Lessons learned from a corporate manufacturer on driving the adoption of nature-based solutions.

Companies are increasingly focused on driving the adoption of nature-based solutions across their organizations. Yet, implementing nature-based solutions within existing regulatory frameworks poses a unique set of challenges. In this paper, we present three nature-based solution case studies from The Dow Chemical Company and The Nature Conservancy's nearly 10-year collaboration.

From ash pond to Riverside Wetlands: Making the business case for engineered natural technologies.

The 2015 announcement of The Dow Chemical Company's (Dow) Valuing Nature Goal, which aims to identify $1 billion in business value from projects that are better for nature, gives nature a spot at the project design table. To support this goal, Dow and The Nature Conservancy have extended their long-standing collaboration and are now working to develop a defensible methodology to support the implementation of the goal. This paper reviews the nature valuation methodology framework developed by the Collaboration in support of the goal.

The effects of cholesterol uptake from high-density lipoprotein subfractions on biliary sterol secretion in rats with essential fatty-acid deficiency.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) participates in the transfer of cholesterol to the liver, in which it is subsequently excreted into bile as bile acid and cholesterol. In this study, the effect of essential fatty-acid (EFA) deficiency on cholesterol contribution from HDL subfractions to bile was investigated. Rats that were rendered EFA-deficient over 4 weeks displayed changes in their plasma HDL subfractions and liver tissue fatty acids.

Oxidative tyrosylation of high density lipoprotein impairs biliary sterol secretion in rats.

The oxidation of low density lipoprotein plays a central role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Oxidative modification could also occur in high density lipoprotein (HDL), which may alter reverse cholesterol transport. It has recently been proposed that myeloperoxidase-generated tyrosyl radical may modify HDL.

Iron-salicylate complex induces peroxidation, alters hepatic lipid profile and affects plasma lipoprotein composition.

Iron overload, with its associated toxic effects, has serious health consequences and results in damage to the liver, heart and other organs. Salicylate may be used as the lipophilic carrier, transporting more iron into hepatocytes. In this study, we examined the effect of the combined administration of these compounds on plasma lipid profile and lipoprotein composition, as well as on hepatic lipid concentration.

Bile formation and hepatic plasma membrane composition in guinea-pigs and rats.

We compared bile formation, and biliary and liver plasma membrane composition in guinea-pigs and rats in an attempt to explain the observation that the bile flow rate and the bile acid independent fraction of bile flow (BAIF) in guinea-pigs is about five to seven times higher than in rats. Analysis of electrolytes in bile showed that bicarbonate was significantly [acid] higher in guinea-pigs while Cl-, phosphate and Ca2+ were markedly lower than in rats. High bile independent secretion in guinea-pigs was associated with a significantly lower concentration of total bile acid, phospholipid and cholesterol than in rats.

Malondialdehyde-modified HDL leads to accumulation of cholesterol in rat liver endothelial cells.

In order to study in vivo the effect of modified high density lipoprotein (HDL) on the movement of free cholesterol to liver cells and bile, we injected i.v. into rats, native or malondialdehyde modified HDL labelled with [14C]cholesterol.

Modulation of exercise-induced immunosuppression by dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids in mice.

The possible interaction between intense exercise, known to suppress the immune response, and nutritive factors, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), was examined in inbred female C57Bl/6 mice. The animals received for 8 wk either a natural ingredient diet or a diet supplemented with 10 g/100 g linseed oil containing over 50% of 18:3 (n-3) alpha-linoleic acid. Other groups received PUFA containing only traces of 18:3 (n-3) fatty acid; beef tallow, containing mostly 18:1 (n-9) saturated fat, safflower oil, an 18:2 (n-6) PUFA, and fish oil, containing longer chain (n-3) PUFA.

Malondialdehyde-modified high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: plasma removal, tissue distribution and biliary sterol secretion in rats.

Evidence has been accumulating for the putative role of chemically or oxidatively altered lipoproteins in accelerating events in the atherogenic process. In this study, the movement of free cholesterol from native high density lipoprotein (HDL) and malondialdehyde (MDA)-modified HDL to the liver for biliary cholesterol secretion and bile acid transformation was examined in vivo. To this end, HDL from normal donor rats was isolated, conjugated with MDA, labelled with [14C]cholesterol and injected i.

O6-methylguanine-DNA adducts in rat lymphocytes after in vivo exposure to N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).

A non-invasive approach in immunopathological risk assessment was applied for analysis of the in vivo formation of DNA adducts. DNA methylation was studied in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) collected from Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to a single dose (75 mg/kg b.w.

Cytometric profiles of bone marrow and spleen lymphoid cells after mercury exposure in mice.

The potential immunotoxic effects of mercury chloride on murine bone marrow (bm) cell subpopulations, including analysis of maturation patterns for B-cells, were evaluated by flow cytometric analysis. CD-1 outbred mice were exposed for 28 days to relatively low doses of 25-100 ppm HgCl2 in drinking water and the mercury-related functional cellular changes were validated in a macrophage phagocytosis assay. Lymphocyte subsets from the bone marrow population were stained with PNA lectin and a panel of monoclonal antibodies against cell surface antigens.

Liver membrane composition after short-term parenteral nutrition with and without taurine in guinea pigs: the effect to taurine.

Having recently demonstrated that taurine supplementation prevents total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-induced cholestasis, we chose to use this model to examine plasma membrane composition in relation to bile formation. Male guinea pigs received daily a mixture of glucose and of the amino acid solution Travasol with or without added taurine (1.2 mM).

Mercuric chloride affects protein secretion in rat primary hepatocyte cultures: a biochemical ultrastructural, and gold immunocytochemical study.

The toxicity of mercury on hepatocytes was studied at the ultrastructural, biochemical, and immunocytochemical levels. Albumin metabolism was examined because it is a representative liver-specific function. A novel cytochemical method using the protein A-gold technique for the in situ localization of albumin in hepatocyte cultures was applied.

Use of mouse hepatocytes for the flow cytometric determination of DNA levels of nuclei extracted from fresh tissue of hybrid larch (Larix x eurolepis Henry).

A rapid and reliable method is presented to release intact nuclei from small amounts (100 mg) of fresh plant tissue. Further, an accurate and readily accessible new standard is proposed. Both techniques have potential application for many plant systems.

Effect of taurine on total parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis.

A decrease in the formation/secretion of bile has been well documented in animals on total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Either an excess or an imbalance of amino acids (AA) has been most often implicated. In view of recent work showing that taurine promotes bile flow, bile acid secretion, and protects against hepatotoxic bile acids, the effect of adding taurine (15 mg/dL) to an AA solution was examined in guinea pigs on TPN for 3 days.