Cloning and expression of a tauropine dehydrogenase from the marine sponge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Suberites </Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">domuncula</Emphasis>

The cDNA sequence coding for tauropine dehydrogenase (TaDH) [belonging to the family of opine dehydrogenases] has been determined. Using the demosponge Suberites domuncula, we describe for the first time the tauropine dehydrogenase gene (of length 2,992 kb) from a eukaryote, consisting of two introns flanked by three exons. Moreover, two allelic variants have been identified, which are present in the different specimens either in a homozygotic or in a heterozygotic way; the data suggest an intermediary type of heritance. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that S. domuncula TaDH is only distantly related to the opine dehydrogenases from marine invertebrates; rather it comprises high sequence similarity to bacterial ornithine cyclodeaminases (OCD). In addition, expression studies revealed that the steady-state level of TaDH dropped drastically in animals, which had been exposed to elevated aeration. Antibodies raised against the recombinant sponge TaDH were used to demonstrate that S. domuncula expresses high levels of this enzyme in almost all cells. If tissue samples were kept under additional aeration no immuno-signals could be identified. A strong accumulation of the enzyme was seen around the bacteria, existing in bacteriocytes, indicating that under aerobic conditions the bacteria might produce taurine. These data suggest involvement of the sponge TaDH in the final step of the glycolytic pathway, more specifically, in regeneration of NAD(+) under anaerobic conditions. Furthermore, potential mutual influences between bacteria and sponge are discussed, claiming a horizontal gene transfer of the gene from a bacterium to the sponge. The following sequences from Suberites domuncula have been deposited (EMBL/GenBank): the cDNA encoding the tauropine [(carboxyethyl)-taurine/derived from sulfhydryl-amino acids] dehydrogenase (SD_TaDH) under AM712888; the corresponding gene under AM712889; and the fragments of the sponge-associated bacteria comprising the opine dehydrogenase domain: SUBDO_BAC1 (AM712890), SUBDO_BAC2 (AM712891), SUBDO_BAC3 (AM712892), SUBDO_BAC5 (AM712894), SUBDO_BAC6 (AM712895), SUBDO_BAC7 (AM712896), SUBDO_BAC8 (AM712897) and SUBDO_BAC9 (AM712898).     

Absence of trends in relative risk estimates for the association between Black Smoke and daily mortality over a 34 years period in The Netherlands

A major issue in air pollution epidemiology is whether the associations that are found in the statistical analyses on the health effects of air pollution reflect real causal associations of single components or mixtures thereof, or just reflect statistical associations that are mainly the result of the high correlation between the separate components, one of them being the true causal factor.In a previous analysis on the relationship between daily SO₂ levels and daily mortality in The Netherlands [Buringh, E., Fischer, P., Hoek, G., 2000. Is SO₂ a causative factor for the PM-associated mortality risks in The Netherlands? Inhal. Toxicol. 12 (Suppl. 1), 55–60.], it was shown that the statistical significant association between daily variation in SO₂ and daily mortality did not reflect a causal relation. Black Smoke levels in The Netherlands have decreased 4-fold during the 34 years in the period 1972–2006 (annual average from 27 μg m^?3 to 6 μg m^?3). This large decrease in concentrations enabled us to use the same approach for this component as was done earlier for SO₂ to assess whether a decreasing trend in Black Smoke levels in The Netherlands is associated with an increasing trend in mortality relative risks or not.We used daily averaged Black Smoke (BS) data from 1972 to 2006. In the first two decades (1970–1990) only sparse data were available. Based on the availability of the data, we selected data from 1972 to 1974 and from 1982 to 1984 because during these two periods continuous daily measurement series were available. For the later years (1989–2006) data covering the whole of The Netherlands were available, giving a total of 24 years of daily data. Data on daily total mortality counts (excluding external causes), cardiovascular mortality and respiratory mortality for the whole population of The Netherlands were analyzed with regard to daily Black Smoke levels using generalized additive Poisson regression models (GAM). Period specific relative risk estimates were compared and differences in estimates between periods were evaluated.We found no consistent increase in relative risks for daily total and cause-specific mortality over time, despite the decreasing trend in the Black Smoke levels in The Netherlands. Average relative risks for total mortality varied over the different periods from 0.997 per 10 μg m^?3 daily Black Smoke to 1.010 per 10 μg m^?3. Average relative risks for cardiovascular mortality varied from 0.988 per 10 μg m^?3 to 1.010 per 10 μg m^?3 and for respiratory mortality from 1.000 to 1.010 per 10 μg m^?3. For weekly averaged concentrations the average relative risks for total mortality varied over the different periods from 1.004 per 10 μg m^?3 Black Smoke to 1.018 per 10 μg m^?3. Average relative risks for cardiovascular mortality varied from 1.003 per 10 μg m^?3 to 1.016 per 10 μg m^?3 and for respiratory mortality from 1.000 to 1.050 per 10 μg m^?3.The result of our analyses suggests that Black Smoke cannot be excluded as a potential causal agent because relative risks over time show no increasing trend despite the decreasing trend in Black Smoke concentrations.     

Reproductive plasticity,oviposition site selection,and maternal effects in fragmented landscapes

Traditionally, evolutionary ecology and conservation biology have primarily been concerned with how environmental changes affect population size and genetic diversity. Recently, however, there has been a growing realization that phenotypic plasticity can have important consequences for the probability of population persistence, population growth, and evolution during rapid environmental change. Habitat fragmentation due to human activities is dramatically changing the ecological conditions of life for many organisms. In this review, we use examples from the literature to demonstrate that habitat fragmentation has important consequences on oviposition site selection in insects, with carryover effects on offspring survival and, therefore, population dynamics. We argue that plasticity in oviposition site selection and maternal effects on offspring phenotypes may be an important, yet underexplored, mechanism by which environmental conditions have consequences across generations. Without considering the impact of habitat fragmentation on oviposition site selection, it will be difficult to assess the effect of fragmentation on offspring fitness, and ultimately to understand the impact of anthropogenic-induced environmental change on population viability.     

Complete karyotype discrepancy between placental and fetal cells in a case of ring chromosome 18

A case of complete karyotype discrepancy between cultured chorionic villi and amniotic in addition to fetal cells is reported. Ring chromosome 18 and monosomy 18 mosaicism was detected after amniocentesis. The pregnancy was terminated in the 23rd gestational week. Cytogenetic analysis of cultured umbilical cord tissue after termination confirmed the finding of ring chromosome 18/monosomy 18 mosaicism. In cultured umbilical blood lymphocytes monosomic cells 45,-18 were not detected and the karyotype was 46,XY,r(18). In contrast, short-term and long-term cultured chorionic villi showed a normal male karyotype of 46,XY. Ultrasonographic examination revealed amniotic band syndrome and scoliosis in the caudal region of the spine. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

History of Dutch process equipment failure frequencies and the Purple Book

In the middle of 70s concerns of the public in the Netherlands about fire, explosion and toxic risks due to mishaps in the expanding process industry, causing political pressure led to the embracement of quantitative risk analysis as tool for licensing and land-use planning. Probabilistic treatment of risk had been exercised before to design flood defense. A ‘test’ on six different plants, the COVO study, favored the idea. Failure rate values were in immediate need. For storage vessels AKZO’s chlorine vessel data and British steam boiler data have been the first. Risk criteria to make decisions on were also developed and in 1985 embodied in legislation. As licensing and land-use planning are tasks of provincial authorities, under the auspices of the Inter-Provincial Consultation (IPO), further details such as failure frequency values have been worked out. In the late 90s the Purple Book consolidated the information as a guideline for Dutch quantitative risk assessment of process installations.The paper will give a condensed historical overview, guidance to published papers; it will further make comments, explain policy backgrounds, present comparison with other data and will briefly indicate in which direction developments should go to improve QRA.     

Mental representations of animal and plant species in their social contexts: Results from a survey across Europe

Despite a growing body of literature on public views on biodiversity and nature, our understanding of public attitudes towards animal and plant species is still rudimentary. This study investigates mental representations, constituted by beliefs, of three types of species (a large mammal, a spider and a non-native plant), and explores their links with cultural factors such as value orientations and cultural capital, in order to better understand attitudes towards these species.We conducted a survey in eight sites across Europe (n = 2378) and found strong relationships between beliefs about species, in particular with regard to their harmlessness, value and previous population change, and the desirability of an increase in this species. Other beliefs, such as perceived nativeness, were less influential. We discuss how respondents combined beliefs to mental representations of species, and show how representations are related to species-independent factors that tap respondents’ cultural context, such as socially shared value orientations and education.     

Extensive cross-disciplinary analysis of biological and chemical control of Calanus finmarchicus reproduction during an aldehyde forming diatom bloom in mesocosms

Egg and faecal pellet production and egg hatching success of the calanoid copepod Calanus finmarchicus were monitored over a period of 14?days (14?C28 April, 2008) while fed water from 4 differently treated mesocosms and ambient water. Two of the mesocosms used were inoculated with the polyunsaturated aldehyde (PUA)-producing diatom Skeletonema marinoi, while 2 received only nutrient additions with or without silica. The mesocosms developed blooms of S. marinoi, mixed diatoms or the haptophyte Phaeocystis pouchetii, respectively. Faecal pellet production of C. finmarchicus increased with increasing food availability. Egg production increased with time in all mesocosms to a maximum single female production of 232 eggs female^?1?day^?1 (average of 90 eggs female^?1?day^?1) and followed the development of ciliates and P. pouchetii, but was not affected by the observed high (up to 15?nmol?L^?1) PUA production potential of the phytoplankton. The hatching success of the eggs produced on the mesocosm diets was high (78?C96%) and was not affected by either aldehydes in the maternal diet or exposure to the dissolved aldehydes in the water.