31.03.2009: Irradiation of spinach affects nutrients [1]
FDA approved the irradiation of fresh iceberg lettuce and spinach to kill E. coli 0157:H7 and Salmonella enteric. Doses of irradiation up to 4kGy had been considered not to impact the nutrients of spinach.

Lester and colleagues 2010 assessing the effect of gamma-irradiation or electron beams on spinach found that concentrations of vitamins B(9), E, and K and neoxanthin were little or not changed by irradiation. However, total ascorbic acid (vitamin C), free ascorbic acid, lutein/zeaxanthin, violaxanthin, and beta-carotene all were significantly reduced at 2.0 kGy and lesser doses. Dihydroascorbic acid increased with increasing irradiation due to the formation of oxidative radicals.

The authors report that packaging atmosphere had little effect, however, spinach irradiated under N2 presented an increase of dihydroascorbic acid levels, compared to air.

[1] Lester GE, Hallman GJ, Pérez JA: Gamma-Irradiation Dose: Effects on Baby-Leaf Spinach Ascorbic Acid, Carotenoids, Folate, alpha-Tocopherol, and Phylloquinone Concentrations. J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Mar 24
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20329797

31.03.2010: Mechanism of bacteria swimming speed explained [1]
Boehm and colleagues 2010 stress that Escherichia coli moves by means of rotating flagella that are powered by ion influx through membrane-spanning motor. The bacteria governs its swimming speed with the help of a molecular brake (YcgR) which binds around a messenger nucleotide, a cyclic dimeric GMP (di-GMP). In this bounded form the molecular brake YcgR interacts with the motor protein MotA on the base of the flagella causing it to rotate. The authors found that at least five signaling proteins are engaged in controlling the cellular concentration of cyclic di-GMP determining the swimming speed of the bacteria in response to variations of the environment.

New method to study motility of bacteria [2]
Golding and colleagues 2009 describe a new method for studying the swimming of bacteria such as Escherichia coli bacteria. The researchers used optical traps with laser lights, microfluidic chambers and fluorescence microscopy to track pattern of movement of the organism and the response of a stimulus under a controlled environment. The optical traps confine individual cells without impeding their rotation or the movement of their flagella.

Movement of the bacterial cell alters the light from the laser informing about the direction of the movement, and fluorescent markers improves visualization of the bacteria and their flagella under a microscope. According to Golding Escherichia coli presentes three to six helical flagella. If they all rotate in one direction the bacteria moves corkscrew-like in one direction. However, when one or more flagella rotate in the opposite direction the bacteria seems to tumble.

The authors determined long-term statistics of the run-tumble time series and changes in velocity and reversals of swimming direction of Escherichia coli

[1] Boehm A, Kaiser M, Li H, Spangler C, Kasper CA, Ackermann M, Kaever V, Sourjik V, Roth V, Jenal U: Second Messenger-Mediated Adjustment of Bacterial Swimming Velocity. Cell. 2010 Mar 18. Doi:10.1016/j.cell.2010.01.018
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20303158

[2] Min TL, Mears PJ, Chubiz LM, Rao CV, Golding I, Chemla YR: High-resolution, long-term characterization of bacterial motility using optical tweezers. Nat Methods. 2009 Nov;6(11):831-5.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19801991

30.03.2010: The big run on Organic foods and Halal foods by EU supermarkets [1]
The run on the organic foods (Biofoods) initiated a heavy lobbying on EU legislation ruling this group of foods. The standards were alleviated to enable mass production, use of non-organic ingredients and airfreight , all of what is not accepted by original organic farmers.

The marketing power of the big retailers were keen to establish organic departments, which boosted sales figures to levels beyond the capability of sustainable farms. Heavy carbon footprints result from transportation which did not correlate with the initial ideal of organic food.

It is laudable that food industry, such as Haribo and retailers launched Gummi Bears candy in Germany with bovine gelatine excluding pork. Here again question arises about alleviation of standards to make it feasible for food industry. Were all animals from which gelatine derived slaughtered following Muslim rules? Other foods with Halal label are extremely complicated when enclosed in industrial management.

According to Mahmoud Tatari of the European halal control and certification authority in Ruesselsheim, there are about 400 companies in Germany offering halal products on a market of 4 to 5 billion Euros disputed by food giants like Nestlé, Langnese, Elb-Milch, Pfanni, Gruenland and Ehrmann, together with pharmaceuticals firms Bayer, BASF and Merck. The largest halal markets are in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Middle East, Germany, France and Britain. Nestlé makes more money on halal products than on organic products, making 5 per cent of its revenue last year with halal products, such as drinks, dairy products and chocolate and has more than 300 halal products.

Mahamoud Tatari calls on a principal of Islam: "everything that is fair, correct and good for humans" may be certified such as financial services offered by banks and even telephone cards which comply with Muslim precepts may bear the halal label.

Such thinking is being questioned as it transforms the culture and the believes which survived over centuries by incorporating them into the machinery of global business opening doors for alleviating the halal rules, so as happened with organic foods which now differs from its origin.

[1] Kuwait Times: More halal foods on Europe store shelves. January 13, 2010
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=ODUxODA1ODI0

30.03.20101: Light and moderate alcohol consumption reduces cardiovascular mortality [1]
Light and moderate alcohol consumption was found by Mukamal and colleagues 2010 to reduce cardiovascular mortality, compared with complete abstention. Data of heavy drinking was inconclusive.

The authors stress, however, that there are uncertainties related to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke; inclusion of former or occasional drinkers with long-term abstainers as a referent category; generalizability to the adult US population; and the importance of drinking patterns such as regular light drinking or occasional binge drinking. They also remind that drinking above recommended limits, >/=3 compared with 2 drinks/drinking day, causes a higher risk.
Klatsky 2010 reminds, however, that the risk of breast cancer in women is increased with even moderate drinking and that youthful drinking can often be hazardous [2].

Heavy alcohol consumption [3]
Klatsky in 2009 reminds that there are substantial medical risks of heavy alcohol drinking and a less harmful or safe drinking limit may be valid. Heavy drinking is defined as >/=3 standard drinks per day. Alcohol-mortality risk is highest for heavy drinkers, lowest for light drinkers and intermediate for abstainers. A number of non-cardiovascular and cardiovascular problems contribute to the increased mortality risk of heavier drinkers. Wine is more protective against CHD than liquor or beer, probably due to non-alcohol beneficial components in red wine, a healthier pattern of drinking or more favourable risk traits in wine drinkers.

[1] Mukamal KJ, Chen CM, Rao SR, Breslow RA: Alcohol Consumption and Cardiovascular Mortality Among U.S. Adults, 1987 to 2002. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2010 Mar 30;55(13):1328-1335.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20338493

[2] Klatsky: Alcohol and Cardiovascular Mortality: Common Sense and Scientific Truth
J Am Coll Cardiol.2010; 55: 1336-1338
http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/content/long/55/13/1336

[3] Klatsky AL: Alcohol and cardiovascular health. Physiol Behav. 2009 Dec 31.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20045009

28.03.2010: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) [1]
Deurenberg and Stobberingh 2008 stress that the resistance to methicillin and all other beta-lactam antibiotics is related to the mecA gene, situated on the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus probably originated trough the transfer of SCCmec into a limited number of methicillin-sensitive lineages.

According to the authors there are seven major variants of SCCmec, type I to VII. Two clones of MRSA had been identified, the hospital-associated (HA-MRSA), and the community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA, which includes the SCCmec type IV, V or VII and is often associated with the toxin Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). However, the distinction between HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA is vanishing.

Risk factors community-associated Staphylococcus aureus [2]
Golding and colleagues 2010 report that no significant statistical differences were found between the frequency of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) and community-associated methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus(CA-MSSA) infections. The most common risk factors were overcrowding, previous antibiotic usage, existing skin conditions, household exposure to someone with a skin condition, scratches/insect bites, and exposure to healthcare workers.

Standard hygienic measures and proper treatment guidelines for the control of both, CA-MRSA and CA-MSSA, in remote communities were recommended.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from pigs in humans [3]
Golding and colleagues 2010 stress a high prevalence of colonization with livestock-associated (LA) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) sequence type (ST) 398 among pigs and pig farmers are found in the Netherlands, in Canada and in the United States. However, no human or animal infections resulting from these strains were reported in North America.

The authors identified a novel staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mecV subtype harboring clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated genes (cas) array in Staphylococcus aureus isolate 08 BA 02176.

Canadian epidemic lineages of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [4]
Christianson and colleagues 2007 pointed out that there is a high dissemination of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) throughout Canadian hospitals and communities.

The authors found that the community-associated Canadian epidemic isolates (CMRSA7 and CMRSA10) contained one open reading frame (ORF) (SACOL0046) encoding a putative protein belonging to a metallo-beta-lactamase family.

The hospital-associated Canadian epidemic isolates (CMRSA1 and CMRSA2) revealed additional factors including ORFs encoding potential virulence factors involved in capsular biosynthesis, serine proteases, epidermin, adhesion factors, regulatory functions, leukotoxins, and exotoxins.

Semi-selective broth for dertection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [5]
Böcher and colleagues 2010 describe a new method for routine diagnostic screening of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The use of a semi-selective enrichment broth containing cefoxitin and aztreonam (TSB-SSI) incubated overnight followed by plating on Columbia sheep blood (5%) agar (BA) and ChromID MRSA improved significantly the detection of the bacteria, compared with non-selective enrichment broth (NB).

[1] Deurenberg RH, Stobberingh EE: The evolution of Staphylococcus aureus. Infect Genet Evol. 2008 Dec;8(6):747-63. Epub 2008 Jul 29.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18718557

[2] Golding GR, Levett PN, McDonald RR, Irvine J, Nsungu M, Woods S, Horbal A, Siemens CG, Khan M, Ofner-Agostini M, Mulvey MR; the Northern Antibiotic Resistance Partnership (NARP): A comparison of risk factors associated with community-associated methicillin-resistant and -susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infections in remote communities. Epidemiol Infect. 2010 Jan 22:1-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20092664

[3] George R. Golding, Louis Bryden, Paul N. Levett, Ryan R. McDonald, Alice Wong, John Wylie, Morag R. Graham, Shaun Tyler, Gary Van Domselaar, Andrew E. Simor, Denise Gravel, and Michael R. Mulvey: Livestock-associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Sequence Type 398 in Humans, Canada. CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases. Volume 16, Number 4–April 2010
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/16/4/587.htm

[4] Christianson S, Golding GR, Campbell J; Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program, Mulvey MR: Comparative genomics of Canadian epidemic lineages of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Clin Microbiol. 2007 Jun;45(6):1904-11.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17428941

[5] Böcher S, Middendorf B, Westh H, Mellmann A, Becker K, Skov R, Friedrich AW: Semi-selective broth improves screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2010 Apr;65(4):717-20.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20130023


28.03.2010: Sorbitol-fermenting EHEC O157:H- [1]
According to Mellmann and colleagues 2010 Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 cause painful bloody diarrhea. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) develops in about 15% of infected children in around 1 week after the first loose stool. Sorbitol-fermenting (SF) E. coli O157:H- (nonmotile) strains cause about 20% of all cases of HUS. Unlike E. coli O157:H7, organisms within this clone can ferment sorbitol after overnight incubation on sorbitol MacConkey agar.

PulseNet
To identify reservoirs of EHEC O157:H7 infections and of other foodborne pathogens and to elucidate the molecular epidemiology of these pathogens in the United States, PulseNet was established in 1996. This US national molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance facilitates subtyping of bacterial foodborne pathogens for epidemiologic purposes.

Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), used by PulseNet is a subtyping technique for characterizing human pathogenic bacteria such as enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157.

Multilocus variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) is based on the characterization of different VNTR regions throughout the bacterial genome. Repeat regions are amplified by using PCRs, and resulting fragments are sized to determine the number of repeats. The combination of numbers of repeats of different VNTR loci results in an allelic profile known as the typing result.

Mellmann and colleagues determined the phylogeny of epidemiologically unrelated EHEC O157:H7/H- clinical isolates through 8 MLVA loci obtained in Germany during 1987-2008. Specific MLVA profiles with an evolutionary persistence were identified, particularly within sorbitol-fermenting EHEC O157:H-.These pathogens belonged to the same MLVA cluster.

[1] Christian Jenke, Dag Harmsen, Thomas Weniger, Jörg Rothgänger, Eija Hyytiä-Trees, Martina Bielaszewska, Helge Karch, and Alexander Mellmann: Phylogenetic Analysis of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157, Germany, 1987–2008. Emerging Infectious Diseases. Volume 16, Number 4-April 2010.
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/16/4/610.htm

27.03.2010: Norovirus genotype profiles may help to find origins of outbreaks [1]
Noroviruses are members of the family Caliciviridae and recognized as major pathogens in outbreaks of gastroenteritis worldwide. They can survive in the environment, can use different transmission routes, and have a low infective doses. Transmission occurs through contact with shedding persons; food contaminated during processing, preparation or serving; sewage-contaminated water used for consumption, cultivation or irrigation of food; contaminated aerosols resulting from vomiting; and environmental contamination.

Verhoef and colleagues 20101 described six genotype profiles of Norovirus outbreaks: A) food or B) humans; C) person-borne outbreaks; D) food handler–borne outbreaks; E) outbreaks with an unknown mode of transmission; and F) routine monitored bivalve mollusks. Their study may help to detect the sources of the foodborne outbreaks resulting from infected food handlers and those resulting from food contaminated early in the food chain. The authors stress that differentiating between person-borne or food handler–borne outbreaks is of public health interest because different control measures are applicable, such as prevention measures during the production process, detection should enable containment of viral foodborne infection and thus prevent further spread and the consequent potential for large numbers of human infections.

The authors urge, however, that genotyping data need to be interpreted with care, and continuous updating of the database remains necessary.

[1] Linda Verhoef, Harry Vennema, Wilfrid van Pelt, David Lees, Hendriek Boshuizen, Kathleen Henshilwood, and Marion Koopmans, on behalf of the Food-Borne Viruses in Europe Network. Use of Norovirus Genotype Profiles to Differentiate Origins of Foodborne Outbreaks. CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases. Vol. 16, No. 4. April 2010.
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/16/4/617.htm

23.03.2010: Biochar from eucalyptus in the Amazon region, a new business with the forest [1]
Biochar could be made from residues from plantation forestry harvesting. However, there are costs in collecting diffuse residues, and waste streams from processing are already used directly in process heat or have other valued uses.

Winsley recommend in 2007 the short-rotation growing or coppicing of poplar, willow, or eucalypts on low-value land. Cloned eucalyptus in Brazil can produce 40 tonnes of dry biomass per hectare per year.

Steiner and colleagues 2007 suggests to use biomass for the production of biochar. The authors promote slash and char instead of slash and burn in the Amazon region. [2]

The International Biochar Initiative (IBI) [3]
Fine-grained charcoal used in soils, called ‘biochar’, is being promoted as a way of mitigating global warming and making soils more fertile, despite scarce and contradictory evidence. The main lobby group, the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) aims to make biochar eligible for carbon credits, both internationally and in the US. By ramping up financial supports for biochar, a large new demand for biomass will contribute to pressures to convert natural forests to industrial plantations and to harvest from already declining and sensitive ecosystems. The IBI supports the US WECHAR (Water Efficiency via Carbon Harvesting and Restoration) bill setting up federal government guarantees for private loans for biochar research, development and commercialisation.
There are several authors which promote slash and char instead of slash and burn of secondary forest in the Amazon region.

Biochar, a new big threat to people, land, and ecosystems [4]
Charcoal itself is wrongly called carbon neutral – cutting down large areas of salt cedars, pinyon pines or other trees creates disturbances that result in emissions from soils and vegetation. When burned, a portion of the C contained in the wood is released. The remaining C, retained in the charcoal is then to be applied to soils, where, in theory it will be sequestered safely away from the atmosphere. However, it is not known how much will remain for how long and there is also evidence that charcoal can cause pre-existing soil carbon to be emitted as carbon dioxide. In a recent preliminary study in Canada, no additional carbon was found in soils less than two years after biochar was applied. [6] Furthermore, there is a significant risk that small biochar particles could become airborne in which case they would absorb heat, contribute to global warming and present a health risk when inhaled. For more information about the WECHAR Bill, see www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/docs/wechar_factsheet.pdf .

Keep ‘biochar’ and soils out of carbon trading [5]
Industrial charcoal is very different from Terra Preta, the biochar of indigenous population of Central Amazonia. Biochar advocates ideas that require the use of 500 million hectares or more of monocultures. Serious ecologic risks may result from spreading genetic modified trees adapted for biochar. Industrial charcoal production at the expense of organic matter needed for making humus may not be beneficial to plant growth. Deleterious results are expected using combinations of charcoal with fossil fuel-based fertilisers made from scrubbing coal power plant flue gases. The pyrolysis using temperaures of 500°C and higher, can result in dangerous soil and air pollution. [6]
An international declaration urging caution on biochar can be found at www.regenwald.org/international/englisch/news.php?id=1226 .


Sustainable production of food, feed and fuel in tropics [7]
Preston 2009 advocates the generation of electricity as a by-product of food/feed production by fractionation of biomass into inedible cell wall material that and convert it to a gas used as fuel in combustion engines driving electrical generators. The author claims that his model is highly appropriate for decentralized small scale production of electricity in rural areas and captures carbon as biochar which remains after the gasification.
The biochar would compete which the organic material desperately needed as soil cover and conditioner. Energy from this system is still based on carbon cycle. Tropics are best suited for photovoltaic, wind turbines and hydrogen obtained by electrolysis of water to decarbonise energy and fuel for transportation so as presented by the Desert Energy Project.

Biochar of Eucalyptus as bulking agent of poultry manure [8]
Dias and colleagues 2010 compared the use of Eucalyptus biochar with coffee husk and sawdust as bulking agent for the composting of poultry manure in a proportion of 1:1 (fresh weight). The use of sawdust was found to be the most efficient in preserving the organic matter and nitrogen in the mature compost.


Biochar from wastewater sludge [9]
Biochar from wastewater sludge through pyrolysis at a temperature of 550 degrees improved the production of cherry tomatoes by 64% . The ability of biochar to increase the yield was attributed to the combined effect of increased nutrient availability (P and N) and was best in combination with the fertiliser. In this study Hossain and colleagues stress that the bioavailability of metals present in the biochar was found to be below the maximum permitted concentrations for food.

[1] Winsley, Peter: Biochar and bioenergy production for climate change mitigation. New Zealand Science Review Vol 64 (1) 2007
http://www.biochar-international.org/images/NZSR64_1_Winsley.pdf

[2] Steiner, Cristoph, Teixeira, Wenceslau Geraldes, Zech, Wolfgang: Slash and Char – an Alternative to Slash and Burn Practiced in the Amazon Basin. Bayreuth, 2007

[3] Rainforest Rescue: US Bill would use trees from National Parks to test dangerous unproven technology
http://www.regenwald.org/international/englisch/protestaktion.php?id=545

[4] The International Biochar Initiative (IBI)
http://www.biochar-international.org/

[5] Declaration: ‘Biochar’, a new big threat to people, land, and ecosystems. Rainforest. 23.06.2009.
http://www.regenwald.org/international/englisch/news.php?id=1226

[6] Barry Husk, report written by Julie Major: Commercial scale agricultural biochar field trial in Québec, Canada over two years: effects of biochar on soil fertility, biology and crop productivity and quality
http://www.dynamotive.com/assets/resources/BlueLeaf-Biochar-FT0809.pdf

[7] Preston TR: Environmentally sustainable production of food, feed and fuel from natural resources in the tropics. Trop Anim Health Prod. 2009 Oct;41(7):1071-80.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19728132

[8] Dias BO, Silva CA, Higashikawa FS, Roig A, Sánchez-Monedero MA: Use of biochar as bulking agent for the composting of poultry manure: effect on organic matter degradation and humification. Bioresour Technol. 2010 Feb;101(4):1239-46.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19796932

[9] Hossain MK, Strezov V, Chan KY, Nelson PF: Agronomic properties of wastewater sludge biochar and bioavailability of metals in production of cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum).
Chemosphere. 2010 Feb;78(9):1167-71.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20110103

18.03.2009: Germany geologist in Saudi Arabia [1]
The Helmholtz Centre, responsible for the disaster of the nuclear repository of Asse 2 in Germany where geologic instability caused leakage of groundwater and contamination of the surroundings with Strontium, Polonium and Uranium, is now the advisor of Saudi Arabia.

According to Spiegel Online from March 18, 2010 the geologist Randolf Rausch from the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig explores the reserves of groundwater dated from the post-glacial period in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Increasing agriculture with high demand of water lowers the water table, saltwater infiltrates. To avoid further depletion of their water reserves the Kingdom will concentrate its activities on plantations with low water demand, such as date palms. The wheat culture is going to be completely abandoned. Staple food will be grown in other regions with better precipitation conditions, such as Pakistan which has already given the export guarantee even in case of its own short supply.

Fossil groundwater is the only source of water which dates from the abundant precipitation of the post- glacial period and was trapped in caverns of the sedimentary rock in the East of Saudi Arabia. These water resources threaten to expire. Saudi Arabia consumer 19 billion of cubic metres of water, of which 85 percent are used in agriculture. Most of this water comes from these archaic reservoirs, and only 8 percent are desalted sea water.

German geologist comments ethic, religious believes and living style in the Saudi Arabia Kingdom
The geologist Randolf Rausch relates his impressions on ethics, religious believes and living style in Saudi Arabia in the Spiegel Online article March 18, 2010 as follows:
“At the beginning I had ethic concerns to engage myself for this land of all places” says Raush. “Nowhere the Islam is being interpreted more stringently as here. Women in Saudi Arabia go out veiled in black from head to toe or stay behind walls. Five times a day life comes to a standstill for prayer. Cinemas, theatres and concerts are proscribed. Tourist can enter the country only under stringent restrictions; and those who offend God and the Prophet must reckon to be executed in public. It is a land that did not need to bother about what the rest of the world thought of it.”

Does Germany have the right to disapprove another culture?
Is Germany the measure of all things? The unsteady way of Western life is marked by corruption of the bank system, the breakdown of the family, alcoholism, and social abnormalities.

Respecting and maintaining ecological, economic and cultural closed units is a requirement of the communication between different cultures. The Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research is well advised if it behaves non-committal on ethical issues, it is not long ago that the Centre's misconduct with Asse 2 created million Euro costs for taxpayers to clear the mess.

[1] Geologie: Tropfen aus der Eiszeit. Spiegel Online 18.03.2010.
http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,683762,00.html

17.03.2009: Ergot in cereals [1]
The term ergot refers to fungal structures from Claviceps species replacing kernels on grain ears or seeds on grass heads, being visible as large discoloured sclerotia. These sclerotia contain different classes of alkaloids, the most prominent being ergometrine, ergotamine, ergosine, ergocristine, ergocryptine and ergocornine and their related -inines.

Ergot alkaloids (ergolines) exert toxic effects in all animal species, and the most prominent toxic signs can be attributed to the interaction of ergot alkaloids with adrenergic, serotinergic and dopaminergic receptors. Typical clinical symptoms are vasoconstriction that may progress into vaso-occlusion and gangrenous changes, but also into abortions. The neurotoxic signs comprise feed refusal and dizziness but also convulsions.

Typical dopaminergic effects are agalactia accompanied with insufficient nursing of suckling animals such as piglets and foals. Available data indicate that adverse effects may occur in agricultural animals particularly in pigs after intake of feed contaminated with ergot at levels close to the current EU limit.

Data on the toxicity of individual ergot alkaloids are scarce, as under field conditions animals are exposed to the complex mixtures with a varying composition of ergot alkaloids depending on the fungal strain, the host plant and on environmental factors. Systematic analyses of common grains and forage grasses will be necessary to establish a correlation between exposure to ergot alkaloids and adverse effects in individual animal species.

There are reports on human intoxications and on ergot poisoning of farm animals in particular cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, chicken and even wild animals. EFSA carried out a risk assessment on ergot alkaloids as undesirable substance in animal feed in 2005. [2]

Analytical methods have only recently been developed to measure simultaneously the most prominent ergot alkaloids in cereals intended for human consumption or animal feeding by liquid chromatographyfluorescence detection (LC-FLD) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) [3] [4]

[1] EFSA - Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain related to ergot alkaloid as undesirable substance in animal feed.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1178620762803.htm

[2] Call for proposals - CFP/EFSA/CONTAM/2010/01: Survey on ergot alkaloids in cereals intended for human consumption and animal feeding.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/contam201001/docs/cfpefsacontam201001cfp.pdf

[3] Krska R, Subbings G, MacArthur R and Crews C, 2008. Simultaneous determination of six major ergot alkaloids and their epimers in cereals and foodstuffs by LC-MS-MS. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 391, 563-576.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18415090

[4] Ruhland M and Tischler J, 2008. Determination of ergot alkaloids in feed by HPLC. Mycotoxin Research, 24, 73-79.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/203l41u0580237g6/

17.03.2009: Research on multi-protein mTOR opens new therapy of cancer [1]
Ruggero and colleagues 2010 studied the function of a multi-protein unit known as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) which is implicated in the formation of lymphoma and other types of cancer. The mTOR protein controls the pathway of several important cell processes, such as cell survival and proliferation.
The researchers are looking at a new substance, PP242 , which inhibits mTORC1-dependent 4EBP-eIF4E hyperactivation which influences the control of Mcl-1 expression, a key antiapoptotic protein. The authors are hopeful that PP242 may lead to a new therapy of cancer.

[1] Hsieh AC, Costa M, Zollo O, Davis C, Feldman ME, Testa JR, Meyuhas O, Shokat KM, Ruggero D: Genetic Dissection of the Oncogenic mTOR Pathway Reveals Druggable Addiction to Translational Control via 4EBP-eIF4E. Cancer Cell. 2010 Mar 16;17(3):249-261. Doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2010.01.021
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20227039

16.03.2010: New inhibitor of HIV, derived from bananas [1]
Swanson and colleagues 2010 report that BanLec, the jacalin-related lectin found in bananas may become an active compound to stop the spread of the HIV, used as an applied vaginal microbicide to prevent infection, when the use of condoms is not practised.
The compound is isolated from banana using a purification method developed by the authors. It is cheaper and more efficient than anti-HIV drugs such as T-20 and maraviroc, and responds better to mutations of the HIV-virus, because it attaches to several parts of the virus. Synthetic drugs have generally only one point where they attach.

BanLec binds the glycosylated HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 and block the entry of the virus into the cell, explain the authors. It binds directly bind the HIV-1 envelope protein.

[1] Swanson MD, Winter HC, Goldstein IJ, Markovitz DM: A lectin isolated from bananas is a potent inhibitor of HIV replication. J Biol Chem. 2010 Jan 15.
http://www.jbc.org/content/285/12/8646

11.03.2010: Low levels of vitamin D linked to increased deposition of fat in young women [1]
According to Kremer and colleagues 2010 vitamin D insufficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D) is linked to increased muscle fat and decreased muscle strength. Approximately 59% of subjects were 25OHD insufficient (</=29 ng/ml). Serum 25OHD wasa found to inversely related to percent muscle fat. The relation between 25OHD and muscle adiposity was independent of body mass or visceral fat. The authors concluded that vitamin D insufficiency is associated with increased fat infiltration in muscle young women but stress that more studies are necessary before a supplementation can be recommended.

In a study of 2009 the group around Kremer found that vitamin D insufficiency is associated with increased body fat and decreased height but not changes in peak bone mass. [2]

[1] Vicente Gilsanz, Arye Kremer, Ashley O. Mo, Tishya A. L. Wren, and Richard Kremer. Vitamin D Status and Its Relation to Muscle Mass and Muscle Fat in Young Women. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2010; DOI: 10.1210/jc.2009-2309
http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/jc.2009-2309v1

[2] Kremer R, Campbell PP, Reinhardt T, Gilsanz V: Vitamin D status and its relationship to body fat, final height, and peak bone mass in young women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Jan;94(1):67-73.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18984659

10.03.2010: Plants used in traditional medicine

10.03.2010: Papaya anti cancer and anti allergic effects in vitro [1]
Papaya (Carica papaya Linn.) is known by its papain from fruit and leaves. Teas from leaves of the papaya plant are also used in traditional medicine in case of various types of cancer. Recently Dang and colleagues 2010 report that aqueous-extracted Carica papaya leaf fraction inhibited the growth of various tumour cell lines and enhanced the expression of CCL2, CCL7, CCL8 and SERPINB2 genes. These genes are index markers of the immunomodulatory effect of the extract. The authors identified fraction with molecular weight less than 1000 as the active part to inhibits tumor cell growth and stimulates anti-tumor effects. Th1-type cytokine production is activated. The authors suggest that Carica papaya leaf extract can may be useful in treatment and prevention of cancer, various allergic disorders, and may also serve as immunoadjuvant for vaccine therapy. No toxic effects on normal cells were found.

Antioxidants of Mallotus nanus used in traditional medicine in Vietnam and China [2]
Van Kiem and colleagues 2010 report methanolic extract of the leaves of Mallotus nanus to contain two mallonanosides, which are 2-C-beta-D-glucopyranosyl benzoic acid derivatives. Other isolated flavonoids were kaempferin, juglanin, quercitrin, myricitrin, and rhoifolin.
Mallotus species are used in traditional medicine in Vietnam and China. Some also show interesting activities, such as antioxidant and cytotoxic ones. Tistaert and colleagues 2009 used chromatographic fingerprints to reveal the peaks potentially responsible for the antioxidant activity of several Mallotus species. [3]

[1] Otsuki N, Dang NH, Kumagai E, Kondo A, Iwata S, Morimoto C: Aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaves exhibits anti-tumor activity and immunomodulatory effects. J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Feb 17;127(3):760-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19961915

[2] Van Kiem P, Mai NT, Van Minh C, Khoi NH, Dang NH, Thao NP, Cuong NX, Nam NH, Nhiem NX, Heyden YV, Quetin-Leclercq J, Kim GN, Jang HD, Kim YH: Two new c-glucosyl benzoic acids and flavonoids from Mallotus nanus and their antioxidant activity. Arch Pharm Res. 2010 Feb;33(2):203-8. Epub 2010 Feb 24
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20195819

[3] Tistaert C, Dejaegher B, Nguyen HN, Chataigné G, Rivière C, Nguyen TH, Chau VM, Quetin-Leclercq J, Vander Heyden Y: Potential antioxidant compounds in Mallotus species fingerprints. Part I: Indication, using linear multivariate calibration techniques. Anal Chim Acta. 2009 Oct 12;652(1-2):189-97.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19786180

08.03.2010: Long exposure to soy diet may reduce male fertility [1]
Nef and colleagues 2010 assessed the effects of isoflavone phytoestrogens in soybean effects on the development and function of the male reproductive system. Feeding soy-rich diet to mice the authors found that behaviour and fertility of adult mice were normal, however, sperm counts were 25 per cent lower, and 21 per cent smaller litter sizes, than found in mice fed a soy-free diet. Also reduced transcripts coding for androgen-response genes in Sertoli cells and Gapd-s, involved in sperm glycolysis and mobility were noted. The authors concluded that dietary soy may decrease male fertility.

Soy-based formula infant feeding should be avoided [2]
In a review 2009 Nef and collegues write that some indications that phyto-oestrogens, alone or in combination with other endocrine disruptors, may alter reproductive hormones, spermatogenesis, sperm capacitation and fertility. The authors call for more studies suggest perinatal phyto-oestrogen exposure to be reconsidered, in especial infants feeding on soy-based formula should be avoided.

The authors in another review of 2009 acknowledge that phytoestrogens of soy favourably alter glycemic control, improve weight and fat loss, lower triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol, however, more studies are needed to identify which soy component is responsible for specific effects, which are the mechanisms engaged, and what are possible negative effects of the phytoestrogens of soy. [3]

Soy phytoestrogen present no apparent estrogenic effects [4]
In this study the risks of phytoestrogens as potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) were compared with those posed by estradiol and other EDC. Kwack and colleagues 2009 estimated the soy products intake of Koreans to be 135.2 g/d which is an equivalent of 0.51 mg/kg body weight (bw)/d of phytoestrogens and compared it with Amercan diet low in soy products.

Estimated daily intakes (EDI) and estrogenic potencies (EP) the margins of safety (MOS) were used. Estradiol presents an MOS value of 0.05 for estradiol (MOS value <1, considered to exert a positive estrogenic effect); thus, MOS values of 1.89 for Japanese, 1.96 for Koreans, and 5.55 for Americans. The authors concluded that consumption of soybean-based foods exerted no apparent estrogenic effects, as all MOS values were all higher than 1, but poses a relatively higher health risk for humans than synthetic EDC such as dieldrin 27, nonylphenol 250, butyl benzyl phthalate 321, bisphenol A 1000, biochanin A 2203, and coumesterol 2898.

[1] Cederroth CR, Zimmermann C, Beny JL, Schaad O, Combepine C, Descombes P, Doerge DR, Pralong FP, Vassalli JD, Nef S: Potential detrimental effects of a phytoestrogen-rich diet on male fertility in mice. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2010 Feb 18.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20171261

[2] Cederroth CR, Auger J, Zimmermann C, Eustache F, Nef S: Soy, phyto-oestrogens and male reproductive function: a review Int J Androl. 2009 Nov 16.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19919579

[3] Cederroth CR, Nef S: Soy, phytoestrogens and metabolism: A review. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2009 May 25;304(1-2):30-42.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19433245

[4] Kwack SJ, Kim KB, Kim HS, Yoon KS, Lee BM: Risk assessment of soybean-based phytoestrogens. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2009;72(21-22):1254-61.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20077194 

08.03.2010: Incorporation of radionuclides from the disaster of Chernobyl are increasing. Protective measures will be necessary for many generations [1]
Nesterenko and colleagues 2009 report that radiation levels for individuals in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia have been increasing steadily since 1994 due to internal absorption.
To reduce levels of incorporated radionuclides in food and meat production food additives are used, such as ferrocyanides, zeolites, lime/Ca as an antagonist of Sr-90, K fertilizers as antagonists of Cs-137, and phosphoric fertilizers that form a hard, soluble phosphate with Sr-90, disk tillage and replowing of hayfields, cleaning cereal seeds, processing potatoes into starch, processing carbohydrate-containing products into sugars, and processing milk into cream and butter. Forestry operations to create "a live partition wall," to regulate the redistribution of radionuclides into ecosystems are discussed. The authors conclude that these protective measures will be necessary in Europe for many generations.

Contamination of food and people [2]
In many European countries levels of I-131, Cs-134/137, Sr-90, and other radionuclides in milk, dairy products, vegetables, grains, meat, and fish increased drastically after the catastrophe. Some foodstuffs from Europe exceeded permissible levels of Cs-137 in 2007. From 1995 to 2007, up to 90% of the children from Belarus had levels of Cs-137 accumulation higher than 15-20 Bq/kg, with maximum levels of up to 7,300 Bq/kg in Narovlya District, Gomel Province. Average levels of incorporated Cs-137 and Sr-90 in the heavily contaminated territories increased from 1991 to 2005. According to Nesterenko these areas will remain dangerously radioactive for the next three centuries.

Preventive Protective Action Guidelines [3]
The Protective Action Guides are 5 mSv (0.5 rem) for committed effective dose equivalent or 50 mSv (5 rem) committed dose equivalent to an individual tissue or organ, whichever is more limiting. These correspond to the “intervention levels of dose” consensus values set by international organizations. Intervention levels of dose are radiation doses at which introduction of protective actions should be considered (ICRP 1984b).

Limit Responder Exposure - 5 rem (or greater), sheltering – 1 to 5 rems. Evacuation – 1 to 5 rems. Relocation - 2 rems in first year, 500 mrem/yr in subsequent years, food Interdiction - 500 mrem/yr, drinking Water - 500 mrem/yr.

The US EPA response levels for preventive Protective Action to Land Contamination Guides (PAGs) are 3 μCi/m2 (111 kBq/m2) while levels for emergency PAGs are set at 30 μCi/m2 (1,110 kBq/m2) for infants and 50 μCi/m2 (1850 kBq/m2) for adults.
Inhaled Cesium-137 commits to humans a 50-year committed effective dose equivalent (CEDE50) of 8.63×10-9 sievert per becquerel while its specific activity is 3.26×1012 becquerel per gram.

The mean contamination of Cs-137 in Germany after Chernobyl was 2000-4000Bq/m², some parts in the south even 10 times higher. This corresponds to a contamination of 1mg of Cs-137 per square kilometer or around 500g Cs-137 deposited all over Germany.

Fallout of Chernobyl affected Europe, Asia and Emirates [4]
Fall out of the Chernobyl meltdown affected 40% of Europe (including Austria, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Romania, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, France, Greece, Iceland, Slovenia) and wide territories in Asia (including Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Emirates, China), northern Africa, and North America. Radioactivity exposure at a level higher than 4 kBq/m(2) (0.11 Ci/km(2)) from April to July 1986 happened. The consequences of radioactive contamination are therefore not confined to Belarus, Ukraine, and European Russia.

Interference level for radiation protection and decorporation of radionuclides [5]
Due to local food consumption the annual individual dose limits in Belarus, Ukraine, and European Russia exceed 1 mSv/year in 2007, and for effective radiation protection the interference level for children at should be set at 30% of the official dangerous limit (i.e., 15-20 Bq/kg), says Nesterenko.
Pectin food additives from apples, currants grapes and seaweed, 5 g twice a day, reduced radionuclides in children by 30 to 40%, report the authors.

Radiological impact in Europe [6]
According to Leoniak, Zonenberg and Zarzycki 2005 the air at Chernobyl had been contaminated with about 5300 PBq radionuclide activity, and surface 137Cs activity was 37 kBq/m(2). The highest mean radiation dose per year for the whole body in the first year after the accident was in Bulgaria (760 microSv), Austria (670 microSv), Greece (590 microSv), and Poland 932 microS, while the lowest radiation dose was observed in Portugal (1.8 microSv) and Spain (4.2 microSv).

Persistent contamination with 137 Cs of Alpine lakes sediments [7]
Rezzoug and colleagues 2006 found that the region of the alpine lake Boréon at the southeast of France was contaminated with 137Cs fallout of the Chernobyl accident with at least 3.5 Bqcm(-2), more probably the double. The lake sediments still undergo a rather strong contamination by 137Cs and the external exposure impact was evaluated at 2 mSvy(-1) for 2002.
Transuranics and fission products 90Sr, 137Cs, 238Pu, 239/240Pu and 241Am have been measured in Boréon lake sediment samples. These data enable future determination of the mass balances of the radiopollutants. Schertz and colleagues 2005 stress that this area is in a recreational area used by urban population. [8]

Fish of Finnish lakes with high uptake of 137Cs [9]
Saxén and Ilus report continuously high concentrations of 137Cs in fish of two Finnish lakes due to a prolonged stay of caesium at a relatively high level in the water. There were differences between the two lakes found which was explained by a slow sedimentation rate, deficiency of potassium in water, a low pH and a swampy soil type of the catchment resulting in a higher content of 137 Cs of the water and its uptake by fishes in the lake Lake Siikajärvi compared with the Lake Vehkajärvi.

Radionuclide transfer to wood and food from forests [10]
Radionuclide transfer varies in space and time depending on deposition processes, soil type, land use, and resulting contamination in food products, the radionuclide transfer through food chains.
Calmon and colleagues 2001 assessed the transfer of radionuclides of radiocaesium and radiostrontium to trees in forests which vary between T(ag) 10(-3)m(2)kg(-1) (dry weight). Tree foliage was usually 2-12 times more contaminated than trunk wood. The transfer of radionuclides to mushrooms varies from T(ag) 10(-3) to 10(1)m(2)kg(-1) (dry weight), for berries, typical values are around 0.01-0.1 m(2)kg(-1) (dry weight). Transfer of radioactive caesium to game animals, reindeer, moose birds and waterfowl reflect the soil and pasture conditions at individual locations. In wild boar the caesium activity concentration shows no decline because of its special feeding habits.

Radionuclides from soil to fruits [11]
Carini 2001 in a 2001 review writes that the transfer of radionuclides from soil to fruit is nuclide specific, depends on the type of soils and fruit plant species. Caesium has a higher transfer rate to fruits of woody trees and the transfer from soil to fruits of shrubs is higher for strontium in temperate areas. Caesium is higher in subtropical and tropical fruits and strontium, plutonium and americium, in the same fruits, are lower because of different soil characteristics, says the author.

[1] Nesterenko AV, Nesterenko VB.: Protective measures for activities in Chernobyl's radioactively contaminated territories. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009 Nov;1181:311-7
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20002058

[2] Nesterenko AV, Nesterenko VB, Yablokov AV: Chernobyl's radioactive contamination of food and people. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009 Nov;1181:303-10.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20002056

[3] EPA: Manual of Protective Action Guides and Protective Actions for Nuclear Incidents
http://www.epa.gov/rpdweb00/docs/er/400-r-92-001.pdf
http://www.armscontrol.info/reports/authors/liolios/cesium-137%20dirty%20bomb%20occasional%20paper.pdf

[4] Yablokov AV, Nesterenko VB: Chernobyl contamination through time and space. Endokrynol Pol. 2006 Jan-Feb;57(1):45-52.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20002040

[5] Nesterenko VB, Nesterenko AV: Decorporation of Chernobyl radionuclides. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009 Nov;1181:5-30.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20002057

[6] Leoniak M, Zonenberg A, Zarzycki W.: The radiological situation before and after Chernobyl disaster. J Environ Radioact. 2006;85(2-3):369-79. Epub 2005 Aug 15.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16575762

[7] Rezzoug S, Michel H, Fernex F, Barci-Funel G, Barci V: Evaluation of 137Cs fallout from the Chernobyl accident in a forest soil and its impact on Alpine Lake sediments, Mercantour Massif, S.E. France. J Environ Radioact. 2006;85(2-3):380-8. Epub 2005 Sep 16.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16102877

[8] Schertz M, Michel H, Barci-Funel G, Barci V: Transuranic and fission product contamination in lake sediments from an alpine wetland, Boréon (France). J Environ Radioact. 2006;85(2-3):380-8. Epub 2005 Sep 16.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16150519

[9] Saxén R, Ilus E: Transfer and behaviour of 137Cs in two Finnish lakes and their catchments. J Environ Radioact. 2009 Sep;100(9):757-66. Epub 2008 Dec 18.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18313103

[10] Calmon P, Thiry Y, Zibold G, Rantavaara A, Fesenko S: Transfer parameter values in temperate forest ecosystems: a review. J Environ Radioact. 2001;52(2-3):237-79.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19100665

[11] Carini F: Radionuclide transfer from soil to fruit. J Environ Radioact. 2001;52(2-3):237-79.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11202699

                                                06.03.2010: Methane
Methane to Markets Partnership [1]
The Methane to Markets Partnership is an international initiative that advances cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a clean energy source. The goal of the Partnership is to reduce global methane emissions in order to enhance economic growth, strengthen energy security, improve air quality, improve industrial safety, and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Main targets are:

Agriculture and food waste : Livestock enteric fermentation, livestock waste management, rice cultivation, and agricultural waste burning. Institutional systems are being developed to capture the methane of livestock waste such as farms of farrow-to-finish swine operation in Brazil, dairy farms in India , or sheep herds in Australia. Anaerobic technology with solids separation will be used Researchers have estimated cattle produce an average of 250 litres of methane a day. It represents a 15 per cent loss in potential energy.

The current manure management method is lagoon storage of the waste in a leaky anaerobic digester lagoon. A covered lagoon digester is a large anaerobic lagoon with a long retention time and a high dilution factor. Typically covered lagoons are used with flush manure management systems that discharge manure at 0.5 to 2 percent solids. The in-ground, earth or lined lagoon is covered with a flexible or floating gas tight cover. Retention time is usually 30-45 days or longer depending on lagoon size.

Landfills: Landfill gas, composed of about 50 percent methane, is a natural by-product of decomposing organic matter. It can be used to produce electricity with engines, turbines, or other technologies, and can be refined and injected into a natural gas pipeline.

Coal mines: Removing fugitive methane gas from underground coal mines and using it in profitable and practical ways can improve worker safety, enhance mine productivity, increase revenues, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Oil and gas systems: Methane emissions from oil and natural gas systems are primarily the result of normal operations and system disruptions. These emissions can be cost-effectively reduced by upgrading technologies or equipment, and by improving operations.

Methane from livestock [2]
According to professor Andrè-Denis Wright an average U.S. beef cow burps up more than a hundred pounds of methane each year. Multiplying this by 99 million cows it is about 2% of the greenhouse gases emission. Wright wants to reduce it and turn it profitable for farmers.
Wright develops a vaccine which decreases methanogenic bacteria in the digestive track of the animals. This may reduce emissions and increases meat and milk production by 5% returning the lost energy back to the animal.

Athol Klieve wants to build fermenter which digests the feed similar what is happening in kangurus, which do not emit methane. Klieve is looking for bacteria that are able to out compete the methanogens that are present in the rumen and produce acetate instead of methane. Acetate is an energy material available for the animal.
Wright and his former colleagues in Australia demonstrated that in 30 sheep a vaccine could reduce methane output by almost 8%. Wright collected gut bacteria from South American birds to Norwegian reindeer and beyond, to cover all the methanogens. A new species was named after Dr. Wright, Apokeronopsis wrighti n. sp.

Vaccine against methane producing bacteria [3]
Wright and colleagues 2009 tried to develop a vaccine targeted against methanogenic bacteria present in sheep to decrease the methane output of the sheep. Five phylotypes which account for >52% of the methanogens were used for the production of a vaccine. The authors reported that the vaccine may have altered the composition of the methanogen population and a more broad-spectrum approach. Our data also suggest that methanogens take longer than 4 weeks to adapt to dietary changes. 2- to 4-week acclimatization period normally observed for bacteria are too short, say the authors.

Methanogenic bacteria and ciliate protozoa in reindeer [4]
In a study of 2009 wright and colleagues report the diversity of ruminal methanogens, bacteria and ciliate protozoa of Svalbard reindeer. In this study they used a 16S rRNA gene library prepared from pooled PCR products from reindeer. Eleven of the 22 distinct operational taxonomic units were similar to methanogens affiliated with Methanobacteriales, Methanomicrobiales and Methanosarcinales, and the remaining 11 operational taxonomic units (53% ) were associated with a cluster of uncultivated ruminal archaea.The authors state further that host type affects the population size of ruminal methanogens.

Rumen-like methanogens identified from the crop of the South American bird, the hoatzin [5]
The hoatzin is the only known avian species with foregut fermentation. Wright and colleagues examined the methanogens of the crop of hoatzin using 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. The authors found similarities with Methanobrevibacter ruminantium and Methanosphaera stadtmanae. Possible new genera and new species were identified. The authors concluded that although none of bacteria had 100% sequence identity to any of the the GenBank database, the hoatzin crop methanogen sequences formed sister groups with known rumen methanogens and demonstrate the convergent evolution of foregut fermentation in the hoatzin, similar to that of ruminants.

Methanogens in sheep from Venezuela [6]
Rumen methanogens in sheep from Venezuela, using 16S rRNA gene libraries, were found to belong to the genus Methanobrevibacter and Methanobrevibacter gottschalkii. Two possible new species, one belonging to the genus Methanobrevibacter and the other belonging to the genus Methanobacterium were reported by Wright, Ma and Obispo 2008.

Artificial stimulation of the rumen wall and low grain diet decreases methane emission of sheep [7]
Studying the interaction of retention time in the rumen and concentrate diet on methane production in vitro, Wright and colleagues 2008 found that pot scrubbers combined with grain alter the rumen fermentation. They suggest that the introduction of pot scrubbers into the rumens of livestock consuming low levels of grain may be a way to lower methane emissions.

Molecular diversity of methanogens in feedlot cattle [8]
Wright and colleagues 2007 compared the composition of the methanogenic bacteria of the rumen of of corn based diet animals in Ontario and Prince Edward Island fed with potato by-products. One-third of the bacteria were identified as Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, also Methanobacteriales, Methanomicrobiales, and Methanosarcinales were found. The two herds differed in composition and in new species found in the methanogenic population. The authors could not conclude whether the geographical isolation or the different diets of both herds were responsible for these differences.

Two new methanogenic bacteria classified [9]
Wright and colleagues, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, classified four bacteria belonging to the order Methanobacteriales in the genus Methanobrevibacter. living in the rumen of sheep and cattle. Two were found to be Methanobrevibacter thaueri and Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, and the other two strains were novel species for which the researchers proposed the names of Methanobrevibacter millerae sp. nov. and Methanobrevibacter olleyae sp. nov.

Detection and cultivation of bacteria to inhibit growth of methanogens [10]
Gilbert and colleagues 2010 describe a method for screening bacterial isolates for their potential to inhibit the growth of ruminal methanogenic Archaea using modification of the soft agar overlay technique.

Streptococcus bovis from gastrointestinal tract of animals and humans [11]
Herrera and colleagues 2009 highlight the importance of Streptococcus bovis present in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals. S. bovis is one of the major causes of bacterial endocarditis and is implicated in colon cancer. Certain diets may lead to overgrowth of S. bovis in the rumen. Resulting over-production of lactate and capsular polysaccharide cause acute ruminal acidosis and bloat. This demands a diet of grain and coarsely chopped roughage. Ionophores, enhancing feed conversion and growth rate in cattle, have also inhibiting effect on lactic acid bacteria in the rumen.
Also supplementation of long-chain fatty acids, vaccines, and the use of lytic bacteriophages) have also been proposed. The authors hope that the outcomes of these studies may lead to more effective control strategies of these bacteria.
Joachimsthal and colleagues 2009 found that Streptococcus bovis Sb 15 isolates from Australian ruminants may be used for commercial production of bacteriocin to prevent food spoilage or as a feed additive to promote growth in ruminant species. [12]

Ruminococcus bromii YE282 may become a supplement to improve barley feed [13]
Klieve and colleagues 2007 studied the bacteria population in grain (barley)-fed cattle aiming to increase the efficiency of starch utilization.One of the most common and dominant bacteria present was identified as Ruminococcus bromii YE282, counting for about 10% of the total bacterial population. The authors suggest that this strain may be used as probiotic supplement to increase the starch utilization in barley-fed cattle.

Forrage diet related effects on Escherichia coli [14]
Callaway and colleagues 2003 stress that the enterohemorragic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strain O157:H7 is found in about 30 to 80% of feedlot and dairy cattle. The authors explain that some of the starch of this grain is not fully digested and gets to the hindgut where the pathogenic Escherischia coli may profit, because this bacteria can ferment sugars. Changing from high grain (corn) diet to a forage diet, generic E. coli populations declined 1000-fold within 5 days. The authors write that changing the diet of cattle from grain to forage may reduce EHEC populations prior to slaughter.

Dietary influences, such as grain type, processing method, forage quality, and distillers grains have all been associated with E. coli O157 prevalence. Also several plant compounds, including phenolic acids and essential oils, have been proposed to reduce Escherichia coli prior to slaughter. The specific mechanisms of this effect are unknown and a better understanding of them may improve preharvest strategies, says a group around Callaway in 2009. [15]

Recent research has shown that diet does affect E. coli O157:H7 populations, but the effects have varied in magnitude and impact and their effect may be due to concentrations of tannins and phenolic acids in forages. Other diets containing grains which are rapidly fermented, such as barley, reduce the number of E. coli and distillers grains can increase faecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 due to volatile fatty acids concentrations.The authors concluded that diet may influence STEC/EHEC populations prior to slaughter; but must be put in line with the economic and practical impacts. [16]

[1] EPA: Methane to Markets Partnership
http://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets/

[2] Methane In Agriculture : Radio Australia. 15. August 2004.
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/innovations/stories/s1159618.htm

[3] Williams YJ, Popovski S, Rea SM, Skillman LC, Toovey AF, Northwood KS, Wright AD: A vaccine against rumen methanogens can alter the composition of archaeal populations. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2009 Apr;75(7):1860-6. Epub 2009 Feb 6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19201957

[4] Sundset MA, Edwards JE, Cheng YF, Senosiain RS, Fraile MN, Northwood KS, Præsteng KE, Glad T, Mathiesen SD, Wright AD: Rumen microbial diversity in Svalbard reindeer, with particular emphasis on methanogenic archaea. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2009 Jul 29.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19702875

[5] Wright AD, Northwood KS, Obispo NE: Rumen-like methanogens identified from the crop of the folivorous South American bird, the hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin). ISME J. 2009 Oct;3(10):1120-6. Epub 2009 Apr 23.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19387486

[6] Wright AD, Ma X, Obispo NE: Methanobrevibacter phylotypes are the dominant methanogens in sheep from Venezuela. Microb Ecol. 2008 Aug;56(2):390-4. Epub 2007 Dec 29.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18165875

[7] Christophersen CT, Wright AD, Vercoe PE: In vitro methane emission and acetate:propionate ratio are decreased when artificial stimulation of the rumen wall is combined with increasing grain diets in sheep. J Anim Sci. 2008 Feb;86(2):384-9. Epub 2007 Nov 27.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18042816

[8] Wright AD, Auckland CH, Lynn DH: Molecular diversity of methanogens in feedlot cattle from Ontario and Prince Edward Island, Canada. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2007 Jul;73(13):4206-10. Epub 2007 May 4.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17483285

[9] Rea S, Bowman JP, Popovski S, Pimm C, Wright AD: Methanobrevibacter millerae sp. nov. and Methanobrevibacter olleyae sp. nov., methanogens from the ovine and bovine rumen that can utilize formate for growth. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2007 Mar;57(Pt 3):450-6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17329767

[10] Gilbert RA, Ouwerkerk D, Zhang LH, Klieve AV: Cooperative Research Centre for Beef Genetic Technologies. In vitro detection and primary cultivation of bacteria producing materials inhibitory to ruminal methanogens. J Microbiol Methods. 2010 Feb;80(2):217-8. Epub 2009 Dec 11.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20005266

[11] Herrera P, Kwon YM, Ricke SC. Ecology and pathogenicity of gastrointestinal Streptococcus bovis. Anaerobe. 2009 Feb-Apr;15(1-2):44-54. Epub 2008 Dec 7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19100852

[12] Joachimsthal EL, Reeves RK, Hung J, Nielsen LK, Ouwerkerk D, Klieve AV, Vickers CE: Production of bacteriocins by Streptococcus bovis strains from Australian ruminants. J Appl Microbiol. 2009 Jul 15.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19614851

[13] Klieve AV, O'Leary MN, McMillen L, Ouwerkerk D: Ruminococcus bromii, identification and isolation as a dominant community member in the rumen of cattle fed a barley diet. J Appl Microbiol. 2007 Dec;103(6):2065-73.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18045390

[14] Callaway TR, Elder RO, Keen JE, Anderson RC, Nisbet DJ: Forage feeding to reduce preharvest Escherichia coli populations in cattle, a review. J Dairy Sci. 2003 Mar;86(3):852-60.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12703622

[15] Jacob ME, Callaway TR, Nagaraja TG: Dietary interactions and interventions affecting Escherichia coli O157 colonization and shedding in cattle. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2009 Sep;6(7):785-92.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19737058

[16] Callaway TR, Carr MA, Edrington TS, Anderson RC, Nisbet DJ: Diet, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and cattle: a review after 10 years. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2009;11(2):67-79.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19351974

03.03.2010: Madeira cake prepared with extra virgin olive oil/margarine mixture
Madeira cake is a sponge cake with a firm yet light texture and is traditionally flavoured with lemon. The Madeira Cake is sometimes mistakenly thought to originate from the Madeira Islands; however, that is not the case as it was instead named after the wine, popular in England at the time. [1]

It is made with equal parts of butter, sugar , plain flour, grated zest of orange and lemon, lemon juice, baking powder and candied peel.
The industry replaces butter with margarine and uses emulsifier such as mono and diglycerides to replace most of the eggs. Butyric acid gives the butter aroma and riboflavin gives the egg yolk colouring.

Paraskevopoulou and colleagues 2010 trying to improve healthiness of this formulation replaced some  of the margarine with extra virgin olive oil. This supposedly reduces trans fatty acids of margarine used in the formulation. The authors report that olive oil in the formulation increased batter density and cake volume while decreased the weight loss during baking. The cake prepared with this olive oil/margarine mixture was highly appreciated by the consumers. [2]

[1] Wikipedia: Madeira cake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeira_cake

[2] Matsakidou, Anthia; Blekas, Georgios; Paraskevopoulou, Adamantini: Aroma and physical characteristics of cakes prepared by replacing margarine with extra virgin olive oil. LWT - Food Science and Technology. Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.lwt.2010.02.002
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2010.02.002