Research Section Substantial Equivalence of Antinutrients and Inherent Plant Toxins in Genetically Modi®ed Novel Foods

AbstractÐFor a safety evaluation of foodstu derived from genetically modi®ed crops, the concept of the substantial equivalence of modi®ed organisms with their parental lines is used following an environmental safety evaluation. To assess the potential pleiotropic eect of genetic modi®cations on constituents of modi®ed crops data from US and EC documents were investigated with regard to inherent plant toxins and antinutrients. Analysed were documents of rape (glucosinolates, phytate), maize (phytate), tomato (tomatine, solanine, chaconine, lectins, oxalate), potato (solanine, chaconine, protease-inhibitors, phenols) and soybean (protease-inhibitors, lectins, iso¯avones, phytate). In several documents used for noti®cations no declarations even on essential inherent plant toxins and antinutrients could be found, for instance data on phytate in modi®ed maize were provided only in one of four documents. Signi®cant variations in the contents of these compounds in parental and modi®ed plants especially due to environmental in¯uences were observed: drought stress, for example, was made responsible for signi®cantly increased glucosinolate levels of up to 72.6 m mmol/g meal in modi®ed and parental rape plants in ®eld trials compared to recommended standard concentrations of less than 30 m mmol/g. Taking into account these wide natural variations generally the concentrations of inherent plant toxins and antinutrients in modi®ed products were in the range of the concentrations in parental organisms. The results presented indicate that the concept of the substantial equivalence is useful for the risk assessment of genetically modi®ed organisms (GMOs) used for novel foods but possible environmental in¯uences on constituents of modi®ed crops need more attention. Consistent guidelines, specifying data of relevant compounds which have to be provided for noti®cation documents of speci®c organisms have to be established. Because of the importance of inherent plant toxins and antinutrients on nutritional safety, also coherent databases of standard parental lines and clear criteria for mandatory declarations are necessary.

T cell-specific immune response induced by bacterial ghosts

BACKGROUND: Bacterial ghosts, genetically inactivated Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, possess significant advantages over commonly used vaccination technologies. The autolysis of the bacteria, by the expression of a cloned viral gene, results in empty bacterial envelopes through the expulsion of cytoplasmic content. Immunostimulatory properties are generally presented through the targeting of professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). MATERIAL/METHODS: This study investigated the interactions between porcine antigen-presenting cells and bacterial ghosts derived from the bacterial pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. The maturation process of DCs and their generation of immune responses to bacterial ghosts was shown by the expression of activation markers on their surface, as well as in the functional tests. RESULTS: A population of porcine APCs was generated from PBS by incubation with rpo-GMCSF and rh-IL-4. The cells expressed SWC3, MIL-2, CD80/86 molecules, as well as a high level of MSA3 molecules. The internalization of bacterial ghosts by the cells resulted in increased expression of MSA3 molecules. The capacity of T cells to proliferate when induced by bacterial ghosts was 4 times higher in the cultures including APCs than in cultures stimulated with bacterial ghosts only. CONCLUSIONS: We found that antigen-presenting cells have the capacity to stimulate specific T cells after the internalization and processing of Actinobacillus ghosts, as demonstrated by a strong specific T-cell response generated against the ghost antigens

Societal-level versus individual-level predictions of ethical behavior: a 48-society study of collectivism and individualism

Is the societal-level of analysis sufficient today to understand the values of those in the global workforce? Or are individual-level analyses more appropriate for assessing the influence of values on ethical behaviors across country workforces? Using multi-level analyses for a 48-society sample, we test the utility of both the societal-level and individual-level dimensions of collectivism and individualism values for predicting ethical behaviors of business professionals. Our values-based behavioral analysis indicates that values at the individual-level make a more significant contribution to explaining variance in ethical behaviors than do values at the societal-level. Implicitly, our findings question the soundness of using societal-level values measures. Implications for international business research are discussed

Careers of highly educated self-initiated expatriates : observations from studies among Finnish business professionals

This chapter reviews existing literature about the careers of self-initiated expatriates and analyzes the different studies carried out among university level educated Finnish business professionals. A series of studies carried out among members of the Finnish Association of Business School Graduates during the last 15 years was cross-analyzed. The studies are based on three surveys and further interviews among their expatriate members (1999, 2004 and a follow-up study in 2012) also involving SIEs. Therefore, this chapter provide an overview of what we know about the careers of Finnish SIEs and show evidence of (1) their career motives, (2) the role of family considerations in the career decision making of SIEs, (3) the development of career capital and social capital during SIE-experiences, and also (4) longer-term career impacts of SIE-experiences. Based on the literature review and analysis of above mentioned studies we highlight the gaps in in the knowledge about SIEs and suggest areas where further research is needed.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

DNA Barcoding the Geometrid Fauna of Bavaria (Lepidoptera): Successes, Surprises, and Questions

BACKGROUND: The State of Bavaria is involved in a research program that will lead to the construction of a DNA barcode library for all animal species within its territorial boundaries. The present study provides a comprehensive DNA barcode library for the Geometridae, one of the most diverse of insect families. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: This study reports DNA barcodes for 400 Bavarian geometrid species, 98 per cent of the known fauna, and approximately one per cent of all Bavarian animal species. Although 98.5% of these species possess diagnostic barcode sequences in Bavaria, records from neighbouring countries suggest that species-level resolution may be compromised in up to 3.5% of cases. All taxa which apparently share barcodes are discussed in detail. One case of modest divergence (1.4%) revealed a species overlooked by the current taxonomic system: Eupithecia goossensiata Mabille, 1869 stat.n. is raised from synonymy with Eupithecia absinthiata (Clerck, 1759) to species rank. Deep intraspecific sequence divergences (>2%) were detected in 20 traditionally recognized species. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The study emphasizes the effectiveness of DNA barcoding as a tool for monitoring biodiversity. Open access is provided to a data set that includes records for 1,395 geometrid specimens (331 species) from Bavaria, with 69 additional species from neighbouring regions. Taxa with deep intraspecific sequence divergences are undergoing more detailed analysis to ascertain if they represent cases of cryptic diversity

Epigenetics and the power of art

This review presents an epigenetic view on complex factors leading to development and perception of “genius.” There is increasing evidence which indicates that artistic creativity is influenced by epigenetic processes that act both as targets and mediators of neurotransmitters as well as steroid hormones. Thus, perception and production of art appear to be closely associated with epigenetic contributions to physical and mental health

A Preliminary Study of Elderly Emergency Service Clients in Chicago and Their Housing-Related Problems

Emergencies to which city agencies respond reveal a connection between homelessness and other housing hardships of the elderly. This study examines a random sample of 125 case records of elderly clients assisted by the Chicago Department of Human Services Emergency Services program between 1984 and 1987. The crises that lead to emergency services, the extent of clients' housing-related problems, and the needs that cluster around shelter placement and other housing related problems are analyzed An extraordinarily broad range of problems and service needs are identified The findings reveal the prevalence of housing problems for the elderly and the relationship between basic needs, patterns of services offered, and certain emergencies, includ ing homelessness. They have implications for improving client services and underscore the importance of ongoing rather than emergency assistance with the elderly. Very old persons without kin who experience crises are at great risk and pose growing dilemmas for urban public agencies.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68265/2/10.1177_073346489201100102.pd

Chaperones convert the energy from ATP into the nonequilibrium stabilization of native proteins.

During and after protein translation, molecular chaperones require ATP hydrolysis to favor the native folding of their substrates and, under stress, to avoid aggregation and revert misfolding. Why do some chaperones need ATP, and what are the consequences of the energy contributed by the ATPase cycle? Here, we used biochemical assays and physical modeling to show that the bacterial chaperones GroEL (Hsp60) and DnaK (Hsp70) both use part of the energy from ATP hydrolysis to restore the native state of their substrates, even under denaturing conditions in which the native state is thermodynamically unstable. Consistently with thermodynamics, upon exhaustion of ATP, the metastable native chaperone products spontaneously revert to their equilibrium non-native states. In the presence of ATPase chaperones, some proteins may thus behave as open ATP-driven, nonequilibrium systems whose fate is only partially determined by equilibrium thermodynamics

Impact of vitamin D metabolism on clinical epigenetics

The bioactive vitamin D (VD) metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 regulates essential pathways of cellular metabolism and differentiation via its nuclear receptor (VDR). Molecular mechanisms which are known to play key roles in aging and cancer are mediated by complex processes involving epigenetic mechanisms contributing to efficiency of VD-activating CYP27A1 and CYP27B1 or inactivating CYP24 enzymes as well as VDR which binds to specific genomic sequences (VD response elements or VDREs). Activity of VDR can be modulated epigenetically by histone acetylation. It co-operates with other nuclear receptors which are influenced by histone acetyl transferases (HATs) as well as several types of histone deacetylases (HDACs). HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) and/or demethylating drugs may contribute to normalization of VD metabolism. Studies link VD signaling through the VDR directly to distinct molecular mechanisms of both HAT activity and the sirtuin class of HDACs (SIRT1) as well as the forkhead transcription factors thus contributing to elucidate complex epigenetic mechanisms for cancer preventive actions of VD