The Added Value of Different Data Types for Calibrating and Testing a Hydrologic Model in a Small Catchment.

This study investigated the added value of different data for calibrating a runoff model for small basins. The analysis was performed in the 66 ha Hydrological Open Air Laboratory, in Austria. An Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning (HBV) type, spatially lumped hydrologic model was parameterized following two approaches. First, the model was calibrated using only runoff data. Second, a step-by-step approach was followed, where the modules of the model (snow, soil moisture, and runoff generation) were calibrated using measurements of runoff and model state variables and output fluxes. These measurements comprised laser-based measurements of precipitation, satellite and camera observations of snow, ultrasonic measurements of snow depth, eddy covariance measurements of evapotranspiration, time domain transmissometry-based soil moisture measurements, time-lapse photography of overland flow, and groundwater level measurements by piezometers. The two model parameterizations were evaluated on annual, seasonal, and daily time scales, in terms of how well they simulated snow, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, overland flow, storage change in the saturated zone, and runoff. Using the proposed step-by-step approach, the relative runoff volume errors in the calibration and validation periods were 0.00 and -0.01, the monthly Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.92 and 0.82, and the daily logarithmic Nash Sutcliffe efficiencies were 0.59 and 0.18, respectively. By using different sources of data besides runoff, the overall process consistency improved, compared to the case when only runoff was used for calibration. Soil moisture and evapotranspiration observations had the largest influence on simulated runoff, while the parameterization of the snow and runoff generation modules had a smaller influence.

Separation of Scales in Transpiration Effects on Low Flows: A Spatial Analysis in the Hydrological Open Air Laboratory.

The objective of this study was to understand whether spatial differences in runoff generation mechanisms affect the magnitudes of diurnal streamflow fluctuations during low flow periods and which part of the catchment induces the diurnal streamflow signal. The spatiotemporal variability of the streamflow fluctuations observed at 12 locations in the 66-ha Hydrological Open Air Laboratory experimental catchment in Austria was explained by differences in the vegetation cover and runoff generation mechanisms. Almost a quarter of the volume associated with diurnal streamflow fluctuations at the catchment outlet was explained by transpiration from vegetation along the tributaries; more than three quarters was due to transpiration by the riparian forest along the main stream. The lag times between radiative forcing and evapotranspiration estimated by a solar radiation-driven model increased from 3 to 11 hr from spring to autumn. The recession time scales increased from 21 days in spring to 54 days in autumn. Observations and model simulations suggest that a separation of scales in transpiration effects on low flows exists both in time and space; that is, the diurnal streamflow fluctuations are induced by transpiration from the riparian vegetation, while most of the catchment evapotranspiration, such as evapotranspiration from the crop fields further away from the stream, do not influence the diurnal signal in streamflow.

[Video-assisted transanal endoscopic microsurgery of rectal tumours - V-TEM]. / Videoassistierte transanale endoskopische Mikrochirurgie von Rektumtumoren - V-TEM.

BACKGROUND: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) has become increasingly established as the method of choice for the local resection of endoscopically unresectable rectal adenomas and early-stage, low-risk rectal carcinomas. Multiple studies have shown that the single port-technique TEM results in significantly less trauma with comparable overall treatment outcome as compared to conventional radical surgical techniques. However, TEM is not widely used due to high initial set-up costs, the need for highly complex equipment and demanding surgical skill requirements. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To mitigate these challenges we have successfully developed a video-assisted TEM (V-TEM) method, which resulted in approximately 50 % lower initial set-up costs through the introduction of simplified original TEM surgical equipment. Between October 2003 and September 2011 we have completed 103 resections using the V-TEM method. RESULTS: The observed rates of complications and local recurrences are comparable to reported rates. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to mitigate the challenges of TEM through the establishment of the technically less demanding V-TEM method, which resulted in approximately 50 % lower initial set-up costs while maintaining overall treatment outcomes.

Effects of serum on membrane transport. I. Separation and preliminary characterization of factors which depress lysine or stimulate adenosine transport in rabbit alveolar macrophages.

The effects of normal rabbit serum (NRS) on two transport systems in rabbit lung macrophages have been examined. A 20 min preincubation with serum was required for the effects, which were retained for at least 40 min after serum was removed. No serum was present during the transport studies. (a) Preincubation with 0.5 or 1.0% NRS resulted in depression of lysine transport to 59 +/- 2.6% (SE, 31 observations) of control levels. The activity was heat stable to 100 degrees C for 30 min and lost after dialysis. Pretreatment with serum did not alter the intracellular concentration of lysine attained when cells were then incubated with 10 mM lysine for 30 min. The relative depression of lysine transport by serum was unaltered by preloading with such high concentrations of lysine. (b) Preincubation with 5% NRS resulted in enhancement of adenosine transport by 35 +/- 2.3% (SE, 60 observations). Activity was stable to heating at 65 degrees C for 40 min but lost at 100 degrees C for 20 min. It was nondialyzable. Total radioactivity accumulated after 30 min incubation with 1 mM adenosine was unaffected by serum pretreatment. The two activities were separable by passage over Sephadex G25.

Membrane transport by murine lymphocytes. I. A rapid sampling technique as applied to the adenosine and thymidine systems.

We have developed a rapid sampling technique for animal cells in suspension for the purpose of measuring membrane transport in lymphocytes. The method involves rapid centrifugation of cells through a layer of silicone oil into perchloric acid after incubation periods as short as 4 s. Using this method we have described the uptake of thymidine and the uptake and transport systems of adenosine by murine bulk nonadherent spleen cells. The two uptake systems are markedly different. Adenosine was shown to be taken up by classical carrier-mediated diffusion, while thymidine was not. In addition we have explored the metabolism of the two nucleosides under the conditions we employed for measuring transport or uptake; Both nucleosides are phosphorylated extensively. We also investigated the uptake and metabolism of thymidine over a 2-h interval the standard time used to measure DNA synthesis in lymphocytes. Unless cells were separated from medium by centrifugation through oil before TCA addition, the TCA precipitable counts exceeded the total radioactive uptake. Hence the standard method for measuring thymidine utilization yields estimates under these conditions which can be as much as 100% too high.

Acriflavin resistance in the hemoflagellate, Leishmania tarentolae.

The accumulation, metabolism, and distribution of acriflavin (acr) in two culture strains of Leishmania tarentolae were studied. One strain, reported previously, was sensitive to the dye, i.e. became dyskinetoplastic and could not be subcultured in the presence of 470 ng/ml acr, and one was resistant. Accumulation was studied by fluorescence of the dye within cells and by uptake of acr-(3)H by cells. Metabolism was studied by paper chromatography of aqueous extracts from cells grown with acr-(3)H, and distribution was examined by fluorescence and quantitative electron microscope radioautography. Substances affecting the response to acr included hemin and an acr-sensitizing factor initially obtained from red cells but here shown to be distinct from hemoglobin. In the presence of the sensitizing factor or in the absence of hemin, the resistant strain became dyskinetoplastic and could not be subcultured. Acr fluorescence appeared in the nucleus of the resistant strain, and the percentage of radioautography grains appearing in the nucleus increased. Under these conditions the distribution of radioactivity from chromatographed extracts was altered from the normal in a similar fashion. Because sensitization of the resistant strain is associated with increased amounts of acr in the nucleus, that organelle may be implicated in the mode of action of acr. In general, the two strains behaved alike except for (a) the response to acr, (b) the arginine requirement for optimal growth, and (c) the sensitivity to cycloheximide. Thus, one cannot exclude the wider possibility that acr may act on the cytoplasm and the nucleus as well as on the mitochondrion.

Effects of serum on membrane transport. II. Serum and the stimulation of adenosine transport, a possible mechanism.

When monolayers of freshly obtained rabbit lung macrophages are exposed to the nucleoside analogue, showdomycin (sho), adenosine transport, measured over a 45 s interval, is irreversibly inhibited. Low doses of the drug or short periods of exposure, however, do not result in decreased transport, while higher concentrations or longer exposures result in exponential decline. The initial lag is not due to a long reaction time of sho with the transport carrier or to nonspecific sites absorbing the drug. Previously it was shown that preincubation of monolayers with normal rabbit serum (NRS) results in increased adenosine transport. When monolayers are first exposed to sho so as to inhibit transport to varying degrees and then incubated with NRS, transport is increased over the inhibited level. Several experiments make it unlikely that serum removes the drug from the cell surface in a nonspecific fashion. Moreover, serum given before, during, or after sho alters the dose response curve so that no shoulder is seen. One way to explain these results makes use of target theory: the adenosine transport system could be comprised mainly of "coupled" or "clustered" sites of which only one is active at any time as well as "hidden" sites which are inactive. When a site in a group is irreversibly inactivated by sho, another in the group becomes activated. Serum might activate or uncouple all sites and also cause the appearance of hidden sites, which previously neither transported nor bound sho.

Gene expression during osteogenic differentiation in mandibular condyles in vitro.

The cartilagenous tissue of mandibular condyles of newborn mice contains progenitor cells as well as young and mature chondrogenic cells. During in vitro cultivation of the tissue, progenitor cells undergo osteogenic differentiation and form new bone (Silbermann, M., D. Lewinson, H. Gonen, M. A. Lizarbe, and K. von der Mark. 1983. Anat. Rec. 206:373-383). We have studied the expression of genes that typify osteogenic differentiation in mandibular condyles during in vitro cultivation. RNAs of the genes for collagen type I, osteonectin, alkaline phosphatase, and bone gla protein were sequentially expressed in progenitor cells and hypertrophic chondrocytes during culture. Osteopontin expression peaked in both the early and the late phase of the differentiation process. The data indicate a distinct sequence of expression of osteoblast-specific genes during osteogenic differentiation and new bone formation in mandibular condyles.

c-fos expression precedes osteogenic differentiation of cartilage cells in vitro.

We have investigated the temporal pattern of expression of c-fos in cartilage cells in mouse mandibular condyles. During in vitro cultivation, the progenitor cells in this organ differentiate to osteoblasts, and hypertrophic chondrocytes start to show features indicative of osteogenic differentiation. Prior to these processes we observed two distinct patterns of c-fos expression. High, transient c-fos expression was found in the entire tissue within 30 min of culture. This type of c-fos expression appeared to result from mechanical forces applied during dissection. The second type of c-fos expression appeared in individual cells in the zone of hypertrophic chondrocytes. A varying number of formerly quiescent chondrocytes expressed high levels of c-fos mRNA after between 30 min and 10 d in culture, with a peak in the number of cells between days 1 and 3. c-fos expression in these cartilage cells was followed by DNA replication and expression of genes typifying osteoblastic differentiation. After 7 d in culture, groups of cells with the typical ultrastructural features of osteoblasts, and surrounded by an osteoid-like matrix, were observed in single chondrocyte-type lacunae, suggesting division of chondrocytes and differentiation to osteoblasts. The data suggest that c-fos may play a crucial role in the perturbation of determined pathways of skeletoblast differentiation and in the regulation of endochondral bone formation.

[Actions of the Fund for Occupational Diseases, in terms of rehabilitation of work-related low-back pain]. / Le rôle du Fonds des Maladies Professionnelles en faveur de la réadaptation des patients lombalgiques.

The Fund for Occupational Diseases proposes a "rehabilitation programme for patients with work related low-back pain". The purpose of the programme is to accelerate by intensive physical training and a full recoverage of cognitive needs the return to work as well as preventing back pain becoming chronic. The programme is free for the patients and in addition supports measures being taken to reduce lower back related problems linked to work. Set up 4 years ago, the programme has become more and more in demand by workers.

[The missions of the Occupational Diseases Fund. Under-claim and recognition of occupational lung cancer, in particular those related to asbestos]. / Les missions du Fonds des Maladies Professionnelles. La sous-déclaration des cancers respiratoires professionnels, en particulier dus a l'amiante.

The missions of the Occupational Diseases Fund are defined in application of the law regarding the insurance against occupational diseases. The workers covered by this law are granted several rights, such as a financial compensation in case of temporary or permanent disability, a further compensation if they have to be taken away from the risk in the workplace, the reimbursement of health care costs related to the occupational disease, or the payment of an annuity to the widow(er) if death is its ultimate consequence. Among the compensable diseases, we shall focus on lung cancer, and especially the one related to asbestos exposure. This type of cancer is clearly under-registrated in Belgium as in most countries of the European Union, leading to an insufficient number of cases entitled to compensation by our institution. In this instance, the insurance against occupational diseases and all related social advantages are hugely under-exploited in our country. It is our duty to increase doctors' awareness of the problem and spread accurate information to reverse this trend and provide occupational cancer cases with a legitimate compensation, in particular those related to asbestos. A wider knowledge of the occupational history of cancer patients, thanks to occupational physicians, and a better use of mineralogical analyses on lung samples, would improve this situation inacceptable on any level : medical, social or even human.

Influence of moderate cycling on scrotal temperature.

Testicular temperature highly correlates with scrotal temperature. It has been postulated that cycling is associated with increased scrotal temperatures with time and consecutively with impaired semen quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of moderate cycling on scrotal temperature during highly standardized conditions in an experimental lab. A total of 25 volunteers without a history of infertility and normal andrological examination were included for scrotal temperature evaluation. Scrotal temperatures were measured every minute with a portable data recorder connected with two thermistor temperature sensors, which were attached on either side of the scrotum. A further thermistor sensor was attached on the central surface of the bicycle saddle. Ambient temperature in the study room was adjusted to 22 degrees C throughout the whole experiment. All volunteers started the experiment at the same daytime. Clothing of the volunteers consisted of standardized cotton wool trousers and shirts fitting to body size. After acclimatization to the study room in a sitting posture, each volunteer cycled on an exercise cycle for 60 min with a power of 25 Watt representing a speed of 25.45 km/h respectively. The saddle surface temperature reached in the median 35.59 degrees C after 60 min cycling. Median values of scrotal temperatures increased from 35.75 degrees C at the beginning to 35.82 degrees C after 60 min for the left side and from 35.50 to 35.59 degrees C for the right side. No correlation between cycling duration and scrotal temperatures could be found using multivariate anova for repeated measurements. However, scrotal temperatures during cycling were significantly lower (p < 0.001) compared with the last 10 min in sitting posture before starting cycling with a difference of 1.31 degrees C for the left and 1.46 degrees C for the right side. The present study suggests that moderate cycling under standardized conditions with a power of 25 Watt is not a major genital heat stress factor.

Genetic mapping of a cellular DNA region involved in induction of thymic lymphomas (Mlvi-1) to mouse chromosome 15.

Mlvi-1 defines a genetic locus representing a common domain for proviral DNA integration in Moloney murine leukemia virus-induced rat thymic lymphomas. Cellular sequences homologous to Mlvi-1 are present in mouse DNA, and we have used hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids to chromosomally map Mlvi-1 in the mouse genome. Results demonstrated that Mlvi-1 maps to mouse chromosome 15 and that it is distinct from the Mlvi-2 integration region and from the cellular oncogenes c-myc and c-sis, which also map to this chromosome. Therefore, Mlvi-1 may contain novel sequences involved in the establishment and maintenance of virus-induced murine tumors, many of which contain abnormalities of chromosome 15.

Cellular DNA region involved in induction of thymic lymphomas (Mlvi-2) maps to mouse chromosome 15.

Two cellular DNA regions representing common domains for proviral DNA integration ( Mlvi -1 and Mlvi -2) have been identified in Moloney murine leukemia virus-induced rat thymic lymphomas. Cellular sequences which were free of repeated DNA derived from a clone that defines the Mlvi -2 integration domain (lambda Cl228 ) were found to be highly conserved in a variety of vertebrate species that we examined, including mice, hamsters, cats, and humans. In this study, we identified the chromosomal map location of the Mlvi -2 homologous sequences in mice by using hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids. The results show that Mlvi -2 is present on mouse chromosome 15 but is unrelated to the c-myc and c-sis proto-oncogenes, which map on the same chromosome. Since aberrations on chromosome 15 have been observed reproducibly in mouse thymomas, our data suggest that Mlvi -2 may define a novel sequence involved in the induction or progression of murine thymic lymphomas.

Amplification and rearrangement of c-myc in radiation-induced murine osteosarcomas.

Fifty-one radiation-induced murine osteosarcomas were investigated for alterations in c-myc gene structure and c-myc expression. Amplification of c-myc was found in 30% of BALB/c tumors and 13% of NMRI tumors. A region of common proviral integration, Mlvi-1, localized on the same region on chromosome 15, was amplified concomitantly. Multiple copies of both loci were localized on double minutes. Three of the tumors with c-myc amplification also showed rearrangements of the c-myc gene region. One of these rearrangements included the 5' and 3'-flanking sequences and the noncoding part of the third exon. Repetitive sequences were found in the 5' region of the c-myc gene, and the 3' flanking region was substituted by sequences normally present in a more distant part of chromosome 15. Increased levels of c-myc transcripts of apparently normal size were found in tumors carrying amplified c-myc sequences. Abnormally high expression of c-myc in some tumors was correlated with an early stage of osteogenic differentiation, suggesting the involvement of the c-myc gene in the control of the osteogenic differentiation of transformed cells.

Considerations on the influence of extreme events on the phosphorus transport from river catchments to the sea.

In this paper, results from rivers of different sizes in Romania, Hungary and Austria are presented. The paper shows the dynamics of extreme events and their contribution to the total P and suspended solids transported in these rivers. Special attention is paid to the influence of the size of the catchment and the event probability on the relative contribution of a single event to the total loads transported in the river. Further, the development of phosphorus loads along the Danube River at a flood event is shown. From the results it can be concluded that there is no immediate influence of high flow and flood events in upstream parts of the Basin on the transport of phosphorus from the catchment to the receiving Sea. Particle-bound phosphorus is mobilised from the catchment (through erosion) and the river bottom to a high extent at high flow events and transported at peak discharges to downstream, where retention by sedimentation of particles takes place. On the one hand this retention is a transport to flooded areas. In this case it can be considered as more or less long term retention. On the other hand sedimentation takes place in the riverbed, in case the tractive effort of the river is reduced. In this second case the P-pool in the sediments of the sedimentation area will be increased. If anaerobic conditions in the sediment appear, part of the phosphorus will be transformed to soluble ortho-phosphate and will continuously contribute to the phosphorus transport to the receiving sea. Part of the P-retained in the river sediment will be mobilised by resuspension at the next biggest high flow event. Altogether, these alternating processes of suspension, transport, export to flooded areas or sedimentation in the river bed with partly solution and partly resuspension at the next event decrease the share of the phosphorus transport during high flow events on the total loads transported in the more downstream parts of a catchments as compared to the more upstream parts. In the year of occurrence of an extreme flood event the P-transport of this year is dominated by the flood event. As an average over many years the contribution of high flow events to the total P-transport still may be between 7 and 20% in smaller catchments (around 1,000 km2). In a big catchment (e.g. river Danube) much smaller contributions of flood events on the total P-transport can be expected as an average over many years.

Lessons learned from investigations on case study level for modelling of nutrient emissions in the Danube basin.

In the framework of the project daNUbs (Nutrient Management in the Danube Basin and its Impact on the Black Sea) the MONERIS emission model is used for the basin wide calculation of nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) emissions in the Danube Basin. The MONERIS model was developed and successfully applied for German river catchments. Based on investigations in selected test regions (case studies) the daNUbs approach is to check the applicability of the MONERIS emission model for the specific conditions of the Danube Basin in more detail than is possible with a basin wide application. Six case studies with areas of 400-3,500 km2 and several subcatchments have been selected in order to represent different conditions along the Danube Basin. In this study region intensive data collection and enhanced monitoring has been performed in order to raise the database significantly above the generally available data. Water balance as well as nutrient balance calculations have been performed with the MONERIS model as well as with other approaches. Results are compared to each other and to data from monitoring. Results up till now showed the applicability and sensitivity of the MONERIS approach in different conditions of the Danube Basin (e.g. emissions via groundwater). They indicated that the nitrogen retention in the catchments is well described with the MONERIS model.

The human Jurkat (FHCRC-11) cell line is heterogeneous in ploidy and cell size and releases detergent-soluble DNA.

Jurkat (FHCRC-11) cells, a human lymphoblastic leukemic line, were characterized as being hypotetraploid with a characteristic deletion in the short arm of chromosome 2 from the terminus to band 24. Although Jurkat cells were size heterogeneous, variability in ploidy was not correlated with density and size differences observed when cells were fractionated by means of gradient centrifugation using Nycodenz as the supporting medium. Also no difference was seen in the chromosome distribution of cells cultured from different portions of the gradient. During cell division Jurkat cells incorporated [3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) into newly made DNA, including a small percentage that was released into the soluble fraction upon detergent lysis. Small light cells from the top portion of the gradient were more efficient on a per cell basis in incorporating [3H]TdR into DNA from both the detergent-soluble and detergent-insoluble fractions. However, due to the hypotetraploid nature of these cells a definitive assignment to a specific stage in the cell cycle was not possible.

Isolation of a cathepsin B-encoding cDNA from murine osteogenic cells.

Cathepsin B-encoding cDNA (CTSB) clones have been isolated from a lambda gt10 library of a murine osteosarcoma by differential screening during a search for genes which are typically expressed during osteogenic differentiation in mouse mandibular condyles in vitro. Sequencing of the CTSB 3' end revealed that the isolated sequence contained an 825-bp 3'-noncoding region, the polyadenylation signal and the poly(A) tail. The enhanced CTSB expression during the early stages of the enchondral ossification-like process in mandibular condyles in vitro suggests that CTSB participates in the degradation of cartilage matrix prior to the synthesis of bone matrix proteins.

The TOP2 gene of Trypanosoma brucei: a single-copy gene that shares extensive homology with other TOP2 genes encoding eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase II.

A mixed oligonucleotide probe containing sequences encoding a septapeptide found in yeast, Drosophila and human DNA topoisomerase II was used to screen a genomic library of Trypanosoma brucei. A positive was obtained, and nucleotide sequencing shows that the entire gene encoding DNA topoisomerase II of this organism, TbrTOP2, resides within the T. brucei insert of the clone. A single open reading frame of 1221 triplet codons starting from the first ATG was identified; the amino acid sequence deduced from it is highly homologous to other eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase II and corresponds to a 137-kDa polypeptide. Analysis of restriction endonuclease digests of T. brucei DNA by blot hybridization following gel electrophoresis indicates that TbrTOP2 is a single-copy gene.