, 2012) Additionally, an engineered

microbial platform a

, 2012). Additionally, an engineered

microbial platform and a synthetic yeast platform were reported as genetic modification strains to produce ethanol from brown seaweeds by using the similar pathway above ( Wargacki et al., 2012 and Enquist-Newman et al., 2014). Up to now, most reported bioethanol transferred from brown seaweeds were produced from mannitol or glucan including cellulose and laminarin ( Yanagisawa et al., 2011, Lee et al., 2013 and Wang et al., 2013). Hence, by developing the fermentation of alginate which is the most abundant component in brown seaweeds, strain HZ11 may significantly increase the yield of bioethanol from brown seaweeds and the utilization rate of brown seaweeds ( Wargacki et al., 2012). This Whole Genome Shotgun project of M. elongatus HZ11 (= CGMCC selleck screening library 6242) has been deposited at DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank database under the accession JELR00000000. This work was supported by Research Program DAPT price of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no.: 31170001). “
“Frank (1889) first discovered Rhizobia, Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria that principally cause the

formation of root nodules on legumes and fix nitrogen inside nodules. Rhizobia are known for their nitrogen fixing capacity; however, other functions are also assumed by different Rhizobium species, such as triazophos-degrading Rhizobium flavum ( Gu et al., 2014), aniline-degrading Rhizobium borbori ( Zhang et al., 2011), and exopolysaccharide-producing Rhizobium alamii ( Berge et al., 2009). Most Rhizobium species have been isolated from nodules on leguminous plants ( Peng et al., 2008). One June 9th 2013, we isolated Rhizobium sp. MGL06 from surface Ribonucleotide reductase seawater samples collected in the South China Sea (118°23′E, 21°03′N). This strain could grow on Difco™ Marine Agar 2216 medium (BD, USA) containing at least 1300 mg/L of malachite green, which is toxic to microorganisms

( Chen et al., 2010). This strain has been deposited in the Marine Culture Collection of China (Accession Number: MCCC 1A00836). Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence (GenBank accession number: KJ751545) and physiological and biochemical features indicated that R. sp. MGL06 likely represents a new species in the Rhizobium group, making it the first known naturally occurring strain in this clade that can tolerate malachite green. The R. sp. MGL06 genome sequence may provide fundamental molecular information on the malachite green tolerance and broad salinity adaptation of this strain. The genome of R. sp. MGL06 was sequenced using the Illumina/Solexa MiSeq technology at the Shanghai Majorbio Bio-pharm Technology Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China). A library with a fragment length of 500 bp was constructed, and a total of 1029 Mbp paired-end reads of 300 bp were generated.

Data from comprehensive exposure studies as well as from authorit

Data from comprehensive exposure studies as well as from authorities are available for the most important cosmetic spray groups – deodorants and hairsprays – such as the COLIPA study which reviewed use data from 124.100 European households and more than 32,470 individuals (Hall et al., 2007 and Hall et al.,

2011) and the Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (SCCS, 2010) or the European Commission (European Commission, 1996). These data can be used as default data and extrapolated to other product types. Table 1 shows conservative default data on calculated daily exposure based on a probabilistic approach. These values can be considered for category-specific defaults. Inhalation uptake via the airways may be estimated from the concentration of ingredients in ambient air and human respiratory volumes. Only the proportion of the spray that distributes into the ambient NVP-BKM120 clinical trial air is in the breathing zone of the consumer and relevant for inhalation exposure. Bremmer et al. assumed that 85% of sprayed hairsprays will end up as intended on the hair and head (Bremmer et al., 2006a). The

duration of inhalation exposure may be assumed to be 10–20 min in a worst-case scenario. Duration of exposure is likely much shorter and RIVM (Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) quoted an exposure selleck compound duration of 5 min for hair sprays and deodorants (Bremmer et al., 2006a). For hair sprays during the first 2 min post-application, the spray distributes in a facial/body near cloud of approximate 1–2 m3 around the user. Within the subsequent 18 min, a distribution into a 10 m3 air volume can be assumed. This volume corresponds roughly to the size of a standard

bathroom (Bremmer et al., 2006b). For a conservative estimate of the Systemic Exposure Mannose-binding protein-associated serine protease Dose (SED) from a given ingredient of the spray in mg/kg b.w./d the parameters described in Table 2 can be applied. In Table 2 as well the abbreviations used below are explained. Thus, the substance amount (EA) for relevant exposure may be calculated according to the following Eq. (1), taking into account the sprayed amount (A), the concentration of the ingredient in the final formulation (C), the proportion of non-propellant spray in the formulation (P) and the airborne fraction (AF): equation(1) EA [g]=A [g]×C [%]×P [%]× AF [%]EA [g]=A [g]×C [%]×P [%]× AF [%] The potential amount that may be inhaled during the first 2 min (IA1) may be estimated with the following Eq. (2), taking into account the breathing rate (BR), distribution volume (V1) at exposure time (t1): equation(2) IA1 [mg]=(EA [mg]/V1 [l])×BR [l/min]×t1 [min]IA1 [mg]=(EA [mg]/V1 [l])×BR [l/min]×t1 [min] The potential amount that may be inhaled during the subsequent 18 min (IA2) may be estimated using the following Eq.

, 1955) The data were evaluated using analysis of variance follo

, 1955). The data were evaluated using analysis of variance followed by Student’s t-test. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM with the level of significance set at 5% (P < 0.05; n = 4). After the experiment, both right and left kidneys were removed and fixed in 10% formaldehyde for histological processing and examination. The experiments followed the methodology

recommended by International Ethical Standards in animal research and was approved by the Scientific and Ethical Committee of the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil. The crude extract of I. asarifolia leaves injured and kept in the dark for 72 h gave a hemagglutination specific activity of 650.9 ± 16.7 HU/mg click here protein whereas the crude extract from uninjuried leaves not kept in the dark (control) gave 416.9 ± 2.7 HU/mg protein. The increase in activity selleck chemicals in wounded/darkened leaves was due to the de novo synthesis of the native

leaf lectin because irrespective of wound treatment the lectin-enriched fraction (LEF) gave the same N-terminal amino acid sequence. Thus the starting material for LEF production was the crude extract of wounded/darkened leaves. This lectin-enriched fraction (LEF) from I. asarifolia leaves was obtained after protein extraction, ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose and Phenyl-Sepharose 6-Fast Flow chromatographies, as detailed in 2.2. SDS–PAGE of LEF showed a main protein band with relative molecular weight of around 44.0 kDa ( Fig. 1, Lane 3). This band was electroblotted onto PVDF membrane and had its N-terminal amino acid sequence determined: AVNLPAGHLSPGGVGNYVVTVGLCTP. LEF had a specific hemagglutination activity of 1118 HU/mg protein. It was inhibited by the glycoprotein fetuin (3.0 × 10−3 mM), as well as by sialic acid (N-acetyl-d-neuramic acid, minimum inhibitory concentration of 3.0 mM) (Santos, 2001) which is a

component of fetuin. However it was not inhibited by the simple sugars d-arabinose, l-fructose, d-galactose, N-acetyl-d-galactosamine, d-glucose, N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, d-mannose, d-xilose, the disaccharides α-lactose, maltose, sacarose, and the trisaccharide d-raffinose, even at high concentration (100 mM), neither by the glycoproteins during BSA and mucin (Santos, 2001). Heat treatment at 70 and 80 °C for 60 min reduced LEF agglutination activity against trypsin-treated rabbit erythrocytes to 75% and at 90 °C it was completely abolished within 10 min (Fig. 2). Treatment of LEF with DTT (5, 10, 50 or 100 mM) had no influence on the hemagglutination activity. In vitro digestion of LEF with pepsin alone or pepsin followed by trypsin and chymotrypsin did not inactivate its hemagglutination activity. The biological assays done in this study were conducted with the LEF preparation showed in Fig. 1, lane 3. This preparation was free of secondary compounds as evaluated by NMR analysis (data not shown).

Current velocities in these lagoons are functions of size of the

Current velocities in these lagoons are functions of size of the lagoon, its shape, size of the inlet and tidal range etc. Tides are of primary importance, providing periodic exchange. Wind stress plays a sometimes dominant but variable role, depending on the strength of the local tide and the characteristic wind speed (Sultan and Ahmad, 1990 and Ahmad and Sultan, 1992). The tides in the Red Sea are probably a combination of an independent oscillation of the water within the basin and a forced co-oscillation induced by the tides in the Gulf of Aden (Morcos 1970). The independent oscillations are semidiurnal and of small

amplitude. Towards the central part of the Red Sea the tidal range decreases (Edwards & Head 1987); at about 20°N there is a nodal point. Between 19°N and selleckchem 21°N the tidal currents are weak and variable. However, at the inlets

of the coastal lagoons, the tidal currents may be as high as 1 m s− 1. But in the main body of the lagoons the currents are weak and vary depending on the spring-neap cycle and the variation in sea level. The Red Sea level is strongly influenced by the rate of evaporation and balance between in- and outflowing water at Bab-el-Mandab. In winter the inflow exceeds the combined effect of outflow and loss by evaporation in spite of the fact that evaporation is higher in winter, at least in the central Red Sea (Ahmad & Sultan 1989). Consequently, the mean sea level rises over the entire Red Sea in winter. In summer the reverse occurs and mean sea level is lower (Morcos,

1970, Ahmad and Sultan, 1993 and Smeed, 2004). The use of some coastal lagoons R428 in vivo as discharge areas for industrial and municipal waste and some others as sea water intakes for desalination purposes in Saudi Arabia makes an assessment of water column Idoxuridine stability indispensable. Lying to the north of Jeddah (Figure 1), Rabigh Lagoon is over 17 km long and has an average width of about 4 km. Urban and industrial development has begun to exert an impact upon the lagoon’s ecology. The objective of this study is to predict the water column conditions in Rabigh Lagoon. It is generally shallow but in some parts depths may reach about 20 m. The mean rate of change of the potential energy of the water column is applied to evaluate the water column condition, i.e. whether it is stratified or vertically mixed (Simpson and Hunter, 1974, Simpson et al., 1978, Simpson and Bowers, 1981, Yanagi and Takahashi, 1988, Yanagi and Tamaru, 1990 and Simpson, 1997). The potential energy ‘v’ is relative to the mixed conditions, and positive and negative signs are assigned to the term that increases and decreases water column mixing. The equation is: equation(1) dvdt=−αgQH2cp−βgSHR2A+4ϵKbρwut33π+δKsγρaw3. The 1st term is the contribution of the surface heat flux, while the 2nd, 3rd and 4th terms are the respective contributions of fresh water discharge, tidal mixing and wind mixing.

In order to investigate the mechanism of differential effect of A

In order to investigate the mechanism of differential effect of AAI and OTA on VEGF production we verified the effect of both toxins on the activity of transcription factors, which binding sites are present in VEGF promoter, such as HIFs, AP-1, NFκB or SP-1 (Pages and Pouyssegur, 2005). Our data indicate that both toxins exert complex

effect on various transcription factors, and as the result they may differentially regulate VEGF expression. AAI treatment caused SP-1 and HIFs up-regulation, whereas AP-1 was inhibited after 24 h of toxin delivery. Similarly, OTA treatment diminished AP-1 activity, but it also potently down-regulated SP-1 and selleck inhibitor HIFs activity. Moreover, the activity of NFκB was influenced neither by AAI nor by OTA. Such complicated data show that, although EPZ5676 nmr both toxins

induced kidney damage, the mechanisms are different and should be carefully investigated in details. Additionally, the effect may be cell-type dependent as in human HKC-8 cells only the effect of OTA on HRE and AP-1 activity was the same as in LLC-PK1 cells, whereas NFKB was induced and SP-1 activity was not affected by this toxin (Fig. S3). In pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells the inhibition of AP-1 (Oh et al., 2004), whereas in 12-day rat embryo midbrain cells the activation of this factor by OTA was observed (Hong et al., 2002). In contrast to our data, where we did not observe the alterations in NFκB activity after OTA delivery, such activation was shown in proximal OK cells (Sauvant et al., 2005), in immortalized human kidney epithelial cells (IHKE) (Rached et al., 2006) as well as in 12-day rat embryo midbrain cells (Hong et al., 2002). On the other hand, Metabolism inhibitor in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages

DNA binding activity of NFκB was considerably lower after AAI treatment in comparison to control cells (Liu et al., 2011). However, such differences may be caused by the dose and time of stimulation in individual experiment. In case of SP-1, there are no data concerning the effect of OTA on activity of this transcription factor, so we have shown for the first time the diminishment of SP-1 activity after OTA. Moreover, our results indicating inhibitory effect of OTA on HRE activity and HIFs transcription factors are also unique. To our best knowledge, only one paper showing increased mRNA level for HIF-1α in rat proximal tubule cells after OTA treatment was published already but the protein level was not investigated (Luhe et al., 2003). However, in case of HIF proteins, the protein stability is much more crucial, therefore these data and our data do not exclude each other. The knowledge about AA influence on the activity on transcription factors is also very limited. We have presented for the first time that AAI exerts opposite effect than OTA on SP-1 and AP-1, enhancing and diminishing their activity, respectively. The already published data about the effect of AA on NFκB is contradictory, as inhibition in human HK-2 cells (Chen et al.

Holth et al (2010) exposed Atlantic cod for 11 months to artific

Holth et al. (2010) exposed Atlantic cod for 11 months to artificial PW containing APs, PAHs and phenol at http://www.selleckchem.com/products/ldk378.html high (PAH 5.4 μg L−1; AP

11.4 μg L−1) and low (PAH 0.54 μg L−1; AP 1.14 μg L−1) concentrations. Exposure was continuous as well as 2 weeks pulsed mode for the high concentration. A range of toxicologically relevant genes were differentially expressed following exposure, including AhR-responsive genes (CYP1A, UDP-GT) and genes relevant to immune function (complement C3, MHC 1, CYP27B), apoptosis (PERP), and oxidative stress (hepcidin, serotransferrin, glutathione peroxidase). Estimated spawning time was significantly delayed in the exposed females, but not in relation to dose. Gross health parameters (condition factor, liver somatic index, gonadosomatic index, and hematocrit), frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes, oxidative stress in whole blood, and survival were not affected. Holth et al. (2011) reported reduced LMS of head kidney cells after two weeks at the highest concentration. The LMS reduction was dose related over the whole 11 months period and did not adapt to the exposures.

No differences in peroxisomal selleck inhibitor proliferation, measured as acyl-CoA oxidase activity in head kidney, were detected between treatments, although gender differences and change over time were observed in acyl-CoA oxidase activity. In conclusion, LMS in head kidney cells appeared to be a sensitive biomarker for exposure of Atlantic cod to oil related compounds. Induction of the cytochrome P-450 detoxification enzyme system after exposure to oil and other organic contaminants has been amply documented. Elevated hepatic CYP1A activity was found in Atlantic cod caged for 6 weeks about 200 m from Farnesyltransferase the PW

outfall at the Ekofisk oil field both in 2008 (Sundt et al., 2008) and 2009 (Brooks et al., 2009). Hasselberg et al. (2004) showed that force feeding of Atlantic cod for 4 weeks with a paste containing 0.02–80 ppm of a mixture of four different APs induced a slight dose-dependent increase of hepatic CYP1A activity in females, but not in males. The increase was not reflected in the CYP1A-mediated EROD (ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase) activity, implying that APs inhibited the CYP1A enzyme activity in vivo. In vitro studies with pooled liver microsomes from Atlantic cod confirmed the inhibition, and that the APs also inhibited CYP3A enzyme activity in vitro, but to a lesser extent. Such inhibition complicates the interpretation of cytochrome P-450 detoxification enzyme responses in the monitoring of PW discharges. Increase in hepatic CYP1A activity was also seen by Meier et al. (2010) exposing early juvenile Atlantic cod (3–6 months of age) to 1% PW for 3 months. Sundt et al. (2011) exposed Atlantic cod to PW in laboratory and field experiments and found CYP1A induction after exposure to 0.

Igualmente as novas modalidades da RM associam-se a taxas de sens

Igualmente as novas modalidades da RM associam-se a taxas de sensibilidade de 83-87% e especificidade de 81-100%11, emergindo como uma

alternativa à TC no estudo do pâncreas, embora mais dispendiosa. O valor da tomografia de emissão de positrões acoplada à tomografia computorizada (PET-TC) foi avaliado numa meta-análise recente, que reporta uma sensibilidade e especificidade diagnósticas de 81-90% e 83-93%, respetivamente12. Embora o seu valor no diagnóstico diferencial dos tumores pancreáticos seja reduzido, a PET-TC com contraste (18F-fluorodeoxyglucose) apresenta uma acuidade superior a 80% na determinação da invasão local e de 94% na identificação de metástases distantes. Além da capacidade na avaliação da resposta ao tratamento, tem uma elevada sensibilidade no diagnóstico da recorrência pós-operatória, superior à TC 13, 14 and 15. Considerando as potencialidades emergentes da PET-TC, também o seu selleck screening library valor no estadiamento N tem sido avaliado, revelando uma sensibilidade de 46-71% e uma NVP-BKM120 molecular weight especificidade de 63-100% 16. Na prática clínica, a TC de última geração realizada segundo protocolo pancreático (multifásico) é o melhor método de imagem inicial em caso de suspeita de lesão pancreática

focal, por se encontrar amplamente disponível e por permitir diagnosticar, bem como estadiar e predizer a ressecabilidade da maioria das lesões. A RM é especialmente útil na deteção e caracterização de massas pancreáticas que não alteram o contorno pancreático e de pequenas metástases hepáticas, peritoneais e do epíploon17. A realização da EE deverá ser considerada em 2 circunstâncias

principais e consensuais: para confirmar a ausência de lesões pancreáticas segundo outros métodos de imagem (TC/RM), perante PRKACG forte suspeita clínica, ou clarificar imagens equívocas e inconclusivas por estes detetadas; e nas situações de irressecabilidade tumoral, para obtenção de um diagnóstico cito-histológico através de PAAF-EE. Em caso de lesões potencialmente ressecáveis (15-20%), a necessidade de diagnóstico definitivo pré-operatório continua em debate, sobretudo no caso das massas localizadas no corpo distal e cauda, pelo risco de disseminação peritoneal ou implantação tumoral na parede gástrica. Este risco é, no entanto, significativamente inferior ao da PAAF guiada por TC, estando apenas relatados alguns casos isolados (0,5-3%)1, 2 and 18. Quando utilizada no estadiamento loco-regional de lesões com indicação duvidosa para resseção (borderline ressectable), a EE pode detetar disseminação metastática previamente insuspeita em mais de 10% dos casos, evitando assim a cirurgia 19. Se o estudo inicial por TC ou RM evidenciar metástases à distância, a EE não está formalmente indicada e a punção lesional poderá ser realizada por via percutânea.

The differing statistical

significance of the results bet

The differing statistical

significance of the results between the two studies may be explained by the very low numbers in our study hampering our ability selleck chemicals to detect a significant difference in 6MWT results. Alternative possibilities include the differing study populations (unexplained anemia vs. congestive heart failure), dose and formulation of intravenous iron given, and baseline 6MWT results, which were higher in our study. The study intervention was well tolerated, and there were no serious adverse events considered to be related to the study drug. With regard to secondary outcomes, a modest increase in hemoglobin was seen in the immediate intervention group compared to the wait list control group at 12 weeks. In addition, one patient in each group had an increase of at least 1 g/dL in hemoglobin at 12 weeks following initiation of IVIS. This suggests the possibility that a subgroup of subjects

with UAE may respond to parenteral iron therapy. Interestingly, the increase in hemoglobin was not correlated with iron indices, although again, small numbers preclude making more definitive observations about these findings. One of the lessons learned was the great difficulty in recruiting subjects to this type of study. All of the participating institutions were well-established clinical trial sites with histories of robust accrual to clinical trials. Subjects were vigorously recruited through multiple mechanisms, including specialty clinic and primary care referrals, the placement of study flyers at hospital and clinic this website sites, newspaper advertisements, the mailing of thousands of flyers to targeted population areas, electronic PRKACG medical record searching, chart reviews, and investigator-led anemia lectures at local community and senior centers. Approximately 1000 subjects were voluntarily reported by the sites to have been prescreened for the study. Nonetheless, despite intense recruitment efforts, including targeted mailing, which in some studies of the elderly has been shown to be the most effective

recruitment maneuver [20] and [21], enrollment remained poor and the study was terminated early. Poor recruitment was likely driven by multiple factors, including the general clinician tendency to ignore typically mild anemia in older adults in the face of more prominent medical issues, the complex requirements for this study, including extensive functional testing, and the logistical difficulties for older adults in participating in interventional studies with involved follow-up. One of the most important barriers to recruitment was the overly restrictive eligibility criteria, which led to the exclusion of many subjects. In addition, the negative results from studies using erythropoietic agents may have blunted enthusiasm for anemia trials in general [22], [23] and [24].

They have also shown that osteocytes may shed membrane-bound vesi

They have also shown that osteocytes may shed membrane-bound vesicle-like structures from their cell body and dendrites [46]. The function of these vesicles is currently unclear. They may provide a mechanism for reduction of osteocyte cytoplasmic volume. Alternatively, they may ICG-001 manufacturer regulate mineral deposition and/or may provide a mechanism for intercellular communication through delivery of messenger RNA and proteins to the target cells, as has been described for microvesicles in other cell systems (reviewed in [47] and [48]).

A surprising finding from live imaging studies of osteocytes in neonatal calvarial organ cultures was the observation of a subpopulation of motile cells on the bone surface that express the Dmp1-GFP transgene but exhibit a polygonal non-dendritic morphology [43] and [46]. It was shown that these surface motile Dmp1-GFP positive cells also express selleck kinase inhibitor the early osteocyte marker E11/gp38, suggesting that they may represent a precursor

that is already committed to becoming an osteocyte [43]. Time-lapse imaging studies in mineralizing osteoblast cultures have revealed that the kinetics of Dmp1-GFP expression and mineralization are integrated, with clusters of motile cells first switching on Dmp1-GFP expression followed by mineral deposition [42] and [44] (Fig. 5). These Dmp1-GFP positive cells also express E11/gp38, suggesting that they are transitioning towards the osteocyte phenotype. Deposition of mineral was found to be associated with an arrest in motility of the Dmp1-GFP positive cells and a change in morphology from a polygonal to a highly dendritic morphology, characteristic of osteocytes. The data suggest that the processes of osteocyte differentiation and mineralization are tightly integrated and that the cell type responsible for mineralization is a cell that is already transitioning towards the osteocyte phenotype. Recently, Ishihara et al. have used time-lapse imaging approaches to image calcium signaling oscillations in living

osteocytes in embryonic Cytidine deaminase chick calvaria [49] (Fig. 6). Their studies showed that osteoblasts and osteocytes show oscillations in intracellular calcium concentrations and that calcium release from intracellular stores plays a key role in these calcium oscillations. In osteocytes but not osteoblasts, gap junctional communication appeared to be important for maintenance of the calcium oscillations. Such studies are an important advance, as prior to this work, intracellular calcium signaling has been reported from in vitro studies of osteocytes and was thought to be important in mechanotransduction [50], [51] and [52]. However, it was not known whether these phenomena actually occur in osteocytes in situ within their mineralized lacunae. Live cell imaging studies as applied to investigating osteocyte biology are still in their infancy.

These treatments were selected

These treatments were selected MK-2206 datasheet for power calculations. The genotoxicity of two different 3R4F PMs were measured in each assay. Power calculations were performed on the slopes of the dose responses, pooled data and each concentration separately, to estimate the number of replicates per concentration that would detect a 30% increase or decrease in the response, with 80% power, at p < 0.05. The results are summarised in Table

1. The levels of replication typically used in these assays (e.g. 3 in the Ames test, 4 in MLA and 2 in IVMNT), could resolve a 30% difference in PM genotoxicity, in terms of slope. Replication levels of 5 (Ames test TA98), 4 (Ames test TA 100), 10 (Ames test TA1537), 6 (MLA) and 3 (IVMNT) would be required for similar resolution, in terms of pooled data or individual doses. Two 3R4F PMs were tested, to confirm the resolving power of these replication levels. These were from the same PM stock solution, but one sample was diluted to 70% (v/v), to simulate a 30% difference between PMs. The two PM samples were compared in each assay. Replication levels were as described in Table 1 for comparisons at common doses, except for IVMNT where 4 replicate cultures per dose were used, because 3 replicates might not have been powerful enough to detect differences if we had to revert to t-tests at each common

dose level. The results are shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Linearity was identified in all dose responses ( Table 2a and Table 2b). Differences between the PM samples were learn more statistically significant in all three assays. This confirmed that replication levels of

5 (Ames test TA98), 4 (Ames test TA 100), 10 (Ames test TA1537), 6 (MLA) and 4 (IVMNT) can resolve 30% differences in PM genotoxicity. The resolving power was based on estimates of intra-experiment variability. It is consistent with the differences in PM genotoxicity observed by others (Combes et al., 2012, McAdam et al., 2011, Oldham et al., 2012 and Roemer et al., 1998). 3R4F was genotoxic in the Ames test, MLA and IVMNT. This is consistent with published observations (Baker et al., 2004, Clive et al., 1997, Cobb et al., 1989, DeMarini, 2004, DeMarini et al., 2008, Guo et al., 2011, Kier et al., PRKACG 1974, McAdam et al., 2011, Mitchell et al., 1981, Richter et al., 2010, Rickert et al., 2007, Rickert et al., 2011, Roemer et al., 2002, Roemer et al., 2004 and Sato et al., 1977). Guidelines for testing genotoxicity with the Ames test, MLA and IVMNT (ICH, 1995, OECD, 1997a, OECD, 1997b and OECD, 2010) emphasize the assays’ biological responses rather than giving advice on appropriate statistical techniques. The OECD states that “biological relevance of the results should be considered first. Statistical methods may be used as an aid in evaluating test results. Statistical significance should not be the only determining factor for a positive response” (OECD, 1997a).