Effect of long-term herbicide applications on the bacterial community structure and function in an agricultural soil.

Little is known about the chronic effect of herbicides on the soil microbial community, with most studies focusing on acute impacts. In this study, we investigated the effect of 20 years of atrazine and metolachlor application on the community structure, abundance and function of bacterial groups in the bulk soil of a maize monoculture. Group-specific PCR-DGGE (polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) of 16S rRNA genes was used to characterize the composition of the microbial community.

Effects of stress hyperglycemia on acute myocardial infarction: role of inflammatory immune process in functional cardiac outcome.

Objective: Stress hyperglycemia has been associated with increased mortality in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). We examined the association between plasma glucose levels, circulating inflammatory markers, T-cell activation, and functional cardiac outcome in patients with first MI.

Research Design And Methods: Echocardiographic parameters, circulating levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18), C-reactive protein (CPR), and the percent of CD16-CD56, CD4/CD8, CD152, and HLA-DR expression were investigated in 108 patients with acute MI on admission to the emergency ward.

A microbial fuel cell capable of converting glucose to electricity at high rate and efficiency.

A microbial fuel cell containing a mixed bacterial culture utilizing glucose as carbon source was enriched to investigate power output in relation to glucose dosage. Electron recovery in terms of electricity up to 89% occurred for glucose feeding rates in the range 0.5-3 g l(-1) d(-1), at powers up to 3.

Long-term effects of mineral versus organic fertilizers on activity and structure of the methanotrophic community in agricultural soils.

Agricultural practices, such as mineral nitrogen fertilization, have an impact on the soil's ability to oxidize methane, but little is known about the shifts in the methanotrophic community composition associated with these practices. Therefore, the long-term effect of both mineral (NH4NO3) and organic (manure and GFT-compost) fertilizer applications on the soil methanotrophic community activity and structure were investigated. Both high and low affinity methane oxidation rates were lower in the soil treated with mineral fertilizer compared to the other soils.

Use of 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region PCR and repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR analyses of Escherichia coli isolates to identify nonpoint fecal sources.

Despite efforts to minimize fecal input into waterways, this kind of pollution continues to be a problem due to an inability to reliably identify nonpoint sources. Our objective was to find candidate source-specific Escherichia coli fingerprints as potential genotypic markers for raw sewage, horses, dogs, gulls, and cows. We evaluated 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region (ISR)-PCR and repetitive extragenic palindromic (rep)-PCR analyses of E.

Strain-specific ureolytic microbial calcium carbonate precipitation.

During a study of ureolytic microbial calcium carbonate (CaCO(3)) precipitation by bacterial isolates collected from different environmental samples, morphological differences were observed in the large CaCO(3) crystal aggregates precipitated within bacterial colonies grown on agar. Based on these differences, 12 isolates were selected for further study. We hypothesized that the striking differences in crystal morphology were the result of different microbial species or, alternatively, differences in the functional attributes of the isolates selected.

Molecular, biochemical and ecological characterisation of a bio-catalytic calcification reactor.

Bio-catalytic calcification (BCC) reactors utilise microbial urea hydrolysis by autochthonous bacteria for the precipitation-removal of calcium, as calcite, from industrial wastewater. Due to the limited knowledge available concerning natural ureolytic microbial calcium carbonate (CaCO(3)) precipitation, the microbial ecology of BCC reactors has remained a black box to date. This paper characterises BCC reactor evolution from initialisation to optimisation over a 6-week period.

CCR5 antagonists: 3-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)propionic acid analogues with potent anti-HIV activity.

[reaction: see text] A novel approach to alpha,alpha-disubstituted-beta-amino acids (beta(2,2)-amino acids) was employed in the synthesis of a series of 3-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)propionic acids possessing high affinity for the CCR5 receptor and potent anti-HIV activity. The rat pharmacokinetics for these new analogues featured higher bioavailabilities and lower rates of clearance as compared to cyclopentane 1.

Characterization of an autotrophic nitrogen-removing biofilm from a highly loaded lab-scale rotating biological contactor.

In this study, a lab-scale rotating biological contactor (RBC) treating a synthetic NH(4)(+) wastewater devoid of organic carbon and showing high N losses was examined for several important physiological and microbial characteristics. The RBC biofilm removed 89% +/- 5% of the influent N at the highest surface load of approximately 8.3 g of N m(-2) day(-1), with N(2) as the main end product.

Continuous analysis of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) and mercury flux in two freshwater lakes in Kejimkujik Park, Nova Scotia: evaluating mercury flux models with quantitative data.

Diurnal patterns for dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) concentration, mercury flux, several water variables (pH, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), water temperature), and meteorological variables (wind speed, air temperature, % relative humidity, solar radiation) were measured in two lakes with contrasting dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in Kejimkujik Park, Nova Scotia. A continuous analysis system made it possible to measure quick changes in DGM over time. Consistently higher DGM concentrations were found in the high DOC lake as compared to the low DOC lake.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and estrogenic compounds in experimental flue gas streams.

The importance of combustion processes as a source of substances with estrogenic activity in the environment was investigated. Wood (nontreated and treated with wood preservatives), barbecue charcoal, meat, and kitchen waste were combusted in a laboratory-scale incinerator. Flue gas emissions (particulates and gaseous pollutants) were trapped in polyurethane foam cartridges.

Continuous analysis of dissolved gaseous mercury in freshwater lakes.

The concentration of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) in freshwaters changes more quickly than the 40-min processing time of current analytical methods. A new method for continuous field analysis of DGM was developed using a Tekran 2537A to achieve a DGM analysis time of 5 min. Samples were concurrently analyzed for temperature, oxygen, conductivity, pH, and oxidation-reduction potential using a Hydrolab.

[Complications and failures in orthognathic surgery].

This paper reviews the literature about the most relevant complications in daily orthognathic surgery. Although orthognathic surgery has proven to be relatively safe, patients who undergo such maxillofacial orthopaedic surgery must be aware of the side effects of this combined treatment. Immediate life-threatening complications are very rare.

[Indications for orthognathic surgery, the limitations of orthodontics and of surgery].

The different sagittal, vertical or transversal skeletal dysmorphosis can be treated with orthodontic or orthopaedic appliances. Certain limits of treatment will be due to the age of the patient, the importance of the skeletal dysmorphosis, technical limits of the orthodontic appliances or the motivation and compliance needed from the patient. For this reason an orthodontic treatment combined with orthognathic surgery may be indicated.

[Reconstruction of the mobile tongue malignant tumor excision: quality-of-life assessment in 19 patients].

Introduction: Tumor tongue excision leads to anatomical and functional defects (chewing, swallowing, oral and prosthetic hygiene). The extension of the resection depends on tumor size and surgical radicality.

Material And Method: In our department, 72 cases of lingual tumor were treated between may 1987 and January 1997.

Bioaugmentation as a tool to protect the structure and function of an activated-sludge microbial community against a 3-chloroaniline shock load.

Bioaugmentation of bioreactors focuses on the removal of xenobiotics, with little attention typically paid to the recovery of disrupted reactor functions such as ammonium-nitrogen removal. Chloroanilines are widely used in industry as a precursor to a variety of products and are occasionally released into wastewater streams. This work evaluated the effects on activated-sludge reactor functions of a 3-chloroaniline (3-CA) pulse and bioaugmentation by inoculation with the 3-CA-degrading strain Comamonas testosteroni I2 gfp.

1,3,4 Trisubstituted pyrrolidine CCR5 receptor antagonists bearing 4-aminoheterocycle substituted piperidine side chains.

A new class of 4-(aminoheterocycle)piperidine derived 1,3,4 trisubstituted pyrrolidine CCR5 antagonists is reported. Compound 4a is shown to have good binding affinity (1.8 nM) and antiviral activity in PBMC's (IC(95)=50 nM).

Changes in microbial community composition and function during a polyaromatic hydrocarbon phytoremediation field trial.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which phytoremediation systems promote hydrocarbon degradation in soil. The composition and degradation capacity of the bulk soil microbial community during the phytoremediation of soil contaminated with aged hydrocarbons was assessed. In the bulk soil, the level of catabolic genes involved in hydrocarbon degradation (ndoB, alkB, and xylE) as well as the mineralization of hexadecane and phenanthrene was higher in planted treatment cells than in treatment cells with no plants.

1,3,4-Trisubstituted pyrrolidine CCR5 receptor antagonists: modifications of the arylpropylpiperidine side chains.

The 4-(3-phenylprop-1-yl)piperidine moiety of the 1,3,4-trisubstituted pyrrolidine CCR5 antagonist 1 was modified with electron deficient aromatics as well as replacement of the benzylic methylene with sulfones, gem-difluoromethylenes and alcohols in an effort to balance the antiviral potency with reasonable pharmacokinetics.

Bioaugmenting bioreactors for the continuous removal of 3-chloroaniline by a slow release approach.

The survival and activity of microbial degradative inoculants in bioreactors is critical to obtain successful biodegradation of non- or slowly degradable pollutants. Achieving this in industrial wastewater reactors is technically challenging. We evaluated a strategy to obtain complete and stable bioaugmentation of activated sludge, which is used to treat a 3-chloroaniline (3-CA) contaminated wastewater in a lab-scale semi-continuous activated sludge system.

[Long-term results of endoscopic treatment of biliary stenosis from laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

Background: The outcome of endoscopic biliary stent insertion for postoperative bile duct stenosis was retrospectively evaluated.

Methods: Fifty-seven patients with biliary stenosis from laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included from February 1992 to January 2000. One to three stents were inserted for an average of 12.

1,3,4-Trisubstituted pyrrolidine CCR5 receptor antagonists. Part 4: synthesis of N-1 acidic functionality affording analogues with enhanced antiviral activity against HIV.

A series of alpha-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)acetic acids is presented as selective and potent antivirals against HIV. Several of the pyrrolidine zwitterions demonstrated reasonable in vitro properties, enhanced antiviral activities and improved pharmacokinetic profiles over pyrrolidine 1.

1,3,4-Trisubstituted pyrrolidine CCR5 receptor antagonists. Part 3: polar functionality and its effect on anti-HIV-1 activity.

Incorporation of acidic functional groups into a lead CCR5 antagonist identified from a targeted combinatorial library resulted in compounds with enhanced anti-HIV-1 activity and attenuated L-type calcium channel affinity.

Microbial reduction and oxidation of mercury in freshwater lakes.

The evasion of elemental mercury represents a significant pathway for reducing the level of this potentially toxic material in aquatic ecosystems. The evasion rate is controlled by the concentration of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) across the air-water interface, water, and air temperature as well as wind speed. Here we investigate the role of microbial mercury oxidation and reduction in regulating DGM diel patterns in two freshwater lakes, Jack's Lake and Lake Ontario.