Comparison of the Salmonella/Microsome Microsuspension Assay with the new Microplate Fluctuation Protocol for Testing the Mutagenicity of Environmental Samples

The objective of this study was to compare the responses of the Salmonella/microsome microsuspension assay with the new microplate fluctuation protocol (MPF) for the evaluation of the mutagenic activity of environmental samples. Organic extracts of total particulate atmospheric air samples, surface waters, and effluents were tested in dose-response experiments. The assays were performed with strain TA98 in the absence and presence of S9 mix. Both protocols produced similar results, despite the fact that the maximum score of the MPF is limited to 48 wells, whereas in the regular plate assay it is possible to count up to 1,500 colonies using an automatic counter. Similar sensitivities based on the lowest dose that resulted in a positive response were obtained for both assays. The MPF procedure is less laborious (e.g., all-liquid format, use of multi-channel pipettors) and allows for automation of the pipetting and dispensing steps, thus, reducing time of the analysis which is particularly important in environmental quality monitoring programs or in effect-directed analysis. The results show that the MPF procedure is a promising tool to test environmental samples for mutagenic activity. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 51:31-38, 2010. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Genotoxicity assessment of water soluble fractions of biodiesel and its diesel blends using the Salmonella assay and the in vitro MicroFlow (R) kit (Litron) assay

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genotoxicity assessment of water soluble fractions of biodiesel and its diesel blends using the Salmonella assay and the in vitro MicroFlow (R) kit (Litron) assay

The designation of biodiesel as an environmental-friendly alternative to diesel oil has improved its commercialization and use. However, most biodiesel environmental safety studies refer to air pollution and so far there have been very few literature data about its impacts upon other biotic systems, e.g. water, and exposed organisms. Spill simulations in water were carried out with neat diesel and biodiesel and their blends aiming at assessing their genotoxic potentials should there be contaminations of water systems. The water soluble fractions (WSF) from the spill simulations were submitted to solid phase extraction with C-18 cartridge and the extracts obtained were evaluated carrying out genotoxic and mutagenic bioassays [the Salmonella assay and the in vitro MicroFlow (R) kit (Litron) assay]. Mutagenic and genotoxic effects were observed, respectively, in the Salmonella/microsome preincubation assay and the in vitro MN test carried out with the biodiesel WSF. This interesting result may be related to the presence of pollutants in biodiesel derived from the raw material source used in its production chain. The data showed that care while using biodiesel should be taken to avoid harmful effects on living organisms in cases of water pollution. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Study of Salmonella typhimurium mutagenicity assay of (E)-piplartine by the Ames test

Phytochemical studies carried out with Piperaceae species have shown great diversity of secondary metabolites among which are several displayed considerable biological activities. The species Piper tuberculatum has been intensively investigated and a series of amides have been described. For instance, (E)-piplartine showed significant cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines, especially human leukemia cell lines; antifungal activity against Cladosporium species; trypanocidal activity and others. Considering the popular use of P. tuberculatum and the lack of pharmacological studies regarding this plant species, the mutagenic and antimutagenic effect of (E)-piplartine was evaluated by the Ames test, using the strains TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102 of Salmonella typhimurium. No mutagenic activity was observed for this compound.

Differential Toxicity of Disperse Red 1 and Disperse Red 13 in the Ames Test, HepG2 Cytotoxicity Assay, and Daphnia Acute Toxicity Test

Azo dyes are of environmental concern due to their degradation products, widespread use, and low-removal rate during conventional treatment. Their toxic properties are related to the nature and position of the substituents with respect to the aromatic rings and amino nitrogen atom. The dyes Disperse Red 1 and Disperse Red 13 were tested for Salmonella mutagenicity, cell viability by annexin V, and propidium iodide in HepG2 and by aquatic toxicity assays using daphnids. Both dyes tested positive in the Salmonella assay, and the suggestion was made that these compounds induce mainly frame-shift mutations and that the enzymes nitroreductase and O-acetyltransferase play an important role in the observed effect. In addition, it was shown that the presence of the chlorine substituent in Disperse Red 13 decreased the mutagenicity about 14 times when compared with Disperse Red 1, which shows the same structure as Disperse Red 13, but without the chlorine substituent. The presence of this substituent did not cause cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells, but toxicity to the water flea Daphnia similis increased in the presence of the chlorine substituent. These data suggest that the insertion of a chlorine substituent could be an alternative in the design of dyes with low-mutagenic potency, although the ecotoxicity should be carefully evaluated. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 26: 489-497, 2011.

Orchids of Guatemala [by] Oakes Ames and Donovan Stewart Correll.

v.26:no.1(1952)

Ames Community School District, Auditor of State's Report on Reaudit, For the Period July 1st, 2003 through June 30th, 2004

Other Audit Reports - Reaudit Community School District

La alegoría de Ezequiel y el espejo: poética de la visibilidad del Mirouer des simples ames de Marguerite Porete

Esta ponencia se enmarca dentro de la tesis doctoral que estamos escribiendo y que intenta recuperar el legado gráfico del Mirouer des simples ames (c. 1290) de Marguerite Porete. Tanto ella como su tratado fueron sometidos a una persecución inquisitorial que concluyó con el encarcelamiento de la escritora, la prohibición de su tratado y la quema de ambos. A pesar de ello, la obra sobrevivió sustentada por varios códices que la recogen como texto meramente escrito. Nosotros sostenemos que este texto posee un trasfondo visual (que no visionario) que se puede recuperar en forma de iconografía. Las razones para plantear esta hipótesis son muchas, aunque la fundamental reside en su justificación didáctica: estamos ante un tratado que se autodefine como speculum, como miroir, y que, efectivamente, se ha escrito para enseñar a otros el camino hacia la divinidad. Tal camino es complejo y se desarrolla a través de los parajes de un lenguaje teológico violentamente abstracto, que se difundía en ambientes de predicación no necesariamente clericales y letrados: aquí es donde la visualidad se constituye como andamio del discurso, que permite hablar, enseñar, un camino experiencial complejo mediante imágenes comprensibles, incluso memorizables. Para mostrar el cómo de esta recuperación de manera práctica y presentar algunos resultados, analizaremos en este texto uno de los esquemas gráficos que subyacen en el texto poreteano: la alegoría de Ezequiel. Examinaremos primero el pasaje donde se presenta utilizando instrumentos de la filología para dilucidar un hipotético esquema gráfico subyacente, que, en un segundo estadio, vinculamos con otros textos cercanos al Mirouer que, por una razón u otra, sí tienen una iconografía asignada. Comprobaremos qué relación visual sostiene la obra poreteana con temas iconográficos como el Jardín de las virtudes (en, esencialmente, Le somme le roi) o el árbol de Jesé (ídem Speculum Virginum) y observaremos a qué conclusiones histórico-doctrinales nos lleva este estudio comparativo. En suma, intentamos con esta ponencia devolver parte del aspecto histórico-visual al Mirouer des simples ames, con la finalidad de que ello nos permita realizar una lectura hermenéutica más amplia, más justa, del texto.

Ames Community School District, Auditor of State's Report on Reaudit, For the Period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005

Community School District Audit Report - Reaudit

Audit report on Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa, for the year ended June 30, 2006

Audit report on Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa, for the year ended June 30, 2006

Independent accountant's report on applying agreed upon procedures of the Ames Community School District for the period October 15, 2003 to November 14, 2006

Independent accountant's report on applying agreed upon procedures of the Ames Community School District for the period October 15, 2003 to November 14, 2006

Report of Recommendations to Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa, for the year ended June 30, 2007

Report on Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa, for the year ended June 30, 2007

Report on a special investigation of the City of Ames Electric Department for the period July 1, 2003 through January 7, 2008

Report on a special investigation of the City of Ames Electric Department for the period July 1, 2003 through January 7, 2008