Can Hediste diversicolor (Nereidae, Polychaete) be considered a good candidate in evaluating PAH contamination? A multimarker approach

The aim of this study was to develop a preliminary characterization of the biological responses of Hediste diversicolor to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) under controlled laboratory conditions. In order to test the effects of PAH exposure, a battery of biomarkers was applied to the polychaetes by exposing them to sublethal concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene (0.1 and 0.5 mg L⁻¹) for 10 d under laboratory conditions. The battery of biomarkers tested included oxidative stress biomarkers (glutathione content, enzymatic activities of catalase, glutathione S-transferases, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidases), total oxyradical scavenging capacity (TOSC) toward peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals and activity of acyl CoA oxidase (AOX) as a marker of peroxisome proliferation measured in the entire body; lipofuscin and neutral lipid accumulations and levels of Ca²⁺-ATPase activity analyzed in the intestinal epithelium; lysosomal membrane stability and genotoxic effects measured as DNA strand breaks and frequency of micronuclei in coelomocytes. Chemical analyses were also carried out to verify the polychaete’s benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) bioaccumulation levels after the exposure period. The results obtained indicate that B[a]P caused significant changes in most of the parameters measured in H. diversicolor. Biological responses to the organic compound were particularly significant for the biomarkers measured in the intestinal epithelium and in coelomocytes, emphasizing that these tissues were more affected during our experimental conditions. Considering the key trophic role of this benthic species in estuarine and coastal ecosystems, this study confirmed that H. diversicolor is an appropriate bioindicator of organic contamination.     

Technical and economical assessment of a multipurpose electric vehicle for farmers

The RAMseS project, under the European Commission's 6th Framework Program, is dedicated to the construction and test of low-power operations based on photovoltaic power and a multipurpose electric vehicle. In the present study, the life-cycle costs and economical indices for the vehicle during its life span were assessed, compared to those of a standard internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV). The results indicated that the life-cycle costs for the RAMseS vehicle and the ICEV are the same for a fuel unit price of 1.8 €/L. Also, the levelized cost of energy (LCE) for the RAMseS vehicle, was found to be 2.13 €/kWh, while RAMseS LCE, without EV taken into account, was shown to be 0.62 €/kWh. The RAMseS payback period (PBP) without EV taken into account was calculated to be 9 years if the value of the produced energy becomes at least 0.35 €/kWh. Vehicles that use PV systems as their power source, such as RAMseS, will be economically effective for fuel costs higher than 1.8 €/L, but considering the environmental benefits that are provided in terms of external costs, they can be considered profitable even at lower fuel costs.     

Biological effects of diethylene glycol (DEG) and produced waters (PWs) released from offshore activities: A multi-biomarker approach with the sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax

Diethylene glycol (DEG) is largely used during oil and gas exploitation by offshore platforms. The aim of this work was to investigate if this compound induces direct molecular/cellular effects in marine organisms, or indirectly modulate those of produced waters (PWs). Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were exposed to DEG dosed alone or in combination with PWs from an Adriatic platform. A wide array of analysed biomarkers included cytochrome P450-dependent enzymatic activity, bile metabolites, glutathione S-transferases, acetylcholinesterase, peroxisomal proliferation, antioxidant defences (catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidases, glutathione), total oxyradical scavenging capacity, malondialdehyde and DNA integrity (single strand breaks and frequency of micronuclei). Results did not reveal marked effects of DEG, while PWs influenced the biotransformation system, the oxidative status and the onset of genotoxic damages. Co-exposures caused only limited differences of biomarker responses at some experimental conditions, overall suggesting a limited biological impact of DEG at levels normally deriving from offshore activities.     

Environmental assessment of RAMseS multipurpose electric vehicle compared to a conventional combustion engine vehicle

The RAMseS project, financed by the European Commission under the 6th framework Program, has the purpose of developing a solar powered agricultural vehicle in order to replace the conventional vehicles based on internal combustion engines (ICE). In the present study, we report a comparison of life-cycle emission between two systems; a conventional ICE vehicle (ICEV) and the RAMseS electrical vehicle (EV). The study has been conducted by designing a specific model and using the SimaPro software. The results show that the RAMseS system is considerably more environmentally friendly than conventional ICE based system and that, specifically, it can avoid the emission of about 23 ton of CO_2equ per year. Regarding all other pollutants, we found that the RAMseS system is 2.6 times more efficient than the ICEV. The main contribution to emissions of the RAMseS system is due to the batteries which contribute for a 73% of the total. Therefore, further improvement can be obtained with the use of more advanced battery systems, not based on lead.     

Duplication of 9 p11.2-p13.1: a benign cytogenetic variant

The detection of very rare variants in prenatal diagnosis often causes counseling difficulties and anxiety in parents. We describe a duplication of the proximal region of chromosome 9 short arm in two cases of prenatal diagnosis and in one young woman, with evidence that such rearrangement is an uncommon variant. The duplication was investigated using Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Although the cytogenetic findings were indicative of a ‘duplication 9p syndrome’ associated with mental and developmental retardation, we were able to demonstrate that the rearrangement was a heteromorphism with no phenotypic consequence. We also determined the breakpoint regions of the rearrangement and identified the BAC probes that precisely define the duplicated region devoid of risk of phenotypic effects. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.