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Abstract.The present study aimed to adapt and validate a Spanish version of the Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire (RTSQ) and test for measurement invariance of the RTSQ across college students in the US, Spain, and Argentina (n= 1,632). Additionally, we examined/compared across these countries, criterion-related (i.e., concurrent) validity of RTSQ factors (i.e., problem-focused thoughts, counterfactual thinking, repetitive thoughts, and anticipatory thoughts) on constructs theoretically-associated with rumination. Consistent with previous findings, we found that a 15-item 4-factor RTSQ provided a more adequate model compared to single-factor CFA models (15- and 20-item versions) in every country. The reliability and validity of the subscales for the Spanish version were satisfactory-to-good in Spain and Argentina. Using multigroup confirmatory factor analyses, we found the 15-item 4-factor version of the RTSQ to be invariant across countries and sex. Bivariate correlations provided evidence for the criterion-related validity of the 4-factor RTSQ across the countries. Our findings suggest that self-report items of the RTSQ convey the same meaning, and that responses to those items load onto the same set of factors, across languages and cultures of administration. Taken together, our findings serve as a foundation for future cross-cultural work testing models in which rumination is a central facet.

Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) is currently developing a new instrument called Détecteur Radiation Energétique Adaptable et Miniaturisé (DREAM) in order to measure electrons and protons in the Earth magnetosphere. Compared to the instrument Influence sur les Composants Avancés des Radiations de l’Espace—Nouvelle Génération (ICARE-NG), DREAM is compatible with nanosatellite cubesats. In this article, we present the instrument architecture, new sensors design, hardware improvements, and first results. Response functions for protons and electrons sensors are calculated using GEometry ANd Tracking (GEANT4) simulations. The calculation of predicted count rates of particles is performed.

Uranium is a naturally occurring radionuclide. Its redistribution, primarily due to human activities, can have adverse effects on human and non-human biota, which poses environmental concerns. The molecular mechanisms of uranium tolerance and the cellular response induced by uranium exposure in bacteria are not yet fully understood. Here, we carried out a comparative analysis of four actinobacterial strains isolated from metal and radionuclide-rich soils that display contrasted uranium tolerance phenotypes. Comparative proteogenomics showed that uranyl exposure affects 39–47% of the total proteins, with an impact on phosphate and iron metabolisms and membrane proteins. This approach highlighted a protein of unknown function, named UipA, that is specific to the uranium-tolerant strains and that had the highest positive fold-change upon uranium exposure. UipA is a single-pass transmembrane protein and its large C-terminal soluble domain displayed a specific, nanomolar binding affinity for UO22+and Fe3+. ATR-FTIR and XAS-spectroscopy showed that mono and bidentate carboxylate groups of the protein coordinated both metals. The crystal structure of UipA, solved in its apo state and bound to uranium, revealed a tandem of PepSY domains in a swapped dimer, with a negatively charged face where uranium is bound through a set of conserved residues. This work reveals the importance of UipA and its PepSY domains in metal binding and radionuclide tolerance.

Uranium is a naturally occurring radionuclide. Its redistribution, primarily due to human activities, can have adverse effects on human and non-human biota, which poses environmental concerns. The molecular mechanisms of uranium tolerance and the cellular response induced by uranium exposure in bacteria are not yet fully understood. Here, we carried out a comparative analysis of four actinobacterial strains isolated from metal and radionuclide-rich soils that display contrasted uranium tolerance phenotypes. Comparative proteogenomics showed that uranyl exposure affects 39–47% of the total proteins, with an impact on phosphate and iron metabolisms and membrane proteins. This approach highlighted a protein of unknown function, named UipA, that is specific to the uranium-tolerant strains and that had the highest positive fold-change upon uranium exposure. UipA is a single-pass transmembrane protein and its large C-terminal soluble domain displayed a specific, nanomolar binding affinity for UO22+and Fe3+. ATR-FTIR and XAS-spectroscopy showed that mono and bidentate carboxylate groups of the protein coordinated both metals. The crystal structure of UipA, solved in its apo state and bound to uranium, revealed a tandem of PepSY domains in a swapped dimer, with a negatively charged face where uranium is bound through a set of conserved residues. This work reveals the importance of UipA and its PepSY domains in metal binding and radionuclide tolerance.

Tissue regeneration requires coordination between resident stem cells and local niche cells1,2. Here we identify that senescent cells are integral components of the skeletal muscle regenerative niche that repress regeneration at all stages of life. The technical limitation of senescent-cell scarcity3was overcome by combining single-cell transcriptomics and a senescent-cell enrichment sorting protocol. We identified and isolated different senescent cell types from damaged muscles of young and old mice. Deeper transcriptome, chromatin and pathway analyses revealed conservation of cell identity traits as well as two universal senescence hallmarks (inflammation and fibrosis) across cell type, regeneration time and ageing. Senescent cells create an aged-like inflamed niche that mirrors inflammation associated with ageing (inflammageing4) and arrests stem cell proliferation and regeneration. Reducing the burden of senescent cells, or reducing their inflammatory secretome through CD36 neutralization, accelerates regeneration in young and old mice. By contrast, transplantation of senescent cells delays regeneration. Our results provide a technique for isolating in vivo senescent cells, define a senescence blueprint for muscle, and uncover unproductive functional interactions between senescent cells and stem cells in regenerative niches that can be overcome. As senescent cells also accumulate in human muscles, our findings open potential paths for improving muscle repair throughout life.

Macrocycles, including macrocyclic peptides, have shown promise for targeting challenging protein–protein interactions (PPIs). One PPI of high interest is between Kelch-like ECH-Associated Protein-1 (KEAP1) and Nuclear Factor (Erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2). Guided by X-ray crystallography, NMR, modeling, and machine learning, we show that the full 20 nM binding affinity of Nrf2 for KEAP1 can be recapitulated in a cyclic 7-mer peptide, c[(D)-β-homoAla-DPETGE]. This compound was identified from the Nrf2-derived linear peptide GDEETGE (KD= 4.3 μM) solely by optimizing the conformation of the cyclic compound, without changing any KEAP1 interacting residue. X-ray crystal structures were determined for each linear and cyclic peptide variant bound to KEAP1. Despite large variations in affinity, no obvious differences in the conformation of the peptide binding residues or in the interactions they made with KEAP1 were observed. However, analysis of the X-ray structures by machine learning showed that locations of strain in the bound ligand could be identified through patterns of subangstrom distortions from the geometry observed for unstrained linear peptides. We show that optimizing the cyclic peptide affinity was driven partly through conformational preorganization associated with a proline substitution at position 78 and with the geometry of the noninteracting residue Asp77 and partly by decreasing strain in the ETGE motif itself. This approach may have utility in dissecting the trade-off between conformational preorganization and strain in other ligand–receptor systems. We also identify a pair of conserved hydrophobic residues flanking the core DxETGE motif which play a conformational role in facilitating the high-affinity binding of Nrf2 to KEAP1.

Tissue regeneration declines with ageing but little is known about whether this arises from changes in stem-cell heterogeneity. Here, in homeostatic skeletal muscle, we identify two quiescent stem-cell states distinguished by relative CD34 expression: CD34High, with stemness properties (genuine state), and CD34Low, committed to myogenic differentiation (primed state). The genuine-quiescent state is unexpectedly preserved into later life, succumbing only in extreme old age due to the acquisition of primed-state traits. Niche-derived IGF1-dependent Akt activation debilitates the genuine stem-cell state by imposing primed-state features via FoxO inhibition. Interventions to neutralize Akt and promote FoxO activity drive a primed-to-genuine state conversion, whereas FoxO inactivation deteriorates the genuine state at a young age, causing regenerative failure of muscle, as occurs in geriatric mice. These findings reveal transcriptional determinants of stem-cell heterogeneity that resist ageing more than previously anticipated and are only lost in extreme old age, with implications for the repair of geriatric muscle.

•First report on whole-genome analysis of extensively drug-resistant NDM-6 producing uropathogenic C. werkmaniiST104.•A BaeSR two-component system regulating production of multidrug efflux proteins was identified in C. werkmaniiAK-8.•ntBLAST results showed AK-8 to possess 69.60% genetic identity with Escherichia coli536.•The AK-8 genome encodes 21 chemoreceptors aiding in colonisation and pathogenesis.

Development of small molecule inhibitors of protein–protein interactions (PPIs) is hampered by our poor understanding of the druggability of PPI target sites. Here, we describe the combined application of alanine-scanning mutagenesis, fragment screening, and FTMap computational hot spot mapping to evaluate the energetics and druggability of the highly charged PPI interface between Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2), an important drug target. FTMap identifies four binding energy hot spots at the active site. Only two of these are exploited by Nrf2, which alanine scanning of both proteins shows to bind primarily through E79 and E82 interacting with KEAP1 residues S363, R380, R415, R483, and S508. We identify fragment hits and obtain X-ray complex structures for three fragments via crystal soaking using a new crystal form of KEAP1. Combining these results provides a comprehensive and quantitative picture of the origins of binding energy at the interface. Our findings additionally reveal non-native interactions that might be exploited in the design of uncharged synthetic ligands to occupy the same site on KEAP1 that has evolved to bind the highly charged DEETGE binding loop of Nrf2. These include π-stacking with KEAP1 Y525 and interactions at an FTMap-identified hot spot deep in the binding site. Finally, we discuss how the complementary information provided by alanine-scanning mutagenesis, fragment screening, and computational hot spot mapping can be integrated to more comprehensively evaluate PPI druggability.

Silver nanomaterials with different shapes (spheres, plates, wires, rods, cubes) are valued by industries and scientists for their shape-dependent properties which make them useful for diverse applications. In a safer-by-design perspective, controlling the shape of Ag nanomaterials could be an option to increase their properties while lowering either their hazard or their exposure potentials. Nine indoor aquatic mesocosms reproducing a lotic ecosystem were contaminated with chronic low-level additions of Ag nanospheres (Sp-Ag) and nanoplates (Pl-Ag) for a month. A shape-dependent impact under such environmentally relevant exposure conditions was observed. Pl-Ag induced a moderate oxidative stress in adult Gammarus fossarum(after molting) and a hormesis effect on planktonic microbial communities, while Sp-Ag had no effect. In an environmental risk perspective, our results highlight which ecological niches of a lotic ecosystem would be more impacted by Pl-Ag: (i) >72% of the total Ag was found fully sulfidized in surficial sediment and had only a moderate impact on benthic macro-organisms, (ii) only 11% to 15% of the Ag remained in the water column after 1 month, but Ag was under a more reactive speciation that impacts the planktonic community.

The aim of this quality improvement project was to improve patients' knowledge about their vitamin B12 deficiency by developing an information leaflet and engaging nursing staff in providing this educational tool to patients with the condition. Following two ‘plan, do, study, act’ cycles to test and improve implementation of the leaflet, the nursing team met the goal of 100% compliance with providing educational information to patients. An increase in patient knowledge following provision of the leaflet was predicted, and achieved.

Early exposure to negative environmental impact shapes individual behavior and potentially contributes to any mental disease. We reported previously that accumulated environmental risk markedly decreases age at schizophrenia onset. Follow-up of matched extreme group individuals (≤1 vs. ≥3 risks) unexpectedly revealed that high-risk subjects had >5 times greater probability of forensic hospitalization. In line with longstanding sociological theories, we hypothesized that risk accumulation before adulthood induces violent aggression and criminal conduct, independent of mental illness. We determined in 6 independent cohorts (4 schizophrenia and 2 general population samples) pre-adult risk exposure, comprising urbanicity, migration, physical and sexual abuse as primary, and cannabis or alcohol as secondary hits. All single hits by themselves were marginally associated with higher violent aggression. Most strikingly, however, their accumulation strongly predicted violent aggression (odds ratio 10.5). An epigenome-wide association scan to detect differential methylation of blood-derived DNA of selected extreme group individuals yielded overall negative results. Conversely, determination in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of histone-deacetylase1 mRNA as ‘umbrella mediator’ of epigenetic processes revealed an increase in the high-risk group, suggesting lasting epigenetic alterations. Together, we provide sound evidence of a disease-independent unfortunate relationship between well-defined pre-adult environmental hits and violent aggression, calling for more efficient prevention.

Silver phytoavailability in exposure scenarios close to predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) has rarely been studied. The ISO-standardized RHIZOtest, based on a root mat technique, was used to expose tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) to silver at a concentration close to 0.0015 mg kg−1and 100 times higher (0.15 mg kg−1) than PEC in soils (the PEC of Ag nanoparticulate in the soil range from 6 × 10−6to 1.4 × 10−3mg kg−1). Silver was supplied in the form of nanoparticles with organic (PVP) or inorganic (SiO2) coating, or as dissolved Ag (AgNO3), in different soil types, with contrasting properties, including pH, cationic exchange capacity, and carbonate, organic matter, and clay contents. The Ag concentration was quantified in plant roots and leaves and in soil solutions using ICP-MS spectrometry. Multivariate analyses showed that the form of Ag, nanoparticulate or ionic, had no impact on either the flux or the translocation of Ag in plants (p-value > 0.05). At a silver concentration close to PEC, Ag phytoavailability from Ag NPs or AgNO3was indistinguishable from that of geogenic Ag. At 100× PEC, the type of soil, mainly clay and carbonate contents, controlled the Ag flux. While both decreased Ag in soil solution, clays and carbonates showed antagonistic actions in modulating the Ag flux. We hypothesize that proton root exudation locally dissolves carbonates and releases phytoavailable Ag, while immobilizing Ag on the edges of clays.

Research has highlighted the role of neuroticism, rumination, and depression in predicting suicidal thoughts, but studies on how these variables interplay are scarce. The aims of the present study were to test a model in which emotional stability (i.e., low neuroticism) would act as an antecedent and moderator of rumination and depressed mood in the prediction of suicidal ideation (i.e., moderated serial-mediation), and to explore their replicability across four countries and sex, among college students as an at-risk-group for suicide.

Disease emergence events regularly result from human activities such as agriculture, which frequently brings large populations of genetically uniform hosts into contact with potential pathogens. Although viruses cause nearly 50% of emerging plant diseases, there is little systematic information about virus distribution across agro-ecological interfaces and large gaps in understanding of virus diversity in nature. Here we applied a novel landscape-scale geometagenomics approach to examine relationships between agricultural land use and distributions of plant-associated viruses in two Mediterranean-climate biodiversity hotspots (Western Cape region of South Africa and Rhône river delta region of France). In total, we analysed 1725 geo-referenced plant samples collected over two years from 4.5 × 4.5 km2grids spanning farmlands and adjacent uncultivated vegetation. We found substantial virus prevalence (25.8–35.7%) in all ecosystems, but prevalence and identified family-level virus diversity were greatest in cultivated areas, with some virus families displaying strong agricultural associations. Our survey revealed 94 previously unknown virus species, primarily from uncultivated plants. This is the first effort to systematically evaluate plant-associated viromes across broad agro-ecological interfaces. Our findings indicate that agriculture substantially influences plant virus distributions and highlight the extent of current ignorance about the diversity and roles of viruses in nature.

Disease emergence events regularly result from human activities such as agriculture, which frequently brings large populations of genetically uniform hosts into contact with potential pathogens. Although viruses cause nearly 50% of emerging plant diseases, there is little systematic information about virus distribution across agro-ecological interfaces and large gaps in understanding of virus diversity in nature. Here we applied a novel landscape-scale geometagenomics approach to examine relationships between agricultural land use and distributions of plant-associated viruses in two Mediterranean-climate biodiversity hotspots (Western Cape region of South Africa and Rhône river delta region of France). In total, we analysed 1725 geo-referenced plant samples collected over two years from 4.5 × 4.5?km2grids spanning farmlands and adjacent uncultivated vegetation. We found substantial virus prevalence (25.8–35.7%) in all ecosystems, but prevalence and identified family-level virus diversity were greatest in cultivated areas, with some virus families displaying strong agricultural associations. Our survey revealed 94 previously unknown virus species, primarily from uncultivated plants. This is the first effort to systematically evaluate plant-associated viromes across broad agro-ecological interfaces. Our findings indicate that agriculture substantially influences plant virus distributions and highlight the extent of current ignorance about the diversity and roles of viruses in nature.

During ageing, muscle stem-cell regenerative function declines. At advanced geriatric age, this decline is maximal owing to transition from a normal quiescence into an irreversible senescence state. How satellite cells maintain quiescence and avoid senescence until advanced age remains unknown. Here we report that basal autophagy is essential to maintain the stem-cell quiescent state in mice. Failure of autophagy in physiologically aged satellite cells or genetic impairment of autophagy in young cells causes entry into senescence by loss of proteostasis, increased mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, resulting in a decline in the function and number of satellite cells. Re-establishment of autophagy reverses senescence and restores regenerative functions in geriatric satellite cells. As autophagy also declines in human geriatric satellite cells, our findings reveal autophagy to be a decisive stem-cell-fate regulator, with implications for fostering muscle regeneration in sarcopenia.

Deinococcaceae are a family of extremely radiation-tolerant bacteria that are currently subjected to numerous studies aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms for such radiotolerance. To achieve a comprehensive and accurate annotation of the Deinococcus deserti genome, we performed an N terminus-oriented characterization of its proteome. For this, we used a labeling reagent, N-tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphonium acetyl succinimide, to selectively derivatize protein N termini. The large scale identification of N-tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphonium acetyl succinimide-modified N-terminal-most peptides by shotgun liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis led to the validation of 278 and the correction of 73 translation initiation codons in the D. deserti genome. In addition, four new genes were detected, three located on the main chromosome and one on plasmid P3. We also analyzed signal peptide cleavages on a genome-wide scale. Based on comparative proteogenomics analysis, we propose a set of 137 corrections to improve Deinococcus radiodurans and Deinococcus geothermalis gene annotations. Some of these corrections affect important genes involved in DNA repair mechanisms such as polA, ligA, and ddrB. Surprisingly, experimental evidences were obtained indicating that DnaA (the protein involved in the DNA replication initiation process) and RpsL (the S12 ribosomal conserved protein) translation is initiated in Deinococcaceae from non-canonical codons (ATC and CTG, respectively). Such use may be the basis of specific regulation mechanisms affecting replication and translation. We also report the use of non-conventional translation initiation codons for two other genes: Deide_03051 and infC. Whether such use of non-canonical translation initiation codons is much more frequent than for other previously reported bacterial phyla or restricted to Deinococcaceae remains to be investigated. Our results demonstrate that predicting translation initiation codons is still difficult for some bacteria and that proteomics-based refinement of genome annotations may be helpful in such cases.

Deinococcaceae are a family of extremely radiation-tolerant bacteria that are currently subjected to numerous studies aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms for such radiotolerance. To achieve a comprehensive and accurate annotation of the Deinococcus desertigenome, we performed an N terminus-oriented characterization of its proteome. For this, we used a labeling reagent, N-tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphonium acetyl succinimide, to selectively derivatize protein N termini. The large scale identification of N-tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphonium acetyl succinimide-modified N-terminal-most peptides by shotgun liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis led to the validation of 278 and the correction of 73 translation initiation codons in the D. desertigenome. In addition, four new genes were detected, three located on the main chromosome and one on plasmid P3. We also analyzed signal peptide cleavages on a genome-wide scale. Based on comparative proteogenomics analysis, we propose a set of 137 corrections to improve Deinococcus radioduransand Deinococcus geothermalisgene annotations. Some of these corrections affect important genes involved in DNA repair mechanisms such as polA, ligA, and ddrB. Surprisingly, experimental evidences were obtained indicating that DnaA (the protein involved in the DNA replication initiation process) and RpsL (the S12 ribosomal conserved protein) translation is initiated in Deinococcaceae from non-canonical codons (ATC and CTG, respectively). Such use may be the basis of specific regulation mechanisms affecting replication and translation. We also report the use of non-conventional translation initiation codons for two other genes: Deide_03051and infC. Whether such use of non-canonical translation initiation codons is much more frequent than for other previously reported bacterial phyla or restricted to Deinococcaceae remains to be investigated. Our results demonstrate that predicting translation initiation codons is still difficult for some bacteria and that proteomics-based refinement of genome annotations may be helpful in such cases.

Working memory has been described as a neurocognitive probe of prefrontal brain functioning. Genetic variability related with catecholOmethyltransferase COMT gene Val158Met polymorphism has received increasing attention as a possible modulator of working memory tasks in both schizophrenic patients and healthy subjects, although inconsistencies across studies have been found. This may be related to the existence of different working memory components, processes and modalities, which may have different sensitivities to subtle changes in dopamine levels and, therefore, the effect of the underlying COMT Val158Met genetic variability. To test this out a large sample of 521 healthy individuals from the general population were tested on the WCST and three working memory tasks that cover the assessment of verbal and spatial working modalities as well as different components and processes Letter and Number Sequencing, CPTIP, Backwards Visual Span. All individuals were genotyped for the rs4680 Val158Met polymorphism at the COMT gene. Met carriers showed nearsignificant better performance in the LNS compared with ValVal individuals F  3.9, df  1, P  0.046. Moreover, the analysis for linear trend found that Met allele carriers showed significantly better performance than ValVal individuals B  0.58 P  0.031, although evidence for a linear trend was not found. None of the WCST indices differed among genotypes. Consistent with the hypothesis that Val158Met polymorphism COMT gene might account for individual differences on dopaminedependent prefrontally related neurocognitive functions, the LetterNumber Sequencing task, which requires not only maintenance but also active manipulation of information seemed to be more sensitive to the disadvantageous ValVal genotype in a large nonclinical sample. © 2008 WileyLiss, Inc.

Summary:This research studies the factor structure of the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP) and its location within Eysenck's three broad dimensions of personality: psychoticism, extraversion, and neuroticism. A series of factor analyses and structural equations with the KSP and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R) scales were carried out. The relationships between KSP and other biologically rooted personality traits (Zuckerman's sensation seeking and Gray's sensitivity to punishment) were also investigated. The results showed four underlying traits of the KSP: negative emotionality, aggressive nonconformity, impulsive unsocialized sensation seeking, and social withdrawal. Negative emotionality was mainly related to neuroticism; aggressive nonconformity was associated with psychoticism and, to a lesser degree, with neuroticism; impulsive unsocialized sensation seeking was correlated with both psychoticism and extraversion; and social withdrawal was principally related to low extraversion.

Summary:This study investigates in a nonclinical sample some aspects of the reliability and validity of the Spanish adaptation of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) as well as the relationship of personality dimensions and psychopathological symptoms. Factor analysis showed a six-factor structure: depression, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, obsession-compulsion, somatization, and hostility/aggressivity. Alpha reliabilities for the six BSI scales showed optimal indices (between 0.70 and 0.91). Furthermore, the relationships among BSI-extracted factors and extraversion (E), neuroticism (N), and psychoticism (P) scales of the EPQ-R were also studied. Phobic anxiety and somatization were related to N and P; hostility/aggressivity was related to N, P and E; obsession-compulsion was related to N, P and inversely to E. In conclusion, the Spanish version of the BSI is a reliable, valid, and rapid tool for the assessment of symptoms of depression, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, obsession-compulsion, somatization, and hostility/aggressivity in the nonclinical population.

Soil is a major receptor of manufactured nanomaterials (NMs) following unintentional releases or intentional uses. Ceria NMs have been shown to undergo biotransformation in plant and soil organisms with a partial Ce(IV) reduction into Ce(III), but the influence of environmentally widespread soil bacteria is poorly understood. We used high-energy resolution fluorescence-detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy (HERFD-XAS) with an unprecedented detection limit to assess Ce speciation in a model soil bacterium (Pseudomonas brassicacearum) exposed to CeO2NMs of different sizes and shapes. The findings revealed that the CeO2NM’s size drives the biotransformation process. No biotransformation was observed for the 31 nm CeO2NMs, contrary to 7 and 4 nm CeO2NMs, with a Ce reduction of 64 ± 14% and 70 ± 15%, respectively. This major reduction appeared quickly, from the early exponential bacterial growth phase. Environmentally relevant organic acid metabolites secreted by Pseudomonas, especially in the rhizosphere, were investigated. The 2-keto-gluconic and citric acid metabolites alone were able to induce a significant reduction in 4 nm CeO2NMs. The high biotransformation measured for <7 nm NMs would affect the fate of Ce in the soil and biota.

Summary:This paper presents the results obtained in Spain with The Interpersonal Adjective Scales of J.S. Wiggins (1995) concerning the variables' structure. There are two Spanish versions of IAS, developed by two independent research groups who were not aware of each other's work. One of these versions was published as an assessment test in 1996. Results from the other group have remained unpublished to date. The set of results presented here compares three sources of data: the original American manual (from Wiggins and collaborators), the Spanish manual (already published), and the new IAS (our own research). Results can be considered satisfactory since, broadly speaking, the inner structure of the original instrument is well replicated in the Spanish version.

Studies carried out using the Spanish assessment instrument known as the Socialization Battery (or BAS) showed a two-level structure: six first-order components are organized at a higher level in an oblique two-factor solution, one axis being “Sociability versus Unsociability” and the other “Prosocial versus Antisocial Behavior.” In order to further analyze these constructs, a new assessment kit called Dimensions of Interpersonal Orientation (Spanish: Dimensiones de Orientación Interpersonal or DOI) was developed. The DOI kit includes both self-reports and other-reports, and can be applied to both older children or adolescents and adults. The first task of this study was to see whether the structure mentioned above (originally found in youngsters' self-reports) is replicated along the four content-equivalent forms of the DOI kit. The second and more important aim was to examine the construct validity by means of multitrait-multimethod matrices. Convergent and discriminant validity were assessed in youngsters (N = 562) and in adults (N = 585), using both traditional and current strategies. Results of all structural analyses are encouraging: the DOI's first- and second-order structures are well supported.

The chemical composition of Tornabenea bischoffiiJ. A. Schmidt essential oil from Cape Verde was studied by GC and GC/MS. Sixty volatile compounds were identified of which myristicin was the major constituent (33.6%). Using the 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free-radical scavenging method and the in vitroassay for prevention of lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric reactive species, significant antioxidant activities were evidenced.

The chemical composition of essential oil from the air-dried aerial parts of Satureja forbesii (Benth.) Briq. from Cape Verde was studied by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-nine volatile compounds were identified of which geranial (42.0%) and neral (31.2%) were the major constituents. Using the 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free-radical scavenging method and the in vitro assay for prevention of lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric reactive species, significant activities were evidenced.