, March and either September or October showed the highest count for both normal fungal flora (NFF) and opportunistic fungal flora (OFF). While January and July showed the lowest count of them both, May but not July was the lowest as for outdoor NFF.     

Comparison of rat hepatocyte and differentiated hepatoma cell line cultures as bio indicators of CYP 1A1 inducers in urban air

Cytochrome P450 1A1 CYP1A1 enzymatic activity was evaluated in cultured liver cells, and taken as a biological indicator of the presence of inducers of this isoform in urban airborne particulate matter fraction samples. It is known that CYP1A1 inducers can play an important role in the risk of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis by environmental pollution. A romatic polycyclic hydrocarbons PAH from urban air were collected in the city of Genoa Italy at two sites on two different days of the year. The objective of the study was to compare the inducibility of cultured rat hepatocytes with that of MH1C1 and FaO rat hepatoma cell lines after exposure to a PAH mixture and to a standard compound, such as benzo b fluoranthene B b F . Cytotoxic effects of the tested concentrations were evaluated by means of 3 4,5, dimenthylthyazol 2 yl 2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide MTT and lactate dehydrogenase release LDH tests, the potency of inducers by ethoxyresorufin O deethylase EROD assay. The results were in agreement in the three cellular systems: after exposure to the PAH mixture, an induction at low concentrations was observed; whereas no induction, but rather a decrease in activity was shown at higher concentrations; instead, the exposure to pure B b F showed a dose-response relationship in all cells, even at the highest doses. Such a difference between the toxicity of the complex mixture and that of the pure compound could be ascribed to the presence of drug metabolism inhibitors in the mixture, or to interactions between the original components and their metabolites. The finding that the cell lines responded to the CYP1A1 induction in a very efficient way gives further proof of the applicability of this system to environmental biomonitoring.     

In vitro characterization bioassays of the nematophagous fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum: Evaluation on growth,extracellular enzymes,mycotoxins and survival in the surrounding agroecosystem of tomato

The effects of water stress and temperature on in vitro growth and enzymatic activity of Purpureocillium lilacinum (Sordariomycetes, Hypocreales, Ophiocordycipitaceae) isolates with demonstrated capacity to control Nacobbus aberrans (Secernentea, Tylenchida, Pratylenchidae) were evaluated in this study. Also, saprophytic and endophytic colonization in tomato plants were determined. P. lilacinum was able to grow under the evaluated levels of osmotic and matric stress, but the increase in water stress caused reductions in radial growth rates. Moreover, the fungal isolates produced chitinases, proteases, and leucinostatins under inductive conditions. The nematophagous fungi were able to develop saprophytically (10⁴ CFU g^?1 of soil). Meanwhile, only P. lilacinum SR38 demonstrated endophytic capacity. The results suggest that P. lilacinum can be effectively applied as biocontrol agents of phytoparasitic nematodes in tomatoes under variable agroecological conditions.     

Evaluation of Integrated Anaerobic Digestion and Hydrothermal Carbonization for Bioenergy Production

Lignocellulosic biomass is one of the most abundant yet underutilized renewable energy resources. Both anaerobic digestion (AD) and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) are promising technologies for bioenergy production from biomass in terms of biogas and HTC biochar, respectively. In this study, the combination of AD and HTC is proposed to increase overall bioenergy production. Wheat straw was anaerobically digested in a novel upflow anaerobic solid state reactor (UASS) in both mesophilic (37 °C) and thermophilic (55 °C) conditions. Wet digested from thermophilic AD was hydrothermally carbonized at 230 °C for 6 hr for HTC biochar production. At thermophilic temperature, the UASS system yields an average of 165 L_CH4/kg_VS (VS: volatile solids) and 121 L _CH4/kg_VS at mesophilic AD over the continuous operation of 200 days. Meanwhile, 43.4 g of HTC biochar with 29.6 MJ/kg_{dry_biochar} was obtained from HTC of 1 kg digestate (dry basis) from mesophilic AD. The combination of AD and HTC, in this particular set of experiment yield 13.2 MJ of energy per 1 kg of dry wheat straw, which is at least 20% higher than HTC alone and 60.2% higher than AD only.     

Environmental restoration effects of Ranunculus sceleratus L. in a eutrophic sewage system

This study investigated the environmental restoration effects of Ranunculus sceleratus in a sewage system microcosm trial, including the removal of pollutants and algal inhibition. We compared the removal of pollutants by R. sceleratus in a eutrophic sewage system in the presence and the absence of algae. The rate of removal without algae was 16.2–20.5% of that with algae. ${\text{NH}}_4^{+}–\text{N}$ was removed most readily by R. sceleratus. The effects of R. sceleratus on the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa were also investigated in two allelopathic modes. The level of algal inhibition after the addition of an extract of Ranunculus scleratus was 57.1–78.9% greater than that in a co-culture test. To understand the role of allelopathy interference with algal development, we also determined the total flavonoid contents of plants, which ranged from 3.57 g to 20.19 g per plant. The cell density of Microcystis aeruginosa was negatively correlated with the total flavonoids in R. sceleratus, although aquatic macrophytes may contain other allelochemicals involved with algal inhibition in addition to flavonoid compounds. The environmental effects of R. sceleratus were significantly correlated with its growth stage (or water retention time), plant height, and biomass. This study suggests that R. sceleratus has potential for the low-effort and sustainable management of freshwaters, particularly the removal of nutrient pollutants and the reduction of excessive algal growth, which may be attributable to allelochemicals such as flavonoids. The in situ environmental restoration effects of R. sceleratus require further investigation at the ecosystem level.     

Validation of the Macrophyte Quality Index (MaQI) set up to assess the ecological status of Italian marine transitional environments

The paper couples the results obtained by applying the expert and the rapid Macrophyte Quality Indices set up to assess the ecological status of the Italian transitional environments according to the requirements by the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/CE). The indices were validated by comparing the composition of the macrophyte assemblages and the values of some bio-physico-chemical parameters of the water column of 20 stations of the Venice lagoon sampled monthly for one year between 2003 and 2005. In 5 stations out of the 20, the ones which fall within the 5 classes of ecological status suggested by the Water Framework Directive, sedimentation rates, sediment grain-size, and nutrient and pollutant (metals, Polychloro-Dibenzo-Dioxins/Furans, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenils) concentrations in surface sediments were also determined. Results showed strong relationships between the trends of these environmental parameters and the composition and structure of macrophyte associations, as well as with the Macrophyte Quality Index assessment. Chlorophyceae showed a trend opposite to Rhodophyceae whose presence was concentrated in oxygenated and transparent environments. Chlorophyceae and the species characterised by low scores prevailed in turbid areas where nutrient and pollutant concentrations were high. Results allowed the identification of the conditions of the “reference sites” (confinement areas and sites with high water renewal) and the integration of the dichotomic key used for the application of the R-MaQI. Handling editor: S. M. Thomaz