A systematic review of mood and depression measures in people with severe cognitive and communication impairments following acquired brain injury.

AIM: A systematic review to identify which mood and depression measures are valid for use with people with severe cognitive and communication impairments following severe acquired brain injury. METHOD: A systematic search of Cochrane, Web of Science, Ovid, and EBSCOhost was performed in March 2020, July 2021, and September 2022. The search focused on self-report and observer-rated assessment tools used to assess mood, depression, and/or distress in those described as having a severe acquired brain injury. Psychometric properties were extracted using the Consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments (COSMIN) risk of bias checklist. Qualitative synthesis was performed on extracted patient data. RESULTS: Nineteen papers detailing the psychometric properties of 25 measures were included, involving 2,914 participants. Nine papers provided details confirming the severity of participants' cognitive and communication impairments. The remaining papers described including severely injured participants but provided limited details so that precise level of severity could not be confirmed. Only one paper showed evidence of adequate psychometric properties and included those with severe cognitive impairments in a study of two observer-rated measures, the Stroke Aphasia Depression Questionnaire (10 items) and the Aphasia Depression Rating Scale. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the exclusion of individuals with severe cognitive and communication consequences following brain injury, no studies using self-report measures showed adequate validity evidence to recommend their use in this population. A small study using two observer-rated scales included those with severe cognitive impairments and showed satisfactory evidence that these measures can be validly used with this population.

Thinking about other's mistakes: contrasting patterns of performance in groups high or low in autistic or psychopathic traits.

Introduction: Counterfactual thinking refers to thoughts such as, "What if … ?" or "If only … " that hypothesise about how past events might have turned out differently. It is a functional process, allowing us to reflect upon and solve problems, and to evoke appropriate responses. It is thought to involve both cognitive and emotional processes, and is linked to the development of false belief and moral emotions. Methods: The present study compared responses to a novel task, "Counterfactual Judgments", in students who scored high or low on self-report measures of autistic or psychopathic traits, two conditions putatively associated with deficits in empathy. Results: Contrasting patterns of performance were revealed: those with high versus low autistic traits gave harsher ratings of blame for others' mistakes and showed reduced sensitivity to punitive counterfactual alternatives, whereas those with high versus low psychopathic traits gave lower ratings for moral judgments of regret and guilt. A self-report questionnaire measure of empathy also provided some evidence of reduced empathic processing in both the high trait groups. Conclusions: The findings are considered in the light of the possible contributions of cognitive versus emotional processes to counterfactual thinking. The possible implications for managing social dysfunction in clinical populations are also discussed.

Late-recovery from "permanent" vegetative state in the context of severe traumatic brain injury: A case report exploring objective and subjective aspects of recovery and rehabilitation.

This article provides a detailed outline of the recovery of a young male patient during his emergence from a vegetative state (VS) 19 months after suffering a severe traumatic brain injury. Several similar cases have been documented, but these tend not to consider the subjective experience of the patient or family; our aim was therefore to provide a detailed account that emphasises our neuropsychological exploration of the impact of the injury on this person, and looks at the experience of his mother along the timeline from his accident to the end of a successful period in rehabilitation. Clinical details are presented including standardised and non-standard assessments, neuropsychological interventions, as well as reflections from the patient himself. Moreover, qualitative data from an interview with his mother is used to illustrate the emotional impact on family of such a vacillating diagnostic status and prognosis for the future. We conclude that late-emergence from VS is increasingly documented and further cases must be published to better understand this phenomenon. The present case illustrates the emotional impact this situation can have on a patient and his or her family, and gives an important insight into a patient's view of his or her life and identity following such an event.

The assessment of language and the emergence from disorders of consciousness.

In order to demonstrate emergence from a disorder of consciousness (DoC) an individual is currently required to demonstrate functional object use of two objects, or functional communication defined as accurately answering six yes/no questions on two consecutive occasions (Giacino et al., 2002). In practice, experienced speech and language therapists (SLTs) working with this group often focus on facilitating object use or employ other language tasks, since achieving a 100% accurate yes/no response can be difficult for patients following an extensive brain injury due to language and/or cognitive impairments. There is an increasing awareness of this issue in the literature and in practice and there is discussion about reviewing the current definition of emergence. This paper outlines the traditional definition of emergence and recent updates, discusses some of the problems and implications associated with current assessment, highlights the importance of getting it right, explores potential other ways to determine emergence, and suggests further areas for research.

Cancer prevention and therapy through the modulation of the tumor microenvironment.

Cancer arises in the context of an in vivo tumor microenvironment. This microenvironment is both a cause and consequence of tumorigenesis. Tumor and host cells co-evolve dynamically through indirect and direct cellular interactions, eliciting multiscale effects on many biological programs, including cellular proliferation, growth, and metabolism, as well as angiogenesis and hypoxia and innate and adaptive immunity. Here we highlight specific biological processes that could be exploited as targets for the prevention and therapy of cancer. Specifically, we describe how inhibition of targets such as cholesterol synthesis and metabolites, reactive oxygen species and hypoxia, macrophage activation and conversion, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase regulation of dendritic cells, vascular endothelial growth factor regulation of angiogenesis, fibrosis inhibition, endoglin, and Janus kinase signaling emerge as examples of important potential nexuses in the regulation of tumorigenesis and the tumor microenvironment that can be targeted. We have also identified therapeutic agents as approaches, in particular natural products such as berberine, resveratrol, onionin A, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, curcumin, naringenin, desoxyrhapontigenin, piperine, and zerumbone, that may warrant further investigation to target the tumor microenvironment for the treatment and/or prevention of cancer.

Designing a broad-spectrum integrative approach for cancer prevention and treatment.

Targeted therapies and the consequent adoption of "personalized" oncology have achieved notable successes in some cancers; however, significant problems remain with this approach. Many targeted therapies are highly toxic, costs are extremely high, and most patients experience relapse after a few disease-free months. Relapses arise from genetic heterogeneity in tumors, which harbor therapy-resistant immortalized cells that have adopted alternate and compensatory pathways (i.e., pathways that are not reliant upon the same mechanisms as those which have been targeted). To address these limitations, an international task force of 180 scientists was assembled to explore the concept of a low-toxicity "broad-spectrum" therapeutic approach that could simultaneously target many key pathways and mechanisms. Using cancer hallmark phenotypes and the tumor microenvironment to account for the various aspects of relevant cancer biology, interdisciplinary teams reviewed each hallmark area and nominated a wide range of high-priority targets (74 in total) that could be modified to improve patient outcomes. For these targets, corresponding low-toxicity therapeutic approaches were then suggested, many of which were phytochemicals. Proposed actions on each target and all of the approaches were further reviewed for known effects on other hallmark areas and the tumor microenvironment. Potential contrary or procarcinogenic effects were found for 3.9% of the relationships between targets and hallmarks, and mixed evidence of complementary and contrary relationships was found for 7.1%. Approximately 67% of the relationships revealed potentially complementary effects, and the remainder had no known relationship. Among the approaches, 1.1% had contrary, 2.8% had mixed and 62.1% had complementary relationships. These results suggest that a broad-spectrum approach should be feasible from a safety standpoint. This novel approach has potential to be relatively inexpensive, it should help us address stages and types of cancer that lack conventional treatment, and it may reduce relapse risks. A proposed agenda for future research is offered.

Linking Oxidative Stress and Magnitude of Compensatory Responses with Life-Stage Specific Differences in Sensitivity of White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) to Copper or Cadmium.

Sensitivity of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) to copper (Cu) or cadmium (Cd) has been shown to significantly differ as a function of life-stage. This study investigated oxidative stress, metal homeostasis, and associated compensatory responses as potential mechanisms of this sensitivity pattern in three early life-stages. Sturgeon were most sensitive to Cu at 15 days post hatch (dph), which was accompanied by a significant increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO). Genes involved with amelioration of oxidative stress were significantly less inducible at this stage than in older, less sensitive fry. At 48 dph, acute lethality of sturgeon exposed to Cd was greatest and body LPO was significantly induced by 3.5-fold at 5 µg Cd/L. Moreover, there was a small but significant increase in antioxidative responses. At 139 dph, sturgeon were most tolerant to Cu and Cd and accumulation of these metals was least. Also, expression of metallothionein (MT) and apoptotic genes were greatest while expression of metal transporters was reduced and concentration of LPO was not different from controls. Our results suggest that life-stage specific sensitivity of white sturgeon to metals is complex, encompassing differences in the ability to mount compensatory responses important for metal homeostasis and combating oxidative stress and concomitant damages.

Mentalising and social problem solving in adults with Asperger's syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: It is well established that autistic spectrum disorder is linked to difficulties with mentalising, but the ways in which this affects everyday behaviour is less well understood. This study explored the nature and extent of difficulties in everyday social functioning in adults with Asperger's syndrome (AS), since increased understanding can enhance the development of more effective intervention strategies. METHODS: Individuals with AS (n=21) were compared with healthy control participants (n=21) on three tests of social cognition: the Mentalistic Interpretation task, which assesses interpretation of sarcasm and actions; the Social Problem Fluency task, which assesses ability to generate problem solutions; and the Social Problem Resolution task, which assesses judgement in selecting problem solutions. RESULTS: Comprehension of both sarcastic remarks and actions was impaired in those with AS on the mentalistic interpretation task. Participants with AS showed difficulties in identifying the awkward elements of everyday social scenarios, and they were also impaired in generating problem solutions but not in judging alternative solutions on the social problem fluency and resolution tasks. CONCLUSIONS: These tasks potentially provide a means of profiling strengths and weaknesses in social processing, which in turn has implications for informing clinical evaluation and training.

BippyPhos: a single ligand with unprecedented scope in the Buchwald-Hartwig amination of (hetero)aryl chlorides.

Over the past two decades, considerable attention has been given to the development of new ligands for the palladium-catalyzed arylation of amines and related NH-containing substrates (i.e., Buchwald-Hartwig amination). The generation of structurally diverse ligands, by research groups in both academia and industry, has facilitated the accommodation of sterically and electronically divergent substrates including ammonia, hydrazine, amines, amides, and NH heterocycles. Despite these achievements, problems with catalyst generality persist and access to multiple ligands is necessary to accommodate all of these NH-containing substrates. In our quest to address this significant limitation we identified the BippyPhos/[Pd(cinnamyl)Cl]2 catalyst system as being capable of catalyzing the amination of a variety of functionalized (hetero)aryl chlorides, as well as bromides and tosylates, at moderate to low catalyst loadings. The successful transformations described herein include primary and secondary amines, NH heterocycles, amides, ammonia and hydrazine, thus demonstrating the largest scope in the NH-containing coupling partner reported for a single Pd/ligand catalyst system. We also established BippyPhos/[Pd(cinnamyl)Cl]2 as exhibiting the broadest demonstrated substrate scope for metal-catalyzed cross-coupling of (hetero)aryl chlorides with NH indoles. Furthermore, the remarkable ability of BippyPhos/[Pd(cinnamyl)Cl]2 to catalyze both the selective monoarylation of ammonia and the N-arylation of indoles was exploited in the development of a new one-pot, two-step synthesis of N-aryl heterocycles from ammonia, ortho-alkynylhalo(hetero)arenes and (hetero) aryl halides through tandem N-arylation/hydroamination reactions. Although the scope in the NH-containing coupling partner is broad, BippyPhos/[Pd(cinnamyl)Cl]2 also displays a marked selectivity profile that was exploited in the chemoselective monoarylation of substrates featuring two chemically distinct NH-containing moieties.

Very-Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency: Family Impact and Perspectives.

Very-Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (VLCADD) is a fatty acid oxidation disorder characterized by the decreased ability of the enzyme very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase to break down fatty acids with 14 to 20-long carbon chains. The resulting clinical manifestations are variable in severity and include hypoketotic hypoglycemia, rhabdomyolysis, and cardiomyopathy. Treatment can consist of limiting the dietary intake of long-chain fatty acids, the prevention of fasting, and the supplementation of medium-chain fats. This study, conducted in the context of a 5-year long-term follow-up on VLCADD, evaluates how the diagnosis of this fatty acid disorder impacts the family, specifically as it relates to the medical diet and barriers to care. Caregivers (n = 10) of individuals with VLCADD responded to a survey about how VLCADD potentially impacts their family. The review included the clinical outcomes of the patients (n = 11), covering instances of rhabdomyolysis, cardiomyopathy, and hospitalizations related to VLCADD. Families affected by VLCADD experience barriers to care, including difficulties with finances, ability to work, and access to nutrition.

Micronutrient Gaps and Supplement Use in a Diverse Cohort of Pregnant Women.

BACKGROUND: Micronutrition in pregnancy is critical to impact not only fetal growth and development but also long-term physical and psychiatric health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: Estimate micronutrient intake from food and dietary supplements in a diverse cohort of pregnant women and compare intake to the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). DESIGN: Secondary analysis of women enrolled in a multi-site clinical trial of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation who provided their dietary intake using the diet history questionnaire-II (n = 843) or multiple 24 h recalls (n = 178) at baseline and their intake of nutritional supplements at baseline through 30 days postpartum. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: 1021 participants from the parent trial who had reliable data for dietary intake, supplement intake, or both. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Micronutrient intake from dietary and supplement sources and percentage of intakes meeting the DRIs for pregnancy. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Percent of participants whose intake was below the estimated average requirement (EAR) or adequate intake (AI) and above the tolerable upper limit (UL). RESULTS: Dietary intakes of choline, folate, iron, vitamin D, zinc, vitamin E, magnesium, and potassium, were below the AI or EAR for 30-91% of the participants; thiamin and vitamin B6 were also below the AI or EAR for non-Hispanic/Latina women. Supplement intake improved the intake for most; however, 80% of the group remained below the AI for choline and 52.5% for potassium while 30% remained below the EAR for magnesium. Folate and iron intakes were above the UL for 80% and 19%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary supplements, despite their variability, allowed the majority of this cohort of pregnant women to achieve adequate intakes for most micronutrients. Choline, magnesium, and potassium were exceptions. Of interest, folate intake was above the tolerable UL for the majority and iron for 16.8% of the participants. Clinicians have the opportunity to address the most common nutrient deficits and limits with advice on food sources that provide choline, magnesium, and potassium and to ensure folate is not overabundant. More research is needed to determine if these findings are similar in a cross-sectional population.

DHA, nutrient intake, and maternal characteristics as predictors of pregnancy outcomes in a randomised clinical trial of DHA supplementation.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationships among docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake, nutrient intake, and maternal characteristics on pregnancy outcomes in a phase III randomised clinical trial designed to determine the effect of a DHA dose of 1000 mg/day compared to 200 mg/day on early preterm birth (<34 weeks gestation). METHODS: A secondary aim of the phase III randomised trial was to explore the relationships among pregnancy outcomes (maternal red blood cell phospholipid (RBC-PL) DHA at delivery, preterm birth, gestational age at delivery, labor type, birth anthropometric measures, low birth weight, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and admission to a neonatal intensive care unit) in participants (n = 1100). We used Bayesian multiple imputation and linear and logistic regression models to conduct an analysis of five general classes of predictor variables collected during the trial: a) DHA intake, b) nutrient intake from food and supplements, c) environmental exposure to tobacco and alcohol, d) maternal demographics, and e) maternal medical history. RESULTS: DHA supplementation lowered the risk of preterm birth and NICU admission, and increased gestation and birth weight as observed in the primary analysis. Higher maternal RBC-PL-DHA at delivery was associated with DHA supplementation and formal education of a bachelor's degree or higher. DHA supplementation and maternal age were associated with a higher risk of gestational diabetes. Total vitamin A intake was associated with longer gestation, while fructose and intake of the long chain omega-6 fatty acid, arachidonic acid, were associated with shorter gestation. Risk of preterm birth was associated with a history of low birth weight, preterm birth, pre-eclampsia, and NICU admission. CONCLUSION: Bayesian models provide a comprehensive approach to relationships among DHA intake, nutrient intake, maternal characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes. We observed previously unreported relationships between gestation duration and fructose, vitamin A, and arachidonic acid that could be the basis for future research. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER AND DATE: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02626299); December 10, 2015.

EfectroH2O: Development and evaluation of a novel treatment technology for high-brine industrial wastewater.

Textile production is one of the main sources of freshwater consumption by industries worldwide. In addition, according to the world bank, 20 % of the wastewater generated globally is caused by textile wet-processing. Textile wet-processing includes the processes in textile production where garments are dyed or given the final functions like water-repellency. Several thousand chemicals were used in this process, some of which are highly toxic. Discharging untreated or insufficiently treated wastewater in water bodies results in high pollution levels, severely impacting the environment and human health. Especially in textile-producing countries like India, environmental pollution and water consumption from textile wet-processing have severe impacts. Next to the high volume of chemicals used in textile production, the high salt concentration in textile wastewater also poses a challenge and is critical for freshwater systems. Moreover, textile wastewater is one of the most difficult to treat wastewater. Currently, used treatment technologies do not meet the requirements to treat textile wastewater. Therefore, the further development of efficient treatment technologies for textile wastewater is critically important. Hence, in the interdisciplinary project, effect-based monitoring demonstrates the efficiency of electrically-driven water treatment processes to remove salts and micropollutants from process water (EfectroH2O), a low-energy Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) textile wastewater treatment technology is being developed consisting of a combination of capacitive deionization (CDI) and advanced oxidation processes (AOP). In addition to treatment technology development, methods for evaluating the efficiency of treatment technologies also need to be improved. Currently, mainly physicochemical parameters such as pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) are tested worldwide to check water quality. However, these methods are insufficient to make a statement about the toxic potential of such complex mixtures as textile wastewater. Therefore, also next to chemical analyses, effect-based methods (EBM) are used to verify the treated wastewater.

100 years of anthropogenic impact causes changes in freshwater functional biodiversity.

Despite efforts from scientists and regulators, biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate. Unless we find transformative solutions to preserve biodiversity, future generations may not be able to enjoy nature's services. We have developed a conceptual framework that establishes the links between biodiversity dynamics and abiotic change through time and space using artificial intelligence. Here, we apply this framework to a freshwater ecosystem with a known history of human impact and study 100 years of community-level biodiversity, climate change and chemical pollution trends. We apply explainable network models with multimodal learning to community-level functional biodiversity measured with multilocus metabarcoding, to establish correlations with biocides and climate change records. We observed that the freshwater community assemblage and functionality changed over time without returning to its original state, even if the lake partially recovered in recent times. Insecticides and fungicides, combined with extreme temperature events and precipitation, explained up to 90% of the functional biodiversity changes. The community-level biodiversity approach used here reliably explained freshwater ecosystem shifts. These shifts were not observed when using traditional quality indices (e.g. Trophic Diatom Index). Our study advocates the use of high-throughput systemic approaches on long-term trends over species-focused ecological surveys to identify the environmental factors that cause loss of biodiversity and disrupt ecosystem functions.

Over long periods of time, environmental changes ­ such as chemical pollution and climate change ­ affect the diversity of organisms that live in an ecosystem, known as 'biodiversity'. Understanding the impact of these changes is challenging because they can happen slowly, their effect is only measurable after years, and historical records are limited. This can make it difficult to determine when specific changes happened, what might have driven them and what impact they might be having. One way to measure changes in biodiversity over time is by analysing traces of DNA shed by organisms. Plants, animals, and bacteria living in lakes leave behind genetic material that gets trapped and buried in the sediment at the bottom of lakes. Similarly, biocides ­ substances used to kill or control populations of living organisms ­ that run-off into lakes leach into the sediment and can be measured years later. Therefore, this sediment holds a record of life and environmental impacts in the lake over past centuries. Eastwood, Zhou et al. wanted to understand the relationship between environmental changes (such as the use of biocides and climate change) and shifts in lake biodiversity. To do so, the researchers studied a lake community that had experienced major environmental impacts over the last century (including nutrient pollution, chemical pollution and climate change), but which appeared to improve over the last few years of the 20^th century. Using machine learning to find connections over time between biodiversity and non-living environmental changes, Eastwood, Zhou et al. showed that, despite apparent recovery in water quality, the biodiversity of the lake was not restored to its original state. A combination of climate factors (such as rainfall levels and extreme temperatures) and biocide application (particularly insecticides and fungicides) explained up to 90% of the biodiversity changes that occurred in the lake. These changes had not been identified before using traditional techniques. The functional roles microorganisms played in the ecosystem (such as degradation and nitrogen metabolism) were also altered, suggesting that loss of biodiversity may lead to loss of ecosystem functions. The findings described by Eastwood, Zhou et al. can be used by environmental regulators to identify species or ecosystems at risk from environmental change and prioritise them for intervention. The approach can also be used to identify which chemicals pose the greatest threat to biodiversity. Additionally, the use of environmental DNA from sediment can provide rich historical biodiversity data, which can be used to train artificial intelligence-based models to improve predictions of how ecosystems will respond to complex environmental changes.

Use of F-BODIPYs as a protection strategy for dipyrrins: optimization of BF(2) removal.

We recently reported the first general method for the deprotection of 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacenes (F-BODIPYs) involving a microwave-assisted procedure for the removal of the BF(2) moiety, and liberation of the corresponding free-base dipyrrin. Further optimization of the reaction has resulted in a more convenient and accessible protocol. The availability of this new methodology enables BF(2)-complexation to be used as a dipyrrin protection strategy. Herein lies a detailed examination of the deprotection reaction, with a view to optimization and gaining mechanistic insight, and its application in facilitating a multistep synthesis of pyrrolyldipyrrins.

Managing difficulties in supervision: supervisors' perspectives.

Few studies have examined the practice wisdom of expert supervisors. This study addresses this gap by exploring how experienced supervisors manage difficulties in supervision in the context of the supervisory relationship. The supervisors were a purposive sample of 16 senior members of the profession with considerable expertise in supervision. In-depth interviews were first conducted with the supervisors. An interpersonal process recall method was then used to explore their reflections on one of their DVD-recorded supervision sessions. Analysis of transcripts was completed using a modified consensual qualitative research method. Major difficulties included the broad domains of supervisee competence and ethical behavior, supervisee characteristics, supervisor countertransference, and problems in the supervisory relationship. Supervisors managed these difficulties using 4 key approaches: relational (naming, validating, attuning, supporting, anticipating, exploring parallel process, acknowledging mistakes, and modeling); reflective (facilitating reflectivity, remaining mindful and monitoring, remaining patient and transparent, processing countertransference, seeking supervision, and case conceptualizing); confrontative (confronting tentatively, confronting directly, refusing/terminating supervision, taking formal action, referring to personal therapy, and becoming directive); and avoidant interventions (struggling on, withholding, and withdrawing). Two brief case studies illustrate the process of applying these strategies sequentially in managing difficulties. The study highlights the importance of relational strategies to maintain an effective supervisory alliance, reflective strategies-particularly when difficulties pertain to clinical material and the supervisory relationship-and confrontative strategies with unhelpful supervisee characteristics and behaviors that impede supervision.

The Time Machine framework: monitoring and prediction of biodiversity loss.

Transdisciplinary solutions are needed to achieve the sustainability of ecosystem services for future generations. We propose a framework to identify the causes of ecosystem function loss and to forecast the future of ecosystem services under different climate and pollution scenarios. The framework (i) applies an artificial intelligence (AI) time-series analysis to identify relationships among environmental change, biodiversity dynamics and ecosystem functions; (ii) validates relationships between loss of biodiversity and environmental change in fabricated ecosystems; and (iii) forecasts the likely future of ecosystem services and their socioeconomic impact under different pollution and climate scenarios. We illustrate the framework by applying it to watersheds, and provide system-level approaches that enable natural capital restoration by associating multidecadal biodiversity changes to chemical pollution.

Remobilization of pollutants during extreme flood events poses severe risks to human and environmental health.

While it is well recognized that the frequency and intensity of flood events are increasing worldwide, the environmental, economic, and societal consequences of remobilization and distribution of pollutants during flood events are not widely recognized. Loss of life, damage to infrastructure, and monetary cleanup costs associated with floods are important direct effects. However, there is a lack of attention towards the indirect effects of pollutants that are remobilized and redistributed during such catastrophic flood events, particularly considering the known toxic effects of substances present in flood-prone areas. The global examination of floods caused by a range of extreme events (e.g., heavy rainfall, tsunamis, extra- and tropical storms) and subsequent distribution of sediment-bound pollutants are needed to improve interdisciplinary investigations. Such examinations will aid in the remediation and management action plans necessary to tackle issues of environmental pollution from flooding. River basin-wide and coastal lowland action plans need to balance the opposing goals of flood retention, catchment conservation, and economical use of water.

Synthesis and characterization of fluorescent pyrrolyldipyrrinato Sn(IV) complexes.

A series of neutral, 5-coordinate pyrrolyldipyrrinato Sn(IV) complexes have been synthesized via reaction of a pyrrolyldipyrrin, or its corresponding hydrochloride salt, with dibutyltin or diphenyltin oxide. The complexes are structurally unique in that all three nitrogen atoms of the pyrrolyldipyrrinato ligand bind to the tin center, making these complexes the first examples of pyrrolyldipyrrins behaving as LX(2) ligands. The complexes are highly fluorescent, exhibiting fluorescence quantum yields between 0.28 and 0.61, and display interesting preliminary biological activity.

Is a liver comparable to a liver? A comparison of different rat-derived S9-fractions with a biotechnological animal-free alternative in the Ames fluctuation assay.

Metabolism has to be considered during the toxicological assessment of chemical and environmental samples because it is an important process in the mammalian liver. It can be assessed in vitro via liver homogenates called S9-fractions, an external metabolic activation system. However, the external metabolic activation systems can vary greatly in their composition due to biological variations among individual animals and animal strains that the S9-fraction are derived as well as the differences in the production treatment. To gain more insight into these variances, three different but commonly used rat-derived S9-fractions were compared in the present study for their variance and performance with a reference compound in the Ames fluctuation assay with Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100 according to ISO 11350. Severe shortcomings of conventional rat-derived S9-fractions were observed in the present study, such that S9-fractions differed significantly within the same rat strain and for different types of induction procedures in regards to the metabolic capability. An intrinsic mutagenic potential of the three rat-derived S9-fractions were identified in the Ames fluctuation assay with varying S9-fraction concentrations. To address some of the shortcomings of the animal-derived S9-fraction, the present study investigated the use and performance of a biotechnological, animal-free alternative, ewoS9R, in comparison to one of the rat-derived S9-fraction as the others showed a mutagenic potential themselves. Specifically, 12 different chemicals were used as a reference to determine if ewoS9R could serve as an adequate and more consistent replacement of traditional rat-derived metabolic activation systems: 8 pro-mutagenic compounds (i.e., require metabolic activation to show a mutagenic potential), one pro-mutagenic compound but not in the tested strains, one mutagenic compound without metabolic activation and two compounds that are equivocal in the literature. EwoS9R was evaluated as a promising approach in the Ames fluctuation assay with 5 compounds observed to have similar results with both rat-derived S9-fraction and ewoS9R (41%), for 3 compounds ewoS9R was a better metabolization system than the rat-derived S9-fraction (16%). Further research is necessary to determine the full potential of ewoS9R in comparison to rat-derived S9-fractions.