Cercosporoid fungi (Mycosphaerellaceae) 2. Species on monocots (Acoraceae to Xyridaceae, excluding Poaceae).

PubMed

Braun, Uwe; Crous, Pedro W; Nakashima, Chiharu

2014-12-01

Cercosporoid fungi (formerly Cercospora s. lat.) represent one of the largest groups of hyphomycetes belonging to the Mycosphaerellaceae (Ascomycota). They include asexual morphs, asexual holomorphs, or species with mycosphaerella-like sexual morphs. Most of them are leaf-spotting plant pathogens with special phytopathological relevance. In the first part of a new monographic work, cercosporoid hyphomycetes occurring on other fungi (fungicolous species), on ferns (pteridophytes) and gymnosperms were treated. This second part deals with cercosporoid fungi on monocots (Liliopsida; Equisetopsida, Magnoliidae, Lilianae), which covers species occurring on host plants belonging to families arranged in alphabetical order from Acoraceae to Xyridaceae, excluding Poaceae (cereals and grasses) which requires a separate treatment. The species are described and illustrated in alphabetical order under the particular cercosporoid genera, supplemented by keys to the species concerned. A detailed introduction, a survey of currently recognised cercosporoid genera, a key to the genera concerned, and a discussion of taxonomically relevant characters were published in the first part of this series. Neopseudocercospora, an additional recently introduced cercosporoid genus, is briefly discussed. The following taxonomic novelties are introduced: Cercospora alpiniigena sp. nov., C. neomaricae sp. nov., Corynespora palmicola comb. nov., Exosporium miyakei comb. nov., E. petersii comb. nov., Neopseudocercospora zambiensis comb. nov., Passalora caladiicola comb. nov., P. streptopi comb. nov., P. togashiana comb. nov., P. tranzschelii var. chinensis var. nov., Pseudocercospora beaucarneae comb. nov., P. constrictoflexuosa comb. et stat. nov., P. curcumicola sp. nov., P. dispori comb. nov., P. smilacicola sp. nov., P. urariigena nom. nov., Zasmidium agavicola comb. nov., Z. cercestidis-afzelii comb. nov., Z. citri-griseum comb. nov., Z. cyrtopodii comb. nov., Z. gahnae comb. nov., Z. indicum comb. nov., Z. liriopes comb. nov., Z. mycovellosielloides sp. nov., Z. scleriae comb. nov., Z. smilacicola comb. nov., and Z. thaliae comb. nov.

Optimization of Xylanase Production from Penicillium sp.WX-Z1 by a Two-Step Statistical Strategy: Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken Experimental Design

PubMed Central

Cui, Fengjie; Zhao, Liming

2012-01-01

The objective of the study was to optimize the nutrition sources in a culture medium for the production of xylanase from Penicillium sp.WX-Z1 using Plackett-Burman design and Box-Behnken design. The Plackett-Burman multifactorial design was first employed to screen the important nutrient sources in the medium for xylanase production by Penicillium sp.WX-Z1 and subsequent use of the response surface methodology (RSM) was further optimized for xylanase production by Box-Behnken design. The important nutrient sources in the culture medium, identified by the initial screening method of Placket-Burman, were wheat bran, yeast extract, NaNO3, MgSO4, and CaCl2. The optimal amounts (in g/L) for maximum production of xylanase were: wheat bran, 32.8; yeast extract, 1.02; NaNO3, 12.71; MgSO4, 0.96; and CaCl2, 1.04. Using this statistical experimental design, the xylanase production under optimal condition reached 46.50 U/mL and an increase in xylanase activity of 1.34-fold was obtained compared with the original medium for fermentation carried out in a 30-L bioreactor. PMID:22949884

Optimization of Xylanase production from Penicillium sp.WX-Z1 by a two-step statistical strategy: Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken experimental design.

PubMed

Cui, Fengjie; Zhao, Liming

2012-01-01

The objective of the study was to optimize the nutrition sources in a culture medium for the production of xylanase from Penicillium sp.WX-Z1 using Plackett-Burman design and Box-Behnken design. The Plackett-Burman multifactorial design was first employed to screen the important nutrient sources in the medium for xylanase production by Penicillium sp.WX-Z1 and subsequent use of the response surface methodology (RSM) was further optimized for xylanase production by Box-Behnken design. The important nutrient sources in the culture medium, identified by the initial screening method of Placket-Burman, were wheat bran, yeast extract, NaNO(3), MgSO(4), and CaCl(2). The optimal amounts (in g/L) for maximum production of xylanase were: wheat bran, 32.8; yeast extract, 1.02; NaNO(3), 12.71; MgSO(4), 0.96; and CaCl(2), 1.04. Using this statistical experimental design, the xylanase production under optimal condition reached 46.50 U/mL and an increase in xylanase activity of 1.34-fold was obtained compared with the original medium for fermentation carried out in a 30-L bioreactor.

Two new chroman derivations from the endophytic Penicillium sp. DCS523.

PubMed

Li, Jun-Tian; Fu, Xiao-Li; Tan, Chun; Zeng, Ying; Wang, Qi; Zhao, Pei-Ji

2011-01-18

Strain DCS523 was isolated from the branch tissue of Daphniphyllum longeracemosum and determined to be a Penicillium sp. according to the ITS sequence analysis. The extracts from the PDA solid fermentation media of Penicillium sp. DCS523 were purified to give two new chroman derivatives as well as six known compounds. Based on their spectral data the new compounds were identified as (Z)-6-acetyl- 3-(1,2-dihydroxypropylidene)-5-hydroxy-8-methylchroman-2-one and 6-acetyl-2α,5- dihydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)- 3α,8-dimethylchroman, respectively.

Orenia metallireducens sp. nov. Strain Z6, a Novel Metal-Reducing Member of the Phylum Firmicutes from the Deep Subsurface

PubMed Central

Sanford, Robert A.; Boyanov, Maxim I.; Kemner, Kenneth M.; O'Loughlin, Edward J.; Chang, Yun-juan; Locke, Randall A.; Weber, Joseph R.; Egan, Sheila M.; Mackie, Roderick I.; Cann, Isaac; Fouke, Bruce W.

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT A novel halophilic and metal-reducing bacterium, Orenia metallireducens strain Z6, was isolated from briny groundwater extracted from a 2.02 km-deep borehole in the Illinois Basin, IL. This organism shared 96% 16S rRNA gene similarity with Orenia marismortui but demonstrated physiological properties previously unknown for this genus. In addition to exhibiting a fermentative metabolism typical of the genus Orenia, strain Z6 reduces various metal oxides [Fe(III), Mn(IV), Co(III), and Cr(VI)], using H2 as the electron donor. Strain Z6 actively reduced ferrihydrite over broad ranges of pH (6 to 9.6), salinity (0.4 to 3.5 M NaCl), and temperature (20 to 60°C). At pH 6.5, strain Z6 also reduced more crystalline iron oxides, such as lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH), goethite (α-FeOOH), and hematite (α-Fe2O3). Analysis of X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) following Fe(III) reduction by strain Z6 revealed spectra from ferrous secondary mineral phases consistent with the precipitation of vivianite [Fe3(PO4)2] and siderite (FeCO3). The draft genome assembled for strain Z6 is 3.47 Mb in size and contains 3,269 protein-coding genes. Unlike the well-understood iron-reducing Shewanella and Geobacter species, this organism lacks the c-type cytochromes for typical Fe(III) reduction. Strain Z6 represents the first bacterial species in the genus Orenia (order Halanaerobiales) reported to reduce ferric iron minerals and other metal oxides. This microbe expands both the phylogenetic and physiological scopes of iron-reducing microorganisms known to inhabit the deep subsurface and suggests new mechanisms for microbial iron reduction. These distinctions from other Orenia spp. support the designation of strain Z6 as a new species, Orenia metallireducens sp. nov. IMPORTANCE A novel iron-reducing species, Orenia metallireducens sp. nov., strain Z6, was isolated from groundwater collected from a geological formation located 2.02 km below land surface in the Illinois Basin, USA. Phylogenetic, physiologic, and genomic analyses of strain Z6 found it to have unique properties for iron reducers, including (i) active microbial iron-reducing capacity under broad ranges of temperatures (20 to 60°C), pHs (6 to 9.6), and salinities (0.4 to 3.5 M NaCl), (ii) lack of c-type cytochromes typically affiliated with iron reduction in Geobacter and Shewanella species, and (iii) being the only member of the Halanaerobiales capable of reducing crystalline goethite and hematite. This study expands the scope of phylogenetic affiliations, metabolic capacities, and catalytic mechanisms for iron-reducing microbes. PMID:27565620

Orenia metallireducens sp. nov. strain Z6, a Novel Metal-reducing [member of the Phylum] Firmicute from the Deep Subsurface

DOE PAGES

Dong, Yiran; Sanford, Robert A.; Boyanov, Maxim I.; ...

2016-08-26

A novel halophilic and metal-reducing bacterium, Orenia metallireducens strain Z6, was isolated from briny groundwater extracted from a 2.02 km-deep borehole in the Illinois Basin, IL. This organism shared 96% 16S rRNA gene similarity with Orenia marismortui but demonstrated physiological properties previously unknown for this genus. In addition to exhibiting a fermentative metabolism typical of the genus Orenia, strain Z6 reduces various metal oxides [Fe(III), Mn(IV), Co(III), and Cr(VI)], using H 2 as the electron donor. Strain Z6 actively reduced ferrihydrite over broad ranges of pH (6 to 9.6), salinity (0.4 to 3.5 M NaCl), and temperature (20 to 60°C).more » At pH 6.5, strain Z6 also reduced more crystalline iron oxides, such as lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH), goethite (α-FeOOH), and hematite (α-Fe 2O 3). Analysis of X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) following Fe(III) reduction by strain Z6 revealed spectra from ferrous secondary mineral phases consistent with the precipitation of vivianite [Fe 3(PO 4) 2] and siderite (FeCO 3). The draft genome assembled for strain Z6 is 3.47 Mb in size and contains 3,269 protein-coding genes. Unlike the well-understood iron-reducing Shewanella and Geobacter species, this organism lacks the c-type cytochromes for typical Fe(III) reduction. Strain Z6 represents the first bacterial species in the genus Orenia (order Halanaerobiales) reported to reduce ferric iron minerals and other metal oxides. This microbe expands both the phylogenetic and physiological scopes of iron-reducing microorganisms known to inhabit the deep subsurface and suggests new mechanisms for microbial iron reduction. In conclusion, these distinctions from other Orenia spp. support the designation of strain Z6 as a new species, Orenia metallireducens sp. nov.« less

Description of Thalassospira lohafexi sp. nov., isolated from Southern Ocean, Antarctica.

PubMed

Shivaji, Sisinthy; Sathyanarayana Reddy, Gundlapally; Sundareswaran, Vetaikorumagan Raman; Thomas, Celia

2015-06-01

A gram-negative, aerobic, obligatory halophilic, curved-to-spiral rod-shaped, uni- or bi-polar flagellated motile bacterium 139Z-12(T) was isolated from water samples collected from Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica as part of the Indo-German iron fertilization experiment "LOHAFEX." The bacterium was positive for catalase, oxidase, and gelatinase, with C18:1ω7c (20.1 %), C16:0 (7.3 %), C16:1ω7c (28.9 %), and C12:0 (19.0 %) as the predominant fatty acids, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine as major lipids and Q-10 as the major respiratory quinone. DNA G + C content (mol%) of strain 139Z-12(T) was 53.0. Both BLAST and EzTaxon identified strain 139Z-12(T) as affiliated species of the genus Thalassospira with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities ranging from 97.9 to 99.9 %. Based on above characteristics, strain 139Z-12(T) was assigned to the genus Thalassospira. Since strain 139Z-12(T) shared a DNA-DNA similarity of <70.0 % with members of the genus Thalassospira, 139Z-12(T) was identified as a novel species of the genus and named as Thalassospira lohafexi sp. nov. In addition to this, strain 139Z-12(T), based on REP-PCR, delineated at a similarity coefficient of <0.67 from other species of the genus Thalassospira and also exhibited a MLSA distance of <95.5 %, a value less than the interspecies distance determined previously for the genus Thalassospira, further supporting the species status. In addition, species rank was further confirmed by other polyphasic characteristics. The type strain of Thalassospira lohafexi sp. nov. is 139Z-12(T) (KCTC 32347(T) = LMG 27449(T) = MCC 2233(T) = NBRC 110402(T)).

The hrpZ gene of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola enhances resistance to rhizomania disease in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana and sugar beet.

PubMed

Pavli, Ourania I; Kelaidi, Georgia I; Tampakaki, Anastasia P; Skaracis, George N

2011-03-04

To explore possible sources of transgenic resistance to the rhizomania-causing Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), Nicotiana benthamiana plants were constructed to express the harpin of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (HrpZ(Psph)). The HrpZ protein was expressed as an N-terminal fusion to the PR1 signal peptide (SP/HrpZ) to direct harpin accumulation to the plant apoplast. Transgene integration was verified by mPCR in all primary transformants (T0), while immunoblot analysis confirmed that the protein HrpZ(Psph) was produced and the signal peptide was properly processed. Neither T0 plants nor selfed progeny (T1) showed macroscopically visible necrosis or any other macroscopic phenotypes. However, plants expressing the SP/HrpZ(Psph) showed increased vigor and grew faster in comparison with non-transgenic control plants. Transgenic resistance was assessed after challenge inoculation with BNYVV on T1 progeny by scoring of disease symptoms and by DAS-ELISA at 20 and 30 dpi. Transgenic and control lines showed significant differences in terms of the number of plants that became infected, the timing of infection and the disease symptoms displayed. Plants expressing the SP/HrpZ(Psph) developed localized leaf necrosis in the infection area and had enhanced resistance upon challenge with BNYVV. In order to evaluate the SP/HrpZ-based resistance in the sugar beet host, A. rhizogenes-mediated root transformation was exploited as a transgene expression platform. Upon BNYVV inoculation, transgenic sugar beet hairy roots showed high level of BNYVV resistance. In contrast, the aerial non-transgenic parts of the same seedlings had virus titers that were comparable to those of the seedlings that were untransformed or transformed with wild type R1000 cells. These findings indicate that the transgenically expressed SP/HrpZ protein results in enhanced rhizomania resistance both in a model plant and sugar beet, the natural host of BNYVV. Possible molecular mechanisms underlying the enhanced resistance and plant growth phenotypes observed in SP/HrpZ transgenic plants are discussed.

HRP II - The Development of a New Vehicle for Studying Deep Ocean Mixing

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-02-01

places them at the center of the sensed volume. The Druck pressure sensor is mounted directly on the lower endcap. The sample rate is 25 Hz, and a...precision 24 bit) pressure Druck (model PDCR 1820-9082) Temperature Thermometrics (model, SP60DA202MAI) with stainless pressure housing Conductivity...1 0.9X41.51 Y-50.15Z40.63*33 $C47.5P-3.6R-1 0.5X41.39Y-49.91 Z40.74* 3D $C47.5P-3.4R-1 0.1 X41.25Y-49.69Z41.09*3A $C47.3P-3.2R-9.6X41.26Y-49.43Z41.37

Marinagarivorans algicola gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from marine algae.

PubMed

Guo, Ling-Yun; Li, Dong-Qi; Sang, Jin; Chen, Guan-Jun; Du, Zong-Jun

2016-03-01

Two novel agar-degrading, Gram-stain-negative, motile, heterotrophic, facultatively anaerobic and pale yellow-pigmented bacterial strains, designated Z1 T and JL1, were isolated from marine algae Gelidium amansii (Lamouroux) and Gracilaria verrucosa , respectively. Growth of the isolates was optimal at 28-30 °C, pH 7.0-7.5 and with 2-3 % (w/v) NaCl. Both strains contained Q-8 as the sole respiratory quinone. The major cellular fatty acids in strain Z1 T were C 18 : 1 ω7 c , C 16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C 16 : 1 ω7 c and/or iso-C 15 : 0 2-OH). The predominant polar lipids in strain Z1 T were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and an aminolipid. The genomic DNA G+C content of both strains was 45.1 mol%. Strains Z1 T and JL1 were closely related, with 99.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) value between strains Z1 T and JL1 was 99.3 %. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains Z1 T and JL1 form a distinct phyletic line within the class Gammaproteobacteria , with less than 92.3 % similarity to their closest relatives. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, the isolates are proposed to belong to a novel species of a new genus designated Marinagarivorans algicola gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of the type species is Z1 T ( = ATCC BAA-2617 T  = CICC 10859 T ).

Microbial diversity and dynamics during the production of May bryndza cheese.

PubMed

Pangallo, Domenico; Saková, Nikoleta; Koreňová, Janka; Puškárová, Andrea; Kraková, Lucia; Valík, Lubomír; Kuchta, Tomáš

2014-01-17

Diversity and dynamics of microbial cultures were studied during the production of May bryndza cheese, a traditional Slovak cheese produced from unpasteurized ewes' milk. Quantitative culture-based data were obtained for lactobacilli, lactococci, total mesophilic aerobic counts, coliforms, E. coli, staphylococci, coagulase-positive staphylococci, yeasts, fungi and Geotrichum spp. in ewes' milk, curd produced from it and ripened for 0 - 10 days, and in bryndza cheese produced from the curd, in three consecutive batches. Diversity of prokaryotes and eukaryotes in selected stages of the production was studied by non-culture approach based on amplification of 16S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer region, coupled to denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and sequencing. The culture-based data demonstrated an overall trend of growth of the microbial population contributing to lactic acid production and to ripening of the cheese, lactobacilli, lactococci and Geotrichum spp. growing up to densities of 10(8) CFU/g, 10(9) CFU/g and 10(5) CFU/g, respectively, in all three consecutive batches of bryndza cheese. The diversity of bacteria encompassed Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Acinetobacter guillouiae, Acinetobacter sp., Acinetobacter johnsonii, Citrobacter braakii, Clostridium bartlettii, Corynebacterium callunae, Corynebacterium maris, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter asburiae, Enterobacter hormaechei, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus pallens, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus haemolyticus, Hafnia alvei, Kluyvera cryocrescens, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactococcus garvieae, Lc. lactis subsp. cremoris, Lc. lactis subsp. lactis, "Leuconostoc garlicum", Mannheimia glucosida, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pseudomonas sp., Ps. fluorescens, "Ps. reactans", Raoultella ornithinolytica, R. terrigena, "Rothia arfidiae", Staphylococcus aureus, Staph. epidermidis, Staph. felis, Staph. pasteuri, Staph. sciuri, Staph. xylosus, Streptococcus parauberis, Str. thermophilus and Variovorax paradoxus. The diversity of yeasts and fungi encompassed Alternaria alternata, "Ascomycete sp.", Aspergillus fumigatus, Beauveria brongniartii, Candida xylopsoci, C. inconspicua, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Debaromyces hansenii, Fomes fomentarius, Galactomyces candidus, Gymnoascus reesii, Chaetomium globosum, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Metarhizium anisopliae, Penicillium aurantiogriseum, P. camemberti, P. freii, P. polonicum, P. viridicatum, Pichia kudriavzevii, Sordaria alcina, Trichosporon lactis and Yarrowia lipolytica. © 2013.

Cloning and Expression of the Benzoate Dioxygenase Genes from Rhodococcus sp. Strain 19070

PubMed Central

Haddad, Sandra; Eby, D. Matthew; Neidle, Ellen L.

2001-01-01

The bopXYZ genes from the gram-positive bacterium Rhodococcus sp. strain 19070 encode a broad-substrate-specific benzoate dioxygenase. Expression of the BopXY terminal oxygenase enabled Escherichia coli to convert benzoate or anthranilate (2-aminobenzoate) to a nonaromatic cis-diol or catechol, respectively. This expression system also rapidly transformed m-toluate (3-methylbenzoate) to an unidentified product. In contrast, 2-chlorobenzoate was not a good substrate. The BopXYZ dioxygenase was homologous to the chromosomally encoded benzoate dioxygenase (BenABC) and the plasmid-encoded toluate dioxygenase (XylXYZ) of gram-negative acinetobacters and pseudomonads. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis failed to identify any plasmid in Rhodococcus sp. strain 19070. Catechol 1,2- and 2,3-dioxygenase activity indicated that strain 19070 possesses both meta- and ortho-cleavage degradative pathways, which are associated in pseudomonads with the xyl and ben genes, respectively. Open reading frames downstream of bopXYZ, designated bopL and bopK, resembled genes encoding cis-diol dehydrogenases and benzoate transporters, respectively. The bop genes were in the same order as the chromosomal ben genes of P. putida PRS2000. The deduced sequences of BopXY were 50 to 60% identical to the corresponding proteins of benzoate and toluate dioxygenases. The reductase components of these latter dioxygenases, BenC and XylZ, are 201 residues shorter than the deduced BopZ sequence. As predicted from the sequence, expression of BopZ in E. coli yielded an approximately 60-kDa protein whose presence corresponded to increased cytochrome c reductase activity. While the N-terminal region of BopZ was approximately 50% identical in sequence to the entire BenC or XylZ reductases, the C terminus was unlike other known protein sequences. PMID:11375157

Synthesis, crystal structure and DFT studies of N-(4-acetyl-5,5-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)acetamide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gautam, P.; Gautam, D.; Chaudhary, R. P.

2013-12-01

The title compound N-(4-acetyl-5,5-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)acetamide ( III) was obtained from the reaction of 2-(propan-2-ylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide ( II) with acetic anhydride instead of formation of the desired thiosemcarbazide derivative of Meldrum acid. The structures of II and III were established by elemental analysis, IR, NMR, Mass and X-ray crystallographic studies. II crystallizes in triclinic system, sp. gr. Z = 2; III crystallizes in the monoclinic system, sp. gr. P21/ c, Z = 8. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out for III. 1H and 13C NMR of III has been calculated and correlated with experimental results.

Spectroscopic Confirmation of Two Massive Red-sequence-selected Galaxy Clusters at Z Approximately Equal to 1.2 in the Sparcs-North Cluster Survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Muzzin, Adam; Wilson, Gillian; Yee, H.K.C.; Hoekstra, Henk; Gilbank, David; Surace, Jason; Lacy, Mark; Blindert, Kris; Majumdar, Subhabrata; Demarco, Ricardo;

Two Novel Tyrosinase Inhibitory Sesquiterpenes Induced by CuCl2 from a Marine-Derived Fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. Z233

PubMed Central

Wu, Bin; Wu, Xiaodan; Sun, Min; Li, Minhui

2013-01-01

Two new sesquiterpenes, 1β,5α,6α,14-tetraacetoxy-9α-benzoyloxy-7βH-eudesman-2β,11-diol (1) and 4α,5α-diacetoxy-9α-benzoyloxy-7βH-eudesman-1β,2β,11,14-tetraol (2), were produced as stress metabolites in the cultured mycelia of Pestalotiopsis sp. Z233 isolated from the algae Sargassum horneri in response to abiotic stress elicitation by CuCl2. Their structures were established by spectroscopic means. New compounds 1 and 2 showed tyrosinase inhibitory activities with IC50 value of 14.8 µM and 22.3 µM. PMID:23917067

Two novel tyrosinase inhibitory sesquiterpenes induced by CuCl2 from a marine-derived fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. Z233.

PubMed

Wu, Bin; Wu, Xiaodan; Sun, Min; Li, Minhui

2013-08-02

Two new sesquiterpenes, 1β,5α,6α,14-tetraacetoxy-9α-benzoyloxy-7β H-eudesman-2β,11-diol (1) and 4α,5α-diacetoxy-9α-benzoyloxy-7βH-eudesman-1β,2β,11, 14-tetraol (2), were produced as stress metabolites in the cultured mycelia of Pestalotiopsis sp. Z233 isolated from the algae Sargassum horneri in response to abiotic stress elicitation by CuCl2. Their structures were established by spectroscopic means. New compounds 1 and 2 showed tyrosinase inhibitory activities with IC50 value of 14.8 µM and 22.3 µM.

Developing bones are differentially affected by compromised skeletal muscle formation

PubMed Central

Nowlan, Niamh C.; Bourdon, Céline; Dumas, Gérard; Tajbakhsh, Shahragim; Prendergast, Patrick J.; Murphy, Paula

2010-01-01

Mechanical forces are essential for normal adult bone function and repair, but the impact of prenatal muscle contractions on bone development remains to be explored in depth in mammalian model systems. In this study, we analyze skeletogenesis in two ‘muscleless’ mouse mutant models in which the formation of skeletal muscle development is disrupted; Myf5nlacZ/nlacZ:MyoD−/− and Pax3Sp/Sp (Splotch). Ossification centers were found to be differentially affected in the muscleless limbs, with significant decreases in bone formation in the scapula, humerus, ulna and femur, but not in the tibia. In the scapula and humerus, the morphologies of ossification centers were abnormal in muscleless limbs. Histology of the humerus revealed a decreased extent of the hypertrophic zone in mutant limbs but no change in the shape of this region. The elbow joint was also found to be clearly affected with a dramatic reduction in the joint line, while no abnormalities were evident in the knee. The humeral deltoid tuberosity was significantly reduced in size in the Myf5nlacZ/nlacZ:MyoD−/− mutants while a change in shape but not in size was found in the humeral tuberosities of the Pax3Sp/Sp mutants. We also examined skeletal development in a ‘reduced muscle’ model, the Myf5nlacZ/+:MyoD−/− mutant, in which skeletal muscle forms but with reduced muscle mass. The reduced muscle phenotype appeared to have an intermediate effect on skeletal development, with reduced bone formation in the scapula and humerus compared to controls, but not in other rudiments. In summary, we have demonstrated that skeletal development is differentially affected by the lack of skeletal muscle, with certain rudiments and joints being more severely affected than others. These findings indicate that the response of skeletal progenitor cells to biophysical stimuli may depend upon their location in the embryonic limb, implying a complex interaction between mechanical forces and location-specific regulatory factors affecting bone and joint development. PMID:19948261

Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts associated with spontaneous fermentations during the production of sour cassava starch in Brazil.

PubMed

Lacerda, Inayara C A; Miranda, Rose L; Borelli, Beatriz M; Nunes, Alvaro C; Nardi, Regina M D; Lachance, Marc-André; Rosa, Carlos A

2005-11-25

Sour cassava starch is a traditional fermented food used in the preparation of fried foods and baked goods such as traditional cheese breads in Brazil. Thirty samples of sour cassava starch were collected from two factories in the state of Minas Gerais. The samples were examined for the presence of lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, mesophilic microorganisms, Bacillus cereus and faecal coliforms. Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts isolates were identified by biochemical tests, and the identities were confirmed by molecular methods. Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus fermentum were the prevalent lactic acid bacteria in product from both factories, at numbers between 6.0 and 9.0 log cfu g(-)(1). Lactobacillus perolans and Lactobacillus brevis were minor fractions of the population. Galactomyces geothricum and Issatchenkia sp. were the prevalent yeasts at numbers of 5.0 log cfu g(-)(1). A species similar to Candida ethanolica was frequently isolated from one factory. Mesophilic bacteria and amylolytic microorganisms were recovered in high numbers at all stages of the fermentation. B. cereus was found at low numbers in product at both factories. The spontaneous fermentations associated with the production of sour cassava starch involve a few species of lactic acid bacteria at high numbers and a variety of yeasts at relatively low numbers.

Species-specific AFLP markers for identification of Zingiber officinale, Z. montanum and Z. zerumbet (Zingiberaceae).

PubMed

Ghosh, S; Majumder, P B; Sen Mandi, S

2011-02-08

The Zingiber genus, which includes the herbs known as gingers, commonly used in cooking, is well known for its medicinal properties, as described in the Indian pharmacopoeia. Different members of this genus, although somewhat similar in morphology, differ widely in their pharmacological and therapeutic properties. The most important species of this genus, with maximal therapeutic properties, is Zingiber officinale (garden ginger), which is often adulterated with other less-potent Zingiber sp. There is an existing demand in the herbal drug industry for an authentication system for the Zingiber sp in order to facilitate their commercial use as genuine phytoceuticals. To this end, we used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to produce DNA fingerprints for three Zingiber species. Sixteen collections (six of Z. officinale, five of Z. montanum, and five of Z. zerumbet) were used in the study. Seven selective primer pairs were found to be useful for all the accessions. A total of 837 fragments were produced by these primer pairs. Species-specific markers were identified for all three Zingiber species (91 for Z. officinale, 82 for Z. montanum, and 55 for Z. zerumbet). The dendogram analysis generated from AFLP patterns showed that Z. montanum and Z. zerumbet are phylogenetically closer to each other than to Z. officinale. The AFLP fingerprints of the Zingiber species could be used to authenticate Zingiber sp-derived drugs and to resolve adulteration-related problems faced by the commercial users of these herbs.

Novel 3D metallic boron nitride containing only sp2 bonds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hao; Zhang, Wei; Huai, Ping

2017-09-01

As the closest isoelectronic analogue of carbon, boron nitride (BN) shares a similar structure with carbon from 1D nanotubes, 2D nanosheets, and 3D diamond structures. However, most BN structures are insulators, which limits their application. In this work, under the inspiration of the sp2 hybridized carbon honeycomb, we propose a hexagonal phase of BN consisting of only sp2 bonds, which exhibits intriguingly intrinsic metallicity. First-principles calculations confirm that this phase is both thermally and dynamically stable. Moreover, the calculations on the band structure, partial density states and electron localization function suggest that the metallic behavior is attributable to the delocalized B-2p electrons, leading to second-neighbor interaction between the p z states of sp2-bonded B atoms in adjacent layers. Our findings not only enrich the BN allotrope family with 3D structures but also stimulate further experimental interest in applications of metallic BN in electronic devices.

Draft Genome Sequences of Dickeya sp. Isolates B16 (NIB Z 2098) and S1 (NIB Z 2099) Causing Soft Rot of Phalaenopsis Orchids.

PubMed

Alič, Špela; Naglič, Tina; Llop, Pablo; Toplak, Nataša; Koren, Simon; Ravnikar, Maja; Dreo, Tanja

2015-09-10

The genus Dickeya contains bacteria causing soft rot of economically important crops and ornamental plants. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of two Dickeya sp. isolates from rotted leaves of Phalaenopsis orchids. Copyright © 2015 Alič et al.

Synergistic effect of chelators and Herbaspirillum sp. GW103 on lead phytoextraction and its induced oxidative stress in Zea mays.

PubMed

Govarthanan, Muthusamy; Kamala-Kannan, Seralathan; Kim, Seol Ah; Seo, Young-Seok; Park, Jung-Hee; Oh, Byung-Taek

2016-10-01

Phytoremediation is an in situ, low-cost strategy for cleanup of the sites contaminated with heavy metals. Experiments were conducted to assess the impact of synthetic chelators and plant growth-promoting rhizosphere bacteria (Herbaspirillum sp. GW103) on heavy metal lead (Pb) uptake in Z. mays cultivated in Pb-contaminated soil. The present study investigated the Pb phytoaccumulation rate and plant antioxidant enzyme activities in Z. mays exposed to 100 mg/kg of PbNO3. The combination of gluconic acid (GA) with Herbaspirillum sp. GW103 treatment showed higher Pb solubility (18.9 mg/kg) compared with other chelators. The chemical chelators showed the significant difference in phytoaccumulation as well as antioxidant enzyme activities. The antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities changed under Pb stress. The study indicated that increased activity of antioxidant enzymes may play as signal inducers to fight against Pb.

Combination of bioleaching by gross bacterial biosurfactants and flocculation: A potential remediation for the heavy metal contaminated soils.

PubMed

Yang, Zhihui; Shi, Wei; Yang, Weichun; Liang, Lifen; Yao, Wenbin; Chai, Liyuan; Gao, Shikang; Liao, Qi

2018-09-01

Combining bioleaching by the gross biosurfactants of Burkholderia sp. Z-90 and flocculation by poly aluminium chloride (PAC) was proposed to develop a potential environment-friendly and cost-effective technique to remediate the severely contaminated soils by heavy metals. The factors affecting soil bioleaching by the gross biosurfactants of Burkholderia sp. Z-90 were optimized. The results showed the optimal removing efficiencies of Zn, Pb, Mn, Cd, Cu, and As by the Burkholderia sp. Z-90 leachate were 44.0, 32.5, 52.2, 37.7, 24.1 and 31.6%, respectively at soil liquid ratio of 1:20 (w/v) for 5 d, which were more efficient than that by 0.1% of rhamnolipid. The amounts of the bioleached heavy metals by the Burkholderia sp. Z-90 leachate were higher than that by other biosurfactants in the previous studies, although the removal efficiencies of the metals by the leachate were relatively lower. It was suggested that more heavy metals caused more competitive to chelate with function groups of the gross biosurfactants and the metal removal efficiencies by biosurfactants in natural soils were lower than in the artificially contaminated soils. Moreover, the Burkholderia sp. Z-90 leachate facilitated the metals to be transformed to the easily migrating speciation fractions. Additional, the results showed that PAC was efficient in the following flocculation to remove heavy metals in the waste bio-leachates. Our study will provide support for developing a bioleaching technique model to remediate the soils extremely contaminated by heavy metals. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of cytochalasins from the endophytic Xylaria sp. and their biological functions.

PubMed

Zhang, Qiang; Xiao, Jian; Sun, Qing-Qing; Qin, Jian-Chun; Pescitelli, Gennaro; Gao, Jin-Ming

2014-11-12

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the fermentation extract of Xylaria sp. XC-16, an endophyte from Toona sinensis led to the isolation of two new cytochalasans cytochalasin Z27, 1, and cytochalasin Z28, 2, along with three known compounds seco-cytochalasin E, 3, and cytochalasin Z18, 4, and cytochalasin E, 5. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic and electronic circular dichroism methods. Compound 5 was shown to be potently cytotoxic against brine shrimp (LC50 = 2.79 μM), comparable to that of the positive agent toosendanin (LC50 = 4.03 μM), and also exhibited potential phytotoxic effects on Lactuca sativa and Raphanus sativus L. seedlings, which are higher than that of the positive control glyphosate. Additionally, the fungicidal effect of 2 against the phytopathogen Gibberella saubinetti was better than that of hymexazol. This is the first report of the three types of cytochalasins present in genus Xylaria. A structure-phytotoxicity activity relationship is also discussed.

Assessment of central corneal thickness and corneal endothelial morphology using ultrasound pachymetry, non-contact specular microscopy, and Confoscan 4 confocal microscopy

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background The aim was to compare the repeatability, reproducibility and inherent precision of ultrasound pachymetry (USP), noncontact specular microscopy (SP-2000P) and the Confoscan 4 confocal microscope (z-ring CS4) in measuring endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation of cell size (CV), and central corneal thickness (CCT) in normal eyes. Methods In this prospective study, one eye was selected from each of 30 subjects for the measurements of ECD, CV and CCT, which were taken by two observers. Results were analyzed statistically by repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) for intra-observer repeatability, inter-observer reproducibility, unpaired t-test, paired t-test, and Bland–Altman analyses to determine limits of agreement (LOA) between the three instruments. Results Mean ECD, measured by SP-2000P and z-ring CS4, were 3115.50 ± 279.70 cells/mm2 and 3167.50 ± 264.75 cells/mm2, respectively (observer 1), and 3192.63 ± 249.42 cells/mm2 (z-ring, observer 2). Mean CV measurements were 27.12 ± 2.51 and 27.10 ± 2.41 (SP-2000P and z-ring CS4, respectively; observer 1), and 27.17 ± 2.25 (z-ring, observer 2). Mean CCT values were 555.11 ± 35.83 μm (USP), 535.82 ± 41.10 μm (SP-2000P) and 552.57 ± 36.83 μm (z-ring CS4), and 554.97 ± 36.34 μm (z-ring CS4, observer 2). However, pairwise tests in all cases there was good repeatability and reproducibility as shown by inter-observer and intra-observer analysis of variance for each of the instruments. Conclusions The SP-2000P and the z-ring CS4 can be used interchangeably to measure ECD and CV. For CCT, the sample size was too small to test for differences of the CCT measurements between the three instruments. PMID:24274022

Lower Mississippi River Environmental Program. Report 15. Vegetation Development on Revetments Along the Lower Mississippi River

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-06-01

73 0.6 Unknown forb 2 1 1 2 2 8 28 0.2 Ascelepias sp. 0 1 3 1 2 7 73 0.6 Digitaria ischaemum 0 0 1 1 5 7 65 0.5 Heliotropium indicum 3 1 0 3 0 7 31...0.4 Aster simplex 0 0 3 1 1 5 63 0.3 Heliotropium sp. 0 0 1 2 z 5 44 0.2 Rorippa sessiliflora 2 2 0 0 1 5 29 0.2 Setaria geniculata 0 0 0 2 3 5 51 0.3...pennsylvanica Green ash Gleditsia triacanthos Honey locust Heliotropium indicum Heliotrope Hibiscus militaris Rose mallow lpomoea pandurata Wild potato

Expression of TPS1 gene from Saccharomycopsis fibuligera A11 in Saccharomyces sp. W0 enhances trehalose accumulation, ethanol tolerance, and ethanol production.

PubMed

Cao, Tian-Shu; Chi, Zhe; Liu, Guang-Lei; Chi, Zhen-Ming

2014-01-01

It has been reported that trehalose plays an important role in stress tolerance in yeasts. Therefore, in order to construct a stably recombinant Saccharomyces sp. W0 with higher ethanol tolerance, the TPS1 gene encoding 6-phosphate-trehalose synthase cloned from Saccharomycopsis fibuligera A11 was ligated into the 18S rDNA integration vector pMIRSC11 and integrated into chromosomal DNA of Saccharomyces sp. W0. The transformant Z8 obtained had the content of 6.23 g of trehalose/100 g of cell dry weight, while Saccharomyces sp. W0 only contained 4.05 g of trehalose/100 g of cell dry weight. The transformant Z8 also had higher ethanol tolerance (cell survival was 25.1 % at 18 ml of ethanol/100 ml of solution) and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (Tps1) activity (1.3 U/mg) and produced more ethanol (16.4 ml of ethanol/100 ml of medium) than Saccharomyces sp. W0 (cell survival was 12.1 % at 18 ml of ethanol/100 ml of solution, Tps1 activity was 0.8 U/mg and the produced ethanol concentration was 14.2 ml of ethanol/100 ml of medium) under the same conditions. The results show that trehalose indeed can play an important role in ethanol tolerance and ethanol production by Saccharomyces sp. W0.

Natranaerobaculum magadiense gen. nov., sp. nov., an anaerobic, alkalithermophilic bacterium from soda lake sediment.

PubMed

Zavarzina, Daria G; Zhilina, Tatyana N; Kuznetsov, Boris B; Kolganova, Tatyana V; Osipov, Georgy A; Kotelev, Mikhail S; Zavarzin, Georgy A

2013-12-01

An obligately alkaliphilic, anaerobic, thermo- and halotolerant, spore-forming bacterium was isolated from sediments of soda lake Magadi (Kenya) and designated strain Z-1001(T). Cells of strain Z-1001(T) were straight, Gram-positive rods, slowly motile. Strain Z-1001(T) was found to be an obligate anaerobe. It grew within a pH range from 7.5 to 10.7 with an optimum at 9.25-9.5 (at 40 °C), a temperature range from 20 to 57 °C with an optimum at 45-50 °C, and a NaCl concentration range from 0 to 1.55 M with an optimum at 1.2-1.4 M. Peptides, such as meat and yeast extracts, peptone and tryptone, were fermented by Z-1001(T). Carbohydrates did not support growth. With yeast extract as an electron donor, strain Z-1001(T) reduced S(2)O(3)(2-), NO(-)(3), AsO(3-)(4), Fe(III) citrate and anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) as electron acceptors. The isolate was able to grow oligotrophically with a very small amount of yeast extract: 0.03 g l(-1). The main fatty acids were C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c, C18 : 0 and C18 : 1ω9. The DNA G+C content of the isolate was 35.6 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain Z-1001(T) is a member of family Natranaerobiaceae, clustering with the type strain of Natranaerobius thermophilus (95.8-96.0 % sequence similarity). On the basis of physiological and phylogenetic data it is proposed that strain Z-1001(T) ( = DSM 24923(T) = VKM B-2666(T)) represents a novel genus and species, Natranaerobaculum magadiense gen. nov., sp. nov.

Co-occurrence of non-toxic (cyanopeptolin) and toxic (microcystin) peptides in a bloom of Microcystis sp. from a Chilean lake.

PubMed

Neumann, U; Campos, V; Cantarero, S; Urrutia, H; Heinze, R; Weckesser, J; Erhard, M

2000-06-01

A cyanobacterial bloom occurring in 1998 in lake Tres Pascualas (Concepción/Chile) was found to be dominated by Microcystis sp. The bloom contained both non-toxic (cyanopeptolin-type) and hepatotoxic (microcystin-type) peptides. Cyanopeptolin structure of the non-toxic peptides (called cyanopeptolin VW-1 and VW-2, respectively) was revealed by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) of whole cells, showing dominant molecular ions at m/z = 975 and m/z 995, respectively. On post source decay (PSD), both cyanopeptolins showed fragments deriving from Ahp-Phe-MTyr (3-amino-6-hydroxy-2-piperidone), the characteristic partial structure of cyanopeptolins. The amounts of each of the two cyanopeptolins could only roughly be estimated to be >0.1% of bloom material dry weight. In addition the blooms contained microcystins (20 microg/g bloom dry weight as determined by RP-HPLC, 13 microg/g according to ELISA determination). MALDI-TOF-MS revealed several structural variants of microcystin: MCYST-RR (microcystin with Arg and Arg, indicated by m/z 1,038 and confirmed by PSD revealing a m/z = 135 fragment deriving from the Adda side chain, MCYST-FR (microcystin with Phe and Arg, indicated by m/z = 1,015). The presence of [Asp(3)]-MCYST-LR (microcystin with Leu and Arg, Asp non-methylated, indicated by m/z 981), and [Asp(3)]-MCYST-YR (microcystin with Tyr and Arg, Asp non-methylated, indicated by m/z 1,031) were likely. The relative amounts of the peptides varied between February, April, and May. Whole cell extracts from the bloom material revealed specific enzyme inhibitory activities. The serin-proteases trypsin, plasmin, elastase were inhibited, assumable due to the cyanopeptolins found. Elastase and the cysteine-protease papain were not inhibited, inhibitions of protein kinase and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were low. Strong inhibition was observed with protein-phosphatase-1, likely due to the microcystins present in the samples.

The hrpZ Gene of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola Enhances Resistance to Rhizomania Disease in Transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana and Sugar Beet

PubMed Central

Pavli, Ourania I.; Kelaidi, Georgia I.; Tampakaki, Anastasia P.; Skaracis, George N.

2011-01-01

To explore possible sources of transgenic resistance to the rhizomania-causing Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), Nicotiana benthamiana plants were constructed to express the harpin of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (HrpZPsph). The HrpZ protein was expressed as an N-terminal fusion to the PR1 signal peptide (SP/HrpZ) to direct harpin accumulation to the plant apoplast. Transgene integration was verified by mPCR in all primary transformants (T0), while immunoblot analysis confirmed that the protein HrpZPsph was produced and the signal peptide was properly processed. Neither T0 plants nor selfed progeny (T1) showed macroscopically visible necrosis or any other macroscopic phenotypes. However, plants expressing the SP/HrpZPsph showed increased vigor and grew faster in comparison with non-transgenic control plants. Transgenic resistance was assessed after challenge inoculation with BNYVV on T1 progeny by scoring of disease symptoms and by DAS-ELISA at 20 and 30 dpi. Transgenic and control lines showed significant differences in terms of the number of plants that became infected, the timing of infection and the disease symptoms displayed. Plants expressing the SP/HrpZPsph developed localized leaf necrosis in the infection area and had enhanced resistance upon challenge with BNYVV. In order to evaluate the SP/HrpZ-based resistance in the sugar beet host, A. rhizogenes-mediated root transformation was exploited as a transgene expression platform. Upon BNYVV inoculation, transgenic sugar beet hairy roots showed high level of BNYVV resistance. In contrast, the aerial non-transgenic parts of the same seedlings had virus titers that were comparable to those of the seedlings that were untransformed or transformed with wild type R1000 cells. These findings indicate that the transgenically expressed SP/HrpZ protein results in enhanced rhizomania resistance both in a model plant and sugar beet, the natural host of BNYVV. Possible molecular mechanisms underlying the enhanced resistance and plant growth phenotypes observed in SP/HrpZ transgenic plants are discussed. PMID:21394206

Phytate degradation by fungi and bacteria that inhabit sawdust and coffee residue composts.

PubMed

Fathallh Eida, Mohamed; Nagaoka, Toshinori; Wasaki, Jun; Kouno, Kenji

2013-01-01

Phytate is the primary source of organic phosphorus, but it cannot be directly utilized by plants and is strongly adsorbed by the soil, reducing bioavailability. Composting is a process used to improve the bioavailability of phytate in organic wastes through degradation by microorganisms. In this study, we aimed to investigate the phytate-degrading ability of fungi and bacteria that inhabit sawdust compost and coffee residue compost, and their contribution to the composting process. In the plate assay, the fungi that formed clear zones around their colonies belonged to the genera Mucor, Penicillium, Galactomyces, Coniochaeta, Aspergillus, and Fusarium, while the bacteria belonged to the genera Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Chitinophaga, and Rahnella. Eight fungal isolates (genera Mucor, Penicillium, Galactomyces, and Coniochaeta) and four bacterial isolates (genera Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, and Rahnella) were selected to evaluate phytase activity in their liquid culture and their ability to degrade phytate in organic materials composed of mushroom media residue and rice bran. The selected fungi degraded phytate in organic materials to varying degrees. Penicillium isolates showed the highest degradation ability and Coniochaeta isolate exhibited relatively high degradation ability. The clear zone diameters of these fungal isolates displayed significantly positive and negative correlations with inorganic and phytate phosphorus contents in the organic materials after incubation, respectively; however, none of the selected bacteria reduced phytate phosphorus in organic materials. It is therefore possible that fungi are major contributors to phytate degradation during composting.

Alkylation of a bioinspired high spin Ni(II)N{sub 3}S{sub 2} complex with bifunctional reagents

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chohan, B. S., E-mail: bsc12@psu.edu

2013-12-15

Crystal structures of two S-alkylated complexes generated from the reaction of iodoacetamide and iodoethanol with an air and moisture sensitive high spin Ni(II) pentacoordinate triaminodithiolate complex, 1 are determined by X-ray structure analysis. Crystals of complex 2, [NiC{sub 16}H{sub 31}N{sub 5}O{sub 2}S{sub 2}]I{sub 2}, are triclinic, sp. gr. P-bar1 , Z = 2. Crystals of complex 3, [NiC{sub 16}H{sub 28}N{sub 3}O{sub 2}S{sub 2}]I{sub 2}, are monoclinic, sp. gr. P2{sub 1}/c, Z = 4. Structures of complexes 2 and 3 are very similar: one of the S-acetamide (2) or S-ethanol (3) groups coordinates to the Ni center through the oxygen atom formingmore » N{sub 3}S{sub 2}O hexacoordination; the other group remains unbound to the Ni and left dangling. Crystal packing shows that complexes 2 and 3 interact with the iodide counterions, and that only complex 2 interact with neighboring molecules; some of these close intermolecular contacts include H-bonding interactions.« less

Methods for Solving the Viscoelasticity Equations for Cylinder and Sphere Problems

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-03-22

iEA~Q:t~). Z: 1:40i p .2.. * 4// 4 4) DISPLALEMENT- INLIEPENCEANr POTENTIAL AýELArO: 4) iPAL~T NDEIJUNCF’!r. IoorENTAL .qELATiOW5 bIO GkERAL...A t) STELE .8) Q~SP...]’e- $3~bp "j6 I1+MDV2(E.. -E.L~ REAL2. Ot Jr *l f.Ji) 4_NV Z 4 i.’ v THE rzOXM EPRlON CAN BE GIVE N PVAU IN DNA ANY LANf

Molecular Detection of Eukaryotes in a Single Human Stool Sample from Senegal

PubMed Central

Hamad, Ibrahim; Sokhna, Cheikh; Raoult, Didier; Bittar, Fadi

2012-01-01

Background Microbial eukaryotes represent an important component of the human gut microbiome, with different beneficial or harmful roles; some species are commensal or mutualistic, whereas others are opportunistic or parasitic. The diversity of eukaryotes inhabiting humans remains relatively unexplored because of either the low abundance of these organisms in human gut or because they have received limited attention from a whole-community perspective. Methodology/Principal Finding In this study, a single fecal sample from a healthy African male was studied using both culture-dependent methods and extended molecular methods targeting the 18S rRNA and ITS sequences. Our results revealed that very few fungi, including Candida spp., Galactomyces spp., and Trichosporon asahii, could be isolated using culture-based methods. In contrast, a relatively a high number of eukaryotic species could be identified in this fecal sample when culture-independent methods based on various primer sets were used. A total of 27 species from one sample were found among the 977 analyzed clones. The clone libraries were dominated by fungi (716 clones/977, 73.3%), corresponding to 16 different species. In addition, 187 sequences out of 977 (19.2%) corresponded to 9 different species of plants; 59 sequences (6%) belonged to other micro-eukaryotes in the gut, including Entamoeba hartmanni and Blastocystis sp; and only 15 clones/977 (1.5%) were related to human 18S rRNA sequences. Conclusion Our results revealed a complex eukaryotic community in the volunteer’s gut, with fungi being the most abundant species in the stool sample. Larger investigations are needed to assess the generality of these results and to understand their roles in human health and disease. PMID:22808282

Significance of diazotrophic plant growth-promoting Herbaspirillum sp. GW103 on phytoextraction of Pband Zn by Zea mays L.

PubMed

Praburaman, Loganathan; Park, Sung-Hee; Cho, Min; Lee, Kui-Jae; Ko, Jeong-Ae; Han, Sang-Sub; Lee, Sang-Hyun; Kamala-Kannan, Seralathan; Oh, Byung-Taek

2017-01-01

Microbe-assisted phytoremediation has been considered a promising measure for the remediation of heavy metal-polluted soil. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of diazotrophic plant growth-promoting Herbaspirillum sp. GW103 on growth and lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) accumulation in Zea mays L. The strain GW103 exhibited plant growth-promoting traits such as indole-3-acetic acid, siderophores, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic deaminase. Treatment of Z. mays L. plants with GW103 significantly increased 19, 31, and 52% of plant biomass and 10, 50, and 126% of chlorophyll a contents in Pb, Zn, and Pb + Zn-amended soils, respectively. Similarly, the strain GW103 significantly increased Pb and Zn accumulation in shoots and roots of Z. mays L., which were 77 and 25% in Pb-amended soil, 42 and 73% in Zn-amended soil, and 27 and 84% in Pb + Zn-amended soil. Furthermore, addition of GW103 increased 8, 12, and 7% of total protein content, catalase, and superoxide dismutase levels, respectively, in Z. mays L. plants. The results pointed out that isolate GW103 could potentially reduce the phytotoxicity of metals and increase Pb and Zn accumulation in Z. mays L. plant.

[The Effects of Smart Program for Patients Who Underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (SP-PCI) on Disease-Related Knowledge, Health Behavior, and Quality of Life: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial].

PubMed

Lee, Jueun; Lee, Haejung

2017-12-01

To identify the effects of a smart program for the patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (SP-PCI) on coronary disease-related knowledge, health behaviors, and quality of life. A nonequivalent control group with a non-synchronized design was utilized and 48 participants (experimental=22, control=26) were recruited from a university hospital in Gyeongsang area from May to December, 2016. The 12-week SP-PCI consisted of self-study of health information using smart phone applications (1/week), walking exercise (>5/week) using smart band, feedback using Kakao talk (2/week), and telephone counseling (1/week). Patients in the control group received usual care from their primary health care providers and a brief health education with basic self-management brochure after the PCI. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 21.0 program through descriptive statistics, χ² test, and t-test. After the 12-week SP-PCI, the experimental group showed higher levels of coronary disease-related knowledge (t=2.43, p=.019), heart-related health behaviors (t=5.96, p<.001), regular exercise (Z=-4.47, p<.001), and quality of life-MCS (t=3.04, p=.004) and showed lower levels of stress (Z=-3.53, p<.001) and sodium intake (t=-4.43, p<.001) than those in the control group. There were no significant group differences in medication adherence and food intake in total energy, lipids, and cholesterol. The suggested SP-PCI provided easy access and cost-effective intervention for patients after PCI and improved their knowledge of the disease, performance of health behaviors, and quality of life. Further study with a wider population is needed to evaluate the effects of SP-PCI on disease recurrence and quality of life for patients after PCI. © 2017 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Myxotyrosides A and B, Unusual rhamnosides from Myxococcus sp.

PubMed

Ohlendorf, Birgit; Lorenzen, Wolfram; Kehraus, Stefan; Krick, Anja; Bode, Helge B; König, Gabriele M

2009-01-01

Myxobacteria are gliding bacteria of the delta-subdivision of the Proteobacteria and known for their unique biosynthetic capabilities. Two examples of a new class of metabolites, myxotyrosides A (1) and B (2), were isolated from a Myxococcus sp. The myxotyrosides have a tyrosine-derived core structure glycosylated with rhamnose and acylated with unusual fatty acids such as (Z)-15-methyl-2-hexadecenoic and (Z)-2-hexadecenoic acid. The fatty acid profile of the investigated Myxococcus sp. (strain 131) is that of a typical myxobacterium with a high similarity to those described for M. fulvus and M. xanthus, with significant concentrations of neither 15-methyl-2-hexadecenoic acid nor 2-hexadecenoic acid being detected.

Tepidibacillus decaturensis sp. nov., a microaerophilic, moderately thermophilic iron-reducing bacterium isolated from 1.7 km depth groundwater

DOE PAGES

Dong, Yiran; Sanford, Robert A.; Boyanov, Maxim I.; ...

2016-10-01

Here, a Gram-stain-negative, microaerophilic rod-shaped organism designated as strain Z9 T was isolated from groundwater of 1.7 km depth from the Mt. Simon Sandstone of the Illinois Basin, Illinois, USA. Cells of strain Z9 T were rod shaped with dimensions of 0.3×(1–10) µm and stained Gram-negative. Strain Z9 T grew within the temperature range 20–60 °C (optimum at 30–40 °C), between pH 5 and 8 (optimum 5.2–5.8) and under salt concentrations of 1–5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2.5 % NaCl). In addition to growth by fermentation and nitrate reduction, this strain was able to reduce Fe(III), Mn(IV), Co(III) and Cr(VI)more » when H 2 or organic carbon was available as the electron donor, but did not actively reduce oxidized sulfur compounds (e.g. sulfate, thiosulfate or S 0). The G+C content of the DNA from strain Z9 T was 36.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene from strain Z9 T showed that it belongs to the class Bacilli and shares 97 % sequence similarity with the only currently characterized member of the genus Tepidibacillus, T. fermentans. Based on the physiological distinctness and phylogenetic information, strain Z9 T represents a novel species within the genus Tepidibacillus, for which the name Tepidibacillus decaturensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Z9 T (=ATCC BAA-2644 T=DSM 103037 T).« less

Tepidibacillus decaturensis sp. nov., a microaerophilic, moderately thermophilic iron-reducing bacterium isolated from 1.7 km depth groundwater

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dong, Yiran; Sanford, Robert A.; Boyanov, Maxim I.

Here, a Gram-stain-negative, microaerophilic rod-shaped organism designated as strain Z9 T was isolated from groundwater of 1.7 km depth from the Mt. Simon Sandstone of the Illinois Basin, Illinois, USA. Cells of strain Z9 T were rod shaped with dimensions of 0.3×(1–10) µm and stained Gram-negative. Strain Z9 T grew within the temperature range 20–60 °C (optimum at 30–40 °C), between pH 5 and 8 (optimum 5.2–5.8) and under salt concentrations of 1–5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2.5 % NaCl). In addition to growth by fermentation and nitrate reduction, this strain was able to reduce Fe(III), Mn(IV), Co(III) and Cr(VI)more » when H 2 or organic carbon was available as the electron donor, but did not actively reduce oxidized sulfur compounds (e.g. sulfate, thiosulfate or S 0). The G+C content of the DNA from strain Z9 T was 36.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene from strain Z9 T showed that it belongs to the class Bacilli and shares 97 % sequence similarity with the only currently characterized member of the genus Tepidibacillus, T. fermentans. Based on the physiological distinctness and phylogenetic information, strain Z9 T represents a novel species within the genus Tepidibacillus, for which the name Tepidibacillus decaturensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Z9 T (=ATCC BAA-2644 T=DSM 103037 T).« less

Phytate Degradation by Fungi and Bacteria that Inhabit Sawdust and Coffee Residue Composts

PubMed Central

Eida, Mohamed Fathallh; Nagaoka, Toshinori; Wasaki, Jun; Kouno, Kenji

2013-01-01

Phytate is the primary source of organic phosphorus, but it cannot be directly utilized by plants and is strongly adsorbed by the soil, reducing bioavailability. Composting is a process used to improve the bioavailability of phytate in organic wastes through degradation by microorganisms. In this study, we aimed to investigate the phytate-degrading ability of fungi and bacteria that inhabit sawdust compost and coffee residue compost, and their contribution to the composting process. In the plate assay, the fungi that formed clear zones around their colonies belonged to the genera Mucor, Penicillium, Galactomyces, Coniochaeta, Aspergillus, and Fusarium, while the bacteria belonged to the genera Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Chitinophaga, and Rahnella. Eight fungal isolates (genera Mucor, Penicillium, Galactomyces, and Coniochaeta) and four bacterial isolates (genera Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, and Rahnella) were selected to evaluate phytase activity in their liquid culture and their ability to degrade phytate in organic materials composed of mushroom media residue and rice bran. The selected fungi degraded phytate in organic materials to varying degrees. Penicillium isolates showed the highest degradation ability and Coniochaeta isolate exhibited relatively high degradation ability. The clear zone diameters of these fungal isolates displayed significantly positive and negative correlations with inorganic and phytate phosphorus contents in the organic materials after incubation, respectively; however, none of the selected bacteria reduced phytate phosphorus in organic materials. It is therefore possible that fungi are major contributors to phytate degradation during composting. PMID:23100024

Novel extracellular PHB depolymerase from Streptomyces ascomycinicus: PHB copolymers degradation in acidic conditions.

PubMed

García-Hidalgo, Javier; Hormigo, Daniel; Arroyo, Miguel; de la Mata, Isabel

2013-01-01

The ascomycin-producer strain Streptomyces ascomycinicus has been proven to be an extracellular poly(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) degrader. The fkbU gene, encoding a PHB depolymerase (PhaZ Sa ), has been cloned in E. coli and Rhodococcus sp. T104 strains for gene expression. Gram-positive host Rhodococcus sp. T104 was able to produce and secrete to the extracellular medium an active protein form. PhaZ Sa was purified by two hydrophobic interaction chromatographic steps, and afterwards was biochemically as well as structurally characterized. The enzyme was found to be a monomer with a molecular mass of 48.4 kDa, and displayed highest activity at 45°C and pH 6, thus being the first PHB depolymerase from a gram-positive bacterium presenting an acidic pH optimum. The PHB depolymerase activity of PhaZ Sa was increased in the presence of divalent cations due to non-essential activation, and also in the presence of methyl-β-cyclodextrin and PEG 3350. Protein structure was analyzed, revealing a globular shape with an alpha-beta hydrolase fold. The amino acids comprising the catalytic triad, Ser(131)-Asp(209)-His(269), were identified by multiple sequence alignment, chemical modification of amino acids and site-directed mutagenesis. These structural results supported the proposal of a three-dimensional model for this depolymerase. PhaZ Sa was able to degrade PHB, but also demonstrated its ability to degrade films made of PHB, PHBV copolymers and a blend of PHB and starch (7∶3 proportion wt/wt). The features shown by PhaZ Sa make it an interesting candidate for industrial applications involving PHB degradation.

Enhanced expression of lipase I from Galactomyces geotrichum by codon optimisation in Pichia pastoris.

PubMed

Qiao, Hanzhen; Zhang, Wenfei; Guan, Wutai; Chen, Fang; Zhang, Shihai; Deng, Zixiao

2017-10-01

Relatively poor heterologous protein yields have limited the commerical applications of Galactomyces geotrichum lipase I (GGl I) efficacy trials. To address this, we have redesigned the GGl I gene to preferentially match codon frequencies of Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris) while retaining the same amino acid sequence. The wild type and codon optimised GGl I (GGl I-wt and GGl I-op) were synthesised and cloned into pPICZαA with an N-terminal 6 × His tag sequence and expressed in P. pastoris X 33. The hydrolytic activity of GGl I-op was 150 U/mL, whereas the activity of the GGl I-wt could not be detected. GGl I-op recombinant proteins were purified by Ni-affinity chromatography and then characterised. The identity and purity of GGl I were confirmed by SDS-PAGE, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and Western blot analysis. Enzymatic deglycosylation was used to show that the lipase is a glycosylated protein, containing ∼10% sugar. The molecular weight (MW) of the GGl I secreted by recombinant P. pastoris was approximated at 63 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature of the recombinant lipase were 8.0 and 35 °C, respectively. The enzyme was active over a broad pH range (7.0-9.0) and temperature range (20 °C-45 °C). The lipase showed high activity toward medium- and long-chain fatty acid methyl esters (C8-C16) and retained much of its activity in the presence of Tween-80 and Trition X-100. Lipase activity was stimulated by Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Mn 2+ and Cu 2+ and inhibited by Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ , Zn 2+ and Co 2+ . This lipase may prove useful to the detergent industry and in organic synthesis reactions. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Copper tolerance in Frankia sp. strain EuI1c involves surface binding and copper transport.

PubMed

Rehan, Medhat; Furnholm, Teal; Finethy, Ryan H; Chu, Feixia; El-Fadly, Gomaah; Tisa, Louis S

2014-09-01

Several Frankia strains have been shown to be copper-tolerant. The mechanism of their copper tolerance was investigated for Frankia sp. strain EuI1c. Copper binding was shown by binding studies. Unusual globular structures were observed on the surface of the bacterium. These globular structures were composed of aggregates containing many relatively smaller "leaf-like" structures. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDAX) analysis of these structures indicated elevated copper and phosphate levels compared to the control cells. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis indicated an increase in extracellular phosphate on the cell surface of copper-stressed cells. Bioinformatics' analysis of the Frankia sp. strain EuI1c genome revealed five potential cop genes: copA, copZ, copC, copCD, and copD. Experiments with Frankia sp. strain EuI1c using qRT-PCR indicated an increase in messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of the five cop genes upon Cu(2+) stress. After 5 days of Cu(2+) stress, the copA, copZ, copC, copCD, and copD mRNA levels increased 25-, 8-, 18-, 18-, and 25-fold, respectively. The protein profile of Cu(2+)-stressed Frankia sp. strain EuI1c cells revealed the upregulation of a 36.7 kDa protein that was identified as FraEuI1c_1092 (sulfate-binding periplasmic transport protein). Homologues of this gene were only present in the genomes of the Cu(2+)-resistant Frankia strains (EuI1c, DC12, and CN3). These data indicate that copper tolerance by Frankia sp. strain EuI1c involved the binding of copper to the cell surface and transport proteins.

Structure of complexes of nitrilo tris methylene phosphonic acid with copper, [CuN(CH{sub 2}PO{sub 3}){sub 3}(H{sub 2}O){sub 3}] and Na{sub 4}[CuN(CH{sub 2}PO{sub 3}){sub 3}]{sub 2} · 19H{sub 2}O, as bactericides and inhibitors of scaling and corrosion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Somov, N. V., E-mail: somov@phys.unn.ru; Chausov, F. F., E-mail: chaus@uni.udm.ru

2015-03-15

Nitrilotris methylene phosphonate triaqua copper and octasodium bis(nitrilotris methylene phosphonate cuprate(II)) nonadecahydrate have been synthesized and investigated. [CuN(CH{sub 2}PO{sub 3}){sub 3}(H{sub 2}O){sub 3}] is crystallized in the sp. gr. P2{sub 1}/c, Z = 4, a = 9.2506(2) Å, b = 15.9815(2) Å, c = 9.5474(2) Å, β = 113.697(2)°. The copper atom is coordinated by oxygen atoms in the configuration of elongated octahedron; the ligand (of bridge type) links neighboring copper atoms. Na{sub 8}[CuN(CH{sub 2}PO{sub 3}){sub 3}]{sub 2} · 19H{sub 2}O is crystallized in the sp. gr. P2{sub 1}/c, Z = 2, a = 11.24550(10) Å, b = 17.38980(10) Å,more » c = 13.5852(2) Å, β = 127.8120(10)°. This complex is chelating; the copper atom closes three five-membered N-C-P-O-Cu cycles with a shared Cu-N bond. Copper is coordinated in a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal configuration.« less

Transcriptional analysis of the multicopy hao gene coding for hydroxylamine oxidoreductase in Nitrosomonas sp. strain ENI-11.

PubMed

Hirota, Ryuichi; Kuroda, Akio; Ikeda, Tsukasa; Takiguchi, Noboru; Ohtake, Hisao; Kato, Junichi

2006-08-01

The nitrifying bacterium Nitrosomonas sp. strain ENI-11 has three copies of the gene encoding hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (hao(1), hao(2), and hao(3)) on its genome. Broad-host-range reporter plasmids containing transcriptional fusion genes between hao copies and lacZ were constructed to analyze the expression of each hydroxylamine oxidoreductase gene (hao) copy individually and quantitatively. beta-Galactosidase assays of ENI-11 harboring reporter plasmids revealed that all hao copies were transcribed in the wild-type strain. Promoter analysis of hao copies revealed that transcription of hao(3) was highest among the hao copies. Expression levels of hao(1) and hao(2) were 40% and 62% of that of hao(3) respectively. Transcription of hao(1) was negatively regulated, whereas a portion of hao(3) transcription was read through transcription from the rpsT promoter. When energy-depleted cells were incubated in the growth medium, only hao(3) expression increased. This result suggests that it is hao(3) that is responsible for recovery from energy-depleted conditions in Nitrosomonas sp. strain ENI-11.

Taipei IAP, Taiwan. Revised Uniform Summary of Surface Weather Observations (RUSSWO). Parts A-F.

DTIC Science & Technology

1973-09-07

p ILA" .O.. (L.’ SPEED ,t MEAN (KNTS) 14-6 7. 10 1 -16 17- 21 22 -27 28 33 34 40 41 %. WEND DIR. iSP~ tD N ___ _ .1! 3_ _ - N .71 I _2 ._ 1 .- 5. ENE...LL .,. ,L - k -- ... 1 1. 117 L53 561 55 .3 3.2 3.0 151 1.1 .31 13Q 119 120 128 54/ 53. ,. 3.7 2 5 1,4 7_ 12A 137 106 52/ 51 .1 2.2 2.21 .2 ,1 86 86...43 1Z 362 74/ 7l . j~e *b .6 .1 .1 𔃻! 41 97 2101 72/ 71 tL. ,. 13 . .A__._ __.. 16 - L53 88 7./ 69 .2 .1 . 6 23 571 ___o zL -- -- .. A. .. 66/ 65

Streptomyces lacrimifluminis sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium that produces antibacterial compounds, isolated from soil.

PubMed

Zhang, Binglin; Tang, Shukun; Chen, Ximing; Zhang, Ling; Zhang, Gaoseng; Zhang, Wei; Liu, Guangxiu; Chen, Tuo; Li, Shiweng; Dyson, Paul

2016-12-01

A novel actinobacterial strain, designated Z1027T, was isolated from a soil sample collected near the Tuotuo River, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (China). The strain exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The taxonomic position of strain Z1027T was determined using a polyphasic approach. The organism had chemotaxonomic and morphological properties consistent with its classification in the genus Streptomyces and formed a distinct phyletic line in the 16S rRNA gene tree, together with Streptomyces turgidiscabies ATCC 700248T (99.19 % similarity), Streptomyces graminilatus JL-6T (98.84 %) and Streptomyces reticuliscabiei CFBP 4531T (98.36 %). The genomic DNA G+C content of strain Z1027T was 74±1 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain Z1027T and Streptomyces turgidiscabies ATCC 700248T and Streptomyces reticuliscabiei CFBP 4531T were 38.5±0.4 and 26.2±1.2 %, respectively, both of them significantly lower than 70 %. Chemotaxonomic data revealed that strain Z1027T possessed MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8) as the major menaquinones, ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and galactose as a whole-cell sugar. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatydilinositol and seven other unknown polar lipids were detected; iso-C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0 were the major fatty acids. On the basis of these genotypic and phenotypic data, it is proposed that isolate Z1027T (=CGMCC 4.7272T=JCM 31054T) should be classified as the type strain of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces,Streptomyces lacrimifluminis sp. nov.

Comparison of high-resolution magnification narrow-band imaging and white-light endoscopy in the prediction of histology in Barrett's oesophagus.

PubMed

Singh, Rajvinder; Karageorgiou, Haris; Owen, Victoria; Garsed, Klara; Fortun, Paul J; Fogden, Edward; Subramaniam, Venkataraman; Shonde, Anthony; Kaye, Philip; Hawkey, Christopher J; Ragunath, Krish

2009-01-01

To evaluate whether there is any appreciable difference in imaging characteristics between high-resolution magnification white-light endoscopy (WLE-Z) and narrow-band imaging (NBI-Z) in Barrett's oesophagus (BE) and if this translates into superior prediction of histology. This was a prospective single-centre study involving 21 patients (75 areas, corresponding NBI-Z and WLE-Z images) with BE. Mucosal patterns (pit pattern and microvascular morphology) were evaluated for their image quality on a visual analogue scale (VAS) of 1-10 by five expert endoscopists. The endoscopists then predicted mucosal morphology based on four subtypes which can be visualized in BE. Type A: round pits, regular microvasculature; type B: villous/ridge pits, regular microvasculature; type C: absent pits, regular microvasculature; type D: distorted pits, irregular microvasculature. The sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy (Acc) were then compared with the final histopathological analysis and the interobserver variability calculated. The overall pit and microvasculature quality was significantly higher for NBI-Z, pit: NBI-Z=6, WLE-Z=4.5, p < 0.001; microvasculature: NBI-Z=7.3, WLE-Z=4.9, p < 0.001. This translated into a superior prediction of histology (Sn: NBI-Z: 88.9, WLE-Z: 71.9, p < 0.001). For the prediction of dysplasia, NBI-Z was superior to WLE-Z (chi(2)=10.3, p < 0.05). The overall kappa agreement among the five endoscopists for NBI-Z and WLE-Z, respectively, was 0.59 and 0.31 (p < 0.001). NBI-Z is superior to WLE-Z in the prediction of histology in BE, with good reproducibility. This novel imaging modality could be an important tool for surveillance of patients with BE.

Inhibition of fish bacteria pathogen in tilapia using a concoction three of Borneo plant extracts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hardi, EH; Saptiani, G.; Kusuma, IW; Suwinarti, W.; Sudaryono, A.

2018-04-01

This study was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial activity of concoction Solanum ferox, Boesenbergia pandurata and Zingimber zerumbetextract (SF, BP, and ZZ) to inhibit pathogenic bacteria in tilapia with the each concentrations 600 ppm BP, 900 ppm SF and 200 ppm ZZ. Antibacterial activity was measured by testing the concoction of three plants extract against single isolate Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas sp. and combined both bacteria (105 colony-forming units per milliliter). In this research, oxytetracycline was used as a control. Clear zone inhibition was observed at 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours after incubation at 30 °C. The results showed that the different concoction of BP: SF: ZZ have inhibitory zones against both single and joint isolate bacteria. The ratio of3:3:4 and 1:8:1 had higher antibacterial activity towards Pseudomonas sp. and 1:1:3 ratios both inhibit joint bacteria. The ZI% higher of concoction extracts against A.hydrophila is 1:1:8; 1:3:1; 3:4:3. The ZI% concoction extracts against Pseudomonas sp. ware 3:3:4 and 1:8:1 ratio. While the two bacteria combined, just 1:1:3 ratio had higher Z%. The conclusion is that a concoction of SF:BP:ZZ is effective to inhibit the growth of A.hydrophila and Pseudomonas sp., even its antibacterial ability is similar to the effectiveness of antibiotic oxytetracycline.

Methyl-branched fatty acids, inhibitors of enoyl-ACP reductase with antibacterial activity from Streptomyces sp. A251.

PubMed

Zheng, Chang-Ji; Sohn, Mi-Jin; Chi, Seung-Wook; Kim, Won-Gon

2010-05-01

Bacterial enoyl-ACP reductase (FabI) has been demonstrated to be a novel antibacterial target. In the course of our screening for FabI inhibitors we isolated two methyl-branched fatty acids from Streptomyces sp. A251. They were identified as 14-methyl-9(Z)-pentadecenoic acid and 15-methyl-9(Z)-hexadecenoic acid by MS and NMR spectral data. These compounds inhibited Staphylococcus aureus FabI with IC50 of 16.0 and 16.3mu M, respectively, while didn't affect FabK, an enoyl-ACP reductase of Streptococcus pneumonia, at 100muM. Consistent with their selective inhibition for FabI, they blocked intracellular fatty acid synthesis as well as the growth of S. aureus, while didn't inhibit the growth of S. pneumonia. Additionally, these compounds showed reduced antibacterial activity against fabI-overexpressing S. aureus compared to the wild-type strain. These results demonstrate that the methyl-branched fatty acids showed antibacterial activity by inhibiting FabI in vivo.

Next-generation morphological character discovery and evaluation: an X-ray micro-CT enhanced revision of the ant genus Zasphinctus Wheeler (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Dorylinae) in the Afrotropics.

PubMed

Garcia, Francisco Hita; Fischer, Georg; Liu, Cong; Audisio, Tracy L; Economo, Evan P

2017-01-01

New technologies for imaging and analysis of morphological characters offer opportunities to enhance revisionary taxonomy and better integrate it with the rest of biology. In this study, we revise the Afrotropical fauna of the ant genus Zasphinctus Wheeler, and use high-resolution X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) to analyse a number of morphological characters of taxonomic and biological interest. We recognise and describe three new species: Z. obamai sp. n. , Z. sarowiwai sp. n. , and Z. wilsoni sp. n. The species delimitations are based on the morphological examination of all physical specimens in combination with 3D scans and volume reconstructions. Based on this approach, we present a new taxonomic discrimination system for the regional fauna that consists of a combination of easily observable morphological characters visible at magnifications of around 80-100 ×, less observable characters that require higher magnifications, as well as characters made visible through virtual dissections that would otherwise require destructive treatment. Zasphinctus are rarely collected ants and the material available to us is comparatively scarce. Consequently, we explore the use of micro-CT as a non-invasive tool for the virtual examination, manipulation, and dissection of such rare material. Furthermore, we delineate the treated species by providing a diagnostic character matrix illustrated by numerous images and supplement that with additional evidence in the form of stacked montage images, 3D PDFs and 3D rotation videos of scans of major body parts and full body (in total we provide 16 stacked montage photographs, 116 images of 3D reconstructions, 15 3D rotation videos, and 13 3D PDFs). In addition to the comparative morphology analyses used for species delimitations, we also apply micro-CT data to examine certain traits, such as mouthparts, cuticle thickness, and thoracic and abdominal muscles in order to assess their taxonomic usefulness or gain insights into the natural history of the genus. The complete datasets comprising the raw micro-CT data, 3D PDFs, 3D rotation videos, still images of 3D models, and coloured montage photos have been made available online as cybertypes (Dryad, http://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.4s3v1).

Next-generation morphological character discovery and evaluation: an X-ray micro-CT enhanced revision of the ant genus Zasphinctus Wheeler (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Dorylinae) in the Afrotropics

PubMed Central

Garcia, Francisco Hita; Fischer, Georg; Liu, Cong; Audisio, Tracy L.; Economo, Evan P.

2017-01-01

Abstract New technologies for imaging and analysis of morphological characters offer opportunities to enhance revisionary taxonomy and better integrate it with the rest of biology. In this study, we revise the Afrotropical fauna of the ant genus Zasphinctus Wheeler, and use high-resolution X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) to analyse a number of morphological characters of taxonomic and biological interest. We recognise and describe three new species: Z. obamai sp. n., Z. sarowiwai sp. n., and Z. wilsoni sp. n. The species delimitations are based on the morphological examination of all physical specimens in combination with 3D scans and volume reconstructions. Based on this approach, we present a new taxonomic discrimination system for the regional fauna that consists of a combination of easily observable morphological characters visible at magnifications of around 80–100 ×, less observable characters that require higher magnifications, as well as characters made visible through virtual dissections that would otherwise require destructive treatment. Zasphinctus are rarely collected ants and the material available to us is comparatively scarce. Consequently, we explore the use of micro-CT as a non-invasive tool for the virtual examination, manipulation, and dissection of such rare material. Furthermore, we delineate the treated species by providing a diagnostic character matrix illustrated by numerous images and supplement that with additional evidence in the form of stacked montage images, 3D PDFs and 3D rotation videos of scans of major body parts and full body (in total we provide 16 stacked montage photographs, 116 images of 3D reconstructions, 15 3D rotation videos, and 13 3D PDFs). In addition to the comparative morphology analyses used for species delimitations, we also apply micro-CT data to examine certain traits, such as mouthparts, cuticle thickness, and thoracic and abdominal muscles in order to assess their taxonomic usefulness or gain insights into the natural history of the genus. The complete datasets comprising the raw micro-CT data, 3D PDFs, 3D rotation videos, still images of 3D models, and coloured montage photos have been made available online as cybertypes (Dryad, http://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.4s3v1). PMID:29362522

Crystal and molecular structure of 2,6-dibromo-3-chloro-4-fluoroaniline

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Betz, R.

2015-12-01

The crystal and molecular structure of 2,6-dibromo-3-chloro-4-fluoroaniline is determined. The crystals are monoclinic, a = 3.8380(3), b = 13.1010(12), c = 8.0980(8) Å, β = 96.010(4)°, V = 404.94(6) Å3, Z = 2, sp. gr. P21. Classical intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds of the N-H··· Hal type are observed next to a series of dispersive halogen···halogen interactions in the crystal structure.

Metabolic Engineering of Escherichia coli for Producing Astaxanthin as the Predominant Carotenoid

PubMed Central

Lu, Qian; Bu, Yi-Fan; Liu, Jian-Zhong

2017-01-01

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid of significant commercial value due to its superior antioxidant potential and wide applications in the aquaculture, food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. A higher ratio of astaxanthin to the total carotenoids is required for efficient astaxanthin production. β-Carotene ketolase and hydroxylase play important roles in astaxanthin production. We first compared the conversion efficiency to astaxanthin in several β-carotene ketolases from Brevundimonas sp. SD212, Sphingomonas sp. DC18, Paracoccus sp. PC1, P. sp. N81106 and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with the recombinant Escherichia coli cells that synthesize zeaxanthin due to the presence of the Pantoea ananatis crtEBIYZ. The B. sp. SD212 crtW and P. ananatis crtZ genes are the best combination for astaxanthin production. After balancing the activities of β-carotene ketolase and hydroxylase, an E. coli ASTA-1 that carries neither a plasmid nor an antibiotic marker was constructed to produce astaxanthin as the predominant carotenoid (96.6%) with a specific content of 7.4 ± 0.3 mg/g DCW without an addition of inducer. PMID:28937591

Complete mitochondrial genome of Zeugodacus tau (Insecta: Tephritidae) and differentiation of Z. tau species complex by mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene

PubMed Central

Yong, Hoi-Sen; Lim, Phaik-Eem; Eamsobhana, Praphathip

2017-01-01

The tephritid fruit fly Zeugodacus tau (Walker) is a polyphagous fruit pest of economic importance in Asia. Studies based on genetic markers indicate that it forms a species complex. We report here (1) the complete mitogenome of Z. tau from Malaysia and comparison with that of China as well as the mitogenome of other congeners, and (2) the relationship of Z. tau taxa from different geographical regions based on sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. The complete mitogenome of Z. tau had a total length of 15631 bp for the Malaysian specimen (ZT3) and 15835 bp for the China specimen (ZT1), with similar gene order comprising 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes—PCGs, 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes) and a non-coding A + T-rich control region (D-loop). Based on 13 PCGs and 15 mt-genes, Z. tau NC_027290 (China) and Z. tau ZT1 (China) formed a sister group in the lineage containing also Z. tau ZT3 (Malaysia). Phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequences of cox1 gene indicates that the taxa from China, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Z. tau sp. A from Thailand belong to Z. tau sensu stricto. A complete cox1 gene (or 13 PCGs or 15 mt-genes) instead of partial sequence is more appropriate for determining phylogenetic relationship. PMID:29216281

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Andreev, P. V., E-mail: andreev@phys.unn.ru; Somov, N. V.; Kalistratova, O. S.

The newly synthesized triphenylbismuth bis(3-phenylprop-2-enoate) was studied by X-ray diffraction and by IR, UV, and NMR spectroscopy. The crystals are monoclinic, sp. gr. C2/c, Z = 4, a = 13.2820(4) Å, b = 21.3750(2) Å, c = 12.2407(2) Å, β = 119.936(1)°. The coordination polyhedron of the bismuth atom can be described as a distorted pentagonal bipyramid.

Screening of micro-organisms for decolorization of melanins produced by bluestain fungi.

PubMed

Rättö, M; Chatani, M; Ritschkoff, A C; Viikari, L

2001-03-01

A total of 17 fungi and four bacteria were screened for their ability to decolorize melanin, using isolated extracellular melanin of the bluestain fungus Aureobasidium pullulans as substrate. On agar media, decolorization was observed by four fungal strains: Bjerkandera adusta VTT-D-99746, Galactomyces geotrichum VTT-D-84228, Trametes hirsuta VTT-D-95443 and Trametes versicolor VTT-D-99747. The four fungi were more efficient on nitrogen-limited medium than on complete medium. The melanin-decolorizing activity of G. geotrichum appeared to be located on the mycelium and could be liberated into the medium enzymatically.

Synthesis, structure, and properties of nickel complexes with nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid) [Ni(H{sub 2}O)3N(CH2PO{sub 3}H){sub 3}] and Na{sub 4}[Ni(H{sub 2}O)N(CH{sub 2}PO{sub 3}){sub 3}] ∙ 11H{sub 2}O

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Somov, N. V., E-mail: somov@phys.unn.ru; Chausov, F. F., E-mail: chaus@yandex.ru; Zakirova, R. M.

2016-03-15

Nitrilotris(methylenephosphonato)triaquanickel and tetrasodium nitrilotris(methylenephosphonato) aquanickelate undecahydrate were synthesized and characterized. The crystal of [Ni(H{sub 2}O){sub 3}N(CH{sub 2}PO{sub 3}H){sub 3}] is composed of linear coordination polymers and belongs to sp. gr. P2{sub 1}/c, Z = 4, a = 9.17120(10) Å, b = 16.05700(10) Å, c = 9.70890(10) Å, β = 115.830(2)°. The Ni atom is in an octahedral coordination formed by two oxygen atoms of one phosphonate ligand, one oxygen atom of another ligand molecule, and three water molecules in a meridional configuration. The crystal of Na{sub 4}[Ni(H{sub 2}O)N(CH{sub 2}PO{sub 3}){sub 3}] ∙ 11H{sub 2}O has an island dimeric chelate structuremore » and belongs to sp. gr. C2/c, Z = 8, a = 18.7152(2) Å, b = 12.05510(10) Å, c = 21.1266(2) Å, β = 104.4960(10)°. The Ni atom has a slightly distorted octahedral coordination involving one nitrogen atom and closes three five-membered N–C–P–O–Ni rings sharing the Ni–N bond.« less

Bacillus thermotolerans sp. nov., a thermophilic bacterium capable of reducing humus.

PubMed

Yang, Guiqin; Zhou, Xuemei; Zhou, Shungui; Yang, Dehui; Wang, Yueqiang; Wang, Dingmei

2013-10-01

A novel thermotolerant bacterium, designated SgZ-8(T), was isolated from a compost sample. Cells were non-motile, endospore-forming, Gram-staining positive, oxidase-negative and catalase-positive. The isolate was able to grow at 20-65 °C (optimum 50 °C) and pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum 6.5-7.0), and tolerate up to 9.0 % NaCl (w/v) under aerobic conditions. Anaerobic growth occurred with anthraquinone-2,6-disulphonate (AQDS), fumarate and NO3(-) as electron acceptors. Phylogenetic analysis based on the16S rRNA and gyrB genes grouped strain SgZ-8(T) into the genus Bacillus, with the highest similarity to Bacillus badius JCM 12228(T) (96.2 % for 16S rRNA gene sequence and 83.5 % for gyrB gene sequence) among all recognized species in the genus Bacillus. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 49.3 mol%. The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7) and the polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified phospholipid. The major cellular fatty acid was iso-C16 : 0. On the basis of its phenotypic and phylogenetic properties, chemotaxonomic analysis and the results of physiological and biochemical tests, strain SgZ-8(T) ( = CCTCC AB 2012108(T) = KACC 16706(T)) was designated the type strain of a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus thermotolerans sp. nov. is proposed.

Mutants with Enhanced Nitrogenase Activity in Hydroponic Azospirillum brasilense-Wheat Associations

PubMed Central

Pereg Gerk, Lily; Gilchrist, Kate; Kennedy, Ivan R.

2000-01-01

The effect of a mutation affecting flocculation, differentiation into cyst-like forms, and root colonization on nitrogenase expression by Azospirillum brasilense is described. The gene flcA of strain Sp7 restored these phenotypes in spontaneous mutants of both strains Sp7 and Sp245. Employing both constitutive pLA-lacZ and nifH-lacZ reporter fusions expressed in situ, the colony morphology, colonization pattern, and potential for nitrogenase activity of spontaneous mutants and flcA Tn5-induced mutants were established. The results of this study show that the ability of Sp7 and Sp245 mutant strains to remain in a vegetative form improved their ability to express nitrogenase activity in association with wheat in a hydroponic system. Restoring the cyst formation and colonization pattern to the spontaneous mutant Sp7-S reduced nitrogenase activity rates in association with plants to that of the wild-type Sp7. Although Tn5-induced flcA mutants showed higher potentials for nitrogenase expression than Sp7, their potentials were lower than that of Sp7-S, indicating that other factors in this strain contribute to its exceptional nitrogenase activity rates on plants. The lack of lateral flagella is not one of these factors, as Sp7-PM23, a spontaneous mutant impaired in swarming and lateral-flagellum production but not in flocculation, showed wild-type nitrogenase activity and expression. The results also suggest factors of importance in evolving an effective symbiosis between Azospirillum and wheat, such as increasing the availability of microaerobic niches along the root, increased supply of carbon sources by the plant, and the retention of the bacterial cells in vegetative form for faster metabolism. PMID:10788397

The Clustering of High-Redshift (2.9 < z < 5.4) Quasars in SDSS Stripe 82

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Timlin, John; Ross, Nicolas; Richards, Gordon; Myers, Adam; Bauer, Franz Erik; Lacy, Mark; Schneider, Donald; Wollack, Edward; Zakamska, Nadia

2018-01-01

We present the data from the Spitzer IRAC Equatorial Survey (SpIES) along with our first high-redshift (2.9

Ramstein AB, Landstuhl, Germany. Revised Uniform Summary of Surface Weather Observations (RUSSWO). Parts A-F

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-10-10

23.2 29.1 29.6 3!.0 32.3 33.5 34*5 34.6 34.6 347 ’ 34.7! 34.7’ 4.5 a 300 " 17. 6 22.𔃾 25.8’ 32-2 32.6 34.0’ -5.4, 30.7= 37.6’ 37.7i37.7 37.8137*8 37...1 - 10 -5 17 50/349 6 2*9 9457 48/ 347 _ -114 K___ ___ -516-__ Z 4/ 41 10 3 Ri.Htt 32 31 63F ot7 7F SP :3 o ( Wtt ulb Oy Bul R ol. i Hum. 80 93 F...43283 -21 15-_ 29.V4 -. Z8j ._16-j .5 417>. NOWO __ * DATA PRECESSING RRAnCHri US IATC PSYCHROMETRIC SUMMARY AIR .EATHER SEPVICC/UAC 34050 R--11STETN

Spin singlet and spin triplet pairing correlations on shape evolution in s d -shell N =Z Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ha, Eunja; Cheoun, Myung-Ki; Sagawa, H.

2018-02-01

We study the shape evolution of N =Z nuclei 24Mg,28Si, and 32S in the axially symmetric deformed Woods-Saxon model, taking into account both T =0 and T =1 pairing interactions. We find the coexistence of T =0 and T =1 superfluidity phases in the large deformation region | β2|>0.3 in these three nuclei. The interplay between the two pairing interactions has an important effect on determining the deformation of the ground states in these nuclei. The self-energy contributions from the pairing correlations to the single particle (s.p.) energies are also examined.

Selective Production of 9R-Hydroxy-10E,12Z,15Z-Octadecatrienoic Acid from α-Linolenic Acid in Perilla Seed Oil Hydrolyzate by a Lipoxygenase from Nostoc Sp. SAG 25.82.

PubMed

Kim, Kyoung-Rok; An, Jung-Ung; Lee, Seon-Hwa; Oh, Deok-Kun

2015-01-01

Hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) derived from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been known as versatile bioactive molecules. However, its practical production from omega-3 or omega-3 rich oil has not been well established. In the present study, the stereo-selective enzymatic production of 9R-hydroxy-10E,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoic acid (9R-HOTE) from α-linolenic acid (ALA) in perilla seed oil (PO) hydrolyzate was achieved using purified recombinant 9R-lipoxygenase (9R-LOX) from Nostoc sp. SAG 25.82. The specific activity of the enzyme followed the order linoleic acid (LA) > ALA > γ-linolenic acid (GLA). A total of 75% fatty acids (ALA and LA) were used as a substrate for 9R-LOX from commercial PO by hydrolysis of Candida rugosa lipase. The optimal reaction conditions for the production of 9R-HOTE from ALA using 9R-LOX were pH 8.5, 15°C, 5% (v/v) acetone, 0.2% (w/v) Tween 80, 40 g/L ALA, and 1 g/L enzyme. Under these conditions, 9R-LOX produced 37.6 g/L 9R-HOTE from 40 g/L ALA for 1 h, with a conversion yield of 94% and a productivity of 37.6 g/L/h; and the enzyme produced 34 g/L 9R-HOTE from 40 g/L ALA in PO hydrolyzate for 1 h, with a conversion yields of 85% and a productivity of 34 g/L/h. The enzyme also converted 9R-hydroxy-10E,12Z-octadecadienoic acid (9R-HODE) from 40 g/L LA for 1.0 h, with a conversion yield of 95% and a productivity of 38.4 g/L. This is the highest productivity of HFA from both ALA and ALA-rich vegetable oil using LOX ever reported. Therefore, our result suggests an efficient method for the production of 9R-HFAs from LA and ALA in vegetable oil using recombinant LOX in biotechnology.

Selective Production of 9R-Hydroxy-10E,12Z,15Z-Octadecatrienoic Acid from α-Linolenic Acid in Perilla Seed Oil Hydrolyzate by a Lipoxygenase from Nostoc Sp. SAG 25.82

PubMed Central

Kim, Kyoung-Rok; An, Jung-Ung; Lee, Seon-Hwa; Oh, Deok-Kun

2015-01-01

Hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) derived from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been known as versatile bioactive molecules. However, its practical production from omega-3 or omega-3 rich oil has not been well established. In the present study, the stereo-selective enzymatic production of 9R-hydroxy-10E,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoic acid (9R-HOTE) from α-linolenic acid (ALA) in perilla seed oil (PO) hydrolyzate was achieved using purified recombinant 9R-lipoxygenase (9R-LOX) from Nostoc sp. SAG 25.82. The specific activity of the enzyme followed the order linoleic acid (LA) > ALA > γ-linolenic acid (GLA). A total of 75% fatty acids (ALA and LA) were used as a substrate for 9R-LOX from commercial PO by hydrolysis of Candida rugosa lipase. The optimal reaction conditions for the production of 9R-HOTE from ALA using 9R-LOX were pH 8.5, 15°C, 5% (v/v) acetone, 0.2% (w/v) Tween 80, 40 g/L ALA, and 1 g/L enzyme. Under these conditions, 9R-LOX produced 37.6 g/L 9R-HOTE from 40 g/L ALA for 1 h, with a conversion yield of 94% and a productivity of 37.6 g/L/h; and the enzyme produced 34 g/L 9R-HOTE from 40 g/L ALA in PO hydrolyzate for 1 h, with a conversion yields of 85% and a productivity of 34 g/L/h. The enzyme also converted 9R-hydroxy-10E,12Z-octadecadienoic acid (9R-HODE) from 40 g/L LA for 1.0 h, with a conversion yield of 95% and a productivity of 38.4 g/L. This is the highest productivity of HFA from both ALA and ALA-rich vegetable oil using LOX ever reported. Therefore, our result suggests an efficient method for the production of 9R-HFAs from LA and ALA in vegetable oil using recombinant LOX in biotechnology. PMID:26379279

Distribution and survival of Pseudomonas sp. on Italian ryegrass and Curly dock in Georgia

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Yellow bud, caused by Pseudomonas sp. is an emerging bacterial disease of onion. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay based on the coronafacate ligase (cfl) and HrpZ genes were used to detect initial suspected bacteria on weeds. Growth on an agar medium, ability to cause a hypersensitive response i...

Effect of an Environmental School-based Obesity Prevention Program On Changes in Body Fat and Body Weight: A Randomized Trial

PubMed Central

Williamson, D.A.; Champagne, C.M.; Harsha, D.; Han, H.; Martin, C.K.; Newton, R.L.; Sothern, M.; Stewart, T.M.; Webber, L.S.; Ryan, D.

2012-01-01

This study tested the efficacy of two school-based programs for prevention of body weight/fat gain in comparison to a control group, in all participants and in overweight children. The Louisiana (LA) Health study utilized a longitudinal, cluster randomized 3-arm controlled design, with 28 months of follow-up. Children (N=2060; M age = 10.5 years, SD = 1.2) from rural communities in Grades 4 to 6 participated in the study. 17 school clusters (M = 123 children/cluster) were randomly assigned to one of three prevention arms: 1) Primary Prevention (PP), an environmental modification program, 2) Primary + Secondary Prevention (PP+SP), the environmental program with an added classroom and internet education component, or 3) Control (C). Primary outcomes were changes in percent body fat and body mass index z scores. Secondary outcomes were changes in behaviors related to energy balance. Comparisons of PP, PP+SP, and C on changes in body fat and BMI z scores found no differences. PP and PP+SP study arms were combined to create an environmental modification arm (EM). Relative to C, EM decreased body fat for boys (−1.7% ± 0.38% versus −0.14% ± 0.69%) and attenuated fat gain for girls (2.9% ± 0.22% versus 3.93% ± 0.37%), but standardized effect sizes were relatively small (< 0.30). In conclusion, this school-based environmental modification programs had modest beneficial effects on changes in percent body fat. Addition of a classroom/internet program to the environmental program did not enhance weight/fat gain prevention, but did impact physical activity and social support in overweight children. PMID:22402733

Transient thermal effect, nonlinear refraction and nonlinear absorption properties of graphene oxide sheets in dispersion.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiao-Liang; Liu, Zhi-Bo; Li, Xiao-Chun; Ma, Qiang; Chen, Xu-Dong; Tian, Jian-Guo; Xu, Yan-Fei; Chen, Yong-Sheng

2013-03-25

The nonlinear refraction (NLR) properties of graphene oxide (GO) in N, N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) was studied in nanosecond, picosecond and femtosecond time regimes by Z-scan technique. Results show that the dispersion of GO in DMF exhibits negative NLR properties in nanosecond time regime, which is mainly attributed to transient thermal effect in the dispersion. The dispersion also exhibits negative NLR in picosecond and femtosecond time regimes, which are arising from sp(2)- hybridized carbon domains and sp(3)- hybridized matrix in GO sheets. To illustrate the relations between NLR and nonlinear absorption (NLA), NLA properties of the dispersion were also studied in nanosecond, picosecond and femtosecond time regimes.

Orthorhombic YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 8.4} crystals as a result of saturation of hexagonal YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7} crystals with oxygen

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Podberezskaya, N. V., E-mail: podberez@niic.nsc.ru; Bolotina, N. B., E-mail: nb-bolotina@mail.ru; Komarov, V. Yu., E-mail: komarov-v-y@niic.nsc.ru

Hexagonal YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 7} crystals (sp. gr. P6{sub 3}mc, a{sub h} = 6.3058(4) Å, c{sub h} = 10.2442(7) Å, Z = 2) are saturated with oxygen to the YBaCo{sub 4}O{sub 8.4} composition and studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The saturation is completed by a structural first-order phase transition to orthorhombic crystals (sp. gr. Pbc2{sub 1}, a{sub o} = 31.8419(2) Å, b{sub o} = 10.9239(5) Å, c{sub o} = 10.0960(5) Å, Z = 20). The connection of two lattices is expressed in terms of the action of matrix (500/120/001) on the hexagonal basis. Five structural fragments of the same typemore » but with different degrees of order alternate along the long axis of the oxygen-saturated orthorhombic structure. The XRD data on single crystals differ from the results obtained by other researchers on ceramic samples; possible causes of these differences are discussed.« less

Precursor Ion Scan Mode-Based Strategy for Fast Screening of Polyether Ionophores by Copper-Induced Gas-Phase Radical Fragmentation Reactions.

PubMed

Crevelin, Eduardo J; Possato, Bruna; Lopes, João L C; Lopes, Norberto P; Crotti, Antônio E M

2017-04-04

The potential of copper(II) to induce gas-phase fragmentation reactions in macrotetrolides, a class of polyether ionophores produced by Streptomyces species, was investigated by accurate-mass electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Copper(II)/copper(I) transition directly induced production of diagnostic acylium ions with m/z 199, 185, 181, and 167 from α-cleavages of [macrotetrolides + Cu] 2+ . A UPLC-ESI-MS/MS methodology based on the precursor ion scan of these acylium ions was developed and successfully used to identify isodinactin (1), trinactin (2), and tetranactin (3) in a crude extract of Streptomyces sp. AMC 23 in the precursor ion scan mode. In addition, copper(II) was also used to induce radical fragmentation reactions in the carboxylic acid polyether ionophore nigericin. The resulting product ions with m/z 755 and 585 helped to identify nigericin in a crude extract of Streptomyces sp. Eucal-26 by means of precursor ion scan experiments, demonstrating that copper-induced fragmentation reactions can potentially identify different classes of polyether ionophores rapidly and selectively.

Lysing activity of an indigenous algicidal bacterium Aeromonas sp. against Microcystis spp. isolated from Lake Taihu.

PubMed

Yang, Fei; Li, Xiaoqin; Li, Yunhui; Wei, Haiyan; Yu, Guang; Yin, Lihong; Liang, Geyu; Pu, Yuepu

2013-01-01

This study aimed to isolate and characterize an indigenous algicidal bacterium named LTH-1 and its algae-lysing compounds active against three Microcystis aeruginosa strains (toxic TH1, nontoxic TH2 and standard FACHB 905). The LTH-1 isolated from Lake Taihu, near Wuxi City in China, was identified as Aeromonas sp. based on its morphological characteristic features and phylogenetic analysis by sequencing of 16S rDNA. Extracellular compounds produced by LTH-1 showed strong algaelysing activity, and they were water-soluble and heat-tolerant, with a molecular mass lower than 2 kDa. Two algae-lysing compounds were isolated and purified from extracellular filtrate using silica gel column chromatography. One of these was identified as phenylalanine (C9H11NO2, m/z 166.0862) and the other (C8H16N2O3, m/z 189.1232) was unidentified by hybrid ion trap/time-of-flight mass spectrometry coupled with a high-performance liquid chromatography (LC/MS-IT-TOF) system. The half maximal effective concentration (EC50) of phenylalanine produced by LTH-1 against FACHB 905 was 68.2 +/- 8.2 microg mL(-1) in 48h. These results suggest that the algicidal Aeromonas sp. LTH-1 could play a role in controlling Microcystis blooms, and its extracellular compounds are also potentially useful for regulating blooms of the harmful M. aeruginosa.

Crystalline structure of Cu4SSe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amiraslanov, I. R.; Alieva, N. A.; Guseinov, G. G.

2016-12-01

Ternary compound Cu4SSe has been first synthesized by alloying the Cu, S, and Se elements taken in stoichiometric ratios. An X-ray diffraction study of polycrystalline samples has revealed the synthesized material to be crystallized into the trigonal system with unit-cell parameters a = 4.021(1) Å, c = 6.838(1) Å, and V = 95.75(4) Å3; sp. gr. P bar 3 m1; Z = 1; D x = 6.333(3) g/cm3. The crystal structure has been solved and refined to the reliability factor R Bragg = 0.40%.

Aerial Surveys of Endangered Whales in the Northern Bering, Eastern Chukchi, and Alaskan Beaufort Seas, 1984: with a Six Year Review, 1979-1984.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-06-01

I- * I 4 ?2 7- /’PT L0~ *70 BATRIS. K ERSCHIE I 158 158 154 152 1SO 148 146 144 142 140 138 9EAUFORT SEA 72 D 71 70 - -BRE i" isI ISO 154 152... ISO 146 146 144 142 140 136 Figure 19. (Continued). 51 Sp In October, 99 bowheads were sighted in the Beaufort Sea along and seaward of the 20-m isobath...04501T 51% 2% 43% 3% 27001 09001 27001 09001 21% 19% 4% 22501 9% 13501 22501 4% 3% 13501 18001 18001 n 47, R :226 0T n - 10, R 211 IT z2740,pɘD01 z -39.86

Defect Structures of La1 - y Sr y F3 - y , La1 - y Ba y F3 - y , and Nd1 - y Ca y F3 - y ( y = 0.05, 0.10) Nonstoichiometric Tysonite Phases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chernaya, T. S.; Verin, I. A.; Khrykina, O. N.; Bolotina, N. B.

2018-01-01

Characteristic features of defect structures of La1 - y Sr y F3 - y , La1 - y Ba y F3 - y , and Nd1 - y Ca y F3 - y ( y = 0.05, 0.10) nonstoichiometric phases of different compositions are determined from X-ray diffraction data. Interest in subtle details of their structure is determined by the possibility of ion transport over fluorine vacancies and by a strong compositional dependence of the ionic conductivity. The La0.95Sr0.05F2.95, La0.95Ba0.05F2.95, and Nd0.95Ca0.05F2.95 phases, as well as the La0.9Ba0.1F2.9 phase, crystallize as β-LaF3 (sp. gr. P3̅c1, Z = 6). The La0.9Sr0.1F2.9 and Nd0.9Ca0.1F2.9 phases lose their superstructure and are described by a cell whose volume is three times smaller (sp. gr. P63/ mmc, Z = 2). Defects of crystal structure R1 - y M y F3 - y are not exhausted by vacancies in fluorine positions. All crystals with a "large" cell are twinned according to the merohedral twin law. The majority of atomic positions in models with a "small" cell are split by group symmetry elements and are occupied statistically.

Complexes possessing rare "tertiary" sulfonamide nitrogen-to-metal bonds of normal length: fac-[Re(CO)3(N(SO2R)dien)]PF6 complexes with hydrophilic sulfonamide ligands.

PubMed

Abhayawardhana, Pramuditha L; Marzilli, Patricia A; Fronczek, Frank R; Marzilli, Luigi G

2014-01-21

Tertiary sulfonamide nitrogen-to-metal bonds of normal length are very rare. We recently discovered such a bond in one class of fac-[Re(CO)3(N(SO2R)(CH2Z)2)](n) complexes (Z = 2-pyridyl) with N(SO2R)dpa ligands derived from di-(2-picolyl)amine (N(H)dpa). fac-[M(CO)3(N(SO2R)(CH2Z)2)](n) agents (M = (186/188)Re, (99m)Tc) could find use as radiopharmaceutical bioconjugates when R is a targeting moiety. However, the planar, electron-withdrawing 2-pyridyl groups of N(SO2R)dpa destabilize the ligand to base and create relatively rigid chelate rings, raising the possibility that the rare M-N(sulfonamide) bond is an artifact of a restricted geometry. Also, the hydrophobic 2-pyridyl groups could cause undesirable accumulation in the liver, limiting future use in radiopharmaceuticals. Our goal is to identify a robust, hydrophilic, and flexible N(CH2Z)2 chelate framework. New C2-symmetric ligands, N(SO2R)(CH2Z)2 with (Z = CH2NH2; R = Me, dmb, or tol), were prepared by treating N(H)dien(Boc)2, a protected diethylenetriamine (N(H)dien) derivative, with methanesulfonyl chloride (MeSO2Cl), 3,5-dimethylbenzenesulfonyl chloride (dmbSO2Cl), and 4-methylbenzenesulfonyl chloride (tolSO2Cl). Treatment of fac-[Re(CO)3(H2O)3](+) with these ligands, designated as N(SO2R)dien, afforded new fac-[Re(CO)3(N(SO2R)dien)]PF6 complexes. Comparing the fac-[Re(CO)3(N(SO2Me)dien)]PF6 and fac-[Re(CO)3(N(SO2Me)dpa)]PF6 complexes, we find that the Re(I)-N(sulfonamide) bonds are normal in length and statistically identical and that the methyl (13)C NMR signal has an unusually upfield shift compared to that in the free ligand. We attribute this unusual upfield shift to the fact that the sulfonamide N undergoes an sp(2)-to-sp(3) rehybridization upon coordination to Re(I) in both complexes. Thus, the sulfonamide N of N(SO2R)dien ligands is a good donor, even though the chelate rings are conformationally flexible. Addition of the strongly basic and potentially monodentate ligand, 4-dimethylaminopyridine, did not affect the fac-[Re(CO)3(N(SO2tol)dien)]PF6 complex, even after several weeks. This complex is also stable to heat in aqueous solution. These results indicate that N(SO2R)dien ligands form fac-[Re(CO)3(N(SO2R)dien)]PF6 complexes sufficiently robust to be utilized for radiopharmaceutical development.

Surfactant protein secreted by the maturing mouse fetal lung acts as a hormone that signals the initiation of parturition

PubMed Central

Condon, Jennifer C.; Jeyasuria, Pancharatnam; Faust, Julie M.; Mendelson, Carole R.

2004-01-01

Parturition is timed to begin only after the developing embryo is sufficiently mature to survive outside the womb. It has been postulated that the signal for the initiation of parturition arises from the fetus although the nature and source of this signal remain obscure. Herein, we provide evidence that this signal originates from the maturing fetal lung. In the mouse, secretion of the major lung surfactant protein, surfactant protein A (SP-A), was first detected in amniotic fluid (AF) at 17 days postcoitum, rising progressively to term (19 days postcoitum). Expression of IL-1β in AF macrophages and activation of NF-κB in the maternal uterus increased with the gestational increase in SP-A. SP-A stimulated IL-1β and NF-κB expression in cultured AF macrophages. Studies using Rosa 26 Lac-Z (B6;129S-Gt(rosa)26Sor) (Lac-Z) mice revealed that fetal AF macrophages migrate to the uterus with the gestational increase in AF SP-A. Intraamniotic (i.a.) injection of SP-A caused preterm delivery of fetuses within 6-24 h. By contrast, injection of an SP-A antibody or NF-κB inhibitor into AF delayed labor by >24 h. We propose that augmented production of SP-A by the fetal lung near term causes activation and migration of fetal AF macrophages to the maternal uterus, where increased production of IL-1β activates NF-κB, leading to labor. We have revealed a response pathway that ties augmented surfactant production by the maturing fetal lung to the initiation of labor. We suggest that SP-A secreted by the fetal lung serves as a hormone of parturition. PMID:15044702

Nanostructured Crystals of Fluorite Phases Sr1 - x R x F2 + x and Their Ordering: 12. Influence of Structural Ordering on the Fluorine-Ion Conductivity of Sr0.667 R 0.333F2.333 Alloys ( R = Tb or Tm) at Their Annealing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sorokin, N. I.; Karimov, D. N.; Sul'yanova, E. A.; Sobolev, B. P.

2018-01-01

The ionic conductivity of Sr0.667 R 0.333F2.333 alloys (rational Sr2 RF7 compositions) in SrF2- RF3 systems ( R = Tb or Tm), prepared by spontaneous crystallization, has been investigated for the "as-grown" state and after annealing in CF4 at 900 ± 20°C for 96 h. As-grown samples of both compositions, prepared by fast (200°C/min) melt crystallization, exhibit partial (nonequilibrium) ordering, which increases from Tb to Tm. Annealing of Sr0.667 R 0.333F2.333 alloys yields strong ordering (equilibrium for the annealing temperatures) of the fluorite structure (CaF2 type, sp. gr. Fm3̅ m, Z = 4) at the formation of t-Sr2 RF7 tetragonal compound (sp. gr. I4/ m, Z = 30). It is established that ordering of the alloy fluorite structure reduces the fluorine-ion conductivity. After the annealing, the conductivity of Sr0.667R0.333F2.333 alloys with the initial (nonequilibrium) ordering stage of t-Sr2 RF7 phases with almost complete (equilibrium) ordering decreases by a factor of 3-4.5.

Clustering of High-Redshift Quasars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Timlin, John D., III

In this work, we investigate the clustering of faint quasars in the early Universe and use the clustering strength to gain a better understanding of quasar feedback mechanisms and the growth of central supermassive black holes at early times in the history of the Universe. It has long been understood (e.g., Hopkins et al. 2007a) that the clustering of distant quasars can be used as a probe of different feedback models; however, until now, there was no sample of faint, high-redshift quasars with sufficient density to accurately measure the clustering strength. Therefore we conducted a new survey to increase the number density of these objects. Here, we describe the Spitzer -IRAC Equatorial Survey (SpIES) which is a moderately deep, large-area Spitzer survey which was designed to discover faint, high-redshift (2.9 ≤ z ≤ 5.1) quasars. SpIES spans 115 deg 2 in the equatorial "Stripe 82" region of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and probes to 5sigma depths of 6.13 microJy (21.93 AB magnitude) and 5.75 microJy (22.0 AB magnitude) at 3.6 and 4.5 microns. At these depths, SpIES is able to observe faint quasars, and we show that SpIES recovers 94% of the high-redshift (z ≥ 3.5), spectroscopically-confirmed quasars that lie within its footprint. SpIES is also ideally located on Stripe 82 for two reasons: It surrounds existing infrared data from the Spitzer-HETDEX Exploratory Large-area (SHELA) survey which increases the area of infrared coverage, and there is a wide range of multi-wavelength, multi-epoch ancillary data on Stripe 82 which we can use together to select high-redshift quasar candidates. To photometrically identify quasar candidates, we combined the optical data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the infrared data from SpIES and SHELA and employed three machine learning algorithms. These algorithms were trained on the optical/infrared colors of known, high-redshift quasars. Using this method, we generate a sample of 1378 objects that are both faint (i ≥ 20.2) and high-redshift (2.9 ≤ z ≤ 5.1) which we use to compute the angular two-point correlation function. We fit a single power-law model with an index of delta = 1.39 +/- 0.618 and amplitude of theta0 = 0.71 +/- 0.546 arcmin to the correlation function, as well as a dark matter model with a bias of b = 6.78 +/- 1.79. The bias in our investigation suggests a model of quasar feedback that considers quasar activity as an intermittent phase in galaxy evolution. If this model is correct, quasar feedback is strong enough to periodically halt the accretion of gas onto the central supermassive black hole of the quasar, which shuts down quasar activity and causes the black hole to stop growing, however it is not strong enough to completely shut down the quasar in the early Universe.

Synthesis and structure of R{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}(NCS){sub 2}] (R = Rb or Cs)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Serezhkin, V. N., E-mail: lserezh@samsu.ru; Peresypkina, E. V.; Grigor’eva, V. A.

2015-01-15

Crystals Rb{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}(NCS){sub 2}] (I) and Cs{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}(NCS){sub 2}] (II) have been synthesized and studied by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Crystals I are monoclinic, with the following parameters: a = 12.2118(5) Å, b = 10.2545(3) Å, c = 11.8754(4) Å, β = 110.287(1)°, sp. gr. C2/c, Z = 4, and R = 0.0523. Crystals II are orthorhombic, with a = 13.7309(3) Å, b = 10.5749(2) Å, c = 10.1891(2) Å, sp. gr. Pnma, Z = 4, and R = 0.0411. The basic structural units of crystals I and II are one-core complexes [UO{submore » 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}(NCS){sub 2}]{sup 2−}, which belong to the crystallochemical group cis-AB{sub 2}{sup 01}M{sub 2}{sup 1} (A = UO{sub 2}{sup 2+}, B{sup 01} = NO{sub 3}{sup −}, M{sup 1} = NCS{sup −}), which are combined into a framework via electrostatic interactions with ions of alkaline metals R (R = Rb or Cs). The structural features of crystals I and II, which condition the formation of [UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}(NCS){sub 2}]{sup 2−} complexes with a cis rather than a trans position of isothiocyanate ions in the coordination sphere of uranyl ions, are discussed.« less

Characterization of a neurokinin B receptor site in rat brain using a highly selective radioligand.

PubMed

Laufer, R; Gilon, C; Chorev, M; Selinger, Z

1986-08-05

We have recently characterized a tachykinin receptor subtype (SP-N) whose preferred ligand is the mammalian neuropeptide, neurokinin B (Laufer, R., Wormser, U., Friedman, Z. Y., Gilon, C., Chorev, M., and Selinger, Z. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 7444-7448). To investigate this novel tachykinin receptor, we have now prepared a radiolabeled peptide, N alpha-[( 125I]desamino-3-iodotyrosyl)-[Asp5,6, N-methyl-Phe8]substance P (5-11) heptapeptide (125I-BH-NH-Senktide), which selectively interacts with the SP-N receptor subtype. The binding of 125I-BH-NH-Senktide to rat cerebral cortex membranes was studied under conditions that minimized nonspecific binding. Unlike other tachykinin receptor probes, this radioligand is not degraded during the binding experiment. Binding of 125I-BH-NH-Senktide is reversible, saturable, and of high affinity (KD = 0.9 nM). The radioligand labels a single class of binding site (122 fmol binding sites/mg of protein), as indicated by a linear Scatchard plot and a Hill coefficient close to unity (nH = 1.05). The pharmacological specificity of this binding site corresponds to that of the neuronal SP-N receptor in guinea pig ileum myenteric plexus, which was determined by a functional bioassay. Among various rat brain regions, the highest binding was observed in the cerebral cortex, olfactory bulb, hypothalamus, and hippocampus. These results suggest the existence and specific distribution of a neurokinin B receptor site of the SP-N type in rat brain. 125I-BH-NH-Senktide is the first selective and potent probe for this receptor and is thus an important tool for further studies of its distribution, regulation, and functional role.

Isolation and anti-HIV-1 integrase activity of lentzeosides A-F from extremotolerant lentzea sp. H45, a strain isolated from a high-altitude Atacama Desert soil.

PubMed

Wichner, Dominik; Idris, Hamidah; Houssen, Wael E; McEwan, Andrew R; Bull, Alan T; Asenjo, Juan A; Goodfellow, Michael; Jaspars, Marcel; Ebel, Rainer; Rateb, Mostafa E

2017-04-01

The extremotolerant isolate H45 was one of several actinomycetes isolated from a high-altitude Atacama Desert soil collected in northwest Chile. The isolate was identified as a new Lentzea sp. using a combination of chemotaxonomic, morphological and phylogenetic properties. Large scale fermentation of the strain in two different media followed by chromatographic purification led to the isolation of six new diene and monoene glycosides named lentzeosides A-F, together with the known compound (Z)-3-hexenyl glucoside. The structures of the new compounds were confirmed by HRESIMS and NMR analyses. Compounds 1-6 displayed moderate inhibitory activity against HIV integrase.

Effects of inorganic nitrogen sources on the production of PP-V [(10Z)-12-carboxyl-monascorubramine] and the Expression of the nitrate assimilation gene cluster by Penicillium sp. AZ.

PubMed

Arai, Teppei; Umemura, Sara; Ota, Tamaki; Ogihara, Jun; Kato, Jun; Kasumi, Takafumi

2012-01-01

A fungal strain, Penicillium sp. AZ, produced the azaphilone Monascus pigment homolog when cultured in a medium composed of soluble starch, ammonium nitrate, yeast extract, and citrate buffer, pH 5.0. One of the typical features of violet pigment PP-V [(10Z)-12-carboxyl-monascorubramine] is that pyranoid oxygen is replaced with nitrogen. In this study, we found that ammonia and nitrate nitrogen are available for PP-V biosynthesis, and that ammonia nitrogen was much more effective than nitrate nitrogen. Further, we isolated nitrate assimilation gene cluster, niaD, niiA, and crnA, and analyzed the expression of these genes. The expression levels of all these genes increased with sodium nitrate addition to the culture medium. The results obtained here strongly suggest that Penicillium sp. AZ produced PP-V using nitrate in the form of ammonium reduced from nitrate through a bioprocess assimilatory reaction.

The level of deterrence provided by data from the SPITS seismometer array to possible violations of the Comprehensive Test Ban in the Novaya Zemlya region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bowers, David; Marshall, Peter D.; Douglas, Alan

2001-08-01

The yield threshold at which a fully decoupled explosion can be identified has been a recurring issue in the debate on whether the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban (CTB) can be adequately verified. Here, we assess this yield threshold for the Novaya Zemlya (NZ) and Kola Peninsula regions by analysing seismograms from six small body wave magnitude (mb<=3.5) seismic disturbances recorded at regional distances (1050<Δ<1300km) by the seismometer array at Spitsbergen (SPITS). Multiple filter analysis of the seismograms shows clear high-frequency Pn (f>=14Hz), except from a calibration explosion on the Kola Peninsula. From four of the disturbances studied we observe clear high-frequency Sn; the explosion showed no clear high-frequency Sn and the data from the remaining disturbance was potentially contaminated by a data glitch. Frequency-domain analysis indicates that the Pn and Sn attenuation across the Barents Sea is similar to that observed across stable tectonic regions (shields). We define a spectral magnitude for the 2.5-3.5 Hz passband that is tied to teleseismic mb from NZ explosions; the six disturbances considered have 2.3<=mb<=3.5. Three-component data are available from SPITS for four of the disturbances considered (including the explosion). From the explosion the S/P ratios on the vertical (Z), radial (R) and tangential (T) components (in the 3.0-6.0Hz passband) are all less than unity. The S/P ratios for the same passband on the Z component from the remaining three disturbances are less than unity, but the ratios on the R and T components are significantly greater than unity. We argue that S/P ratios (3.0-6.0Hz passband) of less than unity on all of the Z, R and T components at SPITS may indicate a potential treaty violation in the Kola Peninsula and NZ regions. The temporal variation of seismic noise, in the 3.0-6.0Hz passband, at SPITS suggests that our three-component S/P criterion will be effective 95 per cent of the time for disturbances with mb>=2.8. We suggest that mb=4.25+b log10W, where W is the explosive yield in kilotons (kt), with b=0.75 for W>=1, and b=1.0 for W<1, is suitable for conservatively estimating the yield threshold of a potential violation of the CTB in the NZ region. From this we infer that a 35 ton fully coupled explosion in the NZ region is likely to be identified as suspicious under the CTB using the three-component S/P criterion. Simulations show that the low-frequency decoupling factor (DF) for a fully decoupled nuclear explosion in hard rock is about 40, suggesting that such an explosion with a yield of 1.6 kt in the NZ region is likely to be identified using data from SPITS. The conservatism likely to be employed by a potential violator and uncertainties in the DFs for nuclear explosions in hard rock cavities, together with data from stations other than SPITS within 2000km of the NZ region, suggest that the yield at which a potential violator of the CTB could confidently escape detection (using decoupling) in the NZ region is in reality probably less than 0.5 kt.

Exfoliation and Air Stability of Germanane

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

Standard Form 298 (Rev 8/98) Prescribed by ANSI Std. Z39.18 614-247-7438 W911NF-12-1-0481 62249-MS.12 MS Thesis a . REPORT 14. ABSTRACT 16...Germanane Exfoliation of graphene has shown that it is not only possible to create stable, singleatom- thick sheets from a crystalline solid, but that...however, contains the sp3 hybridization needed for functionalization. This functionalization could lead to a tunable band gap necessary for

Temporal regulation and forespore-specific expression of the spore photoproduct lyase gene by sigma-G RNA polymerase during Bacillus subtilis sporulation.

PubMed Central

Pedraza-Reyes, M; Gutiérrez-Corona, F; Nicholson, W L

1994-01-01

Bacterial spores are highly resistant to killing by UV radiation and exhibit unique DNA photochemistry. UV irradiation of spore DNA results in formation of spore photoproduct (SP), the thymine dimer 5-thyminyl-5,6-dihydrothymine. Repair of SP occurs during germination of Bacillus subtilis spores by two distinct routes, either by the general nucleotide excision repair (uvr) pathway or by a novel SP-specific monomerization reaction mediated by the enzyme SP lyase, which is encoded by the spl gene. Repair of SP occurs early in spore germination and is independent of de novo protein synthesis, suggesting that the SP repair enzymes are synthesized during sporulation and are packaged in the dormant spore. To test this hypothesis, the expression of a translational spl-lacZ fusion integrated at the spl locus was monitored during B. subtilis growth and sporulation. beta-Galactosidase expression from the spl-lacZ fusion was silent during vegetative growth and was not DNA damage inducible, but it was activated at morphological stage III of sporulation specifically in the forespore compartment, coincident with activation of expression of the stage III marker enzyme glucose dehydrogenase. Expression of the spl-lacZ fusion was shown to be dependent upon the sporulation-specific RNA polymerase containing the sigma-G factor (E sigma G), as spl-lacZ expression was abolished in a mutant harboring a deletion in the sigG gene and restored by expression of the sigG gene in trans. Primer extension analysis of spl mRNA revealed a major extension product initiating upstream from a small open reading frame of unknown function which precedes spl, and it revealed two other shorter minor extension products. All three extension products were present in higher quantities during sporulation and after sigG induction. The three putative transcripts are all preceded by sequences which share homology with the consensus sigma-G factor-type promoter sequence, but in vitro transcription by purified sigma-G RNA polymerase was detected only from the promoter corresponding to the major extension product. The open reading frame-spl operon therefore appears to be an additional member of the sigma-G regulon, which also includes as members the small, acid-soluble spore proteins which are in large part responsible for spore DNA photochemistry. Therefore, sporulating bacteria appear to coordinately regulate genes whose products not only alter spore DNA photochemistry but also repair the major spore-specific photoproduct during germination Images PMID:8021181

Interaction between Ammonium Toxicity and Green Tide Development Over Seagrass Meadows: A Laboratory Study

PubMed Central

Moreno-Marín, Francisco; Vergara, Juan J.; Pérez-Llorens, J. Lucas; Pedersen, Morten F.; Brun, Fernando G.

2016-01-01

Eutrophication affects seagrasses negatively by increasing light attenuation through stimulation of biomass of fast-growing, bloom-forming algae and because high concentrations of ammonium in the water can be toxic to higher plants. We hypothesized nevertheless, that moderate amounts of nitrophilic macroalgae that coexists with seagrasses under eutrophic conditions, can alleviate the harmful effects of eutrophication on seagrasses by reducing ammonium concentrations in the seawater to non-toxic levels because such algae have a very large capacity to take up inorganic nutrients. We studied therefore how combinations of different ammonium concentrations (0, 25 and 50 μM) and different standing stocks of macroalgae (i.e. 0, 1 and 6 layers of Ulva sp.) affected survival, growth and net production of the seagrass Zostera noltei. In the absence of Ulva sp., increasing ammonium concentrations had a negative influence on the performance of Z. noltei. The presence of Ulva sp. without ammonium supply had a similar, but slightly smaller, negative effect on seagrass fitness due to light attenuation. When ammonium enrichment was combined with presence of Ulva sp., Ulva sp. ameliorated some of negative effects caused by high ammonium availability although Ulva sp. lowered the availability of light. Benthic microalgae, which increased in biomass during the experiment, seemed to play a similar role as Ulva sp.–they contributed to remove ammonium from the water, and thus, aided to keep the ammonium concentrations experienced by Z. noltei at relatively non-toxic levels. Our findings show that moderate amounts of drift macroalgae, eventually combined with increasing stocks of benthic microalgae, may aid seagrasses to alleviate toxic effects of ammonium under eutrophic conditions, which highlights the importance of high functional diversity for ecosystem resistance to anthropogenic disturbance. PMID:27035662

Measurement of the Number of Light Neutrino Generations, Z Resonance Parameters, and Absolute Luminosity at the Aleph Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wear, James A.

Measurements of the production cross section sigma (e^+e^-to Z to hadrons) have been made with the ALEPH detector in a seven-point energy scan across the Z resonance at the LEP e^+e^ - collider. The selection of hadronic Z decays is performed with a systematic uncertainty of 0.3%, resulting in 147,836 events. The absolute luminosity has been determined with a systematic uncertainty of 0.9%. These hadronic cross sections and ALEPH's measurement of Z decay into charged leptons, sigma(e^+e^ -to Z to l^+l^ -), are used in fits to extract parameters of the Z resonance in a model-independent way. The Z mass and total width are measured to be M_{Z } = 91.177 +/- 0.010 _{exp} +/- 0.020_{LEP} GeV and Gamma_{Z} = 2.482 +/- 0.018_{exp} +/- 0.006_{LEP } GeV where the second errors are due to LEP beam energy uncertainties. The Z decay partial widths are measured to be Gamma_{h} = 1.738 +/- 0.016 GeV, Gamma_{l} = 83.45 +/- 0.76 MeV, and Gamma_ {inv} = 0.493 +/- 0.015 GeV. The Born-level peak hadronic cross section is sigma_sp{had}{0 } = 41.58 +/- 0.44 nb, R = Gamma_{h }/Gamma_{l} = 20.83 +/- 0.21, and Gamma_{inv}/Gamma _{l} = 5.91 +/- 0.18. The number of light neutrino generations is determined to be N_{nu} = 2.96 +/- 0.09 and the Standard Model electroweak mixing angle to be sin^2 theta_{W} = 0.2325 +/- 0.0027.

Proteinivorax tanatarense gen. nov., sp. nov., an anaerobic, haloalkaliphilic, proteolytic bacterium isolated from a decaying algal bloom, and proposal of Proteinivoraceae fam. nov.

PubMed

Kevbrin, Vadim; Boltyanskaya, Yulia; Zhilina, Tatjana; Kolganova, Tatjana; Lavrentjeva, Elena; Kuznetsov, Boris

2013-09-01

Two strains of a novel anaerobic, protein- and nucleoside-utilizing bacterium, Z-910(T) and Z-810, were isolated. The strains were spore-forming, mainly nonmotile rods, exhibiting positive Gram reaction with Gram-positive cell wall structure. The strains were mesophilic and haloalkaliphilic. Cultures used proteins and proteinaceous substrates as carbon, nitrogen, and energy sources. Both strains used also ribonucleosides, cellobiose, pyruvate, and glycerol. Ribose and nucleobases did not support growth. The fermentation products from all utilized substrates were identical but varied in content and included straight and branched acids, as well as hydrogen and ammonia. When grown on tryptone, strain Z-910(T) was able to reduce fumarate, dimethyl sulfoxide, thiosulfate, and elemental sulfur. Neither nitrate nor sulfate was reduced. The DNA G + C content of strain Z-910(T) was 32.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity revealed that strains Z-910(T) and Z-810 represented a new branch within the order Clostridiales, with 90.2 % similarity to the nearest genus with a validly published name Anaerobranca gottschalkii DSM 13577(T). According to their physiological, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic properties, strains Z-910(T) and Z-810 represented a new genus and novel species, for which the name Proteinivorax tanatarense gen. nov., sp. nov. was proposed. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the genera Proteinivorax gen. nov. and Anaerobranca formed a separate cluster within the order Clostridiales. The family Proteinivoraceae fam. nov. comprising the genera Proteinivorax gen. nov. and Anaerobranca was therefore proposed within the order Clostridiales of the phylum Firmicutes with Proteinivorax as a type genus of the new family.

PigZ, a TetR/AcrR family repressor, modulates secondary metabolism via the expression of a putative four-component resistance-nodulation-cell-division efflux pump, ZrpADBC, in Serratia sp. ATCC 39006.

PubMed

Gristwood, Tamzin; Fineran, Peter C; Everson, Lee; Salmond, George P C

2008-07-01

The Gram-negative enterobacterium, Serratia sp. ATCC 39006 synthesizes several secondary metabolites, including prodigiosin (Pig) and a carbapenem antibiotic (Car). A complex hierarchical network of regulatory proteins control Pig and Car production. In this study we characterize a TetR family regulator, PigZ, which represses transcription of a divergently transcribed putative resistance-nodulation-cell-division (RND) efflux pump, encoded by zrp (PigZ repressed pump) ADBC, via direct binding to the zrpA-pigZ intergenic region. Unusually, this putative RND pump contains two predicted membrane fusion proteins (MFPs), ZrpA and ZrpD. A mutation in pigZ resulted in multiple phenotypic changes, including exoenzyme production, motility and differential regulation of Pig and Car production. A polar suppressor mutation, within zrpA, restored all tested phenotypes to parental strain levels, indicating that the changes observed are due to the increase in expression of ZrpADBC in the absence of the repressor, PigZ. Genomic deletions of zrpA and zrpD indicate that the MFP ZrpD, but not ZrpA, is essential for activity of the putative pump. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that putative RND efflux pumps encoding two MFP components are not uncommon, particularly among plant-associated, Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, based on phylogenetic analysis, we propose that these pairs of MFPs consist of two distinct subtypes.

Development of Short Term Immunotoxicological Assays for Prediction of Chronic Toxicological Responses Induced by Environmental Chemicals

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-11-25

Time 16 El E 4. IUdR Incorporation into Sp*,een Cells as .Function of Preincubationr :ime.II....... ... ...... ........ I...... I........ I...trichloroethylene B) Bone marrow parameters 1) Bone marrow cell number 3) Bone marrow stem cell number (CFU-GM) Y . ,.= z , 0 .2 Cc-C 02 @13 .~ LL 0 CL uj 0...lipopolysac- • .4 -C.- * 50 Figure 21 S pleen Cell Number In Cultures 8- Exposed to S3. Mixes .............. 6 2. 0 60 180 Exposure Time (Minutes) El No S9

Regulation of iron assimilation: nucleotide sequence analysis of an iron-regulated promoter from a fluorescent pseudomonad.

PubMed

O'Sullivan, D J; O'Gara, F

1991-08-01

An iron-regulated promoter was cloned on a 2.1 kb Bg/II fragment from Pseudomonas sp. strain M114 and fused to the lacZ reporter gene. Iron-regulated lacZ expression from the resulting construct (pSP1) in strain M114 was mediated via the Fur-like repressor which also regulates siderophore production in this strain. A 390 bp StuI-PstI internal fragment contained the necessary information for iron-regulated promoter expression. This fragment was sequenced and the initiation point for transcription was determined by primer extension analysis. The region directly upstream of the transcription start point contained no significant homology to known promoter consensus sequences. However the -16 to -25 bp region contained homology to four other iron-regulated pseudomonad promoters. Deletion of bases downstream from the transcriptional start did not affect the iron-regulated expression of the promoter. The -37 and -43 bp regions exhibited some homology to the 19 bp Escherichia coli Fur-binding consensus sequence. When expressed in E. coli (via a cloned transacting factor from strain M114) lacZ expression from pSP1 was found to be regulated by iron. A region of greater than 77 bases but less than 131 upstream from the transcriptional start was found to be necessary for promoter activity, further suggesting that a transcriptional activator may be required for expression.

Several novel N-donor tridentate ligands formed in chemical studies of new fac-Re(CO)3 complexes relevant to fac-99mTc(CO)3 radiopharmaceuticals: attack of a terminal amine on coordinated acetonitrile.

PubMed

Perera, Theshini; Marzilli, Patricia A; Fronczek, Frank R; Marzilli, Luigi G

2010-03-01

To evaluate syntheses of fac-[Re(CO)(3)L](+) complexes in organic solvents, we treated fac-[Re(CO)(3)(CH(3)CN)(3)]PF(6)/BF(4) in acetonitrile with triamine ligands (L). When L had two primary or two tertiary terminal amine groups, the expected fac-[Re(CO)(3)L](+) complexes formed. In contrast, N,N-dimethyldiethylenetriamine (N,N-Me(2)dien) formed an unusual compound, fac-[Re(CO)(3)(DAE)]BF(4) {DAE = (Z)-N'-(2-(2-(dimethylamino)ethylamino)ethyl)acetimidamide = (Me(2)NCH(2)CH(2))NH(CH(2)CH(2)N=C(NH(2))Me)}. DAE is formed by addition of acetonitrile to the N,N-Me(2)dien terminal primary amine, converting this sp(3) nitrogen to an sp(2) nitrogen with a double bond to the original acetonitrile sp carbon. The three Ns bound to Re derive from N,N-Me(2)dien. The pathway to fac-[Re(CO)(3)(DAE)]BF(4) is suggested by a second unusual compound, fac-[Re(CO)(3)(MAE)]PF(6) {MAE = N-methyl-N-(2-(methyl-(2-(methylamino)ethyl)amino)ethyl)acetimidamide = MeN(H)-CH(2)CH(2)-N(Me)-CH(2)CH(2)-N(Me)-C(Me)=NH}, isolated after treating fac-[Re(CO)(3)(CH(3)CN)(3)]PF(6) with N,N',N''-trimethyldiethylenetriamine (N,N',N''-Me(3)dien). MAE chelates via a terminal and a central sp(3) N from N,N',N''-Me(3)dien and via one sp(2) NH in a C(Me)=NH group. This group is derived from acetonitrile by addition of the other N,N',N''-Me(3)dien terminal amine to the nitrile carbon. This addition creates an endocyclic NMe group within a seven-membered chelate ring. The structure and other properties of fac-[Re(CO)(3)(MAE)]PF(6) allow us to propose a reaction scheme for the formation of the unprecedented DAE ligand. The new compounds advance our understanding of the spectral and structural properties of Re analogues of (99m)Tc radiopharmaceuticals.

The impact of medium architecture of alluvial settings on non-Fickian transport

USGS Publications Warehouse

Zhang, Yong; Green, Christopher T.; Fogg, Graham E.

2013-01-01

The influence of heterogeneous architecture of alluvial aquifers on non-Fickian transport is explored using the Monte Carlo approach. More than two thousand high-resolution hydrofacies models representing seven groups of alluvial settings are built to test the effects of varying facies proportions, mean length and its anisotropy ratio, juxtapositional tendencies, and sub-facies heterogeneity. Results show that the volumetric fraction (P(Z)) of floodplain layers classified by their thicknesses Z controls the non-Fickian tailing of tracer transport at late times. A simple quantitative relationship SBTC≈SP(Z)/2-1 is built based on a multi-rate mass transfer analysis, where SBTC is the slope of the power-law portion of tracer breakthrough curve, and SP(Z) denotes the slope of the power-law portion of the distribution of P(Z) which can be measured, e.g., in core logs. At early times, the mean length of hydrofacies affects the non-Fickian tailing by controlling the channeling of flow in high-permeability non-floodplain materials and the sequestration in surrounding low-permeability floodplain layers. The competition between channeling and sequestration generates complex pre-asymptotic features, including sublinear growth of plume mean displacement, superlinear growth of plume variance, and skewed mass distribution. Those observations of the influence of medium heterogeneity on tracer transport at early and late times may lead to development of nonlocal transport models that can be parameterized using measurable aquifer characteristics.

Could the erythrocyte indices or serum ferritin predict the therapeutic response to a trial with oral iron during pregnancy? Results from the Accuracy study for Maternal Anaemia diagnosis (AMA).

PubMed

Bresani Salvi, Cristiane Campello; Braga, Maria Cynthia; Figueirôa, José Natal; Batista Filho, Malaquias

2016-08-12

Treatment of maternal iron-deficiency anaemia can reduce risks of prematurity and low birth weight; hence a reliable diagnosis of maternal iron needs is critical. However, erythrocyte indices and serum ferritin have shown a weak correlation with iron status during pregnancy. This study verified the accuracy of those tests to predict the responsiveness to a therapeutic test with oral iron as reference standard for iron deficiency in pregnant women. A prospective diagnostic study phase 3 was conducted in a single prenatal care center in Northeast Brazil. Between August 2011 and October 2012 a consecutive sampling included 187 women in their 2(nd)-3(rd) trimesters of low-risk pregnancy and having anaemia (haemoglobin <11.0 g/dL). Until December 2012, 139 women completed a trial with daily pills of ferrous sulfate (40 mg of iron), during 23 to 125 days. Haemoglobin (Hb), other erythrocyte indices and ferritin (index-tests) were assessed pre-treatment by automated analyzers. Hb was performed also post-treatment to assess the therapeutic response by its post-pretreatment differences. We estimated sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), predictive values (PV), likelihood ratios (LR), diagnostic Odds Ratio (OR), area under Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy ratio and agreement coefficient of the index-tests against an increase of at least 0.55 Hb Z-score (reference standard test). We calculated the Z-scores according to the reference population from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hb had a mean increase of 0.24 Z-score after 30 iron pills (p 0.013). All index-tests demonstrated PV- above 70 %, PV+ around 40 %, LR around 1.0, and AUC of 0.5 to 0.6. Hb and haematocrit had Se of 50 % (95 % CI 40 to 70); and Sp of 59 % (95 % CI 43 to 74) and 47 % (95 % CI 38 to 57), respectively. Ferritin, Mean Corpuscular Volume, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration and Red blood cell Distribution Width had Se below 40 % with Sp above 70 %. Erythrocyte indices and ferritin could not predict the iron needs of anemic pregnant women. Increases of Hb Z-scores after a short treatment with oral iron may be a reliable therapeutic test. World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform U1111-1123-2605; Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials RBR-237wbg , registered 28 July 2011.

Evaluation of traditional plant extracts for innate immune mechanisms and disease resistance against fish bacterial Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas sp.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hardi, E. H.; Saptiani, G.; Kusuma, I. W.; Suwinarti, W.; Nugroho, R. A.

2018-03-01

The purposes of this study were to evaluate effect of ethanol herbal extracts of Boesenbergia pandurata, Solanum ferox and Zingimber zerumbet on Tilapia (Oreochromis nilaticus) innate immune mechanisms and disease resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas sp. Fish were intramuscularly injected with 0.1 mL/fish (1010 CFU mL-1) of each bacterium on the day 6th of post treatment using extract by several methods (injection, oral administration and immersion). The doses of extract were 600 ppm of B. pandurata, 900 ppm S. ferox and 200 ppm of Z. zerumbet. The percentage mortality, Relative Percent Survival (RPS) and innate immune response were assessed on weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4. All the methods were effective to enhance the immune parameters after 2 weeks application and the RPS of treatment reached more than 90 %. The results showed that the injection method of extracts was the most effective method to control A. hydrophila and Pseudomonas sp. The result indicated that all the doses of extracts could be significantly influence the immune response and protect the health status of tilapia against A. hydrophila and Pseudomonas sp. infections.

Free-living marine nematodes of Desmodorella and Zalonema (Nematoda: Desmodoridae) with description of two new species from the deep sea of the North Western Pacific.

PubMed

Fadeeva, Natalia; Mordukhovich, Vladimir; Zograf, Julia

2016-10-18

Examination of material recently collected by the German-Russian deep-sea expeditions has revealed that new species occur regularly in macro- and meiobenthic samples of the North-Western (NW) Pacific. In this paper, we report three desmodorid species of the genera Desmodorella and Zalonema from the NW Pacific. They were studied and described using both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy. Desmodorella tenuispiculum (Allgen, 1928) was found at several locations in the Sea of Japan during the Russian-German expedition SoJaBio (Sea of Japan Biodiversity Studies) cruise of RV ''Akademik M.V. Lavrentyev'' in 2010, at water depths ranging between 515 and 1500 m. Zalonema granda sp. nov. and Z. kamchatkaensis sp. nov. are characterized by having a larger body size in comparison with other species of the genus. Zalonema kamchatkaensis sp. nov. is characterized by having a convex cephalic capsule, subcephalic setae (3-4 μm long) located in the middle and at the posterior region of the cephalic capsule, very large spiral amphidial fovea with 2.1-2.2 turns, sexual dimorphism in amphideal fovea size (larger in males, 39-45 μm, than in females, 37-43 μm). Zalonema granda sp. nov. is characterized by having a very long body (3.3-4.3 mm), curved elongate spicules (1.4-1.6 body diameter long), with blade broadening anteriorly towards the rounded capitulum, and pointed distally; weakly developed tubular gubernaculum, and absence of pre-cloacal supplements.

Photosynthetic water oxidation in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803: mutations D1-E189K, R and Q are without influence on electron transfer at the donor side of photosystem II.

PubMed

Clausen, J; Winkler, S; Hays, A M; Hundelt, M; Debus, R J; Junge, W

2001-11-01

The oxygen-evolving manganese cluster (OEC) of photosynthesis is oxidised by the photochemically generated primary oxidant (P(+*)(680)) of photosystem II via a tyrosine residue (Y(Z), Tyr161 on the D1 subunit of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803). The redox span between these components is rather small and probably tuned by protonic equilibria. The very efficient electron transfer from Y(Z) to P(+*)(680) in nanoseconds requires the intactness of a hydrogen bonded network involving Y(Z), D1-His190, and presumably D1-Glu189. We studied photosystem II core particles from photoautotrophic mutants where the residue D1-E189 was replaced by glutamine, arginine and lysine which were expected to electrostatically differ from the glutamate in the wild-type (WT). Surprisingly, the rates of electron transfer from Y(Z) to P(+*)(680) as well as from the OEC to Y(ox)(Z) were the same as in the WT. With the generally assumed proximity between D1-His190 (and thus D1-Glu189) and Y(Z), the lack of any influence on the electron transfer around Y(Z) straightforwardly implies a strongly hydrophobic environment forcing Glu (acid) and Lys, Arg (basic) at position D1-189 into electro-neutrality. As one alternative, D1-Glu189 could be located at such a large distance from the OEC, Y(Z) and P(+*)(680) that a charge on D1-189X does not influence the electron transfer. This seems less likely in the light of the drastic influence of its direct neighbour, D1-His190, on Y(Z) function. Another alternative is that D1-Glu189 is negatively charged, but is located in a cluster of acid/base groups that compensates for an alteration of charge at position 189, leaving the overall net charge unchanged in the Gln, Lys, and Arg mutants.

Family Studies of Sensorimotor and Neurocognitive Heterogeneity in Autism Spectrum Disorders

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-11-01

understanding the role of the cerebellum in this disorder. b. Peer-Reviewed Scientific Journals: Wang Z, Magnon GC, White SP, Greene RK, Vaillancourt DE...cortico-cerebellar abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder.Society for Neuroscience (SfN); (2014; November). Washington, DC. Wang Z, Magnon GC, Greene RK... Magnon GC, Greene RK, Vaillancourt DE, Mosconi MW. (in press). Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show abnormalities during initial impulse

Bioleaching remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils using Burkholderia sp. Z-90.

PubMed

Yang, Zhihui; Zhang, Zhi; Chai, Liyuan; Wang, Yong; Liu, Yi; Xiao, Ruiyang

2016-01-15

Bioleaching is an environment-friendly and economical technology to remove heavy metals from contaminated soils. In this study, a biosurfactant-producing strain with capacity of alkaline production was isolated from cafeteria sewer sludge and its capability for removing Zn, Pb, Mn, Cd, Cu, and As was investigated. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rDNA gene sequences confirmed that the strain belonged to Burkholderia sp. and named as Z-90. The biosurfactant was glycolipid confirmed by thin layer chromatography and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Z-90 broth was then used for bioleaching remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. The removal efficiency was 44.0% for Zn, 32.5% for Pb, 52.2% for Mn, 37.7% for Cd, 24.1% for Cu and 31.6% for As, respectively. Mn, Zn and Cd were more easily removed from soil than Cu, Pb and As, which was attributed to the presence of high acid-soluble fraction of Mn, Zn and Cd and high residual fraction of Cu, Pb and As. The heavy metal removal in soils was contributed to the adhesion of heavy metal-contaminated soil minerals with strain Z-90 and the formation of a metal complex with biosurfactant. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Supercritical CO2 extraction of beta-carotene from a marine strain of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus species.

PubMed

Montero, Olimpio; Macías-Sánchez, Maria Dolores; Lama, Carmen M; Lubián, Luis M; Mantell, Casimiro; Rodríguez, Miguel; de la Ossa, Enrique M

2005-12-14

Dynamic extraction of carotenoids from a marine strain of Synechococcus sp. (Cyanophyceae) with supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) was investigated with regard to operation pressure and temperature effects on extraction efficiency. Extraction yield (milligrams of pigment per gram of dry weight) for SC-CO2) was compared with the extraction yield for dimethylformamide (DMF). Carotenoids extracted with SC-CO2 were beta-carotene (Ct), zeaxanthin (Z), beta-cryptoxanthin (Cr), and equinenone; chlorophyll a was poorly extracted, whereas myxoxanthophyll, another major carotenoid, was not extracted under any experimental condition. The highest relative yield, which is defined here as y(r) = [(mg of pigment(SC-CO2)/mg of pigment(DMF))] x 100, was 76.1 +/- 8.6% for Ct, but it rose to 87.0 +/- 3.4% when 15% ethanol was used as cosolvent. The pressure effect on y(r) was found to be significant (p < 0.05) for both Cr and Z, along with total carotenoids, whereas the effect of square T (TT) was significant for only Ct. From empirical correlations, pairwise pressure (bar) and temperature (degrees C), respectively, for optimal extraction were determined to be (358, 50) for Ct, (454, 59) for Cr, and (500, 60) for Z. Cell disruption by sonication or detergent treatment of the biomass did not improve the extraction efficiency. Matrix structure together with material state could explain the low carotenoid extraction yield obtained with SC-CO2 as compared to DMF in Synechococcus sp. However, the process can be applied to selective extraction of different carotenoids.

Enhancement of Cd phytoextraction by two Amaranthus species with endophytic Rahnella sp. JN27.

PubMed

Yuan, Ming; He, Huaidong; Xiao, Li; Zhong, Ting; Liu, Hui; Li, Shubin; Deng, Peiyan; Ye, Zhihong; Jing, Yuanxiao

2014-05-01

Microbe-assisted phytoextraction shows a potential for the remediation of metal-contaminated soils. The aim of this study was to isolate, characterize, and evaluate the potential of endophytic bacteria in improving plant growth and metal uptake by Cd-hyperaccumulators-Amaranthus hypochondriacus and Amaranthus mangostanus. An endophytic bacterial strain JN27 isolated from roots of Zea mays displayed high tolerance and mobilization to Cd, and was identified as Rahnella sp. based on 16S rDNA sequencing. The strain also exhibited multiple plant growth beneficial features including the production of indole-3-acetic acid, siderophore, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase and solubilization of insoluble phosphate. Subsequently, a pot trial was performed to elucidate the effects of inoculation with JN27 on plant growth and Cd uptake by A. hypochondriacus, A. mangostanus, Solanum nigrum and Z. mays grown in soils with different levels of Cd (25, 50, 100 mg Cd kg(-1)). The results revealed that inoculation with JN27 significantly increased the biomasses of all the tested plants and the Cd concentrations of all the tested plants except Z. mays in both above-ground and root tissues. Moreover, strain JN27 could successfully re-colonized in rhizosphere soils of all the tested plants and root interior of A. hypochondriacus and Z. mays. The present results indicated that the symbiont of A. hypochondriacus (or A. mangostanus) and strain JN27 can effectively improve the Cd uptake by plants and would be a new strategy in microbe-assisted phytoextraction for metal-contaminated soils. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Preliminary Investigation on Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Infesting Birds in Kızılırmak Delta, Turkey.

PubMed

Keskin, Adem; Erciyas-Yavuz, Kiraz

2016-01-01

Ticks are mandatory blood-feeding ectoparasites of mammals, birds, reptiles, and even amphibians. Turkey has a rich bird fauna and is located on the main migration route for many birds. However, information on ticks infesting birds is very limited. In the present study, we aimed to determine ticks infesting birds in Kızılırmak Delta, Turkey. In 2014 autumn bird migration season, a total of 7,452 birds belonging to 79 species, 52 genera, 35 families, and 14 orders were examined for tick infestation. In total, 287 (234 larvae, 47 nymphs, 6♀) ticks were collected from 54 passerine birds (prevalence = 0.72%) belonging to 12 species. Ticks were identified as Amblyomma sp., Dermacentor marginatus (Sulzer), Haemaphysalis concinna Koch, Haemaphysalis punctata Canestrini and Fanzago, Hyalomma sp., Ixodes frontalis (Panzer), and Ixodes ricinus (L). The most common tick species were I. frontalis (223 larvae, 23 nymphs, 6♀) followed by I. ricinus (3 larvae, 12 nymphs) and H. concinna (4 larvae, 6 nymphs). Based on our results, it can be said that Erithacus rubecula (L.) is the main host of immature I. frontalis, whereas Turdus merula L. is the most important carrier of immature stages of some ticks in Kızılırmak Delta, Turkey. To the best of our knowledge, most of the tick-host associations found in this study have never been documented in the literature. © The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Seminal plasma induces global transcriptomic changes associated with cell migration, proliferation and viability in endometrial epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts.

PubMed

Chen, Joseph C; Johnson, Brittni A; Erikson, David W; Piltonen, Terhi T; Barragan, Fatima; Chu, Simon; Kohgadai, Nargis; Irwin, Juan C; Greene, Warner C; Giudice, Linda C; Roan, Nadia R

2014-06-01

How does seminal plasma (SP) affect the transcriptome of human primary endometrial epithelial cells (eEC) and stromal fibroblasts (eSF)? Exposure of eEC and eSF to SP in vitro increases expression of genes and secreted proteins associated with cellular migration, proliferation, viability and inhibition of cell death. Studies in both humans and animals suggest that SP can access and induce physiological changes in the upper female reproductive tract (FRT), which may participate in promoting reproductive success. This is a cross sectional study involving control samples versus treatment. SP (pooled from twenty donors) was first tested for dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effects on eEC and eSF (n = 4). As exposure of eEC or eSF to 1% SP for 6 h proved to be non-toxic, a second set of eEC/eSF samples (n = 4) was treated under these conditions for transcriptome, protein and functional analysis. With a third set of samples (n = 3), we further compared the transcriptional response of the cells to SP versus fresh semen. eEC and eSF were isolated from endometrial biopsies from women of reproductive age undergoing benign gynecologic procedures and maintained in vitro. RNA was isolated and processed for microarray studies to analyze global transcriptomic changes. Secreted factors in conditioned media from SP-treated cells were analyzed by Luminex and for the ability to stimulate migration of CD14+ monocytes and CD4+ T cells. Pathway identifications were determined using the Z-scoring system in Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (Z scores ≥|1.5|). SP induced transcriptomic changes (P < 0.05) associated with promoting leukocyte and endothelial cell recruitment, and proliferation of eEC and eSF. Cell viability pathways were induced, while those associated with cell death were suppressed (P < 0.05). SP and fresh semen induced similar sets of pathways, suggesting that SP can model the signaling effects of semen in the endometrium. SP also induced secretion of pro-inflammatory and pro-chemotactic cytokines, as well as pro-angiogenic and proliferative growth factors (P < 0.05) in both eEC and eSF. Finally, functional assays revealed that conditioned media from SP-treated eEC and eSF significantly increased (P < 0.05) chemotaxis of CD14+ monocytes and CD4+ T cells. This study is limited to in vitro analyses of the effects of SP on endometrial cells. In addition, the measured response to SP was conducted in the absence of the ovarian hormones estradiol and progesterone, as well as epithelial-stromal paracrine signaling. While this study focused on establishing the baseline cellular response of endometrial cells to SP, future work should assess how hormone signaling in the presence of appropriate paracrine interactions affects SP-induced genes in these cells. The results of this study support previous findings that SP and semen contain bioactive factors capable of eliciting chemotactic responses in the uterus, which can lead to recruitment of leukocytes to the endometrium. Future directions will explore if similar changes in gene expression do indeed occur after coitus in vivo, and how the signaling cascades initiated by SP in the endometrium can affect reproductive success, female reproductive health and susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases. The gene list provided by the transcriptome analysis reported here should prove a valuable resource for understanding the response of the upper FRT to SP exposure. This project was supported by NIH AI083050-04 (W.C.G./L.C.G.); NIH U54HD 055764 (L.C.G.); NIH 1F32HD074423-02 (J.C.C.); DOD W81XWH-11-1-0562 (W.C.G.); NIH 5K12-DK083021-04, NIH 1K99AI104262-01A1, The UCSF Hellman Award (N.R.R.). The authors have nothing to disclose.

Delay-Throughput Performance Evaluator for Distributed Systems. TDMA and Token Ring Schemes (Version 1)

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-09-01

H,O-Z) logical ofa (20,3) ,zf real*8 tofa (20,3),ca(20,3),ya(20,.3),wofa(20,3) integer oa(20,3),sa(20,3),seeda(20,3) common /ba/ofa,sattofaica,oa,seeda...if (zf) oa(nq,j) - oa(nq,j)+1 goto 1 end if tofa (nq,j) = temp s2 - dmod(sp*seeda(nq,j),B) wofa(nq,j) = max(0.000001,s2/B*ya(nq,j)) seeda(nq,j) - s2...3) *,asc(2) ,plensc(2) ,BWTc(2) ,Tpric(2,8) ,aac(2,8) ,plenac(2,8) *tofs (20), tofa (20, 3) ,wofs(20),wofa (20, 3) integer tails(20),taila(20,3),ss(20

Crystal Structure of Two V-shaped Ligands with N-Heterocycles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Gao-Feng; Sun, Shu-Wen; Zhang, Xiao; Sun, Shu-Gang

2017-12-01

Two V-shaped ligands with N-heterocycles, bis(4-(1 H-imidazol-1-yl) phenyl)methanone ( 1), and bis(4-(1 H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)methanone ( 2) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. Crystal structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystal of 1 is monoclinic, sp. gr. P21/ c, Z = 4. The crystal of 2 is orthorhombic, sp. gr. Fdd2, Z = 8. X-ray diffraction analyses show that the V-shaped angles of 1 and 2 are 122.72(15)° and 120.7(4)°, respectively. Intermolecular C-H···O, C-H···N, C-H···π, and π···π interactions link the components into three-dimensional networks in the crystal structures.

Occurrence of substance P(1-7) in the metabolism of substance P and its antinociceptive activity at the mouse spinal cord level.

PubMed

Sakurada, C; Watanabe, C; Sakurada, T

2004-04-01

Substance P (SP), which is known as a pain transmitter or modulator in the spinal cord, was degraded by the synaptic membranes of the mouse spinal cord. The major metabolites of SP were phenylalanine, SP(1-6), SP(1-7), SP(1-9), SP(8-9) and SP(10-11). Degradation of SP was inhibited by a metal chelator, o-phenanthroline, and also by specific inhibitors of endopeptidase-24.11, thiorphan and phosphoramidon. In contrast, captopril (a specific inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme), bestatin (a specific inhibitor of aminopeptidase) and Z-321 (a specific inhibitor of prolylendopeptidase) showed little effect on the degradation of SP. The accumulation of the major cleavage products was strongly inhibited by phosphoramidon and thirophan, as well as the initial cleavage of SP. Thus, endopeptidase-24.11 plays a major role in SP degradation in the mouse spinal cord. Additional in vivo experiments were performed to investigate the antinociceptive effect of SP(1-7), a major product of SP that was detected after incubation with spinal synaptic membranes. In the mouse tail-flick test, the intrathecal administration of SP(1-7) (1.0-4.0 pmol) increased tail-flick latency in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that degradation of SP by spinal endopeptidase-24.11 may lead to the formation of SP(1-7), which has an ability to produce antinociceptive effects at the mouse spinal cord level.

Clarification of the katydid genus Uchuca Giglio-tos, 1898 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae): A new species in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest.

PubMed

Tavares, Gustavo Costa; Sovano, Rafael Segtowick Da Silva; Gutjahr, Ana Lúcia Nunes

2016-07-22

This paper accomplishes three tasks: Firstly, description of a new species, Uchuca almeirina sp. nov., from the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest, specifically from Monte Dourado, Almeirim, Pará. Secondly, it is proposed that Uchuca macroptera Montealegre-Z & Morris, 2003 be made a synonym of Uchuca ferreirai (Piza, 1976). Thirdly, a compilation of the generic distribution is presented, which includes new records of Uchuca amacayaca Montealegre-Z & Morris (2003) in Brazil and Uchuca similis Montealegre-Z & Morris (2003) in Colombia and Brazil, and the amplification of the occurrences of U. ferreirai.

Acidic pH shock induced overproduction of ε-poly-L-lysine in fed-batch fermentation by Streptomyces sp. M-Z18 from agro-industrial by-products.

PubMed

Ren, Xi-Dong; Chen, Xu-Sheng; Zeng, Xin; Wang, Liang; Tang, Lei; Mao, Zhong-Gui

2015-06-01

ε-Poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) is produced by Streptomyces as a secondary metabolite with wide industrial applications, but its production still needs to be further enhanced. Environmental stress is an important approach for the promotion of secondary metabolites production by Streptomyces. In this study, the effect of acidic pH shock on enhancing ε-PL production by Streptomyces sp. M-Z18 was investigated in a 5-L fermenter. Based on the evaluation of acidic pH shock on mycelia metabolic activity and shock parameters optimization, an integrated pH-shock strategy was developed as follows: pre-acid-shock adaption at pH 5.0 to alleviate the damage caused by the followed pH shock, and then acidic pH shock at 3.0 for 12 h (including pH decline from 4.0 to 3.0) to positively regulate mycelia metabolic activity, finally restoring pH to 4.0 to provide optimal condition for ε-PL production. After 192 h of fed-batch fermentation, the maximum ε-PL production and productivity reached 54.70 g/L and 6.84 g/L/day, respectively, which were 52.50 % higher than those of control without pH shock. These results demonstrated that acidic pH shock is an efficient approach for improving ε-PL production. The information obtained should be useful for ε-PL production by other Streptomyces.

[Anaerobic reduction of humus/Fe (III) and electron transport mechanism of Fontibacter sp. SgZ-2].

PubMed

Ma, Chen; Yang, Gui-qin; Lu, Qin; Zhou, Shun-gui

2014-09-01

Humus and Fe(III) respiration are important extracellular respiration metabolism. Electron transport pathway is the key issue of extracellular respiration. To understand the electron transport properties and the environmental behavior of a novel Fe(III)- reducing bacterium, Fontibacter sp. SgZ-2, capacities of anaerobic humus/Fe(III) reduction and electron transport mechanisms with four electron acceptors were investigated in this study. The results of anaerobic batch experiments indicated that strain SgZ-2 had the ability to reduce humus analog [ 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid (AQDS) and 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid (AQS)], humic acids (HA), soluble Fe(III) (Fe-EDTA and Fe-citrate) and Fe(III) oxides [hydrous ferric oxide (HFO)]. Fermentative sugars (glucose and sucrose) were the most effective electron donors in the humus/Fe(III) reduction by strain SgZ-2. Additionally, differences of electron carrier participating in the process of electron transport with different electron acceptors (i. e. , oxygen, AQS, Fe-EDTA and HFO) were investigated using respiratory inhibitors. The results suggested that similar respiratory chain components were involved in the reducing process of oxygen and Fe-EDTA, including dehydrogenase, quinones and cytochromes b-c. In comparison, only dehydrogenase was found to participate in the reduction of AQS and HFO. In conclusion, different electron transport pathways may be employed by strain SgZ-2 between insoluble and soluble electron acceptors or among soluble electron acceptors. Preliminary models of electron transport pathway with four electron acceptors were proposed for strain SgZ-2, and the study of electron transport mechanism was explored to the genus Fontibacter. All the results from this study are expected to help understand the electron transport properties and the environmental behavior of the genus Fontibacter.

Bioactive metabolites from an endophytic Cryptosporiopsis sp. inhabiting Clidemia hirta.

PubMed

Zilla, Mahesh K; Qadri, Masroor; Pathania, Anup S; Strobel, Gary A; Nalli, Yedukondalu; Kumar, Sunil; Guru, Santosh K; Bhushan, Shashi; Singh, Sanjay K; Vishwakarma, Ram A; Riyaz-Ul-Hassan, Syed; Ali, Asif

2013-11-01

An endophytic Cryptosporiopsis sp. was isolated from Clidemia hirta and analyzed for its secondary metabolites that lead to the isolation of three bioactive molecules. The compounds were purified from the culture broth of the fungus and their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods as (R)-5-hydroxy-2-methylchroman-4-one (1), 1-(2,6-dihydroxyphenyl)pentan-1-one (2) and (Z)-1-(2-(2-butyryl-3-hydroxyphenoxy)-6-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxybut-2-en-1-one (3). Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against the human leukemia cell line, HL-60 with an IC50 of 4 μg/ml. This compound induced G2 arrest of the HL-60 cell cycle significantly. In addition, out of these compounds, 2 and 3 were active against several bacterial pathogens. Compound 2 was active against Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with IC50 values varying from 18 to 30 μg/ml, and compound 3 displayed activity against Pseudomonas fluorescens with an IC50 value of 6 μg/ml. Compounds 2 and 3 are novel whereas compound 1 was reported earlier but the stereochemistry of its C-2 methyl is established for the first time. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Contra-Thermodynamic, Photocatalytic E→Z Isomerization of Styrenyl Boron Species: Vectors to Facilitate Exploration of Two-Dimensional Chemical Space.

PubMed

Molloy, John J; Metternich, Jan B; Daniliuc, Constantin G; Watson, Allan J B; Gilmour, Ryan

2018-03-12

Designing strategies to access stereodefined olefinic organoboron species is an important synthetic challenge. Despite significant advances, there is a striking paucity of routes to Z-α-substituted styrenyl organoborons. Herein, this strategic imbalance is redressed by exploiting the polarity of the C(sp 2 )-B bond to activate the neighboring π system, thus enabling a mild, traceless photocatalytic isomerization of readily accessible E-α-substituted styrenyl BPins to generate the corresponding Z-isomers with high fidelity. Preliminary validation of this contra-thermodynamic E→Z isomerization is demonstrated in a series of stereoretentive transformations to generate Z-configured trisubstituted alkenes, as well as in a concise synthesis of the anti-tumor agent Combretastatin A4. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Mycosporine-like amino acid (MAAs) production by Heterocapasa sp. (Dinophyceae) in indoor cultures.

PubMed

Montero, Olimpio; Lubián, Luis M

2003-07-01

The possibility of using mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), with an apparent sunscreen function in nature, as ultraviolet radiation (UVR) blockers to prevent skin injury has been raised by diverse authors. Production of MAAs by the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa sp. (Dinophyceae) is shown here. Three major peaks with absorption maxima at 330.8, 332.0 and 333.2 nm were detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of methanolic extracts in all tested conditions. Analysis of crude extract by mass spectroscopy with electrospray ionization (MS-EI) showed a set of molecular ions ([M+H](+)) with main peaks being at m/z 242.4, 288.4, 303.3 and 333.3 u.m.a. According to these data, along with retention times, the MAA profile of Heterocapsa sp. is assumed to be composed of shinorine (lambda(max)=334 nm), mycosporine-2-glycine (lambda(max)=331 nm) and palythinol (lambda(max)=332 nm). A constitutive MAA content of about 4 microg (10(6) cells)(-1) was measured under exposure to PAR only. A maximal accumulation of MAA per culture volume of 1.1 mg l(-1) was obtained after 72 h of exposure to PAR+UVA, while the highest production rate (0.025 mg l(-1) h(-1)) was computed after 24 h of exposure to PAR+UVA+UVB.

Effect of an environmental school-based obesity prevention program on changes in body fat and body weight: a randomized trial.

PubMed

Williamson, Donald A; Champagne, Catherine M; Harsha, David W; Han, Hongmei; Martin, Corby K; Newton, Robert L; Sothern, Melinda S; Stewart, Tiffany M; Webber, Larry S; Ryan, Donna H

2012-08-01

This study tested the efficacy of two school-based programs for prevention of body weight/fat gain in comparison to a control group, in all participants and in overweight children. The Louisiana (LA) Health study utilized a longitudinal, cluster randomized three-arm controlled design, with 28 months of follow-up. Children (N = 2,060; mean age = 10.5 years, SD = 1.2) from rural communities in grades 4-6 participated in the study. Seventeen school clusters (mean = 123 children/cluster) were randomly assigned to one of three prevention arms: (i) primary prevention (PP), an environmental modification (EM) program, (ii) primary + secondary prevention (PP+SP), the environmental program with an added classroom and internet education component, or (iii) control (C). Primary outcomes were changes in percent body fat and BMI z scores. Secondary outcomes were changes in behaviors related to energy balance. Comparisons of PP, PP+SP, and C on changes in body fat and BMI z scores found no differences. PP and PP+SP study arms were combined to create an EM arm. Relative to C, EM decreased body fat for boys (-1.7 ± 0.38% vs. -0.14 ± 0.69%) and attenuated fat gain for girls (2.9 ± 0.22% vs. 3.93 ± 0.37%), but standardized effect sizes were relatively small (<0.30). In conclusion, this school-based EM programs had modest beneficial effects on changes in percent body fat. Addition of a classroom/internet program to the environmental program did not enhance weight/fat gain prevention, but did impact physical activity and social support in overweight children.

Three Substrains of the Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120 Display Divergence in Genomic Sequences and hetC Function.

PubMed

Wang, Yali; Gao, Yuan; Li, Chao; Gao, Hong; Zhang, Cheng-Cai; Xu, Xudong

2018-07-01

Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 is a model strain for molecular studies of cell differentiation and patterning in heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria. Subtle differences in heterocyst development have been noticed in different laboratories working on the same organism. In this study, 360 mutations, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), small insertion/deletions (indels; 1 to 3 bp), fragment deletions, and transpositions, were identified in the genomes of three substrains. Heterogeneous/heterozygous bases were also identified due to the polyploidy nature of the genome and the multicellular morphology but could be completely segregated when plated after filament fragmentation by sonication. hetC is a gene upregulated in developing cells during heterocyst formation in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 and found in approximately half of other heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria. Inactivation of hetC in 3 substrains of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 led to different phenotypes: the formation of heterocysts, differentiating cells that keep dividing, or the presence of both heterocysts and dividing differentiating cells. The expression of P hetZ - gfp in these hetC mutants also showed different patterns of green fluorescent protein (GFP) fluorescence. Thus, the function of hetC is influenced by the genomic background and epistasis and constitutes an example of evolution under way. IMPORTANCE Our knowledge about the molecular genetics of heterocyst formation, an important cell differentiation process for global N 2 fixation, is mostly based on studies with Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120. Here, we show that rapid microevolution is under way in this strain, leading to phenotypic variations for certain genes related to heterocyst development, such as hetC This study provides an example for ongoing microevolution, marked by multiple heterogeneous/heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in a multicellular multicopy-genome microorganism. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

Kinematics of the SN Refsdal host revealed by MUSE: a regularly rotating spiral galaxy at z ≃ 1.5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Di Teodoro, E. M.; Grillo, C.; Fraternali, F.; Gobat, R.; Karman, W.; Mercurio, A.; Rosati, P.; Balestra, I.; Caminha, G. B.; Caputi, K. I.; Lombardi, M.; Suyu, S. H.; Treu, T.; Vanzella, E.

2018-05-01

We use Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) observations of the galaxy cluster MACS J1149.5+2223 to explore the kinematics of the grand-design spiral galaxy (Sp1149) hosting the supernova `Refsdal'. Sp1149 lies at z ≃ 1.49, has a stellar mass M* ≃ 5 × 109 M⊙, has a star formation rate (SFR) ˜eq 1-6 M_{⊙} yr^{-1}, and represents a likely progenitor of a Milky Way-like galaxy. All the four multiple images of Sp1149 in our data show strong [O II}-line emissions pointing to a clear rotation pattern. We take advantage of the gravitational lensing magnification effect (≃4×) on the [O II} emission of the least distorted image to fit three-dimensional kinematic models to the MUSE data cube and derive the rotation curve and the velocity dispersion profile of Sp1149. We find that the rotation curve steeply rises, peaks at R ≃ 1 kpc, and then (initially) declines and flattens to an average {V_flat}= 128^{+29}_{-19} km s-1. The shape of the rotation curve is well determined, but the actual value of Vflat is quite uncertain because of the nearly face-on configuration of the galaxy. The intrinsic velocity dispersion due to gas turbulence is almost constant across the entire disc with an average of 27 ± 5 km s-1. This value is consistent with z = 0 measurements in the ionized gas component and a factor of 2-4 lower than other estimates in different galaxies at similar redshifts. The average stellar-to-total mass fraction is of the order of one-fifth. Our kinematic analysis returns the picture of a regular star-forming, mildly turbulent, rotation-dominated (V/σ ≃ 5) spiral galaxy in a 4-Gyr-old Universe.

Myxozoa in high Arctic: Survey on the central part of Svalbard archipelago

PubMed Central

Kodádková, Alena; Dyková, Iva; Tyml, Tomáš; Ditrich, Oleg; Fiala, Ivan

2014-01-01

Myxosporeans (Myxozoa), microscopic metazoan parasitic organisms, are poorly studied in the Arctic region. Our survey of benthic and pelagic fish (n = 234) collected in Isfjorden (Svalbard, Norway) together with detailed morphological and molecular examination revealed the presence of nine myxosporean species. We compared observed myxosporean diversity with diversity documented in regions close to the Arctic and revealed that water depth rather than geographic distribution is an important factor influencing myxosporean fauna. We describe three new myxosporean species: Zschokkella siegfriedi n. sp. from kidney of Boreogadus saida, Parvicapsula petuniae n. sp. from the urinary bladder of Gymnocanthus tricuspis, and Sinuolinea arctica n. sp. from the urinary bladder of Myoxocephalus scorpius. We characterise Latyspora-like organism from kidney of Clupea harengus. We provide new data for Ceratomyxa porrecta, Myxidium gadi, Myxidium finnmarchicum, Schulmania aenigmatosa, and Parvicapsula irregularis comb. nov. The phylogenetic analyses including the newly obtained SSU and LSU rDNA data revealed that most of the species studied cluster in the marine urinary clade within the marine myxosporean lineage. Newly obtained sequences including the first molecular data for the member of the genus Schulmania, substantially enriched the Zschokkella subclade. C. porrecta and the two Myxidium species cluster within the Ceratomyxa and marine Myxidium clade, respectively. Newly described species, Z. siegfriedi n. sp., was revealed to be morphologically indistinguishable but genetically diverse from Zschokkella hildae known from numerous gadid fish. Therefore, we consider Z. siegfriedi to be a cryptic myxosporean species that might be misidentified with Z. hildae. A Latyspora-like organism was found to be taxonomically problematic due to its suture line and its distant phylogenetic position from the type species Latyspora scomberomori did not allow us to assign it to the genus Latyspora. Based on an increased taxon sampling and SSU + LSU rDNA-based phylogeny, evolutionary trends within the marine urinary clade are investigated. PMID:24918076

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yakubovich, O. V., E-mail: yakubol@geol.msu.ru; Biralo, G. V.; Dimitrova, O. V.

The crystal structure of the (Al,V){sub 4}(P{sub 4}O{sub 12}){sub 3} solid solution, obtained in the single-crystal form by hydrothermal synthesis in the Al(OH){sub 3}-VO{sub 2}-NaCl-H{sub 3}PO{sub 4}-H{sub 2}O system, has been solved by X-ray diffraction analysis (Xcalibur-S-CCD diffractometer, R = 0.0257): a = 13.7477(2) Angstrom-Sign , sp. gr. I 4 bar 3d, Z = 4, and {rho}{sub calcd} = 2.736 g/cm{sup 3}. It is shown that the crystal structure of the parent cubic Al{sub 4}(P{sub 4}O{sub 12}){sub 3} modification can formally be considered an archetype for the formation of double isosymmetric tetraphosphates on its basis.

Crystal structure of 1-methyl-3-([2,2-dimethyl-4,6-dioxo-1,3-dioxane-5-ylidene]methyl)urea

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Habibi, A., E-mail: habibi@khu.ac.ir; Ghorbani, H. S.; Bruno, G.

2013-12-15

The crystal structure of 1-Methyl-3-([2,2-dimethyl-4,6-dioxo-1,3-dioxane-5-ylidene]methyl)urea (C{sub 9}H{sub 12}N{sub 2}O{sub 5}) has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystals are monoclinic, a = 5.3179(2), b = 18.6394(6), c =10.8124(3) Å, β = 100.015(2)°, Z = 4, sp. gr. P2{sub 1}/c, R = 0.0381 for 2537 reflections with I > 2σ(I). Except for C(CH{sub 3}){sub 2} group, the molecule is planar. The structure is stabilized by inter- and intramolecular N-H...O hydrogen bonds and weak C-H...O interactions.

Supersymmetric Casimir energy and SL(3,Z) transformations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brünner, Frederic; Regalado, Diego; Spiridonov, Vyacheslav P.

2017-07-01

We provide a recipe to extract the supersymmetric Casimir energy of theories defined on primary Hopf surfaces directly from the superconformal index. It involves an SL(3,Z) transformation acting on the complex structure moduli of the background geometry. In particular, the known relation between Casimir energy, index and partition function emerges naturally from this framework, allowing rewriting of the latter as a modified elliptic hypergeometric integral. We show this explicitly for N=1 SQCD and N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory for all classical gauge groups, and conjecture that it holds more generally. We also use our method to derive an expression for the Casimir energy of the nonlagrangian N=2 SCFT with E6 flavour symmetry. Furthermore, we predict an expression for Casimir energy of the N=1 SP(2N) theory with SU(8) × U(1) flavour symmetry that is part of a multiple duality network, and for the doubled N=1 theory with enhanced E7 flavour symmetry.

LC-MS/MS based identification of piperine production by endophytic Mycosphaerella sp. PF13 from Piper nigrum.

PubMed

Chithra, S; Jasim, B; Anisha, C; Mathew, Jyothis; Radhakrishnan, E K

2014-05-01

Piper nigrum is very remarkable for its medicinal properties due to the presence of metabolites like piperine. Emerging understanding on the biosynthetic potential of endophytic fungi suggests the possibility to have piperine producing fungi in P. nigrum. In the current study, endophytic fungi isolated from P. nigrum were screened for the presence of piperine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This resulted in the identification of a Mycosphaerella sp. with the ability to produce piperine extracellularly. The biosynthesis of piperine (C17H19NO3) by the endophytic fungal isolate was confirmed by the presence of m/z 286.1 (M + H(+)) in the LC-MS/MS analysis using positive mode ionization. This was further supported by the presence of specific fragment ions with masses 135, 143, 171 and 201 formed due to the fragmentation of piperine present in the fungal extract.

Echinobothrium chisholmae n. sp. (Cestoda, Diphyllidea) from the giant shovel-nose ray Rhinobatos typus from Australia, with observations on the ultrastructure of its scolex musculature and peduncular spines.

PubMed

Jones, M K; Beveridge, I

2001-09-01

Echinobothrium chisholmae n. sp. is described from Rhinobatos typus Bennett (Rhinobatidae), collected from Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. E. chisholmae differs from all congeners in possessing 11 hooks in each dorsal and ventral group on the rostellum and groups of 3-6 hooklets on either side of the hooks. A single metacestode of E. chisholmae was collected from the decapod crustacean Penaeus longistylus Kubo. Yellow pigmentation of the cephalic peduncle in immature adults is caused by the accumulation of large vesicles in the distal cytoplasm of the tegument. The vesicles probably provide materials for spine formation. Ultrastructural examination of the rostellar musculature revealed that the muscles are stratified (striated-like), consisting of a periodic repetition of sarcomeres separated by perforated Z-like lines that are oblique to the long axes of the myofilaments.

Wind and Wave Summaries for Selected U.S. Coast Guard Operating Areas. Addendum,

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-05-01

tD t L. 2...s񓑷 -- -. . .. --+ -..- - ’ -- td --’+s :95-- Z24 .32 1 3 .11 0.is 14$ is4 86 itt o -- "-- .’ to _ Is h 26r s1 L49.,M 5p434~t 0 1 ~ 201S94I...4-’ 4-. - - ,o; - ~ - S$ - 50 P-so • 0 .𔃺, l.2 .. ... ... ..0Tho𔃾.. 5_’.. W- td Sp.ed oto tBo 6t!!gO 9 46012 0. " o . No Occurrences rr 04 01 1.0

Binding of basic amphipathic peptides to neutral phospholipid membranes: a thermodynamic study applied to dansyl-labeled melittin and substance P analogues.

PubMed

Pérez-Payá, E; Porcar, I; Gómez, C M; Pedrós, J; Campos, A; Abad, C

1997-08-01

A thermodynamic approach is proposed to quantitatively analyze the binding isotherms of peptides to model membranes as a function of one adjustable parameter, the actual peptide charge in solution z(p)+. The main features of this approach are a theoretical expression for the partition coefficient calculated from the molar free energies of the peptide in the aqueous and lipid phases, an equation proposed by S. Stankowski [(1991) Biophysical Journal, Vol. 60, p. 341] to evaluate the activity coefficient of the peptide in the lipid phase, and the Debye-Hückel equation that quantifies the activity coefficient of the peptide in the aqueous phase. To assess the validity of this approach we have studied, by means of steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, the interaction of basic amphipathic peptides such as melittin and its dansylcadaverine analogue (DNC-melittin), as well as a new fluorescent analogue of substance P, SP (DNC-SP) with neutral phospholipid membranes. A consistent quantitative analysis of each binding curve was achieved. The z(p)+ values obtained were always found to be lower than the physical charge of the peptide. These z(p)+ values can be rationalized by considering that the peptide charged groups are strongly associated with counterions in buffer solution at a given ionic strength. The partition coefficients theoretically derived using the z(p)+ values were in agreement with those deduced from the Gouy-Chapman formalism. Ultimately, from the z(p)+ values the molar free energies for the free and lipid-bound states of the peptides have been calculated.

Relationships of Reproductive Traits With the Phylogeny of the African Noctuid Stem Borers

PubMed Central

Calatayud, Paul-André; Dupas, Stéphane; Frérot, Brigitte; Genestier, Gilles; Ahuya, Peter; Capdevielle-Dulac, Claire; Le Ru, Bruno

2016-01-01

The display of the reproductive behavior in most noctuid Lepidoptera follows a diel periodicity and is limited to a precise period of either the day or the night. These behavioral traits and the sex pheromone chemistry can be species specific and thus might be linked to the phylogeny. The objective of this study was to test the relationship of these reproductive traits with phylogeny. The study was undertaken using eight closely related species of noctuid stem borers, which are easy to rear under artificial conditions, namely, Busseola fusca, B. nairobica, B. sp. nr. segeta, Manga melanodonta, M. sp. nr. nubifera, Pirateolea piscator, Sesamia calamistis, and S. nonagrioides. For each species, the adult emergence period, the mating time, and the oviposition period were estimated, referred as biological traits. The components of the sex pheromones emitted by the females of each species were also analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Among the biological traits measured, only those linked to the oviposition pattern (timing and egg loads per night) were significantly correlated with the phylogeny of these species. For the sex pheromone components, among the 13 components identified in all species, only four, namely, Z9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-TDA), Z11-TDA, E11-TDA, and Z11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11-HDA), showed the highest significant correlations with the phylogeny. These results suggest that among the different reproductive traits evaluated, only few are phylogenetically constrained. Their involvement in the reinforcement of ecological speciation in noctuid stem borers is discussed. PMID:27867304

Determination of fucoxanthin isomers in microalgae (Isochrysis sp.) by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detector multistage mass spectrometry coupled with positive electrospray ionization.

PubMed

Crupi, Pasquale; Toci, Aline Theodore; Mangini, Silvio; Wrubl, Federico; Rodolfi, Liliana; Tredici, Mario R; Coletta, Antonio; Antonacci, Donato

2013-05-15

Due to their health benefits, there is growing interest in the production and use of carotenoids from natural sources, e.g. microalgae. To date, only Haematococcus pluvialis and Dunaliella, that accumulate, respectively, astaxanthin and β-carotene in large quantities, are grown commercially. However, interest is also being focused on other xanthophylls, such as (all-E)-fucoxanthin characterized by anti-obesity and anti-carcinogenic effects. In this regard, rigorous chemical and analytical techniques following preparative isolation of components are needed to unequivocally identify individual carotenoids in microalgae. The carotenoid profile of Isochrysis sp. biomass, produced in closed photobioreactors, was determined by reversed-phase C30 (RP-30) high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detector mass spectrometry using positive electrospray ionization (HPLC/DAD-MS/ESI(+) ) analysis. Additionally, multistage mass spectrometry (MS(n) ) analyses, together with fine structures of the UV-vis spectra, were used to differentiate structural and geometrical isomers. This technique allowed the simultaneous determination of geometrical, isomers of fucoxanthin (all-E-fucoxanthin, 13Z-, 13'Z- and 9'Z-fucoxanthin), diatoxanthin and 5,8-epoxydiadinoxanthin diasteroisomers (R/S). The analyzed extracts contained fucoxanthin isomers as the major carotenoids and, in particular, (all-E)-fucoxanthin was the main geometrical isomer (~85%) found at a concentration of 17 mg/g of the lyophilized biomass. Considering the high content of fucoxanthin in Isochrysis sp. biomass, the microalga could be proposed as a source of this compound for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A new genus of pine-feeding Cochylina from the western United States and northern Mexico (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Euliini).

PubMed

Brown, John W

2013-01-01

Eupinivora, new genus, is described and illustrated from the montane regions of western United States (Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas) and Mexico (Nuevo León, Durango, and Estado de Mexico). As presently defined, the genus includes seven species: E. ponderosae, n. sp. (USA: Arizona) (type species); E angulicosta, n. sp. (Mexico: Nuevo León); E. albolineana, n. sp. (Mexico: Durango); E. thaumantias (Razowski, 1994), n. comb. (Mexico: Estado de Mexico); E. hamartopenis (Razowski, 1986), n. comb. (Mexico: Durango); E. unicolora, n. sp. (Mexico: Durango); and E. rufofascia, n. sp. (Mexico: Durango). The new genus is most closely related to Henricus Busck, 1943, from which it can be distinguished by the short upturned labial palpi, the presence of a variable cluster of long spine-like external setae from near the middle of the phallus in the male genitalia, the absence of cornuti in the vesica, the absence of the subgenital sex scales in the male, and a forewing pattern that in most of the included species is reminiscent of that of Argyrotaenia ponera Walsingham and its relatives. Four of the new species were reared from the cones of Pinus arizonica var. cooperi Blanco (Pinaceae) and one from Pinus ponderosa P. & C. Lawson; all of the species occur in habitats dominated by conifers at elevations between ca. 1700 and 2750 m. Two specimens from New Mexico were collected in traps baited with a synthetic pheromone for the bud worm Choristoneura lambertiana (Busck, 1915) (Archipini)-90% 92:8E:Z11-14AC, 10% 90:10E:Z11OH--which is consistent with that recorded for other Cochylina.

Crystal structure of low-symmetry rondorfite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rastsvetaeva, R. K.; Zadov, A. E.; Chukanov, N. V.

2008-03-01

The crystal structure of an aluminum-rich variety of the mineral rondorfite with the composition Ca16[Mg2(Si7Al)(O31OH)]Cl4 from the skarns of the Verkhne-Chegemskoe plateau (the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, the Northern Caucasus Region, Russia) was solved in the triclinic space group with the unit-cell parameters a = 15.100(2) Å, b = 15.110(2) Å, c = 15.092(2) Å, α = 90.06(1)°, β = 90.01(1)°, γ = 89.93(1)°, Z = 4, sp. gr. P1. The structural model consisting of 248 independent atoms was determined by the phase-correction method and refined to R = 3.8% with anisotropic displacement parameters based on all 7156 independent reflections with 7156 F > 3σ( F). The crystal structure is based on pentamers consisting of four Si tetrahedra linked by the central Mg tetrahedron. The structure can formally be refined in the cubic space group ( a = 15.105 Å, sp. gr. Fd overline 3 , seven independent positions) with anisotropic displacement parameters to R = 2.74% based on 579 reflections with F > 3σ( F) without accounting for more than 1000 observed reflections, which are inconsistent with the cubic symmetry of the crystal structure.

The cytosolic and extracellular proteomes of Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110 led to the identification of gene products involved in acarbose metabolism.

PubMed

Wendler, Sergej; Hürtgen, Daniel; Kalinowski, Jörn; Klein, Andreas; Niehaus, Karsten; Schulte, Fabian; Schwientek, Patrick; Wehlmann, Hermann; Wehmeier, Udo F; Pühler, Alfred

2013-08-20

The pseudotetrasaccharide acarbose is a medically relevant secondary metabolite produced by strains of the genera Actinoplanes and Streptomyces. In this study gene products involved in acarbose metabolism were identified by analyzing the cytosolic and extracellular proteome of Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110 cultures grown in a high-maltose minimal medium. The analysis by 2D protein gel electrophoresis of cytosolic proteins of Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110 resulted in 318 protein spots and 162 identified proteins. Nine of those were acarbose cluster proteins (Acb-proteins), namely AcbB, AcbD, AcbE, AcbK, AcbL, AcbN, AcbR, AcbV and AcbZ. The analysis of proteins in the extracellular space of Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110 cultures resulted in about 100 protein spots and 22 identified proteins. The identifications included the three acarbose gene cluster proteins AcbD, AcbE and AcbZ. After their identification, proteins were classified into functional groups. The dominant functional groups were the carbohydrate binding, carbohydrate cleavage and carbohydrate transport proteins. The other functional groups included protein cleavage, amino acid degradation, nucleic acid cleavage and a number of functionally uncharacterized proteins. In addition, signal peptide structures of extracellularly found proteins were analyzed. Of the 22 detected proteins 19 contained signal peptides, while 2 had N-terminal transmembrane helices explaining their localization. The only protein having neither of them was enolase. Under the conditions applied, the secretome of Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110 was dominated by seven proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism (PulA, AcbE, AcbD, MalE, AglE, CbpA and Cgt). Of special interest were the identified extracellular pullulanase PulA and the two solute-binding proteins MalE and AglE. The identifications suggest that Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110 has two maltose/maltodextrin import systems. We postulate the identified MalEFG transport system of Actinoplanes sp. SE50/100 as the missing acarbose-metabolite importer and present a model of acarbose metabolism that is extended by the newly identified gene products. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Seminal plasma induces global transcriptomic changes associated with cell migration, proliferation and viability in endometrial epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts

PubMed Central

Chen, Joseph C.; Johnson, Brittni A.; Erikson, David W.; Piltonen, Terhi T.; Barragan, Fatima; Chu, Simon; Kohgadai, Nargis; Irwin, Juan C.; Greene, Warner C.; Giudice, Linda C.; Roan, Nadia R.

2014-01-01

STUDY QUESTION How does seminal plasma (SP) affect the transcriptome of human primary endometrial epithelial cells (eEC) and stromal fibroblasts (eSF)? SUMMARY ANSWER Exposure of eEC and eSF to SP in vitro increases expression of genes and secreted proteins associated with cellular migration, proliferation, viability and inhibition of cell death. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Studies in both humans and animals suggest that SP can access and induce physiological changes in the upper female reproductive tract (FRT), which may participate in promoting reproductive success. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This is a cross sectional study involving control samples versus treatment. SP (pooled from twenty donors) was first tested for dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effects on eEC and eSF (n = 4). As exposure of eEC or eSF to 1% SP for 6 h proved to be non-toxic, a second set of eEC/eSF samples (n = 4) was treated under these conditions for transcriptome, protein and functional analysis. With a third set of samples (n = 3), we further compared the transcriptional response of the cells to SP versus fresh semen. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS eEC and eSF were isolated from endometrial biopsies from women of reproductive age undergoing benign gynecologic procedures and maintained in vitro. RNA was isolated and processed for microarray studies to analyze global transcriptomic changes. Secreted factors in conditioned media from SP-treated cells were analyzed by Luminex and for the ability to stimulate migration of CD14+ monocytes and CD4+ T cells. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Pathway identifications were determined using the Z-scoring system in Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (Z scores ≥|1.5|). SP induced transcriptomic changes (P < 0.05) associated with promoting leukocyte and endothelial cell recruitment, and proliferation of eEC and eSF. Cell viability pathways were induced, while those associated with cell death were suppressed (P < 0.05). SP and fresh semen induced similar sets of pathways, suggesting that SP can model the signaling effects of semen in the endometrium. SP also induced secretion of pro-inflammatory and pro-chemotactic cytokines, as well as pro-angiogenic and proliferative growth factors (P < 0.05) in both eEC and eSF. Finally, functional assays revealed that conditioned media from SP-treated eEC and eSF significantly increased (P < 0.05) chemotaxis of CD14+ monocytes and CD4+ T cells. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study is limited to in vitro analyses of the effects of SP on endometrial cells. In addition, the measured response to SP was conducted in the absence of the ovarian hormones estradiol and progesterone, as well as epithelial-stromal paracrine signaling. While this study focused on establishing the baseline cellular response of endometrial cells to SP, future work should assess how hormone signaling in the presence of appropriate paracrine interactions affects SP-induced genes in these cells. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The results of this study support previous findings that SP and semen contain bioactive factors capable of eliciting chemotactic responses in the uterus, which can lead to recruitment of leukocytes to the endometrium. Future directions will explore if similar changes in gene expression do indeed occur after coitus in vivo, and how the signaling cascades initiated by SP in the endometrium can affect reproductive success, female reproductive health and susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases. The gene list provided by the transcriptome analysis reported here should prove a valuable resource for understanding the response of the upper FRT to SP exposure. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This project was supported by NIH AI083050-04 (W.C.G./L.C.G.); NIH U54HD 055764 (L.C.G.); NIH 1F32HD074423-02 (J.C.C.); DOD W81XWH-11-1-0562 (W.C.G.); NIH 5K12-DK083021-04, NIH 1K99AI104262-01A1, The UCSF Hellman Award (N.R.R.). The authors have nothing to disclose. PMID:24626806

Gaussian basis sets for use in correlated molecular calculations. XI. Pseudopotential-based and all-electron relativistic basis sets for alkali metal (K-Fr) and alkaline earth (Ca-Ra) elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hill, J. Grant; Peterson, Kirk A.

2017-12-01

New correlation consistent basis sets based on pseudopotential (PP) Hamiltonians have been developed from double- to quintuple-zeta quality for the late alkali (K-Fr) and alkaline earth (Ca-Ra) metals. These are accompanied by new all-electron basis sets of double- to quadruple-zeta quality that have been contracted for use with both Douglas-Kroll-Hess (DKH) and eXact 2-Component (X2C) scalar relativistic Hamiltonians. Sets for valence correlation (ms), cc-pVnZ-PP and cc-pVnZ-(DK,DK3/X2C), in addition to outer-core correlation [valence + (m-1)sp], cc-p(w)CVnZ-PP and cc-pwCVnZ-(DK,DK3/X2C), are reported. The -PP sets have been developed for use with small-core PPs [I. S. Lim et al., J. Chem. Phys. 122, 104103 (2005) and I. S. Lim et al., J. Chem. Phys. 124, 034107 (2006)], while the all-electron sets utilized second-order DKH Hamiltonians for 4s and 5s elements and third-order DKH for 6s and 7s. The accuracy of the basis sets is assessed through benchmark calculations at the coupled-cluster level of theory for both atomic and molecular properties. Not surprisingly, it is found that outer-core correlation is vital for accurate calculation of the thermodynamic and spectroscopic properties of diatomic molecules containing these elements.

Reactive oxygen species-dependent necroptosis in Jurkat T cells induced by pathogenic free-living Naegleria fowleri.

PubMed

Song, K-J; Jang, Y S; Lee, Y A; Kim, K A; Lee, S K; Shin, M H

2011-07-01

Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba, is the causative pathogen of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in humans and experimental mice. N. fowleri is capable of destroying tissues and host cells through lytic necrosis. However, the mechanism by which N. fowleri induces host cell death is unknown. Electron microscopy indicated that incubation of Jurkat T cells with N. fowleri trophozoites induced necrotic morphology of the Jurkat T cells. N. fowleri also induced cytoskeletal protein cleavage, extensive poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase hydrolysis and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Although no activation of caspase-3 was observed in Jurkat T cells co-incubated with amoebae, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were strongly generated by NADPH oxidase (NOX). Pretreating cells with necroptosis inhibitor necrostatin-1 or NOX inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI) strongly inhibited amoeba-induced ROS generation and Jurkat cell death, whereas pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk did not. N. fowleri-derived secretory products (NfSP) strongly induced intracellular ROS generation and cell death. Necroptotic effects of NfSP were effectively inhibited by pretreating NfSP with proteinase K. Moreover, NfSP-induced LDH release and intracellular ROS accumulation were inhibited by pretreating Jurkat T cells with DPI or necrostatin-1. These results suggest that N. fowleri induces ROS-dependent necroptosis in Jurkat T cells. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

A new aurone glycoside with antifungal activity from marine-derived fungus Penicillium sp. FJ-1.

PubMed

Song, Yan-xia; Ma, Qiang; Li, Jie

2015-03-01

Endophytic fungi which reside in the tissue of mangrove plants seem to play an important role in the discovery of new biologically active substances. During the course of screening for the antimicrobial metabolites from the endophytic fugus Penicillium sp. FJ-1 of mangrove plant Avicennia marina, a new aurone glycoside (1) was isolated by repeated column chromatography on silica gel and recrystallization methods. The structure of 1 was elucidated as (Z)-7,4'-dimethoxy-6-hydroxy-aurone-4-O-β-glucopyranoside, on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Compound 1 exhibited antifungal activity against Candida sp., with the potency comparable to amphotericin B and much better than fluconazole. Compound 1 can also inhibit extracellular phospholipase secretion in a concentration-dependent manner.

Lectures on Non-Abelian Bosonization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsvelik, A. M.

The following sections are included: * Introduction * Kac-Moody algebra * Conformal embedding. Sugawara Hamiltonian * SU(N)×SU(M) model * From the fermionic to WZNW model * The perturbed SUk(2) WZNW model * Correlation functions and Quasi Long Range order * Generalization from SU(2) to SU(N) * A model with Sp(2N) symmetry * Solution for the special case gcdw = gsc * Attraction in the orbital channel. Competing orders. Emergent integrability. ZN parafermions. * Parafermion zero modes * Conclusions and Acknowledgements * Appendix A. TBA equations for the Sp1(2N) model * Appendix B. Bosonization of of Z4 parafermions * References

Amazoniaseius imparisetosus n. sp., n. g.: an unusual new phytoseiid mite (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from the Amazon forest.

PubMed

Demite, Peterson R; Cruz, Wilton P da; McMURTRY, James A; De Moraes, Gilberto J

2017-02-22

A new genus and species of the subfamily Typhlodrominae are described from the Brazilian Amazon. The main differences between this and all other phytoseiid species are the presence of two unpaired setae on dorsal shield of deutonymphs and adults, and the absence of all ZV setae. It also differs from other typhlodromine species by its relatively long J5 setae, the presence of seta J4 and the broadly rounded posterior margin of the genital shield. Thus, the unique idiosomal setal pattern of this species is here designated as 13A+x:8F+X/JV-3,4:ZV-1-3. Because of the unique characteristics, we here describe this new taxon, Amazoniaseius imparisetosus n. sp., n. g., based on protonymphs, deutonymphs and adult females. This species is accommodated in tribe Paraseiulini Wainstein within Typhlodrominae, due to the presence of the setae z6 and S4. The tribe is redefined and an updated dichotomous key for the separation of the genera of Paraseiulini is provided.

Exploring the Antimicrobial and Antitumor Potentials of Streptomyces sp. AGM12-1 Isolated from Egyptian Soil

PubMed Central

Ahmad, Maged S.; El-Gendy, Ahmed O.; Ahmed, Rasha R.; Hassan, Hossam M.; El-Kabbany, Hussein M.; Merdash, Ahmed G.

2017-01-01

The occurrence of extensive antibiotics resistant bacteria increased the demands for mining out new sources of antimicrobial agents. Actinomycetes, especially Streptomyces sp. have grasped considerable attention worldwide due to production of many useful bioactive metabolites. In the present study, a total of 52 actinomycetes were isolated from agricultural soil samples in Beni-Suef, Egypt. All isolates were characterized based on colony morphology, mycelium coloration, and pigment diffusion. They were screened for their capabilities to show antimicrobial activities against different indicator microorganisms, and only 20 isolates have shown significant antimicrobial activities against at least one of the tested indicator microorganisms. The isolate AGM12-1 was active against all tested microorganisms and showed a marked antitumor activity with IC50 3.3 and 1.1 μg/ml against HCT-116 and HepG-2 cell lines respectively. It was genotypically characterized as Streptomyces sp. with the presence of PKS Π biosynthetic gene cluster. Mannitol, ammonium sulfate, pH 7, 2% inoculum size and incubation for 11 days at 30°C were the optimum conditions that used to maximize the production and hence allowed purification of one active antimicrobial compound to homogeneity using high performance liquid chromatography with a molecular mass of m/z 488.05. Nuclear magnetic resonance structural elucidation showed that this compound was a diketopiperazine derivative. PMID:28348553

Biotransformations of terpenes by fungi from Amazonian citrus plants.

PubMed

Moreno Rueda, Maria Gabriela; Guerrini, Alessandra; Giovannini, Pier Paolo; Medici, Alessandro; Grandini, Alessandro; Sacchetti, Gianni; Pedrini, Paola

2013-10-01

The biotransformations of (RS)-linalool (1), (S)-citronellal (2), and sabinene (3) with fungi isolated from the epicarp of fruits of Citrus genus of the Amazonian forest (i.e., C. limon, C. aurantifolia, C. aurantium, and C. paradisiaca) are reported. The more active strains have been characterized, and they belong to the genus Penicillium and Fusarium. Different biotransformation products have been obtained depending on fungi and substrates. (RS)-Linalool (1) afforded the (E)- and (Z)-furanlinalool oxides (7 and 8, resp.; 39 and 37% yield, resp.) with Fusarium sp. (1D2), 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one (4; 49%) with F. fujikuroi, and 1-methyl-1-(4-methypentyl)oxiranemethanol (6; 42%) with F. concentricum. (S)-Citronellal (2) gave (S)-citronellol (12; 36-76%) and (S)-citronellic acid (11; 5-43%) with Fusarium species, while diastereoisomeric p-menthane-3,8-diols 13 and 14 (20 and 50% yield, resp.) were obtained as main products with Penicillium paxilli. Finally, both Fusarium species and P. paxilli biotransformed sabinene (3) to give mainly 4-terpineol (19; 23-56%), and (Z)- and (E)-sabinene hydrates (17 (3-21%) and 18 (11-17%), resp.). Copyright © 2013 Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta AG, Zürich.

D1-Asn-298 in photosystem II is involved in a hydrogen-bond network near the redox-active tyrosine YZ for proton exit during water oxidation.

PubMed

Nagao, Ryo; Ueoka-Nakanishi, Hanayo; Noguchi, Takumi

2017-12-08

In photosynthetic water oxidation, two water molecules are converted into one oxygen molecule and four protons at the Mn 4 CaO 5 cluster in photosystem II (PSII) via the S-state cycle. Efficient proton exit from the catalytic site to the lumen is essential for this process. However, the exit pathways of individual protons through the PSII proteins remain to be identified. In this study, we examined the involvement of a hydrogen-bond network near the redox-active tyrosine Y Z in proton transfer during the S-state cycle. We focused on spectroscopic analyses of a site-directed variant of D1-Asn-298, a residue involved in a hydrogen-bond network near Y Z We found that the D1-N298A mutant of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 exhibits an O 2 evolution activity of ∼10% of the wild-type. D1-N298A and the wild-type D1 had very similar features of thermoluminescence glow curves and of an FTIR difference spectrum upon Y Z oxidation, suggesting that the hydrogen-bonded structure of Y Z and electron transfer from the Mn 4 CaO 5 cluster to Y Z were little affected by substitution. In the D1-N298A mutant, however, the flash-number dependence of delayed luminescence showed a monotonic increase without oscillation, and FTIR difference spectra of the S-state cycle indicated partial and significant inhibition of the S 2 → S 3 and S 3 → S 0 transitions, respectively. These results suggest that the D1-N298A substitution inhibits the proton transfer processes in the S 2 → S 3 and S 3 → S 0 transitions. This in turn indicates that the hydrogen-bond network near Y Z can be functional as a proton transfer pathway during photosynthetic water oxidation. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Tyrosol-based liposomal behavior: Size, z-potential, TEM, QCM-D and fluorescence analysis

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

In our continued efforts to create biobased antioxidants for the food industry, we have used phospholipase D from Streptomyces sp. to create hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol phospholipids. Extrusion methods proved that both hydroxytyrosol phospholipids and tyrosol phospholipids each formed liposomes that ...

Lightning Warning and Protection for DNA High Explosive Test-Bed.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-08-01

begins, personnel should be evacuated from the test-bed and the amonium nitrate fuel oil loading area. A safe distance will depend on the size of the...typically, P = -40 C, N = - 0 C, and D = ’-1O C. and ~whgive observed electric field intensity in the vicintv oa :t thundercloud. (Ref. 4, p. 3.) 4. 2...12 16 2 12 S-P •N=40C N -- • N=-40 C > 14 p= 10 CD z OI- 1 0 - 0 4 8 12 16 20 DISTANCE D (kin) Figure 2. Electric field intensity at the ground versus

Mineralogical studies of the nitrate deposits of Chile. V. Iquiqueite, Na4K3Mg(CrO4)B24O39(OH).12H2O, a new saline mineral.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ericksen, G.E.; Mrose, M.E.; Marinenko, J.W.; McGee, J.J.

1986-01-01

Iquiqueite (Na4K3Mg(CrO4)B24O39(OH).12H2O, a 11.6369(14), c 30.158(7) A, P31c, Z = 3) occurs as a widespread minor constituent in the nitrate fields of northern Chile. It is particularly abundant in the vicinity of Zapiga, Tarapaca province. Associated minerals include nitratite, halite, nitre, darapskite, blodite, glauberite, dietzeite, bruggenite, ulexite and gypsum. Iquiqueite forms thin, yellow, hexagonal platelets (5-50 mu m in diameter, <5 mu m in thickness) that are disseminated singly or in vermiform aggregates in nitrate ore. Observed forms are c(0001) and m(1010). Cleavage is perfect on (0001) and imperfect on (1010); H. = or <2. D(calc.) 2.05 g/cm3 and measured sp. gr. 2.05 + or - 0.09. The mineral is uniaxial negative, epsilon 1.447(2), omega 1.502(2). The XRD pattern has the six strongest lines 3.02(100), 2.856(100), 10.11(85), 6.04(85), 3.28(85), 3.22(85) A. The name is for the city of Iquique, Chile.-J.A.Z.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Gas-phase detection of c-C3H3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, D.; Doney, K. D.; Linnartz, H.

2017-03-01

The experimental setup has been described in detail by Zhao et al. (2013CPL...565..132Z, 2014JMoSp.296....1Z). In brief, the c-C3H3+ cations are generated by discharging a propyne (C3H4):He ~ 1:200 gas mixture in a multi-layer slit discharge nozzle (Motylewski & Linnartz 1999RScI...70.1305M) in combination with a pulsed valve (General Valve, Series 9,2 mm orifice). The gas mixture is expanded with a backing pressure of ~7 bar through a 300umx3cm slit into a vacuum chamber. A pulsed negative high voltage (-600 V/300 mA) with a ~600 us duration is found to be optimum for c-C3H3+ production, is applied to the expanding gas mixture, and is set to coincide with the expanding gas pulse (~800 us). Continuous-wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy (cw-CRDS) is used to record spectra in direct absorption. The axis of the optical cavity is aligned parallel to and ~2 mm downstream of the slit nozzle throat. A single-mode cw optical parametric oscillator (Aculight), operating at ~3.15 um with a bandwidth <5x10-5cm-1, is employed as tunable IR light source. A hardware-based (boxcar integrator) multi-trigger and timing scheme recently reported by Zhao et al. (2013CPL...565..132Z) is used to apply cw-CRDS to the pulsed plasma. In the present experiment, typical ring-down time values are ~8-10 us, corresponding to a detection sensitivity, i.e., noise equivalent absorption, of up to ~2x10-7 per centimeter for the 3 cm long plasma jet. (1 data file).

Phase equilibria, crystal structure and properties of complex oxides in the Nd{sub 2}O{sub 3}–SrO–CoO system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aksenova, T.V.; Efimova, T.G.; Lebedev, O.I.

2017-04-15

The phase equilibria in the ½Nd{sub 2}O{sub 3}–SrO–CoO system were systematically studied at 1373 K in air. The intermediate phases formed in the ½Nd{sub 2}O{sub 3}–SrO–CoO system at 1373 K in air are: Nd{sub 1-x}Sr{sub x}CoO{sub 3-δ} (0.0≤x≤0.5 with orthorhombic structure, sp. gr. Pbnm and 0.6≤x≤0.95 whose structure was detected as cubic according to XRD sp. gr. Pm3m, but shown to be tetragonal by TEM due to the oxygen vacancy ordering), Nd{sub 2-y}Sr{sub y}CoO{sub 4-δ} (0.6≤y≤1.1 with tetragonal K{sub 2}NiF{sub 4}-type structure, sp. gr. I4/mmm) and Nd{sub 2-z}Sr{sub z}O{sub 3} (0.0≤z≤0.15 with hexagonal structure, sp. gr. P-3m1). The unit cellmore » parameters for the single phase samples were refined by the Rietveld analysis. The changes of oxygen content in Nd{sub 1-x}Sr{sub x}CoO{sub 3-δ} (0.6≤x≤0.95) and Ruddlesden-Popper oxide Nd{sub 2-y}Sr{sub y}CoO{sub 4-δ} were examined by TGA. All were found to be oxygen deficient phases. High-temperature dilatometry allows calculating the thermal expansion coefficient and evaluating the chemical expansion coefficient at high temperature. The projection of isothermal-isobaric phase diagram for the Nd–Sr–Co–O system at 1373 K in air to the compositional triangle of metallic components has been constructed. The phase equilibria in the studied Nd–Sr–Co–O system were compared to La–Sr–Co–O and Nd–M–Co–O (M=Ca and Ba). - Graphical abstract: Crystal structure of vacancy ordered supercell for Nd{sub 0.2}Sr{sub 0.8}CoO{sub 3-δ} and projection of phase diagram for the Nd–Sr–Co–O system onto the triangle edge of metallic components at 1373 K in air. - Highlights: • The diagram for the Nd–Sr–Co–O system at 1373 K in air has been constructed. • The crystal structure of Nd{sub 1-x}Sr{sub x}CoO{sub 3-δ} and Nd{sub 2-y}Sr{sub y}CoO{sub 4±δ} was refined. • The formation of superstructure due to the oxygen vacancy ordering was proved. • The changes of oxygen content in Nd{sub 1-x}Sr{sub x}CoO{sub 3-δ} and Nd{sub 2-y}Sr{sub y}CoO{sub 4±δ} were examined. • Thermal expansion and chemical expansion for Nd{sub 1-x}Sr{sub x}CoO{sub 3-δ} were evaluated.« less

Shortest multiple disconnected path for the analysis of entanglements in two- and three-dimensional polymeric systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kröger, Martin

2005-06-01

We present an algorithm which returns a shortest path and related number of entanglements for a given configuration of a polymeric system in 2 or 3 dimensions. Rubinstein and Helfand, and later Everaers et al. introduced a concept to extract primitive paths for dense polymeric melts made of linear chains (a multiple disconnected multibead 'path'), where each primitive path is defined as a path connecting the (space-fixed) ends of a polymer under the constraint of non-interpenetration (excluded volume) between primitive paths of different chains, such that the multiple disconnected path fulfills a minimization criterion. The present algorithm uses geometrical operations and provides a—model independent—efficient approximate solution to this challenging problem. Primitive paths are treated as 'infinitely' thin (we further allow for finite thickness to model excluded volume), and tensionless lines rather than multibead chains, excluded volume is taken into account without a force law. The present implementation allows to construct a shortest multiple disconnected path (SP) for 2D systems (polymeric chain within spherical obstacles) and an optimal SP for 3D systems (collection of polymeric chains). The number of entanglements is then simply obtained from the SP as either the number of interior kinks, or from the average length of a line segment. Further, information about structure and potentially also the dynamics of entanglements is immediately available from the SP. We apply the method to study the 'concentration' dependence of the degree of entanglement in phantom chain systems. Program summaryTitle of program:Z Catalogue number:ADVG Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/ADVG Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University of Belfast, N. Ireland Computer for which the program is designed and others on which it has been tested: Silicon Graphics (Irix), Sun (Solaris), PC (Linux) Operating systems or monitors under which the program has been tested: UNIX, Linux Program language used: USANSI Fortran 77 and Fortran 90 Memory required to execute with typical data: 1 MByte No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 10 660 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 119 551 Distribution formet:tar.gz Nature of physical problem: The problem is to obtain primitive paths substantiating a shortest multiple disconnected path (SP) for a given polymer configuration (chains of particles, with or without additional single particles as obstacles for the 2D case). Primitive paths are here defined as in [M. Rubinstein, E. Helfand, J. Chem. Phys. 82 (1985) 2477; R. Everaers, S.K. Sukumaran, G.S. Grest, C. Svaneborg, A. Sivasubramanian, K. Kremer, Science 303 (2004) 823] as the shortest line (path) respecting 'topological' constraints (from neighboring polymers or point obstacles) between ends of polymers. There is a unique solution for the 2D case. For the 3D case it is unique if we construct a primitive path of a single chain embedded within fixed line obstacles [J.S.B. Mitchell, Geometric shortest paths and network optimization, in: J.-R. Sack, J. Urrutia (Eds.), Handbook of Computational Geometry, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000, pp. 633-701]. For a large 3D configuration made of several chains, short is meant to be the Euclidean shortest multiple disconnected path (SP) where primitive paths are constructed for all chains simultaneously. While the latter problem, in general, does not possess a unique solution, the algorithm must return a locally optimal solution, robust against minor displacements of the disconnected path and chain re-labeling. The problem is solved if the number of kinks (or entanglements Z), explicitly deduced from the SP, is quite insensitive to the exact conformation of the SP which allows to estimate Z with a small error. Efficient method of solution: Primitive paths are constructed from the given polymer configuration (a non-shortest multiple disconnected path, including obstacles, if present) by first replacing each polymer contour by a line with a number of 'kinks' (beads, nodes) and 'segments' (edges). To obtain primitive paths, defined to be uncrossable by any other objects (neighboring primitive paths, line or point obstacles), the algorithm minimizes the length of all primitive paths consecutively, until a final minimum Euclidean length of the SP is reached. Fast geometric operations rather than dynamical methods are used to minimize the contour lengths of the primitive paths. Neighbor lists are used to keep track of potentially intersecting segments of other chains. Periodic boundary conditions are employed. A finite small line thickness is used in order to make sure that entanglements are not 'lost' due to finite precision of representation of numbers. Restrictions on the complexity of the problem: For a single chain embedded within fixed line or point obstacles, the algorithm returns the exact SP. For more complex problems, the algorithm returns a locally optimal SP. Except for exotic, probably rare, configurations it turns out that different locally optimal SPs possess quite an identical number of nodes. In general, the problem constructing the SP is known to be NP-hard [J.S.B. Mitchell, Geometric shortest paths and network optimization, in: J.-R. Sack, J. Urrutia (Eds.), Handbook of Computational Geometry, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000, pp. 633-701], and we offer a solution which should suffice to analyze physical problems, and gives an estimate about the precision and uniqueness of the result (from a standard deviation by varying the parameter: cyclicswitch). The program is NOT restricted to handle systems for which segment lengths of the SP exceed half the box size. Typical running time: Typical running times are approximately two orders of magnitude shorter compared with the ones needed for a corresponding molecular dynamics approach, and scale mostly linearly with system size. We provide a benchmark table.

Associative Algebraic Approach to Logarithmic CFT in the Bulk: The Continuum Limit of the {gl(1|1)} Periodic Spin Chain, Howe Duality and the Interchiral Algebra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gainutdinov, A. M.; Read, N.; Saleur, H.

2016-01-01

We develop in this paper the principles of an associative algebraic approach to bulk logarithmic conformal field theories (LCFTs). We concentrate on the closed {gl(1|1)} spin-chain and its continuum limit—the {c=-2} symplectic fermions theory—and rely on two technical companion papers, Gainutdinov et al. (Nucl Phys B 871:245-288, 2013) and Gainutdinov et al. (Nucl Phys B 871:289-329, 2013). Our main result is that the algebra of local Hamiltonians, the Jones-Temperley-Lieb algebra JTL N , goes over in the continuum limit to a bigger algebra than {V}, the product of the left and right Virasoro algebras. This algebra, {S}—which we call interchiral, mixes the left and right moving sectors, and is generated, in the symplectic fermions case, by the additional field {S(z,bar{z})≡ S_{αβ} ψ^α(z)bar{ψ}^β(bar{z})}, with a symmetric form {S_{αβ}} and conformal weights (1,1). We discuss in detail how the space of states of the LCFT (technically, a Krein space) decomposes onto representations of this algebra, and how this decomposition is related with properties of the finite spin-chain. We show that there is a complete correspondence between algebraic properties of finite periodic spin chains and the continuum limit. An important technical aspect of our analysis involves the fundamental new observation that the action of JTL N in the {gl(1|1)} spin chain is in fact isomorphic to an enveloping algebra of a certain Lie algebra, itself a non semi-simple version of {sp_{N-2}}. The semi-simple part of JTL N is represented by {U sp_{N-2}}, providing a beautiful example of a classical Howe duality, for which we have a non semi-simple version in the full JTL N image represented in the spin-chain. On the continuum side, simple modules over {S} are identified with "fundamental" representations of {sp_∞}.

Crystallographic and spectroscopic snapshots reveal a dehydrogenase in action

DOE PAGES

Huo, Lu; Davis, Ian; Liu, Fange; ...

2015-01-07

Aldehydes are ubiquitous intermediates in metabolic pathways and their innate reactivity can often make them quite unstable. There are several aldehydic intermediates in the metabolic pathway for tryptophan degradation that can decay into neuroactive compounds that have been associated with numerous neurological diseases. An enzyme of this pathway, 2-aminomuconate-6-semialdehyde dehydrogenase, is responsible for ‘disarming’ the final aldehydic intermediate. Here we show the crystal structures of a bacterial analogue enzyme in five catalytically relevant forms: resting state, one binary and two ternary complexes, and a covalent, thioacyl intermediate. We also report the crystal structures of a tetrahedral, thiohemiacetal intermediate, a thioacylmore » intermediate and an NAD +-bound complex from an active site mutant. These covalent intermediates are characterized by single-crystal and solution-state electronic absorption spectroscopy. The crystal structures reveal that the substrate undergoes an E/Z isomerization at the enzyme active site before an sp 3-to-sp 2 transition during enzyme-mediated oxidation.« less

Hydrothermal Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Photoluminescent Properties of Li[UO2(CH3COO)3]3[Co(H2O)6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

AlDamen, Murad A.; Juwhari, Hassan K.; Al-zuheiri, Aya M.; Alnazer, Louy A.

2017-12-01

Single crystal of Li[UO2(CH3COO)3]3[Co(H2O)6] was prepared and found to crystallize in the monoclinic crystal system in the sp. gr. C2/ c, with Z = 2, and unit cell parameters a = 22.1857(15) Å, b = 13.6477(8) Å, c = 15.6921(10) Å, β = 117.842(9)°, V = 4201.3(4) Å3. The crystal was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the crystal has a lamellar structure in which a cobalt hydrate is sandwiched within the Li[UO2(CH3COO)3]3 2- chains. Furthermore, the room temperature photoluminescence spectrum of the complex was investigated in the solid state.

Highlights of Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van der Hucht, Karel

2008-02-01

Preface Karel A. van der Hucht; Part I. Invited Discourses: Part II. Joint Discussions: 1. Particle acceleration - from Solar System to AGN Marian Karlicky and John C. Brown; 2. Pulsar emission and related phenomena Werner Becker, Janusz A. Gil and Bronislaw Rudak; 3. Solar activity regions and magnetic structure Debi Prasad Choudhary and Michal Sobotka; 4. The ultraviolet universe: Stars from birth to death Ana I. Gomez de Castro and Martin A. Barstow; 5. Calibrating the top of the stellar M-L relationship Claus Leitherer, Anthony F. J. Moat and Joachim Puls; 6. Neutron stars and black holes in star clusters Frederic A. Rasio; 7. The Universe at z > 6 Daniel Schaerer and Andrea Ferrara; 8. Solar and stellar activity cycles Klaus G. Strassmeier and Alexander Kosovichev; 9. Supernovae: One millennium after SN 1006 P. Frank Winkler, Wolfgang Hillebrandt and Brian P. Schmidt; 10. Progress in planetary exploration missions Guy J. Consolmagno; 11. Pre-solar grains as astrophysical tools Anja C. Andersen and John C. Lattanzio; 12. Long wavelength astrophysics T. Joseph W. Lazio and Namir E. Kassim; 13. Exploiting large surveys for galactic astronomy Christopher J. Corbally, Coryn A. L. Bailer-Jones, Sunetra Giridhar and Thomas H. Lloyd Evans; 14. Modeling dense stellar systems Alison I. Sills, Ladislav Subr and Simon F. Portegies Zwart; 15. New cosmology results from the Spitzer Space Telescope George Helou and David T. Frayer; 16. Nomenclature, precession and new models in fundamental astronomy Nicole Capitaine, Jan Vondrak & James L. Hilton; 17. Highlights of recent progress in seismology of the Sun and Sun-like stars John W. Leibacher and Michael J. Thompson; Part III. Special Sessions: SpS 1. Large astronomical facilities of the next decade Gerard F. Gilmore and Richard T. Schilizzi; SpS 2. Innovation in teaching and learning astronomy methods Rosa M. Ros and Jay M. Pasachoff; SpS 3. The Virtual Observatory in action: New science, new technology and next-generation facilities Nicholas A. Walton, Andrew Lawrence & Roy Williams; SpS 5. Astronomy for the developing world John B. Hearnshaw and Peter Martinez; SpS 6. Astronomical data management Raymond P. Norris; SpS 7. Astronomy in Antarctica Michael G. Burton; Author index.

Highlights of Astronomy, Volume 14

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van der Hucht, Karel

2007-08-01

Preface Karel A. van der Hucht; Part I. Invited Discourses: Part II. Joint Discussions: 1. Particle acceleration - from Solar System to AGN Marian Karlicky and John C. Brown; 2. Pulsar emission and related phenomena Werner Becker, Janusz A. Gil and Bronislaw Rudak; 3. Solar activity regions and magnetic structure Debi Prasad Choudhary and Michal Sobotka; 4. The ultraviolet universe: Stars from birth to death Ana I. Gomez de Castro and Martin A. Barstow; 5. Calibrating the top of the stellar M-L relationship Claus Leitherer, Anthony F. J. Moat and Joachim Puls; 6. Neutron stars and black holes in star clusters Frederic A. Rasio; 7. The Universe at z > 6 Daniel Schaerer and Andrea Ferrara; 8. Solar and stellar activity cycles Klaus G. Strassmeier and Alexander Kosovichev; 9. Supernovae: One millennium after SN 1006 P. Frank Winkler, Wolfgang Hillebrandt and Brian P. Schmidt; 10. Progress in planetary exploration missions Guy J. Consolmagno; 11. Pre-solar grains as astrophysical tools Anja C. Andersen and John C. Lattanzio; 12. Long wavelength astrophysics T. Joseph W. Lazio and Namir E. Kassim; 13. Exploiting large surveys for galactic astronomy Christopher J. Corbally, Coryn A. L. Bailer-Jones, Sunetra Giridhar and Thomas H. Lloyd Evans; 14. Modeling dense stellar systems Alison I. Sills, Ladislav Subr and Simon F. Portegies Zwart; 15. New cosmology results from the Spitzer Space Telescope George Helou and David T. Frayer; 16. Nomenclature, precession and new models in fundamental astronomy Nicole Capitaine, Jan Vondrak & James L. Hilton; 17. Highlights of recent progress in seismology of the Sun and Sun-like stars John W. Leibacher and Michael J. Thompson; Part III. Special Sessions: SpS 1. Large astronomical facilities of the next decade Gerard F. Gilmore and Richard T. Schilizzi; SpS 2. Innovation in teaching and learning astronomy methods Rosa M. Ros and Jay M. Pasachoff; SpS 3. The Virtual Observatory in action: New science, new technology and next-generation facilities Nicholas A. Walton, Andrew Lawrence & Roy Williams; SpS 5. Astronomy for the developing world John B. Hearnshaw and Peter Martinez; SpS 6. Astronomical data management Raymond P. Norris; SpS 7. Astronomy in Antarctica Michael G. Burton; Author index.

Nitrous oxide emission potentials of Burkholderia species isolated from the leaves of a boreal peat moss Sphagnum fuscum.

PubMed

Nie, Yanxia; Li, Li; Wang, Mengcen; Tahvanainen, Teemu; Hashidoko, Yasuyuki

2015-01-01

Using a culture-based nitrous oxide (N2O) emission assay, three active N2O emitters were isolated from Sphagnum fuscum leaves and all identified as members of Burkholderia. These isolates showed N2O emission in the medium supplemented with [Formula: see text] but not with [Formula: see text], and Burkholderia sp. SF-E2 showed the most efficient N2O emission (0.20 μg·vial(-1)·day(-1)) at 1.0 mM KNO3. In Burkholderia sp. SF-E2, the optimum pH for N2O production was 5.0, close to that of the phyllosphere of Sphagnum mosses, while the optimum temperature was uniquely over 30 °C. The stimulating effect of additional 1.5 mM sucrose on N2O emission was ignorable, but Burkholderia sp. SF-E2 upon exposure to 100 mg·L(-1) E-caffeic acid showed uniquely 67-fold higher N2O emission. All of the three N2O emitters were negative in both acetylene inhibition assay and PCR assay for nosZ-detection, suggesting that N2O reductase or the gene itself is missing in the N2O-emitting Burkholderia.

Ultrastructure of the post-corpus of Zeldia punctata (Cephalobina) for analysis of the evolutionary framework of nematodes related to Caenorhabditis elegans (Rhabditina).

PubMed Central

Zhang, Y C; Baldwin, J G

2000-01-01

The ultrastructure of the post-corpus of Zeldia punctata (Cephalobina) was compared with previous observations of Caenorhabditis elegans (Rhabditina) and Diplenteron sp. (Diplogastrina) with the goal of interpreting the morphological evolution of the feeding structures in the Secernentea. The post-corpus of Z. punctata consists of six marginal, 13 muscle, five gland and seven nerve cells. The most anterior of four layers of muscle cells consists of six mononucleate cells in Z. punctata. The homologous layer in C. elegans and Diplenteron consists of three binucleate cells, suggesting a unique derived character (synapomorphy) shared between the Rhabditina and Diplogastrina. Contrary to Diplenteron sp. where we observed three oesophageal glands, Z. punctata and C. elegans have five oesophageal glands. We question this shared character as reflecting a common evolution between the Cephalobina and Rhabditina, because there are strong arguments for functional (adaptive) convergence of the five glands in these bacterial feeders. Convergence is further suggested by the mosaic distribution of three versus five glands throughout the Nemata; this distribution creates difficulties in establishing character polarity. Although morphological data are often laborious to recover and interpret, we nevertheless view 'reciprocal illumination' between molecular and morphological characters as the most promising and robust process for reconstructing the evolution of the Secernentea and its feeding structures. PMID:10902689

Site-specific recombination in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 catalyzed by the integrase of coliphage HK022.

PubMed

Melnikov, Olga; Zaritsky, Arieh; Zarka, Aliza; Boussiba, Sammy; Malchin, Natalia; Yagil, Ezra; Kolot, Mikhail

2009-07-01

The integrase (Int) of the lambda-like coliphage HK022 catalyzes the site-specific integration and excision of the phage DNA into and from the chromosome of its host, Escherichia coli. Int recognizes two different pairs of recombining sites attP x attB and attL x attR for integration and excision, respectively. This system was adapted to the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 as a potential tool for site-specific gene manipulations in the cyanobacterium. Two plasmids were consecutively cointroduced by conjugation into Anabaena cells, one plasmid that expresses HK022 Int recombinase and the other plasmid that carries the excision substrate P(glnA)-attL-T1/T2-attR-lacZ, where T1/T2 are the strong transcription terminators of rrnB, to prevent expression of the lacZ reporter under the constitutive promoter P(glnA). The Int-catalyzed site-specific recombination reaction was monitored by the expression of lacZ emanating as a result of T1/T2 excision. Int catalyzed the site-specific excision reaction in Anabaena cells when its substrate was located either on the plasmid or on the chromosome with no need to supply an accessory protein, such as integration host factor and excisionase (Xis), which are indispensable for this reaction in its host, E. coli.

An allene oxide and 12-oxophytodienoic acid are key intermediates in jasmonic acid biosynthesis by Fusarium oxysporum.

PubMed

Oliw, Ernst H; Hamberg, Mats

2017-08-01

Fungi can produce jasmonic acid (JA) and its isoleucine conjugate in large quantities, but little is known about the biosynthesis. Plants form JA from 18:3 n -3 by 13 S -lipoxygenase (LOX), allene oxide synthase, and allene oxide cyclase. Shaking cultures of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tulipae released over 200 mg of jasmonates per liter. Nitrogen powder of the mycelia expressed 10 R -dioxygenase-epoxy alcohol synthase activities, which was confirmed by comparison with the recombinant enzyme. The 13 S -LOX of F. oxysporum could not be detected in the cell-free preparations. Incubation of mycelia in phosphate buffer with [17,17,18,18,18- 2 H 5 ]18:3 n -3 led to biosynthesis of a [ 2 H 5 ]12-oxo-13-hydroxy-9 Z ,15 Z -octadecadienoic acid (α-ketol), [ 2 H 5 ]12-oxo-10,15 Z -phytodienoic acid (12-OPDA), and [ 2 H 5 ]13-keto- and [ 2 H 5 ]13 S -hydroxyoctadecatrienoic acids. The α-ketol consisted of 90% of the 13 R stereoisomer, suggesting its formation by nonenzymatic hydrolysis of an allene oxide with 13 S configuration. Labeled and unlabeled 12-OPDA were observed following incubation with 0.1 mM [ 2 H 5 ]18:3 n -3 in a ratio from 0.4:1 up to 47:1 by mycelia of liquid cultures of different ages, whereas 10 times higher concentration of [ 2 H 5 ]13 S -hydroperoxyoctadecatrienoic acid was required to detect biosynthesis of [ 2 H 5 ]12-OPDA. The allene oxide is likely formed by a cytochrome P450 or catalase-related hydroperoxidase. We conclude that F. oxysporum , like plants, forms jasmonates with an allene oxide and 12-OPDA as intermediates. Copyright © 2017 by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Fungi in the healthy human gastrointestinal tract

PubMed Central

Hallen-Adams, Heather E.; Suhr, Mallory J.

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Many species of fungi have been detected in the healthy human gut; however, nearly half of all taxa reported have only been found in one sample or one study. Fungi capable of growing in and colonizing the gut are limited to a small number of species, mostly Candida yeasts and yeasts in the family Dipodascaceae (Galactomyces, Geotrichum, Saprochaete). Malassezia and the filamentous fungus Cladosporium are potential colonizers; more work is needed to clarify their role. Other commonly-detected fungi come from the diet or environment but either cannot or do not colonize (Penicillium and Debaryomyces species, which are common on fermented foods but cannot grow at human body temperature), while still others have dietary or environmental sources (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a fermentation agent and sometime probiotic; Aspergillus species, ubiquitous molds) yet are likely to impact gut ecology. The gut mycobiome appears less stable than the bacterial microbiome, and is likely subject to environmental factors. PMID:27736307

Fungi in the healthy human gastrointestinal tract.

PubMed

Hallen-Adams, Heather E; Suhr, Mallory J

2017-04-03

Many species of fungi have been detected in the healthy human gut; however, nearly half of all taxa reported have only been found in one sample or one study. Fungi capable of growing in and colonizing the gut are limited to a small number of species, mostly Candida yeasts and yeasts in the family Dipodascaceae (Galactomyces, Geotrichum, Saprochaete). Malassezia and the filamentous fungus Cladosporium are potential colonizers; more work is needed to clarify their role. Other commonly-detected fungi come from the diet or environment but either cannot or do not colonize (Penicillium and Debaryomyces species, which are common on fermented foods but cannot grow at human body temperature), while still others have dietary or environmental sources (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a fermentation agent and sometime probiotic; Aspergillus species, ubiquitous molds) yet are likely to impact gut ecology. The gut mycobiome appears less stable than the bacterial microbiome, and is likely subject to environmental factors.

Lingual–Alveolar Contact Pressure During Speech in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Preliminary Findings

PubMed Central

Knollhoff, Stephanie; Barohn, Richard J.

2017-01-01

Purpose This preliminary study on lingual–alveolar contact pressures (LACP) in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) had several aims: (a) to evaluate whether the protocol induced fatigue, (b) to compare LACP during speech (LACP-Sp) and during maximum isometric pressing (LACP-Max) in people with ALS (PALS) versus healthy controls, (c) to compare the percentage of LACP-Max utilized during speech (%Max) for PALS versus controls, and (d) to evaluate relationships between LACP-Sp and LACP-Max with word intelligibility. Method Thirteen PALS and 12 healthy volunteers produced /t, d, s, z, l, n/ sounds while LACP-Sp was recorded. LACP-Max was obtained before and after the speech protocol. Word intelligibility was obtained from auditory–perceptual judgments. Results LACP-Max values measured before and after completion of the speech protocol did not differ. LACP-Sp and LACP-Max were statistically lower in the ALS bulbar group compared with controls and PALS with only spinal symptoms. There was no statistical difference between groups for %Max. LACP-Sp and LACP-Max were correlated with word intelligibility. Conclusions It was feasible to obtain LACP-Sp measures without inducing fatigue. Reductions in LACP-Sp and LACP-Max for bulbar speakers might reflect tongue weakness. Although confirmation of results is needed, the data indicate that individuals with high word intelligibility maintained LACP-Sp at or above 2 kPa and LACP-Max at or above 50 kPa. PMID:28335033

Curvulamine, a new antibacterial alkaloid incorporating two undescribed units from a Curvularia species.

PubMed

Han, Wen Bo; Lu, Yan Hua; Zhang, Ai Hua; Zhang, Gao Fei; Mei, Ya Ning; Jiang, Nan; Lei, Xinxiang; Song, Yong Chun; Ng, Seik Weng; Tan, Ren Xiang

2014-10-17

The white croaker (Argyrosomus argentatus) derived Curvularia sp. IFB-Z10 produces curvulamine as a skeletally unprecedented alkaloid incorporating two undescribed extender units. Curvulamine is more selectively antibacterial than tinidazole and biosynthetically unique in the new extenders formed through a decarboxylative condensation between an oligoketide motif and alanine.

Phylogenetic placement of two species known only from resting spores: Zoophthora independentia sp. nov. and Z. porteri comb. nov. (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae)

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Molecular methods were used to determine the generic placement of two species of Entomophthorales known only from resting spores. Historically, these species would belong in the form-genus Tarichium, but this classification provides no information about phylogenetic relationships. Using DNA from res...

A minimal murine Msx-1 gene promoter. Organization of its cis-regulatory motifs and their role in transcriptional activation in cells in culture and in transgenic mice.

PubMed

Takahashi, T; Guron, C; Shetty, S; Matsui, H; Raghow, R

1997-09-05

To dissect the cis-regulatory elements of the murine Msx-1 promoter, which lacks a conventional TATA element, a putative Msx-1 promoter DNA fragment (from -1282 to +106 base pairs (bp)) or its congeners containing site-specific alterations were fused to luciferase reporter and introduced into NIH3T3 and C2C12 cells, and the expression of luciferase was assessed in transient expression assays. The functional consequences of the sequential 5' deletions of the promotor revealed that multiple positive and negative regulatory elements participate in regulating transcription of the Msx-1 gene. Surprisingly, however, the optimal expression of Msx-1 promoter in either NIH3T3 or C2C12 cells required only 165 bp of the upstream sequence to warrant detailed examination of its structure. Therefore, the functional consequences of site-specific deletions and point mutations of the cis-acting elements of the minimal Msx-1 promoter were systematically examined. Concomitantly, potential transcriptional factor(s) interacting with the cis-acting elements of the minimal promoter were also studied by gel electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNase I footprinting. Combined analyses of the minimal promoter by DNase I footprinting, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and super shift assays with specific antibodies revealed that 5'-flanking regions from -161 to -154 and from -26 to -13 of the Msx-1 promoter contains an authentic E box (proximal E box), capable of binding a protein immunologically related to the upstream stimulating factor 1 (USF-1) and a GC-rich sequence motif which can bind to Sp1 (proximal Sp1), respectively. Additionally, we observed that the promoter activation was seriously hampered if the proximal E box was removed or mutated, and the promoter activity was eliminated completely if the proximal Sp1 site was similarly altered. Absolute dependence of the Msx-1 minimal promoter on Sp1 could be demonstrated by transient expression assays in the Sp1-deficient Drosophila cell line cotransfected with Msx-1-luciferase and an Sp1 expression vector pPacSp1. The transgenic mice embryos containing -165/106-bp Msx-1 promoter-LacZ DNA in their genomes abundantly expressed beta-galactosidase in maxillae and mandibles and in the cellular primordia involved in the formation of the meninges and the bones of the skull. Thus, the truncated murine Msx-1 promoter can target expression of a heterologous gene in the craniofacial tissues of transgenic embryos known for high level of expression of the endogenous Msx-1 gene and found to be severely defective in the Msx-1 knock-out mice.

Optical Study of the Critical Behaviour of Pure Fluids and Binary Mixtures.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narger, Ulrike

1990-01-01

Optical techniques were used to study the critical behaviour of the pure fluids CHF_3, CClF_3 and Xe, and binary mixtures He-Xe and nicotine + water. We find that for all these substances, the order parameter is described by a power law in the reduced temperature t = (T _{c} - T)/T_{c} with a leading exponent beta = 0.327 +/- 0.002. Also, we determine the first correction to scaling exponent to be Delta = 0.43 +/- 0.02 for the pure fluids and Delta = 0.50 +/- 0.02 for the He-Xe system. The coexistence curve diameter in CHF _3 and CClF_3 exhibits a deviation from recti-linear diameter, in agreement with a modern theory which interprets this behaviour as resulting from three-body effects. In contrast, no such deviation is observed in Xe where, according to that theory, it should be more pronounced than in other substances. In the polar fluid CHF_3, the order parameter, isothermal compressibility and the chemical potential along the critical isotherm were simultaneously measured in the same experiment in an effort to ensure self-consistency of the results. From the data, two amplitude ratios which are predicted to be universal are determined: Gamma_sp{0}{+} /Gamma_sp{0}{ -} = 4.8 +/- 0.6 and D_0 Gamma_sp{0}{+ } B_sp{0}{delta-1} = 1.66 +/- 0.14. In the binary liquid system nicotine + water, the diffusivity was measured both by light scattering and by interferometry. The results agree qualitatively, but differ by a factor of ~2. From the light scattering data, the critical exponent of the viscosity is found to be z_{eta } = 0.044 +/- 0.008. The interferometric experiments on Xe and He-Xe furnish a direct way to measure the effects of wetting: From the data, the exponent of the surface tension is found to be n = 1.24 +/- 0.06. The similarity of the order parameter and compressibility in Xe and a He-Xe mixture containing 5% He indicate that the phase transition in this He-Xe mixture is of the liquid -gas type rather than the binary liquid type.

Comparison of denitrifier communities in the biofilms of bioaugmented and non-augmented zeolite-biological aerated filters.

PubMed

Bai, Yaohui; Sun, Qinghua; Sun, Renhua; Wen, Donghui; Tang, Xiaoyan

2012-09-01

The denitrifier communities of a bioaugmented and non-augmented zeolite-biological aerated filter (Z-BAFs) were investigated and compared because the bioaugmented Z-BAF provided better and more stable treatment efficiency for nitrate and nitrite removal. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and reverse transcription T-RFLP (RT-T-RFLP) were applied to analyse the denitrifier community diversity in the biofilm collected from each Z-BAF. The results showed that the bioaugmentation technology favourably changed the indigenous denitrifier community and enhanced denitrification under nitrogen loading shocks. The cDNA clone libraries were developed to explore the active denitrifier community structures of both filters. The results showed that the active denitrifiers in both the bioaugmented and non-bioaugmented Z-BAF belonged to alpha-, beta- and gamma-proteobacteria. However, the sequence of the introduced denitrifier (Paracoccus sp. BW001) was not found in the clone library of the bioaugmented filter, which implied that the removal of nitrate and nitrite was attributed mainly to the indigenous denitrifiers in the adjusted bacterial community in the bioaugmented Z-BAF.

Weak lensing magnification of SpARCS galaxy clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tudorica, A.; Hildebrandt, H.; Tewes, M.; Hoekstra, H.; Morrison, C. B.; Muzzin, A.; Wilson, G.; Yee, H. K. C.; Lidman, C.; Hicks, A.; Nantais, J.; Erben, T.; van der Burg, R. F. J.; Demarco, R.

2017-12-01

Context. Measuring and calibrating relations between cluster observables is critical for resource-limited studies. The mass-richness relation of clusters offers an observationally inexpensive way of estimating masses. Its calibration is essential for cluster and cosmological studies, especially for high-redshift clusters. Weak gravitational lensing magnification is a promising and complementary method to shear studies, that can be applied at higher redshifts. Aims: We aim to employ the weak lensing magnification method to calibrate the mass-richness relation up to a redshift of 1.4. We used the Spitzer Adaptation of the Red-Sequence Cluster Survey (SpARCS) galaxy cluster candidates (0.2 < z < 1.4) and optical data from the Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) to test whether magnification can be effectively used to constrain the mass of high-redshift clusters. Methods: Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs) selected using the u-band dropout technique and their colours were used as a background sample of sources. LBG positions were cross-correlated with the centres of the sample of SpARCS clusters to estimate the magnification signal, which was optimally-weighted using an externally-calibrated LBG luminosity function. The signal was measured for cluster sub-samples, binned in both redshift and richness. Results: We measured the cross-correlation between the positions of galaxy cluster candidates and LBGs and detected a weak lensing magnification signal for all bins at a detection significance of 2.6-5.5σ. In particular, the significance of the measurement for clusters with z> 1.0 is 4.1σ; for the entire cluster sample we obtained an average M200 of 1.28 -0.21+0.23 × 1014 M⊙. Conclusions: Our measurements demonstrated the feasibility of using weak lensing magnification as a viable tool for determining the average halo masses for samples of high redshift galaxy clusters. The results also established the success of using galaxy over-densities to select massive clusters at z > 1. Additional studies are necessary for further modelling of the various systematic effects we discussed.

Impact of High-Z Coatings on the Ablation Pressure of Laser Driven Targets.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mostovych, Andrew; Oh, Jaechul; Schmitt, Andrew; Weaver, James

2007-11-01

Recent hydrodynamic experiments [1] with planar high-Z coated targets at the Naval Research Laboratory and spherical implosion experiments with high-Z coated shell targets [2] at the Omega facility all show significant improvement in target stability as a result of the high-Z coatings. For better understanding of the hydrodynamic processes it is important to know the changes in ablation pressure as a result of the high-Z layers. Using the Nike Laser, we have conducted new experiments to measure the change in shock speed of planar CH targets that are irradiated with and without the presence of a 200 Ang. gold high-Z coating. The evolution of shock propagation inside the targets is diagnosed with VISAR probing while average shock velocities are also measured by shock breakout detection from the stepped rear surface of the targets. We find that the high-Z layers produce a time dependent ablation pressure which is detected via the observation of non-steady shocks in the targets. Experimental results and comparisons to hydrodynamic simulations will be presented. Work supported by U. S. Department of Energy. [1] S.P. Obenschain et al., Phys. Plasmas 9, 2234 (2002). [2] A.N. Mostovych et al., APS Abstracts DPPFO3002M, (2005).

G-Quadruplex Folds of the Human Telomere Sequence Alter the Site Reactivity and Reaction Pathway of Guanine Oxidation Compared to Duplex DNA

PubMed Central

Fleming, Aaron M.; Burrows, Cynthia J.

2013-01-01

Telomere shortening occurs during oxidative and inflammatory stress with guanine (G) as the major site of damage. In this work, a comprehensive profile of the sites of oxidation and structures of products observed from G-quadruplex and duplex structures of the human telomere sequence was studied in the G-quadruplex folds (hybrid (K+), basket (Na+), and propeller (K+ + 50% CH3CN)) resulting from the sequence 5’-(TAGGGT)4T-3’ and in an appropriate duplex containing one telomere repeat. Oxidations with four oxidant systems consisting of riboflavin photosensitization, carbonate radical generation, singlet oxygen, and the copper Fenton-like reaction were analyzed under conditions of low product conversion to determine relative reactivity. The one-electron oxidants damaged the 5’-G in G-quadruplexes leading to spiroiminodihydantoin (Sp) and 2,2,4-triamino-2H-oxazol-5-one (Z) as major products as well as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (OG) and 5-guanidinohydantoin (Gh) in low relative yields, while oxidation in the duplex context produced damage at the 5’- and middle-Gs of GGG sequences and resulted in Gh being the major product. Addition of the reductant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to the reaction did not alter the riboflavin-mediated damage sites, but decreased Z by 2-fold and increased OG by 5-fold, while not altering the hydantoin ratio. However, NAC completely quenched the CO3•− reactions. Singlet oxygen oxidations of the G-quadruplex showed reactivity at all Gs on the exterior faces of G-quartets and furnished the product Sp, while no oxidation was observed in the duplex context under these conditions, and addition of NAC had no effect. Because a long telomere sequence would have higher-order structures of G-quadruplexes, studies were also conducted with 5’-(TAGGGT)8-T-3’, and it provided similar oxidation profiles to the single G-quadruplex. Lastly, CuII/H2O2-mediated oxidations were found to be indiscriminate in the damage patterns, and 5-carboxamido-5-formamido-2-iminohydantoin (2Ih) was found to be a major duplex product, while nearly equal yields of 2Ih and Sp were observed in G-quadruplex contexts. These findings indicate that the nature of the secondary structure of folded DNA greatly alters both the reactivity of G toward oxidative stress as well as the product outcome and suggest that recognition of damage in telomeric sequences by repair enzymes may be profoundly different from that of B-form duplex DNA. PMID:23438298

Detection of a Substantial Molecular Gas Reservoir in a Brightest Cluster Galaxy at z = 1.7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webb, Tracy M. A.; Lowenthal, James; Yun, Min; Noble, Allison G.; Muzzin, Adam; Wilson, Gillian; Yee, H. K. C.; Cybulski, Ryan; Aretxaga, I.; Hughes, D. H.

2017-08-01

We report the detection of CO(2-1) emission coincident with the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) of the high-redshift galaxy cluster SpARCS1049+56, with the Redshift Search Receiver (RSR) on the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT). We confirm a spectroscopic redshift for the gas of z = 1.7091 ± 0.0004, which is consistent with the systemic redshift of the cluster galaxies of z = 1.709. The line is well fit by a single-component Gaussian with an RSR-resolution-corrected FWHM of 569 ± 63 km s-1. We see no evidence for multiple velocity components in the gas, as might be expected from the multiple image components seen in near-infrared imaging with the Hubble Space Telescope. We measure the integrated flux of the line to be 3.6 ± 0.3 Jy km s-1, and using {α }{CO} = 0.8 M ⊙ (K km s-1 pc2)-1, we estimate a total molecular gas mass of 1.1 ± 0.1 × 1011 M ⊙ and a M H2/M ⋆ ˜ 0.4. This is the largest gas reservoir detected in a BCG above z > 1 to date. Given the infrared-estimated star formation rate of 860 ± 130 M ⊙ yr-1, this corresponds to a gas depletion timescale of ˜0.1 Gyr. We discuss several possible mechanisms for depositing such a large gas reservoir to the cluster center—e.g., a cooling flow, a major galaxy-galaxy merger, or the stripping of gas from several galaxies—but conclude that these LMT data are not sufficient to differentiate between them.

Synthesis, crystal structure, biological activity and theoretical calculations of novel isoxazole derivatives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, R. Y.; Sun, X. H.; Liu, Y. F.; Long, W.; Chen, B.; Shen, S. Q.; Ma, H. X.

2016-01-01

Series of isoxazole derivatives were synthesized by substituted chalcones and 2-chloro-6-fluorobenzene formaldehyde oxime with 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The target compounds were determined by melting point, IR, 1H NMR, elemental analyses and HRMS. The crystal structure of compound 3a was detected by X-ray diffraction and it crystallizes in the triclinic space group p2(1)/c with z = 4. The molecular geometry of compound 3a was optimized using density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) method with the 6-31G+(d,p) basis set in the ground state. From the optimized geometry of the molecule, FT-IR, FT-Raman, HOMO-LUMO and natural bond orbital (NBO) were calculated at B3LYP/6-31G+(d,p) level. Finally, the antifungal activity of the synthetic compounds were evaluated against Pythium solani, Gibberella nicotiancola, Fusarium oxysporium f.sp. niveum and Gibberella saubinetii.

New species and new records of ground spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) from Cyprus.

PubMed

Chatzaki, Maria; Russell-Smith, Anthony

2017-10-04

New taxonomic data on the ground spiders of the family Gnaphosidae from the island of Cyprus are presented. Three species are proposed as new to science (Drassyllus cyprius sp. n., Setaphis mccowani sp. n., Zelotes limnatis sp. n.). The male of Synaphosus shirin Ovtsharenko, Levy & Platnick, 1994 and the female of Zelotes zekharya Levy, 2009 are described for the first time. The transfer of Zelotes helvolus (O.P. Cambridge, 1872) and Z. helvoloides Levy, 1998 (the latter not recorded in Cyprus) to Cryptodrassus is proposed. The mismatching of male and female of C. helvoloides is discussed, and the female originally described as C. helvoloides is transferred to C. helvolus. Micaria pallipes (Lucas, 1846) is here recorded and the synonymy with Castanilla marchesii Caporiacco, 1936 is rejected, while the paralectotype of Castanilla marchesii is here assigned to Leptodrassex algericus Dalmas, 1919. Finally a male Poecilochroa still not attributed to a known or new species is described.

Biochemical synthesis of novel, self-assembling glycolipids from ricinoleic acid by a recombinant α-glucosidase from Geobacillus sp.

PubMed

Konishi, Masa-aki; Fukuoka, Tokuma; Shimane, Yasuhiro; Mori, Kozue; Nagano, Yuriko; Ohta, Yukari; Kitamoto, Dai; Hatada, Yuji

2011-01-01

To explore a novel glycolipid, we performed biochemical reactions using a recombinant α-glucosidase from Geobacillus sp. which shows excellent transglycosylation reaction to hydroxyl groups in a variety of compounds. Two different glycolipids (GL-1 and GL-2) were prepared from ricinoleic acid using a recombinant α-glucosidase from Geobacillus sp. The molecular structure of GL-1 was confirmed as 12-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-9-hexadecenoic acid by 1D and 2D NMR analyses. According to MALDI-TOF/MS, GL-1 and GL-2 showed single major peaks at m/z 483.82 and 645.97, respectively. The peaks corresponded to the [M + Na](+) ions of the glycolipids. GL-2 was estimated as 12-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(4'-O-α-glucopyranosyl)-9-hexadecenoic acid. Light polarization microscopy revealed that GL-2 easily formed self-assembled vesicles in aqueous solution.

Biology and behavior of a larch bud moth, Zeiraphera sp., in Alaska.

Treesearch

Richard A. Werner

1980-01-01

A possibly new species or subspecies of larch bud moth of the genus Zeiraphera, closely related to Z. improbana (Walker), was found associated with tamarack, Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch, stands in interior Alaska. An outbreak occurred during 1975 and 1976 over an area of 240 000 ha (590,000 acres)....

The Formation and Sequestration of Nonendogenous Ketocarotenoids in Transgenic Nicotiana glauca1

PubMed Central

Misawa, Norihiko

2017-01-01

Ketolated and hydroxylated carotenoids are high-value compounds with industrial, food, and feed applications. Chemical synthesis is currently the production method of choice for these compounds, with no amenable plant sources readily available. In this study, the 4,4′ β-oxygenase (crtW) and 3,3′ β-hydroxylase (crtZ) genes from Brevundimonas sp. SD-212 were expressed under constitutive transcriptional control in Nicotiana glauca, which has an emerging potential as a biofuel and biorefining feedstock. The transgenic lines produced significant levels of nonendogenous carotenoids in all tissues. In leaf and flower, the carotenoids (∼0.5% dry weight) included 0.3% and 0.48%, respectively, of nonendogenous ketolated and hydroxylated carotenoids. These were 4-ketolutein, echinenone (and its 3-hydroxy derivatives), canthaxanthin, phoenicoxanthin, 4-ketozeaxanthin, and astaxanthin. Stable, homozygous genotypes expressing both transgenes inherited the chemotype. Subcellular fractionation of vegetative tissues and microscopic analysis revealed the presence of ketocarotenoids in thylakoid membranes, not predominantly in the photosynthetic complexes but in plastoglobules. Despite ketocarotenoid production and changes in cellular ultrastructure, intermediary metabolite levels were not dramatically affected. The study illustrates the utility of Brevundimonas sp. SD-212 CRTZ and CRTW to produce ketocarotenoids in a plant species that is being evaluated as a biorefining feedstock, the adaptation of the plastid to sequester nonendogenous carotenoids, and the robustness of plant metabolism to these changes. PMID:28153925

Construction of transplastomic lettuce (Lactuca sativa) dominantly producing astaxanthin fatty acid esters and detailed chemical analysis of generated carotenoids.

PubMed

Harada, Hisashi; Maoka, Takashi; Osawa, Ayako; Hattan, Jun-Ichiro; Kanamoto, Hirosuke; Shindo, Kazutoshi; Otomatsu, Toshihiko; Misawa, Norihiko

2014-04-01

The plastid genome of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cv. Berkeley was site-specifically modified with the addition of three transgenes, which encoded β,β-carotenoid 3,3'-hydroxylase (CrtZ) and β,β-carotenoid 4,4'-ketolase (4,4'-oxygenase; CrtW) from a marine bacterium Brevundimonas sp. strain SD212, and isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase from a marine bacterium Paracoccus sp. strain N81106. Constructed transplastomic lettuce plants were able to grow on soil at a growth rate similar to that of non-transformed lettuce cv. Berkeley and generate flowers and seeds. The germination ratio of the lettuce transformants (T0) (98.8%) was higher than that of non-transformed lettuce (93.1 %). The transplastomic lettuce (T1) leaves produced the astaxanthin fatty acid (myristate or palmitate) diester (49.2% of total carotenoids), astaxanthin monoester (18.2%), and the free forms of astaxanthin (10.0%) and the other ketocarotenoids (17.5%), which indicated that artificial ketocarotenoids corresponded to 94.9% of total carotenoids (230 μg/g fresh weight). Native carotenoids were there lactucaxanthin (3.8%) and lutein (1.3 %) only. This is the first report to structurally identify the astaxanthin esters biosynthesized in transgenic or transplastomic plants producing astaxanthin. The singlet oxygen-quenching activity of the total carotenoids extracted from the transplastomic leaves was similar to that of astaxanthin (mostly esterified) from the green algae Haematococcus pluvialis.

Nuclear translocation of doublecortin-like protein kinase and phosphorylation of a transcription factor JDP2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nagamine, Tadashi; Nomada, Shohgo; Onouchi, Takashi

2014-03-28

Highlights: • Doublecortin-like protein kinase (DCLK) is a microtubule-associated protein kinase. • In living cells, DCLK was cleaved into two functional fragments. • zDCLK(kinase) was translocated into the nucleus by osmotic stresses. • Jun dimerization protein 2 (JDP2) was identified as zDCLK(kinase)-binding protein. • JDP2 was efficiently phosphorylated by zDCLK(kinase) only when histone was present. - Abstract: Doublecortin-like protein kinase (DCLK) is a microtubule-associated protein kinase predominantly expressed in brain. In a previous paper, we reported that zebrafish DCLK2 (zDCLK) was cleaved into two functional fragments; the N-terminal zDCLK(DC + SP) with microtubule-binding activity and the C-terminal zDCLK(kinase) with amore » Ser/Thr protein kinase activity. In this study, we demonstrated that zDCLK(kinase) was widely distributed in the cytoplasm and translocated into the nucleus when the cells were treated under hyperosmotic conditions with NaCl or mannitol. By two-hybrid screening using the C-terminal domain of DCLK, Jun dimerization protein 2 (JDP2), a nuclear transcription factor, was identified as zDCLK(kinase)-binding protein. Furthermore, JDP2 served as an efficient substrate for zDCLK(kinase) only when histone was present. These results suggest that the kinase fragment of DCLK is translocated into the nucleus upon hyperosmotic stresses and that the kinase efficiently phosphorylates JDP2, a possible target in the nucleus, with the aid of histones.« less

Synthesis, characterization and single crystal x-ray analysis of a complex of iron(II) bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)dithiophosphate with 4-ethylpyridine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumar, Sandeep; Andotra, Savit; Kaur, Mandeep

2016-09-15

Complex of iron(II) bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)dithiophosphate with 4-ethylpyridine [((2,4- (CH{sub 3}){sub 2}C{sub 6}H{sub 3}O)2PS2)2Fe(NC{sub 5}H{sub 4}(C{sub 2}H{sub 5})-4){sub 2}] is synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic moment, IR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray analysis. Complex crystallizes in the monoclinic sp. gr. P2{sub 1}/n, Z = 2. Crystal structure consists of mononuclear units with Fe(II) ion chelated by four S atoms of the two diphenyldithiophosphate ligands in bidentate manner. N atoms from two 4-ethylpyridine ligands are axially coordinated to the Fe(II) atom leading to an octahedral geometry.

Confidence Intervals for System Reliability and Availability of Maintained Systems Using Monte Carlo Techniques

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-12-01

DTIC _JUN ,I 51982 UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AIR UNIVERSITY E AIR FORCE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Wright-Patterson Air-force Base,Ohio S 2 B 14 Best...t’re Air F:or- e -ns"it’.,, e of Technclogy Air Uv-ýerz.tyj in Partial 𔄁ulfilIThent Reýquirements fol- ,-hth D,ýýr.e c4" MastLer of’ OperaZ-ins...iesearc- VeTA 3 MohamedO ’’’’Jo SpD’ Fas.abal-la Lt. C ol. Egyplt.’.an Army Gradua~’p ( ler ons Research December 1981 Approcved fL~r pu>ý’ rclea.se

Yeasts and yeast-like organisms associated with fruits and blossoms of different fruit trees.

PubMed

Vadkertiová, Renáta; Molnárová, Jana; Vránová, Dana; Sláviková, Elena

2012-12-01

Yeasts are common inhabitants of the phyllosphere, but our knowledge of their diversity in various plant organs is still limited. This study focused on the diversity of yeasts and yeast-like organisms associated with matured fruits and fully open blossoms of apple, plum, and pear trees, during 2 consecutive years at 3 localities in southwest Slovakia. The occurrence of yeasts and yeast-like organisms in fruit samples was 2½ times higher and the yeast community more diverse than that in blossom samples. Only 2 species (Aureobasidium pullulans and Metschnikowia pulcherrima) occurred regularly in the blossom samples, whereas Galactomyces candidus, Hanseniaspora guilliermondii, Hanseniaspora uvarum, M. pulcherrima, Pichia kluyveri, Pichia kudriavzevii, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were the most frequently isolated species from the fruit samples. The ratio of the number of samples where only individual species were present to the number of samples where 2 or more species were found (consortium) was counted. The occurrence of individual species in comparison with consortia was much higher in blossom samples than in fruit samples. In the latter, consortia predominated. Aureobasidium pullulans, M. pulcherrima, and S. cerevisiae, isolated from both the fruits and blossoms, can be considered as resident yeast species of various fruit tree species cultivated in southwest Slovakia localities.

Cerebellar liponeurocytoma with extracranial extension: case report.

PubMed

Ben Nsir, A; Ben Said, I; Hammami, N; Sebai, R; Jemel, H

2014-01-01

Cerebellar liponeurocytoma is a newly recognized, rare clinicopathological entity commonly described in the cerebellar hemispheres or the vermis. We present a rare case of cerebellar liponeurocytoma arising from the left cerebellar amygdala with extracranial extension. Such a condition has never been previously reported. Copyright © 2014 Polish Neurological Society. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.

Population dynamics of transgenic strain Escherichia coli Z905/pPHL7 in freshwater and saline lake water microcosms with differing microbial community structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popova, L. Yu.; Kargatova, T. V.; Ganusova, E. E.; Lobova, T. I.; Boyandin, A. N.; Mogilnaya, O. A.; Pechurkin, N. S.

Populations of Escherichia coli Z905/pPHL7, a transgenic microorganism, were heterogenic in the expression of plasmid genes when adapting to the conditions of water microcosms of various mineralization levels and structure of microbial community. This TM has formed two subpopulations (ampicillin-resistant and ampicillin-sensitive) in every microcosm. Irrespective of mineralization level of a microcosm, when E. coli Z905/pPHL7 alone was introduced, the ampicillin-resistant subpopulation prevailed, while introduction of the TM together with indigenous bacteria led to the dominance of the ampicillin-sensitive subpopulation. A high level of lux gene expression maintained longer in the freshwater microcosms than in sterile saline lake water microcosms. A horizontal gene transfer has been revealed between the jointly introduced TM and Micrococcus sp. 9/pSH1 in microcosms with the Lake Shira sterile water.

High-affinity 3H-substance P binding to longitudinal muscle membranes of the guinea pig small intestine.

PubMed

Buck, S H; Maurin, Y; Burks, T F; Yamamura, H I

1984-01-30

The binding of 3H-substance P (3H-SP) to longitudinal muscle membranes of the guinea pig small intestine has been characterized. The binding of 3H-SP exhibited a high affinity (Kd = 0.5nM). It was saturable (Bmax = 2 fmoles/mg tissue), reversible, and temperature-dependent. Kinetic studies and competition of 3H-SP binding by unlabeled SP yielded Kd and Ki values, respectively, which were in good agreement with the Kd calculated from saturation studies. The binding of 3H-SP appeared to be dependent on the presence of divalent cations in the incubation buffer. It was displaced by SP and various analogs and fragments in the rank order of SP greater than SP-(2-11) = SP-(3-11) greater than Nle11- SP = physalaemin greater than SP-(4-11) greater than SP-(5-11) greater than eledoisin much greater than SP-(7-11). Our results indicate that 3H-SP binds in longitudinal muscle of the guinea pig small intestine to a biologically relevant receptor which in many respects resembles the SP receptor characterized in the brain and the salivary gland of the rat.

Expression of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase is regulated negatively by OxyR1 and positively by RpoE2 sigma factor in Azospirillum brasilense Sp7.

PubMed

Singh, Sudhir; Dwivedi, Susheel Kumar; Singh, Vijay Shankar; Tripathi, Anil Kumar

2016-10-01

OxyR proteins are LysR-type transcriptional regulators, which play an important role in responding to oxidative stress in bacteria. Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 harbours two copies of OxyR. The inactivation of the oxyR1, the gene organized divergently to ahpC in A. brasilense Sp7, led to an increased tolerance to alkyl hydroperoxides, which was corroborated by an increase in alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC) activity, enhanced expression of ahpC :lacZ fusion and increased synthesis of AhpC protein in the oxyR1::km mutant. The upstream region of ahpC promoter harboured a putative OxyR binding site, T-N11-A. Mutation of T, A or both in the T-N11-Amotif caused derepression of ahpC in A. brasilense suggesting that T-N11-A might be the binding site for a negative regulator. Retardation of the electrophoretic mobility of the T-N11-A motif harbouring oxyR1-ahpC intergenic DNA by recombinant OxyR1, under reducing as well as oxidizing conditions, indicated that OxyR1 acts as a negative regulator of ahpC in A. brasilense. Sequence of the promoter of ahpC, predicted on the basis of transcriptional start site, and an enhanced expression of ahpC:lacZ fusion in chrR2::km mutant background suggested that ahpC promoter was RpoE2 dependent. Thus, this study shows that in A. brasilense Sp7, ahpC expression is regulated negatively by OxyR1 but is regulated positively by RpoE2, an oxidative-stress-responsive sigma factor. It also shows that OxyR1 regulates the expression RpoE1, which is known to play an important role during photooxidative stress in A. brasilense.

Bartonella dromedarii sp. nov. isolated from domesticated camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Israel.

PubMed

Rasis, Michal; Rudoler, Nir; Schwartz, David; Giladi, Michael

2014-11-01

Bartonella spp. are fastidious, Gram-negative bacilli that cause a wide spectrum of diseases in humans. Most Bartonella spp. have adapted to a specific host, generally a domestic or wild mammal. Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) have become a focus of growing public-health interest because they have been identified as a reservoir host for the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Nevertheless, data on camel zoonoses are limited. We aimed to study the occurrence of Bartonella bacteremia among dromedaries in Israel. Nine of 51 (17.6%) camels were found to be bacteremic with Bartonella spp.; bacteremia levels ranged from five to >1000 colony-forming units/mL. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on the concatenated sequences of gltA and rpoB genes demonstrated that the dromedary Bartonella isolates are closely related to other ruminant-derived Bartonella spp., with B. bovis being the nearest relative. Using electron microscopy, the novel isolates were shown to be flagellated, whereas B. bovis is nonflagellated. Sequence comparisons analysis of the housekeeping genes ftsZ, ribC, and groEL showed the highest homology to B. chomelii, B. capreoli, and B. birtlesii, respectively. Sequence analysis of the gltA and rpoB revealed ∼96% identity to B. bovis, a previously suggested cutoff value for sequence-based differentiation of Bartonella spp., suggesting that this approach does not have sufficient discriminatory power for differentiating ruminant-related Bartonella spp. A comprehensive multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis based on nine genetic loci (gltA, rpoB, ftsZ, internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 16S rRNA, ribC, groEL, nuoG, and SsrA) identified seven sequence types of the new dromedary isolates. This is the first description of a Bartonella sp. from camelids. On the basis of a distinct reservoir and ecological niche, sequence analyses, and expression of flagella, we designate these isolates as a novel Bartonella sp. named Bartonella dromedarii sp. nov. Further studies are required to explore its zoonotic potential.

Insight Into the Radical Mechanism of Phycocyanobilin-Ferredoxin Oxidoreductase (Pcya) Revealed By X-Ray Crystallography And Biochemical Measurements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tu, S.-L.; Rockwell, N.; Lagarias, J.C.

2007-07-13

The X-ray crystal structure of the substrate-free form of phycocyanobilin (PCB)-ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PcyA; EC 1.3.7.5) from the cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. PCC7120 has been solved at 2.5 angstrom resolution. A comparative analysis of this structure with those recently reported for substrate-bound and substrate-free forms of PcyA from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (Hagiwara et al. (2006) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 103, 27-32; Hagiwara et al. (2006) FEBS Lett. 580, 3823-3828) provides a compelling picture of substrate-induced changes in the PcyA enzyme and the chemical basis of PcyA's catalytic activity. On the basis of these structures and the biochemical analysis ofmore » site-directed mutants of Nostoc PcyA, including mutants reported in recent studies (Tu et al. (2006) J. Biol. Chem. 281, 3127-3136) as well as mutants described in this study, a revised mechanism for the PcyA-mediated four-electron reduction of biliverdin IX{alpha} to 3E/3Z-phycocyanobilin via enzyme-bound bilin radical intermediates is proposed. The mechanistic insight of these studies, along with homology modeling, have provided new insight into the catalytic mechanisms of other members of the ferredoxin-dependent bilin reductase family that are widespread in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms.« less

Transcriptional activity of the homopurine-homopyrimidine repeat of the c-Ki-ras promoter is independent of its H-forming potential.

PubMed Central

Raghu, G; Tevosian, S; Anant, S; Subramanian, K N; George, D L; Mirkin, S M

1994-01-01

The mouse c-Ki-ras protooncogene promoter contains an unusual DNA element consisting of a 27 bp-long homopurine-homopyrimidine mirror repeat (H-motif) adjacent to a d(C-G)5 repeat. We have previously shown that in vitro these repeats may adopt H and Z conformations, respectively, causing nuclease and chemical hypersensitivity. Here we have studied the functional role of these DNA stretches using fine deletion analysis of the promoter and a transient transcription assay in vivo. We found that while the H-motif is responsible for approximately half of the promoter activity in both mouse and human cell lines, the Z-forming sequence exhibits little, if any, such activity. Mutational changes introduced within the homopurine-homopyrimidine stretch showed that its sequence integrity, rather than its H-forming potential, is responsible for its effect on transcription. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that the putative H-motif tightly binds several nuclear proteins, one of which is likely to be transcription factor Sp1, as determined by competition experiments. Southwestern hybridization studies detected two major proteins specifically binding to the H-motif: a 97 kD protein which presumably corresponds to Sp1 and another protein of 60 kD in human and 64 kD in mouse cells. We conclude that the homopurine-homopyrimidine stretch is required for full transcriptional activity of the c-Ki-ras promoter and at least two distinct factors, Sp1 and an unidentified protein, potentially contribute to the positive effect on transcription. Images PMID:8078760

Cr(VI) reduction from contaminated soils by Aspergillus sp. N2 and Penicillium sp. N3 isolated from chromium deposits.

PubMed

Fukuda, Tsubasa; Ishino, Yasuhiro; Ogawa, Akane; Tsutsumi, Kadzuyo; Morita, Hiroshi

2008-10-01

Aspergillus sp. N2 and Penicillium sp. N3 are chromate-resistant filamentous fungi that were isolated from Cr(VI) contaminated soil based on their ability to decrease hexavalent chromium levels in the growth medium. After 120 h of growth in a medium containing 50 ppm Cr(VI) at near neutral pH, Aspergillus sp. N2 reduced the Cr(VI) concentration by about 75%. Penicillium sp. N3 was able to reduce the Cr(VI) concentration by only 35%. However, Penicillium sp. N3 reduced the Cr(VI) concentration in the medium by 93% under acidic conditions. Interestingly, the presence of Cu(II) enhanced the Cr(VI) reducing ability of Aspergillus sp. N2 and Penicillium sp. N3 at near neutral pH. Aspergillus sp. N2 and Penicillium sp. N3 reduced the Cr(VI) concentration in the growth medium to a virtually undetectable level within 120 h. For both Aspergillus sp. N2 and Penicillium sp. N3, mycelial seed cultures were more efficient at Cr(VI) reduction than conidium seed cultures. The mechanisms of Cr(VI) reduction in Aspergillus sp. N2 and Penicillium sp. N3 were enzymatic reduction and sorption to mycelia. Enzymatic activity contributed significantly to Cr(VI) reduction. Aspergillus sp. N2 and Penicillium sp. N3 reduced the levels of Cr(VI) in polluted soil samples, suggesting that these strains might be useful for cleaning up chromium-contaminated sites.

Role of Spermidine in Overwintering of Cyanobacteria

PubMed Central

Zhu, Xiangzhi; Li, Qiong; Yin, Chuntao; Fang, Xiantao

2015-01-01

ABSTRACT Polyamines are found in all groups of cyanobacteria, but their role in environmental adaptation has been barely investigated. In Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, inactivation of spermidine synthesis genes significantly reduced the survivability under chill (5°C)-light stress, and the survivability could be restored by addition of spermidine. To analyze the effects of spermidine on gene expression at 5°C, lacZ was expressed from the promoter of carboxy(nor)spermidine decarboxylase gene (CASDC) in Synechocystis. Synechocystis 6803::PCASDC-lacZ pretreated at 15°C showed a high level of LacZ activity for a long period of time at 5°C; without the pretreatment or with protein synthesis inhibited at 5°C, the enzyme activity gradually decreased. In a spermidine-minus mutant harboring PCASDC-lacZ, lacZ showed an expression pattern as if protein synthesis were inhibited at 5°C, even though the stability of its mRNA increased. Four other genes, including rpoA that encodes the α subunit of RNA polymerase, showed similar expression patterns. The chill-light stress led to a rapid increase of protein carbonylation in Synechocystis. The protein carbonylation then quickly returned to the background level in the wild type but continued to slowly increase in the spermidine-minus mutant. Our results indicate that spermidine promotes gene expression and replacement of damaged proteins in cyanobacteria under the chill-light stress in winter. IMPORTANCE Outbreak of cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater lakes is a worldwide environmental problem. In the annual cycle of bloom-forming cyanobacteria, overwintering is the least understood stage. Survival of Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 under long-term chill (5°C)-light stress has been established as a model for molecular studies on overwintering of cyanobacteria. Here, we show that spermidine, the most common polyamine in cyanobacteria, promotes the survivability of Synechocystis under long-term chill-light stress and that the physiological function is based on its effects on gene expression and recovery from protein damage. This is the first report on the role of polyamines in survival of overwintering cyanobacteria. We also analyzed spermidine synthesis pathways in cyanobacteria on the basis of bioinformatic and experimental data. PMID:25917915

Zinc Finger Independent Genome-Wide Binding of Sp2 Potentiates Recruitment of Histone-Fold Protein Nf-y Distinguishing It from Sp1 and Sp3

PubMed Central

Finkernagel, Florian; Stiewe, Thorsten; Nist, Andrea; Suske, Guntram

2015-01-01

Transcription factors are grouped into families based on sequence similarity within functional domains, particularly DNA-binding domains. The Specificity proteins Sp1, Sp2 and Sp3 are paradigmatic of closely related transcription factors. They share amino-terminal glutamine-rich regions and a conserved carboxy-terminal zinc finger domain that can bind to GC rich motifs in vitro. All three Sp proteins are ubiquitously expressed; yet they carry out unique functions in vivo raising the question of how specificity is achieved. Crucially, it is unknown whether they bind to distinct genomic sites and, if so, how binding site selection is accomplished. In this study, we have examined the genomic binding patterns of Sp1, Sp2 and Sp3 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts by ChIP-seq. Sp1 and Sp3 essentially occupy the same promoters and localize to GC boxes. The genomic binding pattern of Sp2 is different; Sp2 primarily localizes at CCAAT motifs. Consistently, re-expression of Sp2 and Sp3 mutants in corresponding knockout MEFs revealed strikingly different modes of genomic binding site selection. Most significantly, while the zinc fingers dictate genomic binding of Sp3, they are completely dispensable for binding of Sp2. Instead, the glutamine-rich amino-terminal region is sufficient for recruitment of Sp2 to its target promoters in vivo. We have identified the trimeric histone-fold CCAAT box binding transcription factor Nf-y as the major partner for Sp2-chromatin interaction. Nf-y is critical for recruitment of Sp2 to co-occupied regulatory elements. Equally, Sp2 potentiates binding of Nf-y to shared sites indicating the existence of an extensive Sp2-Nf-y interaction network. Our results unveil strikingly different recruitment mechanisms of Sp1/Sp2/Sp3 transcription factor members uncovering an unexpected layer of complexity in their binding to chromatin in vivo. PMID:25793500

Quantifying Interactions of Nucleobase Atoms with Model Compounds for the Peptide Backbone and Glutamine and Asparagine Side Chains in Water.

PubMed

Cheng, Xian; Shkel, Irina A; Molzahn, Cristen; Lambert, David; Karim, Rezwana; Record, M Thomas

2018-04-17

Alkylureas display hydrocarbon and amide groups, the primary functional groups of proteins. To obtain the thermodynamic information that is needed to analyze interactions of amides and proteins with nucleobases and nucleic acids, we quantify preferential interactions of alkylureas with nucleobases differing in the amount and composition of water-accessible surface area (ASA) by solubility assays. Using an established additive ASA-based analysis, we interpret these thermodynamic results to determine interactions of each alkylurea with five types of nucleobase unified atoms (carbonyl sp 2 O, amino sp 3 N, ring sp 2 N, methyl sp 3 C, and ring sp 2 C). All alkylureas interact favorably with nucleobase sp 2 C and sp 3 C atoms; these interactions become more favorable with an increasing level of alkylation of urea. Interactions with nucleobase sp 2 O are most favorable for urea, less favorable for methylurea and ethylurea, and unfavorable for dialkylated ureas. Contributions to overall alkylurea-nucleobase interactions from interactions with each nucleobase atom type are proportional to the ASA of that atom type with proportionality constant (interaction strength) α, as observed previously for urea. Trends in α-values for interactions of alkylureas with nucleobase atom types parallel those for corresponding amide compound atom types, offset because nucleobase α-values are more favorable. Comparisons between ethylated and methylated ureas show interactions of amide compound sp 3 C with nucleobase sp 2 C, sp 3 C, sp 2 N, and sp 3 N atoms are favorable while amide sp 3 C-nucleobase sp 2 O interactions are unfavorable. Strongly favorable interactions of urea with nucleobase sp 2 O but weakly favorable interactions with nucleobase sp 3 N indicate that amide sp 2 N-nucleobase sp 2 O and nucleobase sp 3 N-amide sp 2 O hydrogen bonding (NH···O═C) interactions are favorable while amide sp 2 N-nucleobase sp 3 N interactions are unfavorable. These favorable amide-nucleobase hydrogen bonding interactions are prevalent in specific protein-nucleotide complexes.

Flavour production by Saprochaete and Geotrichum yeasts and their close relatives.

PubMed

Grondin, Eric; Shum Cheong Sing, Alain; James, Steve; Nueno-Palop, Carmen; François, Jean Marie; Petit, Thomas

2017-12-15

In this study, a total of 30 yeast strains belonging to the genera Dipodascus, Galactomyces, Geotrichum, Magnusiomyces and Saprochaete were investigated for volatile organic compound production using HS-SPME-GC/MS analysis. The resulting flavour profiles, including 36 esters and 6 alcohols compounds, were statistically evaluated by cluster and PCA analysis. Two main groups of strains were extracted from this analysis, namely a group with a low ability to produce flavour and a group producing mainly alcohols. Two other minor groups of strains including Saprochaete suaveolens, Geotrichum marinum and Saprochaete gigas were diverging significantly from the main groups precisely because they showed a good ability to produce a large diversity of esters. In particular, we found that the Saprochaete genus (and their closed relatives) was characterized by a high production of unsaturated esters arising from partial catabolism of branched chain amino-acids. These esters were produced by eight phylogenetically related strains of Saprochaete genus. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of ovulatory capacity development in the dominant follicle of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius).

PubMed

Manjunatha, Bodhaganahalli M; Al-Bulushi, Samir; Pratap, Narayan

2015-09-01

The acquisition of ovulatory capacity in the growing dominant follicle (DF) of dromedary camels was examined in the current study. Ovulation occurred in response to hCG (1500 IU) in 27.3%, 58.3% or 100% of camels with follicles of 9, 10 or 11 mm diameter, respectively. A high dose of hCG (4500 IU) resulted in ovulation of 77.8% and 100% of camels with follicles of 9 and 10mm, respectively. In naturally mated animals, ovulation occurred in 36.4% and 92.8% of camels with 10 and 11 mm follicles, respectively. Copyright © 2015 Society for Biology of Reproduction & the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.

Specific features of nonvalent interactions in orthorhombic perovskites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serezhkin, V. N.; Pushkin, D. V.; Serezhkina, L. B.

2014-07-01

It is established that isostructural orthorhombic perovskites ABO3 (sp. gr. Pnma in different systems, no. 62, Z = 4), depending on the specificity of nonvalent interactions (which determine the combinatorial-topological type of the Voronoi-Dirichlet polyhedra (VDPs) of four basis atoms), are divided into ten different stereotypes. It is shown by the example of 259 perovskites belonging to the DyCrO3 stereotype that VDP characteristics can be used to quantitatively estimate the distortion of BO6 octahedra, including that caused by the Jahn-Teller effect. It is found that one of the causes of the distortion of the coordination polyhedra of atoms in the structure of orthorhombic perovskites is heteroatomic metal-metal interactions, for which the interatomic distances are much shorter than the sum of the Slater radii of A and B atoms.

Halomonas sp. BS4, A biosurfactant producing halophilic bacterium isolated from solar salt works in India and their biomedical importance.

PubMed

Donio, Mariathason Birdilla Selva; Ronica, Fernando Arul; Viji, Vijayaragavan Thanga; Velmurugan, Subramanian; Jenifer, John Selesteen Charles Adlin; Michaelbabu, Mariavincent; Dhar, Prasenjit; Citarasu, Thavasimuthu

2013-12-01

Halophilic bacteria were isolated from Thamaraikulam solar salt works in India. After routine biosurfactant screening by various methods, the biosurfactant producing bacteria, Halomonas sp BS4 was confirmed by 16 S rRNA sequencing. The growth optimization of Halomonas sp BS4 revealed their optimum growth at 8% NaCl and 6-8 pH in the growth medium. Further the partially purified biosurfactants were characterized by TLC, FTIR and GC-MS analysis. GC-MS results revealed that, the partial purified biosurfactants contain 1, 2-Ethanediamine N, N, N', N'-tetra, 8-Methyl-6-nonenamide, (Z)-9-octadecenamide and a fatty acid derivative. Pharmacological screening of antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anticancer assays revealed that, the biosurfactant extracted from Halomonas sp BS4 effectively controlled the human pathogenic bacteria and fungi an aquaculturally important virus, WSSV. The biosurfactant also suppressed the proliferation of mammary epithelial carcinoma cell by 46.77% at 2.5 μg concentration. Based on these findings, the present study concluded that, there is a possibility to develop eco-friendly antimicrobial and anticancer drugs from the extremophilic origin.

Detoxification of Atrazine by Endophytic Streptomyces sp. Isolated from Sugarcane and Detection of Nontoxic Metabolite.

PubMed

Mesquini, Josiane A; Sawaya, Alexandra C H F; López, Begonã G C; Oliveira, Valéria M; Miyasaka, Natalia R S

2015-12-01

Atrazine is still one of the most used agricultural pesticides worldwide and it has been recognized as a major contaminant of surface and ground water. The aims of this research were to isolate an endophytic microorganism from leaves of sugarcane, evaluate its ability to degrade atrazine, and investigate the formation of metabolites. By sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, the endophytic isolate atz2 was identified as Streptomyces sp. The reduction in atrazine concentration by Streptomyces sp. atz2 was 98 % and UHPLC-MS/MS analyses showed the appearance of an unknown metabolite observed as m/z 311. Ecotoxicity tests with an aquatic organism, Daphnia similis, confirmed that this metabolite was nontoxic. This mechanism of detoxification of atrazine is different from the ones of other free-living microorganisms that inhabit the soil or rhizosphere. The results show new aspects of atrazine detoxification, highlighting a new role of endophytic bacteria in plants.

Thauera humireducens sp. nov., a humus-reducing bacterium isolated from a microbial fuel cell.

PubMed

Yang, Gui-Qin; Zhang, Jun; Kwon, Soon-Wo; Zhou, Shun-Gui; Han, Lu-Chao; Chen, Ming; Ma, Chen; Zhuang, Li

2013-03-01

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated SgZ-1(T), was isolated from the anode biofilm of a microbial fuel cell. The strain had the ability to grow under anaerobic condition via the oxidation of various organic compounds coupled to the reduction of anthraquione-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) to anthrahydroquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AHQDS). Growth occurred in TSB in the presence of 0-5.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0-1 %), at 10-45 °C (optimum 25-37 °C) and at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum 8.0-8.5). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain SgZ-1(T) belonged to the genus Thauera. The highest level of 16S rRNA gene sequences similarity (96.7 %) was found to be with Thauera aminoaromatica S2(T) and Thauera selenatis AX(T), and lower values were obtained when compared with other recognized Thauera species. Chemotaxonomic analysis revealed that strain SgZ-1(T) contained Q-8 as the predominant quinone, and putrescine and 2-hydroxyputrescine as the major polyamines. The major cellular fatty acids (>5 %) were C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c (44.6 %), C16 : 0 (18.8 %), and C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c (12.7 %). Based on its phenotypic and phylogenetic properties, chemotaxonomic analysis and the results of physiological and biochemical tests, strain SgZ-1(T) ( = KACC 16524(T) = CCTCC M 2011497(T)) was designated the type strain of a novel species of the genus Thauera, for which the name Thauera humireducens sp. nov. was proposed.

NK1R/5-HT1AR interaction is related to the regulation of melanogenesis.

PubMed

Wu, Huali; Zhao, Yucheng; Huang, Qiaoling; Cai, Minxuan; Pan, Qi; Fu, Mengsi; An, Xiaohong; Xia, Zhenjiang; Liu, Meng; Jin, Yu; He, Ling; Shang, Jing

2018-06-01

Substance P (SP) is a candidate mediator along the brain-skin axis and can mimic the effects of stress to regulate melanogenesis. Previously, we and others have found that the regulation of SP for pigmentary function was mediated by neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R). Emerging evidence has accumulated that psychologic stress can induce dysfunction in the cutaneous serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-5-HT1A/1B receptor system, thereby resulting in skin hypopigmentation. Moreover, NK1R and 5-HTR (except 5-HT3) belong to GPCR. The present study aimed at assessing the possible existence of NK1R-5-HTR interactions and related melanogenic functions. Western blot and PCR detection revealed that SP reduced expression of 5-HT1A receptor via the NK1 receptor. Biochemical analyses showed that NK1R and 5-HT1AR could colocalize and interact in a cell and in the skin. When the N terminus of the NK1R protein was removed NK1R surface targeting was prevented, the interaction between NK1R-5-HT1AR decreased, and the depigmentation caused by SP and WAY100635 could be rescued. Importantly, pharmaceutical coadministration of NK1R agonist (SP) and 5-HT1A antagonist (WAY100635) enhanced the NK1-5-HT1A receptor coimmunoprecipitation along with the depigmentary response. SP and WAY100635 cooperation elicited activation of a signaling cascade (the extracellular, regulated protein kinase p-JNK signaling pathway) and inhibition of p70S6K1 phosphorylation and greatly reduced melanin production in vitro and in vivo in mice and zebrafish. Moreover, the SP-induced depigmentation response did not be occur in 5-htr1aa +/- zebrafish embryos. Taken together, the results of our systemic study increases our knowledge of the roles of NK1R and 5-HT1AR in melanogenesis and provides possible, novel therapeutic strategies for treatment of skin hypo/hyperpigmentation.-Wu, H., Zhao, Y., Huang, Q., Cai, M., Pan, Q., Fu, M., An, X., Xia, Z., Liu, M., Jin, Y., He, L., Shang, J. NK1R/5-HT1AR interaction is related to the regulation of melanogenesis.

Ground Based Investigation of Electrostatic Accelerometer in HUST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Y.; Zhou, Z.

2013-12-01

High-precision electrostatic accelerometers with six degrees of freedom (DOF) acceleration measurement were successfully used in CHAMP, GRACE and GOCE missions which to measure the Earth's gravity field. In our group, space inertial sensor based on the capacitance transducer and electrostatic control technique has been investigated for test of equivalence principle (TEPO), searching non-Newtonian force in micrometer range, and satellite Earth's field recovery. The significant techniques of capacitive position sensor with the noise level at 2×10-7pF/Hz1/2 and the μV/Hz1/2 level electrostatic actuator are carried out and all the six servo loop controls by using a discrete PID algorithm are realized in a FPGA device. For testing on ground, in order to compensate one g earth's gravity, the fiber torsion pendulum facility is adopt to measure the parameters of the electrostatic controlled inertial sensor such as the resolution, and the electrostatic stiffness, the cross couple between different DOFs. A short distance and a simple double capsule equipment the valid duration about 0.5 second is set up in our lab for the free fall tests of the engineering model which can directly verify the function of six DOF control. Meanwhile, high voltage suspension method is also realized and preliminary results show that the horizontal axis of acceleration noise is about 10-8m/s2/Hz1/2 level which limited mainly by the seismic noise. Reference: [1] Fen Gao, Ze-Bing Zhou, Jun Luo, Feasibility for Testing the Equivalence Principle with Optical Readout in Space, Chin. Phys. Lett. 28(8) (2011) 080401. [2] Z. Zhu, Z. B. Zhou, L. Cai, Y. Z. Bai, J. Luo, Electrostatic gravity gradiometer design for the advanced GOCE mission, Adv. Sp. Res. 51 (2013) 2269-2276. [3] Z B Zhou, L Liu, H B Tu, Y Z Bai, J Luo, Seismic noise limit for ground-based performance measurements of an inertial sensor using a torsion balance, Class. Quantum Grav. 27 (2010) 175012. [4] H B Tu, Y Z Bai, Z B Zhou, L Liu, L Cai, and J Luo, Performance measurements of an inertial sensor with a two-stage controlled torsion pendulum, Class Quantum. Grav. 27 (2010) 205016.

Modeling and Interpreting Construction Production Data: A Regression Approach.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-01-01

1 List of Data v PT P a m LR F F L F 0 L I P 4 U L A I A I u G N RCKO S x B R A R T EBPT S E 0 1 . 0 A 0 H 0 £ CUUFKA L 0 R S 0 B T A £ E S n IGMIOT...L r o LI PAUL A I A I U G H RCKO S X 3 N R a A hT EBPT S E 0 I C 0 I D R OK CUUFKA L D R S O a T A E E Sf IG IOT z 0 w I S S L y L A SP PYPXOR N H T

Influence of Polycarboxylate Superplasticizers on Rheological Properties of Cement Slurries Used in Drilling Technologies / Wpływ Superplastyfikatorów Z Grupy Polikarboksylanów Na Właściwości Reologiczne Zaczynów Cementowych Stosowanych W Technologiach Wiertniczych

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stryczek, Stanisław; Wiśniowski, Rafał; Gonet, Andrzej; Złotkowski, Albert; Ziaja, Jan

2013-09-01

Sealing slurries, mainly the cement-based ones, are concentrated dispersive systems, containing solid particles of considerably developed specific surface. Rheologically, such systems are very complex. This also stems from the fact that the rheological properties have a significant effect on: • additives and admixtures modifying technological properties of fresh and set slurries, • chemically complex mechanism of hydration in a slurry in a function of time. Special attention should paid to plasticizing (plasticizers PL) and liquefying (traditional and new- -generation superplasticizers SP) admixtures affecting the modification and optimization of rheological properties of fresh cement slurries as far as providing efficiency of sealing of casing pipes is concerned. Laboratory analyses were focused on proving the following thesis: properly selected type of superplasticizer [by BASF Polska Sp.z o.o. (The Chemical Company) - Admixtures for Concrete Division] advantageously affects the rheological parameters of sealing slurry based on metallurgical cement CEM III /A 32,5. The following variables were used in the analyses: • type of superplasticizer, • type of batch fluid. The laboratory experiments were made on superplasticizers produced by BASF: • SKY 501, • SKY 503, • SKY 591, • ACE 430, • Glenium 115. The superplasticizer concentration in the slurry was 0.5 wt% (as compared with mass of dry cement). Water to cement ratio for the analyzed sealing slurries was equal to 0.5. The sealing slurries were made of metallurgical cement CEM III/A 32,5 N-LH/HSR/N Lafarge Cement S.A. in Małogoszcz. Zaczyny uszczelniające, a zwłaszcza typu cementowego, są skoncentrowanymi układami dyspersyjnymi, zawierającymi cząstki stałe o znacznie rozwiniętej powierzchni właściwej. Układy takie pod względem reologicznym należą do niezwykle złożonych. Wynika to między innymi z faktu, że na właściwości reologiczne w sposób istotny wpływają: • dodatki i domieszki modyfikujące właściwości technologiczne świeżych i stwardniałych zaczynów, • złożony chemicznie mechanizm reakcje hydratacji zachodzące w zaczynie w funkcji czasu. Na szczególną uwagę ze względu na zapewnienie skuteczność uszczelniania kolumn rur okładzinowych w otworach wiertniczych zasługują domieszki uplastyczniające (plastyfikatory PL) i upłynniające (superplastyfikatory SP typu tradycyjnego oraz nowej generacji) wpływające na modyfikację oraz optymalizację cech reologicznych świeżych zaczynów uszczelniających. Przeprowadzone badania laboratoryjne miały na celu udowodnianie następującej tezy: odpowiednio dobrany rodzaj superplastyfikatorów [firmy BASF Polska Sp.z o.o. ( The Chemical Company) - Dział Domieszek do Betonu], wpływa korzystnie na parametry reologiczne zaczynu uszczelniającego sporządzanego na osnowie cementu hutniczego CEM III /A 32,5. W przeprowadzanych badaniach zmiennymi były: • rodzaj superplastyfikatora, • rodzaj cieczy zarobowej. W badaniach laboratoryjnych zastosowano następujące superplastyfikatory firmy BASF: • SKY 501, • SKY 503, • SKY 591, • ACE 430, • Glenium 115. Koncentracja superplastyfikatora w zaczynie wynosiła: 0,5% wagowo (w stosunku do masy suchego cementu). Współczynnik wodno-cementowy dla badanych zaczynów uszczelniających wynosił: 0,5. Do sporządzania zaczynów uszczelniających stosowano cement hutniczy klasy CEM III/A 32,5 N-LH/ HSR/NA - Cementownia Małogoszcz, Grupa Lafarge Cement S.A. w Małogoszczy.

Two classes of binding sites for [3H]substance P in rat cerebral cortex.

PubMed

Geraghty, D P; Burcher, E

1993-01-22

The binding characteristics of [3H]substance P ([3H]SP) were investigated in membranes prepared from rat cerebral cortex. Binding of [3H]SP reached equilibrium after 50 min at 25 degrees C and was saturable at 8 nM. Saturation data could be resolved into high affinity (equilibrium dissociation constant, Kd, 0.22 nM) and low affinity sites (Kd, 2.65 nM). The low affinity sites were more numerous than the high affinity sites, with a ratio of 4:1. The non-hydrolyzable GTP analogue GppNHp had no effect on binding, indicating that the high and low affinity sites are not guanine nucleotide-regulated states of the same (NK-1) receptor. The low affinity sites are unlikely to represent NK-3 receptors since coincubation with the selective NK-3 receptor agonist senktide did not alter the biphasic nature of [3H]SP binding. The rank order of potency for inhibition of [3H]SP (2 nM) binding was SP > or = [Sar9, Met(O2)11]-SP > or = physalaemin > SP(3-11) > NP gamma = [Ala3]-SP > or = SP(4-11) > or = NPK > or = SP(5-11) > or = NKB approximately NKA > SP(1-9), compatible with binding to an NK-1 site. N-terminal fragments and non-amidated analogues were ineffective competitors for [3H]SP binding. However, competition data for several peptides including substance P (SP) and the NK-1 selective agonist [Sar9, Met(O2)11]-SP could be resolved into two components.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

zFP538, a yellow fluorescent protein from coral, belongs to the DsRed subfamily of GFP-like proteins but possesses the unexpected site of fragmentation.

PubMed

Zagranichny, Vasily E; Rudenko, Natalia V; Gorokhovatsky, Andrey Yu; Zakharov, Mikhail V; Shenkarev, Zakhar O; Balashova, Tamara A; Arseniev, Alexander S

2004-04-27

The yellow fluorescent protein (zFP538) from coral Zoanthus sp. belongs to a family of green fluorescent protein (GFP). Absorption and emission spectra of zFP538 show an intermediate bathochromic shift as compared with a number of recently cloned GFP-like red fluorescent and nonfluorescent chromoproteins of the DsRed subfamily. Here we report that the zFP538 chromophore is very close, if not identical, in chemical structure to that of DsRed. To gain insight into the mechanism of zFP538 fluorescence and chromophore structure and chemistry, we studied three chromophore-containing peptides isolated from enzymatic digests of zFP538. Like GFP and DsRed chromophores, these contain a p-hydroxybenzylideneimidazolinone moiety formed by Lys-66, Tyr-67, and Gly-68 of zFP538. One of the peptides studied, the hexapeptide FKYGDR derivative, is a proteolysis product of the zFP538 full-length polypeptide containing a GFP-type chromophore already formed and arrested at an earlier stage of maturation. The two other peptides are the derivatives of the pentapeptide KYGDR resulted from the protein in which the chromophore maturation process had been completed. One of these has an oxogroup at Lys-66 C(alpha) and is a hydrolysis product of another one, with the imino group at Lys-66 C(alpha). The N-unsubstituted imino moiety of the latter is generated by spontaneous polypeptide chain fragmentation at a very unexpected site, the former peptide bond between Phe-65 C' and Lys-66 N(alpha). Also observed in the entire protein under mild denaturing conditions, this fragmentation is likely the feature of native zFP538 chromophore that distinguishes it chemically from the DsRed chromophore.

Microbiological Evaluation of Aviation Fuel Storage, Dispensing and Aircraft Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

1974-11-01

Penicillium sp . were the most consistently observed fungal contaminants. These microbiological analyses of the 26...unidentified 15 > 300 bacterial colonies 16 1 Alternaria sp . 17 1 Epicoccum sp . 18 1 Cytosporella U. 19 8 Penicillium M., 3 Cladosporium sp ., 1...Curvularia sp ., 1 Zygodesmus sp ., several bacteria colonies 20 5 Penicillium sp ., 3 Cladosporium sp ., 2 Curvularia §p., 1 Amerosporium sp ., 1

The SAMI Galaxy Survey: Gravitational Potential and Surface Density Drive Stellar Populations. I. Early-type Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barone, Tania M.; D’Eugenio, Francesco; Colless, Matthew; Scott, Nicholas; van de Sande, Jesse; Bland-Hawthorn, Joss; Brough, Sarah; Bryant, Julia J.; Cortese, Luca; Croom, Scott M.; Foster, Caroline; Goodwin, Michael; Konstantopoulos, Iraklis S.; Lawrence, Jon S.; Lorente, Nuria P. F.; Medling, Anne M.; Owers, Matt S.; Richards, Samuel N.

2018-03-01

The well-established correlations between the mass of a galaxy and the properties of its stars are considered to be evidence for mass driving the evolution of the stellar population (SP). However, for early-type galaxies (ETGs), we find that g ‑ i color and stellar metallicity [Z/H] correlate more strongly with gravitational potential Φ than with mass M, whereas SP age correlates best with surface density Σ. Specifically, for our sample of 625 ETGs with integral-field spectroscopy from the Sydney-AAO Multi-object Integral-field Galaxy Survey, compared to correlations with mass, the color–Φ, [Z/H]–Φ, and age–Σ relations show both a smaller scatter and a lower residual trend with galaxy size. For the star formation duration proxy [α/Fe], we find comparable results for trends with Φ and Σ, with both being significantly stronger than the [α/Fe]–M relation. In determining the strength of a trend, we analyze both the overall scatter, and the observational uncertainty on the parameters, in order to compare the intrinsic scatter in each correlation. These results lead us to the following inferences and interpretations: (1) the color–Φ diagram is a more precise tool for determining the developmental stage of the SP than the conventional color–mass diagram; and (2) gravitational potential is the primary regulator of global stellar metallicity, via its relation to the gas escape velocity. Furthermore, we propose the following two mechanisms for the age and [α/Fe] relations with Σ: (a) the age–Σ and [α/Fe]–Σ correlations arise as results of compactness-driven quenching mechanisms; and/or (b) as fossil records of the {{{Σ }}}SFR}\\propto {{{Σ }}}gas} relation in their disk-dominated progenitors.

Characterization of anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant properties and chemical compositions of Peperomia pellucida leaf extract.

PubMed

Wei, Lee Seong; Wee, Wendy; Siong, Julius Yong Fu; Syamsumir, Desy Fitrya

2011-01-01

Peperomia pellucida leaf extract was characterized for its anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant activities, and chemical compositions. Anticancer activity of P. pellucida leaf extract was determined through Colorimetric MTT (tetrazolium) assay against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell line and the antimicrobial property of the plant extract was revealed by using two-fold broth micro-dilution method against 10 bacterial isolates. Antioxidant activity of the plant extract was then characterized using α, α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method and the chemical compositions were screened and identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results of present study indicated that P. pellucida leaf extract possessed anticancer activities with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of 10.4 ± 0.06 µg/ml. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were ranged from 31.25 to 125 mg/l in which the plant extract was found to inhibit the growth of Edwardsiella tarda, Escherichia coli, Flavobacterium sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio cholerae at 31.25 mg/l; Klebsiella sp., Aeromonas hydrophila and Vibrio alginolyticus at 62.5 mg/l; and it was able to control the growth of Salmonella sp. and Vibrio parahaemolyticus at 125 mg/l. At the concentration of 0.625 ppt, the plant extract was found to inhibit 30% of DPPH, free radical. Phytol (37.88%) was the major compound in the plant extract followed by 2-Naphthalenol, decahydro- (26.20%), Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (18.31%) and 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, methyl ester (17.61%). Findings from this study indicated that methanol extract of P. pellucida leaf possessed vast potential as medicinal drug especially in breast cancer treatment.

Air and Space Power Journal. Volume 24, Number 1, Spring 2010

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

unclassified b. ABSTRACT unclassified c. THIS PAGE unclassified Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18 SP IN E http...messen- gers to conduct psychological operations (PSYOP). EW operations seek to achieve ef- fects across the electromagnetic domain, including radio...a man­ made virtual domain. Further study reveals its natural similarities to the other domains, as defined by the electromagnetic spectrum

Defense Acquisitions. Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-03-01

Selected Weapon Programs March 2007 GAO-07-406SP Report Documentation Page Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for...unclassified Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18 What GAO Found United States Government Accountability Office Why GAO Did This...Joint Tactical Radio System Ground Mobile Radio (JTRS GMR) 93 JTRS Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Fit (JTRS HMS) 95 Kinetic Energy Interceptors (KEI) 97

Progressive regression of intracranial arteriovenous malformations after Onyx embolization.

PubMed

Kocur, Damian; Przybyłko, Nikodem; Hofman, Mariusz; Jamróz, Tomasz; Doleżych, Hanna; Baron, Jan; Kwiek, Stanisław

Progressive regression of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is a rare phenomenon that may occur spontaneously or after previous surgical or endovascular incomplete obliteration. We present two cases of AVMs occluded partially with Onyx followed by the unexpected cure of the lesions with the angiographic evidences as well as multiannual follow-up. Copyright © 2017 Polish Neurological Society. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.

N- and C-terminal substance P fragments: differential effects on striatal [3H]substance P binding and NK1 receptor internalization.

PubMed

Michael-Titus, A T; Blackburn, D; Connolly, Y; Priestley, J V; Whelpton, R

1999-07-13

N- and C-terminal substance P (SP) fragments increase striatal dopamine outflow at nanomolar concentrations. This contrasts with their low affinity for NK1 receptors. To explore this discrepancy, we investigated the interaction of SP and SP fragments with NK1 sites in fresh striatal slices, the same model used in the functional studies on dopamine outflow. [3H]SP bound specifically to one site (Kd = 6.6 +/- 0.9 nM; Bmax = 12.6 +/- 0.7 fmol/mg protein). [3H]SP binding was displaced by SP (IC50 = 11.8 nM), but not by SP(1-7) or SP(5-11), up to 10 microM. In contrast, 10 nM SP(1-7) or SP(5-11) induced significant internalization of the NK1 receptor, similar to that induced by SP. We suggest that SP fragments have high affinity for an NK1 receptor conformer which is different from that labelled by [3H]SP.

Crystal Structure of Chabazite K

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yakubovich, O.V.; Gavrilenko, P.G.; Pekov, I.V.

2005-07-15

The crystal structure of the chabazite K with the formula (K{sub 1.33}Na{sub 1.02}Ca{sub 0.84})[Al{sub 4}Si{sub 8}O{sub 24}] {center_dot} 12.17H{sub 2}O from late hydrothermalites in the Khibiny alkaline massif (Kola Peninsula) is established by X-ray diffraction analysis (CAD4 four-circle diffractometer, {lambda}MoK{sub {alpha}} radiation, graphite monochromator, T = 193 K, 2{theta}{sub max} = 70 deg., R{sub 1} = 0.047 for 4745 reflections) on the basis of experimental data (6265 reflections) obtained from a twin (twinning parameter 0.535(1)): a = 13.831(3) A, c = 15.023(5) A, sp. gr. R3-barm, Z = 3, {rho}{sub calcd} = 2.016 g/cm{sup 3} . It is shown thatmore » cations occupy five independent positions in large cavities of the tetrahedral Al,Si,O anionic framework in potassium-rich chabazite. A comparative crystallochemical analysis of chabazites of different composition and origin is performed.« less

The symmetries of the fine gradings of sl(n{sup k},C) associated with direct product of Pauli groups

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Han Gang

2010-09-15

A grading of a Lie algebra is called fine if it could not be further refined. For a fine grading of a simple Lie algebra, we define its Weyl group to describe the symmetry of this grading. It is already known that the Weyl group of the fine grading of sl(n,C) induced by the action of the group {Pi}{sub n} of the generalized Pauli matrices of rank n is SL(2,Z{sub n}), where Z{sub n} is the cyclic group of order n. In this paper, we consider the fine grading of sl(n{sup k},C) induced by the action of the group ofmore » k-fold tensor product of the generalized Pauli matrices of rank n. We prove that its Weyl group is Sp(2k,Z{sub n}) and is generated by transvections; therefore, this generalizes the previous result.« less

Population dynamics of transgenic strain Escherichia coli Z905/pPHL7 in freshwater and saline lake water microcosms with differing microbial community structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Popova, L. Yu; Kargatova, T. V.; Ganusova, E. E.; Lobova, T. I.; Boyandin, A. N.; Mogilnaya, O. A.; Pechurkin, N. S.

2005-01-01

Populations of Escherichia coli Z905/pPHL7, a transgenic microorganism, were heterogenic in the expression of plasmid genes when adapting to the conditions of water microcosms of various mineralization levels and structure of microbial community. This TM has formed two subpopulations (ampicillin-resistant and ampicillin-sensitive) in every microcosm. Irrespective of mineralization level of a microcosm, when E. coli Z905/pPHL7 alone was introduced, the ampicillin-resistant subpopulation prevailed, while introduction of the TM together with indigenous bacteria led to the dominance of the ampicillin-sensitive subpopulation. A high level of lux gene expression maintained longer in the freshwater microcosms than in sterile saline lake water microcosms. A horizontal gene transfer has been revealed between the jointly introduced TM and Micrococcus sp. 9/pSH1 in microcosms with the Lake Shira sterile water. c2005 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A novel substance P binding site in bovine adrenal medulla.

PubMed

Geraghty, D P; Livett, B G; Rogerson, F M; Burcher, E

1990-05-04

Radioligand binding techniques were used to characterize the substance P (SP) binding site on membranes prepared from bovine adrenal medullae. 125I-labelled Bolton-Hunter substance P (BHSP), which recognises the C-terminally directed, SP-preferring NK1 receptor, showed no specific binding. In contrast, binding of [3H]SP was saturable (at 6 nM) and reversible, with an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) 1.46 +/- 0.73 nM, Bmax 0.73 +/- 0.06 pmol/g wet weight and Hill coefficient 0.98 +/- 0.01. Specific binding of [3H]SP was displaced by SP greater than neurokinin A (NKA) greater than SP(3-11) approximately SP(1-9) greater than SP(1-7) approximately SP(1-4) approximately SP(1-6), with neurokinin B (NKB) and SP(1-3) very weak competitors and SP(5-11), SP(7-11) and SP(9-11) causing negligible inhibition (up to 10 microM). This potency order is quite distinct from that seen with binding to an NK1 site, a conclusion confirmed by the lack of BHSP binding. It appears that Lys3 and/or Pro4 are critical for binding, suggesting an anionic binding site. These data suggest the existence of an unusual binding site which may represent a novel SP receptor. This site appears to require the entire sequence of the SP molecule for full recognition.

Synthesis, antityrosinase activity of curcumin analogues, and crystal structure of (1 E,4 E)-1,5-bis(4-ethoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chantrapromma, S.; Ruanwas, P.; Boonnak, N.; Chantrapromma, K.; Fun, H.-K.

2016-12-01

Five derivatives of curcumin analogue ( R = OCH2CH3 ( 1), R = N(CH3)2 ( 2), R = 2,4,5-OCH3 ( 3), R = 2,4,6-OCH3 ( 4), and R = 3,4,5-OCH3 ( 5)) were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The synthesized derivatives were screened for antityrosinase activity, and found that 4 and 5 possess such activity. The crystal structure of 1 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction: monoclinic, sp. gr. P21/ c, a = 17.5728(15) Å, b = 5.9121(5) Å, c = 19.8269(13) Å, β = 121.155(5)°, Z = 4. The molecule 1 is twisted with the dihedral angle between two phenyl rings being 15.68(10)°. In the crystal packing, the molecules 1 are linked into chains by C-H···π interactions and further stacked by π···π interactions with the centroid-centroid distance of 3.9311(13) Å.

Part 1. Synthetic approaches to indole/imidazole marine alkaloids. Part 2. 1-cyanobenzotriazole as a cyanating agent. Part 3. Synthesis of potential molecular rectifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hughes, Terry Vincent

1999-12-01

This dissertation consists of four chapters. The first chapter details the progress toward a total synthesis of securine A (1). Securine A is an indole/imidazole containing marine alkaloid which contains a 2,3-disubstituted indole ring and a 4,5- disubstituted imidazole ring with a 12-membered lactam connecting the two. The approach into the securine A ring system utilized the opening of a pyrano[3,4-b]indol-3-one ring system with a modified histamine derivative. Efforts in the synthesis of securine A were not successful, but the synthesis of a similar analogue, compound 53, which contained a 13-membered ring was achieved. Chapter two deals with the total synthesis of the indole/maleimide/imidazole containing marine alkaloids: the didemnimides A-D (84- 87). The total syntheses of didemnimide A-D were successful and utilized a base catalyzed condensation reaction of methyl indolyl-3-glyoxylate (102) and 1-trityl-4-imidazoleacetamide (104). Chapter three details a new and convenient synthesis of 1-cyanobenzotriazole (123) and efforts to use it as a source of +CN in carbon-carbon forming reactions. The synthesis is safer than previously reported methods and allows for 123 to be made in multi-gram scale rather inexpensively. It was demonstrated that 1-cyanobenzotriazole (123) is a good source of +CN in carbon-carbon forming reactions by reacting with a variety of sp3, Sp 2, and sp carbanions. Chapter four details a new synthesis of hexadecylquinolinium tricyanoquinodimethanide (171) which has been shown to be a molecular rectifier. In search of additional molecular rectifiers, this new methodology was applied to the synthesis of Z- β-(N-n -hexadecyl-2-benzothiazolium)-α-cyano-4-styryldicyanomethanide (181) as well as its selenium and tellurium analogues 190 and 200; respectively. Additionally, the synthesis of other T- D+-π-A- types of molecules was explored in search for other molecular rectifiers. However, of all the compounds synthesized herein, only 171 has been shown to rectify.

Regulation of Histone Deacetylase 4 Expression by the SP Family of Transcription FactorsD⃞

PubMed Central

Liu, Fang; Pore, Nabendu; Kim, Mijin; Voong, K. Ranh; Dowling, Melissa; Maity, Amit; Kao, Gary D.

2006-01-01

Histone deacetylases mediate critical cellular functions but relatively little is known about mechanisms controlling their expression, including expression of HDAC4, a class II HDAC implicated in the modulation of cellular differentiation and viability. Endogenous HDAC4 mRNA, protein levels and promoter activity were all readily repressed by mithramycin, suggesting regulation by GC-rich DNA sequences. We validated consensus binding sites for Sp1/Sp3 transcription factors in the HDAC4 promoter through truncation studies and targeted mutagenesis. Specific and functional binding by Sp1/Sp3 at these sites was confirmed with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and electromobility shift assays (EMSA). Cotransfection of either Sp1 or Sp3 with a reporter driven by the HDAC4 promoter led to high activities in SL2 insect cells (which lack endogenous Sp1/Sp3). In human cells, restored expression of Sp1 and Sp3 up-regulated HDAC4 protein levels, whereas levels were decreased by RNA-interference-mediated knockdown of either protein. Finally, variable levels of Sp1 were in concordance with that of HDAC4 in a number of human tissues and cancer cell lines. These studies together characterize for the first time the activity of the HDAC4 promoter, through which Sp1 and Sp3 modulates expression of HDAC4 and which may contribute to tissue or cell-line-specific expression of HDAC4. PMID:16280357

Biological diversity of yeasts in the gastrointestinal tract of weaned piglets kept under different farm conditions.

PubMed

Urubschurov, Vladimir; Janczyk, Pawel; Pieper, Robert; Souffrant, Wolfgang B

2008-12-01

The study was conducted to determine yeasts present in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of piglets kept under experimental farm (EF) and commercial farm (CF) conditions. Ninety five German Landrace full- and half-sibling piglets were sacrificed at 39 days of age. Sixty eight piglets were weaned at 28th day of life, when they were offered one diet ad libitum. Twenty seven piglets remained unweaned by their dams. None of the piglets received any creep feed before weaning. Digesta samples were collected from 1/3 distal small intestine (SI), caecum and proximal colon. One hundred seventy three colonies of isolated yeasts were characterized by sequence analysis of the PCR-amplified D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA gene with following alignment of the recovered sequences to GenBank entries. From the 17 phylotypes found, isolates most closely related to Galactomyces geotrichum, Kazachstania slooffiae and Candida catenulata dominated in the GIT of CF piglets. Kazachstania slooffiae and Candida glabrata dominated in GIT of EF piglets. Sørenson and Morisita-Horn similarity indices between farms were low (0.44 and 0.54 respectively) and the Simpson diversity index was higher for EF (7.58) than for CF (4.34). The study brings new data on yeasts composition in the pig GIT and shows differences in yeasts biodiversity between farms operated at different hygiene conditions.

Scaling relations between trabecular bone volume fraction and microstructure at different skeletal sites.

PubMed

Räth, Christoph; Baum, Thomas; Monetti, Roberto; Sidorenko, Irina; Wolf, Petra; Eckstein, Felix; Matsuura, Maiko; Lochmüller, Eva-Maria; Zysset, Philippe K; Rummeny, Ernst J; Link, Thomas M; Bauer, Jan S

2013-12-01

In this study, we investigated the scaling relations between trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and parameters of the trabecular microstructure at different skeletal sites. Cylindrical bone samples with a diameter of 8mm were harvested from different skeletal sites of 154 human donors in vitro: 87 from the distal radius, 59/69 from the thoracic/lumbar spine, 51 from the femoral neck, and 83 from the greater trochanter. μCT images were obtained with an isotropic spatial resolution of 26μm. BV/TV and trabecular microstructure parameters (TbN, TbTh, TbSp, scaling indices (< > and σ of α and αz), and Minkowski Functionals (Surface, Curvature, Euler)) were computed for each sample. The regression coefficient β was determined for each skeletal site as the slope of a linear fit in the double-logarithmic representations of the correlations of BV/TV versus the respective microstructure parameter. Statistically significant correlation coefficients ranging from r=0.36 to r=0.97 were observed for BV/TV versus microstructure parameters, except for Curvature and Euler. The regression coefficients β were 0.19 to 0.23 (TbN), 0.21 to 0.30 (TbTh), -0.28 to -0.24 (TbSp), 0.58 to 0.71 (Surface) and 0.12 to 0.16 (<α>), 0.07 to 0.11 (<αz>), -0.44 to -0.30 (σ(α)), and -0.39 to -0.14 (σ(αz)) at the different skeletal sites. The 95% confidence intervals of β overlapped for almost all microstructure parameters at the different skeletal sites. The scaling relations were independent of vertebral fracture status and similar for subjects aged 60-69, 70-79, and >79years. In conclusion, the bone volume fraction-microstructure scaling relations showed a rather universal character. © 2013.

Crystal chemistry of KCuMn3(VO4)3 in the context of detailed systematics of the alluaudite family

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yakubovich, O. V.; Kiryukhina, G. V.; Dimitrova, O. V.

2016-07-01

The crystal structure of new manganese potassium copper vanadate KCuMn3(VO4)3, which was prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis in the K2CO3-CuO-MnCl2-V2O5-H2O system, was studied by X-ray diffraction ( R = 0.0355): a = 12.396(1) Å, b = 12.944(1) Å, c = 6.9786(5) Å, β = 112.723(1)°, sp. gr. C2/ c, Z = 4, ρcalc = 3.938 g/cm3. A comparative analysis of the crystal-chemical features of the new representative of the alluaudite family and related structures of minerals and synthetic phosphates, arsenates, and vanadates of the general formula A(1) A(1)' A(1)″ A(2) A(2)' M(1) M(2)2( TO4)3 (where A are sites in the channels of the framework composed of MO6 octahedra and TO4 tetrahedra) was performed. A classification of these structures into subgroups according to the occupancy of A sites is suggested.

A least-squares minimisation approach to depth determination from numerical second horizontal self-potential anomalies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdelrahman, El-Sayed Mohamed; Soliman, Khalid; Essa, Khalid Sayed; Abo-Ezz, Eid Ragab; El-Araby, Tarek Mohamed

2009-06-01

This paper develops a least-squares minimisation approach to determine the depth of a buried structure from numerical second horizontal derivative anomalies obtained from self-potential (SP) data using filters of successive window lengths. The method is based on using a relationship between the depth and a combination of observations at symmetric points with respect to the coordinate of the projection of the centre of the source in the plane of the measurement points with a free parameter (graticule spacing). The problem of depth determination from second derivative SP anomalies has been transformed into the problem of finding a solution to a non-linear equation of the form f(z)=0. Formulas have been derived for horizontal cylinders, spheres, and vertical cylinders. Procedures are also formulated to determine the electric dipole moment and the polarization angle. The proposed method was tested on synthetic noisy and real SP data. In the case of the synthetic data, the least-squares method determined the correct depths of the sources. In the case of practical data (SP anomalies over a sulfide ore deposit, Sariyer, Turkey and over a Malachite Mine, Jefferson County, Colorado, USA), the estimated depths of the buried structures are in good agreement with the results obtained from drilling and surface geology.

Gastrointestinal Parasites of Ecuadorian Mantled Howler Monkeys (Alouatta palliata aequatorialis) Based on Fecal Analysis.

PubMed

Helenbrook, William D; Wade, Susan E; Shields, William M; Stehman, Stephen V; Whipps, Christopher M

2015-06-01

An analysis of gastrointestinal parasites of Ecuadorian mantled howler monkeys, Alouatta palliata aequatorialis, was conducted based on examination of fecal smears, flotations, and sedimentations. At least 1 type of parasite was detected in 97% of the 96 fecal samples screened across 19 howler monkey groups using these techniques. Samples averaged 3.6 parasite species per individual (±1.4 SD). Parasites included species representing genera of 2 apicomplexans: Cyclospora sp. (18% of individual samples) and Isospora sp. (3%); 6 other protozoa: Balantidium sp. (9%), Blastocystis sp. (60%), Chilomastix sp. (4%), Dientamoeba sp. (3%), Entamoeba species (56%), Iodamoeba sp. (5%); 4 nematodes: Enterobius sp. (3%), Capillaria sp. (78%), Strongyloides spp. (88%) which included 2 morphotypes, Trypanoxyuris sp. (12%); and the platyhelminth Controrchis sp. (15%). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between group size and each of 3 different estimators of parasite species richness adjusted for sampling effort (ICE: r(2) = 0.24, P = 0.05; Chao2: r(2) = 0.25, P = 0.05, and Jackknife: r(2) = 0.31, P = 0.03). Two significant associations between co-infecting parasites were identified. Based on the prevalence data, individuals infected with Balantidium sp. were more likely to also be infected with Isospora sp. (χ(2) = 6.02, P = 0.01), while individuals harboring Chilomastix sp. were less likely to have Capillaria sp. present (χ(2) = 4.03, P = 0.04).

Photochemistry of furyl- and thienyldiazomethanes: spectroscopic characterization of triplet 3-thienylcarbene.

PubMed

Pharr, Caroline R; Kopff, Laura A; Bennett, Brian; Reid, Scott A; McMahon, Robert J

2012-04-11

Photolysis (λ > 543 nm) of 3-thienyldiazomethane (1), matrix isolated in Ar or N(2) at 10 K, yields triplet 3-thienylcarbene (13) and α-thial-methylenecyclopropene (9). Carbene 13 was characterized by IR, UV/vis, and EPR spectroscopy. The conformational isomers of 3-thienylcarbene (s-E and s-Z) exhibit an unusually large difference in zero-field splitting parameters in the triplet EPR spectrum (|D/hc| = 0.508 cm(-1), |E/hc| = 0.0554 cm(-1); |D/hc| = 0.579 cm(-1), |E/hc| = 0.0315 cm(-1)). Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) calculations reveal substantially differing spin densities in the 3-thienyl ring at the positions adjacent to the carbene center, which is one factor contributing to the large difference in D values. NBO calculations also reveal a stabilizing interaction between the sp orbital of the carbene carbon in the s-Z rotamer of 13 and the antibonding σ orbital between sulfur and the neighboring carbon-an interaction that is not observed in the s-E rotamer of 13. In contrast to the EPR spectra, the electronic absorption spectra of the rotamers of triplet 3-thienylcarbene (13) are indistinguishable under our experimental conditions. The carbene exhibits a weak electronic absorption in the visible spectrum (λ(max) = 467 nm) that is characteristic of triplet arylcarbenes. Although studies of 2-thienyldiazomethane (2), 3-furyldiazomethane (3), or 2-furyldiazomethane (4) provided further insight into the photochemical interconversions among C(5)H(4)S or C(5)H(4)O isomers, these studies did not lead to the spectroscopic detection of the corresponding triplet carbenes (2-thienylcarbene (11), 3-furylcarbene (23), or 2-furylcarbene (22), respectively). © 2012 American Chemical Society

Characterization of a dual specificity aryl acid adenylation enzyme with dual function in nikkomycin biosynthesis.

PubMed

Moon, Mary; Van Lanen, Steven G

2010-09-01

Nikkomycin Z is a dipeptide antifungal antibiotic characterized by two nonproteinogenic amino acids, nikkomycin C(Z) and 4-(4'-hydroxy-2'-pyridinyl)-homothreonine (HPHT). The HPHT scaffold is assembled by an aldol reaction between 2-oxobutyrate and picolinaldehyde, the latter of which is derived from picolinic acid that is activated and loaded to coenzyme A by the aryl-activating adenylation enzyme, NikE. We now provide evidence that NikE is also involved in the activation and loading of the alpha-keto acid precursor, 4-(2'-pyridinyl)-2-oxo-4-hydroxyisovalerate (POHIV), to a phosphopantetheinyl group of an acyl carrier protein domain of NikT. POHIV was synthesized using Escherichia coli 2-dehydro-3-deoxy-phosphogluconate aldolase, and phenylalanine dehydrogenase from Bacillus sp. NRRL B-14911 was used to prepare the alpha-amino acid, 4-(2'-pyridinyl)-homothreonine (PHT). Using the carboxylic acid-dependent, ATP-[(32)P]PP(i) exchange assay, NikE is shown to activate both picolinic acid and POHIV but not PHT. Furthermore, NikE loads POHIV to holo-NikT to generate a new thioester-linked intermediate, which was not observed using a NikT(S33A) mutant. Thus, NikE activates two distinct carboxylic acids to form two new thioester intermediates, one of which is subsequently reduced to the aldehyde and the other that likely serves as a substrate for the aminotransferase domain of NikT prior to condensation with nikkomycin C(Z) to yield the dipeptide. Copyright 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Heterobivalent Imaging Agents Targeting Prostate Cancer Training

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

has been implicated as a salient player in the pathobiology of cancers of epithelial origin, e.g. prostate, cervix , ovarian, colon and...ANSI Std. Z39.18 W81XWH-10-1-0481 Heterobivalent Imaging Agents Targeting Prostate Cancer Training Aaron LeBeau University of California, San...Francisco San Francisco, CA 94103 Annual Summary 31 MAY 2010 - 1JUN 201101-06-2011 To determine the utility of imaging MT-SP1 in cancer , xenografts of

New species and records of Zavreliella Kieffer, 1920 from Neotropical region (Diptera: Chironomidae).

PubMed

Fusari, Lívia Maria; Pinho, Luiz Carlos; Lamas, Carlos José Einicker

2017-01-19

A new species of Zavreliella Kieffer, Zavreliella kambeba sp. n., is described, based on male adults collected in the Amazon rainforest, Brazil. Further seven Zavreliella species are recorded for new localities in Brazil, with the first Neotropical record of Z. marmorata (van der Wulp). The genus Zavreliella is now composed of 15 species, of which adult males are reviewed in a key to their identification.

Noviherbaspirillum denitrificans sp. nov., a denitrifying bacterium isolated from rice paddy soil and Noviherbaspirillum autotrophicum sp. nov., a denitrifying, facultatively autotrophic bacterium isolated from rice paddy soil and proposal to reclassify Herbaspirillum massiliense as Noviherbaspirillum massiliense comb. nov.

PubMed

Ishii, Satoshi; Ashida, Naoaki; Ohno, Hiroki; Segawa, Takahiro; Yabe, Shuhei; Otsuka, Shigeto; Yokota, Akira; Senoo, Keishi

2017-06-01

Thirty-nine denitrifying bacterial strains closely related to one another, represented by strains TSA40T and TSA66T, were isolated from rice paddy soils. Strains TSA40T and TSA66T were Gram-stain-negative, slightly curved rod-shaped, and motile by means of polar flagella. They were able to reduce nitrate, nitrite and nitrous oxide, but unable to fix atmospheric N2. While strain TSA66T was able to grow autotrophically by H2-dependent denitrification, strain TSA40T could not. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that they belong to the family Oxalobacteraceae, the order Burkholderiales in the class Betaproteobacteria. Major components in the fatty acids (C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo, C18 : 1ω7c and summed feature 3) and quinone (Q-8) also supported the affiliation of strains TSA40T and TSA66T to the family Oxalobacteraceae. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strains TSA40T and TSA66T showed the greatest degree of similarity to Herbaspirillum massiliense JC206T, Noviherbaspirillum malthae CC-AFH3T, Noviherbaspirillum humi U15T, Herbaspirillum seropedicae Z67T and Paucimonas lemoignei LMG 2207T, and lower similarities to the members of other genera. Average nucleotide identity values between the genomes of strain TSA40T, TSA66T and H. massiliense JC206T were 75-77 %, which was lower than the threshold value for species discrimination (95-96 %). Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis in combination with physiological, chemotaxonomic and genomic properties, strains TSA40T (=JCM 17722T=ATCC TSD-69T) and TSA66T (=JCM 17723T=DSM 25787T) are the type strains of two novel species within the genus Noviherbaspirillum, for which the names Noviherbaspirillum denitrificans sp. nov. and Noviherbaspirillum autotrophicum sp. nov. are proposed, respectively. We also propose the reclassification of Herbaspirillum massiliense as Noviherbaspirillum massiliense comb. nov.

Separation and characterization of effective demulsifying substances from surface of Alcaligenes sp. S-XJ-1 and its application in water-in-kerosene emulsion.

PubMed

Huang, Xiangfeng; Peng, Kaiming; Feng, Yi; Liu, Jia; Lu, Lijun

2013-07-01

The main goal of this work was to analyze the effect of surface substances on demulsifying capability of the demulsifying strain Alcaligenes sp. S-XJ-1. The demulsifying substances were successfully separated from the cell surface with dichloromethane-alkali treatment, and exhibited 67.5% of the demulsification ratio for water-in-kerosene emulsions at a dosage of 356mg/L. FT-IR, TLC and ESI-MS analysis confirmed the presence of a carbohydrate-protein-lipid complex in the demulsifying substances with the major molecular ions from mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) 165 to 814. After the substances separated, the cell morphology changed from aggregated to dispersed, and the concentration of cell surface functional groups decreased. Cell surface hydrophobicity and the ability of cell adhesion to hydrophobic surface of the treated cells was also reduced compared with original cell. It was proved that the demulsifying substances had a significant effect on cell surface properties and accordingly with demulsifying capability of Alcaligenes sp. S-XJ-1. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Large-N solution of the Sp(N) Heisenberg quantum antiferromagnet on the anisotropic triangular lattice in a magnetic field.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Chung-Hou; Marston, Brad

2002-03-01

We study the Sp(N) generalization of the physical Sp(1) \\cong SU(2) Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the anisotropic triangular lattice( C. H. Chung, J. B. Marston and R. H. McKenzie, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 13), 5159 (2001). in a magnetic field. The model is relevant for describing recent experiments on the magnetic phases of the quasi-2D system Cs_2CuCl4 in a magnetic field(R. Coldea, D. A. Tennant, A. M. Tsvelik, and Z. Tylczynski, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86), 1335 (2001).. We solve the model in the large-N limit and study the effect of a magnetic field on the incommensurate magnetic order. Below a critical field the spins form a ``cone'' of polarization, in apparent agreement with neutron scattering experiments when the magnetic field is oriented perpendicular to the lattice. The incommensuration increases with increasing field strength. Above the critical field the spins are fully polarized. We have difficulty treating Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions which are believed to be important for in-plane fields.

Modulation of [3H]DAGO binding by substance P (SP) and SP fragments in the mouse brain and spinal cord via MU1 interactions.

PubMed

Krumins, S A; Kim, D C; Seybold, V S; Larson, A A

1989-01-01

Binding of [3H]DAGO to fresh, frozen or beta-funaltrexamine (beta-FNA) pretreated membranes of mouse brain and spinal cord was extensively studied using substance P (SP) or SP fragments as potential competitors and/or modulators. The objective was to determine whether SP exerts its analgesic effect by interacting with mu opioid receptors. The affinity of DAGO was reduced and binding capacity was increased in the presence of SP or the N-terminal SP fragments SP(1-9) and SP(1-4) but not the C-terminal SP fragment SP(5-11). Because sub-nanomolar concentrations of SP or N-terminal SP fragments displaced [3H] DAGO binding to a minor but detectable degree, it is suggested that SP interacts with mu 1 sites through its N-terminus portion. The effect of SP on DAGO binding was less in the spinal cord compared to the rest of the brain. Modulation of DAGO binding by SP was enhanced in the brain after pretreatment of membranes with the narcotic antagonist beta-FNA. These results suggest a novel mechanism for the analgesic action of SP.

Crystal structure of a new polar borate Na{sub 2}Ce{sub 2}[BO{sub 2}(OH)][BO{sub 3}]{sub 2} · H{sub 2}O with isolated boron triangles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Topnikova, A. P.; Belokoneva, E. L., E-mail: elbel@geol.msu.ru; Dimitrova, O. V.

2016-11-15

Crystals of a new polar borate Na{sub 2}Ce{sub 2}[BO{sub 2}(OH)][BO{sub 3}]{sub 2} · H{sub 2}O were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. The crystals are orthorhombic, a = 7.2295(7) Å, b = 11.2523(8) Å, c = 5.1285(6) Å, Z = 2, sp. gr. C2mm (Amm2), R = 0.0253. The formula of the compound was derived from the structure determination. The Ce and Na atoms are coordinated by nine and six O atoms, respectively. The Ce position is split, and a small amount of Ce is incorporated into the Na1 site with the isomorphous substitution for Na. The anionic moieties exist as isolatedmore » BO{sub 3} and BO{sub 2}(OH) triangles. The planes of the BO{sub 2}(OH) triangles with mm2 symmetry are parallel to the ab plane. The planes of the BO{sub 3} triangles with m symmetry are perpendicular to the ab plane and are rotated in a diagonal way. The splitting of the Ce positions and the polar arrangement of the BO{sub 2}(OH) triangles, water molecules, and Na atoms are observed along the polar a axis. The new structure is most similar to the new borate NaCa{sub 4}[BO{sub 3}]{sub 3} (sp. gr. Ama2), in which triangles of one type are arranged in a polar fashion along the c axis. Weak nonlinear-optical properties of both polar borates are attributed to the quenching of the second-harmonic generation due to the mutually opposite orientation of two-thirds of B triangles in the unit cell.« less

The x-ray luminous galaxy cluster population at 0.9 < z ≲ 1.6 as revealed by the XMM-Newton Distant Cluster Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fassbender, R.; Böhringer, H.; Nastasi, A.; Šuhada, R.; Mühlegger, M.; de Hoon, A.; Kohnert, J.; Lamer, G.; Mohr, J. J.; Pierini, D.; Pratt, G. W.; Quintana, H.; Rosati, P.; Santos, J. S.; Schwope, A. D.

2011-12-01

We present the largest sample to date of spectroscopically confirmed x-ray luminous high-redshift galaxy clusters comprising 22 systems in the range 0.9 as part of the XMM-Newton Distant Cluster Project (XDCP). All systems were initially selected as extended x-ray sources over 76.1 deg2 of non-contiguous deep archival XMM-Newton coverage, of which 49.4 deg2 are part of the core survey with a quantifiable selection function and 17.7 deg2 are classified as ‘gold’ coverage as the starting point for upcoming cosmological applications. Distant cluster candidates were followed up with moderately deep optical and near-infrared imaging in at least two bands to photometrically identify the cluster galaxy populations and obtain redshift estimates based on the colors of simple stellar population models. We test and calibrate the most promising redshift estimation techniques based on the R-z and z-H colors for efficient distant cluster identifications and find a good redshift accuracy performance of the z-H color out to at least z ˜ 1.5, while the redshift evolution of the R-z color leads to increasingly large uncertainties at z ≳ 0.9. Photometrically identified high-z systems are spectroscopically confirmed with VLT/FORS 2 with a minimum of three concordant cluster member redshifts. We present first details of two newly identified clusters, XDCP J0338.5+0029 at z = 0.916 and XDCP J0027.2+1714 at z = 0.959, and investigate the x-ray properties of SpARCS J003550-431224 at z = 1.335, which shows evidence for ongoing major merger activity along the line-of-sight. We provide x-ray properties and luminosity-based total mass estimates for the full sample of 22 high-z clusters, of which 17 are at z ⩾ 1.0 and seven populate the highest redshift bin at z > 1.3. The median system mass of the sample is M200 ≃ 2 × 1014 M⊙, while the probed mass range for the distant clusters spans approximately (0.7-7) × 1014 M⊙. The majority (>70%) of the x-ray selected clusters show rather regular x-ray morphologies, albeit in most cases with a discernible elongation along one axis. In contrast to local clusters, the z > 0.9 systems mostly do not harbor central dominant galaxies coincident with the x-ray centroid position, but rather exhibit significant brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) offsets from the x-ray center with a median value of about 50 kpc in projection and a smaller median luminosity gap to the second-ranked galaxy of Δm12 ≃ 0.3 mag. We estimate a fraction of cluster-associated NVSS 1.4 GHz radio sources of about 30%, preferentially located within 1‧ from the x-ray center. This value suggests an increase of the fraction of very luminous cluster-associated radio sources by about a factor of 2.5-5 relative to low-z systems. The galaxy populations in z ≳ 1.5 cluster environments show first evidence for drastic changes on the high-mass end of galaxies and signs of a gradual disappearance of a well-defined cluster red-sequence as strong star formation activity is observed in an increasing fraction of massive galaxies down to the densest core regions. The presented XDCP high-z sample will allow first detailed studies of the cluster population during the critical cosmic epoch at lookback times of 7.3-9.5 Gyr on the aggregation and evolution of baryons in the cold and hot phases as a function of redshift and system mass. Based on observations under program IDs 079.A-0634 and 085.A-0647 collected at the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere, Chile, and observations collected at the Centro Astronómico Hispano Alemán (CAHA) at Calar Alto, operated jointly by the Max-Planck Institut für Astronomie and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC).

Fullerene Soot in Eastern China Air: Results from Soot Particle-Aerosol Mass Spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J.; Ge, X.; Chen, M.; Zhang, Q.; Yu, H.; Sun, Y.; Worsnop, D. R.; Collier, S.

2015-12-01

In this work, we present for the first time, the observation and quantification of fullerenes in ambient airborne particulate using an Aerodyne Soot Particle - Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (SP-AMS) deployed during 2015 winter in suburban Nanjing, a megacity in eastern China. The laser desorption and electron impact ionization techniques employed by the SP-AMS allow us to differentiate various fullerenes from other aerosol components. Mass spectrum of the identified fullerene soot is consisted by a series of high molecular weight carbon clusters (up to m/z of 2000 in this study), almost identical to the spectral features of commercially available fullerene soot, both with C70 and C60 clusters as the first and second most abundant species. This type of soot was observed throughout the entire study period, with an average mass loading of 0.18 μg/m3, accounting for 6.4% of the black carbon mass, 1.2% of the total organic mass. Temporal variation and diurnal pattern of fullerene soot are overall similar to those of black carbon, but are clearly different in some periods. Combining the positive matrix factorization, back-trajectory and analyses of the meteorological parameters, we identified the petrochemical industrial plants situating upwind from the sampling site, as the major source of fullerene soot. In this regard, our findings imply the ubiquitous presence of fullerene soot in ambient air of industry-influenced area, especially the oil and gas production regions. This study also offers new insights into the characterization of fullerenes from other environmental samples via the advanced SP-AMS technique.

Synthesis, structural characterization, and DFT calculations of 3-buthyl-4-(3-methyl-3-mesitylcyclobut-1-yl)-1,3-thiazole-2(3H)-thione

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Şen, B.; Barim, E.; Kirilmis, C.

2016-03-15

The title compound, C{sub 21}H{sub 29}NS{sub 2}, has been synthesized and its crystal structure has been determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. Crystals are monoclinic, a = 11.4923(8), b = 13.1842(7), c = 14.6583(8) Å, β = 109.983(6)°, sp. gr. P2{sub 1}/c, Z = 4. Mesityl and thiazole groups are in cis positions with respect to the cyclobutane ring. The cyclobutane ring is puckered, with a dihedral angle of 26.6(2)° between the two three-atom planes. The crystal structure involves one weak intermolecular C–H···S hydrogen-bond. The molecular geometry was also optimized using density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) method with the 6-311G(d,more » p) basis set in ground state. Geometric parameters (bond lengths, bond angles and torsion angles) and vibrational assignments have been calculated theoretically and compared with the experimental data.« less

Betulinic Acid Targets YY1 and ErbB2 through Cannabinoid Receptor-Dependent Disruption of MicroRNA-27a:ZBTB10 in Breast Cancer

PubMed Central

Liu, Xinyi; Jutooru, Indira; Lei, Ping; Kim, KyoungHyun; Lee, Syng-ook; Brents, Lisa K.; Prather, Paul L.; Safe, Stephen

2016-01-01

Treatment of ErbB2-overexpressing BT474 and MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells with 1 to 10 μmol/L betulinic acid inhibited cell growth, induced apoptosis, downregulated specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4, and decreased expression of ErbB2. Individual or combined knockdown of Sp1, Sp3, Sp4 by RNA interference also decreased expression of ErbB2 and this response was because of repression of YY1, an Sp-regulated gene. Betulinic acid–dependent repression of Sp1, Sp3, Sp4, and Sp-regulated genes was due, in part, to induction of the Sp repressor ZBTB10 and downregulation of microRNA-27a (miR-27a), which constitutively inhibits ZBTB10 expression, and we show for the first time that the effects of betulinic acid on the miR-27a:ZBTB10-Sp transcription factor axis were cannabinoid 1 (CB1) and CB2 receptor–dependent, thus identifying a new cellular target for this anticancer agent. PMID:22553354

Histone deacetylase 4 promotes ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of Sp3 in SH-SY5Y cells treated with di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), determining neuronal death

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guida, Natascia; Laudati, Giusy; Galgani, Mario

Phthalates, phthalic acid esters, are widely used as plasticizers to produce polymeric materials in industrial production of plastics and daily consumable products. Animal studies have shown that di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) may cause toxic effects in the rat brain. In the present study, chronic exposure to DEHP (0.1–100 μM) caused dose-dependent cell death via the activation of caspase-3 in neuroblastoma cells. Intriguingly, this harmful effect was prevented by the pan-histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor trichostatin A, by the class II HDAC inhibitor MC-1568, but not by the class I HDAC inhibitor MS-275. Furthermore, DEHP reduced specificity protein 3 (Sp3) gene expression, but notmore » Sp3 mRNA, after 24 and 48 h exposures. However, Sp3 protein reduction was prevented by pre-treatment with MC-1568, suggesting the involvement of class II HDACs in causing this effect. Then, we investigated the possible relationship between DEHP-induced neuronal death and the post-translational mechanisms responsible for the down-regulation of Sp3. Interestingly, DEHP-induced Sp3 reduction was associated to its deacetylation and polyubiquitination. Co-immunoprecipitation studies showed that Sp3 physically interacted with HDAC4 after DEHP exposure, while HDAC4 inhibition by antisense oligodeoxynucleotide reverted the DEHP-induced degradation of Sp3. Notably, Sp3 overexpression was able to counteract the detrimental effect induced by DEHP. Taken together, these results suggest that DEHP exerts its toxic effect by inducing deacetylation of Sp3 via HDAC4, and afterwards, Sp3-polyubiquitination. - Highlights: • Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is cytotoxic to SH-SY5Y cells and cortical neurons. • DEHP-induced cytotoxicity is mediated by apoptosis. • DEHP-induced apoptotic cell death is inhibited by class II HDAC MC-1568. • DEHP neurotoxicity is caused by HDAC4-mediated Sp3 degradation by ubiquitin.« less

Installation Restoration Program (IRP), Phase II, Stage 1 - Problem Confirmation Study, Norton Air Force Base, San Bernardino, California. Volume 1. Technical Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-07-01

protein, and AFFF (Air Force Firefighting Foam). The frequency of training exercises has varied considerably over the years. During the early 1970’s...Surface ’ Cement/ Bentonite Grout Bentonite Seal Sand Pack 1. Ground Water Elevation r Mamaur July 4.5, 194 * . FIGURE 3-9 WELL CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY, ZONE...e zzzzzzzzz z I z z Z 0 -. N N E-3 3 0 3 3 w 3 w 0 o z ~ zzzzzzzz z z z z E- 0 0 E- 0z zzzzzzzz zz aua E- 0 4 10 zw 3 E- z 0 0 U)z V fC InZ OE- 3

Molecular weight-dependent degradation of D-lactate-containing polyesters by polyhydroxyalkanoate depolymerases from Variovorax sp. C34 and Alcaligenes faecalis T1.

PubMed

Sun, Jian; Matsumoto, Ken'ichiro; Tabata, Yuta; Kadoya, Ryosuke; Ooi, Toshihiko; Abe, Hideki; Taguchi, Seiichi

2015-11-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoate depolymerase derived from Variovorax sp. C34 (PhaZVs) was identified as the first enzyme that is capable of degrading isotactic P[67 mol% (R)-lactate(LA)-co-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate(3HB)] [P(D-LA-co-D-3HB)]. This study aimed at analyzing the monomer sequence specificity of PhaZVs for hydrolyzing P(LA-co-3HB) in comparison with a P(3HB) depolymerase from Alcaligenes faecalis T1 (PhaZAf) that did not degrade the same copolymer. Degradation of P(LA-co-3HB) by action of PhaZVs generated dimers, 3HB-3HB, 3HB-LA, LA-3HB, and LA-LA, and the monomers, suggesting that PhaZVs cleaved the linkages between LA and 3HB units and between LA units. To provide a direct evidence for the hydrolysis of these sequences, the synthetic methyl trimers, 3HB-3HB-3HB, LA-LA-3HB, LA-3HB-LA, and 3HB-LA-LA, were treated with the PhaZs. Unexpectedly, not only PhaZVs but also PhaZAf hydrolyzed all of these substrates, namely PhaZAf also cleaved LA-LA linkage. Considering the fact that both PhaZs did not degrade P[(R)-LA] (PDLA) homopolymer, the cleavage capability of LA-LA linkage by PhaZs was supposed to depend on the length of the LA-clustering region in the polymer chain. To test this hypothesis, PDLA oligomers (6 to 40 mer) were subjected to the PhaZ assay, revealing that there was an inverse relationship between molecular weight of the substrates and their hydrolysis efficiency. Moreover, PhaZVs exhibited the degrading activity toward significantly longer PDLA oligomers compared to PhaZAf. Therefore, the cleaving capability of PhaZs used here toward the D-LA-based polymers containing the LA-clustering region was strongly associated with the substrate length, rather than the monomer sequence specificity of the enzyme.

Differential processing of substance P and neurokinin A by plasma dipeptidyl(amino)peptidase IV, aminopeptidase M and angiotensin converting enzyme.

PubMed

Wang, L H; Ahmad, S; Benter, I F; Chow, A; Mizutani, S; Ward, P E

1991-01-01

In addition to plasma metabolism of substance P (SP) by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE; EC 3.4.15.1) (less than 1.0 nmol/min/ml), the majority of SP hydrolysis by rat and human plasma was due to dipeptidyl(amino)peptidase IV (DAP IV; EC 3.4.14.5) (3.15-5.91 nmol/min/ml), which sequentially converted SP to SP(3-11) and SP(5-11). In turn, the SP(5-11) metabolite was rapidly hydrolyzed by rat and human plasma aminopeptidase M (AmM; EC 3.4.11.2) (24.2-25.5 nmol/min/ml). The Km values of SP for DAP IV and of SP(5-11) for AmM ranged from 32.7 to 123 microM. In contrast, neurokinin A (NKA) was resistant to both ACE and DAP IV but was subject to N-terminal hydrolysis by AmM (3.76-10.8 nmol/min/ml; Km = 90.7 microM). These data demonstrate differential processing of SP and NKA by specific peptidases in rat and human plasma.

Site-specific photoconjugation of antibodies using chemically synthesized IgG-binding domains.

PubMed

Perols, Anna; Karlström, Amelie Eriksson

2014-03-19

Site-specific labeling of antibodies can be performed using the immunoglobulin-binding Z domain, derived from staphylococcal protein A (SpA), which has a well-characterized binding site in the Fc region of antibodies. By introducing a photoactivable probe in the Z domain, a covalent bond can be formed between the Z domain and the antibody by irradiation with UV light. The aim of this study was to improve the conjugation yield for labeling of different subclasses of IgG having different sequence composition, using a photoactivated Z domain variant. Four different variants of the Z domain (Z5BPA, Z5BBA, Z32BPA, and Z32BBA) were synthesized to investigate the influence of the position of the photoactivable probe and the presence of a flexible linker between the probe and the protein. For two of the variants, the photoreactive benzophenone group was introduced as part of an amino acid side chain by incorporation of the unnatural amino acid benzoylphenylalanine (BPA) during peptide synthesis. For the other two variants, the photoreactive benzophenone group was attached via a flexible linker by coupling of benzoylbenzoic acid (BBA) to the ε-amino group of a selectively deprotected lysine residue. Photoconjugation experiments using human IgG1, mouse IgG1, and mouse IgG2A demonstrated efficient conjugation for all antibodies. It was shown that differences in linker length had a large impact on the conjugation efficiency for labeling of mouse IgG1, whereas the positioning of the photoactivable probe in the sequence of the protein had a larger effect for mouse IgG2A. Conjugation to human IgG1 was only to a minor extent affected by position or linker length. For each subclass of antibody, the best variant tested using a standard conjugation protocol resulted in conjugation efficiencies of 41-66%, which corresponds to on average approximately one Z domain attached to each antibody. As a combination of the two best performing variants, Z5BBA and Z32BPA, a Z domain variant with two photoactivable probes (Z5BBA32BPA) was also synthesized with the aim of targeting a wider panel of antibody subclasses and species. This new reagent could efficiently couple to all antibody subclasses that were targeted by the single benzophenone-labeled Z domain variants, with conjugation efficiencies of 26-41%.

Thermally induced evolution of hydrogenated amorphous carbon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mangolini, Filippo; Rose, Franck; Hilbert, James; Carpick, Robert W.

2013-10-01

The thermally induced structural evolution of hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) films was investigated in situ by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for annealing temperatures up to 500 °C. A model for the conversion of sp3- to sp2-hybridized carbon in a-C:H vs. temperature and time was developed and applied to determine the ranges of activation energies for the thermally activated processes occurring. The energies are consistent with ordering and clustering of sp2 carbon, scission of sp3 carbon-hydrogen bonds and formation of sp2 carbon, and direct transformation of sp3- to sp2-hybridized carbon.

Detection and identification of wild yeasts in Champús, a fermented Colombian maize beverage.

PubMed

Osorio-Cadavid, Esteban; Chaves-López, Clemencia; Tofalo, Rosanna; Paparella, Antonello; Suzzi, Giovanna

2008-09-01

The aim of this study was to identify and characterise the predominant yeasts in Champús, a traditional Colombian cereal-based beverage with a low alcoholic content. Samples of Champús from 20 production sites in the Cauca Valley region were analysed. A total of 235 yeast isolates were identified by conventional microbiological analyses and by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2. The dominant species were: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Issatchenkia orientalis, Pichia fermentans, Pichia kluyveri var. kluyveri, Zygosaccharomyces fermentati, Torulospora delbruekii, Galactomyces geotrichum and Hanseniaspora spp. Model Champús systems were inoculated with single strains of some isolated sporogenus species and the aromatic profiles were analysed by SPME. Analysis of data showed that Champús strains produced high amounts of esters. The aromatic compounds produced by Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces yeasts from Champús can exert a relevant influence on the sensory characteristics of the fermented beverage. The Champús strains could thus represent an important source for new yeast biotypes with potential industrial applications.

Metabolism, Mass Spectral Analysis and Mode of Action of Trichothecene Mycotoxins

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-10-12

tissue, as well as depletion and mild necrosis of thymic lymphoid tissue. Two rats showed mild, acute necrosis of proximal renal tubular epithelium...toxicity in pigs. Res. in Vet. Sci. 31:131. Weaver GA, Hurt.z HJ, Mirocha CU, Bates FY, Behrens JC, Robison TS, and Swanson SP (1980) The failure of purified...by Professor Abraham Joffe. The problem was called alimentary toxic aleukia which affected (according to the chronicles ) thousands of people eating

Genetic element from human surfactant protein SP-C gene confers bronchiolar-alveolar cell specificity in transgenic mice.

PubMed

Glasser, S W; Korfhagen, T R; Wert, S E; Bruno, M D; McWilliams, K M; Vorbroker, D K; Whitsett, J A

1991-10-01

Transgenic mice bearing chimeric genes consisting of 5'-sequences derived from the human surfactant protein C (SP-C) gene and the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene were generated. Analysis of CAT activity was utilized to demonstrate tissue-specific and developmental expression of chimeric genes containing 3.7 kb of sequences from the human SP-C gene. Lung-specific expression of the 3.7 SP-C-CAT transgene was observed in eight distinct transgenic mouse lines. Expression of the 3.7 SP-C-CAT transgene was first detected in fetal lung on day 11 of gestation and increased dramatically with advancing gestational age, reaching adult levels of activity before birth. In situ hybridization demonstrated that expression of 3.7 SP-C-CAT mRNA was confined to the distal respiratory epithelium. Antisense CAT hybridization was detected in bronchiolar and type II epithelial cells in the adult lung of the 3.7 SP-C-CAT transgenic mice. In situ hybridization of four distinct 3.7 SP-C-CAT transgenic mouse lines demonstrated bronchiolar-alveolar expression of the chimeric CAT gene, although the relative intensity of expression at each site varied within the lines studied. Glucocorticoids increased murine SP-C mRNA in fetal lung organ culture. Likewise, expression of 3.7 SP-C-CAT transgene increased during fetal lung organ or explant culture and was further enhanced by glucocorticoid in vitro. The 5'-regions of human SP-C conferred developmental, lung epithelial, and glucocorticoid-enhanced expression of bacterial CAT in transgenic mice. The increased expression of SP-C accompanying prenatal lung development and exposure to glucocorticoid is mediated, at least in part, at the transcriptional level, being influenced by cis-active elements contained within the 5'-flanking region of the human SP-C gene.

Metallaphotoredox-Catalyzed sp3–sp3 Cross-Coupling of Carboxylic Acids with Alkyl Halides

PubMed Central

Johnston, Craig P.; Smith, Russell T.; Allmendinger, Simon; MacMillan, David W. C.

2017-01-01

Over the last half-century, transition metal-mediated cross-coupling reactions have changed the way in which complex organic molecules are synthesized. Indeed, the predictable and chemoselective nature of these transformations has led to their widespread adoption across a vast array of chemical research areas1. However, the construction of sp3–sp3 bonds, a fundamental unit of organic chemistry, remains an important yet elusive objective for cross-coupling reaction engineering2. In comparison to related procedures with sp2-hybridized species, the development of methods for sp3–sp3 bond formation via transition metal catalysis has been historically hampered by deleterious side-reactions, such as β-hydride elimination with Pd-catalysis, and the reluctance of alkyl halides to undergo oxidative addition3,4. To address this issue, a number of research groups have demonstrated the feasibility of nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling processes to form sp3–sp3 bonds that utilize organometallic nucleophiles and alkyl electrophiles5–7. In particular, the coupling of alkyl halides with pregenerated organozinc8–10, Grignard11,12, and organoborane13 species has been used to furnish diverse molecular structures. However, the poor step and atom economies along with the operational difficulties associated with making, carrying, and using these sensitive coupling partners has hindered their widespread adoption. The prospect of establishing a generically useful sp3–sp3 coupling technology that employs bench-stable, native organic functional groups, without the need for pre-functionalization or substrate derivatization, would therefore be a valuable addition to fields of research that rely on organic molecule construction. Here, we demonstrate that the synergistic merger of photoredox and nickel catalysis enables the direct formation of sp3–sp3 bonds using only simple carboxylic acids and alkyl halides as the nucleophilic and electrophilic coupling partners, respectively. The outlined protocol is suitable for a wide array of primary and secondary carboxylic acids and does not require the presence of radical stabilizing groups. The merit of this coupling strategy is illustrated by the expedient synthesis of the pharmaceutical tirofiban in four steps from commercially available starting materials. PMID:27535536

Betulinic acid inhibits colon cancer cell and tumor growth and induces proteasome-dependent and -independent downregulation of specificity proteins (Sp) transcription factors

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Betulinic acid (BA) inhibits growth of several cancer cell lines and tumors and the effects of BA have been attributed to its mitochondriotoxicity and inhibition of multiple pro-oncogenic factors. Previous studies show that BA induces proteasome-dependent degradation of specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 in prostate cancer cells and this study focused on the mechanism of action of BA in colon cancer cells. Methods The effects of BA on colon cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis and tumor growth in vivo were determined using standardized assays. The effects of BA on Sp proteins and Sp-regulated gene products were analyzed by western blots, and real time PCR was used to determine microRNA-27a (miR-27a) and ZBTB10 mRNA expression. Results BA inhibited growth and induced apoptosis in RKO and SW480 colon cancer cells and inhibited tumor growth in athymic nude mice bearing RKO cells as xenograft. BA also decreased expression of Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 transcription factors which are overexpressed in colon cancer cells and decreased levels of several Sp-regulated genes including survivin, vascular endothelial growth factor, p65 sub-unit of NFκB, epidermal growth factor receptor, cyclin D1, and pituitary tumor transforming gene-1. The mechanism of action of BA was dependent on cell context, since BA induced proteasome-dependent and proteasome-independent downregulation of Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 in SW480 and RKO cells, respectively. In RKO cells, the mechanism of BA-induced repression of Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 was due to induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ROS-mediated repression of microRNA-27a, and induction of the Sp repressor gene ZBTB10. Conclusions These results suggest that the anticancer activity of BA in colon cancer cells is due, in part, to downregulation of Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 transcription factors; however, the mechanism of this response is cell context-dependent. PMID:21864401

Substance P analogs displace sigma binding differentially in the brain and spinal cord of the adult mouse.

PubMed

Mousseau, D D; Larson, A A

1994-09-01

We have previously observed similarities in the behavioral effects produced by the NH2-terminus of the undecapeptide substance P (SP) and by 1,3-di(2-tolyl)-guanidine (DTG) in the adult mouse. The present series of experiments indicate differences in the rank-order of potency of sigma ligands [DTG; haloperidol (HAL)], SP analogs [SP; SP(1-7); SP(5-11); [D-Pro2, D-Phe7]-SP(1-7) (D-SP(1-7))] and miscellaneous compounds [morphine (MOR), naloxone (NAL)] at competing for [3H]-DTG binding sites in the mouse brain and spinal cord in vitro: Brain; DTG = HAL > SP = MOR = NAL > SP(1-7) > D-SP(1-7) > SP(5-11): Spinal cord; DTG = HAL > SP(1-7) = MOR = NAL > SP > D-SP(1-7) = SP(5-11). The observed difference in the rank-order potencies of the displacing ligands at these same binding sites supports the notion of two distinct populations of sigma binding sites in these tissues in the adult mouse. Given the low (micromolar) potency of SP analogs at displacing [3H]-DTG binding in the present series of experiments, it is unlikely that the similar behavioral effects we have previously observed elicited by SP(1-7) and DTG in the adult mouse are a result of a direct action of SP(1-7) at the sigma binding site.

[Results of parasitological examinations of faecal samples from horses, ruminants, pigs, dogs, cats, hedgehogs and rabbits between 1998 and 2002].

PubMed

Epe, C; Coati, N; Schnieder, T

2004-06-01

The results of coproscopical examinations in horses, ruminants, pigs, dogs, cats, hedgehogs and rabbits between 1998 and 2002 are presented. In 4399 samples from horses 37.4% stages of strongylids, 1.4% anoplocephalids, 1.3% Strongyloides westeri, 0.9% Parascaris equorum, 0.04% Oxyuris equi, 0.04% Eimeria sp. and 0.04% Fasciola hepatica were found. In 998 samples of cattle 22.1% stages of strongylids, 11.2% of Eimeria spp., 3.5% of cryptosporidium, 2.9% of Moniezia spp., 1.3% of Trichuris spp., 0.7% of Dictyocaulus sp., 0.6% of Fasciola hepatica, 0.6% of Strongyloides sp., 0.5% of Nematodirus spp. and 0.4% of Capillaria sp. could be detected. In 524 samples of sheep 60.7% eggs of strongylids, 43.1% oozysts of Eimeria spp., 11.1% stages of Nematodirus spp., 9.5% of Moniezia spp., 7.8% of Trichuris spp., 6.7% of Strongyloides sp., 1.7% of Fasciola hepatica, 1% of Capillaria spp., 0.4% of protostrongylidae, 0.2% of Skrjabinema sp. and 0.2% of Dictyocaulus sp. were found. 33.9% of the 118 samples of goats that were examined were positive for oocysts of Eimeria spp., 30.5% for eggs of strongylids, 6.8% for Nematodirus spp., 4.2% for Trichuris spp., 3.4% for Moniezia spp., 0.8 for protostrongylids and 0.8% for Strongyloides sp. 5.7% of 1427 samples of pigs contained stages of strongylids, 1.5% of Ascaris suum, 0.4% of Isospora, 0.3% of Eimeria spp., 0.3% of Trichuris sp., 0.1% of Giardia sp., 0.1% of cryptosproidium as well as 0.1% of metastrongylids. In 1281 of the samples of dogs 2.3% Giardia sp., 2.3% Isospora sp., 2.2% Toxocara canis, 1.4% ancylostomids, 0.8% taeniids, 0.6% larvae of Crenosoma sp., 0.2% Capillaria sp, 0.2% Trichuris vulpis and 0.2% Hammondia-like oocysts were found. In 441 samples of cats 10.7% stages of Isospora sp., 3.9% eggs of Toxocara cati, 1.6% of ancylostomids, 1.4% of taeniids, 1.1% of Giardia sp., 0.7% of Toxoplasma-like oocysts, 0.7% of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, 0.5% of Toxascaris leonina and 0.2% of Capillaria spp. were found. Furthermore 0.2% of the samples contained proglottids of Mesocestoides and 0.2% stages of Dipylidium sp. Eggs of Capillaria sp. were found in 33% of the 106 samples of hedgehogs, larvae of Crenosoma striatum in 27.4%, oocysts of Isospora sp. in 5.7% of the cases. In 232 samples of rabbits 56.9% oocysts of Eimeria sp., 4.8% stages of Passalurus ambiguus, 1.3% of strongylids, 0.9% of Strongyloides sp., 0.4% of trematodes were found.

Identification of rutin deglycosylated metabolites produced by human intestinal bacteria using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS.

PubMed

Yang, Jing; Qian, Dawei; Jiang, Shu; Shang, Er-xin; Guo, Jianming; Duan, Jin-ao

2012-06-01

In this paper, rutin was metabolized by human intestinal bacteria and five isolated strains including Bacillus sp. 52, Bacteroides sp. 45, 42, 22 and Veillonella sp. 32, the metabolites were identified using ultra performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). As a result, Bacillus sp. 52 and Bacteroides sp. 45 could metabolize rutin to quercetin 3-O-glucoside and leucocyanidin. Bacteroides sp. 42 and Veillonella sp. 32 could convert rutin to leucocyanidin. Bacteroides sp. 22 could hydrolyze rutin to quercetin-3-O-glucoside. In order to further explain the metabolism pathway of rutin, the β-D-glucosidase and α-L-rhamnosidase activities of five strains were determined. Bacteroides sp. 22 could produce α-L-rhamnosidase but did not produce β-D-glucosidase or β-D-glucosidase activity was too low to be detected. The other four strains all demonstrated α-L-rhamnosidase and β-D-glucosidase activities. Furthermore, α-L-rhamnosidase and β-D-glucosidase activities of Veillonella sp. 32 and Bacteroides sp. 42 were higher than those of Bacteroides sp. 45 and Bacillus sp. 52. Based on these results, we can propose the deglycosylated rout of rutin: rutin was metabolized to be quercetin-3-O-glucoside by α-L-rhamnosidase produced from these bacteria, thereafter, quercetin-3-O-glucoside was further metabolized by β-D-glucosidase to form leucocyanidin. Because of the higher enzyme activity in Veillonella sp. 32 and Bacteroides sp. 42, quercetin-3-O-glucoside was completely metabolized to leucocyanidin by these two bacteria. Due to the lack of β-D-glucosidase activity, Bacteroides sp. 22 could not further metabolize quercetin-3-O-glucoside to leucocyanidin. This study will be helpful for understanding the deglycosylated rout of rutin and the role of different intestinal bacteria on the metabolism of natural compounds. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tanzawaic acid derivatives from a marine isolate of Penicillium sp. (SF-6013) with anti-inflammatory and PTP1B inhibitory activities.

PubMed

Quang, Tran Hong; Ngan, Nguyen Thi Thanh; Ko, Wonmin; Kim, Dong-Cheol; Yoon, Chi-Su; Sohn, Jae Hak; Yim, Joung Han; Kim, Youn-Chul; Oh, Hyuncheol

2014-12-15

Chemical investigation of a marine-derived fungus Penicillium sp. SF-6013 resulted in the discovery of a new tanzawaic acid derivative, 2E,4Z-tanzawaic acid D (1), together with four known analogues, tanzawaic acids A (2) and D (3), a salt form of tanzawaic acid E (4), and tanzawaic acid B (5). Their structures were mainly determined by analysis of NMR and MS data, along with chemical methods. Preliminary screening for anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated microglial BV-2 cells showed that compounds 1, 2, and 5 inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) with IC50 values of 37.8, 7.1, and 42.5 μM, respectively. Compound 2 also inhibited NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 murine macrophages with an IC50 value of 27.0 μM. Moreover, these inhibitory effects correlated with the suppressive effect of compound 2 on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 and BV2 cells. In addition, compounds 2 and 5 significantly inhibited the activity of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) with the same IC50 value (8.2 μM). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inhibition of NFκB and Pancreatic Cancer Cell and Tumor Growth by Curcumin Is Dependent on Specificity Protein Down-regulation*

PubMed Central

Jutooru, Indira; Chadalapaka, Gayathri; Lei, Ping; Safe, Stephen

2010-01-01

Curcumin activates diverse anticancer activities that lead to inhibition of cancer cell and tumor growth, induction of apoptosis, and antiangiogenic responses. In this study, we observed that curcumin inhibits Panc28 and L3.6pL pancreatic cancer cell and tumor growth in nude mice bearing L3.6pL cells as xenografts. In addition, curcumin decreased expression of p50 and p65 proteins and NFκB-dependent transactivation and also decreased Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4 transcription factors that are overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cells. Because both Sp transcription factors and NFκB regulate several common genes such as cyclin D1, survivin, and vascular endothelial growth factor that contribute to the cancer phenotype, we also investigated interactions between Sp and NFκB transcription factors. Results of Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4 knockdown by RNA interference demonstrate that both p50 and p65 are Sp-regulated genes and that inhibition of constitutive or tumor necrosis factor-induced NFκB by curcumin is dependent on down-regulation of Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4 proteins by this compound. Curcumin also decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and induced reactive oxygen species in pancreatic cancer cells, and this pathway is required for down-regulation of Sp proteins in these cells, demonstrating that the mitochondriotoxic effects of curcumin are important for its anticancer activities. PMID:20538607

Metallaphotoredox-catalysed sp3-sp3 cross-coupling of carboxylic acids with alkyl halides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnston, Craig P.; Smith, Russell T.; Allmendinger, Simon; MacMillan, David W. C.

2016-08-01

In the past 50 years, cross-coupling reactions mediated by transition metals have changed the way in which complex organic molecules are synthesized. The predictable and chemoselective nature of these transformations has led to their widespread adoption across many areas of chemical research. However, the construction of a bond between two sp3-hybridized carbon atoms, a fundamental unit of organic chemistry, remains an important yet elusive objective for engineering cross-coupling reactions. In comparison to related procedures with sp2-hybridized species, the development of methods for sp3-sp3 bond formation via transition metal catalysis has been hampered historically by deleterious side-reactions, such as β-hydride elimination with palladium catalysis or the reluctance of alkyl halides to undergo oxidative addition. To address this issue, nickel-catalysed cross-coupling processes can be used to form sp3-sp3 bonds that utilize organometallic nucleophiles and alkyl electrophiles. In particular, the coupling of alkyl halides with pre-generated organozinc, Grignard and organoborane species has been used to furnish diverse molecular structures. However, the manipulations required to produce these activated structures is inefficient, leading to poor step- and atom-economies. Moreover, the operational difficulties associated with making and using these reactive coupling partners, and preserving them through a synthetic sequence, has hindered their widespread adoption. A generically useful sp3-sp3 coupling technology that uses bench-stable, native organic functional groups, without the need for pre-functionalization or substrate derivatization, would therefore be valuable. Here we demonstrate that the synergistic merger of photoredox and nickel catalysis enables the direct formation of sp3-sp3 bonds using only simple carboxylic acids and alkyl halides as the nucleophilic and electrophilic coupling partners, respectively. This metallaphotoredox protocol is suitable for many primary and secondary carboxylic acids. The merit of this coupling strategy is illustrated by the synthesis of the pharmaceutical tirofiban in four steps from commercially available starting materials.

Restriction of Equine Infectious Anemia Virus by Equine APOBEC3 Cytidine Deaminases ▿ †

PubMed Central

Zielonka, Jörg; Bravo, Ignacio G.; Marino, Daniela; Conrad, Elea; Perković, Mario; Battenberg, Marion; Cichutek, Klaus; Münk, Carsten

2009-01-01

The mammalian APOBEC3 (A3) proteins comprise a multigene family of cytidine deaminases that act as potent inhibitors of retroviruses and retrotransposons. The A3 locus on the chromosome 28 of the horse genome contains multiple A3 genes: two copies of A3Z1, five copies of A3Z2, and a single copy of A3Z3, indicating a complex evolution of multiple gene duplications. We have cloned and analyzed for expression the different equine A3 genes and examined as well the subcellular distribution of the corresponding proteins. Additionally, we have tested the functional antiretroviral activity of the equine and of several of the human and nonprimate A3 proteins against the Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), the Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), and the Adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2). Hematopoietic cells of horses express at least five different A3s: A3Z1b, A3Z2a-Z2b, A3Z2c-Z2d, A3Z2e, and A3Z3, whereas circulating macrophages, the natural target of EIAV, express only part of the A3 repertoire. The five A3Z2 tandem copies arose after three consecutive, recent duplication events in the horse lineage, after the split between Equidae and Carnivora. The duplicated genes show different antiviral activities against different viruses: equine A3Z3 and A3Z2c-Z2d are potent inhibitors of EIAV while equine A3Z1b, A3Z2a-Z2b, A3Z2e showed only weak anti-EIAV activity. Equine A3Z1b and A3Z3 restricted AAV and all equine A3s, except A3Z1b, inhibited SIV. We hypothesize that the horse A3 genes are undergoing a process of subfunctionalization in their respective viral specificities, which might provide the evolutionary advantage for keeping five copies of the original gene. PMID:19458006

[Reproducibility and accuracy in the morphometric and mechanical quantification of trabecular bone from 3 Tesla magnetic resonance images].

PubMed

Alberich-Bayarri, A; Martí-Bonmatí, L; Sanz-Requena, R; Sánchez-González, J; Hervás Briz, V; García-Martí, G; Pérez, M Á

2014-01-01

We used an animal model to analyze the reproducibility and accuracy of certain biomarkers of bone image quality in comparison to a gold standard of computed microtomography (μCT). We used magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and μCT to study the metaphyses of 5 sheep tibiae. The MR images (3 Teslas) were acquired with a T1-weighted gradient echo sequence and an isotropic spatial resolution of 180μm. The μCT images were acquired using a scanner with a spatial resolution of 7.5μm isotropic voxels. In the preparation of the images, we applied equalization, interpolation, and thresholding algorithms. In the quantitative analysis, we calculated the percentage of bone volume (BV/TV), the trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), the trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), the trabecular index (Tb.N), the 2D fractal dimension (D(2D)), the 3D fractal dimension (D(3D)), and the elastic module in the three spatial directions (Ex, Ey and Ez). The morphometric and mechanical quantification of trabecular bone by MR was very reproducible, with percentages of variation below 9% for all the parameters. Its accuracy compared to the gold standard (μCT) was high, with errors less than 15% for BV/TV, D(2D), D(3D), and E(app)x, E(app)y and E(app)z. Our experimental results in animals confirm that the parameters of BV/TV, D(2D), D(3D), and E(app)x, E(app)y and E(app)z obtained by MR have excellent reproducibility and accuracy and can be used as imaging biomarkers for the quality of trabecular bone. Copyright © 2013 SERAM. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction of sp 3 CaC O 3 at lower mantle pressures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lobanov, Sergey S.; Dong, Xiao; Martirosyan, Naira S.

The exceptional ability of carbon to form sp 2 and sp 3 bonding states leads to a great structural and chemical diversity of carbon-bearing phases at nonambient conditions. Here we use laser-heated diamond-anvil cells combined with synchrotron x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and first-principles calculations to explore phase transitions in CaC O 3 at P > 40 GPa . We find that postaragonite CaC O 3 transforms to the previously predicted P 2 1 / c CaC O 3 with sp 3 -hybridized carbon at 105 GPa ( ~ 30 GPa higher than the theoretically predicted crossovermore » pressure). The lowest-enthalpy transition path to P2 1 / c CaC O 3 includes reoccurring sp 2 and sp 3 CaC O 3 intermediate phases and transition states, as revealed by our variable-cell nudged-elastic-band simulation. Raman spectra of P 2 1 / c CaC O 3 show an intense band at 1025 c m -1 , which we assign to the symmetric C-O stretching vibration based on empirical and first-principles calculations. This Raman band has a frequency that is ~ 20 % low-ymmetric C-O stretching in sp 2 CaC O 3 due to the C-O bond length increase across the sp 2 ~ sp 3 transition and can be used as a fingerprint of tetrahedrally coordinated carbon in other carbonates.« less

[Purification, characterization and application of ε-poly-L. lysine- degrading enzyme from Streptomyces sp. M-Z18 ].

PubMed

Liu, Qingrui; Chen, Xusheng; Zeng, Xin; Han, Dai; Mao, Zhonggui

2014-09-04

[OBJECTIVE] The ε-poly-L-lysine-degrading enzyme (Pld) derived from Streptomyces sp. M-Z18 was purified and characterized. Furthermore, Pld was used to produce the low polymerization of ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL). [METHODS] Pld was purified to electrophoretical homogeneity through HiTrapTM Butyl HP hydrophobic chromatography after pretreated by ultrasonic and NaSCN dissolving. Subsequently, enzymatic characteristics, kinetic parameters and the time profile of ε-PL degradation by the purified Pld were studied. Meanwhile, we examined the effect of ε-PL with different degrees of polymerization on the minimal inhibitory concentration of bacteria and fungi. [RESULTS] Pld was purified to homogeneity with a final fold of 80.4 and an overall yield of 59.3%. The optimal temperature and pH for the purified Pld were 370C and 7. 0, respectively. Moreover, the Km with L-lysyl-p-nitroanilide as substrate was calculated to be 0. 621 mmol/L, and the Vmax was 701. 16 nmol/min.mg. Pld was stable in the range of pH 7. 0 - 10. 0, and temperature up to 500 C, respectively. Time profile of ε-PL degradation by the purified Pld indicated that Pld catalyzed endo-type degradation of ε- PL. The experiments of minimal inhibitory showed that ε-PL with high degree of polymerization (30 - 35) had a superior antibacterial effect on bacteria and the low degree of polymerization ε-PL (8 -20) had a better antibacterial effect on yeasts. However, ε-PL with various degrees of polymerization had a poor antibacterial effect on mould. [ CONCLUSION] The present result showed that an endo-type Pld from ε-PL-producing strain was purified. Meanwhile, it is proved that ε-PL with different degrees of polymerization have exhibited significant different antibacterial effects on microorganism.

Desulfonatronum thiodismutans sp. nov., a novel alkaliphilic, sulfate-reducing bacterium capable of lithoautotrophic growth.

PubMed

Pikuta, Elena V; Hoover, Richard B; Bej, Asim K; Marsic, Damien; Whitman, William B; Cleland, David; Krader, Paul

2003-09-01

A novel alkaliphilic, sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain MLF1(T), was isolated from sediments of soda Mono Lake, California. Gram-negative vibrio-shaped cells were observed, which were 0.6-0.7x1.2-2.7 micro m in size, motile by a single polar flagellum and occurred singly, in pairs or as short spirilla. Growth was observed at 15-48 degrees C (optimum, 37 degrees C), >1-7 % NaCl, w/v (optimum, 3 %) and pH 8.0-10.0 (optimum, 9.5). The novel isolate is strictly alkaliphilic, requires a high concentration of carbonate in the growth medium and is obligately anaerobic and catalase-negative. As electron donors, strain MLF1(T) uses hydrogen, formate and ethanol. Sulfate, sulfite and thiosulfate (but not sulfur or nitrate) can be used as electron acceptors. The novel isolate is a lithoheterotroph and a facultative lithoautotroph that is able to grow on hydrogen without an organic source of carbon. Strain MLF1(T) is resistant to kanamycin and gentamicin, but sensitive to chloramphenicol and tetracycline. The DNA G+C content is 63.0 mol% (HPLC). DNA-DNA hybridization with the most closely related species, Desulfonatronum lacustre Z-7951(T), exhibited 51 % homology. Also, the genome size (1.6x10(9) Da) and T(m) value of the genomic DNA (71+/-2 degrees C) for strain MLF1(T) were significantly different from the genome size (2.1x10(9) Da) and T(m) value (63+/-2 degrees C) for Desulfonatronum lacustre Z-7951(T). On the basis of physiological and molecular properties, the isolate was considered to be a novel species of the genus Desulfonatronum, for which the name Desulfonatronum thiodismutans sp. nov. is proposed (the type strain is MLF1(T)=ATCC BAA-395(T)=DSM 14708(T)).

Desulfonatronum Thiodismutans sp. nov., a Novel Alkaliphilic, Sulfate-reducing Bacterium Capable of Lithoautotrophic Growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pikuta, Elena V.; Hoover, Richard B.; Bej, Asim K.; Marsic, Damien; Whitman, William B.; Cleland, David; Krader, Paul

2003-01-01

A novel alkaliphilic, sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain MLF1(sup T), was isolated from sediments of soda Mono Lake, California. Gram-negative vibrio-shaped cells were observed, which were 0.6-0.7 x 1.2-2.7 microns in size, motile by a single polar flagellum and occurred singly, in pairs or as short spirilla. Growth was observed at 15-48 C (optimum, 37 C), > 1-7 % NaCI, w/v (optimum, 3%) and pH 8.0-10.0 (optimum, 9.5). The novel isolate is strictly alkaliphilic, requires a high concentration of carbonate in the growth medium and is obligately anaerobic and catalase-negative. As electron donors, strain MLF1(sup T) uses hydrogen, formate and ethanol. Sulfate, sulfite and thiosulfate (but not sulfur or nitrate) can be used as electron acceptors. The novel isolate is a lithoheterotroph and a facultative lithoautotroph that is able to grow on hydrogen without an organic source of carbon. Strain MLF1(sup T) is resistant to kanamycin and gentamicin, but sensitive to chloramphenicol and tetracycline. The DNA G+C content is 63.0 mol% (HPLC). DNA-DNA hybridization with the most closely related species, Desulfonatronum lacustre Z-7951(sup T), exhibited 51 % homology. Also, the genome size (1.6 x 10(exp 9) Da) and T(sub m) value of the genomic DNA (71 +/- 2 C) for strain MLF1(sup T) were significantly different from the genome size (2.1 x 10(exp 9) Da) and T(sub m) value (63 +/- 2 C) for Desulfonatronum lacustre Z-7951(sup T). On the basis of physiological and molecular properties, the isolate was considered to be a novel species of the genus Desulfonatronum, for which the name Desulfonatronum thiodismutans sp. nov. is proposed (the type strain is MLF1(sup T) = ATCC BAA-395(sup T) = DSM 14708(sup T)).

Multiresponsive polysiloxane bearing spiropyran: synthesis and sensing of pH and metal ions of different valence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hongqi; Zheng, Tao; Zhao, Yong; Xu, Zhenxiang; Dai, Xuhang; Shao, Zhiyu

2018-03-01

A spiropyran-appended polysiloxane (SP-Si) was synthesized and characterized. The pH-responsive behavior of SP-Si was investigated. It was found that with the decrease of the pH of SP-Si solution the intensity of the absorption peak at 440 nm increased and the color of SP-Si solution turned from colorless to yellow gradually. The polymer serves as chemosensor for colorimetric detection of Ag+ and Fe3+ ions. Addition of Ag+ and Fe3+ ions to SP-Si solution induced color change from colorless to brown and earthy yellow, respectively. Sensing of Ag+ ions by SP-Si was not affected by common competitive metal ions except Hg2+ ions. Based on the transformation from colorless SP-Si solution with negligible absorption at 440 nm to brown SP-Si/Ag+ showing extremely strong absorption at 440 nm by addition of Ag+ ions and subsequent transformation from brown to colorless SP-Si/Ag+/Hg2+ with relatively weak absorption at 440 nm after addition of 1 equivalent of Hg2+ ions, SP-Si/Ag+ system serves as a dual colorimetric and spectroscopic probe for highly selective and sensitive detection of Hg2+ ions. The selective detection of Fe3+ ions by SP-Si is not interfered by common competitive metal ions including Na+, K+, Li+, Hg2+, Ni2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Sr2+, Cu2+, Al3+, Ce3+ and Cr3+. The detection limit of Ag+ and Fe3+ ions is 1.45 × 10-6 M and 3.52 × 10-6 M, respectively.

Determinants of FIV and HIV Vif sensitivity of feline APOBEC3 restriction factors.

PubMed

Zhang, Zeli; Gu, Qinyong; Jaguva Vasudevan, Ananda Ayyappan; Hain, Anika; Kloke, Björn-Philipp; Hasheminasab, Sascha; Mulnaes, Daniel; Sato, Kei; Cichutek, Klaus; Häussinger, Dieter; Bravo, Ignacio G; Smits, Sander H J; Gohlke, Holger; Münk, Carsten

2016-07-01

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a global pathogen of Felidae species and a model system for Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-induced AIDS. In felids such as the domestic cat (Felis catus), APOBEC3 (A3) genes encode for single-domain A3Z2s, A3Z3 and double-domain A3Z2Z3 anti-viral cytidine deaminases. The feline A3Z2Z3 is expressed following read-through transcription and alternative splicing, introducing a previously untranslated exon in frame, encoding a domain insertion called linker. Only A3Z3 and A3Z2Z3 inhibit Vif-deficient FIV. Feline A3s also are restriction factors for HIV and Simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV). Surprisingly, HIV-2/SIV Vifs can counteract feline A3Z2Z3. To identify residues in feline A3s that Vifs need for interaction and degradation, chimeric human-feline A3s were tested. Here we describe the molecular direct interaction of feline A3s with Vif proteins from cat FIV and present the first structural A3 model locating these interaction regions. In the Z3 domain we have identified residues involved in binding of FIV Vif, and their mutation blocked Vif-induced A3Z3 degradation. We further identified additional essential residues for FIV Vif interaction in the A3Z2 domain, allowing the generation of FIV Vif resistant A3Z2Z3. Mutated feline A3s also showed resistance to the Vif of a lion-specific FIV, indicating an evolutionary conserved Vif-A3 binding. Comparative modelling of feline A3Z2Z3 suggests that the residues interacting with FIV Vif have, unlike Vif-interacting residues in human A3s, a unique location at the domain interface of Z2 and Z3 and that the linker forms a homeobox-like domain protruding of the Z2Z3 core. HIV-2/SIV Vifs efficiently degrade feline A3Z2Z3 by possible targeting the linker stretch connecting both Z-domains. Here we identified in feline A3s residues important for binding of FIV Vif and a unique protein domain insertion (linker). To understand Vif evolution, a structural model of the feline A3 was developed. Our results show that HIV Vif binds human A3s differently than FIV Vif feline A3s. The linker insertion is suggested to form a homeo-box domain, which is unique to A3s of cats and related species, and not found in human and mouse A3s. Together, these findings indicate a specific and different A3 evolution in cats and human.

Aquatic Habitat Studies on the Lower Mississippi River, River Mile 480 to 530. Report 3. Benthic Macro-Invertebrate Studies--Pilot Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-04-01

Odonata, and 1 genus each of Plecoptera , Lepidoptera, and Collembola. Mollusca col- lected included 2 genera of Gastropoda and 1 genus of Pelycypoda... Plecoptera Neoperla sp. 1 0.05 >0.1 Collembola Isotomurus sp. 3 0.2 >0.1 Mollusca Gastropoda Physa hawnii 1 0.05 >0.1 Planorbula sp. 1 0.05 >0.1...sp. Glyptotendipes meridionalis Dicrotendipes sp. Robackia claviger Lepidoptera Lepidopteran sp. Plecoptera Neoperla sp. Odonata Didymops transversa

The human luteinizing hormone receptor gene promoter: activation by Sp1 and Sp3 and inhibitory regulation.

PubMed

Geng, Y; Tsai-Morris, C H; Zhang, Y; Dufau, M L

1999-09-24

To understand the transcriptional mechanism(s) of human LH receptor (LHR) gene expression, we have identified the dominant functional cis-elements that regulate the activity of the promoter domain (-1 to -176 bp from ATG). Mutagenesis demonstrated that the promoter activity was dependent on two Sp1 domains (-79 bp, -120 bp) in a transformed normal placental cell (PLC) and the choriocarcinoma JAR cell. Both elements interacted with endogenous Sp1 and Sp3 factors but not with Sp2 or Sp4. In Drosophila SL2 cells, the promoter was activated by either Sp1 or Sp3. An ERE half-site (EREhs) at -174 bp was inhibitory (by 100%), but was unresponsive to estradiol and did not bind the estrogen receptor or orphan receptors ERR1 and SF-1. The 5' upstream sequence (-177 to -2056 bp) inhibited promoter activity in PLC by 60%, but only minimally in JAR cells. Activation of the human LHR promoter through Sp1/3 factors is negatively regulated through EREhs and upstream sequences to exert control of gene expression. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

A superhard sp3 microporous carbon with direct bandgap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Yilong; Xie, Chenlong; Xiong, Mei; Ma, Mengdong; Liu, Lingyu; Li, Zihe; Zhang, Shuangshuang; Gao, Guoying; Zhao, Zhisheng; Tian, Yongjun; Xu, Bo; He, Julong

2017-12-01

Carbon allotropes with distinct sp, sp2, and sp3 hybridization possess various different properties. Here, a novel all-sp3 hybridized tetragonal carbon, namely the P carbon, was predicted by the evolutionary particle swarm structural search. It demonstrated a low density among all-sp3 carbons, due to the corresponding distinctive microporous structure. P carbon is thermodynamically stable than the known C60 and could be formed through the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) compression. P carbon is a direct bandgap semiconductor displaying a strong and superhard nature. The unique combination of electrical and mechanical properties constitutes P carbon a potential superhard material for semiconductor industrial fields.

Aerosol processing of materials: Aerosol dynamics and microstructure evolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gurav, Abhijit Shankar

Spray pyrolysis is an aerosol process commonly used to synthesize a wide variety of materials in powder or film forms including metals, metal oxides and non-oxide ceramics. It is capable of producing high purity, unagglomerated, and micrometer to submicron-size powders, and scale-up has been demonstrated. This dissertation deals with the study of aerosol dynamics during spray pyrolysis of multicomponent systems involving volatile phases/components, and aspects involved with using fuel additives during spray processes to break apart droplets and particles in order to produce powders with smaller sizes. The gas-phase aerosol dynamics and composition size distributions were measured during spray pyrolysis of (Bi, Pb)-Sr-Ca-Cu-O, and Sr-Ru-O and Bi-Ru-O at different temperatures. A differential mobility analyzer (DMA) was used in conjunction with a condensation particle counter (CPC) to monitor the gas-phase particle size distributions, and a Berner-type low-pressure impactor was used to obtain mass size distributions and size-classified samples for chemical analysis. (Bi, Pb)-Sr-Ca-Cu-O powders made at temperatures up to 700sp°C maintained their initial stoichiometry over the whole range of particle sizes monitored, however, those made at 800sp°C and above were heavily depleted in lead in the size range 0.5-5.0 mum. When the reactor temperature was raised from 700 and 800sp°C to 900sp°C, a large number ({˜}10sp7\\ #/cmsp3) of new ultrafine particles were formed from PbO vapor released from the particles and the reactor walls at the beginning of high temperature runs (at 900sp°C). The metal ruthenate systems showed generation of ultrafine particles (<40-50 nm) at the beginning of runs at 800-900sp°C and also as a steady state process at a reactor temperature of 1000sp°C. The methods of aerosol dynamics measurements were also used to monitor the gas-phase particle size distributions during the generation of fullerene (Csb{60}) nano-particles (30 to 50 nm size) via vapor condensation at 400-650sp°C using Nsb2 carrier gas. In general, during laboratory-scale aerosol processing of materials containing a volatile component, significant evaporative losses and formation of new ultrafine particles were observed at synthesis temperatures at which the saturation vapor pressure of the volatile species exceeded about 0.1-0.5 mTorr. Spray calcination synthesis of pigment-size titania from titanium hydrolysate (TiOsb{x}(SOsb4)sb{y}(OH)sb{z}) using fuel additives such as ethyl alcohol, sugar and urea was also investigated. When pure water was used as a medium of suspension, agglomerates of 0.5 to 1.5 mum were produced by spray calcination. Use of pure ethanol as a solvent as well as small amounts (5-10 wt.%) urea additions to the suspension of Ti-hydrolysate in water were successful in producing predominantly unagglomerated, single crystalline titania particles of 0.1 to 0.3 mum size. Such additions of fuels such as alcohols, sugar and urea to suspensions and solutions used in spray processes are promising for making powders having smaller sizes and unagglomerated, denser morphologies.

An N-terminal fragment of substance P, substance P(1-7), down-regulates neurokinin-1 binding in the mouse spinal cord.

PubMed

Yukhananov RYu; Larson, A A

1994-08-29

Injected intrathecally, substance P (SP) down-regulates neurokinin-1 (NK-1) binding in the spinal cord and desensitizes rats to the behavioral effect of SP. N-terminal fragments of SP, such as SP(1-7), induce antinociception and play a role in desensitization to SP in mice. The goal of this study was to assess the abilities of N- and C-terminal fragments of SP to down-regulate NK-1 binding. Binding of [3H]SP to mouse spinal cord membranes was inhibited by SP, CP-96,345, and to a lesser extent by SP(5-11), but not SP(1-7), consistent with these binding sites being NK-1 receptors. Injection of SP(5-11) intrathecally did not affect the affinity (Kd) or concentration (Bmax) of [3H]SP binding. However, injection of 1 nmol of SP(1-7) decreased the Bmax of [3H]SP binding in the spinal cord at 6 h after its injection just as this dose of SP decreased the Bmax at 24 h. These data suggest that the N-terminus of SP is responsible for down-regulation of NK-1 binding. As SP(5-11) did not down-regulate NK-1 binding, activation of NK-1 sites does not appear necessary or sufficient for down-regulation of SP binding. In contrast, SP(1-7), in spite of its inability to interact with NK-1 sites, did down-regulate SP binding, suggesting an indirect mechanism dissociated from NK-1 receptors.

3-[4-Bromo-α( R*)-methoxybenzyl]-6-chloro-3( S*),4( S*)-dihydroxychroman: X-ray and DFT Studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sepay, Nayim; Mondal, Rina; Guha, Chayan; Mallik, Asok K.

2018-05-01

Sodium borohydride reduction of E-3-benzylidenechromanone epoxides in dry methanol has afforded 3( S*), 4( S*)-dihydroxy-3-[α( R*)-methoxybenzyl]chromans as an interesting class of products, the structures of which have been assigned mainly from spectral data and consideration of the mechanistic aspects. X-ray diffraction study of one of them, 3-[4-bromo-α( R*)-methoxybenzyl]-6-chloro-3( S*),4( S*)- dihydroxychroman, is performed. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic sp. gr. P21/ n, with a = 13.336(6) Å, b = 10.866(5) Å, c = 27.166(11) Å, β = 95.193(6)°, V = 3920(3) Å3, and Z = 8. Supramolecular construction of the compound involves O-H···O intermolecular hydrogen bonds as well as three other types of non-covalent interactions which are responsible for crystal packing. Density functional theory was applied for geometry optimization, molecular orbital calculations, and prediction of UV spectral features. The geometric parameters (bond lengths, bond angles, and dihedral angles) for the representative compound obtained from density functional theory with B3LY6-31G basis set were in good agreement with experimental values.

The regulation of trefoil factor 2 expression by the transcription factor Sp3.

PubMed

Liu, Jingjing; Wang, Xu; Cai, Yiling; Zhou, Jingping; Guleng, Bayasi; Shi, Huaxiu; Ren, Jianlin

2012-10-19

Trefoil factor family 2 (TFF2) participates in mucus stabilization and repair, apoptosis, and inflammatory responses. Previously published reports have indicated that several growth factors and basal transcription factors are associated with the expression of TFF2. However, the detailed mechanisms that regulate TFF2 expression are not fully understood. The present study was designed to assess the essential role of the transcription factor SP3 with respect to TFF2 expression. We first demonstrated that there was a negative correlation between the expression levels of SP3 and TFF2. Thus, in the examined cells, the overexpression of SP3 decreased the expression level of TFF2, whereas the inhibition of SP3 increased the expression level of TFF2. Moreover, we discovered two GC boxes in the TFF2 promoter and confirmed the specific binding of SP3 to this promoter. On the whole, this study indicated that Sp3 was a major regulator of TFF2 expression. This knowledge should contribute to our understanding of the role that is played by SP3 in the regulation of TFF2 expression. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Modelling of microbial polyhydroxyalkanoate surface binding protein PhaP for rational mutagenesis.

PubMed

Zhao, Hongyu; Yao, Zhenyu; Chen, Xiangbin; Wang, Xinquan; Chen, Guo-Qiang

2017-11-01

Phasins are unusual amphiphilic proteins that bind to microbial polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) granules in nature and show great potential for various applications in biotechnology and medicine. Despite their remarkable diversity, only the crystal structure of PhaP A h from Aeromonas hydrophila has been solved to date. Based on the structure of PhaP A h , homology models of PhaP A z from Azotobacter sp. FA-8 and PhaP TD from Halomonas bluephagenesis TD were successfully established, allowing rational mutagenesis to be conducted to enhance the stability and surfactant properties of these proteins. PhaP A z mutants, including PhaP A z Q38L and PhaP A z Q78L, as well as PhaP TD mutants, including PhaP TD Q38M and PhaP TD Q72M, showed better emulsification properties and improved thermostability (6-10°C higher melting temperatures) compared with their wild-type homologues under the same conditions. Importantly, the established PhaP homology-modelling approach, based on the high-resolution structure of PhaP A h , can be generalized to facilitate the study of other PhaP members. © 2017 The Authors. Microbial Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Society for Applied Microbiology.

Hormonal (Cortical-Gonadotropic Axis) and Physical Changes With Two Years Intense Exercise Training in Elite Young Soccer Players.

PubMed

Hammami, Mohamed Ali; Ben Abderrahman, Abderraouf; Hackney, Anthony C; Kebsi, Wiem; Owen, Adam L; Nebigh, Amar; Racil, Ghazi; Tabka, Zouhair; Zouhal, Hassane

2017-09-01

Hammami, MA, Ben Abderrahman, A, Hackney, AC, Kebsi, W, Owen, AL, Nebigh, A, Racil, G, Tabka, Z, and Zouhal, H. Hormonal (cortical-gonadotropic axis) and physical changes with two years intense exercise training in elite young soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 31(9): 2388-2397, 2017-The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 2 soccer-training seasons on physical fitness and hormone concentrations in elite youth soccer players. Twenty male elite soccer players (SP, age 14.5 ± 0.4 years) and 20 male control subjects (CS, age 14.3 ± 0.3 years) participated in the study. Anthropometric measurements, aerobic (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 [YYIRT1]) and anaerobic soccer relevant performances (jump and sprint tests), blood testosterone (T), cortisol (C), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and T/C ratio were assessed 5 times (from T0 to T4) during 2 competitive seasons. Significant differences from basal values (Δ) of T, SHBG, and C between SP and CS were observed (p < 0.01). Additionally, T and T/C ratio changes were positively correlated with physical performance (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, as expected, higher T concentration and greater power performance were observed in the soccer players group compared with controls. Our findings also show that the T concentrations and power performance outcomes co-vary positively over the 2 soccer seasons in soccer players.

Larkinella harenae sp. nov., Isolated from Korean Beach Soil.

PubMed

Park, Su-Jin; Lee, Jae-Jin; Lee, Seung-Yeol; Lee, Dae Sung; Kim, Myung Kyum; Ten, Leonid N; Jung, Hee-Young

2017-07-01

A Gram-negative, short rod-shaped, gliding motile, and pale pink-pigmented bacterial strain, designated 15J9-9 T , was isolated from the soil of Iho Tewoo Beach, Jeju Island, Korea, and characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 15J9-9 T belonged to the family Cytophagaceae and was related to Larkinella bovis M2T2B15 T (96.5% similarity), Larkinella arboricola Z0532 T (95.3% similarity), and Larkinella insperata LMG 22510 T (95.2% similarity). The DNA G+C content of strain 15J9-9 T was 48 mol%. The detection of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, two unknown aminophospholipids (APL 1 and APL 2 ), and two unknown polar lipids (L 1 and L 2 ) in polar lipid profile, menaquinone-7 as the predominant quinone, and a fatty acid profile of C 16:1 ω5c, iso-C 15:0 , and iso-C 17:0 3-OH as the major fatty acids supported the affiliation of strain 15J9-9 T to the genus Larkinella. Based on its phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain 15J9-9 T should be classified in the genus Larkinella as a representative of a novel species, for which the name Larkinella harenae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 15J9-9 T (=KCTC 42999 T  = JCM 31656 T ).

Antibacterial colorants: characterization of prodiginines and their applications on textile materials.

PubMed

Alihosseini, Farzaneh; Ju, Kou-San; Lango, Jozsef; Hammock, Bruce D; Sun, Gang

2008-01-01

A strain of Vibrio sp. isolated from marine sediments produced large quantities of bright red pigments that could be used to dye many fibers including wool, nylon, acrylics, and silk. Characterization of the pigments by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) revealed three prodiginine-like structures with nonpolar characteristics and low molecular mass. UV-visible spectra of the major constituent in methanol solution showed absorbance at lambda max 530 nm wavelength. The accurate mass result showed that the main isolated product has a molecular mass of m/z 323.1997. Further analysis using mass fragmentation (MS/MS), 1H NMR, COSY, HMQC NMR and DEPT confirmed the detailed structure of the pigment with an elementary composition of C20H25N3O. Fabrics dyed with the microbial prodiginines demonstrated antibacterial activity.

Oxygen saturation increases over the course of the night in mountaineers at high altitude (3050-6354 m).

PubMed

Tannheimer, Markus; van der Spek, Rianne; Brenner, Florian; Lechner, Raimund; Steinacker, Jürgen M; Treff, Gunnar

2017-09-01

Blood oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) is frequently measured to determine acclimatization status in high-altitude travellers. However, little is known about nocturnal time course of SpO 2 (SpO 2N ), but alterations in SpO 2N might be practically relevant as well. To this end, we describe the time-course of SpO 2N in mountaineers at high altitude. SpO 2N was continuously measured in ten male mountaineers during a three-week expedition in Peru (3,050-6,354m). Average SpO 2N of the first (SpO 2N1 ) and second half (SpO 2N2 ) of an individual's sleep duration was calculated from 2h intervals of uninterrupted sleep. Heart rate oscillations and sleep dairies were used to exclude periods of wakefulness. SpO 2 was also measured at rest in the morning. SpO 2N significantly increased from SpO 2N1 to SpO 2N2 . The magnitude of this increase (ΔSpO 2 ) was reduced with time spent at altitude. On night 1 (3,050m) SpO 2 increased from 83.4% (N1) to 86.3% (N2). At the same location on night 21, SpO 2 increased from 88.3% to 90.1%, which is a relative change of 4.7% and 2.0%, respectively. This pattern of increase in SpO 2N was perturbed when individual acclimatization was poor or altitude was extreme (5630m). SpO 2N was significantly lower than SpO 2 at rest in the morning. This study is the first to demonstrate an increase of SpO 2 during the night in mountaineers at high altitude (3,050-6,354m) with high consistency between and within subjects. The magnitude of ΔSpO 2N decreased as acclimatization improved, suggesting that these changes in ΔSpO 2 between nights might be a valuable indicator of individual acclimatization. In addition, the failure of any increase in SpO 2N during the night might indicate insufficient acclimatization. Even though underlying mechanisms for the nocturnal increase remain unclear, the timing of SpO 2N measurement is obviously of utmost importance for its interpretation. Finally our study illustrates the detailed effects of ventilatory acclimatization over several weeks. © International Society of Travel Medicine, 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

Synthesis, antityrosinase activity of curcumin analogues, and crystal structure of (1E,4E)-1,5-bis(4-ethoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chantrapromma, S., E-mail: suchada.c@psu.ac.th; Ruanwas, P.; Boonnak, N.

2016-12-15

Five derivatives of curcumin analogue (R = OCH{sub 2}CH{sub 3} (1), R = N(CH{sub 3}){sub 2} (2), R = 2,4,5-OCH{sub 3} (3), R = 2,4,6-OCH{sub 3} (4), and R = 3,4,5-OCH{sub 3} (5)) were synthesized and characterized by {sup 1}H NMR, FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The synthesized derivatives were screened for antityrosinase activity, and found that 4 and 5 possess such activity. The crystal structure of 1 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction: monoclinic, sp. gr. P2{sub 1}/c, a = 17.5728(15) Å, b = 5.9121(5) Å, c = 19.8269(13) Å, β = 121.155(5)°, Z = 4. The molecule 1more » is twisted with the dihedral angle between two phenyl rings being 15.68(10)°. In the crystal packing, the molecules 1 are linked into chains by C−H···π interactions and further stacked by π···π interactions with the centroid–centroid distance of 3.9311(13) Å.« less

Endoparasites of rodents from the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Southeastern Bangladesh.

PubMed

Fuehrer, Hans-Peter; Baumann, Timo A; Riedl, Julia; Treiber, Moritz; Igel, Petra; Swoboda, Paul; Joachim, Anja; Noedl, Harald

2012-11-01

Rodents are a key mammalian group highly successful in adapting to a variety of environments throughout the world and play an important role in many zoonotic cycles. Within this project, the gastrointestinal and extraintestinal parasite fauna of 76 rodents (Muroidea and Sciuridae) was determined in the District of Bandarban (Chittagong Hill Tracts) in Southeastern Bangladesh. Gastrointestinal and extraintestinal parasites were examined with macro- and microscopical tools (e.g. Ziehl-Neelsen Staining) at a field site in Bandarban. A wide variety of parasites were found in rodent hosts, including protozoa-Giardia sp. (n = 8), Cryptosporidium sp. (n = 1), Entamoeba sp. (n = 8), Trichomonadida (n = 4), Isospora sp. (n = 1), trematodes (Echinostoma sp.; n = 3), cestodes-Hymenolepis nana (n = 1), Hymenolepis diminuta (n = 3), Hymenolepis sp. (n = 2), Taenia taeniaeformis-Larven (n = 4), Catenotaenia sp. (n = 1), Taenia sp. (n = 1), nematodes-Heterakis spumosa (n = 4), Heterakis sp. (n = 1), Aspiculuris tetraptera (n = 2), Capillaria hepatica (n = 2), Capillaria sp. (n = 3), Syphacia sp. (n = 2), Strongyloides sp. (n = 10), Trichostrongylus sp. (n = 2) and Trichuris sp. (n = 1)-and acanthocephalans (Moniliformis moniliformis; n = 2). Several of the examined parasites are of zoonotic importance via direct or indirect transmission (e.g. C. hepatica) and may affect humans.

Micellar casein concentrate production with a 3X, 3-stage, uniform transmembrane pressure ceramic membrane process at 50°C.

PubMed

Hurt, E; Zulewska, J; Newbold, M; Barbano, D M

2010-12-01

The production of serum protein (SP) and micellar casein from skim milk can be accomplished using microfiltration (MF). Potential commercial applications exist for both SP and micellar casein. Our research objective was to determine the total SP removal and SP removal for each stage, and the composition of retentates and permeates, for a 3×, continuous bleed-and-feed, 3-stage, uniform transmembrane pressure (UTP) system with 0.1-μm ceramic membranes, when processing pasteurized skim milk at 50°C with 2 stages of water diafiltration. For each of 4 replicates, about 1,100 kg of skim milk was pasteurized (72°C, 16s) and processed at 3× through the UTP MF system. Retentate from stage 1 was cooled to <4°C and stored until the next processing day, when it was diluted with reverse osmosis water back to a 1× concentration and again processed through the MF system (stage 2) to a 3× concentration. The retentate from stage 2 was stored at <4°C, and, on the next processing day, was diluted with reverse osmosis water back to a 1× concentration, before running through the MF system at 3× for a total of 3 stages. The retentate and permeate from each stage were analyzed for total nitrogen, noncasein nitrogen, and nonprotein nitrogen using Kjeldahl methods; sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE analysis was also performed on the retentates from each stage. Theoretically, a 3-stage, 3× MF process could remove 97% of the SP from skim milk, with a cumulative SP removal of 68 and 90% after the first and second stages, respectively. The cumulative SP removal using a 3-stage, 3× MF process with a UTP system with 0.01-μm ceramic membranes in this experiment was 64.8 ± 0.8, 87.8 ± 1.6, and 98.3 ± 2.3% for the first, second, and third stages, respectively, when calculated using the mass of SP removed in the permeate of each stage. Various methods of calculation of SP removal were evaluated. Given the analytical limitations in the various methods for measuring SP removal, calculation of SP removal based on the mass of SP in the skim milk (determined by Kjeldahl) and the mass SP present in all of the permeate produced by the process (determined by Kjeldahl) provided the best estimate of SP removal for an MF process. Copyright © 2010 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Growth Promotion and Disease Suppression Ability of a Streptomyces sp. CB-75 from Banana Rhizosphere Soil

PubMed Central

Chen, Yufeng; Zhou, Dengbo; Qi, Dengfeng; Gao, Zhufen; Xie, Jianghui; Luo, Yanping

2018-01-01

An actinomycete strain, CB-75, was isolated from the soil of a diseased banana plantation in Hainan, China. Based on phenotypic and molecular characteristics, and 99.93% sequence similarity with Streptomyces spectabilis NBRC 13424 (AB184393), the strain was identified as Streptomyces sp. This strain exhibited broad-spectrum antifungal activity against 11 plant pathogenic fungi. Type I polyketide synthase (PKS-I) and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) were detected, which were indicative of the antifungal compounds that Streptomyces sp. CB-75 could produce. An ethyl acetate extract from the strain exhibited the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Colletotrichum musae (ATCC 96167) (0.78 μg/ml) and yielded the highest antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (ATCC 16330) (50.0 μg/ml). Also, spore germination was significantly inhibited by the crude extract. After treatment with the crude extract of Streptomyces sp. CB-75 at the concentration 2 × MIC, the pathogenic fungi showed deformation, shrinkage, collapse, and tortuosity when observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). By gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of the crude extract, 18 chemical constituents were identified; (Z)-13-docosenamide was the major constituent. Pot experiments showed that the incidence of banana seedlings was reduced after using Streptomyces sp. CB-75 treatment. The disease index was 10.23, and the prevention and control effect was 83.12%. Furthermore, Streptomyces sp. CB-75 had a growth-promoting effect on banana plants. The chlorophyll content showed 88.24% improvement, the leaf area, root length, root diameter, plant height, and stem showed 88.24, 90.49, 136.17, 61.78, and 50.98% improvement, respectively, and the shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight showed 82.38, 72.01, 195.33, and 113.33% improvement, respectively, compared with treatment of fermentation broth without Streptomyces sp. CB-75. Thus, Streptomyces sp. CB-75 is an important microbial resource as a biological control against plant pathogenic fungi and for promoting banana growth. PMID:29387049

Frequency-domain optical tomographic image reconstruction algorithm with the simplified spherical harmonics (SP3) light propagation model.

PubMed

Kim, Hyun Keol; Montejo, Ludguier D; Jia, Jingfei; Hielscher, Andreas H

2017-06-01

We introduce here the finite volume formulation of the frequency-domain simplified spherical harmonics model with n -th order absorption coefficients (FD-SP N ) that approximates the frequency-domain equation of radiative transfer (FD-ERT). We then present the FD-SP N based reconstruction algorithm that recovers absorption and scattering coefficients in biological tissue. The FD-SP N model with 3 rd order absorption coefficient (i.e., FD-SP 3 ) is used as a forward model to solve the inverse problem. The FD-SP 3 is discretized with a node-centered finite volume scheme and solved with a restarted generalized minimum residual (GMRES) algorithm. The absorption and scattering coefficients are retrieved using a limited-memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno (L-BFGS) algorithm. Finally, the forward and inverse algorithms are evaluated using numerical phantoms with optical properties and size that mimic small-volume tissue such as finger joints and small animals. The forward results show that the FD-SP 3 model approximates the FD-ERT (S 12 ) solution within relatively high accuracy; the average error in the phase (<3.7%) and the amplitude (<7.1%) of the partial current at the boundary are reported. From the inverse results we find that the absorption and scattering coefficient maps are more accurately reconstructed with the SP 3 model than those with the SP 1 model. Therefore, this work shows that the FD-SP 3 is an efficient model for optical tomographic imaging of small-volume media with non-diffuse properties both in terms of computational time and accuracy as it requires significantly lower CPU time than the FD-ERT (S 12 ) and also it is more accurate than the FD-SP 1 .

Activation of effector functions by immune complexes of mouse IgG2a with isotype-specific autoantibodies.

PubMed Central

Rajnavölgyi, E; Fazekas, G; Lund, J; Daeron, M; Teillaud, J L; Jefferis, R; Fridman, W H; Gergely, J

1995-01-01

Analysis of five monoclonal autoantibodies, rheumatoid factors produced by hybridomas generated from spleen cells of BALB/c mice repeatedly infected with A/PR/8/34 human influenza A virus, revealed that they recognized distinct but spatially related epitopes. The differing isoallotypic specificity of the IgM and IgA monoclonal antibodies correlated with the presence of Ile258 and Ala305, respectively. Although these data suggest that the epitopes recognized are within the CH2 domain, all antibodies failed to inhibit IgG antigen reactivity with Staphylococcus aureus protein A (SpA), C1q, mouse C3, human Fc gamma RI or mouse Fc gamma RII, activities known to be predominantly determined by CH2 domain structures. Reactivity of the IgA antibody, Z34, with IgG2b allowed further specificity studies using a panel of 26 mutant IgG2b proteins, each having single amino acid replacements over the surface of the CH2 domain. The only substitution that affected Z34 reactivity was Asn/Ala297, which destroyed the glycosylation sequon, resulting in secretion of an aglycosylated IgG molecule. The epitope recognized by Z34 therefore seems to be located outside of the Fc gamma R and C1q binding sites, but to be dependent on the presence of carbohydrate for expression. In contrast to the binding studies, complement activation by aggregated IgG2a, through classical or alternative pathways, was inhibited by the presence of autoantibodies. The functional significance of isotype-specific autoantibody in immune regulation is discussed. PMID:7540592

A blackhole over brain: Interdural hematoma - A challenging diagnosis.

PubMed

Babayev, Rasim; Ekşi, Murat Şakir

2015-01-01

Hematoma in between two dura leaves, named as 'interdural hematoma', is a very rare entity in adulthood. Interdural hematoma may emerge spontaneously or secondary to coagulopathies. A 61-year-old male patient, who had a medical history of alcoholic cirrhosis, presented with interdural hematoma. The case has been discussed with a literature review about diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in this pathology. Copyright © 2015 Polish Neurological Society. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.

Cleavage/Repair and Signal Transduction Pathways in Irradiated Breast Tumor Cells

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-09-01

Pharmacology 51: 931-940, 1996. Freemerman,AJ, Vrana J, Tombes RM, Jiang H, Chellepan SP, Fisher PB and Grant S. Effects of antisense p21 (Wafl/CIP1...gene. Mutat. Res. 403, 171-175. Vrana JA, Decker RH, Johnson CR, Wang Z, Jarvis WD, Richon VM, Ehinger M, Fisher PB and Grant S. Induction of apoptosis...centri- blue dye and trypan blue negative cells were counted fuged, washed with PBS and lysed using 100-2001il under phase contrast microscopy. of lysis

Serum protein removal from skim milk with a 3-stage, 3× ceramic Isoflux membrane process at 50°C.

PubMed

Adams, Michael C; Barbano, David M

2013-04-01

Small pore microfiltration (MF) can be used to remove serum proteins (SP) from skim milk. The process's SP removal efficiency directly influences the technology's economic feasibility. Our objective was to quantify the capacity of 0.14μm ceramic Isoflux MF membranes (TAMI, Nyons, France) to remove SP from skim milk. A 3-stage, 3×, feed-and-bleed MF study with diafiltration in the latter 2 stages was conducted at 50°C using Isoflux membranes to determine cumulative SP removal percentages and SP removal rates at each processing stage. The experiment was replicated 3 times starting with 3 separate lots of raw milk. In contrast to 3× MF theoretical cumulative SP removal percentages of 68, 90, and 97% after 1, 2, and 3 stages, respectively, the 3× Isoflux MF process removed only 39.5, 58.4, and 70.2% of SP after 1, 2, and 3 stages, respectively. Previous research has been published that provides the skim milk SP removal capacities of 3-stage, 3× 0.1μm ceramic Membralox (Pall Corp., Cortland, NY) uniform transmembrane pressure (UTP), 0.1μm ceramic Membralox graded permeability (GP), and 0.3μm polymeric polyvinylidene fluoride spiral-wound (PVDF-SW) MF systems (Parker-Hannifin, Process Advanced Filtration Division, Tell City, IN) at 50°C. No difference in cumulative SP removal percentage after 3 stages was detected between the Isoflux and previously published PVDF-SW values (70.3%), but SP removal was lower than published GP (96.5%) and UTP (98.3%) values. To remove 95% of SP from 1,000kg of skim milk in 12h it would take 7, 3, 3, and 7 stages with 6.86, 1.91, 2.82, and 17.98m(2) of membrane surface area for the Isoflux, GP, UTP, and PVDF-SW systems, respectively. The MF systems requiring more stages would produce additional permeate at lower protein concentrations. The ceramic MF systems requiring more surface area would incur higher capital costs. The authors hypothesize that SP removal with the Isoflux membranes was lower than theoretical for the following reasons: a range of membrane pore sizes existed (i.e., some pores were too small to pass SP), the selective layer modification and reverse flow conditions at the membrane outlet combined to reduce the effective membrane surface area, and the geometric shape of the Isoflux flow channels promoted early fouling of the membrane and rejection of SP by the foulant. Copyright © 2013 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Functional Expression and Characterization of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Avt3p as a Vacuolar Amino Acid Exporter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PubMed

Chardwiriyapreecha, Soracom; Manabe, Kunio; Iwaki, Tomoko; Kawano-Kawada, Miyuki; Sekito, Takayuki; Lunprom, Siriporn; Akiyama, Koichi; Takegawa, Kaoru; Kakinuma, Yoshimi

2015-01-01

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Avt3p and Avt4p mediate the extrusion of several amino acids from the vacuolar lumen into the cytosol. SpAvt3p of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a homologue of these vacuolar amino acid transporters, has been indicated to be involved in spore formation. In this study, we confirmed that GFP-SpAvt3p localized to the vacuolar membrane in S. pombe. The amounts of various amino acids increased significantly in the vacuolar pool of avt3Δ cells, but decreased in that of avt3+-overexpressing avt3Δ cells. These results suggest that SpAvt3p participates in the vacuolar compartmentalization of amino acids in S. pombe. To examine the export activity of SpAvt3p, we expressed the avt3+ gene in S. cerevisiae cells. We found that the heterologously overproduced GFP-SpAvt3p localized to the vacuolar membrane in S. cerevisiae. Using the vacuolar membrane vesicles isolated from avt3+-overexpressing S. cerevisiae cells, we detected the export activities of alanine and tyrosine in an ATP-dependent manner. These activities were inhibited by the addition of a V-ATPase inhibitor, concanamycin A, thereby suggesting that the activity of SpAvt3p is dependent on a proton electrochemical gradient generated by the action of V-ATPase. In addition, the amounts of various amino acids in the vacuolar pools of S. cerevisiae cells were decreased by the overproduction of SpAvt3p, which indicated that SpAvt3p was functional in S. cerevisiae cells. Thus, SpAvt3p is a vacuolar transporter that is involved in the export of amino acids from S. pombe vacuoles.

Characterization of Ovine A3Z1 Restriction Properties against Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs)

PubMed Central

de Pablo-Maiso, Lorena; Glaria, Idoia; Crespo, Helena; Nistal-Villán, Estanislao; Andrésdóttir, Valgerdur; de Andrés, Damián; Amorena, Beatriz

2017-01-01

Intrinsic factors of the innate immune system include the apolipoprotein B editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3 (APOBEC3) protein family. APOBEC3 inhibits replication of different virus families by cytosine deamination of viral DNA and a not fully characterized cytosine deamination-independent mechanism. Sheep are susceptible to small ruminant lentivirus (SRLVs) infection and contain three APOBEC3 genes encoding four proteins (A3Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z2-Z3) with yet not deeply described antiviral properties. Using sheep blood monocytes and in vitro-derived macrophages, we found that A3Z1 expression is associated with lower viral replication in this cellular type. A3Z1 transcripts may also contain spliced variants (A3Z1Tr) lacking the cytidine deaminase motif. A3Z1 exogenous expression in fully permissive fibroblast-like cells restricted SRLVs infection while A3Z1Tr allowed infection. A3Z1Tr was induced after SRLVs infection or stimulation of blood-derived macrophages with interferon gamma (IFN-γ). Interaction between truncated isoform and native A3Z1 protein was detected as well as incorporation of both proteins into virions. A3Z1 and A3Z1Tr interacted with SRLVs Vif, but this interaction was not associated with degradative properties. Similar A3Z1 truncated isoforms were also present in human and monkey cells suggesting a conserved alternative splicing regulation in primates. A3Z1-mediated retroviral restriction could be constrained by different means, including gene expression and specific alternative splicing regulation, leading to truncated protein isoforms lacking a cytidine-deaminase motif. PMID:29149056

Sp5 induces the expression of Nanog to maintain mouse embryonic stem cell self-renewal.

PubMed

Tang, Ling; Wang, Manman; Liu, Dahai; Gong, Mengting; Ying, Qi-Long; Ye, Shoudong

2017-01-01

Activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) by leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) maintains mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) self-renewal. Our previous study showed that trans-acting transcription factor 5 (Sp5), an LIF/STAT3 downstream target, supports mESC self-renewal. However, the mechanism by which Sp5 exerts these effects remains elusive. Here, we found that Nanog is a direct target of Sp5 and mediates the self-renewal-promoting effect of Sp5 in mESCs. Overexpression of Sp5 induced Nanog expression, while knockdown or knockout of Sp5 decreased the Nanog level. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays showed that Sp5 directly bound to the Nanog promoter. Functional studies revealed that knockdown of Nanog eliminated the mESC self-renewal-promoting ability of Sp5. Finally, we demonstrated that the self-renewal-promoting function of Sp5 was largely dependent on its zinc finger domains. Taken together, our study provides unrecognized functions of Sp5 in mESCs and will expand our current understanding of the regulation of mESC pluripotency.

Side population cells of pancreatic cancer show characteristics of cancer stem cells responsible for resistance and metastasis.

PubMed

Niess, Hanno; Camaj, Peter; Renner, Andrea; Ischenko, Ivan; Zhao, Yue; Krebs, Stefan; Mysliwietz, Josef; Jäckel, Carsten; Nelson, Peter J; Blum, Helmut; Jauch, Karl-Walter; Ellwart, Joachim W; Bruns, Christiane J

2015-06-01

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been proposed to underlie the initiation and maintenance of tumor growth and the development of chemoresistance in solid tumors. The identification and role of these important cells in pancreatic cancer remains controversial. Here, we isolate side population (SP) cells from the highly aggressive and metastatic human pancreatic cancer cell line L3.6pl and evaluate their potential role as models for CSCs. SP cells were isolated following Hoechst 33342 staining of L3.6pl cells. SP, non-SP, and unsorted L3.6pl cells were orthotopically xenografted into the pancreas of nude mice and tumor growth observed. RNA was analyzed by whole genome array and pathway mapping was performed. Drug resistant variants of L3.6pl were developed and examined for SP proportions and evaluated for surface expression of known CSC markers. A distinct SP with the ability to self-renew and differentiate into non-SP cells was isolated from L3.6pl (0.9 % ± 0.22). SP cells showed highly tumorigenic and metastatic characteristics after orthotopic injection. Transcriptomic analysis identified modulation of gene networks linked to tumorigenesis, differentiation, and metastasization in SP cells relative to non-SP cells. Wnt, NOTCH, and EGFR signaling pathways associated with tumor stem cells were altered in SP cells. When cultured with increasing concentrations of gemcitabine, the proportion of SP cells, ABCG2(+), and CD24(+) cells were significantly enriched, whereas 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment lowered the percentage of SP cells. SP cells were distinct from cells positive for previously postulated pancreatic CSC markers. The Hoechst-induced side population in L3.6pl cells comprises a subset of tumor cells displaying aggressive growth and metastasization, increased gemcitabine-, but not 5-FU resistance. The cells may act as a partial model for CSC biology.

NCEP Air Quality Forecast(AQF). NOAA/NWS/NCEP/EMC

Science.gov Websites

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Select Cycle: 12Z 06Z Select Field: target(4Z-4Z) day_1 O3 1h max target(4Z-4Z) day_2 O3 1h max target(4Z-4Z) day_1 O3 8h max target(4Z-4Z) day_2 O3 8h max Select

Integration of Early Specialist Palliative Care in Cancer Care: Survey of Oncologists, Oncology Nurses, and Patients.

PubMed

Salins, Naveen; Patra, Lipika; Usha Rani, M R; Lohitashva, S O; Rao, Raghavendra; Ramanjulu, Raghavendra; Vallath, Nandini

2016-01-01

Palliative care is usually delivered late in the course of illness trajectory. This precludes patients on active disease modifying treatment from receiving the benefit of palliative care intervention. A survey was conducted to know the opinion of oncologists, oncology nurses, and patients about the role of early specialist palliative care in cancer. A nonrandomized descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary cancer care center in India. Thirty oncologists, sixty oncology nurses, and sixty patients were surveyed. Improvement in symptom control was appreciated by oncologists, oncology nurses, and patients with respect to pain (Z = -4.10, P = 0.001), (Z = -5.84, P = 0.001), (Z = -6.20, P = 0.001); nausea and vomiting (Z = -3.75, P = 0.001), (Z = -5.3, P = 0.001), (Z = -5.1, P = 0.001); constipation (Z = -3.29, P = 0.001), (Z = -4.96, P = 0.001), (Z = -4.49, P = 0.001); breathlessness (Z = -3.57, P = 0.001), (Z = -5.03, P = 0.001), (Z = -4.99, P = 0.001); and restlessness (Z = -3.68, P = 0.001), (Z = -5.23, P = 0.001), (Z = -3.22, P = 0.001). Improvement in end-of-life care management was appreciated by oncologists and oncology nurses with respect to communication of prognosis (Z = -4.04, P = 0.001), (Z = -5.20, P = 0.001); discussion on limitation of life-sustaining treatment (Z = -3.68, P = 0.001), (Z = -4.53, P = 0.001); end-of-life symptom management (Z = -4.17, P = 0.001), (Z = -4.59, P = 0.001); perimortem care (Z = -3.86, P = 0.001), (Z = -4.80, P = 0.001); and bereavement support (Z = -3-80, P = 0.001), (Z = -4.95, P = 0.001). Improvement in health-related communication was appreciated by oncologists, oncology nurses, and patients with respect to communicating health related information in a sensitive manner (Z = -3.74, P = 0.001), (Z = -5.47, P = 0.001), (Z = -6.12, P = 0.001); conducting family meeting (Z = -3.12, P = 0.002), (Z = -4.60, P = 0.001), (Z = -5.90, P = 0.001); discussing goals of care (Z = -3.43, P = 0.001), (Z = -5.49, P = 0.001), (Z = -5.61, P = 0.001); maintaining hope (Z = -3.22, P = 0.001), (Z = -4.85, P = 0.001), (Z = -5.61, P = 0.001); and resolution of conflict (Z = -3.56, P = 0.001), (Z = -5.29, P = 0.001), (Z = -5.28, P = 0.001). Patients appreciated improvement in continuity of care with respect to discharge planning (Z = -6.12, P = 0.001), optimal supply of essential symptom control medications on discharge (Z = -6.32, P = 0.001), follow-up plan (Z = -6.40, P = 0.001), after hours telephonic support (Z = -6.31, P = 0.001), and preferred place of care (Z = -6.28, P = 0.001). Oncologists, oncology nurses, and patients felt that integration of early specialist palliative care in cancer improves symptom control, end-of-life care, health-related communication, and continuity of care. The perceptions of benefit of the palliative care intervention in the components surveyed, differed among the three groups.

Integration of Early Specialist Palliative Care in Cancer Care: Survey of Oncologists, Oncology Nurses, and Patients

PubMed Central

Salins, Naveen; Patra, Lipika; Usha Rani, MR; Lohitashva, SO; Rao, Raghavendra; Ramanjulu, Raghavendra; Vallath, Nandini

2016-01-01

Introduction: Palliative care is usually delivered late in the course of illness trajectory. This precludes patients on active disease modifying treatment from receiving the benefit of palliative care intervention. A survey was conducted to know the opinion of oncologists, oncology nurses, and patients about the role of early specialist palliative care in cancer. Methods: A nonrandomized descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary cancer care center in India. Thirty oncologists, sixty oncology nurses, and sixty patients were surveyed. Results: Improvement in symptom control was appreciated by oncologists, oncology nurses, and patients with respect to pain (Z = −4.10, P = 0.001), (Z = −5.84, P = 0.001), (Z = −6.20, P = 0.001); nausea and vomiting (Z = −3.75, P = 0.001), (Z = −5.3, P = 0.001), (Z = −5.1, P = 0.001); constipation (Z = −3.29, P = 0.001), (Z = −4.96, P = 0.001), (Z = −4.49, P = 0.001); breathlessness (Z = −3.57, P = 0.001), (Z = −5.03, P = 0.001), (Z = −4.99, P = 0.001); and restlessness (Z = −3.68, P = 0.001), (Z = −5.23, P = 0.001), (Z = −3.22, P = 0.001). Improvement in end-of-life care management was appreciated by oncologists and oncology nurses with respect to communication of prognosis (Z = −4.04, P = 0.001), (Z = −5.20, P = 0.001); discussion on limitation of life-sustaining treatment (Z = −3.68, P = 0.001), (Z = −4.53, P = 0.001); end-of-life symptom management (Z = −4.17, P = 0.001), (Z = −4.59, P = 0.001); perimortem care (Z = −3.86, P = 0.001), (Z = −4.80, P = 0.001); and bereavement support (Z = −3-80, P = 0.001), (Z = −4.95, P = 0.001). Improvement in health-related communication was appreciated by oncologists, oncology nurses, and patients with respect to communicating health related information in a sensitive manner (Z = −3.74, P = 0.001), (Z = −5.47, P = 0.001), (Z = −6.12, P = 0.001); conducting family meeting (Z = −3.12, P = 0.002), (Z = −4.60, P = 0.001), (Z = −5.90, P = 0.001); discussing goals of care (Z = −3.43, P = 0.001), (Z = −5.49, P = 0.001), (Z = −5.61, P = 0.001); maintaining hope (Z = −3.22, P = 0.001), (Z = −4.85, P = 0.001), (Z = −5.61, P = 0.001); and resolution of conflict (Z = −3.56, P = 0.001), (Z = −5.29, P = 0.001), (Z = −5.28, P = 0.001). Patients appreciated improvement in continuity of care with respect to discharge planning (Z = −6.12, P = 0.001), optimal supply of essential symptom control medications on discharge (Z = −6.32, P = 0.001), follow-up plan (Z = −6.40, P = 0.001), after hours telephonic support (Z = −6.31, P = 0.001), and preferred place of care (Z = −6.28, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Oncologists, oncology nurses, and patients felt that integration of early specialist palliative care in cancer improves symptom control, end-of-life care, health-related communication, and continuity of care. The perceptions of benefit of the palliative care intervention in the components surveyed, differed among the three groups. PMID:27559253

Biosynthesis of unusual moth pheromone components involves two different pathways in the navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella.

PubMed

Wang, Hong-Lei; Zhao, Cheng-Hua; Millar, Jocelyn G; Cardé, Ring T; Löfstedt, Christer

2010-05-01

The sex pheromone of the navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), consists of two different types of components, one type including (11Z,13Z)-11,13-hexadecadienal (11Z,13Z-16:Ald) with a terminal functional group containing oxygen, similar to the majority of moth pheromones reported, and another type including the unusual long-chain pentaenes, (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-3,6,9,12,15-tricosapentaene (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-23:H) and (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)- 3,6,9,12,15-pentacosapentaene (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-25:H). After decapitation of females, the titer of 11Z,13Z-16:Ald in the pheromone gland decreased significantly, whereas the titer of the pentaenes remained unchanged. Injection of a pheromone biosynthesis activating peptide (PBAN) into the abdomens of decapitated females restored the titer of 11Z,13Z-16:Ald and even increased it above that in intact females, whereas the titer of the pentaenes in the pheromone gland was not affected by PBAN injection. In addition to common fatty acids, two likely precursors of 11Z,13Z-16:Ald, i.e., (Z)-11-hexadecenoic and (11Z,13Z)-11,13-hexadecadienoic acid, as well as traces of (Z)-6-hexadecenoic acid, were found in gland extracts. In addition, pheromone gland lipids contained (5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)-5,8,11,14,17-icosapentaenoic acid, which also was found in extracts of the rest of the abdomen. Deuterium-labeled fatty acids, (16,16,16-D(3))-hexadecanoic acid and (Z)-[13,13,14,14,15,15,16,16,16-D(9)]-11-hexadecenoic acid, were incorporated into 11Z,13Z-16:Ald after topical application to the sex pheromone gland coupled with abdominal injection of PBAN. Deuterium label was incorporated into the C(23) and C(25) pentaenes after injection of (9Z,12Z,15Z)- [17,17,18,18,18-D(5)]-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid into 1-2 d old female pupae. These labeling results, in conjunction with the composition of fatty acid intermediates found in pheromone gland extracts, support different pathways leading to the two pheromone components. 11Z,13Z-16:Ald is probably produced in the pheromone gland by Delta11 desaturation of palmitic acid to 11Z-16:Acid followed by a second desaturation to form 11Z,13Z-16:Acid and subsequent reduction and oxidation. The production of 3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-23:H and 3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-25:H may take place outside the pheromone gland, and appears to start from linolenic acid, which is elongated and desaturated to form (5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)-5,8,11,14,17-icosapentaenoic acid, followed by two or three further elongation steps and finally reductive decarboxylation.

Biosynthesis of Unusual Moth Pheromone Components Involves Two Different Pathways in the Navel Orangeworm, Amyelois transitella

PubMed Central

Wang, Hong-Lei; Zhao, Cheng-Hua; Millar, Jocelyn G.; Cardé, Ring T.

2010-01-01

The sex pheromone of the navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), consists of two different types of components, one type including (11Z,13Z)-11,13-hexadecadienal (11Z,13Z-16:Ald) with a terminal functional group containing oxygen, similar to the majority of moth pheromones reported, and another type including the unusual long-chain pentaenes, (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-3,6,9,12,15-tricosapentaene (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-23:H) and (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)- 3,6,9,12,15-pentacosapentaene (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-25:H). After decapitation of females, the titer of 11Z,13Z-16:Ald in the pheromone gland decreased significantly, whereas the titer of the pentaenes remained unchanged. Injection of a pheromone biosynthesis activating peptide (PBAN) into the abdomens of decapitated females restored the titer of 11Z,13Z-16:Ald and even increased it above that in intact females, whereas the titer of the pentaenes in the pheromone gland was not affected by PBAN injection. In addition to common fatty acids, two likely precursors of 11Z,13Z-16:Ald, i.e., (Z)-11-hexadecenoic and (11Z,13Z)-11,13-hexadecadienoic acid, as well as traces of (Z)-6-hexadecenoic acid, were found in gland extracts. In addition, pheromone gland lipids contained (5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)-5,8,11,14,17-icosapentaenoic acid, which also was found in extracts of the rest of the abdomen. Deuterium-labeled fatty acids, (16,16,16-D3)-hexadecanoic acid and (Z)-[13,13,14,14,15,15,16,16,16-D9]-11-hexadecenoic acid, were incorporated into 11Z,13Z-16:Ald after topical application to the sex pheromone gland coupled with abdominal injection of PBAN. Deuterium label was incorporated into the C23 and C25 pentaenes after injection of (9Z,12Z,15Z)- [17,17,18,18,18-D5]-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid into 1–2 d old female pupae. These labeling results, in conjunction with the composition of fatty acid intermediates found in pheromone gland extracts, support different pathways leading to the two pheromone components. 11Z,13Z-16:Ald is probably produced in the pheromone gland by Δ11 desaturation of palmitic acid to 11Z-16:Acid followed by a second desaturation to form 11Z,13Z-16:Acid and subsequent reduction and oxidation. The production of 3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-23:H and 3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-25:H may take place outside the pheromone gland, and appears to start from linolenic acid, which is elongated and desaturated to form (5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)-5,8,11,14,17-icosapentaenoic acid, followed by two or three further elongation steps and finally reductive decarboxylation. PMID:20393784

The spin-partitioned total position-spread tensor: An application to Heisenberg spin chains

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fertitta, Edoardo; Paulus, Beate; El Khatib, Muammar

2015-12-28

The spin partition of the Total Position-Spread (TPS) tensor has been performed for one-dimensional Heisenberg chains with open boundary conditions. Both the cases of a ferromagnetic (high-spin) and an anti-ferromagnetic (low-spin) ground-state have been considered. In the case of a low-spin ground-state, the use of alternating magnetic couplings allowed to investigate the effect of spin-pairing. The behavior of the spin-partitioned TPS (SP-TPS) tensor as a function of the number of sites turned to be closely related to the presence of an energy gap between the ground-state and the first excited-state at the thermodynamic limit. Indeed, a gapped energy spectrum ismore » associated to a linear growth of the SP-TPS tensor with the number of sites. On the other hand, in gapless situations, the spread presents a faster-than-linear growth, resulting in the divergence of its per-site value. Finally, for the case of a high-spin wave function, an analytical expression of the dependence of the SP-TPS on the number of sites n and the total spin-projection S{sub z} has been derived.« less

Yeasts from autochthonal cheese starters: technological and functional properties.

PubMed

Binetti, A; Carrasco, M; Reinheimer, J; Suárez, V

2013-08-01

The aim of this work was to identify 20 yeasts isolated from autochthonal cheese starters and evaluate their technological and functional properties. The capacities of the yeasts to grow at different temperatures, pH, NaCl and lactic acid concentrations as well as the proteolytic and lipolytic activities were studied. Moreover, survival to simulated gastrointestinal digestion, hydrophobicity, antimicrobial activity against pathogens and auto- and co-aggregation abilities were evaluated. The sequentiation of a fragment from the 26S rDNA gene indicated that Kluyveromyces marxianus was the predominant species, followed by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Clavispora lusitaniae, Kluyveromyces lactis and Galactomyces geotrichum. RAPD with primer M13 allowed a good differentiation among strains from the same species. All strains normally grew at pH 4.7-5.5 and temperatures between 15 and 35°C. Most of them tolerated 10% NaCl and 3% lactic acid. Some strains showed proteolytic (eight isolates) and/or lipolytic (four isolates) capacities. All strains evidenced high gastrointestinal resistance, moderate hydrophobicity, intermediate auto-aggregation and variable co-aggregation abilities. No strains inhibited the growth of the pathogens assayed. Some strains from dairy sources showed interesting functional and technological properties. This study has been the first contribution to the identification and characterization of yeasts isolated from autochthonal cheese starters in Argentina. Many strains could be proposed as potential candidates to be used as probiotics and/or as co-starters in cheese productions. © 2013 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Substance P Activates the Wnt Signal Transduction Pathway and Enhances the Differentiation of Mouse Preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 Cells

PubMed Central

Mei, Gang; Zou, Zhenlv; Fu, Su; Xia, Liheng; Zhou, Jian; Zhang, Yongtao; Tuo, Yonghua; Wang, Zhao; Jin, Dan

2014-01-01

Recent experiments have explored the impact of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and Substance P (SP) on the regulation of osteogenesis. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms of SP on the formation of osteoblasts is still unknown. In this study, we investigated the impact of SP on the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. The osteogenic effect of SP was observed at different SP concentrations (ranging from 10−10 to 10−8 M). To unravel the underlying mechanism, the MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with SP after the pretreatment by neurokinin-1 (NK1) antagonists and Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) and gene expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway components, as well as osteoblast differentiation markers (collagen type I, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and Runx2), were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Furthermore, protein levels of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were detected using Western blotting and the effects of SP, NK1 antagonist, and DKK1 on β-catenin activation were investigated by immunofluorescence staining. Our data indicated that SP (10−9 to 10−8 M) significantly up-regulated the expressions of osteoblastic genes. SP (10−8 M) also elevated the mRNA level of c-myc, cyclin D1, and lymphocyte enhancer factor-1 (Lef1), as well as c-myc and β-catenin protein levels, but decreased the expression of Tcf7 mRNA. Moreover, SP (10−8 M) promoted the transfer of β-catenin into nucleus. The effects of SP treatment were inhibited by the NK1 antagonist and DKK1. These findings suggest that SP may enhance differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells via regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. PMID:24733069

Substance P receptors: localization by light microscopic autoradiography in rat brain using [3H]SP as the radioligand.

PubMed

Mantyh, P W; Hunt, S P; Maggio, J E

1984-07-30

Substance P (SP) is a putative neurotransmitter in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. In the present report we have used a modification of the Young and Kuhar technique to investigate some of the SP receptors binding properties and the distribution of SP receptors in rat brain. Tritiated SP [( 3H]SP) absorbed extensively to glass but this adsorbtion was greatly reduced by preincubating the slide-mounted tissue sections in a solution containing the cationic polymer polyethylenimine. [3H]SP was found to bind to rat tissue in a saturable fashion with a Bmax of 14.7 fmol/mg tissue wet weight and a Kd of 1.1 nM. The rank order of potencies for displacing [3H]SP binding from rat tissue sections was SP greater than SP sulphoxide greater than DiMeC7 greater than Eledoisin greater than SP(5-11) greater than SP(COOH) greater than SP(1-9) amide. Using autoradiography coupled with LKB tritium-sensitive Ultrofilm or the dry emulsion-coated coverslip technique the distribution of [3H]SP binding sites was found to be very dense within olfactory bulb, amygdalo-hippocampal area and the nucleus of the solitary tract. Heavy concentrations of receptors were observed in the septum, diagonal band of Broca, striatum subiculum, hypothalamus, locus coeruleus, parabrachial nucleus and lobule 9 and 10 of the cerebellum. Moderate to low concentrations of receptors were observed in the cerebral cortex, globus pallidus, raphe nuclei and the trigeminal nucleus. Very low densities were observed in most aspects of the dorsal thalamus, substantia nigra and cerebellum (other than lobule 9 and 10). Comparisons of the present data with SP peptide levels indicate that in some areas of the brain there is a rough correlation between peptide and receptor levels. However, in other brain areas (olfactory bulb, globus pallidus and substantia nigra) there is little obvious correlation between the two.

Superhard sp{sup 2}–sp{sup 3} hybrid carbon allotropes with tunable electronic properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hu, Meng; Ma, Mengdong; Zhao, Zhisheng

Four sp{sup 2}–sp{sup 3} hybrid carbon allotropes are proposed on the basis of first principles calculations. These four carbon allotropes are energetically more favorable than graphite under suitable pressure conditions. They can be assembled from graphite through intralayer wrinkling and interlayer buckling, which is similar to the formation of diamond from graphite. For one of the sp{sup 2}–sp{sup 3} hybrid carbon allotropes, mC24, the electron diffraction patterns match these of i-carbon, which is synthesized from shock-compressed graphite (H. Hirai and K. Kondo, Science, 1991, 253, 772). The allotropes exhibit tunable electronic characteristics from metallic to semiconductive with band gaps comparablemore » to those of silicon allotropes. They are all superhard materials with Vickers hardness values comparable to that of cubic BN. The sp{sup 2}–sp{sup 3} hybrid carbon allotroes are promising materials for photovoltaic electronic devices, and abrasive and grinding tools.« less

Neuroprotective effect of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis against kainic acid-neuronal death.

PubMed

Pérez-Juárez, Angélica; Chamorro, Germán; Alva-Sánchez, Claudia; Paniagua-Castro, Norma; Pacheco-Rosado, Jorge

2016-08-01

Context Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis (SP) is a cyanobacterium which has attracted attention because of its nutritional value and pharmacological properties. It was previously reported that SP reduces oxidative stress in the hippocampus and protects against damaging neurobehavioural effects of systemic kainic acid (KA). It is widely known that the systemic administration of KA induces neuronal damage, specifically in the CA3 hippocampal region. Objective The present study determines if the SP sub-chronic treatment has neuroprotective properties against KA. Materials and methods Male SW mice were treated with SP during 24 d, at doses of 0, 200, and 800 mg/kg, once daily, and with KA (35 mg/kg, ip) as a single dose on day 14. After the treatment, a histological analysis was performed and the number of atrophic neuronal cells in CA3 hippocampal region was quantified. Results Pretreatment with SP does not protect against seizures induced by KA. However, mortality in the SP 200 and the SP 800 groups was of 20%, while for the KA group, it was of 60%. A single KA ip administration produced a considerable neuronal damage, whereas both doses of SP sub-chronic treatment reduced the number of atrophic neurons in CA3 hippocampal region with respect to the KA group. Discussion The SP neurobehaviour improvement after KA systemic administration correlates with the capacity of SP to reduce KA-neuronal death in CA3 hippocampal cells. This neuroprotection may be related to the antioxidant properties of SP. Conclusion SP reduces KA-neuronal death in CA3 hippocampal cells.

A Cultural Resources Evaluation of the Pammel Creek Site (47Lc61): An Oneota Occupation at La Crosse, Wisconsin

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-05-01

1 1 chrysemys/Gratemys sp. 1 - Small turtle sp. 2 - Fishes Estimated Total Live Weipht(kg) Lepisosteus sp. 3 1 .5 Amia calva 1 1 - Esox sp. 1 1 .2...Amphib. Gastropods 4 4 Feature 3 Estimated Total Fishes Live Weight(kg) Amia calva 1 1 2.3 Ictaluridae 2 1 •9 Feature 4 4 Freshwater Mussels Quadrula...Remains by Feature Number of Elements MNI 6 F.9 (cont.) Estimated Total Fishes Live Weight(kg) Lepisosteus sp. 5 1 .5 Amia calva 3 - - Catosom6i ae 1

The artiodactyl APOBEC3 innate immune repertoire shows evidence for a multi-functional domain organization that existed in the ancestor of placental mammals

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Background: APOBEC3 (A3) proteins deaminate DNA cytosines and block the replication of retroviruses and retrotransposons. Each A3 gene encodes a protein with one or two conserved zinc-coordinating motifs (Z1, Z2 or Z3). The presence of one A3 gene in mice (Z2-Z3) and seven in humans, A3A-H (Z1a, Z2a...

Gap junctional communication modulates gene transcription by altering the recruitment of Sp1 and Sp3 to connexin-response elements in osteoblast promoters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stains, Joseph P.; Lecanda, Fernando; Screen, Joanne; Towler, Dwight A.; Civitelli, Roberto

2003-01-01

Loss-of-function mutations of gap junction proteins, connexins, represent a mechanism of disease in a variety of tissues. We have shown that recessive (gene deletion) or dominant (connexin45 overexpression) disruption of connexin43 function results in osteoblast dysfunction and abnormal expression of osteoblast genes, including down-regulation of osteocalcin transcription. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of gap junction-sensitive transcriptional regulation, we systematically analyzed the rat osteocalcin promoter for sensitivity to gap junctional intercellular communication. We identified an Sp1/Sp3 containing complex that assembles on a minimal element in the -70 to -57 region of the osteocalcin promoter in a gap junction-dependent manner. This CT-rich connexin-response element is necessary and sufficient to confer gap junction sensitivity to the osteocalcin proximal promoter. Repression of osteocalcin transcription occurs as a result of displacement of the stimulatory Sp1 by the inhibitory Sp3 on the promoter when gap junctional communication is perturbed. Modulation of Sp1/Sp3 recruitment also occurs on the collagen Ialpha1 promoter and translates into gap junction-sensitive transcriptional control of collagen Ialpha1 gene expression. Thus, regulation of Sp1/Sp3 recruitment to the promoter may represent a potential general mechanism for transcriptional control of target genes by signals passing through gap junctions.

Zoonotic intestinal parasites in Papio anubis (baboon) and Cercopithecus aethiops (vervet) from four localities in Ethiopia.

PubMed

Legesse, Mengistu; Erko, Berhanu

2004-05-01

A total of 59 faecal samples from ranging Papio anubis (baboons) and another 41 from Cercopithecus aethiops (vervet) from the Rift Valley areas of Ethiopia were microscopically examined to determine the prevalence and species of major gastro-intestinal parasites of zoonotic importance. Faecal smears were prepared from fresh faecal samples, stained using modified Ziehl-Neelsen method and microscopically examined. About 3 gm of the dropping was also preserved separately in clean and properly labelled containers containing 10% formalin. The specimens were microscopically examined after formalin-ether concentration for ova, larvae, cysts and oocyst of intestinal parasites. The results of microscopic examination of faecal samples of baboons demonstrated the presence of Trichuris sp. (27.1%), Strongyloides sp. (37.3%), Trichostrongylus sp. (8.5%), Oesophagostomum sp. (10.2%), Schistosoma mansoni (20.3%), Entamoeba coli (83.1%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (16.9%), Blastocystis hominis (3.3%), Cyclospora sp. (13.3%) and Cryptosporidium sp. (11.9%). Likewise, the results of microscopic examination of faecal samples of vervets demonstrated the presence of Trichuris sp. (36.6%), Oesophagostomum sp. (4.9%), E. coli (61.0%), E. histolytica/dispar (24.4%), B. hominis (34.2%), Cyclospora sp. (22.0%) and Cryptosporidium sp. (29.3%). The presence of parasitic protozoa and helminths in baboons and vervets in the study areas is a high risk to human welfare because these non-human primates use the same water sources as humans and range freely in human habitats. An implication of such parasitic infection for the control programme is discussed.

The N-terminal domain of substance P is required for complete homologous desensitization but not phosphorylation of the rat neurokinin-1 receptor.

PubMed

Vigna, S R

2001-02-01

The agonist activity of substance P (SP) is a function of the C-terminal domain of the peptide. A C-terminal SP fragment (SP(6-11)) and analog (septide) and neurokinin A (NKA; a related tachykinin with a divergent N-terminal amino acid sequence) were found to be full neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) agonists, but were not able to desensitize the receptor maximally as much as SP. Substance P caused 95.6 +/- 0.9% maximal desensitization of the NK-1R whereas SP(6-11), septide, and NKA(only)caused 74 +/- 3.5, 50.6 +/- 8, and 71.5 +/- 4.4% maximal desensitization, respectively (mean +/- SEM; P < 0.001 vs SP). When a series of SP C-terminal fragment peptides were tested for their NK-1R desensitizing activity, it was found that SP(5-11)and SP(6-11)caused significantly less maximal NK-1R desensitization than SP. SP N-terminal fragment peptides had no effect on the ability of SP(6-11)to compete with(3)H-SP binding, generate an IP(3)response, or cause NK-1R desensitization when tested with or without SP(6-11). SP, SP(6-11), septide, and NKA all maximally stimulated 8-9-fold increases in NK-1R phosphorylation. When attached to the C-terminal domain of SP responsible for NK-1R binding and agonism, the N-terminus of SP is responsible for 25-50% of homologous desensitization and this may occur via a mechanism other than NK-1R phosphorylation. Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

Effects of high versus standard early protein intake on growth of extremely low birth weight infants.

PubMed

Maggio, Luca; Cota, Francesco; Gallini, Francesca; Lauriola, Valeria; Zecca, Chiara; Romagnoli, Costantino

2007-01-01

Early provision of protein has been shown to limit catabolism and could improve growth. Our objective was to determine whether early aggressive protein intake improved growth outcomes of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. ELBW infants were included in the study if they had no major congenital anomalies or renal failure and were still hospitalized at 36 weeks postmenstrual age. In 25 infants (HP) the early protein intake was planned to be 20% greater than in 31 historical controls (SP). The 2 groups were similar in the baseline characteristics. The mean protein intake during the first 14 days of life was significantly greater in the HP group (3.1 +/- 0.2 vs 2.5 +/- 0.2 g/kg/d; P<0.0001). HP group showed lower postnatal weight loss (-3.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI] -5.9, -0.2) and earlier regain of birth weight (-4.1 days; 95% CI -6.6, -1.7). Mean blood urea nitrogen and bicarbonate levels were similar; mean serum glucose level was lower in the HP group (-21,7 mg/dL; 95% CI -41.9,-1.5). HP infants had a reduced fall in weight z score (-0.57; 95% CI -1.01, -0.12) and in length z score (-0.51; 95% CI -0.97, -0.05) from birth to discharge. Early high protein intake was associated with improved weight and length growth outcomes at discharge. These findings highlight the benefits of aggressive protein intake immediately after birth.

Binding characteristics of [125I]Bolton-Hunter [Sar9,Met(O2)11]substance P, a new selective radioligand for the NK1 receptor.

PubMed

Lew, R; Geraghty, D P; Drapeau, G; Regoli, D; Burcher, E

1990-08-02

The selective tachykinin agonist [Sar9,Met(O2)11]substance P (Sar-SP) was radioiodinated with [125I]Bolton-Hunter reagent and the product [125I]Bolton-Hunter-[Sar9,Met(O)2)11]SP (BHSar-SP) purified using reverse phase HPLC. Autoradiographic studies showed dense specific binding of BHSar-SP over the rat submandibular gland and over several regions in rat brain, with very low nonspecific binding, identical with the pattern of binding sites seen in a parallel study with [125I]Bolton-Hunter SP (BHSP). In homogenate binding experiments, BHSar-SP bound with high affinity to a single site in membranes from rat brain (KD 261 pM) and rat submandibular gland (KD 105 pM). Comparative values for BHSP were 495 and 456 pM, i.e. of two and four fold lower affinity than BHSar-SP. Association of BHSar-SP to membranes from brain (k+1 3.7 x 10(9) M-1 min-1) was faster than to membranes from salivary gland (k+1 5.6 x 10(8) M-1 min-1). In competition studies, BHSar-SP was displaced from salivary gland membranes by substance P (SP) approximately physalaemin greater than or equal to Sar-SP approximately SP-(3-11) greater than SP-(5-11) much greater than neurokinin A (NKA) approximately eledoisin = kassinin = SP-methyl ester greater than or equal to neurokinin B (NKB) much greater than [Nle10]NKA-(4-10) greater than [MePhe7]NKB-(4-10). In brain membranes, the rank potency order was SP greater than Sar-SP greater than or equal to physalaemin greater than SP-(3-11) greater than SP-(5-11) greater than NKA greater than or equal to eledoisin much greater than NKB greater than kassinin greater than SP-methyl ester: however [MePhe7]NKB-(4-10) and [Nle10]NKA-(4-10) were ineffective competitors at concentrations up to 1 microM. Both binding patterns are consistent with BHSar-SP binding to an NK1 site. With the exception of SP, Sar-SP, SP-(3-11) and physalaemin, all competitors were 5 to 54 times less potent at BHSar-SP binding sites in brain than in salivary gland. These data reveal some differences in characteristics of NK1 binding sites in brain and submandibular gland. Although of higher affinity, BHSar-SP does not appear greatly more selective than BHSP in its ability to define NK1 binding sites.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Antioxidant, and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities of Methoxy-substituted Benzohydrazide Derivatives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prachumrat, P.; Kobkeatthawin, T.; Ruanwas, P.; Boonnak, N.; Laphookhieo, S.; Kassim, M. B.; Chantrapromma, S.

2018-05-01

Eight methoxy substituted at the benzylidene moiety benzohydrazide derivatives [ R = 2-OCH3 ( 1), 3-OCH3 ( 2), 4-OCH3 ( 3), 2,3-(OCH3)2 ( 4), 3,4-(OCH3)2 ( 5), 2,4,5-(OCH3)3 ( 6), 2,4,6-(OCH3)3 ( 7), and 3,4,5-(OCH3)3 ( 8)] were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The crystal structure of 4 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (sp. gr. Pbca, Z = 8). The molecule is slightly twisted with the dihedral angle between the two phenyl rings being 9.33(14)°. The methoxy group at the ortho position is twisted [C-O-C-C angle is-109.2(3)°] whereas the other at meta position is co-planar with the attached benzene ring. In the crystal packing, the molecules are linked into two-dimensional network parallel to the (001) plane by O-H···O, O-H···N, and N-H···O hydrogen bonds. Compounds 1-8 were evaluated for an antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and the results suggested that the -OCH3 substituent was ineffective for bioactivity enhancement.

Production efficiency of micellar casein concentrate using polymeric spiral-wound microfiltration membranes.

PubMed

Beckman, S L; Zulewska, J; Newbold, M; Barbano, D M

2010-10-01

Most current research has focused on using ceramic microfiltration (MF) membranes for micellar casein concentrate production, but little research has focused on the use of polymeric spiral-wound (SW) MF membranes. A method for the production of a serum protein (SP)-reduced micellar casein concentrate using SW MF was compared with a ceramic MF membrane. Pasteurized (79°C, 18s) skim milk (1,100 kg) was microfiltered at 50°C [about 3 × concentration] using a 0.3-μm polyvinylidene fluoride spiral-wound membrane, bleed-and-feed, 3-stage process, using 2 diafiltration stages, where the retentate was diluted 1:2 with reverse osmosis water. Skim milk, permeate, and retentate were analyzed for SP content, and the reduction of SP from skim milk was determined. Theoretically, 68% of the SP content of skim milk can be removed using a single-stage 3× MF. If 2 subsequent water diafiltration stages are used, an additional 22% and 7% of the SP can be removed, respectively, giving a total SP removal of 97%. Removal of SP greater than 95% has been achieved using a 0.1-μm pore size ceramic uniform transmembrane pressure (UTP) MF membrane after a 3-stage MF with diafiltration process. One stage of MF plus 2 stages of diafiltration of 50°C skim milk using a polyvinylidene fluoride polymeric SW 0.3-μm membrane yielded a total SP reduction of only 70.3% (stages 1, 2, and 3: 38.6, 20.8, and 10.9%, respectively). The SP removal rate for the polymeric SW MF membrane was lower in all 3 stages of processing (stages 1, 2, and 3: 0.05, 0.04, and 0.03 kg/m(2) per hour, respectively) than that of the comparable ceramic UTP MF membrane (stages 1, 2, and 3: 0.30, 0.11, and 0.06 kg/m(2) per hour, respectively), indicating that SW MF is less efficient at removing SP from 50°C skim milk than the ceramic UTP system. To estimate the number of steps required for the SW system to reach 95% SP removal, the third-stage SP removal rate (27.4% of the starting material SP content) was used to extrapolate that an additional 5 water diafiltration stages would be necessary, for a total of 8 stages, to remove 95% of the SP from skim milk. The 8-plus stages necessary to remove >95% SP for the SW MF membrane would create more permeate and a lengthier process than required with ceramic membranes. Copyright © 2010 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Activation of dynamin I gene expression by Sp1 and Sp3 is required for neuronal differentiation of N1E-115 cells.

PubMed

Yoo, Jiyun; Jeong, Moon-Jin; Kwon, Byoung-Mog; Hur, Man-Wook; Park, Young-Mee; Han, Mi Young

2002-04-05

Dynamin I is a key molecule required for the recycling of synaptic vesicles in neurons, and it has been known that dynamin I gene expression is induced during neuronal differentiation. Our previous studies established that neuronal restriction of dynamin I gene expression is controlled by Sp1 and nuclear factor-kappaB-like element-1. Here, using a series of deletion constructs and site-directed mutation, we found that transcription of dynamin I gene during neuronal differentiation of N1E-115 cells is controlled primarily by the Sp1 element located between -13 to -4 bp of the dynamin I promoter. Gel shift analysis demonstrated that in addition to Sp1, Sp3 could interact with this Sp1 element. The requirement for Sp family transcription factors in dynamin I gene expression was confirmed by using mithramycin, an inhibitor of Sp1/Sp3 binding. Mithramycin repressed dynamin I gene expression and resulted in blocking of neuronal differentiation of N1E-115 cells. The localization of the dynamin I protein was also restricted in the peripheral region of the nucleus by the mithramycin treatment. Thus, all of our results suggest that induction of dynamin I gene expression during N1E-115 cell differentiation is modulated by Sp1/Sp3 interactions with the dynamin I promoter, and its expression is important for neuronal differentiation of the N1E-115 cells.

Active uptake system for substance P carboxy-terminal heptapeptide (5-11) into a fraction from rabbit enriched in glial cells.

PubMed

Inoue, A; Nakata, Y; Yajima, H; Segawa, T

1984-10-01

In the present study, we demonstrated the existence of an active uptake system for substance P carboxy-terminal heptapeptide, (5-11)SP. When a fraction from rabbit brain enriched in glial cells was incubated with [3H] (5-11)SP, an uptake of [3H](5-11)SP was observed. The uptake system has the properties of an active transport mechanism. Kinetic analysis indicated two components of [3H](5-11)SP uptake, one representing a high and the other a low affinity transport system. After unilateral ablation of the striatum, approximately 30% of the high affinity [3H](5-11)SP uptake capacity of substantia nigra slices disappeared. The subcellular distribution of the high affinity uptake indicated that [3H] 5-hydroxytryptamine was taken up mostly into the P2B fraction (synaptosomal fraction), whereas [3H](5-11)SP was taken up into the P2A fraction (myelin fraction) to the same extent as into the P2B fraction. These results suggest that when SP is released from nerve terminals, it is hydrolysed into (5-11)SP, which is in turn accumulated into glial cells as well as nerve terminals and that this high affinity uptake mechanism may play an important role in terminating the synaptic action of SP.

Effect of edge defects on band structure of zigzag graphene nanoribbons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wadhwa, Payal; Kumar, Shailesh; Dhilip Kumar, T. J.; Shukla, Alok; Kumar, Rakesh

2018-04-01

In this article, we report band structure studies of zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) on introducing defects (sp3 hybridized carbon atoms) in different concentrations at edges by varying the ratio of sp3 to sp2 hybridized carbon atoms. On the basis of theoretical analyses, bandgap values of ZGNRs are found to be strongly dependent on the relative arrangement of sp3 to sp2 hybridized carbon atoms at the edges for a defect concentration; so the findings would greatly help in understanding the bandgap of nanoribbons for their electronic applications.

Airblast Loading Model for DYNA2D and DYNA3D.

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-03-01

Composite Hull Technology Mine-Blast-Resistant Vehicle Floor Panel." ARL-TR-796, U. S . Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, July 1995. 11...x3 ,x4,y l,y2,y3,y4, & zi ,z2,z3,z4, s ,x5,y5,z5,cosa) c Find the incidence angle from xO,yO,zO to the face that c has corners (xl,yl,zl) ... (x4,y4,z4...if (s.le.0.) cosa = -cosa end subroutine conwepblast(x 1 ,x2,x3,x4,y l,y2,y3,y4, & zl ,z2,z3,z4, s ,t,p) c common /conwep-input/wtnt,xO,yO,zO,tO,isurf

Rates of Chemical Cleavage of DNA and RNA Oligomers Containing Guanine Oxidation Products

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

The nucleobase guanine in DNA (dG) and RNA (rG) has the lowest standard reduction potential of the bases, rendering it a major site of oxidative damage in these polymers. Mapping the sites at which oxidation occurs in an oligomer via chemical reagents utilizes hot piperidine for cleaving oxidized DNA and aniline (pH 4.5) for cleaving oxidized RNA. In the present studies, a series of time-dependent cleavages of DNA and RNA strands containing various guanine lesions were examined to determine the strand scission rate constants. The guanine base lesions 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (OG), spiroiminodihydantoin (Sp), 5-guanidinohydantoin (Gh), 2,2,4-triamino-2H-oxazol-5-one (Z), and 5-carboxamido-5-formamido-2-iminohydantoin (2Ih) were evaluated in piperidine-treated DNA and aniline-treated RNA. These data identified wide variability in the chemical lability of the lesions studied in both DNA and RNA. Further, the rate constants for cleaving lesions in RNA were generally found to be significantly smaller than for lesions in DNA. The OG nucleotides were poorly cleaved in DNA and RNA; Sp nucleotides were slowly cleaved in DNA and did not cleave significantly in RNA; Gh and Z nucleotides cleaved in both DNA and RNA at intermediate rates; and 2Ih oligonucleotides cleaved relatively quickly in both DNA and RNA. The data are compared and contrasted with respect to future experimental design. PMID:25853314

Red but not dead: unveiling the star-forming far-infrared spectral energy distribution of SpARCS brightest cluster galaxies at 0 < z < 1.8

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonaventura, N. R.; Webb, T. M. A.; Muzzin, A.; Noble, A.; Lidman, C.; Wilson, G.; Yee, H. K. C.; Geach, J.; Hezaveh, Y.; Shupe, D.; Surace, J.

2017-08-01

We present the results of a Spitzer/Herschel infrared photometric analysis of the largest (716) and the highest-redshift (z = 1.8) sample of brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs), those from the Spitzer Adaptation of the Red-Sequence Cluster Survey Given the tension that exists between model predictions and recent observations of BCGs at z < 2, we aim to uncover the dominant physical mechanism(s) guiding the stellar mass buildup of this special class of galaxies, the most massive in the Universe and uniquely residing at the centres of galaxy clusters. Through a comparison of their stacked, broad-band, infrared spectral energy distributions (SEDs) to a variety of model templates in the literature, we identify the major sources of their infrared energy output, in multiple redshift bins between 0 < z < 1.8. We derive estimates of various BCG physical parameters from the stacked νLν SEDs, from which we infer a star-forming, as opposed to a 'red and dead' population of galaxies, producing tens to hundreds of solar masses per year down to z = 0.5. This discovery challenges the accepted belief that BCGs should only passively evolve through a series of gas-poor, minor mergers since z ˜ 4, but agrees with an improved semi-analytic model of hierarchical structure formation that predicts star-forming BCGs throughout the epoch considered. We attribute the star formation inferred from the stacked infrared SEDs to both major and minor 'wet' (gas-rich) mergers, based on a lack of key signatures (to date) of cooling-flow-induced star formation, as well as a number of observational and simulation-based studies that support this scenario.

Recombinant mouse sperm ZP3-binding protein (ZP3R/sp56) forms a high order oligomer that binds eggs and inhibits mouse fertilization in vitro.

PubMed

Buffone, Mariano G; Zhuang, Tiangang; Ord, Teri S; Hui, Ling; Moss, Stuart B; Gerton, George L

2008-05-02

Many candidates have been proposed as zona pellucida-binding proteins. Without precluding a role for any of those candidates, we focused on mouse sperm protein ZP3R/sp56, which is localized in the acrosomal matrix. The objective of this study was to analyze the role of ZP3R/sp56 in mouse fertilization. We expressed recombinant ZP3R/sp56 as a secreted protein in HEK293 cells and purified it from serum-free, conditioned medium. In the presence of reducing agents, the recombinant ZP3R/sp56 exhibited a molecular weight similar to that observed for the native ZP3R/sp56. Reminiscent of the native protein, recombinant ZP3R/sp56 formed a high molecular weight, disulfide cross-linked oligomer consisting of six or more monomers under non-reducing conditions. Recombinant ZP3R/sp56 bound to the zona pellucida of unfertilized eggs but not to 2-cell embryos, indicating that the changes that take place in the zona pellucida at fertilization affected the interaction of this protein with the zona pellucida. The extent of in vitro fertilization was reduced in a dose-dependent manner when unfertilized eggs were preincubated with recombinant ZP3R/sp56 (74% drop at the maximum concentrations assayed). Eggs incubated with the recombinant protein showed an absence of or very few sperm in the perivitelline space, suggesting that the reduction in the fertilization rate is caused by the inhibition of sperm binding and/or penetration through the zona pellucida. These results indicate that sperm ZP3R/sp56 is important for sperm-zona interactions during fertilization and support the concept that the acrosomal matrix plays an essential role in mediating the binding of sperm to the zona pellucida.

Regulation of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase by neuron-specific transcription factor Sp4: implication in the tight coupling of energy production, neuronal activity and energy consumption in neurons.

PubMed

Johar, Kaid; Priya, Anusha; Wong-Riley, Margaret T T

2014-02-01

A major source of energy demand in neurons is the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase pump that restores the ionic gradient across the plasma membrane subsequent to depolarizing neuronal activity. The energy comes primarily from mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, of which cytochrome c oxidase (COX) is a key enzyme. Recently, we found that all 13 subunits of COX are regulated by specificity (Sp) factors, and that the neuron-specific Sp4, but not Sp1 or Sp3, regulates the expression of key glutamatergic receptor subunits as well. The present study sought to test our hypothesis that Sp4 also regulates Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase subunit genes in neurons. By means of multiple approaches, including in silico analysis, electrophoretic mobility shift and supershift assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, promoter mutational analysis, over-expression, and RNA interference studies, we found that Sp4, with minor contributions from Sp1 and Sp3, functionally regulate the Atp1a1, Atp1a3, and Atp1b1 subunit genes of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase in neurons. Transcripts of all three genes were up-regulated by depolarizing KCl stimulation and down-regulated by the impulse blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX), indicating that their expression was activity-dependent. Silencing of Sp4 blocked the up-regulation of these genes induced by KCl, whereas over-expression of Sp4 rescued them from TTX-induced suppression. The effect of silencing or over-expressing Sp4 on primary neurons was much greater than those of Sp1 or Sp3. The binding sites of Sp factors on these genes are conserved among mice, rats and humans. Thus, Sp4 plays an important role in the transcriptional coupling of energy generation and energy consumption in neurons. © 2013 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Substance P and cocaine employ convergent mechanisms to depress excitatory synaptic transmission in the rat nucleus accumbens in vitro.

PubMed

Kombian, Samuel B; Ananthalakshmi, Kethireddy V V; Zidichouski, Jeffrey A; Saleh, Tarek M

2009-04-01

Substance P (SP) has been reported to produce effects on excitatory synaptic transmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) that are similar to those induced by cocaine. To address the question of whether SP serves as an endogenous mediator producing cocaine-like effects that are known to be D1-receptor-mediated, we tested the hypothesis that the effects of SP and cocaine on excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in the NAc occlude one another. We report here that SP and SP(5-11) actions occlude the effect of cocaine and vice versa. SP, SP(5-11) and cocaine all depressed evoked, non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated synaptic currents in a concentration-dependent manner, with EC50 values of 0.12, 0.17 and 8.3 microm, respectively. Although cocaine was the least potent, it was most efficacious. SP, SP(5-11) and cocaine all suppressed isolated NMDA receptor-mediated evoked EPSCs. SP(5-11) (1 microm)-induced EPSC depression was blocked by the neurokinin-1 antagonist L732138 and by the D1-like receptor antagonist SCH23390. Pretreatment of slices with cocaine (30 microm) depressed the EPSC by 39.1% +/- 4.8%. Application of SP or SP(5-11) (1 microm) at the peak of the cocaine depressive effect on the EPSC did not produce any additional diminution of the response (5.7% +/- 2.8%). In the reverse experiments, in which either SP or SP(5-11) was applied first, subsequent application of cocaine at the peak of the peptide's effect (30.3% +/- 2.3%) produced a further but smaller depression (15.5% +/- 3.6%) of the remaining EPSC. These data indicate that cocaine and SP produce similar effects on excitatory synaptic transmission in the NAc, and that their actions occlude one another. This suggests that SP may act like cocaine in its absence, and may be an endogenous trigger for the reward and behaviors associated with cocaine.

Potential of pin-by-pin SPN calculations as an industrial reference

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fliscounakis, M.; Girardi, E.; Courau, T.

2012-07-01

This paper aims at analysing the potential of pin-by-pin SP{sub n} calculations to compute the neutronic flux in PWR cores as an alternative to the diffusion approximation. As far as pin-by-pin calculations are concerned, a SPH equivalence is used to preserve the reactions rates. The use of SPH equivalence is a common practice in core diffusion calculations. In this paper, a methodology to generalize the equivalence procedure in the SP{sub n} equations context is presented. In order to verify and validate the equivalence procedure, SP{sub n} calculations are compared to 2D transport reference results obtained with the APOLL02 code. Themore » validation cases consist in 3x3 analytical assembly color sets involving burn-up heterogeneities, UOX/MOX interfaces, and control rods. Considering various energy discretizations (up to 26 groups) and flux development orders (up to 7) for the SP{sub n} equations, results show that 26-group SP{sub 3} calculations are very close to the transport reference (with pin production rates discrepancies < 1%). This proves the high interest of pin-by-pin SP{sub n} calculations as an industrial reference when relying on 26 energy groups combined with SP{sub 3} flux development order. Additionally, the SP{sub n} results are compared to diffusion pin-by-pin calculations, in order to evaluate the potential benefit of using a SP{sub n} solver as an alternative to diffusion. Discrepancies on pin-production rates are less than 1.6% for 6-group SP{sub 3} calculations against 3.2% for 2-group diffusion calculations. This shows that SP{sub n} solvers may be considered as an alternative to multigroup diffusion. (authors)« less

Stomach position versus liver-to-thoracic volume ratio in left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

PubMed

Cordier, Anne-Gaël; Cannie, Mieke M; Guilbaud, Lucie; De Laveaucoupet, Jocelyne; Martinovic, Jéléna; Nowakowska, Dorota; Milejska-Lewandowska, Malgorzata; Rodó, Carlota; Viaris de Lesegno, Benjamin; Votino, Carmela; Senat, Marie-Victoire; Jani, Jacques C; Benachi, Alexandra

2015-01-01

To describe a new grading method for stomach position (SP) in fetuses with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (L-CDH) using ultrasound and to correlate SP to liver position and to liver-to-thoracic cavity volume ratio (LiTR) using magnetic resonance imaging. SP were graded at the level of the 4-chamber view as following: grade 1-to-4 for stomach not visualised, visualised anteriorly at the apex of the heart, stomach showing abdominal structures anteriorly and stomach with its larger part posterior to the level of the atrial-ventricular heart valves, respectively. The LiTR was calculated and correlated to SP using the Mann-Whitney U test. Seventy-four fetuses were included. Median LiTR for grade 1 SP was 0% and was not different from median LiTR for grade 2 SP (0%, p=NS). Median LiTR for grade 3 SP was 14.9% and was significantly higher than for grade 2 SP (p<0.001). Similarly, median LiTR for grade 4 SP was 20.7% and was significantly higher than for grade 3 SP (p<0.05). When SP was grade 1 or 2, liver was intra-abdominal in 21 (84%) out of 25 fetuses while it was always intrathoracic for SP 3 or 4. In L-CDH, SP as described represents a simple indirect measurement of intrathoracic position and quantification of liver.

(3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-Pentacosapentaene and (Z) -11-Hexadecenyl Acetate: sex attractant blend for Dioryctria amatella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

Treesearch

Daniel Miller; Jocelyn Millar; Alex Mangini; Christopher Crowe; Gary Grant

2010-01-01

In 2006-2008, we tested (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-pentacosapentaene (pentaene) with the pheromone components (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11-16:Ac) and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:Ac), as sex attractants for four sympatric species of coneworms, Dioryctria Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in slash (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) and...

Capsofulvesins A-C, cholinesterase inhibitors from Capsosiphon fulvescens.

PubMed

Fang, Zhe; Yang Jeong, Su; Ah Jung, Hyun; Sue Choi, Jae; Sun Min, Byung; Hee Woo, Mi

2012-01-01

Activity-directed isolation of the n-hexane and dichloromethane fractions of Capsosiphon fulvescens resulted in the identification of four new glycolipids (1-3): (2S)-1-O-(6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatetraenoyl)-2-O-(4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z-hexadecatetraenoyl)-3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl glycerol (1, capsofulvesin A), (2S)-l-O-(9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoyl)-2-O-(10Z,13Z-hexadecadienoyl)-3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl glycerol (2, capsofulvesin B), (2S)-1-O-(6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatetraenoyl)-3-O-β-D-galacatopyranosyl glycerol (3, capsofulvesin C). Compounds 1-6 exhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities with IC(50) values ranging from 50.90 to 82.83 µM, whereas 2-6 showed butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities with IC(50) values of 114.75-185.55 µM. Although most of the compounds isolated lacked scavenging activity for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), compound 8 showed ONOO(-) scavenging activity with an IC(50) value of 26.23 µg/mL.

Geology and mammalian paleontology of the Horned Toad Hills, Mojave Desert, California, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

May, S.R.; Woodburne, M.O.; Lindsay, E.H.; Albright, L.B.; Sarna-Wojcicki, A.; Wan, E.; Wahl, D.B.

2011-01-01

The Horned Toad Formation includes five lithostratigraphic members that record alluvial fan, fluvial, lake margin, and lacustrine deposition within a relatively small basin just south of the active Garlock fault during the late Miocene to early Pliocene. These sediments experienced northwest-southeast contractional deformation during the Pliocene-Pleistocene associated with basement-involved reverse faults. Member Two of the Horned Toad Formation has yielded 24 taxa of fossil mammals, referred to as the Warren Local Fauna, including Cryptotis sp., cf. Scapanus, Hypolagus vetus, Hypolagus edensis,? Spermophilus sp., Prothomomys warrenensis n. gen., n. sp., Perognathus sp., Repomys gustelyi, Postcopemys valensis, Peromyscus sp. A, Peromyscus sp. B, Jacobsomys dailyi n. sp., Borophagus cf. B. secundus, cf. Agriotherium, Machairodus sp. cf. M. coloradensis, Rhynchotherium sp. cf. R. edensis, Pliomastodon vexillarius, Dinohippus edensis, Teleoceras sp. cf. T. fossiger, cf. Prosthennops, Megatylopus sp. cf. M. matthewi, Hemiauchenia vera, Camelidae gen. et. sp. indet., and the antilocaprid cf. Sphenophalos. The majority of fossil localities are confined to a 20 m thick stratigraphic interval within a reversed polarity magnetozone. The fauna demonstrates affinity with other late Hemphillian faunas from California, Nevada, Nebraska, Texas, and Mexico. The Lawlor Tuff, dated elsewhere in California at 4.83 ?? 0.04 Ma and geochemically identified in the Horned Toad Formation, overlies most of the fossil mammal localities. Magnetic polarity data are correlated with Chrons 3n.3r, 3n.3n, and 3n.2r, suggesting an age of approximately 5.0 - 4.6 Ma. These constraints indicate an age for the late Hemphillian Warren Local Fauna of 4.85 - 5.0 Ma. ?? Society of Vertebrate Paleontology November 2011.

A review of the Nearctic genus Zealeuctra Ricker (Plecoptera, Leuctridae), with the description of a new species from the Cumberland Plateau region of eastern North America.

PubMed

Grubbs, Scott A; Kondratieff, Boris C; Stark, Bill P; Dewalt, R Edward

2013-01-01

The stonefly genus Zealeuctra (Plecoptera: Leuctridae) is endemic to the central and eastern Nearctic regions and is presently comprised of 10 species. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine and redescribe two important diagnostic features typically used to identify and define the adult male stage: the large, anteriorly-recurved epiproct and the medial cleft of the ninth abdominal tergite. SEM was also employed to depict the posteromedial portion of female 7(th) sternum. A new species, Z. ukayodi sp. n., is described from the Cumberland Plateau region of northeastern Alabama and Tennessee. The new species appears superficially similar to Z. talladega Grubbs, but is easily differentiated by characteristics of the male medial cleft. An updated taxonomic key to the males of Zealeuctra is provided.

A review of the Nearctic genus Zealeuctra Ricker (Plecoptera, Leuctridae), with the description of a new species from the Cumberland Plateau region of eastern North America

PubMed Central

Grubbs, Scott A.; Kondratieff, Boris C.; Stark, Bill P.; DeWalt, R. Edward

2013-01-01

Abstract The stonefly genus Zealeuctra (Plecoptera: Leuctridae) is endemic to the central and eastern Nearctic regions and is presently comprised of 10 species. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine and redescribe two important diagnostic features typically used to identify and define the adult male stage: the large, anteriorly-recurved epiproct and the medial cleft of the ninth abdominal tergite. SEM was also employed to depict the posteromedial portion of female 7th sternum. A new species, Z. ukayodi sp. n., is described from the Cumberland Plateau region of northeastern Alabama and Tennessee. The new species appears superficially similar to Z. talladega Grubbs, but is easily differentiated by characteristics of the male medial cleft. An updated taxonomic key to the males of Zealeuctra is provided. PMID:24194658

Evidence for a volatile pheromone in Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) that increases attraction to a host foliar volatile.

PubMed

Silk, Peter J; Ryall, Krista; Mayo, Peter; Lemay, Matthew A; Grant, Gary; Crook, Damon; Cossé, Allard; Fraser, Ivich; Sweeney, Jon D; Lyons, D Barry; Pitt, Doug; Scarr, Taylor; Magee, David

2011-08-01

Analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) of volatiles from virgin female emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire confirmed the emission of (3Z)-lactone [(3Z)-dodecen-12-olide] but not its geometric isomer, (3E)-lactone [(3E)-dodecen-12-olide]. Gas chromatographic/electroantennographic (GC/EAD) analysis of synthetic (3Z)-lactone, which contained 10% (3E)-lactone, showed a strong response of male and female antennae to both isomers. EAG analysis with 0.01- to 100-μg dosages showed a positive dose response, with females giving significantly higher responses than males. In field experiments with sticky purple prism traps, neither lactone isomer affected catches when combined with ash foliar or cortical volatiles (green leaf volatiles or Phoebe oil, respectively). However, on green prism traps, the (3Z)-lactone significantly increased capture of male A. planipennis when traps were deployed in the canopy. Captures of males on traps with both (3E)-lactone and (3Z)-hexenol or with (3Z)-lactone and (3Z)-hexenol were increased by 45-100%, respectively, compared with traps baited with just (3Z)-hexenol. In olfactometer bioassays, males were significantly attracted to (3E)-lactone, but not the (3Z)-lactone or a 60:40 (3E):(3Z) blend. The combination of either (3E)- or (3Z)-lactone with Phoebe oil was not significantly attractive to males. Males were highly attracted to (3Z)-hexenol and the (3Z)-lactone + (3Z)-hexenol combination, providing support for the field trapping results. These data are the first to demonstrate increased attraction with a combination of a pheromone and a green leaf volatile in a Buprestid species.

The p65 Subunit of NF-κB Inhibits COL1A1 Gene Transcription in Human Dermal and Scleroderma Fibroblasts through Its Recruitment on Promoter by Protein Interaction with Transcriptional Activators (c-Krox, Sp1, and Sp3)*

PubMed Central

Beauchef, Gallic; Bigot, Nicolas; Kypriotou, Magdalini; Renard, Emmanuelle; Porée, Benoît; Widom, Russell; Dompmartin-Blanchere, Anne; Oddos, Thierry; Maquart, François-Xavier; Demoor, Magali; Boumediene, Karim; Galera, Philippe

2012-01-01

Transcriptional mechanisms regulating type I collagen genes expression in physiopathological situations are not completely known. In this study, we have investigated the role of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcription factor on type I collagen expression in adult normal human (ANF) and scleroderma (SF) fibroblasts. We demonstrated that NF-κB, a master transcription factor playing a major role in immune response/apoptosis, down-regulates COL1A1 expression by a transcriptional control involving the −112/−61 bp sequence. This 51-bp region mediates the action of two zinc fingers, Sp1 (specific protein-1) and Sp3, acting as trans-activators of type I collagen expression in ANF and SF. Knockdown of each one of these trans factors by siRNA confirmed the trans-activating effect of Sp1/Sp3 and the p65 subunit of NF-κB trans-inhibiting effect on COL1A1 expression. Despite no existing κB consensus sequence in the COL1A1 promoter, we found that Sp1/Sp3/c-Krox and NF-κB bind and/or are recruited on the proximal promoter in chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Attempts to elucidate whether interactions between Sp1/Sp3/c-Krox and p65 are necessary to mediate the NF-κB inhibitory effect on COL1A1 in ANF and SF were carried out; in this regard, immunoprecipitation assays revealed that they interact, and this was validated by re-ChIP. Finally, the knockdown of Sp1/Sp3/c-Krox prevents the p65 inhibitory effect on COL1A1 transcription in ANF, whereas only the siRNAs targeting Sp3 and c-Krox provoked the same effect in SF, suggesting that particular interactions are characteristic of the scleroderma phenotype. In conclusion, our findings highlight a new mechanism for COL1A1 transcriptional regulation by NF-κB, and these data could allow the development of new antifibrotic strategies. PMID:22139845

atRA-induced apoptosis of mouse embryonic palate mesenchymal cells involves activation of MAPK pathway

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yu Zengli; Xing Ying

2006-08-15

Our previous studies have shown that atRA treatment resulted in cell-cycle block and growth inhibition in mouse embryonic palatal mesenchymal (MEPM). In the current study, gestation day (GD) 13 MEPM cells were used to test the hypothesis that the growth inhibition by atRA is due to apoptosis. The effects of atRA on apoptosis were assessed by performing MTT assay, Cell Death Detection ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. Data analysis confirmed that atRA treatment induced apoptosis-like cell death, as shown by decreased cell viability and increased fragmented DNA and sub-G1 fraction. atRA-induced apoptosis was associated with upregulation of bcl-2, translocation ofmore » bax protein to the mitochondria from the cytosol, activation of caspase-3 and cytochrome c release into cytosol. atRA-induced apoptosis was abrogated by z-DEVD-fmk, a caspase-3 specific inhibitor, and z-VAD-fmk, a general caspase inhibitor, suggesting that the atRA-induced cell death of MEPM cells occurs through the cytochrome c- and caspase-3-dependent pathways. In addition, atRA treatment caused a strong and sustained activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 kinase (p38), as well as an early but transient activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Importantly, atRA-induced DNA fragmentation and capase-3 activation were prevented by pretreatment with the JNK inhibitor (SP600125) and the p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB202190), but not by pretreatment with MEK inhibitor (U0126). From these results, we suggest that mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent pathways is involved in the atRA-induced apoptosis of MEPM cells.« less

Laser sculpting of atomic sp, sp(2) , and sp(3) hybrid orbitals.

PubMed

Liu, Chunmei; Manz, Jörn; Yang, Yonggang

2015-01-12

Atomic sp, sp(2) , and sp(3) hybrid orbitals were introduced by Linus Pauling to explain the nature of the chemical bond. Quantum dynamics simulations show that they can be sculpted by means of a selective series of coherent laser pulses, starting from the 1s orbital of the hydrogen atom. Laser hybridization generates atoms with state-selective electric dipoles, opening up new possibilities for the study of chemical reaction dynamics and heterogeneous catalysis. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Interactions between neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11) and the substance P (NK1) receptor expressed in mammalian cells.

PubMed

Okamoto, A; Lovett, M; Payan, D G; Bunnett, N W

1994-05-01

Interactions between neutral endopeptidase-24.11 (NEP) and the substance P receptor (SPR; NK1) were investigated by examining substance P (SP) degradation, SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization in epithelial cells transfected with cDNA encoding the rat SPR and rat NEP. Expression of NEP accelerated the degradation of SP by intact epithelial cells and by membrane preparations, and degradation was reduced by the NEP inhibitor thiorphan. In cells expressing SPR alone, specific 125I-SP binding after 20 min incubation at 37 degrees C was 92.2 +/- 3.1% of maximal binding and was unaffected by thiorphan. Coexpression of NEP in the same cells as the SPR markedly reduced SP binding to 13.9 +/- 0.5% of maximal, and binding was increased to 82.7 +/- 2.4% of maximal with thiorphan. Coexpression of NEP in the same cells as the SPR also reduced to undetectable the increase in intracellular Ca2+ in response to low concentrations of SP (0.3 and 0.5 nM), and significantly reduced the response to higher concentrations (1 and 3 nM). The Ca2+ response was restored to control values by inhibition of NEP with thiorphan. In contrast, SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization were only slightly reduced when cells expressing SPR alone were mixed with a 3- to 24-fold excess of cells expressing NEP alone. Therefore, in this system, NEP markedly down-regulates SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization only when coexpressed in the same cells as the SPR.

Differential sensitivity of porcine endogenous retrovirus to APOBEC3-mediated inhibition.

PubMed

Park, Sung-Han; Kim, Jin Ha; Jung, Yong-Tae

2015-08-01

Pigs are considered to be suitable xenotransplantation organ donors. However, the risk of pathogen transmission from pigs to humans is a major concern in the transplantation of porcine tissues. The porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) PERV-A, PERV-A/C, and PERV-B can infect human cells, but PERV-C is an ecotropic virus infecting only pig cells. Thus, several strategies have been proposed to reduce PERV transmission in xenograft recipients. Human APOBEC3G (huA3G) is a single-strand DNA cytosine deaminase, which inactivates the coding capacity of the virus by deamination of cDNA cytosines to uracils. This reaction occurs within the (-) DNA strand during reverse transcription, resulting in a G-to-A mutation in the (+) strand. While recent data have shown that PERV-B is severely inhibited by huA3G and porcine A3Z2-Z3 (poA3F) in a pseudotype assay, little is known about PERV-C. Here, we compare the antiretroviral activities of huA3G, huA3F and poA3Z2-Z3 against PERV-C. Our data show that APOBEC3 was packaged into PERV-C particles and inhibited PERV-C replication in a dose-dependent manner. PERV-C infectivity was strongly inhibited by poA3Z2-Z3, but it did not markedly reduce PERV-B infectivity. This suggests that PERV-C Gag interacts efficiently with poA3Z2-Z3. In addition, we constructed stably huA3G- and poA3Z2-Z3-expressing 293-PERV-PK-CIRCE cells (human 293 cells infected with PK15-derived PERVs) to examine whether PERV is resistant to poA3Z2-Z3 in a virus-spreading assay. The stably expressed huA3G and poA3Z2-Z3 were more packaging-competent than transiently expressed APOBEC3 proteins. These results suggest that poA3Z2-Z3 can inhibit PERV replication in a pseudotype assay as well as in a virus-spreading assay.

Substance P enhances collagen remodeling and MMP-3 expression by human tenocytes.

PubMed

Fong, Gloria; Backman, Ludvig J; Hart, David A; Danielson, Patrik; McCormack, Bob; Scott, Alex

2013-01-01

The loss of collagen organization is considered a hallmark histopathologic feature of tendinosis. At the cellular level, tenocytes have been shown to produce signal substances that were once thought to be restricted to neurons. One of the main neuropeptides implicated in tendinosis, substance P (SP), is known to influence collagen organization, particularly after injury. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of SP on collagen remodeling by primary human tendon cells cultured in vitro in three-dimensional collagen lattices. We found that SP stimulation led to an increased rate of collagen remodeling mediated via the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1 R), the preferred cell receptor for SP. Gene expression analysis showed that SP stimulation resulted in significant increases in MMP3, COL3A1 and ACTA2 mRNA levels in the collagen lattices. Furthermore, cyclic tensile loading of tendon cell cultures along with the administration of exogenous SP had an additive effect on MMP3 expression. Immunoblotting confirmed that SP increased MMP3 protein levels via the NK-1 R. This study indicates that SP, mediated via NK-1 R, increases collagen remodeling and leads to increased MMP3 mRNA and protein expression that is further enhanced by cyclic mechanical loading. Copyright © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society.

Carboxyhemoglobin Levels Induced by Cigarette Smoking Outdoors in Smokers.

PubMed

Schimmel, Jonathan; George, Naomi; Schwarz, John; Yousif, Sami; Suner, Selim; Hack, Jason B

2018-03-01

Non-invasive screening of carboxyhemoglobin saturation (SpCO) in the emergency department to detect occult exposure is increasingly common. The SpCO threshold to consider exposure in smokers is up to 9%. The literature supporting this cutoff is inadequate, and the impact of active smoking on SpCO saturation remains unclear. The primary objective was to characterize baseline SpCO in a cohort of smokers outdoors. Secondary objectives were to explore the impact of active smoking on SpCO and to compare SpCO between smokers and non-smokers. This was a prospective cohort pilot study in two outdoor urban public areas in the USA, in a convenience sample of adult smokers. SpCO saturations were assessed non-invasively before, during, and 2 min after cigarette smoking with pulse CO-oximetry. Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, and a generalized estimating equation model. Eighty-five smokers had mean baseline SpCO of 2.7% (SD 2.6) and peak of 3.1% (SD 2.9), while 15 controls had SpCO 1.3% (SD 1.3). This was a significant difference. Time since last cigarette was associated with baseline SpCO, and active smoking increased mean SpCO. There was correlation among individual smokers' SpCO levels before, during, and 2 min after smoking, indicating smokers tended to maintain their baseline SpCO level. This study is the first to measure SpCO during active smoking in an uncontrolled environment. It suggests 80% of smokers have SpCO ≤ 5%, but potentially lends support for the current 9% as a threshold, depending on clinical context.

Single Crystal X-ray Study of 6-Phenyl-4-( p-tolyl)pyridin-2(1 H)-one

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khajuria, Rajni; Sharma, Suresh; Kapoor, Kamal K.; Gupta, Vivek K.

2017-12-01

The title compound 6-phenyl-4-( p-tolyl)pyridin-2(1 H)-one was synthesized via one-pot, three component reaction of ( E)-1-phenyl-3-( p-tolyl)-2-propen-1-one, ethyl 2-nitroacetate and ammonium acetate in refluxing ethanol, as a shiny green crystalline solid in 83% yield. Its structure was characterized by spectral studies and unambiguously corroborated by X-ray diffraction crystallography. The crystals of title compound are monoclinic, sp. gr. P21/ n, a = 11.8346(7) Å, b = 13.4413(9) Å, c = 17.7626(10) Å, β = 99.479(5)°, and Z = 8. All the rings in molecule of the title compound are planar. Hydrogen interactions play significant role in stabilizing the crystal structure and the supramolecular aggregate of molecules is facilitated by strong N-H···O and C-H···O type of hydrogen interactions.

Exercise modality modulates body temperature regulation during exercise in uncompensable heat stress.

PubMed

Schlader, Zachary J; Raman, Aaron; Morton, R Hugh; Stannard, Stephen R; Mündel, Toby

2011-05-01

This study evaluated exercise modality [i.e. self-paced (SP) or fixed-intensity (FI) exercise] as a modulator of body temperature regulation under uncompensable heat stress. Eight well-trained male cyclists completed (work-matched) FI and SP cycling exercise bouts in a hot (40.6 ± 0.2°C) and dry (relative humidity 23 ± 3%) environment estimated to elicit 70% of [Formula: see text]O(2)max. Exercise intensity (i.e. power output) decreased over time in SP, which resulted in longer exercise duration (FI 20.3 ± 3.4 min, SP 23.2 ± 4.1 min). According to the heat strain index, the modification of exercise intensity in SP improved the compensability of the thermal environment which, relative to FI, was likely a result of the reductions in metabolic heat production (i.e. [Formula: see text]O(2)). Consequently, the rate of rise in core body temperature was higher in FI (0.108 ± 0.020°C/min) than in SP (0.082 ± 0.016°C/min). Interestingly, cardiac output, stroke volume, and heart rate during exercise were independent of exercise modality. However, core body temperature (FI 39.4 ± 0.3°C, SP 39.1 ± 0.4°C), blood lactate (FI 2.9 ± 0.8 mmol/L, SP 2.3 ± 0.7 mmol/L), perceived exertion (FI 18 ± 2, SP 16 ± 2), and physiological strain (FI 9.1 ± 0.9, SP 8.3 ± 1.1) were all higher in FI compared to SP at exhaustion/completion. These findings indicate that, when exercise is SP, behavioral modification of metabolic heat production improves the compensability of the thermal environment and reduces thermoregulatory strain. Therefore, under uncompensable heat stress, exercise modality modulates body temperature regulation.

Substance P regulates macrophage inflammatory protein 3α/chemokine C-C ligand 20 (CCL20) with heme oxygenase-1 in human periodontal ligament cells

PubMed Central

Lee, S-K; Pi, S-H; Kim, S-H; Min, K-S; Lee, H-J; Chang, H-S; Kang, K-H; Kim, H-R; Shin, H-I; Lee, S-K; Kim, E-C

2007-01-01

Although substance P (SP), a potent proinflammatory peptide, is involved in inflammation and immune responses, the effect of SP on the expression of macrophage inflammatory protein 3α[MIP-3α, chemokine C-C ligand 20 (CCL20)] in periodontal ligament (PDL) cells is unknown. Equally enigmatic is the link between SP, the stress protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and CCL20 production. We investigated whether SP induces the release of chemokine CCL20 from immortalized PDL (IPDL) cells, and further clarify SP-mediated pathways. We also examined the relationship between HO-1 and CCL20 by treating PDL cells with SP. Incubating IPDL cells with SP increased expression of CCL20 mRNA and CCL20 protein in a dose–time-dependent manner. Highly selective p38 and extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) inhibitors abrogated SP-induced expression of CCL20 in IPDL cells. SP is also responsible for initiating phosphorylation of IκB, degradation of IκB and activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB. SP induced expression of HO-1 in both a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and CCL20 reflected similar patterns. The inductive effects of SP on HO-1 and CCL20 were enhanced by HO-1 inducer hemin and the membrane-permeable guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cGMP) analogue 8-bromo-cGMP. Conversely, this pathway was inhibited by the HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP IX) and the selective inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazole(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ). We report herein the pathway that connects SP along with other modulators of neuroimmunoregulation to the induction of HO-1 and the inflammatory mediator macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-3α/CCL20 in IPDL cells, which play an important role in the development of periodontitis or inflammation during orthodontic tooth movement. PMID:17924972

Microfloral diversity in the lower respiratory tracts of neonates with bacterial infectious pneumonia combined with ventilator‑associated pneumonia.

PubMed

Lu, Wei; Yu, Jia-Lin; Li, Lu-Quan; Lu, Qi; Wang, Zheng-Li; Pan, Yun

2016-12-01

Bacterial infectious pneumonia is one of the major causes of mortality in neonates, particularly when the neonates suffer from ventilator‑associated pneumonia (VAP). However, the causes of pneumonia are difficult to define. Thus, the present study focused on understanding the diversity of microflora in the lower respiratory tract to elucidate the causes. The experimental groups comprised newborns who suffered from infectious pneumonia with or without VAP (IVAP and IP groups, respectively), whereas the control group comprised newborns who suffered from respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) without VAP (RDS group). Following 1, 3 and 5 days of ventilation, sputum samples were collected and the DNA was extracted. The DNA was amplified and separated, and the 16S rDNA was then sequenced and analyzed for diversity. The results of the diversity and Shannon‑Wiener indices were ordered as follows: IVAP group < IP group < RDS group. The percentages of Streptococcus sp., Serratia sp. and Achromobacter sp. in the IP and IVAP groups were higher, compared with those in the RDS group, whereas the percentages of Klebsiella sp. and Acinetobacter sp. were lower on day 1. The percentages of Klebsiella sp. and Streptococcus sp. on days 1 and 3 were ordered as follows: IVAP group > IP group > RDS group, and the percentages of Serratia sp., Acinetobacter sp. and Achromobacter sp. were ordered as follows: IVAP group < IP group < RDS group. After 3‑5 days, the percentages of Klebsiella sp., Acinetobacter sp., Streptococcus sp., Serratia sp. and Achromobacter sp. in the IVAP group were lower, compared with those in the RDS and IP groups. It was concluded that the decreased microfloral diversity, increased constituent ratios of Klebsiella sp. and Streptococcus sp., and decreased ratios of Serratia sp. and Acinetobacter sp. in the lower respiratory tract of neonates suffering from pneumonia may be indicators of VAP.

Species differences in the effects of substance P on inositol trisphosphate accumulation and cyclic AMP formation, and on contraction in isolated iris sphincter of the mammalian eye: differences in receptor density.

PubMed

Tachado, S D; Akhtar, R A; Yousufzai, S Y; Abdel-Latif, A A

1991-12-01

The effects of substance P (SP) on inositol trisphosphate (IP3) accumulation, myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, cAMP formation and contraction were studied in iris sphincter smooth muscle of different mammalian species. SP receptor density was also examined in membrane fractions from this tissue. The data obtained can be summarized as follows. (1) In the iris sphincters of rabbit, bovine and pig, SP receptors are coupled to the phospholipase C system, whereas in dog, cat and human these receptors are coupled to the adenylate cyclase system. (2) In those species which employ the phospholipase C system, SP induced IP3 accumulation, MLC phosphorylation and contraction in a dose-dependent manner; in contrast, in those species in which SP induced the formation of cAMP we found the neuropeptide to cause muscle relaxation. The findings on cAMP formation in intact tissue were confirmed in iris sphincter membranes. Both the effect of SP on IP3 accumulation in rabbit and bovine sphincters and its effect on cAMP formation in the dog were blocked by the SP antagonist, (D-Pro2, D-Trp7, 9)-SP. (3) The density of SP receptors in rabbit, bovine and dog were found to be 227, 110.9 and 13.6 fmol mg-1 protein, respectively, and the Kd values were 1.9, 1.8 and 1.3 nM, respectively. (4) Of the neuropeptides investigated SP, neurokinin A and neurokinin B had significant stimulatory effects on IP3 accumulation and on contraction in the rabbit iris sphincter; however, neither neurokinin Y nor the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) had any effect on these responses. In addition, none of the neuropeptides studied had any effect on IP3 or on contraction in the dog iris sphincter. While it is possible that SP may have dual actions, with the predominant action dependent on the species, the data presented could suggest the presence of two SP receptor subtypes, one coupled to phospholipase C and the other to adenylate cyclase. The results of this investigation indicate major species differences in biochemical and functional responsiveness to SP and in SP receptor density in the iris sphincter of the mammalian eye, and support a modulatory role for the neuropeptide in muscle response in this tissue.

Dipeptidyl(amino)peptidase IV and aminopeptidase M metabolize circulating substance P in vivo.

PubMed

Ahmad, S; Wang, L; Ward, P E

1992-03-01

Recent studies have demonstrated that Fischer-344 rats from Japanese Charles River Inc. specifically lack dipeptidyl(amino)peptidase IV (DAP IV-negative; EC 3.4.14.5), whereas Fischer-344 rats from sources within the United States (DAP IV-positive) possess normal DAP IV activity. In the present study, plasma from DAP IV-positive rats metabolized substance P (SP) (5.37 +/- 0.25 nmol/min/ml) via the actions of angiotensin-converting enzyme (EC 3.4.15.1) (1.86 +/- 0.50 nmol/min/ml) and DAP IV (2.56 +/- 0.42 nmol/min/ml). DAP IV sequentially converted SP to SP[3-11] and SP[5-11]. The SP[5-11] metabolite was then rapidly hydrolyzed by plasma aminopeptidase M (AmM; EC 3.4.11.2) (36.2 +/- 4.2 nmol/min/ml). In contrast, SP metabolism by plasma from DAP IV-negative rats was less than half that of control animals (2.14 +/- 0.06 nmol/min/ml), due to a complete lack of DAP IV hydrolysis. The absence of DAP IV was not associated with any differences in angiotensin-converting enzyme-mediated hydrolysis of SP (1.45 +/- 0.11 nmol/min/ml) or AmM-mediated hydrolysis of SP[5-11] (37.1 +/- 0.9 nmol/min/ml). Consistent with this deficiency in SP metabolism, SP was more potent in vivo in stimulating salivary secretion in DAP IV-negative rats compared to DAP IV-positive animals. Potentiation was specific in that SP[5-11], an SP fragment resistant to DAP IV, was equipotent in DAP IV-negative and positive animals. SP[5-11]-induced salivary secretion was potentiated in both strains when AmM-mediated hydrolysis was inhibited by amastatin (20 nmol/min, i.v.). These data provide direct evidence for a significant role for DAP IV and AmM in the in vivo processing of SP and active SP metabolites.

Divisome-dependent subcellular localization of cell-cell joining protein SepJ in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena.

PubMed

Ramos-León, Félix; Mariscal, Vicente; Frías, José E; Flores, Enrique; Herrero, Antonia

2015-05-01

Heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria are multicellular organisms that grow as filaments that can be hundreds of cells long. Septal junction complexes, of which SepJ is a possible component, appear to join the cells in the filament. SepJ is a cytoplasmic membrane protein that contains a long predicted periplasmic section and localizes not only to the cell poles in the intercellular septa but also to a position similar to a Z ring when cell division starts suggesting a relation with the divisome. Here, we created a mutant of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 in which the essential divisome gene ftsZ is expressed from a synthetic NtcA-dependent promoter, whose activity depends on the nitrogen source. In the presence of ammonium, low levels of FtsZ were produced, and the subcellular localization of SepJ, which was investigated by immunofluorescence, was impaired. Possible interactions of SepJ with itself and with divisome proteins FtsZ, FtsQ and FtsW were investigated using the bacterial two-hybrid system. We found SepJ self-interaction and a specific interaction with FtsQ, confirmed by co-purification and involving parts of the SepJ and FtsQ periplasmic sections. Therefore, SepJ can form multimers, and in Anabaena, the divisome has a role beyond cell division, localizing a septal protein essential for multicellularity. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Geofilum rubicundum gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from deep subseafloor sediment.

PubMed

Miyazaki, Masayuki; Koide, Osamu; Kobayashi, Tohru; Mori, Kozue; Shimamura, Shigeru; Nunoura, Takuro; Imachi, Hiroyuki; Inagaki, Fumio; Nagahama, Takahiko; Nogi, Yuichi; Deguchi, Shigeru; Takai, Ken

2012-05-01

A novel, facultatively anaerobic bacterium (strain JAM-BA0501(T)) was isolated from a deep subseafloor sediment sample at a depth of 247 m below seafloor off the Shimokita Peninsula of Japan in the north-western Pacific Ocean (Site C9001, 1180 m water depth). Cells of strain JAM-BA0501(T) were gram-negative, filamentous, non-spore-forming and motile on solid medium by gliding. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain JAM-BA0501(T) indicated a distant relationship to strains representing genera within the order Bacteroidales, such as Alkaliflexus imshenetskii Z-7010(T) (91.1 % similarity), Marinilabilia salmonicolor ATCC 19041(T) (86.2 %) and Anaerophaga thermohalophila Fru22(T) (89.3 %). The new isolate produced isoprenoid quinones with menaquinone MK-7 as the major component, and the predominant fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0) and anteiso-C(15 : 0). The DNA G+C content of the isolate was 42.9 mol%. Based on its taxonomic distinctiveness, strain JAM-BA0501(T) is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus within the family Marinilabiliaceae, for which the name Geofilum rubicundum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Geofilum rubicundum is JAM-BA0501(T) ( = JCM 15548(T)  = NCIMB 14482(T)).

Simultaneous biodegradation of three mononitrophenol isomers by a tailor-made microbial consortium immobilized in sequential batch reactors.

PubMed

Fu, H; Zhang, J-J; Xu, Y; Chao, H-J; Zhou, N-Y

2017-03-01

The ortho-nitrophenol (ONP)-utilizing Alcaligenes sp. strain NyZ215, meta-nitrophenol (MNP)-utilizing Cupriavidus necator JMP134 and para-nitrophenol (PNP)-utilizing Pseudomonas sp. strain WBC-3 were assembled as a consortium to degrade three nitrophenol isomers in sequential batch reactors. Pilot test was conducted in flasks to demonstrate that a mixture of three mononitrophenols at 0·5 mol l -1 each could be mineralized by this microbial consortium within 84 h. Interestingly, neither ONP nor MNP was degraded until PNP was almost consumed by strain WBC-3. By immobilizing this consortium into polyurethane cubes, all three mononitrophenols were continuously degraded in lab-scale sequential reactors for six batch cycles over 18 days. Total concentrations of ONP, MMP and PNP that were degraded were 2·8, 1·5 and 2·3 mol l -1 during this time course respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that each member in the microbial consortium was relatively stable during the entire degradation process. This study provides a novel approach to treat polluted water, particularly with a mixture of co-existing isomers. Nitroaromatic compounds are readily spread in the environment and pose great potential toxicity concerns. Here, we report the simultaneous degradation of three isomers of mononitrophenol in a single system by employing a consortium of three bacteria, both in flasks and lab-scale sequential batch reactors. The results demonstrate that simultaneous biodegradation of three mononitrophenol isomers can be achieved by a tailor-made microbial consortium immobilized in sequential batch reactors, providing a pilot study for a novel approach for the bioremediation of mixed pollutants, especially isomers present in wastewater. © 2016 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Specific binding of (/sup 3/H-Tyr8)physalaemin to rat submaxillary gland substance P receptor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bahouth, S.W.; Lazaro, D.M.; Brundish, D.E.

1985-01-01

(/sup 3/H)Physalaemin ((/sup 3/H)PHY) binds to a single class of noninteracting sites on rat submaxillary gland membranes suspended in high ionic strength media with a KD of 2.7 nM, a Bmax of 240 fmol/mg of protein, and low nonspecific binding. The relative potencies of substance P (SP) and its fragments in competing with (/sup 3/H)PHY correlate with their relative salivation potencies. This indicates that (/sup 3/H)PHY interacts with a physiologically relevant SP receptor. In low ionic strength media, the KD of (/sup 3/H)PHY does not change, but SP and some of its fragments are more potent than PHY in competingmore » with (/sup 3/H) PHY. Computer-assisted analysis of (/sup 3/H)PHY and (/sup 3/H)SP binding in high and low ionic strength media demonstrated that both peptides are equipotent in high ionic strength but that the affinity of SP increases by 70-fold in low ionic strength. The SP fragments that contain a basic residue in positions 1 and/or 3 also display an increased affinity in low ionic strength. These findings document that (/sup 3/H)PHY binding in high ionic strength (mu . 0.6) accurately reflects the pharmacological potencies of agonists on the SP-P receptor. The binding of (/sup 3/H)PHY, like that of (/sup 3/H)SP, increases by the addition of divalent cations (Mg2+ greater than Ca2+ greater than Mn2+). Guanine nucleotides decrease (/sup 3/H)PHY binding by decreasing the Bmax to the same level (160 fmol/mg of protein), in the presence or absence of Mg2+.« less

System Engineering and Management,

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-08-11

UJ H os UH Z Z * CO CD O ZO 1 cc CO CO o u. UJ a. z < u. < a 3 os a H < 3 S Z UJ OH CL „ • . LU...OS H Q CJ Z UH Z —.__J Q ’O * CO CO I-H CO HH UJ 3 I-H CO Z Z UJ tt...SHvnoa -- isoD Nomsmtov urn 60 oo OO UJ O oc oo oo >- I <c a: <t c/) >■ z <t a. UJ Q 0) o (O (_3 * >- o _JO et 2: r

Crystal Structure of Cl-Deficient Analogue of Taseqite from Odikhincha Massif

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rastsvetaeva, R. K.; Chukanov, N. V.; Zaitsev, V. A.; Aksenov, S. M.; Viktorova, K. A.

2018-05-01

An eudialyte group mineral, found in pegmatites of the Odikhincha massif (the northern part of the Siberian platform), has been investigated using X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The mineral is characterized by a high strontium content and a low chlorine content. It has a trigonal unit cell with the following parameters: a = 14.2700(6) Å and c = 30.057(1) Å; V = 5300.6(1) Å3; sp. gr. R3 m. The structure has been refined to R = 0.047 in the anisotropic approximation of atomic displacements using 1697 F > 4σ( F). The idealized formula ( Z = 3) was found to be Na12Sr2Ca6Fe 3 2+ Zr3NbSi25O72(OH,O)4Cl(H2O)0.2. The chemical composition and structure of this mineral are close to those of taseqite; however, it differs from the holotype sample by a low chlorine content and peculiarities of cation distribution over basic structure sites. A comparative analysis of strontium-rich eudialytes has revealed their important crystallochemical feature: selective concentration of strontium in the N4 site. Thus, taseqite, along with heterophyllosilicates, may play a role of strontium concentrator in agpaitic pegmatites.

Parasites of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, in southern California, U.S.A

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kuperman, Boris I.; Matey, Victoria E.; Fisher, Richard N.; Ervin, Edward L.; Warburton, Manna L.; Bakhireva, Ludmila; Lehman, Cynthia A.

2004-01-01

A total of 230 feral African clawed frogs, Xenopus laevis, from 3 localities in southern California were examined for parasites. The following species were found: 3 species of Protozoa, Nyctotherussp., Balantidium xenopodis, Protoopalina xenopodus; 2 species of Monogenea, Protopolystoma xenopodis, Gyrdicotylus gallieni; 1 species of Digenea, Clinostomum sp. (as metacercariae); 1 species of Cestoda, Cephalochlamys namaquensis; 2 species of Nematoda, Contracaecum sp. (as larvae), Eustrongylides sp. (as larvae); and 1 species of Acanthocephala, Acanthocephalus sp. (as cystacanth). Of these, the protozoans P. xenopodus and B. xenopodis, both monogeneans, and the cestode have an African origin. Contracaecum sp., Eustrongylides sp., and Acanthocephalus sp. have not been previously reported from X. laevis.

Precision Lifetime Measurements in Molecular Hydrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ray, Mark D.

1995-01-01

We have measured the lifetimes of three rovibrational levels--g ^3Sigma_sp {g}{+}(v = 1,N = 2), i ^3{rm II}_sp{g} {-}(v = 0,N = 1), and j ^3Delta_sp{g}{-}(v = 1,N = 3)--in the n = 3 complex of para H _2 with a precision of 2%. The lifetimes are 8.66 +/- 0.16 ns for i ^3{rm II}_sp{g }{-}(v = 0, N = 1), 6.05+/- 0.11 ns for g ^3Sigma_sp {g}{+}(v = 1,N = 2), and 12.77 +/- 0.30 ns for j ^3 Delta_sp{g}{-}(v = 1,N = 3). On the basis of the first two measurements, we suggest that a previously neglected decay channel should be included in theoretical treatments and may have played an important role in an earlier experiment. Our value for the lifetime of j ^3Delta _sp{g}{-}(v = 1,N = 3) agrees well with the earlier experiment; the best theoretical estimate lies almost 50% higher. The measurements are done in a molecular beam via laser photoionization. An intense beam of metastable (2p) c ^3{rm II}_sp {u}{-} levels is created by electron bombardment. Downstream, a specific rotational -vibrational level of an n = 3 electronic state is excited by a resonant laser. After a delay, the remaining population is photoionized by a second laser. By measuring the photoionization yield as a function of the delay between the exciting and photoionizing lasers, we are able to determine the lifetime of the excited level. With a few modifications to the experimental apparatus, we believe it is possible to measure lifetimes at the 0.5% level of precision. We also propose the use of muti-channel quantum defect theory to obtain accurate ab initio decay rates for some of the branches involved.

A non-BRICHOS SFTPC mutant (SP-CI73T) linked to interstitial lung disease promotes a late block in macroautophagy disrupting cellular proteostasis and mitophagy

PubMed Central

Hawkins, Arie; Guttentag, Susan H.; Deterding, Robin; Funkhouser, William K.; Goralski, Jennifer L.; Chatterjee, Shampa; Beers, Michael F.

2014-01-01

Mutation of threonine for isoleucine at codon 73 (I73T) in the human surfactant protein C (hSP-C) gene (SFTPC) accounts for a significant portion of SFTPC mutations associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Cell lines stably expressing tagged primary translation product of SP-C isoforms were generated to test the hypothesis that deposition of hSP-CI73T within the endosomal system promotes disruption of a key cellular quality control pathway, macroautophagy. By fluorescence microscopy, wild-type hSP-C (hSP-CWT) colocalized with exogenously expressed human ATP binding cassette class A3 (hABCA3), an indicator of normal trafficking to lysosomal-related organelles. In contrast, hSP-CI73T was dissociated from hABCA3 but colocalized to the plasma membrane as well as the endosomal network. Cells expressing hSP-CI73T exhibited increases in size and number of cytosolic green fluorescent protein/microtubule-associated protein 1 light-chain 3 (LC3) vesicles, some of which colabeled with red fluorescent protein from the gene dsRed/hSP-CI73T. By transmission electron microscopy, hSP-CI73T cells contained abnormally large autophagic vacuoles containing organellar and proteinaceous debris, which phenocopied ultrastructural changes in alveolar type 2 cells in a lung biopsy from a SFTPC I73T patient. Biochemically, hSP-CI73T cells exhibited increased expression of Atg8/LC3, SQSTM1/p62, and Rab7, consistent with a distal block in autophagic vacuole maturation, confirmed by flux studies using bafilomycin A1 and rapamycin. Functionally, hSP-CI73T cells showed an impaired degradative capacity for an aggregation-prone huntingtin-1 reporter substrate. The disruption of autophagy-dependent proteostasis was accompanied by increases in mitochondria biomass and parkin expression coupled with a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. We conclude that hSP-CI73T induces an acquired block in macroautophagy-dependent proteostasis and mitophagy, which could contribute to the increased vulnerability of the lung epithelia to second-hit injury as seen in ILD. PMID:25344067

Interactions between neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11) and the substance P (NK1) receptor expressed in mammalian cells.

PubMed Central

Okamoto, A; Lovett, M; Payan, D G; Bunnett, N W

1994-01-01

Interactions between neutral endopeptidase-24.11 (NEP) and the substance P receptor (SPR; NK1) were investigated by examining substance P (SP) degradation, SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization in epithelial cells transfected with cDNA encoding the rat SPR and rat NEP. Expression of NEP accelerated the degradation of SP by intact epithelial cells and by membrane preparations, and degradation was reduced by the NEP inhibitor thiorphan. In cells expressing SPR alone, specific 125I-SP binding after 20 min incubation at 37 degrees C was 92.2 +/- 3.1% of maximal binding and was unaffected by thiorphan. Coexpression of NEP in the same cells as the SPR markedly reduced SP binding to 13.9 +/- 0.5% of maximal, and binding was increased to 82.7 +/- 2.4% of maximal with thiorphan. Coexpression of NEP in the same cells as the SPR also reduced to undetectable the increase in intracellular Ca2+ in response to low concentrations of SP (0.3 and 0.5 nM), and significantly reduced the response to higher concentrations (1 and 3 nM). The Ca2+ response was restored to control values by inhibition of NEP with thiorphan. In contrast, SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization were only slightly reduced when cells expressing SPR alone were mixed with a 3- to 24-fold excess of cells expressing NEP alone. Therefore, in this system, NEP markedly down-regulates SP binding and SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization only when coexpressed in the same cells as the SPR. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 PMID:7514869

Selective sp3 C-H alkylation via polarity-match-based cross-coupling.

PubMed

Le, Chip; Liang, Yufan; Evans, Ryan W; Li, Ximing; MacMillan, David W C

2017-07-06

The functionalization of carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds is one of the most attractive strategies for molecular construction in organic chemistry. The hydrogen atom is considered to be an ideal coupling handle, owing to its relative abundance in organic molecules and its availability for functionalization at almost any stage in a synthetic sequence. Although many C-H functionalization reactions involve C(sp 3 )-C(sp 2 ) coupling, there is a growing demand for C-H alkylation reactions, wherein sp 3 C-H bonds are replaced with sp 3 C-alkyl groups. Here we describe a polarity-match-based selective sp 3 C-H alkylation via the combination of photoredox, nickel and hydrogen-atom transfer catalysis. This methodology simultaneously uses three catalytic cycles to achieve hydridic C-H bond abstraction (enabled by polarity matching), alkyl halide oxidative addition, and reductive elimination to enable alkyl-alkyl fragment coupling. The sp 3 C-H alkylation is highly selective for the α-C-H of amines, ethers and sulphides, which are commonly found in pharmaceutically relevant architectures. This cross-coupling protocol should enable broad synthetic applications in de novo synthesis and late-stage functionalization chemistry.

Selective sp3 C–H alkylation via polarity-match-based cross-coupling

PubMed Central

Le, Chip; Liang, Yufan; Evans, Ryan W.; Li, Ximing; MacMillan, David W. C.

2017-01-01

The functionalization of carbon–hydrogen (C–H) bonds is one of the most attractive strategies for molecular construction in organic chemistry. The hydrogen atom is considered to be an ideal coupling handle, owing to its relative abundance in organic molecules and its availability for functionalization at almost any stage in a synthetic sequence1. Although many C–H functionalization reactions involve C(sp3)–C(sp2) coupling, there is a growing demand for C–H alkylation reactions, wherein sp3 C–H bonds are replaced with sp3 C–alkyl groups. Here we describe a polarity-match-based selective sp3 C–H alkylation via the combination of photoredox, nickel and hydrogen-atom transfer catalysis. This methodology simultaneously uses three catalytic cycles to achieve hydridic C–H bond abstraction (enabled by polarity matching), alkyl halide oxidative addition, and reductive elimination to enable alkyl–alkyl fragment coupling. The sp3 C–H alkylation is highly selective for the α-C–H of amines, ethers and sulphides, which are commonly found in pharmaceutically relevant architectures. This cross-coupling protocol should enable broad synthetic applications in de novo synthesis and late-stage functionalization chemistry. PMID:28636596

Selective sp3 C-H alkylation via polarity-match-based cross-coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le, Chip; Liang, Yufan; Evans, Ryan W.; Li, Ximing; MacMillan, David W. C.

2017-07-01

The functionalization of carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds is one of the most attractive strategies for molecular construction in organic chemistry. The hydrogen atom is considered to be an ideal coupling handle, owing to its relative abundance in organic molecules and its availability for functionalization at almost any stage in a synthetic sequence. Although many C-H functionalization reactions involve C(sp3)-C(sp2) coupling, there is a growing demand for C-H alkylation reactions, wherein sp3 C-H bonds are replaced with sp3 C-alkyl groups. Here we describe a polarity-match-based selective sp3 C-H alkylation via the combination of photoredox, nickel and hydrogen-atom transfer catalysis. This methodology simultaneously uses three catalytic cycles to achieve hydridic C-H bond abstraction (enabled by polarity matching), alkyl halide oxidative addition, and reductive elimination to enable alkyl-alkyl fragment coupling. The sp3 C-H alkylation is highly selective for the α-C-H of amines, ethers and sulphides, which are commonly found in pharmaceutically relevant architectures. This cross-coupling protocol should enable broad synthetic applications in de novo synthesis and late-stage functionalization chemistry.

Novel Reaction of Succinyl Coenzyme A (Succinyl-CoA) Synthetase: Activation of 3-Sulfinopropionate to 3-Sulfinopropionyl-CoA in Advenella mimigardefordensis Strain DPN7T during Degradation of 3,3′-Dithiodipropionic Acid ▿ †

PubMed Central

Schürmann, Marc; Wübbeler, Jan Hendrik; Grote, Jessica; Steinbüchel, Alexander

2011-01-01

The sucCD gene of Advenella mimigardefordensis strain DPN7T encodes a succinyl coenzyme A (succinyl-CoA) synthetase homologue (EC 6.2.1.4 or EC 6.2.1.5) that recognizes, in addition to succinate, the structural analogues 3-sulfinopropionate (3SP) and itaconate as substrates. Accumulation of 3SP during 3,3′-dithiodipropionic acid (DTDP) degradation was observed in Tn5::mob-induced mutants of A. mimigardefordensis strain DPN7T disrupted in sucCD and in the defined deletion mutant A. mimigardefordensis ΔsucCD. These mutants were impaired in growth with DTDP and 3SP as the sole carbon source. Hence, it was proposed that the succinyl-CoA synthetase homologue in A. mimigardefordensis strain DPN7T activates 3SP to the corresponding CoA-thioester (3SP-CoA). The putative genes coding for A. mimigardefordensis succinyl-CoA synthetase (SucCDAm) were cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)/pLysS. Purification and characterization of the enzyme confirmed its involvement during degradation of DTDP. 3SP, the cleavage product of DTDP, was converted into 3SP-CoA by the purified enzyme, as demonstrated by in vitro enzyme assays. The structure of 3SP-CoA was verified by using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. SucCDAm is Mg2+ or Mn2+ dependent and unspecific regarding ATP or GTP. In kinetic studies the enzyme showed highest enzyme activity and substrate affinity with succinate (Vmax = 9.85 ± 0.14 μmol min−1 mg−1, Km = 0.143 ± 0.001 mM). In comparison to succinate, activity with 3SP was only ca. 1.2% (Vmax = 0.12 ± 0.01 μmol min−1 mg−1) and the affinity was 6-fold lower (Km = 0.818 ± 0.046 mM). Based on the present results, we conclude that SucCDAm is physiologically associated with the citric acid cycle but is mandatory for the catabolic pathway of DTDP and its degradation intermediate 3SP. PMID:21515777

Identification of a new polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) producer Aquitalea sp. USM4 (JCM 19919) and characterization of its PHA synthase.

PubMed

Ng, Lee-Mei; Sudesh, Kumar

2016-11-01

Aquitalea sp. USM4 (JCM 19919) was isolated from a freshwater sample at Lata Iskandar Waterfall in Perak, Malaysia. It is a rod-shaped, gram-negative bacterium with high sequence identity (99%) to Aquitalea magnusonii based on 16S rRNA gene analysis. Aquitalea sp. USM4 also possessed a PHA synthase gene (phaC), which had amino acid sequence identity of 77-78% to the PHA synthase of Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC12472 and Pseudogulbenkiania sp. NH8B. PHA biosynthesis results showed that wild-type Aquitalea sp. USM4 was able to accumulate up to 1.5 g/L of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), [P(3HB)]. The heterologous expression of the PHA synthase gene of Aquitalea sp. USM4 (phaC Aq ) in Cupriavidus necator PHB - 4 had resulted in PHA accumulation up to 3.2 g/L of P(3HB). It was further confirmed by 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis that Aquitalea sp. USM4 and C. necator PHB - 4 transformant were able to produce PHA containing 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV), 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB) and 3-hydroxy-4-methylvalerate (3H4MV) monomers from suitable precursor substrates. Interestingly, relatively high PHA synthase activity of 863 U/g and 1402 U/g were determined in wild-type Aquitalea sp. USM4 and C. necator PHB - 4 transformant respectively. This is the first report on the member of genus Aquitalea as a new PHA producer as well as in vitro and in vivo characterization of a novel PHA synthase from Aquitalea sp. USM4. Copyright © 2016 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Associations between peer victimization, self-reported depression and social phobia among adolescents: the role of comorbidity.

PubMed

Ranta, Klaus; Kaltiala-Heino, Riittakerttu; Pelkonen, Mirjami; Marttunen, Mauri

2009-02-01

Associations of peer victimization with adolescent depression and social phobia (SP), while controlling for comorbidity between them, have not been sufficiently explored in earlier research. A total of 3156 Finnish adolescents aged 15-16 years participated in a survey study. Self-reported peer victimization, as well as self-reported depression (Beck Depression Inventory), SP (Social Phobia Inventory), and selected background variables were assessed. Frequency of overt and covert peer victimization was examined among four groups: (1) adolescents with depression non-comorbid with SP (DEP), (2) those with SP non-comorbid with depression (SP), (3) those with both SP and depression (SP+DEP), and (4) controls, with neither. A logistic regression analysis controlling for confounding familial (family moving, parental unemployment), and psychopathology (delinquency, aggressiveness, general anxiety) covariates was conducted to confirm the associations between peer victimization and the four groups. Among boys the comorbid SP+DEP group reported the highest rates of both overt and covert victimization, these being significantly higher than among both DEP and SP groups. Among girls covert victimization was again most frequent in the SP+DEP group, but overt victimization was not more frequent in the comorbid group than it was in the DEP and SP groups. In the logistic regression analysis depression without SP did not maintain an independent association with either type of victimization. Instead, SP without depression with ORs from 2.8 to 4.3, and SP comorbid with depression, with ORs between 3.2 and 11.4 had independent associations with peer victimization. In conclusion, overt and covert peer victimization seem to be associated with SP, rather than depression, among adolescents.

Postnatal development of GABAergic interneurons in the neocortical subplate of mice.

PubMed

Qu, G-J; Ma, J; Yu, Y-C; Fu, Y

2016-05-13

The subplate (SP) plays important roles in developmental and functional events in the neocortex, such as thalamocortical and corticofugal projection, cortical oscillation generation and corticocortical connectivity. Although accumulated evidence indicates that SP interneurons are crucial for SP function, the molecular composition of SP interneurons as well as their developmental profile and distribution remain largely unclear. In this study, we systematically investigated dynamic development of SP thickness and chemical marker expression in SP interneurons in distinct cortical regions during the first postnatal month. We found that, although the relative area of the SP in the cerebral cortex significantly declined with postnatal development, the absolute thickness did not change markedly. We also found that somatostatin (SOM), the ionotropic serotonin receptor 3A (5HT3AR), and parvalbumin (PV) reliably identify three distinct non-overlapping subpopulations of SP interneurons. The SOM group, which represents ~30% of total SP interneurons, expresses neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and calbindin (CB) and colocalizes entirely with neuropeptide Y (NPY). The 5HT3AR group, which accounts for ~60% of the total interneuronal population, expresses calretinin (CR) and GABA-A receptor subunit delta (GABAARδ). The PV group accounts for ~10% of total SP interneurons and coexpressed GABAARδ. Moreover, distinct interneuron subtypes show characteristic temporal and spatial distribution in the SP. nNOS(+) interneurons in the SP increase from the anterior motor cortex to posterior visual cortex, while CR(+) and CB(+) interneurons the opposite. Interestedly, the majority of GABAARδ(+) neurons in SP are non-GABAergic neurons in contrast to other cortical layers. These findings clarify and extend our understanding of SP interneurons in the developing cerebral cortex and will underpin further study of SP function. Copyright © 2016 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Thermal inactivation of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus in a peptone-salt medium mimicking the water-soluble phase of hydrolyzed fish by-products.

PubMed

Nygaard, Halvor; Modahl, Ingebjørg; Myrmel, Mette

2012-04-01

Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) (serotype Sp) was exposed to temperatures between 60 and 90°C in a medium mimicking the water-soluble phase of hydrolyzed fish by-products. D values ranged from 290 to 0.5 min, and the z value was approximately 9.8°C. Addition of formic acid to create a pH 4 medium did not enhance heat inactivation. Predicted inactivation effects at different temperature-time combinations are provided.

Summaries of Research 1983.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-01-01

LAKE F LAMB JR, jCIHNSflN AH SH-AW S WOODY JN I-APTZMAN PJ SP-PFSTAICTEC PkESFNTATIGN OF II4FLUENZA ANC HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS ANTIGENS TO HUMAN f-LYM...at Aj cL a CL zC w > 2. j t . 4 4 2j -a 4t =4 U. - aaI e- a C - C a OP C Li j P V.. IAV C- L u Li LL. L C L CL a, CL VLC C-’.r 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Absolute Configuration of Andrographolide and Its Proliferation of Osteoblast Cell Lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chantrapromma, S.; Boonnak, N.; Pitakpornpreecha, T.; Yordthong, T.; Chidan Kumar, C. S.; Fun, H. K.

2018-05-01

Andrographolide, C20H30O5, is a labdane diterpenoid which was isolated from the leave of Andrographis paniculata. Its crystal structure is determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction: monoclinic, sp. gr. P21, Z = 2. Absolute configuration is determined by the refinement of the Flack parameter to 0.21(19). In the crystal, molecules are linked by O-H···O hydrogen bonds and C-H···O interactions into two dimensional network parallel to the (001) plane. Its proliferation of osteoblast cell lines is reported.

Substantial disease exacerbation in a patient with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis after withdrawal from siponimod.

PubMed

Litwin, Tomasz; Smoliński, Łukasz; Członkowka, Anna

Among patients with multiple sclerosis, discontinuing highly effective disease-modifying treatments can potentially lead to severe disease recurrence, especially cessation of natalizumab and fingolimod. Similar to fingolimod, siponimod is a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator that inhibits the egress of a lymphocyte subpopulation from lymph nodes. In the present case report, we describe a patient with MS who experienced substantial disease exacerbation after withdrawal from siponimod. Copyright © 2017 Polish Neurological Society. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.

Multiple gastrointestinal metastases of Merkel cell carcinoma.

PubMed

Poškus, Eligijus; Platkevičius, Gediminas; Simanskaitė, Vilma; Rimkevičiūtė, Ernesta; Petrulionis, Marius; Strupas, Kestutis

2016-01-01

Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive skin malignancy. Primary Merkel cell carcinomas are treated by wide radical excision with or without adjuvant radiotherapy, while benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy remain doubtful. There are only several cases of gastrointestinal metastases of Merkel cell carcinoma reported so far. We report a case of recurrent Merkel cell carcinoma with metastases to the stomach and the small intestines after wide excision of primary Merkel cell carcinoma. Copyright © 2016 The Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the DoD Safety Program: DoD Guard & Reserve Safety Survey

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-12

Alexandria,VA,22350-1500 8 . PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S... 8 -98) Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18 hot line D E PA R T M E N T O F D E F E N S E To report fraud, waste, mismanagement, and abuse of authority...Results 2007 Table 1 Percentile Scores, Percent Distribution of Responses, and Average Response Scores - 8 - sse oe LP oe sse SP LP SSA sse

SmoXYB1C1Z of Mycobacterium sp. Strain NBB4: a Soluble Methane Monooxygenase (sMMO)-Like Enzyme, Active on C2 to C4 Alkanes and Alkenes

PubMed Central

Martin, Kiri E.; Ozsvar, Jazmin

2014-01-01

Monooxygenase (MO) enzymes initiate the aerobic oxidation of alkanes and alkenes in bacteria. A cluster of MO genes (smoXYB1C1Z) of thus-far-unknown function was found previously in the genomes of two Mycobacterium strains (NBB3 and NBB4) which grow on hydrocarbons. The predicted Smo enzymes have only moderate amino acid identity (30 to 60%) to their closest homologs, the soluble methane and butane MOs (sMMO and sBMO), and the smo gene cluster has a different organization from those of sMMO and sBMO. The smoXYB1C1Z genes of NBB4 were cloned into pMycoFos to make pSmo, which was transformed into Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2-155. Cells of mc2-155(pSmo) metabolized C2 to C4 alkanes, alkenes, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. The activities of mc2-155(pSmo) cells were 0.94, 0.57, 0.12, and 0.04 nmol/min/mg of protein with ethene, ethane, propane, and butane as substrates, respectively. The mc2-155(pSmo) cells made epoxides from ethene, propene, and 1-butene, confirming that Smo was an oxygenase. Epoxides were not produced from larger alkenes (1-octene and styrene). Vinyl chloride and 1,2-dichloroethane were biodegraded by cells expressing Smo, with production of inorganic chloride. This study shows that Smo is a functional oxygenase which is active against small hydrocarbons. M. smegmatis mc2-155(pSmo) provides a new model for studying sMMO-like monooxygenases. PMID:25015887

The application of biotic elicitor on Artemisia annua L. to increase artemisinin content

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darwati, I.; Manohara, D.; Rohimatun; Nurhayati, H.

2018-01-01

Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) has been recommended by WHO as an alternative to treat malaria overcoming drug resistance. The secondary metabolic products in plants, including artemisinin, can be increased by utilizing biotic elicitor from fungi. The research was conducted in Gunung Putri Research Installation, Cipanas, West Java from 2010 to 2011. Phytophthora sp. from eggplant and Colletotrichum sp. from Artemisia annua were applied as biotic elicitor. The types of biotic elicitor applied to the plants were 1) the medium of potato dextrose broth were inoculated with fungi and harvested after 10 days (filtrate), 2) powdery mycelium of both fungi. There were 16 treatments: control negative, control positive (uninoculated medium) 1%, 2%, 3% (v/v)], Phytophthora sp. filtrate [1, 2% and 3% (v/v)], Colletotrichum sp. filtrate [1, 2% and 3% (v/v)], Phytophthora sp. mycelium [1%, 2% and 3% (w/v)], Colletotrichum sp mycelium [1%, 2% and 3% (w/v)]. The elicitor application increased plant production by 26.21% and artemisinin yield by 72% compared to control. Furthermore, the artemisinin production of the plants treated with medium inoculated with 2% filtrate of Phytophthora sp (FP2) (25.19 kg/ha) and 1% powdery mycelium of Colletotrichum sp (MC1) (26.42 kg/ha) were higher than control (K) (11.17 kg/ha).

USAF Bioenvironmental Noise Data Handbook. Volume 130. A-7 Aircraft in the AF32A-19 and the AF32A-24 Noise Suppressors, Near and Far-Field Noise.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-07-01

C2 w C3 0 . . . . 0 0 0 0 1 CO Cl UJI ty . . I. . . . . . . . . . I. . . . . U, Z 91 Is . . . 0 0 0 0 r U z ce tD z us z m z woe z 0 00 CL ti) 0 Z 6...I( x O~ tD .)Z ,ll . . .P .. . . .. . .o 0 z : :• (Y -, 11-4 I •••••• It; rl L-l ulC z co i’Li u 11 1 gr - - - -- -.... .... ....... ..U3U% A, z oc ao...II 𔃻 3 - - 3 - 33 - -a z 0 jAj " 7 nu ~ fu j( ~ : .. \\./ : * a a a32 m 4’ . 4t... U 0 10,0 r,,_ I,. co CD 1,4 Z c a 0 -- -- 64 "*" o :) € go e ° o

Functional characterization of tachykinin NK1 receptors in the mouse uterus.

PubMed

Patak, Eva; Pennefather, Jocelyn N; Fleming, Anna; Story, Margot E

2002-12-01

1. Contractility studies were undertaken to determine the nature of the receptors mediating responses to tachykinins in uteri of oestrogen-treated mice. 2. In the presence of thiorphan (3 microM), captopril (10 microM), and bestatin (10 microM), substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB) produced concentration-related contractions of uterine preparations. The order of potency was SP > or =NKA>NKB. 3. Neither atropine (0.1 microM) nor l-NOLA (100 microM), nor indomethacin (10 microM) alone or in combination with either ranitidine (10 microM) or mepyramine (10 microM), affected responses to SP. These findings indicate that SP actions are not mediated or modulated through the release of acetylcholine, nitric oxide, prostanoids or histamine. 4. In the presence of peptidase inhibitors, the tachykinin NK(1) receptor-selective agonist [Sar(9)Met(O(2))(11)]SP, produced a concentration-dependent contractile effect. The tachykinin NK(2) and NK(3) receptor-selective agonists [Lys(5)MeLeu(9)Nle(10)]NKA(4-10) and [MePhe(7)]NKB were relatively inactive. The potencies of SP analogues in which Glu replaced Gln(5) and/or Gln(6) were similar to that of SP. 5. The tachykinin NK(1) receptor-selective antagonist, SR140333 (10 nM), alone or combined with the tachykinin NK(2) receptor-selective antagonist, SR48968 (10 nM), shifted log concentration curves to SP, NKA and NKB to the right. SR140333 (10 nM) reduced the effect of [Sar(9)Met(O(2))(11)]SP. SR48968 did not affect responses to SP or [Sar(9)Met(O(2))(11)]SP, but reduced the effect of higher concentrations of NKA and shifted the log concentration-response curve to NKB to the right. The tachykinin NK(3) receptor-selective antagonist, SR 142801 (0.3 microM), had little effect on responses to SP and NKB. 6. We conclude that the tachykinin NK(1) receptor mediates contractile effects of SP, NKA and NKB and [Sar(9)Met(O(2))(11)]SP in myometrium from the oestrogen-primed mouse. The tachykinin NK(2) receptor may also participate in the responses to NKA and NKB.

GT-094, a NO-NSAID, inhibits colon cancer cell growth by activation of a reactive oxygen species-microRNA-27a: ZBTB10-specificity protein pathway.

PubMed

Pathi, Satya S; Jutooru, Indira; Chadalapaka, Gayathri; Sreevalsan, Sandeep; Anand, S; Thatcher, Gregory Rj; Safe, Stephen

2011-02-01

Ethyl 2-((2,3-bis(nitrooxy)propyl)disulfanyl)benzoate (GT-094) is a novel nitric oxide (NO) chimera containing an nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and NO moieties and also a disulfide pharmacophore that in itself exhibits cancer chemopreventive activity. In this study, the effects and mechanism of action of GT-094 were investigated in RKO and SW480 colon cancer cells. GT-094 inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in both cell lines and this was accompanied by decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and these responses were reversed after cotreatment with the antioxidant glutathione. GT-094 also downregulated genes associated with cell growth [cyclin D1, hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-Met), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)], survival (bcl-2, survivin), and angiogenesis [VEGF and its receptors (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2)]. Results of previous RNA interference studies in this laboratory has shown that these genes are regulated, in part, by specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4 that are overexpressed in colon and other cancer cell lines and not surprisingly, GT-094 also decreased Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4 in colon cancer cells. GT-094-mediated repression of Sp and Sp-regulated gene products was due to downregulation of microRNA-27a (miR-27a) and induction of ZBTB10, an Sp repressor that is regulated by miR-27a in colon cancer cells. Moreover, the effects of GT-094 on Sp1, Sp3, Sp4, miR-27a, and ZBTB10 were also inhibited by glutathione suggesting that the anticancer activity of GT-094 in colon cancer cells is due, in part, to activation of an ROS-miR-27a:ZBTB10-Sp transcription factor pathway.

Characterisation of microbial communities in Chinese liquor fermentation starters Daqu using nested PCR-DGGE.

PubMed

Zhang, Liqiang; Wu, Chongde; Ding, Xiaofei; Zheng, Jia; Zhou, Rongqing

2014-12-01

In this study, characterises of the microbial community structures of three typical Chinese liquor Daqu, as well as different kinds of light flavour Daqu were investigated using nested PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The results showed that microbial diversity was considerably different, and the microfloral compositions were highly variable among various Daqu. Lactic acid bacteria, which accounted for 30.95 % of all identified bacteria, were dominant in all Daqu samples, whereas Bacillus species were also predominant in the Luzhou (14.8 %) and Langjiu Daqu (18.2 %). Citrobacter and Burkholderia were first identified in light flavour Daqu. Aspergillus was the dominant moulds, and the non-Saccharomyces yeast species, Saccharomycopsis fibuligera, Wallemia sebi, Wallemia muriae, and Pichia subpelliculosa, were the dominant yeasts. Rasamsonia, Galactomyces, Geotrichum and Wallemia were first identified using nested PCR-DGGE. Cluster analysis indicated that the microbial community structures of different Daqu samples exhibited some differences. These may be ascribed to the different peak production temperatures, raw material constituents and microhabitats around the liquor enterprises. The current study provides insights into the microbial community structures of three typical Daqu samples, and may facilitate the development of starter cultures for manufacturing Chinese liquor.

Evaluation of styloid process morphology and calcification types in both genders with different ages and dental status.

PubMed

Magat, Guldane; Ozcan, Sevgi

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphology and calcification pattern of the styloid process (SP) and to determine their relations with subjects' age, gender, and dental status. 910 panoramic radiographs were stratified by age, dental status and gender. The distance between the points where SP leaves the tympanic plate of the temporal bone and the bony tip of SP was measured. Calcification patterns were classified as : (A) Region 1, tympanohyal alone (B) Region 2, stylohyal alone (C) Region 1 and 2, separate (D) Regions 1 and 2, continuous (E) Regions 1, 2, and 3, continuous (F) Regions 1, 2, and 3, separate (G) Regions 1 and 2, continuous, but separate from 3 (H) Regions 2 and 3, separate (I) Regions 2 and 3, continuous, but separate from 1 (J) Region 3 alone (K) Region 3 and 4, continuous (may include calcification in one other region) (L) No styloid process visible. The right SPs were found to be longer than the left (p<0.05). Types D (right 42.9%, left 42%) and E (right 33.3%, left 30.8%) were the most common morphological calcifications on both sides. No statistical difference was found for bilateral SP length between gender, age, and dental status groups. A significant difference was found only for right SP morphological calcification types as to age groups in both genders (p<0.05). No significant difference was found for SP morphological calcification types according to gender and dental status. The morphological types are formed at their present area. Even though SP calcification type was determined according to the length of SP, age was not an effective factor on the length, but the morphological calcification type of SP. Therefore, factors other than age may have a role in the development of morphological calcification types. Structural characteristics of SP are not associated with age, gender and dental status.

RIME: The Recoverable Item Management Evaluator. Volume II. Section III. RIME Simulation Model Programs.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-05-01

ve3 573U~5V * 3commovfirol?1@3ollpo 5 COROIIfTglzT@ RH T~ 41 CONNONAIDTZTAT 1 CORR601Z Io*nZ’PQ 2 CONN onkl!Z.lanal 2 COKKOIJZINIAYT RIME3T .3...16CRO/ ~8Z!55ri53S 27 C0OolzU./!L.rse/z2( isy 23CQII503fl3VoIfl30R( 103M 24I CoRKoflnevesUI/Z3CIUAISO *:25 C0KROWIX3b /xIsociigesoll 26 COMMON)lIOZ

Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Novel Chlorpyrifos and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol-degrading Bacteria from Sugarcane Farm Soils

PubMed Central

Rayu, Smriti; Nielsen, Uffe N.; Nazaries, Loïc; Singh, Brajesh K.

2017-01-01

Chlorpyrifos (CP) is one of the most widely used organophosphate pesticides in agriculture worldwide, but its extensive use has led to the contamination of various soil and water systems. Microbial bioremediation is considered to be one of the most viable options for the removal of CP from the environment; however, little is known about the soil bacterial diversity that degrade CP. Sequential soil and liquid culture enrichments enabled the isolation of bacterial CP degraders with sequence homologies to Xanthomonas sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Rhizobium sp. The efficacy of the three isolated strains: Xanthomonas sp. 4R3-M1, Pseudomonas sp. 4H1-M3, and Rhizobium sp. 4H1-M1 was further investigated for biodegradation of CP and its primary metabolic product, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP). The results indicate that all three bacterial strains almost completely metabolized CP (10 mg/L) and TCP, occurring as a metabolic degradation product, in mineral salt media as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen. The isolated bacterial strains Xanthomonas sp. 4R3-M1 and Pseudomonas sp. 4H1-M3 could also degrade TCP (10 mg/L) as a sole carbon and nitrogen source, when provided externally. Thus, these bacterial strains may be effective in practical application of bioremediation of both CP and TCP. PMID:28421040

Photo-controllable memristive behavior of graphene/diamond heterojunctions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ueda, K.; Aichi, S.; Asano, H.

2016-05-30

Graphene/diamond (carbon sp{sup 2}-sp{sup 3}) heterojunctions are demonstrated as photo-controllable memristors with photoswitchable multiple resistance states and nonvolatile memory functions. The ratio of conductivity change between the higher and lower resistance states of the junctions was ∼10{sup 3}. The junctions exhibit light wavelength selectivity, and the resistance states can be switched only by blue or violet light irradiation. The mechanism for the change in photoconductivity is considered to be caused by oxidation-reduction of the graphene and/or graphene-diamond (sp{sup 2}-sp{sup 3}) interfaces through the movement of oxygen ions by bias with photo-irradiation because they have wavelength selectivity and require air exposuremore » for several days to exhibit memristive behavior. These results indicate that graphene-diamond, carbon sp{sup 2}-sp{sup 3} heterojunctions can be used as photo-controllable devices with both photomemory and photoswitching functions.« less

Direct Acylation of C(sp(3))-H Bonds Enabled by Nickel and Photoredox Catalysis.

PubMed

Joe, Candice L; Doyle, Abigail G

2016-03-14

Using nickel and photoredox catalysis, the direct functionalization of C(sp(3))-H bonds of N-aryl amines by acyl electrophiles is described. The method affords a diverse range of α-amino ketones at room temperature and is amenable to late-stage coupling of complex and biologically relevant groups. C(sp(3))-H activation occurs by photoredox-mediated oxidation to generate α-amino radicals which are intercepted by nickel in catalytic C(sp(3))-C coupling. The merger of these two modes of catalysis leverages nickel's unique properties in alkyl cross-coupling while avoiding limitations commonly associated with transition-metal-mediated C(sp(3))-H activation, including requirements for chelating directing groups and high reaction temperatures. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

NDM-1 encoded by a pNDM-BJ01-like plasmid p3SP-NDM in clinical Enterobacter aerogenes

PubMed Central

Chen, Zhenhong; Li, Hongxia; Feng, Jiao; Li, Yuxue; Chen, Xin; Guo, Xuemin; Chen, Weijun; Wang, Li; Lin, Lei; Yang, Huiying; Yang, Wenhui; Wang, Jie; Zhou, Dongsheng; Liu, Changting; Yin, Zhe

2015-01-01

A carbapenem-nonsusceptible Enterobacter aerogenes strain named 3-SP was isolated from a human case of pneumonia in a Chinese teaching hospital. NDM-1 carbapenemase is produced by a pNDM-BJ01-like conjugative plasmid designated p3SP-NDM to account for carbapenem resistance of 3-SP. p3SP-NDM was fully sequenced and compared with all publically available pNDM-BJ01-like plasmids. The genetic differences between p3SP-NDM and pNDM-BJ01 include only 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms, a 1 bp deletion and a 706 bp deletion. p3SP-NDM and pNDM-BJ01 harbor an identical Tn125 element organized as ISAba125, blaNDM−1, bleMBL, ΔtrpF, dsbC, cutA, ΔgroES, groEL, ISCR27, and ISAba125. The blaNDM−1 surrounding regions in these pNDM-BJ01-like plasmids have a conserved linear organization ISAba14-aphA6-Tn125-unknown IS, with considerable genetic differences identified within or immediately downstream of Tn125. All reported pNDM-BJ01-like plasmids are exclusively found in Acinetobacter, whereas this is the first report of identification of a pNDM-BJ01-like plasmid in Enterobacteriaceae. PMID:25926823

NDM-1 encoded by a pNDM-BJ01-like plasmid p3SP-NDM in clinical Enterobacter aerogenes.

PubMed

Chen, Zhenhong; Li, Hongxia; Feng, Jiao; Li, Yuxue; Chen, Xin; Guo, Xuemin; Chen, Weijun; Wang, Li; Lin, Lei; Yang, Huiying; Yang, Wenhui; Wang, Jie; Zhou, Dongsheng; Liu, Changting; Yin, Zhe

2015-01-01

A carbapenem-nonsusceptible Enterobacter aerogenes strain named 3-SP was isolated from a human case of pneumonia in a Chinese teaching hospital. NDM-1 carbapenemase is produced by a pNDM-BJ01-like conjugative plasmid designated p3SP-NDM to account for carbapenem resistance of 3-SP. p3SP-NDM was fully sequenced and compared with all publically available pNDM-BJ01-like plasmids. The genetic differences between p3SP-NDM and pNDM-BJ01 include only 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms, a 1 bp deletion and a 706 bp deletion. p3SP-NDM and pNDM-BJ01 harbor an identical Tn125 element organized as ISAba125, bla NDM-1, ble MBL, ΔtrpF, dsbC, cutA, ΔgroES, groEL, ISCR27, and ISAba125. The bla NDM-1 surrounding regions in these pNDM-BJ01-like plasmids have a conserved linear organization ISAba14-aphA6-Tn125-unknown IS, with considerable genetic differences identified within or immediately downstream of Tn125. All reported pNDM-BJ01-like plasmids are exclusively found in Acinetobacter, whereas this is the first report of identification of a pNDM-BJ01-like plasmid in Enterobacteriaceae.

Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine during pregnancy in Burkina Faso: effect of adding a third dose to the standard two-dose regimen on low birth weight, anaemia and pregnancy outcomes.

PubMed

Valea, Innocent; Tinto, Halidou; Drabo, Maxime K; Huybregts, Lieven; Henry, Marie-Claire; Roberfroid, Dominique; Guiguemde, Robert T; Kolsteren, Patrick; D'Alessandro, Umberto

2010-11-12

Intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) is being implemented in most malaria endemic countries as a standard two-doses regimen as it reduces the risk of low birth weight (LBW) and the prevalence of maternal anaemia. Nevertheless, where the risk of infection close to delivery is high because of intense transmission, a third IPTp-SP dose may further reduce the negative effects of malaria on pregnancy outcome. Pregnant women in the 2nd or 3rd trimester were randomized to receive either 2 (SP2) or 3 doses (SP3) of SP. Trained field workers paid home visits to the women for drug administration according to a predefined drug delivery schedule. Women were encouraged to attend their scheduled ANC visits and to deliver at the health facilities where the new-born was weighed. The prevalence of LBW (<2500 g), severe anaemia (Hb < 8 g/dL) and premature birth was analysed using intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analysis. Data from 1274 singleton pregnancies were analysed (641 in the SP3 and 633 in the SP2 group). The uptake of the intervention appeared to be low. Though the prevalence of LBW in both intervention groups was similar (adjusted Incident Rate Ratio, AIRR = 0.92, 95%CI: 0.69-1.24) in the ITT analysis, the risk of severe anaemia was significantly lower in the SP3 group compared to the SP2 group (AIRR = 0.38, 95%CI: 0.16 - 0.90). The PP analysis showed a trend of reduced risk of LBW, severe anaemia and premature delivery in the SP3 group, albeit the difference between two and three IPTp-SP did not reach statistical significance. The risk of LBW and severe anaemia tended to be lower in the SP3 group, though this was not statistically significant, probably due to the low uptake of the intervention which reduced the power of the study. Further studies are needed for establishing whether a third SP dose has a real benefit in preventing the negative effects of malaria in pregnancy in settings where transmission is markedly seasonal.

Folic acid-modified soy protein nanoparticles for enhanced targeting and inhibitory.

PubMed

Cheng, Xu; Wang, Xin; Cao, Zhipeng; Yao, Weijing; Wang, Jun; Tang, Rupei

2017-02-01

Soy protein isolate (SPI) was hydrolyzed by compound enzymes to give water soluble low molecular soy protein (SP). SP and folic acid (FA) modified SP was polymerized with N-3- acrylamidophenylboronic acid (APBA) monomer in aqueous solution to give SP nanoparticles (SP NPs) and FA modified nanoparticles (FA-SP NPs), respectively. These NPs display excellent stability in different conditions, and have a uniform spherical shape with a diameter around of 200nm. Doxorubicin (DOX) was then successfully loaded into SP and FA-SP NPs with a desirable loading content of 13.33% and 16.01%, respectively. The cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of DOX-loaded SP NPs and FA-SP NPs were investigated using the two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cell model and three-dimensional (3D) multicellular spheroids (MCs). In vivo, tumor accumulation and growth inhibitory were then examined using H22 tumor-bearing mice. All these results demonstrated that conjugation of FA can efficiently enhance SP-based NPs' tumor accumulation and antitumor effect. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Angular distribution of hybridization in sputtered carbon thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Y.; Wang, H.; Wei, Z. C.

2017-08-01

The sp3/sp2 ratio of sputtered carbon thin film depends on the ion bombardment process and tailors the physical properties of carbon thin film. In present work, we report the angular distribution of hybridization in magnetron sputtered carbon thin film for the first time. By x-ray photoelectron spectra analyses, it is found that the sp3/sp2 ratio increases linearly with increasing the deposition angle from 0 to 90 degree, which could be attributed to the enhancement of direct knocking-out of near-surface target atoms. In addition, we also derive the sp3/sp2 ratio by simulation on complex permittivity in terahertz frequency using a modified percolation approximation tunneling model. Those derived data consist with the results from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

[The effect of substance P on functional proteins in human neutrophil].

PubMed

Yang, Lin; Fa, Xiang-guang

2002-02-01

To explore the effect of substance P (SP) on the functional proteins on plasma membrane of neutrophil (Np). The response of Np to SP was examined by measuring the level of respiratory burst, the activities of ACP and ALP, the fluoroscopy intensity of CR3, CD45 and FM-LP. It was found that SP could increase respiratory burst of Np, decrease the activity of acid phosphatase (ACP), but had no effect on alkaline phosphatase (ALP). SP could also promote the amount of CD45, complement receptor type 3 (CR3) and N-Formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP) receptors. The results showed that the effects of SP on functional proteins in human Np membrane were universality and diversity. It implied that SP could affect various inflammation responses in Np.

Two new species of Milnesium (Tardigrada: Milnesiidae).

PubMed

Pilato, Giovanni; Sabella, Giorgio; Lisi, Oscar

2016-07-01

Two new species of Milnesium are described: Milnesium vorax sp. nov from Sicily and Milnesium tumanovi sp. nov. from Crimea. Milnesium vorax sp. nov. is uncoloured, with eye spots, smooth cuticle, wide buccal tube, stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube at almost 62 % of its length; claws with configuration [2-3]-[3-2]; accessory points present on the main branches. Milnesium tumanovi sp. nov. is also uncoloured, has eye spots, smooth cuticle, and wide buccal tube, but it has the stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube at about 52 % of its length, and claws with configuration [3-3]-[3-3]; the accessory points are present on the main branches.

Using Gelatin Nanoparticle Mediated Intranasal Delivery of Neuropeptide Substance P to Enhance Neuro-Recovery in Hemiparkinsonian Rats.

PubMed

Zhao, Ying-Zheng; Jin, Rong-Rong; Yang, Wei; Xiang, Qi; Yu, Wen-Ze; Lin, Qian; Tian, Fu-Rong; Mao, Kai-Li; Lv, Chuan-Zhu; Wáng, Yi-Xiáng J; Lu, Cui-Tao

2016-01-01

Intranasal administration of phospholipid-based gelatin nanoparticles (GNP) was prepared to investigate the neuro-recovery effects of neuropeptide Substance P (SP) on hemiparkinsonian rats. The SP-loaded gelatin nanoparticles (SP-GNP) were prepared by a water-in-water emulsion method and possessed high stability, encapsulating efficiency and loading capacity. PC-12 cells were used to examine the growth enhancement of SP-GNP in vitro by MTT assays and flow cytometry (FCM). The therapeutic effects of SP-GNP on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced hemiparkinsonian rats were assessed by quantifying rotational behavior and the levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), phosphorylated c-Jun protein (p-c-Jun) and Caspase-3 (Cas-3) expressed in substantia nigra (SN) region of hemiparkinsonian rats. PC-12 cells under SP-GNP treatment showed better cell viability and lower degree of apoptosis than those under SP solution treatment. Hemiparkinsonian rats under intranasal SP-GNP administration demonstrated better behavioral improvement, higher level of TH in SN along with much lower extent of p-c-Jun and Cas-3 than those under intranasal SP solution administration and intravenous SP-GNP administration. With the advantages of GNP and nose-to-brain pathway, SP can be effectively delivered into the damaged SN region and exhibit its neuro-recovery function through the inhibition on JNK pathway and dopaminergic neuron apoptosis.

Populational equilibrium through exosome-mediated Wnt signaling in tumor progression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

PubMed

Koch, Raphael; Demant, Martin; Aung, Thiha; Diering, Nina; Cicholas, Anna; Chapuy, Bjoern; Wenzel, Dirk; Lahmann, Marlen; Güntsch, Annemarie; Kiecke, Christina; Becker, Sabrina; Hupfeld, Timo; Venkataramani, Vivek; Ziepert, Marita; Opitz, Lennart; Klapper, Wolfram; Trümper, Lorenz; Wulf, Gerald G

2014-04-03

Tumors are composed of phenotypically heterogeneous cell populations. The nongenomic mechanisms underlying transitions and interactions between cell populations are largely unknown. Here, we show that diffuse large B-cell lymphomas possess a self-organized infrastructure comprising side population (SP) and non-SP cells, where transitions between clonogenic states are modulated by exosome-mediated Wnt signaling. DNA methylation modulated SP-non-SP transitions and was correlated with the reciprocal expressions of Wnt signaling pathway agonist Wnt3a in SP cells and the antagonist secreted frizzled-related protein 4 in non-SP cells. Lymphoma SP cells exhibited autonomous clonogenicity and exported Wnt3a via exosomes to neighboring cells, thus modulating population equilibrium in the tumor.

Microbiota from Rhabditis regina may alter nematode entomopathogenicity.

PubMed

Jiménez-Cortés, Jesús Guillermo; Canales-Lazcano, Jorge; Lara-Reyes, Nancy; Rosenblueth, Mónica; Martínez-Romero, Esperanza; Contreras-Garduño, Jorge

2016-11-01

Here we report the presence of the entomopathogenic nematode Rhabditis (Rhabditoides) regina affecting white grubs (Phyllophaga sp. and Anomala sp.) in Mexico and R. regina-associated bacteria. Bioassays were performed to test the entomopathogenic capacity of dauer and L2 and L3 (combined) larval stages. Furthermore, we determined the diversity of bacteria from laboratory nematodes cultivated for 2 years (dauer and L2-L3 larvae) and from field nematodes (dauer and L2-L3 larvae) in addition to the virulence in Galleria mellonella larvae of some bacterial species from both laboratory and field nematodes. Dauer and non-dauer larvae of R. regina killed G. mellonella. Bacteria such as Serratia sp. (isolated from field nematodes) and Klebsiella sp. (isolated from larvae of laboratory and field nematodes) may explain R. regina entomopathogenic capabilities. Different bacteria were found in nematodes after subculturing in the laboratory suggesting that R. regina may acquire bacteria in different environments. However, there were some consistently found bacteria from laboratory and field nematodes such as Pseudochrobactrum sp., Comamonas sp., Alcaligenes sp., Klebsiella sp., Acinetobacter sp., and Leucobacter sp. that may constitute the nematode microbiome. Results showed that some bacteria contributing to entomopathogenicity may be lost in the laboratory representing a disadvantage when nematodes are cultivated to be used for biological control.

Characterization of Substance P processing in mouse spinal cord S9 fractions using high-resolution Quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Saidi, Mouna; Kamali, Soufiane; Beaudry, Francis

2016-10-01

Tachykinins are a family of pronociceptive neuropeptides with a specific role in pain and inflammation. Several mechanisms regulate endogenous tachykinins and Substance P (SP) levels, including the differential expression of protachykinin mRNA and the controlled secretion of tachykinins from neurons. Proteolysis is suspected to regulate extracellular SP concentrations but few studies were conducted on the metabolism of proneuropeptides and neuropeptides. Here, we provide evidence that proteolysis controls SP levels in the spinal cord leading to the formation of active C-terminal fragments. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, specific tachykinins fragments were characterized and quantified. The metabolic stability of β-Tachykinin 58-71 and SP were very short resulting in half-life of 5.7 and 3.5min respectively. Several C-terminal fragments were identified, including SP 3-11 , SP 5-11 and SP 8-11 , which conserve affinity for the Neurokinin 1 receptor. Interestingly, the metabolic stability of C-terminal fragments was significantly superior. Two specific Prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors were used and showed a significant reduction in the rate of formation of SP 3-11 and SP 5-11 providing strong evidence that Prolyl endopeptidase is involved into N-terminal processing of SP in the spinal cord. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the Performance and Flow in an Axial Compressor.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-10-01

A Exit Rake P 11.00-P tP noz P2noz -PA SP-1 PHub - PA Exit Rake Pt11.50-Pt p - PA SP-1 PTip - PA Exit Rake Pt2.00-PPtpipe ATp Att Pspipe - PA SP-2...PTip - PA Exit Rake Pt6.50-Pt Inlet Rake Pt14.40-PA SP-8 PTip - PA Exit Rake Pt 17.00-Pt Inlet Rake Pt 1.30-PA SP-8 PHub - PA Exit Rake Pt17.50-Pt...Determination from Probe Pressures Pt (1) =((Pt=(1) + Phub ) + (Pt(1) + Pt(2)))/3 P t(2) P t(2) Pt (3) = t(3) P t(4) = (P t(3) + P t(4))/2 P t(5) =P t(4) Pt

MX Siting Investigation. Water Resources Program. Technical Summary Report. Volume IIB.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-11-30

8801014 4:144- 5886 1s 3 576 9 9 /it8 1o 2 57?57 ERTEC 80/88560 15 441441- 6481 TONOPAH 1943 63 12 S749 611962 12 5733 THORDARSON ETAL 71 16 4N/446- lA...7030 THORDARSON IT AL 71 3 9N/I1E- So SP MOREY CANYON 3/1967 5.0 7200 TRORDARSON IT AL 71 6 9N/SIE- BA SP SO. CYN. SPRING 3/1967 7.0 7360 TNORDARSON IT...SP COLD SPRING 411967 10.0 610G THORDARSON ET AL 71 10 EN/49E-23A9 SP 8/1967 2.0 5900 TWORDARSON IT AL 71 11 8N/69E-259A SP OLD DUGAN NOT SPA. 9/1967

Patterns of prey selection of Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) lactitarse Saussure (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) in southern Brazil.

PubMed

Buschini, M L T; Borba, N A; Brescovit, A D

2008-08-01

This study was carried out in the Parque Municipal das Araucárias, in the municipality of Guarapuava, southern Brazil. A total of 449 T. lactitarse nests were collected using trap-nests of different diameters. Fifty three species of spiders belonging to 7 families were captured by T. lactitarse. Araneidae was the most captured family and has been strongly represented by the genus Eustala. Through Bray-Curtis's coefficient and the unweighted pair group method average (UPGMA), the spiders species can be divided into 3 groups: the smaller group includes the most abundant species (Eustala sp1, Eustala sp2, Acacesia villalobosi, Alpaida sp1 and Araneus corporosus), the second group includes species with intermediate abundance (Wagneriana iguape, Araneus omnicolor, Eustala sp4, Alpaida grayi, Eustala sp3, Larinia t-notata, Mangora sp1 and Wagneriana iguape), and the third and largest group includes the least abundant species (Aysha gr. brevimana 1, Eustala sp5, Wagneriana eupalaestra, Alpaida scriba, Alpaida veniliae, Araneus aff. omnicolor, Araneus sicki, Eustala sp8, Mangora sp2, Mangora sp3, Wagneriana juquia, Alpaida sp2, Araneus blumenau, Eustala sp6, Eustala sp7 and Ocrepeira galianoae). Of 2,029 identified spiders, 1,171 were captured in the Araucaria forest, 612 in grassland areas and 246 in the swamp. Grassland and swamp areas evidenced greater similarity between them than to the Araucaria Forest, regarding presence-absence of spider species in T. lactitarse's diet, as well as regarding species abundance in these habitats. The juvenile number (56%) was significantly higher than the female (38%) and male (6%) percentages.

Diversity of endophytic fungi associated with the foliar tissue of a hemi-parasitic plant Macrosolen cochinchinensis.

PubMed

Zhou, Sheng-Liang; Yan, Shu-Zhen; Liu, Qi-Sha; Chen, Shuang-Lin

2015-01-01

Foliar fungal endophytes are an important plant-associated fungal group. However, little is known about these fungi in hemi-parasitic plants, a unique plant group which derive nutrients from living plants of its hosts by haustoria while are photosynthetic to some degree. In this paper, the endophytic fungi in the leaves of a species of hemi-parasitic plant, Macrosolen cochinchinensis, were studied by both culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. By culture-dependent method, a total of 511 isolates were recovered from 452 of 600 leaf fragments (colonization rate = 75.3 %) and were identified to be 51 taxa. Valsa sp. was the most abundant (relative abundance = 38.4 %), followed by Cladosporium sp. 1 (13.5 %), Ulocladium sp. (4.3 %), Phomopsis sp. 2 (3.7 %), Hendersonia sp. (3.5 %), and Diaporthe sp. 4 (3.5 %). The Shannon index (H') of the isolated endophytic fungi was 2.628, indicating a moderate diversity. By culture-independent method, Aspergillus spp., Cladosporium sp., Mycosphaerella sp., Acremonium strictum, and Tremella sp. were detected. To our knowledge, the Tremella species have never been detected as endophytes so far. In addition, a cloned sequence was not similar with any current sequence in the Genbank, which may represent a novel species. Altogether, this study documented endophytic fungal assemble in the leaves of M. cochinchinensis which was worthy of our attention, and may expand our knowledge about endophytic fungi within the photosynthetic tissues of plants.

Biosorption characteristics of copper (II), chromium (III), nickel (II), and lead (II) from aqueous solutions by Chara sp. and Cladophora sp.

PubMed

Elmaci, Ayşe; Yonar, Taner; Ozengin, Nihan

2007-09-01

The aim of this research was to expose individual removals of copper, chromium, nickel, and lead from aqueous solutions via biosorption using nonliving algae species, Chara sp. and Cladophora sp. Optimum pH values for biosorption of copper (II), chromium (III), nickel (II), and lead (II) from aqueous solutions were determined to be 6, 7, 7, and 3 for Cladophora sp. and 5, 3, 5, and 4 for Chara sp. respectively. Maximum adsorption capacities of Chara sp. [10.54 for chromium (III) and 61.72 for lead (II)] and Cladophora sp. [6.59 for chromium (III) and 16.75 and 23.25 for lead (II)] for chromium (III) and lead (II) are similar. On the other hand, copper (II) and nickel (II) biosorption capacity of Cladophora sp. [14.28 for copper (II) and 16.75 for nickel (II)] is greater than Chara sp. [6.506 for copper (II) and 11.76 for nickel (II)]. Significantly high correlation coefficients indicated for the Langmuir adsorption isotherm models can be used to describe the equilibrium behavior of copper, chromium, nickel, and lead adsorption onto Cladophora sp. and Chara sp.

Functional characterization of transcription factor binding sites for HNF1-alpha, HNF3-beta (FOXA2), HNF4-alpha, Sp1 and Sp3 in the human prothrombin gene enhancer.

PubMed

Ceelie, H; Spaargaren-Van Riel, C C; De Jong, M; Bertina, R M; Vos, H L

2003-08-01

Prothrombin is a key component in blood coagulation. Overexpression of prothrombin leads to an increased risk of venous thrombosis. Therefore, the study of the transcriptional regulation of the prothrombin gene may help to identify mechanisms of overexpression. The aim of our study was to localize the regions within the prothrombin enhancer responsible for its activity, to identify the proteins binding to these regions, and to establish their functional importance. We constructed a set of prothrombin promoter 5' deletion constructs containing the firefly luciferase reporter gene, which were transiently transfected in HepG2, HuH7 and HeLa cells. Putative transcription factor (TF) binding sites were evaluated by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. The functional importance of each TF binding site was evaluated by site directed mutagenesis and transient transfection of the mutant constructs. We confirmed the major contribution of the enhancer region to the transcriptional activity of the prothrombin promoter. Analysis of this region revealed putative binding sites for hepatocyte nuclear factor HNF4, HNF3-beta and specificity protein(Sp)1. We identified six different TFs binding to three evolutionary conserved sites in the enhancer: HNF4-alpha (site 1), HNF1-alpha, HNF3-beta and an as yet unidentified TF (site 2) and the ubiquitously expressed TFs Sp1 and Sp3 (site 3). Mutagenesis studies showed that loss of binding of HNF3-beta resulted in a considerable decrease of enhancer activity, whereas loss of HNF4-alpha or Sp1/Sp3 resulted in milder reductions. The prothrombin enhancer plays a major role in regulation of prothrombin expression. Six different TFs are able to bind to this region. At least three of these TFs, HNF4-alpha, HNF3-beta and Sp1/Sp3, are important in regulation of prothrombin expression.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Alkynylation/Aldol Cyclization Cascade for the Formation of α-Propargyl-β-hydroxyketones.

PubMed

Choo, Ken-Loon; Lautens, Mark

2018-03-02

A rhodium-catalyzed conjugate alkynylation/aldol cyclization cascade was developed. Densely functionalized cyclic α-propargyl-β-hydroxyketones were synthesized with simultaneous formation of a C(sp)-C(sp 3 ) bond, a C(sp 3 )-C(sp 3 ) bond, as well as three new contiguous stereocenters. The transformation was achieved with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivities using BINAP as the ligand. The synthetic utility of the newly installed alkynyl moiety was exhibited by subjecting the products to an array of derivatizations.

Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey to assess uptake of the new sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine five dose policy in Ghana.

PubMed

Owusu-Boateng, Ivy; Anto, Francis

2017-08-10

Malaria in pregnancy poses a great risk to both mother and fetus. In Ghana, malaria accounts for 3.4% of deaths and 16.8% of all hospital admissions in pregnant women. In 2014, Ghana updated her policy on intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) to reflect the updated policy of the WHO. This study determined the level of uptake of sulfadoxine pyrimethamine (SP) to serve as baseline for monitoring progress and also reviewed stock levels of SP, a key factor in the programme implementation. A cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out among nursing mothers who had delivered within 12 weeks and were seeking postnatal care at Osu Government Maternity Home in Accra. Antenatal record books of the mothers were reviewed and data collected on number of visits and receipt of IPTp-SP. Mothers were interviewed and data collected on their background characteristics and obstetric history. Data on SP stock levels for the past 6 months were also reviewed. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine antenatal indicators on uptake of IPTp-SP using Stata version 12. The proportion of uptake of three-five doses of SP were: IPT3 (87.5%), IPT4 (55.7%) and IPT5 (14.5%). The proportion of women who received the first dose of SP at 16 weeks of gestation was 21.3%. Women who made ≥4 visits were more likely to receive ≥3 doses of SP than those who made <4 visits (AOR = 4.57, 95% CI 1.15-18.16, p < 0.05). Women receiving the first dose of SP in the third trimester were less likely to receive ≥3 doses of SP than those who received the drug in the second trimester (AOR = 0.04, 95% CI 0.01-0.16, p < 0.05). Stock levels of SP were adequate to meet the demands by the pregnant women at the Maternity Home for the period under review. The uptake of ≥3 doses of SP was high in the study area. Frequent visits to the antenatal clinic and early uptake of the first dose of SP by pregnant women are necessary to achieve the new target of five or more doses of SP.

Mis16 Independently Recognizes Histone H4 and the CENP-ACnp1-Specific Chaperone Scm3sp

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

An, Sojin; Kim, Hanseong; Cho, Uhn-Soo

2015-09-04

CENP-A is a centromere-specific histone H3 variant that is required for kinetochore assembly and accurate chromosome segregation. For it to function properly, CENP-A must be specifically localized to centromeres. In fission yeast, Scm3sp and the Mis18 complex, composed of Mis16, Eic1, and Mis18, function as a CENP-ACnp1-specific chaperone and a recruiting factor, respectively, and together ensure accurate delivery of CENP-ACnp1 to centromeres. Although how Scm3sp specifically recognizes CENP-ACnp1 has been revealed recently, the recruiting mechanism of CENP-ACnp1 via the Mis18 complex remains unknown. In this study, we have determined crystal structures of Schizosaccharomyces japonicus Mis16 alone and in complex withmore » the helix 1 of histone H4 (H4α1). Crystal structures followed by mutant analysis and affinity pull-downs have revealed that Mis16 recognizes both H4α1 and Scm3sp independently within the CENP-ACnp1/H4:Scm3sp complex. This observation suggests that Mis16 gains CENP-ACnp1 specificity by recognizing both Scm3sp and histone H4. Our studies provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying specific recruitment of CENP-ACnp1/H4:Scm3sp into centromeres.« less

Characterization of sp3 bond content of carbon films deposited by high power gas injection magnetron sputtering method by UV and VIS Raman spectroscopy.

PubMed

Zdunek, Krzysztof; Chodun, Rafał; Wicher, Bartosz; Nowakowska-Langier, Katarzyna; Okrasa, Sebastian

2018-04-05

This paper presents the results of investigations of carbon films deposited by a modified version of the magnetron sputtering method - HiPGIMS (High Power Gas Injection Magnetron Sputtering). In this experiment, the magnetron system with inversely polarized electrodes (sputtered cathode at ground potential and positively biased, spatially separated anode) was used. This arrangement allowed us to conduct the experiment using voltages ranging from 1 to 2kV and a power supply system equipped with 25/50μF capacitor battery. Carbon films were investigated by VIS/UV Raman spectroscopy. Sp 3 /sp 2 bonding ratio was evaluated basing the elementary components of registered spectra. Our investigation showed that sp 3 bond content increases with discharge power but up to specific value only. In extreme conditions of generating plasma impulses, we detected a reversed relation of the sp 3 /sp 2 ratio. In our opinion, a energy of plasma pulse favors nucleation of a sp 3 phase because of a relatively higher ionization state but in extreme cases the influence of energy is reversed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of polycyclic molecules by double C(sp2)-H/C(sp3)-H arylations with a single palladium catalyst.

PubMed

Pierre, Cathleen; Baudoin, Olivier

2011-04-01

Polycyclic molecules were obtained in good yields by double C(sp(2))-H/C(sp(3))-H arylations mediated by a single palladium/phosphine catalyst. Both double intermolecular/intramolecular and intramolecular/intramolecular C-C couplings were performed successfully, which indicates that this concept has a broad applicability for the rapid construction of molecular complexity.

The trophic ecology of key megafaunal species at the Pakistan Margin: Evidence from stable isotopes and lipid biomarkers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeffreys, Rachel M.; Wolff, George A.; Murty, Sarah J.

2009-10-01

The Arabian Sea is subject to intense seasonality resulting from biannual monsoons, which lead to associated large particulate fluxes and an abundance of organic carbon, a potential food source at the seafloor for benthic detritivores. We used the stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen alongside lipid analyses to examine potential food sources (particulate and sedimentary organic matter, POM and SOM respectively) in order to determine trophic linkages for the twelve most abundant megafaunal species ( Pontocaris sp., Solenocera sp., Munidopsis aff. scobina, Actinoscyphia sp., Actinauge sp., Echinoptilum sp., Pennatula aff. grandis, Astropecten sp. Amphiura sp. Ophiura euryplax, Phormosoma placenta and Hyalinoecia sp.) at the Pakistan Margin between 140 and 1400 m water depth. This transect spans a steep gradient in oxygen concentrations and POM flux. Ranges of δ 13C and δ 15N values were narrow in POM and SOM (˜4‰ and ˜2‰ for δ 13C and δ 15N, respectively) with little evidence of temporal variability. Labile lipid compounds in SOM originating from phytoplankton did exhibit seasonal change in their concentrations at the shallowest sites, 140 and 300 m. Benthic megafauna had broad ranges in δ 13C and δ 15N (>10‰ and >8‰ for δ 13C and δ 15N, respectively) suggesting they occupy several trophic levels and utilize a variety of food sources. There is evidence for feeding niche separation between and within trophic groups. Lipid biomarkers in animal tissues indicate a mixture of food sources originating from both phytoplankton (C 20:5(n-3) and C 22:6(n-3)) and invertebrate prey (C 20:1 and C 22:1). Biomarkers originating from phytodetritus are conserved through trophic transfer to the predator/scavengers. Six species ( Pontocaris sp., Solenocera sp., Actinoscyphia sp., Echinoptilum sp., Amphiura sp. and Hyalinoecia sp.) showed a significant biochemical response to the seasonal supply of food and probably adapt their trophic strategy to low food availability. Biotransformation of assimilated lipids by megafauna is evident from polyunsaturated fatty acid distributions, for example, Echinoptilum sp. converts C 20:5(n-3) to C 24:6(n-3).

Crystal chemistry of KCuMn{sub 3}(VO{sub 4}){sub 3} in the context of detailed systematics of the alluaudite family

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yakubovich, O. V., E-mail: yakubol@geol.msu.ru; Kiryukhina, G. V.; Dimitrova, O. V.

The crystal structure of new manganese potassium copper vanadate KCuMn{sub 3}(VO{sub 4}){sub 3}, which was prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis in the K{sub 2}CO{sub 3}–CuO–MnCl{sub 2}–V{sub 2}O{sub 5}–H{sub 2}O system, was studied by X-ray diffraction (R = 0.0355): a = 12.396(1) Å, b = 12.944(1) Å, c = 6.9786(5) Å, β = 112.723(1)°, sp. gr. C2/c, Z = 4, ρ{sub calc} = 3.938 g/cm{sup 3}. A comparative analysis of the crystal-chemical features of the new representative of the alluaudite family and related structures of minerals and synthetic phosphates, arsenates, and vanadates of the general formula A(1)A(1)′A(1)″A(2)A(2)′M(1)M(2){sub 2}(TO{sub 4}){sub 3} (wheremore » A are sites in the channels of the framework composed of MO{sub 6} octahedra and TO{sub 4} tetrahedra) was performed. A classification of these structures into subgroups according to the occupancy of A sites is suggested.« less

Gemini Observations of Galaxies in Rich Early Environments (GOGREEN) I: survey description

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balogh, Michael L.; Gilbank, David G.; Muzzin, Adam; Rudnick, Gregory; Cooper, Michael C.; Lidman, Chris; Biviano, Andrea; Demarco, Ricardo; McGee, Sean L.; Nantais, Julie B.; Noble, Allison; Old, Lyndsay; Wilson, Gillian; Yee, Howard K. C.; Bellhouse, Callum; Cerulo, Pierluigi; Chan, Jeffrey; Pintos-Castro, Irene; Simpson, Rane; van der Burg, Remco F. J.; Zaritsky, Dennis; Ziparo, Felicia; Alonso, María Victoria; Bower, Richard G.; De Lucia, Gabriella; Finoguenov, Alexis; Lambas, Diego Garcia; Muriel, Hernan; Parker, Laura C.; Rettura, Alessandro; Valotto, Carlos; Wetzel, Andrew

2017-10-01

We describe a new Large Program in progress on the Gemini North and South telescopes: Gemini Observations of Galaxies in Rich Early Environments (GOGREEN). This is an imaging and deep spectroscopic survey of 21 galaxy systems at 1 < z < 1.5, selected to span a factor >10 in halo mass. The scientific objectives include measuring the role of environment in the evolution of low-mass galaxies, and measuring the dynamics and stellar contents of their host haloes. The targets are selected from the SpARCS, SPT, COSMOS, and SXDS surveys, to be the evolutionary counterparts of today's clusters and groups. The new red-sensitive Hamamatsu detectors on GMOS, coupled with the nod-and-shuffle sky subtraction, allow simultaneous wavelength coverage over λ ˜ 0.6-1.05 μm, and this enables a homogeneous and statistically complete redshift survey of galaxies of all types. The spectroscopic sample targets galaxies with AB magnitudes z΄ < 24.25 and [3.6] μm < 22.5, and is therefore statistically complete for stellar masses M* ≳ 1010.3 M⊙, for all galaxy types and over the entire redshift range. Deep, multiwavelength imaging has been acquired over larger fields for most systems, spanning u through K, in addition to deep IRAC imaging at 3.6 μm. The spectroscopy is ˜50 per cent complete as of semester 17A, and we anticipate a final sample of ˜500 new cluster members. Combined with existing spectroscopy on the brighter galaxies from GCLASS, SPT, and other sources, GOGREEN will be a large legacy cluster and field galaxy sample at this redshift that spectroscopically covers a wide range in stellar mass, halo mass, and clustercentric radius.

Microbial Degradation of Isopropyl-N-3-Chlorophenylcarbamate and 2-Chloroethyl-N-3-Chlorophenylcarbamate

PubMed Central

Kaufman, D. D.; Kearney, P. C.

1965-01-01

Microbial degradation of isopropyl-N-3-chlorophenylcarbamate (CIPC) and 2-chloroethyl-N-3-chlorophenylcarbamate (CEPC) was observed in a soil perfusion system. Degradation in perfused soils, and by pure cultures of effective bacterial isolates, was demonstrated by the production of 3-chloroaniline and the subsequent liberation of free chloride ion. Identified isolates effective in degrading and utilizing CIPC as a sole source of carbon included Pseudomonas striata Chester, a Flavobacterium sp., an Agrobacterium sp., and an Achromobacter sp. Identified isolates, effective in degrading and utilizing CEPC as a sole source of carbon, included an Achromobacter sp. and an Arthrobacter sp. CIPC-effective isolates degraded CEPC more slowly than CIPC, whereas CEPC-effective isolates degraded CIPC more rapidly than CEPC. Both CIPC- and CEPC-effective isolates degraded isopropyl N-phenylcarbamate (IPC) more rapidly than either CIPC or CEPC. Images Fig. 3 PMID:14325285

Substance P enhances the activation of AMPK and cellular lipid accumulation in 3T3‑L1 cells in response to high levels of glucose.

PubMed

Dubon, Maria Jose; Byeon, Yeji; Park, Ki-Sook

2015-12-01

The rescue of glucose tolerance and insulin‑sensitivity in peripheral tissues, including adipose tissue, is essential in therapeutic strategies for diabetes. The present study demonstrated that substance P (SP) increases the accumulation of lipids in 3T3‑L1 cells during their differentiation into adipocytes in response to a high concentration of glucose. SP reciprocally regulated the activities of AMP‑activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Akt: SP enhanced the activation of AMPK, although the activity of Akt was downregulated. Notably, SP induced an increase in the expression level of glucose transporter 4 in the 3T3‑L1 adipocytes. Therefore, it is possible that SP leads to an increase in glucose uptake and the accumulation of lipids in adipocytes, and may contribute towards the rescue of insulin‑sensitivity in diabetes.

Analytic Results for e+e- --> tt-bar and gammagamma --> tt-bar Observables near the Threshold up to the Next-to-Next-to-Leading Order of NRQCD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Penin, A. A.; Pivovarov, A. A.

2001-02-01

We present an analytical description of top-antitop pair production near the threshold in $e^+e^-$ annihilation and $\\g\\g$ collisions. A set of basic observables considered includes the total cross sections, forward-backward asymmetry and top quark polarization. The threshold effects relevant for the basic observables are described by three universal functions related to S wave production, P wave production and S-P interference. These functions are computed analytically up to the next-to-next-to-leading order of NRQCD. The total $e^+e^-\\to t\\bar t$ cross section near the threshold is obtained in the next-to-next-to-leading order in the closed form including the contribution due to the axial coupling of top quark and mediated by the Z-boson. The effects of the running of the strong coupling constant and of the finite top quark width are taken into account analytically for the P wave production and S-P wave interference.

Proton decay of 73Rb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rogers, Andrew; Anderson, C.; Barney, J.; Estee, J.; Lynch, W. G.; Manfredi, J.; Setiawan, H.; Showalter, R. H.; Sweany, S.; Tangwancharoen, S.; Tsang, M. B.; Winkelbauer, J. R.; Brown, K. W.; Elson, J. M.; Pruitt, C.; Sobotka, L. G.; Chajecki, Z.; Lee, J.

2017-09-01

Properties of nuclei beyond the proton drip-line are important for mass models, nuclear structure, and astrophysics. Weakly-bound or proton-unbound nuclei near the rp-process waiting points, such as the unbound Tz = -1/2 nucleus 73Rb, play a critical role in constraining calculations and observations of type I x-ray bursts. For instance, the rp process is greatly slowed near 72Kr (N = Z) due to its relatively long β-decay half life and inhibited proton capture. This waiting point, however, may be bypassed by sequential 2p-capture through 73Rb -a reaction which is sensitive to the 73Rb proton separation energy, Sp. Using invariant-mass spectroscopy, we have performed an experiment at NSCL to measure the decay of 73Rb ->p+72Kr in an attempt to directly determine Sp (73Rb) . Analysis of reconstructed proton-emission spectra and decay signatures will be discussed. This work is supported by the U.S. DOE Office of Nuclear Physics, Award No. DE-FG02-94ER40848.

Effect of phenol on the mycelial growth and fructification in some of basidiomycetous fungi.

PubMed

Upadhyay, R C; Hofrichter, M

1993-01-01

Cometabolic growth studies with phenol were undertaken to screen 32 strains of white and brown rot fungi. All the cultures studied grew well up to 4 mM of phenol on Czapekdox agar except Agaricus bisporus (white button mushroom) and Pleurotus cystidiosus. Most of them could grow even up to 6 mM of phenol. Phenol induced a brown pigmentation of the culture medium. P. flabellatus and P. pulmonarius metabolized 67 and 64 mg/l phenol in 10 days. Studies have indicated that phenol (0.1 to 1.0 mM) incorporated in malt-extract agar has no inhibitory effect on fruitbody formation. Preliminary studies indicate that soaking of wheat straw with phenol solution up to 1600 mg/l give better mycelial growth and fructification of P. cornucopiae, P. ostreatus Z-15 and Calocybe indica than water soaked. Soaking of wheat straw in phenol inhibited the growth of common competitor weed fungi like Stachybotrys sp. and Coprinus sp.

Regulation of the cnr Cobalt and Nickel Resistance Determinant from Ralstonia sp. Strain CH34†

PubMed Central

Grass, Gregor; Große, Cornelia; Nies, Dietrich H.

2000-01-01

Ralstonia sp. strain CH34 is resistant to nickel and cobalt cations. Resistance is mediated by the cnr determinant located on plasmid pMOL28. The cnr genes are organized in two clusters, cnrYXH and cnrCBA. As revealed by reverse transcriptase PCR and primer extension, transcription from these operons is initiated from promoters located upstream of the cnrY and cnrC genes. These two promoters exhibit conserved sequences at the −10 (CCGTATA) and −35 (CRAGGGGRAG) regions. The CnrH gene product, which is required for expression of both operons, is a sigma factor belonging to the sigma L family, whose activity seems to be governed by the membrane-bound CnrY and CnrX gene products in response to Ni2+. Half-maximal activation from the cnrCBA operon was determined by using appropriate lacZ gene fusions and was shown to occur at an Ni2+ concentration of about 50 μM. PMID:10671463

Antimicrobial action of an endophytic fungi from Sophor flavescens and structure identification of its active constituent

PubMed Central

Yu, Na; He, Lu; Liu, Na; Wang, Yong; Xu, Hongbo; Liu, Dandan

2014-01-01

Endophytic fungus BS002 was isolated and characterized from Sophora flavescens by plate method, which has broad antimicrobial activity. Isolation and trace of a new bioactive compound from the fungus’ culture extracts with the method of column chromatography and TLC biological autoradiography was conducted. Finally, it was identified as 6,7-(2′E) dibutenyl-5,8-dihydroxy-(Z)-cyclooct-2-ene-1,4-dione by nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The compound presented strong antifungal activities for example: Botryosphaeria berengriana f.sp. piricola, Physalospora piricola, Cladosporium cucumerinum Ell. Arthur., Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum, Fusarium moniliforme. The inhibition to Physalospora piricola was the strongest with an antibacterial diameter of 45 mm. This paper is the first report of the antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi BS002 that was the secondary metabolites extracted from the seeds of Sophora flavescens. The results provide a broad foreground for biopharmaceuticals and biopesticide. PMID:26019517

First report on the occurrence of Theileria sp. OT3 in China.

PubMed

Tian, Zhancheng; Liu, Guangyuan; Yin, Hong; Xie, Junren; Wang, Suyan; Yuan, Xiaosong; Wang, Fangfang; Luo, Jin

2014-04-01

Theileria sp. OT3 was firstly detected and identified from clinically healthy sheep in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China (XUAR) through comparing the complete 18S rDNA gene sequences available in GenBank database and the phylogenetic status based on the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1, ITS2) as well as the intervening 5.8S coding region of the rRNA gene by the methods of a partitioned multi-locus analysis in BEAST and Maximum likelihood analysis in PhyML. Moreover, the findings were confirmed by the species-specific PCR for Theileria sp. OT3 and the prevalence of Theileria sp. OT3 was 14.9% in the north of XUAR. This study is the first report on the occurrence of Theileria sp. OT3 in China. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spatial association of prolyl oligopeptidase, inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate type 1 receptor, substance P and its neurokinin-1 receptor in the rat brain: an immunohistochemical colocalization study.

PubMed

Myöhänen, T T; Venäläinen, J I; Garcia-Horsman, J A; Männistö, P T

2008-06-02

Prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) is a serine endopeptidase which hydrolyzes proline-containing peptides shorter than 30 amino acids. It has been suggested that POP is associated with cognitive functions, possibly via the cleavage of neuropeptides such as substance P (SP). Recently, several studies have also linked POP to the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP(3)) signaling. However, the neuroanatomical interactions between these substances are not known. We used double-labeled immunofluorescence to determine the POP colocalization with SP, SP receptor (neurokinin-1 receptor, NK-1R) and IP(3) type 1 receptor (IP(3)R1) in the rat brain. Furthermore, since striatal and cortical GABAergic neurons are involved in SP neurotransmission, we studied the coexpression of POP, SP and GABA by triple-labeled immunofluorescence. POP was moderately present in IP(3)R1-containing cells in cortex; the colocalization was particularly high in the thalamus, hippocampal CA1 field and cerebellar Purkinje cells. Colocalization of POP with SP and NK1-receptor was infrequent throughout the brain, though some POP and SP coexpression was observed in cerebellar Purkinje cells. We also found that POP partially colocalized with SP-containing GABAergic neurons in striatum and cortex. Our findings support the view that POP is at least spatially associated with the IP(3)-signaling in the thalamus, hippocampus and cerebellar Purkinje cells. This might point to a role for POP in the regulation of long-term potentiation and/or depression. Moreover, the low degree of colocalization of POP, SP and its NK-1R suggests that a transport system is needed either for POP or SP to make hydrolysis possible and that POP may act both intra- and extracellularly.

Disease-specific dynamic biomarkers selected by integrating inflammatory mediators with clinical informatics in ARDS patients with severe pneumonia.

PubMed

Chen, Chengshui; Shi, Lin; Li, Yuping; Wang, Xiangdong; Yang, Shuanying

2016-06-01

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a heterogeneous syndrome that occurs as a result of various risk factors, including either direct or indirect lung injury, and systemic inflammation triggered also by severe pneumonia (SP). SP-ARDS-associated morbidity and mortality remains high also due to the lack of disease-specific biomarkers. The present study aimed at identifying disease-specific biomarkers in SP or SP-ARDS by integrating proteomic profiles of inflammatory mediators with clinical informatics. Plasma was sampled from the healthy as controls or patients with SP infected with bacteria or infection-associated SP-ARDS on the day of admission, day 3, and day 7. About 15 or 52 cytokines showed significant difference between SP and SP-ARDS patients with controls or 13 between SP-ARDS with SP alone and controls, including bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP-15), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 16 (CXCL16), chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 3 (CXCR3), interleukin-6 (IL-6), protein NOV homolog (NOV/CCN3), glypican 3, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 (IGFBP-4), IL-5, IL-5 R alpha, IL-22 BP, leptin, MIP-1d, and orexin B with a significant correlation with Digital Evaluation Score System (DESS) scores. ARDS patients with overexpressed IL-6, CXCL16, or IGFBP-4 had significantly longer hospital stay and higher incidence of secondary infection. We also found higher levels of those mediators were associated with poor survival rates in patients with lung cancer and involved in the process of the epithelial mesenchymal transition of alveolar epithelial cells. Our preliminary study suggested that integration of proteomic profiles with clinical informatics as part of clinical bioinformatics is important to validate and optimize disease-specific and disease-staged biomarkers.

Solvent/oxidant-switchable synthesis of multisubstituted quinazolines and benzimidazoles via metal-free selective oxidative annulation of arylamidines.

PubMed

Lin, Jian-Ping; Zhang, Feng-Hua; Long, Ya-Qiu

2014-06-06

A fast and simple divergent synthesis of multisubstituted quinazolines and benzimidazoles was developed from readily available amidines, via iodine(III)-promoted oxidative C(sp(3))-C(sp(2)) and C(sp(2))-N bond formation in nonpolar and polar solvents, respectively. Further selective synthesis of quinazolines in polar solvent was realized by TEMPO-catalyzed sp(3)C-H/sp(2)C-H direct coupling of the amidine with K2S2O8 as the oxidant. No metal, base, or other additives were needed.

Functional characterization of substance P receptors in the rabbit ear artery.

PubMed

Illes, P; von Falkenhausen, S

1986-05-01

Rabbit isolated ear arteries were perfused at a constant flow and stimulated with field pulses (5 Hz, 5 impulses). Different tachykinins and capsaicin depressed stimulation-induced vasoconstriction, substance P (SP) being the most potent inhibitor. The rank order of potency of the tachykinins was, SP approximately equal to physalaemin approximately equal to eledoisin greater than SP-methyl ester; that of SP and its C-terminal fragments, SP approximately equal to SP-(2-11) approximately equal to SP-(4-11) greater than SP-(6-11). SP-(1-9) was inactive. The SP antagonist (Arg5,D-Trp7,9,Nle11)SP-(5-11) 10 mumol/l shifted the concentration-response curve of SP to the right (pA2 = 5.43), whereas it did not reduce the action of capsaicin. Another SP antagonist (D-Pro4,D-Trp7,9,10)SP-(4-11) 10 mumol/l failed to affect the SP depression. Neither antagonist changed vasoconstriction by itself. Pretreatment of the arteries with a mixture of yohimbine, propranolol, atropine, diphenhydramine, burimamide, methysergide and indomethacin, all 1 mumol/l, did not influence the effect of SP or capsaicin. Only the inhibition by SP, but not that by capsaicin was abolished after mechanical destruction of the endothelium. SP, physalaemin and eledoisin, all 3 mumol/l, reduced vasoconstriction by noradrenaline or histamine; capsaicin 30 mumol/l depressed noradrenaline-induced vasoconstriction. In arteries preincubated with 3H-noradrenaline, electrical stimulation (1 Hz, 120 pulses) triggered an increase in the outflow of tritium and evoked vasoconstriction. SP 1 mumol/l did not change either basal or stimulation-evoked tritium outflow, whereas it reduced vasoconstriction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Transcription factors YY1, Sp1 and Sp3 modulate dystrophin Dp71 gene expression in hepatic cells.

PubMed

Peñuelas-Urquides, Katia; Becerril-Esquivel, Carolina; Mendoza-de-León, Laura C; Silva-Ramírez, Beatriz; Dávila-Velderrain, José; Cisneros, Bulmaro; de León, Mario Bermúdez

2016-07-01

Dystrophin Dp71, the smallest product encoded by the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene, is ubiquitously expressed in all non-muscle cells. Although Dp71 is involved in various cellular processes, the mechanisms underlying its expression have been little studied. In hepatic cells, Dp71 expression is down-regulated by the xenobiotic β-naphthoflavone. However, the effectors of this regulation remain unknown. In the present study we aimed at identifying DNA elements and transcription factors involved in Dp71 expression in hepatic cells. Relevant DNA elements on the Dp71 promoter were identified by comparing Dp71 5'-end flanking regions between species. The functionality of these elements was demonstrated by site-directed mutagenesis. Using EMSAs and ChIP, we showed that the Sp1 (specificity protein 1), Sp3 (specificity protein 3) and YY1 (Yin and Yang 1) transcription factors bind to the Dp71 promoter region. Knockdown of Sp1, Sp3 and YY1 in hepatic cells increased endogenous Dp71 expression, but reduced Dp71 promoter activity. In summary, Dp71 expression in hepatic cells is carried out, in part, by YY1-, Sp1- and Sp3-mediated transcription from the Dp71 promoter. © 2016 The Author(s). published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society.

Prognostic significance of surfactant protein A, surfactant protein D, Clara cell protein 16, S100 protein, trefoil factor 3, and prostatic secretory protein 94 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease.

PubMed

Doubková, Martina; Karpíšek, Michal; Mazoch, Jiri; Skřičková, Jana; Doubek, Michael

2016-10-07

Identification of serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) biomarkers may facilitate diagnosis and prognostication in various lung disorders. Serum and BALF levels of surfactant protein A (SP-A), surfactant protein D (SP-D), Clara cell protein 16 (CC16), S100 protein, trefoil factor 3 (TFF3), and prostatic secretory protein 94 (PSP94) were evaluated in 94 consecutive patients (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF; n=18), sarcoidosis (n=25), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; n=51)), and in 155 healthy controls. Biomarkers were measured at diagnosis and compared with disease characteristics. Both uniparametric and multiparametric analyses were used. Seven significant correlations were found: 1) BALF PSP94 level correlated with prognosis of sarcoidosis (P=0.035); 2) BALF SP-D level with pulmonary functions in IPF (P=0.032); 3) BALF SP-D and TFF3 with IPF mortality (P=0.049 and 0.017, respectively); 4) serum TFF3 level with COPD mortality (P=0.006,); 5) serum SP-A with pulmonary functions impairment in IPF (P=0.011); 6) serum SP-D level was associated with HRCT interstitial score in IPF (P=0.0346); and 7) serum SP-A was associated with staging of COPD according to spirometry (P<0.001). Moreover, our analysis showed that some biomarker levels differed significantly among the diseases: 1) BALF SP-D level differed between sarcoidosis and IPF; 2) serum SP-A level differed among IPF, sarcoidosis, COPD and was also different from healthy controls; 3) serum S100A6, S100A11 levels differed among IPF, sarcoidosis, COPD from healthy controls 4) serum SP-D, CC16, TFF-3 levels distinguished IPF patients from healthy controls; and 5) serum CC16, TFF3, PSP94 distinguished COPD patients from healthy controls. Our study shows that some of selected biomarkers should have prognostic value in the analysed lung disorders. On the other hand, these biomarkers do not appear to be unequivocally suitable for differential diagnosis of these disorders.

Fever as an initial manifestation of spondyloarthritis: A retrospective study.

PubMed

Byun, Se Jin; Bae, William Han; Jung, Seung Min; Lee, Sang-Won; Park, Yong-Beom; Song, Jason Jungsik

2017-01-01

We aimed to evaluate a wide spectrum of clinical features of adult patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) whose initial manifestation was fever, using the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) classification criteria. We retrospectively collected the electronic medical records of hospitalized SpA patients who initially presented to the Severance Hospital (Seoul, Korea) with fever from January 2010 to May 2016. As a control group, we also recruited one-hundred consecutive patients who were diagnosed with SpA in our outpatient clinic. Clinical features and laboratory findings were compared in two patient groups. There were 26 patients who had fever as initial presentation of SpA (reactive arthritis 50%, undifferentiated SpA 26.9%, ankylosing spondylitis 15.4%, enteropathic arthritis 3.8%, psoriatic arthritis 3.8%). Peripheral SpA was more common in febrile SpA patients than in control SpA patients (65.4% vs 24.0%, p<0.001). Febrile SpA patients were less frequently HLA-B27 positive than control SpA patients (52.2% vs 77.0%, p<0.05). At baseline, systemic inflammatory markers were significantly higher in the febrile SpA patients (white blood cell count, 11.57 vs 7.81 cells/μL, p<0.001; erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 69.2 vs 41.0 mm/h, p<0.001; C-reactive protein, 109.6 vs 15.3 mg/L, p<0.001). The proportion of patients treated with systemic steroids was significantly higher in febrile SpA patients (57.7% vs. 11.0%, p<0.001). The proportion of patients who visited rheumatology specialty was significantly lower in febrile SpA patients than in control SpA patients (7.7% vs 59.0%, p<0.001). Various subgroups of SpA can be presented with fever as an initial manifestation. Febrile SpA patients demonstrated higher systemic inflammation and a lower chance to visit rheumatology in early stage. When evaluating febrile patients with any clinical features of SpA, clinicians are advised to consider performing SpA-focused evaluation including HLA-B27 or a simple sacroiliac joint radiograph.

Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Amidation of Unactivated C(sp(3) )-H Bonds.

PubMed

Wang, He; Tang, Guodong; Li, Xingwei

2015-10-26

Nitrogenation by direct functionalization of C-H bonds represents an important strategy for constructing C-N bonds. Rhodium(III)-catalyzed direct amidation of unactivated C(sp(3) )-H bonds is rare, especially under mild reaction conditions. Herein, a broad scope of C(sp(3) )-H bonds are amidated under rhodium catalysis in high efficiency using 3-substituted 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones as the amide source. The protocol broadens the scope of rhodium(III)-catalyzed C(sp(3) )-H activation chemistry, and is applicable to the late-stage functionalization of natural products. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Synthetic extreme environments: overlooked sources of potential biotechnologically relevant microorganisms.

PubMed

Sibanda, Timothy; Selvarajan, Ramganesh; Tekere, Memory

2017-05-01

Synthetic extreme environments like carwash effluent tanks and drains are potential sources of biotechnologically important microorganisms and molecules which have, however, remained unexplored. Using culture- and molecular-based methods, a total of 17 bacterial isolates belonging to the genera Shewanella, Proteus, Paenibacillus, Enterobacter and Citrobacter, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas and Pantoea were identified. Hydrocarbon utilization and enzyme production screening assays showed that Aeromonas sp. CAC11, Paenibacillus sp. CAC12 and Paenibacillus sp. CAC13 and Citrobacter sp. PCW7 were able to degrade benzanthracene, naphthalene and diesel oil, Paenibacillus sp. CAC12 and Paenibacillus sp. CAC13 could produce cellulase enzyme, while Proteus sp. BPS2, Pseudomonas sp. SAS8 and Proteus sp. CAL3 could produce lipase. GC-MS analysis of bacterial secondary metabolites resulted in identification of 107 different compounds produced by Proteus sp. BPS2, Paenibacillus sp. CAC12, Pseudomonas sp. SAS8, Proteus sp. CAL3 and Paenibacillus sp. CAC13. Most of the compounds identified by both GC-MS and LC-MS have previously been determined to have antibacterial, antifungal and/or anticancer properties. Further, microbial metabolites which have previously been known to be produced only by plants or microorganisms found in natural extreme environments were also identified in this study. This research has revealed the immense bioresource potential of microorganisms inhabiting synthetic extreme environments. © 2017 The Authors. Microbial Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Society for Applied Microbiology.

Estimation of the Cost of Equity for Mining Companies Using the P-Lefac Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ranosz, Robert

2014-03-01

This article describes one of the methods of estimating the cost of equity, namely the LEFAC method. The name of the method is an acronym of the names of individual financial categories: L - Liquidity, E - Earnings, F - Franchise, A - Assets, C - Capital. It is a scoring method similar to the way used by ING Financial Markets to estimate share prices. A review of literature shows that this method is not widely known and used by enterprises, but it has certain advantages which justify its use. Its main advantages include its easy use and the stability of the results obtained: the calculated cost of equity is never lower than the adopted risk-free rate. The method is particularly useful for companies (enterprises) not listed on stock exchanges. This article is divided into five parts: an introduction, the LEFAC method, the parameterization of the LEFAC method (P-LEFAC), an example calculation and a summary. The second part of this article characterises the LEFAC method. In the third part, the method is parameterized to obtain a function described by formula 22. The following section contains an example calculation for KGHM S.A. and also presents results which mining companies would achieve if they used the discussed method to calculate the cost of their equity. The calculations were performed for mining companies listed on the Warsaw Stocks Exchange and unlisted ones. This part of the article also contains a short comparison of results obtained using the CAPM method and the discussed model. The last section consists of a summary presenting final conclusions. The article ends in a list of the literature referred to. Niniejszy artykuł został poświęcony jednej z metod szacowania kosztu kapitału własnego, a mianowicie metodzie LEFAC. Nazwa metody pochodzi od pierwszych liter wyrazów z języka angielskiego, które określają poszczególne kategorie finansowe: L - Liquidity (płynność), E - Earnings (zyski), F - Franchise (strategia), A - Assets (aktywa), C - Capital (kapitał). Jest to metoda punktowa (scoringowa) zbliżona do sposobu określania wartości cen akcji wykorzystywana przez ING Finansial Markets. Jak wynika z przeprowadzonego przeglądu literatury, metoda ta nie jest powszechnie znana i używania przez przed- siębiorstwa, niemniej jednak posiada ona pewne zalety, uzasadniające jej wykorzystanie. Do jej głównych atutów należy zaliczyć łatwość zastosowania oraz "stabilność" uzyskiwanych wyników - wyliczony koszt kapitału własnego nigdy nie będzie przyjmował wartości mniejszych niż przyjęta stopa wolna od ryzyka. Omawiana metoda ma swoje szczególne zastosowanie do spółek (przedsiębiorstw), które nie są notowane na giełdach papierów wartościowych. Niniejszy artykuł składa się z pięciu części: wstępu, metody LEFAC, parametryzacji metody LEFAC (P-LEFAC), przykładu obliczeniowego oraz podsumowania. Druga cześć opracowania dotyczy charakterystyki metody LEFAC. W trzeciej części artykułu dokonano parametryzacji metody uzyskując funkcję określoną przez wzór 22. Kolejny rozdział zawiera przykład obliczeniowy dla spółki KGHM S.A., w rozdziale tym zaprezentowano również wyniki, jakie uzyskałyby spółki górnicze stosując omawianą metodę obliczania kosztu kapitału własnego - obliczeń dokonano zarówno dla spółek górniczych notowanych, jak i nie notowanych, na Warszawskiej Giełdzie Papierów Wartościowych. W tej części artykułu zaprezentowano również krótkie porównanie wyników uzyskiwanych przy zastosowaniu metody CAPM z omawianym modelem. Ostatnim rozdziałem jest podsumowanie, w którym przedstawiono wnioski końcowe. Całość artykułu została zamknięta spisem wykorzystanej literatury

Microbiological Quality of Panicum maximum Grass Silage with Addition of Lactobacillus sp. as Starter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sumarsih, S.; Sulistiyanto, B.; Utama, C. S.

2018-02-01

The aim of the research was to evaluate microbiological quality of Panicum maximum grass silage with addition Lactobacillus sp as starter. The completely randomized design was been used on this research with 4 treaments and 3 replications. The treatments were P0 ( Panicum maximum grass silage without addition Lactobacillus sp ), P1 ( Panicum maximum grass silage with 2% addition Lactobacillus sp), P2 (Panicum maximum grass silage with 4% addition Lactobacillus sp) and P3 (Panicum maximum grass silage with 6% addition Lactobacillus sp).The parameters were microbial populations of Panicum maximum grass silage (total lactic acid bacteria, total bacteria, total fungi, and Coliform bacteria. The data obtained were analyzed variance (ANOVA) and further tests performed Duncan’s Multiple Areas. The population of lactic acid bacteria was higher (P<0.05) and the total bacteria, fungi and Coliform were lower (P<0.05) with addition Lactobacillus sp. Microbiological quality of Panicum maximum grass silage with addition Lactobacillus sp was better than no addition Lactobacillus sp.

Analysis of the Decay Tauon Going to Rho Particle Neutrino

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bougerolle, Stephen Edward

An analysis of the decay tau^ {+/-}torho^{+/- }nu_{tau} has been undertaken in the OPAL experiment at CERN, in Geneva, Switzerland. From the 1990 experimental run of the LEP particle accelerator, a sample of 3310 e^+ e^-totau^+tau ^- events was selected, with an estimated contamination of 1.9%. Requirements were applied to select a subsample of tau^{+/- }torho^{+/-}nu _tau decays, resulting in 650 decays being found. From studies with simulated data, the non -rho contamination in this sample was estimated to be approximately 22%, and the rho selection efficiency to be approximately 33%. The Branching fraction for the decay is measured to be B(tau^{+/-}to rho^{+/-}nu_{ tau}) = 0.234+/- 0.009(stat.) +/- _sp{0.009}{0.010} (syst.). The mean tau polarisation at the peak of the Z^0 resonance is measured to be P_tau= -0.17+/- 0.10(stat.) +/- 0.08(syst.). From the tau polarisation we extract a measurement of the electroweak mixing sin^2 theta_{W}=0.225 +/- 0.015. The tau polarisation asymmetry at the peak of the Z^0 resonance is also measured, A_sp{FB }{Pol}=-0.09+/- 0.13+/- 0.05. From the polarisation measurement, v_tau /a_tau=0.09+/- 0.06, and from the polarisation asymmetry v_{e }/a_{e}=0.06+/- 0.10. Combined with previous LEP measurements of the tau polarisation, the electroweak mixing is found to be sin^2 theta_{W}=0.2308+/- 0.0042. Combined with measurements from other experiments, one obtains sin ^2 theta_{W }=0.2303+/- 0.0013.

Neutral endopeptidase modulates substance P-induced activation of human neutrophils.

PubMed

Iwamoto, I; Kimura, A; Yamazaki, H; Nakagawa, N; Tomioka, H; Yoshida, S

1990-01-01

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP; EC 3.4.24.11) is well recognized as a regulatory peptidase for substance P (SP)-induced responses in various tissues. To determine whether NEP regulates SP-induced activation of human neutrophils, we examined the effect of the NEP inhibitor phosphoramidon on SP-induced superoxide generation and chemotaxis in human blood neutrophils. SP (10(-6)-10(-4) M) induced superoxide generation and chemotaxis in the neutrophils dose dependently. The NEP inhibitor enhanced the SP-induced responses. Thus, phosphoramidon (10(-6) M) shifted the dose-response curves of SP-induced superoxide generation and chemotaxis of the neutrophils to the left by 0.5-0.6 log. Phosphoramidon prevented the hydrolysis of SP by the neutrophils, the NEP activity of the neutrophils being assessed as 125 +/- 13 pmol of SP/min/10(6) cells. The N-terminal peptide SP (up to 3 x 10(-4) M), which was a major degrading product by NEP of the neutrophils, did not activate the neutrophils. We conclude that NEP modulates SP-induced activation of human neutrophils.

Prime Focus Spectrograph: A very wide-field, massively multiplexed, optical & near-infrared spectrograph for Subaru Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tamura, Naoyuki

This short article is about Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS), a very wide-field, massively-multiplexed, and optical & near-infrared (NIR) spectrograph as a next generation facility instrument on Subaru Telescope. More details and updates are available on the PFS official website (http://pfs.ipmu.jp), blog (http://pfs.ipmu.jp/blog/), and references therein. The project, instrument, & timeline PFS will position 2400 fibers to science targets or blank sky in the 1.3 degree field on the Subaru prime focus. These fibers will be quickly (~60sec) reconfigurable and feed the photons during exposures to the Spectrograph System (SpS). SpS consists of 4 modules each of which accommodate ~600 fibers and deliver spectral images ranging from 380nm to 1260nm simultaneously at one exposure via the 3 arms of blue, red, and NIR cameras. The instrument development has been undertaken by the international collaboration at the initiative of Kavli IPMU. The project is now going into the construction phase aiming at system integration and on-sky engineering observations in 2017-2018, and science operation in 2019. The survey design has also been under development envisioning a survey spanning ~300 nights over ~5 years in the framework of Subaru Strategic Program (SSP). The key science areas are: Cosmology, galaxy/AGN evolution, and Galactic Archaeology (GA) (Takada et al. 2014). The cosmology program will be to constrain the nature of dark energy via a survey of emission line galaxies over a comoving volume of 10 Gpc3 at z=0.8-2.4. In the galaxy/AGN program, the wide wavelength coverage of PFS as well as the large field of view will be exploited to characterize the galaxy populations and its clustering properties over a wide redshift range. A survey of color-selected galaxies/AGN at z = 1-2 will be conducted over 20 square degrees yielding a fair sample of galaxies with stellar masses down to ~1010 M ⊙. In the GA program, radial velocities and chemical abundances of stars in the Milky Way, dwarf spheroids, and M31 will be used to understand the past assembly histories of those galaxies and the structures of their dark matter halos. Spectra will be taken for 1 million stars as faint as V = 22 mag therefore out to large distances from the Sun. PFS will provide powerful spectroscopic capabilities even in the era of Euclid, LSST, WFIRST and TMT, and the effective synergies are expected for further unique science outputs.

MicroRNA-451 regulates stemness of side population cells via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in multiple myeloma.

PubMed

Du, Juan; Liu, Shuyan; He, Jie; Liu, Xi; Qu, Ying; Yan, Wenqing; Fan, Jianling; Li, Rong; Xi, Hao; Fu, Weijun; Zhang, Chunyang; Yang, Jing; Hou, Jian

2015-06-20

Side population (SP) cells are an enriched source of cancer-initiating cells with stemness characteristics, generated by increased ABC transporter activity, which has served as a unique hallmark for multiple myeloma (MM) stem cell studies. Here we isolated and identified MM SP cells via Hoechst 33342 staining. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SP cells possess abnormal cell cycle, clonogenicity, and high drug efflux characteristics-all of which are features commonly seen in stem cells. Interestingly, we found that bortezomib, As2O3, and melphalan all affected apoptosis and clonogenicity in SP cells. We followed by characterizing the miRNA signature of MM SP cells and validated the specific miR-451 target tuberous sclerosis 1 (TSC1) gene to reveal that it activates the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling in MM SP cells. Inhibition of miR-451 enhanced anti-myeloma novel agents' effectiveness, through increasing cells apoptosis, decreasing clonogenicity, and reducing MDR1 mRNA expression. Moreover, the novel specific PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling inhibitor S14161 displayed its prowess as a potential therapeutic agent by targeting MM SP cells. Our findings offer insights into the mechanisms regulating MM SP cells and provide a novel strategy to overcome resistance to existing therapies against myeloma.

Effects of aerosolised substance P on lung resistance in guinea-pigs: a comparison between inhibition of neutral endopeptidase and angiotensin-converting enzyme.

PubMed

Lötvall, J O; Skoogh, B E; Barnes, P J; Chung, K F

1990-05-01

1. We have examined in guinea-pigs, in vivo, the effects of inhibition of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) on the airway response to aerosolised substance P (SP). We aerosolised captopril (4.6 mM, 60 breaths; 210 nmol) to inhibit ACE and acetorphan (0.3, 1 and 3 mM, 60 breaths; 9 nmol, 33 nmol and 110 nmol respectively) to inhibit NEP. We also examined the effect of the highest dose of acetorphan (110 nmol) on the response to aerosolised acetylcholine (ACh). 2. Responsiveness to SP (or ACh) was measured as the change in lung resistance (RL) induced by nebulisation of increasing concentrations of SP (or ACh) before and after treatment with the inhibitor. PC200, defined as the provocative concentration inducing an increase in RL of 200% above baseline was calculated for each challenge. 3. Administration of acetorphan before the second SP-challenge induced a dose-dependent decrease in PC200 for SP amounting to 1.8 (+/- 0.3) log units after treatment with 11 nmol acetorphan. Treatment with vehicle before the second SP-challenge or with 3 mM acetorphan before the second ACh-challenge had no significant effect on PC200. 4. Treatment with captopril (21 nmol) induced only a small, nonsignificant leftward shift of PC200 to SP (0.3 +/- 0.2 log units). 5. We conclude that a NEP-like enzyme, but not ACE, regulates the response to aerosolised SP. We suggest that the same is true for SP released endogenously from sensory nerve endings in the airway epithelial layer.

Effects of aerosolised substance P on lung resistance in guinea-pigs: a comparison between inhibition of neutral endopeptidase and angiotensin-converting enzyme.

PubMed Central

Lötvall, J. O.; Skoogh, B. E.; Barnes, P. J.; Chung, K. F.

1990-01-01

1. We have examined in guinea-pigs, in vivo, the effects of inhibition of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) on the airway response to aerosolised substance P (SP). We aerosolised captopril (4.6 mM, 60 breaths; 210 nmol) to inhibit ACE and acetorphan (0.3, 1 and 3 mM, 60 breaths; 9 nmol, 33 nmol and 110 nmol respectively) to inhibit NEP. We also examined the effect of the highest dose of acetorphan (110 nmol) on the response to aerosolised acetylcholine (ACh). 2. Responsiveness to SP (or ACh) was measured as the change in lung resistance (RL) induced by nebulisation of increasing concentrations of SP (or ACh) before and after treatment with the inhibitor. PC200, defined as the provocative concentration inducing an increase in RL of 200% above baseline was calculated for each challenge. 3. Administration of acetorphan before the second SP-challenge induced a dose-dependent decrease in PC200 for SP amounting to 1.8 (+/- 0.3) log units after treatment with 11 nmol acetorphan. Treatment with vehicle before the second SP-challenge or with 3 mM acetorphan before the second ACh-challenge had no significant effect on PC200. 4. Treatment with captopril (21 nmol) induced only a small, nonsignificant leftward shift of PC200 to SP (0.3 +/- 0.2 log units). 5. We conclude that a NEP-like enzyme, but not ACE, regulates the response to aerosolised SP. We suggest that the same is true for SP released endogenously from sensory nerve endings in the airway epithelial layer. PMID:1695534

Chemical characteristics and anticoagulant activities of two sulfated polysaccharides from Enteromorpha linza (Chlorophyta)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Xiaohui; Mao, Wenjun; Chen, Yin; Chen, Yanli; Zhao, Chunqi; Li, Na; Wang, Chunyan

2013-03-01

Two sulfated polysaccharides, designated MP and SP, were extracted from the marine green alga Enteromorpha linza using hot water and then purified using ion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. The anticoagulant activities of MP and SP were examined by determination of their activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT) and prothrombin time (PT) using human plasma. Results showed that MP and SP were composed of abundant rhamnose with small amounts of xylose and glucuronic acid, whereas SP also contained a small amount of galactose. Approximate molecular weights of MP and SP were 535 and 502 kDa, respectively. As compared with SP, MP had higher contents of sulfate ester (19.0%) and uronic acid (14.9%). The MP mainly consisted of (1→4)-linked rhamnose residues with partially sulfated groups at the C-3 position, and small amounts of (1→3, 4)-linked rhamnose, (1→2, 4)-linked rhamnose, (1→4)-linked glucuronic acid and (1→4)-linked xylose residues. The SP contained abundant (1→4)-linked rhamnose with minor amounts of (1→3)-linked rhamnose, (1→3, 4)-linked rhamnose, (1→2, 4)-linked rhamnose, (1→4)-linked glucuronic acid, (1→4)-linked xylose, and (1→3)-linked galactose residues. The sulfate groups were mainly located at C-3 of (1→4)-linked rhamnose residues. Both MP and SP, in particular the former, effectively prolonged APTT and TT. This work demonstrates that MP and SP have unique structural characteristics distinct from those of other sulfated polysaccharides from Enteromorpha. The MP is a potential source of anticoagulant, and the difference in anticoagulant activities of the two sulfated polysaccharides is directly linked to the discrepancy of their chemical features.

Vibrio aphrogenes sp. nov., in the Rumoiensis clade isolated from a seaweed.

PubMed

Tanaka, Mami; Endo, Shoko; Kotake, Fumihito; Al-Saari, Nurhidayu; Amin, A K M Rohul; Feng, Gao; Mino, Sayaka; Doi, Hidetaka; Ogura, Yoshitoshi; Hayashi, Tetsuya; Suda, Wataru; Hattori, Masahira; Yumoto, Isao; Sawabe, Toko; Sawabe, Tomoo; Araki, Toshiyoshi

2017-01-01

A novel strain Vibrio aphrogenes sp. nov. strain CA-1004T isolated from the surface of seaweed collected on the coast of Mie Prefecture in 1994 [1] was characterized using polyphasic taxonomy including multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) and a genome based comparison. Both phylogenetic analyses on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences and MLSA based on eight protein-coding genes (gapA, gyrB, ftsZ, mreB, pyrH, recA, rpoA, and topA) showed the strain could be placed in the Rumoiensis clade in the genus Vibrio. Sequence similarities of the 16S rRNA gene and the multilocus genes against the Rumoiensis clade members, V. rumoiensis, V. algivorus, V. casei, and V. litoralis, were low enough to propose V. aphrogenes sp. nov. strain CA-1004T as a separate species. The experimental DNA-DNA hybridization data also revealed that the strain CA-1004T was separate from four known Rumoiensis clade species. The G+C content of the V. aphrogenes strain was determined as 42.1% based on the genome sequence. Major traits of the strain were non-motile, halophilic, fermentative, alginolytic, and gas production. A total of 27 traits (motility, growth temperature range, amylase, alginase and lipase productions, and assimilation of 19 carbon compounds) distinguished the strain from the other species in the Rumoiensis clade. The name V. aphrogenes sp. nov. is proposed for this species in the Rumoiensis clade, with CA-1004T as the type strain (JCM 31643T = DSM 103759T).

Video Modeling of SBIRT for Alcohol Use Disorders Increases Student Empathy in Standardized Patient Encounters.

PubMed

Crisafio, Anthony; Anderson, Victoria; Frank, Julia

2018-04-01

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of adding video models of brief alcohol assessment and counseling to a standardized patient (SP) curriculum that covers and tests acquisition of this skill. The authors conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study of third- and fourth-year medical students between 2013 and 2015. All students completed a standardized patient (SP) encounter illustrating the diagnosis of alcohol use disorder, followed by an SP exam on the same topic. Beginning in August 2014, the authors supplemented the existing formative SP exercise on problem drinking with one of two 5-min videos demonstrating screening, brief intervention, and referral for treatment (SBIRT). P values and Z tests were performed to evaluate differences between students who did and did not see the video in knowledge and skills related to alcohol use disorders. One hundred ninety-four students were included in this analysis. Compared to controls, subjects did not differ in their ability to uncover and accurately characterize an alcohol problem during a standardized encounter (mean exam score 41.29 vs 40.93, subject vs control, p = 0.539). However, the SPs' rating of students' expressions of empathy were significantly higher for the group who saw the video (81.63 vs 69.79%, p < 0.05). The findings did not confirm the original hypothesis that the videos would improve students' recognition and knowledge of alcohol-related conditions. However, feedback from the SPs produced the serendipitous finding that the communication skills demonstrated in the videos had a sustained effect in enhancing students' professional behavior.

Peer victimization and social phobia: a follow-up study among adolescents.

PubMed

Ranta, Klaus; Kaltiala-Heino, Riittakerttu; Fröjd, Sari; Marttunen, Mauri

2013-04-01

This study examined longitudinal associations between direct and relational peer victimization (DV/RV) and self-reported social phobia (SP) among adolescents from 15 to 17 years of age, controlling for depression and family socioeconomic covariates. A total of 3,278 Finnish adolescents with a mean age of 15.5 years were surveyed at baseline (T1), and followed up 2 years afterwards (T2) their mean age being 17.6 years. In all, 2,070 adolescents were reached for the follow-up. Both types of victimization were assessed with structured questions, SP with the Social Phobia Inventory, and depression with the 13-item Beck Depression Inventory. Socioeconomic covariates were assessed with items from the Life Events Checklist. Frequency of victimization and SP were assessed at T1 and T2, and incidence and persistence from T1 to T2. Longitudinal associations between victimization and SP were examined with three logistic regression analyses with depression and socioeconomic covariates controlled for, with SP, DV, and RV in turn as the dependent endpoint (T2) variables. Among boys a bidirectional association between DV and SP was found with DV both predicting SP [Odds Ratio (OR) 2.6] and being predicted by SP (OR 3.9). Among girls RV predicted SP (OR 2.8), but not vice versa, while depression in turn predicted DV (OR 4.3). Direct victimization and SP have a bidirectional association among boys, while among girls RV increases the risk of subsequent SP.

Comparison of long-term financial implications for five veterinary career tracks.

PubMed

Gordon, Meg E; Lloyd, James W; Harris-Kober, Donna L

2010-08-15

To compare present values of expected income streams for 5 distinct veterinary medical career tracks. Present value model. AVMA survey data. Present values of expected income streams (net of debt repayment) were created and ranked. Sensitivity to each independent variable was assessed. Career present value at 34 years after graduation (CPV(34)) was highest for board-certified specialist (SP; $2,272,877), followed by practice owner (PO; $2,119,596), practice owner buying into practice after 10 years (PO-10; $1,736,333), SP working three-fourths time (SP3/4; $1,702,744), and general practitioner (GP; $1,221,131). Compared with CPV(34) for SP, other career tracks yielded values of 93.3% (PO), 76.4% (PO-10), 74.9% (SP3/4), and 53.7% (GP). The model was robust to debt, interest rate, loan term, and discount rate but was sensitive to mean starting incomes and mean incomes. Greatest return on time and money invested by a veterinary student is through practicing full-time as an SP or through being a PO. Being an SP or SP3/4 was substantially more lucrative than being a GP and was comparable to being a PO. Practice ownership and working as an SP3/4 may be options for balancing financial gain with free time. Specialty training and practice ownership may be career tracks with the best potential repayment options for veterinarians with a large educational debt. Regardless of the amount of debt, the type of practice, mean incomes in a particular field, personal lifestyle, and professional interests are important factors when deciding among career tracks.

Benthic Macro-Invertebrates of Rocky Creek, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-10-01

Plecoptera , Odonata, and Ephemeroptera. The fauna at the sites were similar with sites sharing from 71 to 86% of their taxa. The differences in the...Coleoptera (8.9%), Trichoptera (6.9%), Plecoptera (3.6%), Odonata (2.6%), and Ephemeroptera (1.9%). In the light traps, the dominant group was the...Diptera); Stenelmis sp. (Coleoptera); Brachycentrus sp., Micrasema sp., Hydropsyche sp., and Agarodes sp. (Trichoptera); Allocapnia sp. ( Plecoptera

Monitoring efficacy of commonly used antimalarials by a 14-day in-vivo test in a new settler's camp in endemic zone at Cox's Bazar.

PubMed

Rahman, M R; Hassan, M R; Faiz, M A; Samad, R; Paul, B; Jalil, M A

1998-12-01

The study was done in a new settler's camp "Barachara" under Sadar thana of Cox's Bazar district. It has a total population of 784 of all age groups, registered in the middle of the study period. A prospective evaluation of all cases of fever were done over 12 months, to see the pattern of febrile illness among the population and to compare the therapeutic efficacy of two alternative drug regimens for uncomplicated falciparum malaria (UM). Blood for malarial parasite (MP) was done in all cases of fever and was treated in line with the new clinical case definitions and treatment guidelines for malaria in Bangladesh. Slide positive UM cases were subjected to a "14-day in-vivo test" for therapeutic efficacy testing of antimalarial agents. The two drug regimens were randomised by lottery--a) 3 days oral chloroquine plus single dose sulphadoxin/pyrimethamine (CQ + SP) and, b) 3 days oral quinine plus single dose sulphadoxin/pyrimethamine (Q3 + SP). Drug administration was supervised by the field assistant and was followed up on days 3, 7 and 14 for blood slide examinations and clinical assessment. Sensitive response was observed in 79% of the cases in the CQ + SP group and 84% in the Q3 + SP group. Early treatment failure (persistently febrile and parasitaemic on days 3 or 7) was observed in 16% in the CQ + SP group and 9% in the Q3 + SP group. Both the evaluated drug regimens had less than 20% failures and can be used as alternative first line agents and Q3 + SP regimens can also be used as the second line agents for treatment failure (to chloroquine and/or SP) UM cases in the study area.

Truncated recombinant human SP-D attenuates emphysema and type II cell changes in SP-D deficient mice

PubMed Central

Knudsen, Lars; Ochs, Matthias; MacKay, Rosemarie; Townsend, Paul; Deb, Roona; Mühlfeld, Christian; Richter, Joachim; Gilbert, Fabian; Hawgood, Samuel; Reid, Kenneth; Clark, Howard

2007-01-01

Background Surfactant protein D (SP-D) deficient mice develop emphysema-like pathology associated with focal accumulations of foamy alveolar macrophages, an excess of surfactant phospholipids in the alveolar space and both hypertrophy and hyperplasia of alveolar type II cells. These findings are associated with a chronic inflammatory state. Treatment of SP-D deficient mice with a truncated recombinant fragment of human SP-D (rfhSP-D) has been shown to decrease the lipidosis and alveolar macrophage accumulation as well as production of proinflammatory chemokines. The aim of this study was to investigate if rfhSP-D treatment reduces the structural abnormalities in parenchymal architecture and type II cells characteristic of SP-D deficiency. Methods SP-D knock-out mice, aged 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 9 weeks were treated with rfhSP-D for 9, 6 and 3 weeks, respectively. All mice were sacrificed at age 12 weeks and compared to both PBS treated SP-D deficient and wild-type groups. Lung structure was quantified by design-based stereology at the light and electron microscopic level. Emphasis was put on quantification of emphysema, type II cell changes and intracellular surfactant. Data were analysed with two sided non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test. Main Results After 3 weeks of treatment, alveolar number was higher and mean alveolar size was smaller compared to saline-treated SP-D knock-out controls. There was no significant difference concerning these indices of pulmonary emphysema within rfhSP-D treated groups. Type II cell number and size were smaller as a consequence of treatment. The total volume of lamellar bodies per type II cell and per lung was smaller after 6 weeks of treatment. Conclusion Treatment of SP-D deficient mice with rfhSP-D leads to a reduction in the degree of emphysema and a correction of type II cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy. This supports the concept that rfhSP-D might become a therapeutic option in diseases that are characterized by decreased SP-D levels in the lung. PMID:17915009

Cardiovascular effects of spinal cord substance P: studies with a stable receptor agonist.

PubMed

Keeler, J R; Charlton, C G; Helke, C J

1985-06-01

The role of spinal cord substance P (SP) in regulating sympathetic outflow to the cardiovascular system was assessed with the stable active analog [pGlu5,MePhE8,MeGly9]-SP(5-11) (DiME-SP). The interaction of DiME-SP with spinal cord SP receptors was evaluated initially in binding studies. Saturable, high-affinity binding of [125I]Bolton-Hunter-SP to rat spinal cord membranes was dose-dependently inhibited by DiME-SP (IC50 = 1.5 microM). Intrathecal (i.t.) injections of DiME-SP (1.0-33 nmol) in anesthetized rats produced dose-dependent increases in blood pressure and heart rate that were accompanied by increases in plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine. Intravenous injections of the ganglionic blocker pentolinium blocked the cardiovascular and plasma catecholamine responses to i.t. injections of DiME-SP. Bulbospinal sympathoexcitatory pathways originating in the ventral medulla and their mediation by SP were also assessed. As demonstrated previously, application of bicuculline, the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor antagonist, to the ventral surface of the medulla produced sympathetic mediated increases in blood pressure and these effects were blocked by i.t. injection of the SP receptor antagonist [D-Arg1,D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9,Leu11]-SP. In this study, we studied the specificity of the SP antagonist for SP receptors by attempting to alter the actions of the SP antagonist with a SP agonist. Administration of DiME-SP (33 nmol i.t.) blocked the effects of [D-Arg1,D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9,Leu11]-SP (3.3 nmol i.t.). Specifically, the SP agonist countered the SP antagonist-mediated 1) hypotensive response and 2) inhibitory effect on bicuculline-induced sympathoexcitatory responses elicited from the ventral surface of the medulla. These data provide further evidence that SP transmits excitatory information to the cardiovascular system via spinal sympathetic pathways.

Prevalence of spondyloarthritis symptom in inflammatory bowel disease patients: A questionnaire survey.

PubMed

Kamo, Kenta; Shuto, Toshihide; Haraguchi, Akihisa

2015-05-01

We clarified the prevalence of spondyloarthritis (SpA) symptom in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We performed the questionnaire survey of SpA symptom in IBD patients on their office visit. One hundred and thirty seven patients were evaluated. The SpA features group included 46 (33.6%) patients (32 Men). Among them there were 22 Crohn's disease (CD) patients and 24 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. The patients had a mean age of 48.3 years with a mean disease duration of 12.3 years. Non-SpA group (66.4%) included 91 patients (49 Men). Among them there were 27 CD patients and 64 UC patients. The patients had a mean age of 43.3 years with a mean disease duration of 9.2 years. In univariate analysis, the SpA group (33.6%) had longer disease duration than non-SpA group (p < 0.05). However, age at onset and sex were not significantly different among the groups. Multivariate analysis showed that disease duration was independently associated with SpA symptom (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1-1.09; p = 0.036). The prevalence of SpA symptom was relatively higher than what we had expected. Physicians should consider SpA when they observe IBD patients with arthralgia, and refer them to an appropriate department if needed.

Endosulfan induced alteration in bacterial protein profile and RNA yield of Klebsiella sp. M3, Achromobacter sp. M6, and Rhodococcus sp. M2.

PubMed

Singh, Madhu; Singh, Dileep Kumar

2014-01-30

Three bacterial strains identified as Klebsiella sp. M3, Achromobacter sp. M6 and Rhodococcus sp. M2 were isolated by soil enrichment with endosulfan followed by shake flask enrichment technique. They were efficiently degrading endosulfan in the NSM (non sulfur medium) broth. Degradation of endosulfan was faster with the cell free extract of bacterial cells grown in the sulfur deficient medium (NSM) supplemented with endosulfan than that of nutrient rich medium (Luria Bertani). In the cell free extract of NSM supplemented with endosulfan as sole sulfur source, a unique band was visualized on SDS-PAGE but not with magnesium sulfate as the sole sulfur source in NSM and LB with endosulfan. Expression of a unique polypeptide band was speculated to be induced by endosulfan under sulfur starved condition. These unique polypeptide bands were identified as OmpK35 protein, sulfate binding protein and outer membrane porin protein, respectively, in Klebsiella sp. M3, Achromobacter sp. M6 and Rhodococcus sp. M2. Endosulfan showed dose dependent negative effect on total RNA yield of bacterial strains in nutrient rich medium. Absence of plasmid DNA indicated the presence of endosulfan metabolizing gene on genomic DNA. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Diamond-like carbon prepared by pulsed laser deposition with ion bombardment: physical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Písařík, P.; Mikšovský, J.; Remsa, J.; Zemek, J.; Tolde, Z.; Jelínek, M.

2018-01-01

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) and titanium-doped DLC thin films were prepared by unique hybrid system consisting of pulsed laser deposition, ion source (bombardment) and magnetron sputtering. The influence of deposition parameters (ion energies, deposition pressures and magnetron power) on composition and physical properties was studied. Composition and sp 3/ sp 2 ratio were determined by XPS. sp 3/ sp 2 ratio was in the range from 1.4 to 2.2 for undoped DLC and from 3.4 to 4.8 for Ti-DLC. AFM showed that the layers were smooth, but with small amounts of random droplets. The measurements of the contact angle and determination of surface free energy were made for water, diiodomethane and ethylene glycol. Hardness and reduced Young's modulus varied from 20 to 31 GPa and from 182 to 276 GPa, respectively. Film adhesion was determined by scratch test; L C3 reached 23 N for DLC and 27 N for TiDLC. Optimization of sp 3/ sp 2 ratio, hardness and adhesion to biomedical alloys will advance the DLC coatings usability in the field of implantology.

The Effect of 3 Versus 6 Years of Zoledronic Acid Treatment of Osteoporosis: A Randomized Extension to the HORIZON-Pivotal Fracture Trial (PFT)

PubMed Central

Black, Dennis M; Reid, Ian R; Boonen, Steven; Bucci-Rechtweg, Christina; Cauley, Jane A; Cosman, Felicia; Cummings, Steven R; Hue, Trisha F; Lippuner, Kurt; Lakatos, Peter; Leung, Ping Chung; Man, Zulema; Martinez, Ruvie Lou Maria; Tan, Monique; Ruzycky, Mary Ellen; Su, Guoqin; Eastell, Richard

2012-01-01

Zoledronic acid 5 mg (ZOL) annually for 3 years reduces fracture risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. To investigate long-term effects of ZOL on bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk, the Health Outcomes and Reduced Incidence with Zoledronic acid Once Yearly–Pivotal Fracture Trial (HORIZON-PFT) was extended to 6 years. In this international, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled extension trial, 1233 postmenopausal women who received ZOL for 3 years in the core study were randomized to 3 additional years of ZOL (Z6, n = 616) or placebo (Z3P3, n = 617). The primary endpoint was femoral neck (FN) BMD percentage change from year 3 to 6 in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. Secondary endpoints included other BMD sites, fractures, biochemical bone turnover markers, and safety. In years 3 to 6, FN-BMD remained constant in Z6 and dropped slightly in Z3P3 (between-treatment difference = 1.04%; 95% confidence interval 0.4 to 1.7; p = 0.0009) but remained above pretreatment levels. Other BMD sites showed similar differences. Biochemical markers remained constant in Z6 but rose slightly in Z3P3, remaining well below pretreatment levels in both. New morphometric vertebral fractures were lower in the Z6 (n = 14) versus Z3P3 (n = 30) group (odds ratio = 0.51; p = 0.035), whereas other fractures were not different. Significantly more Z6 patients had a transient increase in serum creatinine >0.5 mg/dL (0.65% versus 2.94% in Z3P3). Nonsignificant increases in Z6 of atrial fibrillation serious adverse events (2.0% versus 1.1% in Z3P3; p = 0.26) and stroke (3.1% versus 1.5% in Z3P3; p = 0.06) were seen. Postdose symptoms were similar in both groups. Reports of hypertension were significantly lower in Z6 versus Z3P3 (7.8% versus 15.1%, p < 0.001). Small differences in bone density and markers in those who continued versus those who stopped treatment suggest residual effects, and therefore, after 3 years of annual ZOL, many patients may discontinue therapy up to 3 years. However, vertebral fracture reductions suggest that those at high fracture risk, particularly vertebral fracture, may benefit by continued treatment. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00145327). © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. PMID:22161728

Neutron Decay Electron Injection into the Magnetosphere.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-03-01

1000 Seconds After a Fission Burst, AFWL-TR-78-4 (November, 1978). 3. Hess, Wilmot N., The Radiation Belt and Magnetosphere, Toronto: Blaisdell Pub. Co...0a z w :3 1.-- w Ix -j L ccz I-- -i Ui)z L) 0 x La I- z) La La x . 4 I z 0. 1- ua CD cn I- 4 0)-- Cw m LaE Cf . w- La w z- L ZI--V 1- 0 La IM w z 0 x 0...mD (a "- U) :3-4 La 0 -0 M ..jZ z IM Ix Z in zci o Z L M0 2 EnC woo >- I- c La V~)P) Z -0 -0 Z 0 ik: co u x U) 4. w cD-4 lz La >-ix - Cf ) wI- xL (lI I

Full-Wave Based Validation of Stripline Field Applicator For Low Frequency Material Measurements

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-01

16 3.3.1 Principal Solution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 3.3.2 Reflected Solution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 3.4 Applying...potential) [ 17 ]. The vector potential BCs are found to be Ax(x, y = ±h, z) = 0 ∀ x, z (3.2) ∂Ay(x, y = ±h, z) ∂y = 0 ∀ x, z (3.3) Az(x, y = ±h, z...solution at y = ±h, an inverse Fourier transform must be performed on the principal contribution 17 ηre ηim x x η-plane −jp jp Figure 3.2

Investigation of the electronic, magnetic and optical properties of {\\sf Co}_{\\sf 2}{\\sf CrZ} (Z = Si, Ge) under pressure—a density functional theory study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seema, K.; Kumar, Ranjan

2014-01-01

The structural, electronic, magnetic and optical properties of Co-based Heusler compounds, Co2CrZ (Z = Si, Ge), are studied using first-principle density functional theory. The calculations are performed within the generalized gradient approximation. Our calculated structural parameters at 0 GPa agree well with previous available results. The calculated magnetic moment agrees well with the Slater-Pauling (SP) rule. We have studied the effect of pressure on the electronic and magnetic properties of Co2CrSi and Co2CrGe. With an increase in applied pressure, a decrease in cell volume is observed. Under application of external pressure, the valence band and conduction band are shifted downward which leads to a modification of electronic structure. There exists an indirect band gap along Γ-X for both the alloys. Co2CrSi and Co2CrGe retain 100% spin polarization up to 60 and 50 GPa, respectively. The local magnetic moments of the Co and Si (Ge) atoms increase with an increase in pressure whereas the local magnetic moment of the Cr atom decreases. In addition, the optical properties such as dielectric function, absorption spectra, optical conductivity and energy loss function of these alloys have also been investigated. To our knowledge this is the first theoretical prediction of the pressure dependence of the structural, electronic, magnetic and optical properties of Co2CrSi and Co2CrGe.

Improvement of FK506 Production in the High-Yielding Strain Streptomyces sp. RM7011 by Engineering the Supply of Allylmalonyl-CoA Through a Combination of Genetic and Chemical Approach.

PubMed

Mo, SangJoon; Lee, Sung-Kwon; Jin, Ying-Yu; Suh, Joo-Won

2016-02-01

FK506, a widely used immunosuppressant, is a 23-membered polyketide macrolide that is produced by several Streptomyces species. FK506 high-yielding strain Streptomyces sp. RM7011 was developed from the discovered Streptomyces sp. KCCM 11116P by random mutagenesis in our previous study. The results of transcript expression analysis showed that the transcription levels of tcsA, B, C, and D were increased in Streptomyces sp. RM7011 by 2.1-, 3.1-, 3.3-, and 4.1- fold, respectively, compared with Streptomyces sp. KCCM 11116P. The overexpression of tcsABCD genes in Streptomyces sp. RM7011 gave rise to approximately 2.5-fold (238.1 μg/ml) increase in the level of FK506 production compared with that of Streptomyces sp. RM7011. When vinyl pentanoate was added into the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. RM7011, the level of FK506 production was approximately 2.2-fold (207.7 μg/ml) higher than that of the unsupplemented fermentation. Furthermore, supplementing the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. RM7011 expressing tcsABCD genes with vinyl pentanoate resulted in an additional 1.7-fold improvement in the FK506 titer (498.1 μg/ml) compared with that observed under nonsupplemented condition. Overall, the level of FK506 production was increased approximately 5.2-fold by engineering the supply of allylmalonyl-CoA in the high-yielding strain Streptomyces sp. RM7011, using a combination of overexpressing tcsABCD genes and adding vinyl pentanoate, as compared with Streptomyces sp. RM7011 (95.3 μg/ml). Moreover, among the three precursors analyzed, pentanoate was the most effective precursor, supporting the highest titer of FK506 in the FK506 high-yielding strain Streptomyces sp. RM7011.

Nanocrystalline sp{sup 2} and sp{sup 3} carbons: CVD synthesis and applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Terranova, M. L.; Rossi, M.; Tamburri, E., E-mail: emanuela.tamburri@uniroma2.it

The design and production of innovative materials based on nanocrystalline sp{sup 2}- and sp{sup 3}-coordinated carbons is presently a focus of the scientific community. We present a review of the nanostructures obtained in our labs using a series of synthetic routes, which make use of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques for the selective production of non-planar graphitic nanostructures, nanocrystalline diamonds, and hybrid two-phase nanostructures.

Novel Drugs that Target ErbB2

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-05-01

Fig. 3C). 3. Role of cannabinoid receptors BA-induced downregulation of Sp transcription factors was proteasome-independent (Fig. 2) and...cancer cell lines show that cannabinoids (CBs) decrease Sp proteins (data not shown), the effects of CB1 and CB2 receptor antagonists AM251 and AM630...were observed in MDA-MB-453 cells confirming a role for the cannabinoid receptors in mediating the effects of BA on Sp and Sp-regulated genes

Determinants of activity of the HIV-1 maturation inhibitor PA-457.

PubMed

Li, Feng; Zoumplis, Dorian; Matallana, Claudia; Kilgore, Nicole R; Reddick, Mary; Yunus, Abdul S; Adamson, Catherine S; Salzwedel, Karl; Martin, David E; Allaway, Graham P; Freed, Eric O; Wild, Carl T

3-O-(3',3'-dimethylsuccinyl) betulinic acid, also termed PA-457 or DSB, is a novel HIV-1 inhibitor that blocks virus maturation by disrupting cleavage of the capsid precursor, CA-SP1. To better define the molecular target for PA-457, we prepared a panel of mutant viruses with point deletions spanning the CA-SP1 cleavage domain and characterized each of these viruses for PA-457 sensitivity. Our results indicate that amino acid residues in the N-terminal half of SP1 serve as determinants of PA-457 activity, while residues in the C-terminal half of SP1 were not involved in compound activity. These findings support and extend previous observations that PA-457 is a specific inhibitor of CA-SP1 cleavage and identify the CA-SP1 domain as the primary viral determinant for this novel inhibitor of HIV-1 replication.

Microphysical Properties of Fog at Otis Air Force Base.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-01-26

BKN 60VC 5 F SP1 2133 M3 OVC 3 F 2 0 SAI 2155 w2X 2 F 70170 21 08’ SAi 22551 wix I F in _ _ SP 2320 WIX 1/2 L-F21 0 SA; 23551 WIX 1/2 L F 6916 1 1 1...SAI 00551 WIX 1/2 L-F 699 21 - 0511/2 L-F 6 i8 IM 1__20_____10 SA, 5 5 WX 1/2 - F o3sI 2w-x -SA I 0455, WlX 1/2 F r7 r’ _2In SP 10535 i WIX 1/4 _ F...20 - 1. S~l_555 WiXI~114 _ F 166166 f SA!O5 WIX .L -i 1/4L r___ RS SP 1 07 4 0! --X - F 1 1 I_ US SP 0755, -X ES SKN F FiR 264 0 . SP 0815 -X 5SCT

From spent graphite to amorphous sp2+sp3 carbon-coated sp2 graphite for high-performance lithium ion batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Zhen; Zhuang, Yuchan; Deng, Yaoming; Song, Xiaona; Zuo, Xiaoxi; Xiao, Xin; Nan, Junmin

2018-02-01

Today, with the massive application of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) in the portable devices and electric vehicles, to supply the active materials with high-performances and then to recycle their wastes are two core issues for the development of LIBs. In this paper, the spent graphite (SG) in LIBs is used as raw materials to fabricate two comparative high-capacity graphite anode materials. Based on a microsurgery-like physical reconstruction, the reconstructed graphite (RG) with a sp2+sp3 carbon surface is prepared through a microwave exfoliation and subsequent spray drying process. In contrast, the neural-network-like amorphous sp2+sp3 carbon-coated graphite (AC@G) is synthesized using a self-reconfigurable chemical reaction strategy. Compared with SG and commercial graphite (CG), both RG and AC@G have enhanced specific capacities, from 311.2 mAh g-1 and 360.7 mAh g-1 to 409.7 mAh g-1 and 420.0 mAh g-1, at 0.1C after 100 cycles. In addition, they exhibit comparable cycling stability, rate capability, and voltage plateau with CG. Because the synthesis of RG and AC@G represents two typical physical and chemical methods for the recycling of SG, these results on the sp2+sp3 carbon layer coating bulk graphite also reveal an approach for the preparation of high-performance graphite anode materials derived from SG.

Transcription factor specificity protein 1 modulates TGFβ1/Smad signaling to negatively regulate SIGIRR expression by human M1 macrophages stimulated with substance P.

PubMed

Yamaguchi, Rui; Sakamoto, Arisa; Yamaguchi, Reona; Haraguchi, Misa; Narahara, Shinji; Sugiuchi, Hiroyuki; Yamaguchi, Yasuo

2018-08-01

The stimuli inducing expression of single immunoglobulin IL-1-related receptor (SIGIRR) and the relevant regulatory mechanisms are not well defined. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) delays internalization of neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) and subsequently enhances cellular signaling. This study investigated the effect of TGFβ1 on SIGIRR protein production by human M1 macrophages in response to stimulation with substance P (SP). SP caused upregulation of SIGIRR expression in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas aprepitant (an NK1R inhibitor) blunted this response. Silencing p38γMAPK or TAK-1 partially attenuated the response to SP stimulation, while TGFβ1/2/3 siRNA dramatically diminished it. SP induced much greater SIGIRR protein production than either lipopolysaccharide (a TLR4 agonist) or resiquimod (a TLR7/8 agonist). Unexpectedly, silencing of transcription factor specificity protein 1 (Sp1) led to significant upregulation of SIGIRR expression after SP stimulation, while KLF2 siRNA only partially enhanced it and Fli-1 siRNA reduced it. SP also upregulated TGFβ1 expression, along with a corresponding increase of SIGIRR protein, whereas silencing TGFβ1/2/3 blunted these responses. Sp1 siRNA or mithramycin (a gene-selective Sp1 inhibitor) significantly enhanced the expression of TGFβ1 and SIGIRR by macrophages after SP stimulation. Importantly, this effect of Sp1 siRNA on TGFβ1 and SIGIRR was blunted by siRNA for Smad2, Smad3, or Smad4, but not by TAK-1 siRNA. Next, we investigated the influence of transcription factor cross-talk on SIGIRR expression in response to SP. Co-transfection of macrophages with Sp1 siRNA and C/EBPβ or TIF1β siRNA attenuated the upregulation of SIGIRR by SP, while a combination of Sp1 siRNA and Fli-1 siRNA dramatically diminished it. In conclusion, TGFβ1 may be an intermediary between SP/NK1R activation and SIGIRR expression in Sp1 siRNA-transfected macrophages. In addition, Sp1 modulates TGFβ1/Smad signaling and negatively regulates SIGIRR protein production by macrophages after SP stimulation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evidence for involvement of NK₃ receptors in the anxiogenic-like effect of SP6-11(C-terminal), a metabolite of substance P, in rats evaluated in the elevated plus-maze.

PubMed

Duarte, Filipe Silveira; Duzzioni, Marcelo; Leme, Leandro Rinaldi; Smith, Saulo de Paiva; De Lima, Thereza C M

2016-04-15

Substance P (SP) is a neuropeptide widely expressed throughout the fear-processing pathways of the brain. SP is cleaved by several proteolytic enzymes in amino (N-) and carboxy (C-) terminal sequences, which can have biological activities per se. We have previously shown that the anxiogenic-like effects elicited by SP6-11(C-terminal), a specific metabolite of SP, are mediated via NK1 and NK2 receptors. Nevertheless, there are evidences that C-terminal fragments may have a greater affinity for NK3 receptors. The aim of the present study was to further investigate the possible involvement of NK3 receptors in the anxiogenic-like effects induced by SP6-11(C-terminal). Adult male Wistar rats were intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) treated with SR142801 (NK3 receptors antagonist) or vehicle one minute to prior SP6-11(C-terminal) or vehicle. Other experimental groups received SP6-11(C-terminal) or vehicle i.c.v. one minute prior to senktide (NK3 receptors agonist) or vehicle. After five minutes, the animals were behaviorally evaluated in the elevated plus-maze test (EPM). SR142801 (100 pmol) or SP6-11(C-terminal) (10 pmol) reduced all the parameters of open-arms exploration and increased the number of protected stretch-attend postures in the EPM, indicating an anxiogenic-like effect. Senktide (10 pmol) promoted an opposite effect on these behavioral parameters, characterizing an anxiolytic-like profile. Pretreatment with SR142801, in an ineffective dose, potentiated the SP6-11-induced anxiety, especially in the unprotected head-dipping and protected stretch-attend postures behaviors. Moreover, the anxiolytic-like effect induced by senktide (1 pmol) was prevented by SP6-11. Our results give support to the involvement of NK3 receptors in the anxiogenic-like actions of SP6-11(C-terminal), where this metabolite seems to behave as an antagonist, in a way similar to SR142801. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Host composition dependent tunable multicolor emission in the single-phase Ba2(Ln(1-z)Tb(z))(BO3)2Cl:Eu phosphors.

PubMed

Xia, Zhiguo; Zhuang, Jiaqing; Meijerink, Andries; Jing, Xiping

2013-05-14

A new strategy based on the host composition design has been adopted to obtain efficient color-tunable emission from Ba2Ln(0.97-z)Tb(z)(BO3)2Cl:0.03Eu (Ln = Y, Gd and Lu, z = 0-0.97) phosphors. This study reveals that the single-phase Ba2Ln(1-z)Tb(z)(BO3)2Cl compounds can be applied to use allowed Eu(2+) absorption transitions to sensitize Eu(3+) emission via the energy transfer Eu(2+) → (Tb(3+))n → Eu(3+). The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement analysis shows single-phase Ba2Ln(1-z)Tb(z)(BO3)2Cl. As-prepared Ba2Ln(0.97-z)Tb(z)(BO3)2Cl:0.03Eu phosphors show intense green, yellow, orange and red emission under 377 nm near ultraviolet (n-UV) excitation due to a variation in the relative intensities of the Eu(2+), Tb(3+) and Eu(3+) emission depending on the Tb content (z) in the host composition, allowing color tuning. The variation in emission color is explained by energy transfer and has been investigated by photoluminescence and lifetime measurements and is further characterized by the Commission Internationale de l'éclairage (CIE) chromaticity indexes. The quantum efficiencies of the phosphors are high, up to 74%, and show good thermal stabilities up to 150 °C. This investigation demonstrates the possibility to sensitize Eu(3+) line emission by Eu(2+)via energy migration over Tb(3+) resulting in efficient color tunable phosphors which are promising for use in solid-state white light-emitting diodes (w-LEDs).

Na+/H+ and Na+/NH4+ exchange activities of zebrafish NHE3b expressed in Xenopus oocytes

PubMed Central

Ito, Yusuke; Kato, Akira; Hirata, Taku; Hirose, Shigehisa

2014-01-01

Zebrafish Na+/H+ exchanger 3b (zNHE3b) is highly expressed in the apical membrane of ionocytes where Na+ is absorbed from ion-poor fresh water against a concentration gradient. Much in vivo data indicated that zNHE3b is involved in Na+ absorption but not leakage. However, zNHE3b-mediated Na+ absorption has not been thermodynamically explained, and zNHE3b activity has not been measured. To address this issue, we overexpressed zNHE3b in Xenopus oocytes and characterized its activity by electrophysiology. Exposure of zNHE3b oocytes to Na+-free media resulted in significant decrease in intracellular pH (pHi) and intracellular Na+ activity (aNai). aNai increased significantly when the cytoplasm was acidified by media containing CO2-HCO3− or butyrate. Activity of zNHE3b was inhibited by amiloride or 5-ethylisopropyl amiloride (EIPA). Although the activity was accompanied by a large hyperpolarization of ∼50 mV, voltage-clamp experiments showed that Na+/H+ exchange activity of zNHE3b is electroneutral. Exposure of zNHE3b oocytes to medium containing NH3/NH4+ resulted in significant decreases in pHi and aNai and significant increase in intracellular NH4+ activity, indicating that zNHE3b mediates the Na+/NH4+ exchange. In low-Na+ (0.5 mM) media, zNHE3b oocytes maintained aNai of 1.3 mM, and Na+-influx was observed when pHi was decreased by media containing CO2-HCO3− or butyrate. These results provide thermodynamic evidence that zNHE3b mediates Na+ absorption from ion-poor fresh water by its Na+/H+ and Na+/NH4+ exchange activities. PMID:24401990

Increasing prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in Poland.

PubMed

Brola, Waldemar; Sobolewski, Piotr; Flaga, Stanisław; Fudala, Małgorzata; Jantarski, Konrad

Epidemiologic data on multiple sclerosis (MS) in Poland are limited. Our objectives were to assess a mean annual incidence rate, and MS prevalence on December 31, 2015 in the Swietokrzyskie province (central Poland). We analyzed data of 1525 patients, collected in the Polish Multiple Sclerosis Registry. On December 31, 2015, overall crude prevalence of MS was not less than 121.3/100,000 (95% CI, 114.6-128.4). Significantly higher prevalence was recorded in females (167.1; 95% CI, 155.6-179.1) than in males (73.2; 95% CI, 64.2-82.6; P<0.001). The age-adjusted prevalence standardized to the European standard population was 114.2/100,000 (95% CI, 106.2-121.5). The female-male ratio was 2.4:1. The mean annual incidence was 4.5/100,000 (95% CI, 3.8-5.2). Increased MS prevalence and incidence compared to 2010 and previous studies from Poland confirmed that central Poland is a high risk area for MS. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o.

Nitrogen dioxide absorption in aqueous sodium sulfite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Chen Hua

The Clean Air Act of 1990 requires additional reduction of acid gases, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere from coal-fired electric power plants. In the case of older existing power plants, a possible retrofit strategy is to oxidize nitric oxide (NO, the major constituent of NOsbX in flue gas) to nitrogen dioxide (NOsb2) by the addition of methanol or other hydrocarbons into the duct at an optimum temperature regime. NOsb2 can then be removed by either modifying existing SOsb2 control equipment or by adding a limestone (CaCOsb3) slurry scrubbing process. Limestone reacts with SOsb2 to from CaSOsb3, and the free sulfite (SO{sb3sp{=}}) in the solution is reactive toward NOsb2. The focus of this research is to study the reaction between NOsb2 and aqueous sulfite at elevated temperature and in the presence of gas phase Osb2. The removal of NOsb2 by limestone slurry scrubbing involves the reaction between NOsb2 and SO{sb3sp{=}}, bisulfite (HSO{sb3sp{-}}) and water. The reactions between NOsb2 and SO{sb3sp{=}}/HSO{sb3sp{-}} are first order in both reactants, while the NOsb2-water reaction is second order in NOsb2 concentration. The rate constants of the above reactions and the NOsb2-thiosulfate (Ssb2O{sb3sp{=}}) reaction were determined at 55sp°C. SO{sb3sp{=}} was found to be the most reactive toward NOsb2, while the contribution of chemical reaction still dominated in the absorption of NOsb2 into water. The effect of gas phase SOsb2 and Osb2, and liquid phase additives such as Ssb2O{sb3sp{=}}, Casp{++}, Mgsp{++}, and Clsp{-} on NOsb2 absorption was also investigated. The absorption of NOsb2 catalyzes free radical reactions that lead to sulfite oxidation. A semi-empirical model was proposed to relate the rate of sulfite oxidation to the rate of NOsb2 absorption. Thiosulfate inhibits sulfite oxidation by providing an alternative route for the termination of the free radical reactions, and a fundamental model was derived to quantify the effect of Ssb2O{sb3sp{=}} on sulfite oxidation. The absorption of NOsb2 into aqueous bisulfide (HSsp{-}) was studied in an attempt to discover alternative scrubbing technologies. The reaction between NOsb2 and HSsp{-} is twice as fast as the NOsb2-SO{sb3sp{=}} reaction at 55sp°C. A semi-empirical model was proposed to relate NOsb2 absorption to HSsp{-} oxidation. This study has shown that acceptable level of NOsb2 removal by a conventional limestone slurry scrubber is not probable. However, aqueous scrubbing of NOsb2 by Nasb2SOsb3 and Nasb2S solutions are viable options. Furthermore, significant reduction in hold tank liquid depth and/or oxidizing air stoichiometry is possible by NOsb2 injection.

In vitro activities of kappa-carrageenan isolated from red marine alga Hypnea musciformis: Antimicrobial, anticancer and neuroprotective potential.

PubMed

Souza, Ricardo Basto; Frota, Annyta Fernandes; Silva, Joana; Alves, Celso; Neugebauer, Agnieszka Zofia; Pinteus, Susete; Rodrigues, José Ariévilo Gurgel; Cordeiro, Edna Maria Silva; de Almeida, Raimundo Rafael; Pedrosa, Rui; Benevides, Norma Maria Barros

2018-06-01

This study assessed the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer and neuroprotective activities of the kappa(k)-carrageenan isolated from the red alga Hypnea musciformis (Hm-SP). The chemical spectrum of the k-carrageenan from Hm-SP was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Hm-SP revealed an antibacterial and antifungal action against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, respectively. Hm-SP did not promoted cytotoxic effects against Human breast cancer (MCF-7) and Human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell-lines. However, it was observed a significant reduction of the cellular proliferation capacity in these cancer cells in presence of the Hm-SP. Furthermore, Hm-SP showed neuroprotective activity in 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity on SH-SY5Y cells by modulation of the mitochondria transmembrane potential and reducing Caspase 3 activity. In addition, Hm-SP demonstrates low antioxidant potential and did not induce significant cytotoxic effects or changes in the cell proliferation on Balb/c 3T3 mouse fibroblast cell-line. In summary, our data suggest that Hm-SP shows antimicrobial, anticancer and neuprotective activities. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Double Beta Decay of NEODYMIUM-150 and Molybdenum -100

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, Matthew Alan

1995-01-01

The double beta decays of ^{150 }Nd and ^{100}Mo were studied in a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) located at an underground site at Hoover Dam. Studies of 6286.6 h of data obtained from 15.48 g of Nd_2O _3 enriched to 91% in ^{150 }Nd reveal a two-neutrino half-life of T _sp{1/2}{2nu}=(6.27_sp {-.049}{+.049}+/-1.2)times10 ^{18} y at the 90% confidence level, and 90% CL half-life limits for the zero-neutrino and majoron decay channels of T_sp{1/2 }{0nu}>1.10times10^{21 } y, and T_sp{1/2} {0nu,chi}>3.30times10^ {20} y, respectively. Similar studies on 3274.7 h of data from a 16.7 g sample of metallic Mo enriched to 97.4% in ^{100}Mo resulted in measurements of T_sp{1/2 }{2nu}=(6.59_sp{-0.51} {+0.52}+/-1.3)times10^{1 8} {rm y}, T_sp {1/2}{0nu}>1.12times10^ {21} {rm y and} T _sp{1/2}{0nu,chi}>4.07 times10^{20} y, all at the 90% CL.

Universal Effectiveness of Inducing Magnetic Moments in Graphene by Amino-Type sp3-Defects

PubMed Central

Wu, Liting; Gao, Shengqing; Li, Ming; Wen, Jianfeng; Li, Xinyu; Liu, Fuchi

2018-01-01

Inducing magnetic moments in graphene is very important for its potential application in spintronics. Introducing sp3-defects on the graphene basal plane is deemed as the most promising approach to produce magnetic graphene. However, its universal validity has not been very well verified experimentally. By functionalization of approximately pure amino groups on graphene basal plane, a spin-generalization efficiency of ~1 μB/100 NH2 was obtained for the first time, thus providing substantial evidence for the validity of inducing magnetic moments by sp3-defects. As well, amino groups provide another potential sp3-type candidate to prepare magnetic graphene. PMID:29673185

Evidence of the neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF) interaction with Sp3 and its synergic repression to the mu opioid receptor (MOR) gene

PubMed Central

Kim, Chun Sung; Choi, Hack Sun; Hwang, Cheol Kyu; Song, Kyu Young; Lee, Byung-Kwon; Law, Ping-Yee; Wei, Li-Na; Loh, Horace H.

2006-01-01

Previously, we reported that the neuron-restrictive silencer element (NRSE) of mu opioid receptor (MOR) functions as a critical regulator to repress the MOR transcription in specific neuronal cells, depending on neuron-restriction silence factor (NRSF) expression levels [C.S.Kim, C.K.Hwang, H.S.Choi, K.Y.Song, P.Y.Law, L.N.Wei and H.H.Loh (2004) J. Biol. Chem., 279, 46464–46473]. Herein, we identify a conserved GC sequence next to NRSE region in the mouse MOR gene. The inhibition of Sp family factors binding to this GC box by mithramycin A led to a significant increase in the endogenous MOR transcription. In the co-immunoprecipitation experiment, NRSF interacted with the full-length Sp3 factor, but not with Sp1 or two short Sp3 isoforms. The sequence specific and functional binding by Sp3 at this GC box was confirmed by in vitro gel-shift assays using either in vitro translated proteins or nuclear extract, and by in vivo chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Transient transfection assays showed that Sp3-binding site of the MOR gene is a functionally synergic repressor element with NRSE in NS20Y cells, but not in the NRSF negative PC12 cells. The results suggest that the synergic interaction between NRSF and Sp3 is required to negatively regulate MOR gene transcription and that transcription of MOR gene would be governed by the context of available transcription factors rather than by a master regulator. PMID:17130167

Evaluation Of Method 5B At A Coal-Fired Boiler

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

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Peripheral kynurenine-3-monooxygenase deficiency as a potential risk factor for metabolic syndrome in schizophrenia patients.

PubMed

Oxenkrug, Gregory; van der Hart, Marieke; Roeser, Julien; Summergrad, Paul

2017-01-01

Increased predisposition of schizophrenia patients (SP) to development of obesity and insulin resistance suggested common signaling pathway between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and schizophrenia. Deficiency of kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KMO), enzyme catalyzing formation of 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) from kynurenine (Kyn), a tryptophan (Trp) metabolite, might contribute to development of MetS as suggested by non-expression of KMO genes in human fat tissue and elevated serum concentrations of Kyn and its metabolites, kynurenic (KYNA) and anthranilic (ANA) acids, in diabetic patients and Zucker fatty rats (ZFR). Markers of KMO deficiency: decreased 3-HK and elevated Kyn, KYNA and ANA, were observed in brains and spinal fluids of SP, and in brains and serum of experimental animals with genetically- or pharmacologically-induced KMO deficiency. However, elevated concentrations of ANA and decreased 3-HK were reported in serum of SP without concurrent increase of Kyn and KYNA. Present study aimed to re-assess serum Kyn metabolites (HPLC-MS) in a sub-group of SP with elevated KYNA. We found increased Kyn concentrations (by 30%) and Kyn:Trp ratio (by 20%) in serum of SP with elevated KYNA concentrations (by 40%). Obtained results and our previous data suggest that peripheral KMO deficiency might be manifested by, at least, two different patterns: elevated ANA with decreased 3-HK; and elevated KYNA and KYN. The latter pattern was previously described in type 2 diabetes patients and might underline increased predisposition of SP to development of MetS. Assessment of peripheral KMO deficiency might identify SP predisposed to MetS. Attenuation of the consequences of peripheral KMO deficiency might be a new target for prevention/treatment of obesity and diabetes in SP.

Interaction of tachykinins with their receptors studied with cyclic analogues of substance P and neurokinin B

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ploux, O.; Lavielle, S.; Chassaing, G.

1987-11-01

The activities of two groups of cyclic agonists of substance P (SP) have been studied. The disulfide bridge constraints have been designed on the basis of conformational studies on SP and physalaemin indicating an ..cap alpha..-helical structure for the core of these two tachykinins (group I) and a folding of the C-terminal carboxamide towards the side chains of the glutamines 5 and 6 (group II). Only peptides simulating the ..cap alpha..-helix present substantial potencies. (Cys/sup 3,6/)SP is as active as SP in inhibiting /sup 125/I-labeled Bolton and Hunter SP-specific binding on rat brain synaptosomes and on dog carotid bioassay, twomore » assays specific for the neurokinin 1 receptor. Moreover, (Cys/sup 3,6/)SP is a potent as neurokinin B in inhibiting /sup 125/I-labeled Bolton and Hunter eledoisin-specific binding on rat cortical synaptosomes as well as in stimulating rat portal vein, two tests specific for the neurokinin 3 receptor. Interestingly, in contrast to neurokinin B, (Cys/sup 3,6/)SP is a weak agonist of the neurokinin 2 receptor subtype, as evidenced by its binding potency in inhibiting /sup 3/H-labeled neurokinin A-specific binding on rat duodenum and in inducing the contractions of the rabbit pulmonary artery, a neurokinin 2-type bioassay. To increase the specificity of the cyclic analogue (Cys/sup 3,6/)SP positions 8 and 9 were modified. Collectively, these results suggest that the neurokinin 1 and neurokinin 3 tachykinin receptors may recognize a similar three-dimensional structure of the core of the tachykinins. Different orientations of the common C-terminal tripeptide may be related to the selectivity for the different receptor subtypes.« less

Proteolytic Cascade for the Activation of the Insect Toll Pathway Induced by the Fungal Cell Wall Component

PubMed Central

Roh, Kyung-Baeg; Kim, Chan-Hee; Lee, Hanna; Kwon, Hyun-Mi; Park, Ji-Won; Ryu, Ji-Hwan; Kurokawa, Kenji; Ha, Nam-Chul; Lee, Won-Jae; Lemaitre, Bruno; Söderhäll, Kenneth; Lee, Bok-Luel

2009-01-01

The insect Toll signaling pathway is activated upon recognition of Gram-positive bacteria and fungi, resulting in the expression of antimicrobial peptides via NF-κB-like transcription factor. This activation is mediated by a serine protease cascade leading to the processing of Spätzle, which generates the functional ligand of the Toll receptor. Recently, we identified three serine proteases mediating Toll pathway activation induced by lysine-type peptidoglycan of Gram-positive bacteria. However, the identities of the downstream serine protease components of Gram-negative-binding protein 3 (GNBP3), a receptor for a major cell wall component β-1,3-glucan of fungi, and their order of activation have not been characterized yet. Here, we identified three serine proteases that are required for Toll activation by β-1,3-glucan in the larvae of a large beetle, Tenebrio molitor. The first one is a modular serine protease functioning immediately downstream of GNBP3 that proteolytically activates the second one, a Spätzle-processing enzyme-activating enzyme that in turn activates the third serine protease, a Spätzle-processing enzyme. The active form of Spätzle-processing enzyme then cleaves Spätzle into the processed Spätzle as Toll ligand. In addition, we show that injection of β-1,3-glucan into Tenebrio larvae induces production of two antimicrobial peptides, Tenecin 1 and Tenecin 2, which are also inducible by injection of the active form of Spätzle-processing enzyme-activating enzyme or processed Spätzle. These results demonstrate a three-step proteolytic cascade essential for the Toll pathway activation by fungal β-1,3-glucan in Tenebrio larvae, which is shared with lysine-type peptidoglycan-induced Toll pathway activation. PMID:19473968

Use of beta-methylphenylalanine (beta MeF) residues to probe the nature of the interaction of substance P with its receptor: effects of beta MeF-containing substance P analogs on rabbit iris smooth muscle contraction.

PubMed

Birney, D M; Cole, D C; Crosson, C E; Kahl, B F; Neff, B W; Reid, T W; Ren, K; Walkup, R D

1995-06-23

The effects of substituting (2S,3S)-beta-methylphenylalanine (S-beta MeF) or (2S,3R)-beta-methylphenylalanine (R-beta MeF) for the Phe7 and/or Phe8 residues of the tachykinin substance P (SP, RPKPQQFFGLM-NH2) upon the ability of SP to stimulate contraction of the rabbit iris smooth muscle were investigated. The eight beta MeF-containing SP analogs (four monosubstituted analogs, four disubstituted analogs) 1-8 were synthesized and found to be agonsts of SP in the smooth muscle contraction assay, having EC50 values ranging from 0.15 to 10.0 nM. Three analogs are significantly more active than SP [8R-(beta MeF)SP (4), 7S,8S-(beta MeF)2SP (5), and 7R,8S-(beta MeF)2SP (6)], three analogs are approximately equipotent with SP [7S-(beta MeF)SP (1), 7R-(beta MeF)SP (2), and 7S,8R-(beta MeF)2SP (8)], and two analogs are significantly less active than SP [8S-(beta MeF)SP (3) and 7R,8R-(beta MeF)2SP (7)]. The effects of the beta MeF substitutions upon the activity of SP are not additive and cannot be explained using simple conformational models which focus only on the side chain conformations of the beta MeF residues. It is postulated that the beta MeF residues induce minor distortions in the peptide backbone with resultant consequences upon peptide-receptor binding which are not dictated soley by the side chain conformations. This idea is consistent with 1H-NMR data for the monosubstituted analogs 1-4, which imply that the beta MeF substitutions cause slight distortions in the peptide backbone and that the beta MeF side chains are assuming trans or gauche(-) conformations.

Multiple chitinases of an endophytic Serratia proteamaculans 568 generate chitin oligomers.

PubMed

Purushotham, Pallinti; Sarma, P V S R N; Podile, Appa Rao

2012-05-01

Serratia proteamaculans 568 genome revealed the presence of four family 18 chitinases (Sp ChiA, Sp ChiB, Sp ChiC, and Sp ChiD). Heterologous expression and characterization of Sp ChiA, Sp ChiB, and Sp ChiC showed that these enzymes were optimally active at pH 6.0-7.0, and 40°C. The three Sp chitinases displayed highest activity/binding to β-chitin and showed broad range of substrate specificities, and released dimer as major end product from oligomeric and polymeric substrates. Longer incubation was required for hydrolysis of trimer for the three Sp chitinases. The three Sp chitinases released up to tetramers from colloidal chitin substrate. Sp ChiA and Sp ChiB were processive chitinases, while Sp ChiC was a non-processive chitinase. Based on the known structures of ChiA and ChiB from S. marcescens, 3D models of Sp ChiA and Sp ChiB were generated. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Production of sp3 hybridization by swift heavy ion irradiation of HOPG

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeng, J.; Zhai, P. F.; Liu, J.; Yao, H. J.; Duan, J. L.; Hou, M. D.; Sun, Y. M.; Li, G. P.

2013-07-01

Highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) samples were irradiated by swift heavy ions (86Kr, 209Bi and 238U) with the fluence of 1011-1013 ions/cm2 at room temperature. The production of sp3 hybridization by the irradiation process has been confirmed directly by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In this work, both irradiated and pristine HOPG samples were investigated by XPS and Raman spectroscopy. The existence of sp3 component is confirmed on the surface of the irradiated HOPG samples. XPS result shows that the acreage ratio Isp3/Isp2 increases with the ion fluence and saturates at a higher value of irradiation. It is found that the amount of hybridization (Isp3/Isp2) strongly depends on the electronic energy loss in the sample. Raman spectra of the irradiated samples show the increasing of acreage ratio ID/IG with the ion fluence, which indicates the change of the atomic structure and the phase transition from sp2 to sp3.

Assessing severity of obstructive sleep apnea by fractal dimension sequence analysis of sleep EEG

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, J.; Yang, X. C.; Luo, L.; Shao, J.; Zhang, C.; Ma, J.; Wang, G. F.; Liu, Y.; Peng, C.-K.; Fang, J.

2009-10-01

Different sleep stages are associated with distinct dynamical patterns in EEG signals. In this article, we explored the relationship between the sleep architecture and fractal dimension (FD) of sleep EEG. In particular, we applied the FD analysis to the sleep EEG of patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), which is characterized by recurrent oxyhemoglobin desaturation and arousals from sleep, a disease which received increasing public attention due to its significant potential impact on health. We showed that the variation of FD reflects the macrostructure of sleep. Furthermore, the fast fluctuation of FD, as measured by the zero-crossing rate of detrended FD (zDFD), is a useful indicator of sleep disturbance, and therefore, correlates with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and hourly number of blood oxygen saturation (SpO 2) decreases greater than 4%, as obstructive apnea/hypopnea disturbs sleep architecture. For practical purpose, a modified index combining zDFD of EEG and body mass index (BMI) may be useful for evaluating the severity of OSAHS symptoms.

Lubricated Bearing Lifetimes of a Multiply Alkylated Cyclopentane and a Linear Perfluoropolyether Fluid in Oscillatory Motion at Elevated Temperatures in Ultrahigh Vacuum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Braza, Joseph; Jansen, Mark J.; Jones, William R.

2009-01-01

Bearing life tests in vacuum with three space liquid lubricants, two multiply alkylated cyclopentanes (MACs) and a linear perfluoropolyether (PFPE) were performed. Test conditions included: an 89 N axial load (mean Hertzian stress 0.66 GPa), vacuum level below 7x10(exp -4) Pa, and a +/-30deg dither angle. Dither rate was 75 cycles per minute. Higher (110 to 122 C) and lower temperature tests (75 C) were performed. For the higher temperature tests, the PFPE, Fomblin (Ausimont SpA) Z25 outperformed Pennzane (Shell Global Solutions) X-2000 by more than an order of magnitude. Lubricant evaporation played a key role in these high temperature results. At 75 C, the order was reversed with both Pennzane X-1000 and X-2000 outperforming Fomblin Z25 by more than an order of magnitude. Most Pennzane tests were suspended without failure. The primary failure mechanism in these lower temperature tests was lubricant consumption in the tribocontacts.

Intraoperative Squash and Touch Preparation Cytology of Brain Lesions Stained with H+E and Diff-Quik™: A 20-Year Retrospective Analysis and Comparative Literature Review.

PubMed

Hamasaki, Makoto; Chang, Karen H F; Nabeshima, Kazuki; Tauchi-Nishi, Pamela S

2018-01-01

Squash preparation (SP) is a rapid technique for the intraoperative assessment of brain lesions. Only a few studies have employed touch preparation (TP) cytology and Diff-QuikTM (DQ) staining in conjunction with SP. Our study aimed to assess the diagnostic efficacy of SP of brain lesions at our institution, ascertain the additional effect of TP and DQ staining, examine factors affecting the sensitivity and specificity of our methods, and compare our findings with those of previous investigations. Our database was searched for all SP/TP of brain lesions examined from January 1996 to December 2016. During this 20-year study period, our search revealed 400 brain lesions diagnosed by SP/TP cytology. There were 338 (84.5%) neoplasms and 62 (15.5%) nonneoplastic lesions. The most common neoplasms were glioblastoma multiforme (24.6%), metastatic cancer (18.3%), meningioma (16.9%), astrocytoma (11.5%), lymphoma (8.3%), oligoastrocytoma (3.3%), and pituitary adenoma (3.3%). There was discordance between the SP/TP and histological diagnoses in 19/338 (5.6%) cases, i.e., 12 misclassifications of tumor subtype and 7 sampling errors. No false-positive cases were detected. Brain SP/TP stained with H+E/DQ demonstrated high sensitivity (97.9%), specificity (100%), and overall diagnostic accuracy (95.3%). The combined methods, in particular, aided in the diagnosis of brain tumors prone to smearing artifacts and certain metastatic malignancies. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Differential effects of phosphoramidon on neurokinin A- and substance P-induced airflow obstruction and airway microvascular leakage in guinea-pig.

PubMed Central

Lötvall, J. O.; Elwood, W.; Tokuyama, K.; Barnes, P. J.; Chung, K. F.

1991-01-01

1. The effects of the inhaled neuropeptides, neurokinin A (NKA) and substance P (SP) on lung resistance (RL) and airway microvascular permeability were studied in anaesthetized guinea-pigs. 2. Single doses of inhaled NKA (3 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-4), 3 x 10(-4) M; 45 breaths) and SP (1 x 10(-4), 3 x 10(-4), 1 x 10(-3); 45 breaths) caused a dose-dependent increase in both RL and airway microvascular leakage, assessed as extravasation of the albumin marker, Evans blue dye. 3. NKA at 1 x 10(-4) and 3 x 10(-4) M resulted in a significantly higher increase in RL than SP at the same doses. 4. Inhaled SP (3 x 10(-4) M; 45 breaths) caused significantly higher Evans blue dye extravasation in main bronchi and proximal intrapulmonary airways compared to the same dose of NKA. 5. Pretreatment with the specific inhibitor of neural endopeptidase (NEP24.11), phosphoramidon, caused an approximately 100 fold leftward shift of the RL responses to inhaled NKA and SP. 6. Phosphoramidon significantly potentiated both NKA- and SP-induced airway microvascular leakage at proximal intrapulmonary airways, but not at any other airway level. 7. Inhibition of NEP24.11 potentiate both the SP- or NKA-induced airflow obstruction to a larger extent than the induced airway microvascular leakage, suggesting that NEP24.11 is more important in the modulation of the airflow obstruction observed after these mediators. PMID:1725766

Differential effects of phosphoramidon on neurokinin A- and substance P-induced airflow obstruction and airway microvascular leakage in guinea-pig.

PubMed

Lötvall, J O; Elwood, W; Tokuyama, K; Barnes, P J; Chung, K F

1991-12-01

1. The effects of the inhaled neuropeptides, neurokinin A (NKA) and substance P (SP) on lung resistance (RL) and airway microvascular permeability were studied in anaesthetized guinea-pigs. 2. Single doses of inhaled NKA (3 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-4), 3 x 10(-4) M; 45 breaths) and SP (1 x 10(-4), 3 x 10(-4), 1 x 10(-3); 45 breaths) caused a dose-dependent increase in both RL and airway microvascular leakage, assessed as extravasation of the albumin marker, Evans blue dye. 3. NKA at 1 x 10(-4) and 3 x 10(-4) M resulted in a significantly higher increase in RL than SP at the same doses. 4. Inhaled SP (3 x 10(-4) M; 45 breaths) caused significantly higher Evans blue dye extravasation in main bronchi and proximal intrapulmonary airways compared to the same dose of NKA. 5. Pretreatment with the specific inhibitor of neural endopeptidase (NEP24.11), phosphoramidon, caused an approximately 100 fold leftward shift of the RL responses to inhaled NKA and SP. 6. Phosphoramidon significantly potentiated both NKA- and SP-induced airway microvascular leakage at proximal intrapulmonary airways, but not at any other airway level. 7. Inhibition of NEP24.11 potentiate both the SP- or NKA-induced airflow obstruction to a larger extent than the induced airway microvascular leakage, suggesting that NEP24.11 is more important in the modulation of the airflow obstruction observed after these mediators.

Integration of the Trivariate Normal Distribution Over an Offset Sphere and an Inverse Problem

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-02-01

i.e., S ; (x - H)2 + (y - K)2 + (z - L)2 - R2 • (3) The kill probability P is then given by fL+R .K+Y CH +X P= JL-RJK+Y fHXF(x,y,z,u,v,w) dx dy dz, (4...7838 IF A*E9*E9>3.28E-3 THEN 8855 7835 C=.5-Y+.5 7848 W=(.5-SQR(Y)*(.5+(.5-Y/3))/Spi )’C 7845 U=1’A 7858 Z=SQR(Z+Z) 7855 IF Lə THEN Z=-Z 7868 IF I>=2

A water-quality assessment of the Feather Creek watershed, Vermillion County, Indiana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Eikenberry, Stephen E.

1977-01-01

Navicula sp and Scenedesmus sp dominated the phydoplankton community at the site sampled and indicated an environment lacking in organic enrichment. Cladaphora sp dominated the periphyton community sampled. Benthic invertebrates sampled were mostly caddis flies (Cheumatopsyche sp) and midges (Orthocladius sp) and had a diversity index of 2.3, which indicates some organic enrichment of the stream.

Diastereoselective sp2-sp3 coupling of sugar enol ethers with unactivated cycloalkenes: new entries to C-branched sugars.

PubMed

Hussain, Nazar; Tatina, Madhu Babu; Rasool, Faheem; Mukherjee, Debaraj

2016-10-25

Sugar enol ethers undergo efficient coupling at C-2 with unactivated cycloalkenes under a low Pd loading affording allylic substitution products. High diastereoselectivity was observed at the allylic centre with sterically hindered substrates. Generation of a π-allyl complex by the Pd(ii) catalyst via cleavage of the allylic C-H bond of the cycloalkene may be responsible for the formation of sp 2 -sp 3 coupling products.

Installation Restoration Program. Phase 2. Confirmation/Quantification. Stage 2. Duluth International Airport, Duluth, Minnesota. Appendix

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-05-26

tD o 11 11 11 -l m N1 -0 e a, 1 0...2E z z z z 2 z z z S SO, EB S IED O-. CDI z C z z z CP TD gD 2 i 2Qaniz z z z sa -@ 2N’. Us(~ -- (XJ 3 gN( C’Ea - 2E S00 0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0 a 4...dr.f mm, 10 fd, I---_1_~a -- ______________0 5;’~ SOAP- bAL -ft VU.-a& 44L PUMPING LXVEL 4bd .’ lM" -- ) fI ... ______ @-Ph. " o0 3s....4..0 a ir a.m

Unusual surface and edge morphologies, sp2 to sp3 hybridized transformation and electronic damage after Ar+ ion irradiation of few-layer graphene surfaces.

PubMed

Al-Harthi, Salim Hamood; Elzain, Mohammed; Al-Barwani, Muataz; Kora'a, Amal; Hysen, Thomas; Myint, Myo Tay Zar; Anantharaman, Maliemadom Ramaswamy

2012-08-19

Roughness and defects induced on few-layer graphene (FLG) irradiated by Ar+ ions at different energies were investigated using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy techniques. The results provide direct experimental evidence of ripple formation, sp2 to sp3 hybridized carbon transformation, electronic damage, Ar+ implantation, unusual defects and edge reconstructions in FLG, which depend on the irradiation energy. In addition, shadowing effects similar to those found in oblique-angle growth of thin films were seen. Reliable quantification of the transition from the sp2-bonding to sp3-hybridized state as a result of Ar+ ion irradiation is achieved from the deconvolution of the XPS C (1s) peak. Although the ion irradiation effect is demonstrated through the shape of the derivative of the Auger transition C KVV spectra, we show that the D parameter values obtained from these spectra which are normally used in the literature fail to account for the sp2 to sp3 hybridization transition. In contrast to what is known, it is revealed that using ion irradiation at large FLG sample tilt angles can lead to edge reconstructions. Furthermore, FLG irradiation by low energy of 0.25 keV can be a plausible way of peeling graphene layers without the need of Joule heating reported previously.

Production of Optically Pure D-Lactic Acid by the Combined use of Weissella sp. S26 and Bacillus sp. ADS3.

PubMed

Li, Qingxin; Hudari, Mohammad Sufian Bin; Wu, Jin Chuan

2016-01-01

Optically pure D-lactic acid was produced from glucose, xylose, or starch by the combined use of Weissella sp. S26 and Bacillus sp. ADS3, two native bacterial strains isolated from Singapore environment. Weissella sp. S26 was used to ferment various sugars to lactic acid rich in D-isomer followed by sterilization of the broth and inoculation of Bacillus sp. ADS3 cells to selectively degrade acetic acid (if any) and L-lactic acid. In a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of starch by Weissella sp. S26 in 1 L of modified MRS medium containing 50 g/L starch at 30 °C, lactic acid reached 24.2 g/L (23.6 g/L of D-isomers and 0.6 g/L of L-isomers), and acetic acid was 11.8 g/L at 37 h. The fermentation broth was sterilized at 100 °C for 20 min and cooled down to 30 °C followed by inoculation of Bacillus sp. ADS3 (10 %, v/v), and the mixture was kept at 30 °C for 115 h. Acetic acid was completely removed, and L-lactic acid was largely removed giving an optical purity of D-lactic acid as high as 99.5 %.

Substance P activates both contractile and inflammatory pathways in lymphatics through the neurokinin receptors NK1R and NK3R.

PubMed

Chakraborty, Sanjukta; Nepiyushchikh, Zhanna; Davis, Michael J; Zawieja, David C; Muthuchamy, Mariappan

2011-01-01

The aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular signaling mechanisms by which substance P (SP) modulates lymphatic muscle contraction and to determine whether SP stimulates both contractile as well as inflammatory pathways in the lymphatics. A rat mesenteric lymphatic muscle cell culture model (RMLMCs) and known specific pharmacological inhibitors were utilized to delineate SP-mediated signaling pathways in lymphatics. We detected expression of neurokinin receptor 1 (NK1R) and neurokinin receptor 3 (NK3R) in RMLMCs. SP stimulation increased phosphorylation of myosin light chain 20 (MLC₂₀) as well as p38 mitogen associated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) indicating activation of both a contractile and a pro-inflammatory MAPK pathway. Pharmacological inhibition of both NK1R and NK3R significantly affected the downstream SP signaling. We further examined whether there was any crosstalk between the two pathways upon SP stimulation. Inhibition of ERK1/2 decreased levels of p-MLC₂₀ after SP activation, in a PKC dependent manner, indicating a potential crosstalk between these two pathways. These data provide the first evidence that SP-mediated crosstalk between pro-inflammatory and contractile signaling mechanisms exists in the lymphatic system and may be an important bridge between lymphatic function modulation and inflammation. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Substance P activates both contractile and inflammatory pathways in lymphatics through the neurokinin receptors NK1R and NK3R

PubMed Central

Chakraborty, Sanjukta; Nepiyushchikh, Zhanna; Davis, Michael J.; Zawieja, David C.; Muthuchamy, Mariappan

2010-01-01

Objective The aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular signaling mechanisms by which substance P (SP) modulates lymphatic muscle contraction and to determine whether SP stimulates both contractile as well as inflammatory pathways in the lymphatics. Methods A rat mesenteric lymphatic muscle cell culture model (RMLMCs) and known specific pharmacological inhibitors were utilized to delineate SP mediated signaling pathways in lymphatics. Results We detected expression of neurokinin receptor 1 (NK1R) and neurokinin receptor 3 (NK3R) in RMLMCs. SP stimulation increased phosphorylation of myosin light chain 20 (MLC20) as well as p38 mitogen associated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) indicating activation of both a contractile and a pro-inflammatory MAPK pathway. Pharmacological inhibition of both NK1R and NK3R significantly affected the downstream SP signaling. We further examined whether there was any crosstalk between the two pathways upon SP stimulation. Inhibition of ERK1/2 decreased levels of p-MLC20 after SP activation, in a PKC dependent manner, indicating a potential crosstalk between these two pathways. Conclusions These data provide the first evidence that SP mediated crosstalk between pro-inflammatory and contractile signaling mechanisms exists in the lymphatic system and may be an important bridge between lymphatic function modulation and inflammation. PMID:21166923

In situ and nonvolatile photoluminescence tuning and nanodomain writing demonstrated by all-solid-state devices based on graphene oxide.

PubMed

Tsuchiya, Takashi; Tsuruoka, Tohru; Terabe, Kazuya; Aono, Masakazu

2015-02-24

In situ and nonvolatile tuning of photoluminescence (PL) has been achieved based on graphene oxide (GO), the PL of which is receiving much attention because of various potential applications of the oxide (e.g., display, lighting, and nano-biosensor). The technique is based on in situ and nonvolatile tuning of the sp(2) domain fraction to the sp(3) domain fraction (sp(2)/sp(3) fraction) in GO through an electrochemical redox reaction achieved by solid electrolyte thin films. The all-solid-state variable PL device was fabricated by GO and proton-conducting mesoporous SiO2 thin films, which showed an extremely low PL background. The device successfully tuned the PL peak wavelength in a very wide range from 393 to 712 nm, covering that for chemically tuned GO, by adjusting the applied DC voltage within several hundred seconds. We also demonstrate the sp(2)/sp(3) fraction tuning using a conductive atomic force microscope. The device achieved not only writing, but also erasing of the sp(2)/sp(3)-fraction-tuned nanodomain (both directions operation). The combination of these techniques is applicable to a wide range of nano-optoelectronic devices including nonvolatile PL memory devices and on-demand rewritable biosensors that can be integrated into nano- and microtips which are transparent, ultrathin, flexible, and inexpensive.

The effects of substance P on histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine release in the rat

PubMed Central

Fewtrell, C. M. S.; Foreman, J. C.; Jordan, C. C.; Oehme, P.; Renner, H.; Stewart, J. M.

1982-01-01

1. Substance P (SP) induces histamine release from isolated rat peritoneal mast cells at concentrations of 0·1-10 μM. 2. Inhibitors of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation prevent the release of histamine induced by SP. 3. Cells heated to 47 °C for 20 min release histamine when treated with an agent causing cell lysis but fail to release in response to SP. 4. SP does not release histamine by interacting with cell-bound IgE. 5. Histamine release by SP is rapid, with more than 90% of the response occurring within 1 min of the addition of the peptide to mast cells at 37 °C. 6. Substance P, unlike antigen—antibody or compound 48/80, does not show enhanced release of histamine when calcium (0·1-1 mM) is present in the extracellular medium but calcium increases the response to SP when the ion is added after the peptide. Extracellular calcium (0·1-1 mM), magnesium (1-10 mM) and cobalt (0·01-0·1 mM) all inhibit SP-induced histamine release when added before the peptide. Pre-treatment of the cells with EDTA (10 mM) and washing in calcium-free medium inhibits the histamine release induced by SP. 7. Histamine release induced by SP was optimum at an extracellular pH of 7·2. 8. A number of peptides structurally related to SP were examined for histamine-releasing activity. At the concentrations tested, the N-terminal dipeptides Lys-Pro and Arg-Pro, tuftsin, physalaemin, eledoisin, SP3-11, SP4-11 and [p-Glu6, p-amino Phe7]-SP6-11 were all found to be inactive. The relative activities of the other peptides were: [Formula: see text] 9. Rat basophilic leukaemia cells (RBL-2H3) fail to respond to SP at concentrations which activate rat mast cells. Release of 5-hydroxytryptamine by immunological activation of RBL cells is not changed by the presence of SP. 10. The mechanism of action of SP on mast cells and the nature of the SP receptor on mast cells is discussed in relation to SP receptors in other cell types. PMID:6184468

Parasites and associated pathology observed in pinnipeds stranded along the Oregon coast.

PubMed

Stroud, R K

1978-07-01

Forty-two seals and sea lions found dead along the Oregon Coast were examined for parasites and associated pathology. Nematode infections of the lung and/or gastrointestinal tract were the primary cause of death in 5 of 42 animals examined. New distribution records were established for Pricetrema zalophi and Zalophotrema hepaticum. New host records include Z. hepaticum and Diphyllobothrium cordatum in the Steller's sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus); Nanophyetus salmincola in the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus); P. zalophi in the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina); and P. zalophi, Trigonocotyle sp. and Otostrongylus circumlitus in the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris).

Copper(II)-catalyzed amidations of alkynyl bromides as a general synthesis of ynamides and Z-enamides. An intramolecular amidation for the synthesis of macrocyclic ynamides.

PubMed

Zhang, Xuejun; Zhang, Yanshi; Huang, Jian; Hsung, Richard P; Kurtz, Kimberly C M; Oppenheimer, Jossian; Petersen, Matthew E; Sagamanova, Irina K; Shen, Lichun; Tracey, Michael R

2006-05-26

A general and efficient method for the coupling of a wide range of amides with alkynyl bromides is described here. This novel amidation reaction involves a catalytic protocol using copper(II) sulfate-pentahydrate and 1,10-phenanthroline to direct the sp-C-N bond formation, leading to a structurally diverse array of ynamides including macrocyclic ynamides via an intramolecular amidation. Given the surging interest in ynamide chemistry, this atom economical synthesis of ynamides should invoke further attention from the synthetic organic community.

Bifidobacterium reuteri sp. nov., Bifidobacterium callitrichos sp. nov., Bifidobacterium saguini sp. nov., Bifidobacterium stellenboschense sp. nov. and Bifidobacterium biavatii sp. nov. isolated from faeces of common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) and red-handed tamarin (Saguinus midas).

PubMed

Endo, Akihito; Futagawa-Endo, Yuka; Schumann, Peter; Pukall, Rüdiger; Dicks, Leon M T

2012-03-01

Five strains of bifidobacteria were isolated from faeces of a common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) and a red-handed tamarin (Saguinus midas). The five isolates clustered inside the phylogenetic group of the genus Bifidobacterium but did not show high sequence similarities between the isolates and to known species in the genus by phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Sequence analyses of dnaJ1 and hsp60 also indicated their independent phylogenetic positions to each other in the Bifidobacterium cluster. DNA G+C contents of the species ranged from 57.3 to 66.3 mol%, which is within the values recorded for Bifidobacterium species. All isolates showed fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase activity. Based on the data provided, the five isolates represent five novel species, for which the names Bifidobacterium reuteri sp. nov. (type strain: AFB22-1(T) = JCM 17295(T) = DSM 23975(T)), Bifidobacterium callitrichos sp. nov. (type strain: AFB22-5(T) = JCM 17296(T) = DSM 23973(T)), Bifidobacterium saguini sp. nov. (type strain: AFB23-1(T) = JCM 17297(T) = DSM 23967(T)), Bifidobacterium stellenboschense sp. nov. (type strain: AFB23-3(T) = JCM 17298(T) = DSM 23968(T)) and Bifidobacterium biavatii sp. nov. (type strain: AFB23-4(T) = JCM 17299(T) = DSM 23969(T)) are proposed. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Copper(I)-catalyzed substitution reactions of propargylic amines: importance of C(sp)-C(sp3) bond cleavage in generation of iminium intermediates.

PubMed

Sugiishi, Tsuyuka; Kimura, Akifumi; Nakamura, Hiroyuki

2010-04-21

Substitution reactions of propargylic amines proceed in the presence of copper(I) catalysts. Mechanistic studies showed that C(sp)-C(sp(3)) bond cleavage assisted by nitrogen lone-pair electrons is essential for the reaction, and the resulting iminium intermediates undergo amine exchange, aldehyde exchange, and alkyne addition reactions. Because iminium intermediates are key to aldehyde-alkyne-amine (A(3)) coupling reactions, this transformation is effective not only for reconstruction of propargylic amines but also for chiral induction of racemic compounds in the presence of chiral catalysts.

What are the Progenitors of Compace, Massive, Quiescent Galaxies at z (equals) 2.3? The Population of Massive Galaxies at z (greater than) 3 From NMBS AND CANDELS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stefanon, Mauro; Marchesini, Danilo; Rudnick, Gregory H.; Brammer, Gabriel B.; Tease, Katherine Whitaker

2013-01-01

Using public data from the NEWFIRM Medium-Band Survey (NMBS) and the Cosmic Assembly Near-Infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey (CANDELS), we investigate the population of massive galaxies at z > 3. The main aim of this work is to identify the potential progenitors of z 2 compact, massive, quiescent galaxies (CMQGs), furthering our understanding of the onset and evolution of massive galaxies. Our work is enabled by high-resolution images from CANDELS data and accurate photometric redshifts, stellar masses, and star formation rates (SFRs) from 37-band NMBS photometry. The total number of massive galaxies at z > 3 is consistent with the number of massive, quiescent galaxies (MQGs) at z 2, implying that the SFRs for all of these galaxies must be much lower by z 2. We discover four CMQGs at z > 3, pushing back the time for which such galaxies have been observed. However, the volume density for these galaxies is significantly less than that of galaxies at z < 2 with similar masses, SFRs, and sizes, implying that additional CMQGs must be created in the intervening 1 Gyr between z = 3 and z = 2. We find five star-forming galaxies at z 3 that are compact (Re < 1.4 kpc) and have stellar mass M* > 1010.6M; these galaxies are likely to become members of the massive, quiescent, compact galaxy population at z 2. We evolve the stellar masses and SFRs of each individual z > 3 galaxy adopting five different star formation histories (SFHs) and studying the resulting population of massive galaxies at z = 2.3. We find that declining or truncated SFHs are necessary to match the observed number density of MQGs at z 2, whereas a constant delayed-exponential SFH would result in a number density significantly smaller than observed. All of our assumed SFHs imply number densities of CMQGs at z 2 that are consistent with the observed number density. Better agreement with the observed number density of CMQGs at z 2 is obtained if merging is included in the analysis and better still if star formation quenching is assumed to shortly follow the merging event, as implied by recent models of the formation of MQGs.

Sp1 transcriptional activity is up-regulated by phosphatase 2A in dividing T lymphocytes.

PubMed

Lacroix, Isabelle; Lipcey, Carol; Imbert, Jean; Kahn-Perlès, Brigitte

2002-03-15

We have followed Sp1 expression in primary human T lymphocytes induced, via CD2 plus CD28 costimulation, to sustained proliferation and subsequent return to quiescence. Binding of Sp1 to wheat germ agglutinin lectin was not modified following activation, indicating that the overall glycosylation of the protein was unchanged. Sp1 underwent, instead, a major dephosphorylation that correlated with cyclin A expression and, thus, with cell cycle progression. A similar change was observed in T cells that re-entered cell cycle following secondary interleukin-2 stimulation, as well as in serum-induced proliferating NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) appears involved because 1) treatment of dividing cells with okadaic acid or cantharidin inhibited Sp1 dephosphorylation and 2) PP2A dephosphorylated Sp1 in vitro and strongly interacted with Sp1 in vivo. Sp1 dephosphorylation is likely to increase its transcriptional activity because PP2A overexpression potentiated Sp1 site-driven chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression in dividing Kit225 T cells and okadaic acid reversed this effect. This increase might be mediated by a stronger affinity of dephosphorylated Sp1 for DNA, as illustrated by the reduced DNA occupancy by hyperphosphorylated Sp factors from cantharidin- or nocodazole-treated cells. Finally, Sp1 dephosphorylation appears to occur throughout cell cycle except for mitosis, a likely common feature to all cycling cells.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hill, J. Grant, E-mail: grant.hill@sheffield.ac.uk, E-mail: kipeters@wsu.edu; Peterson, Kirk A., E-mail: grant.hill@sheffield.ac.uk, E-mail: kipeters@wsu.edu

New correlation consistent basis sets, cc-pVnZ-PP-F12 (n = D, T, Q), for all the post-d main group elements Ga–Rn have been optimized for use in explicitly correlated F12 calculations. The new sets, which include not only orbital basis sets but also the matching auxiliary sets required for density fitting both conventional and F12 integrals, are designed for correlation of valence sp, as well as the outer-core d electrons. The basis sets are constructed for use with the previously published small-core relativistic pseudopotentials of the Stuttgart-Cologne variety. Benchmark explicitly correlated coupled-cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples [CCSD(T)-F12b] calculations of themore » spectroscopic properties of numerous diatomic molecules involving 4p, 5p, and 6p elements have been carried out and compared to the analogous conventional CCSD(T) results. In general the F12 results obtained with a n-zeta F12 basis set were comparable to conventional aug-cc-pVxZ-PP or aug-cc-pwCVxZ-PP basis set calculations obtained with x = n + 1 or even x = n + 2. The new sets used in CCSD(T)-F12b calculations are particularly efficient at accurately recovering the large correlation effects of the outer-core d electrons.« less

Study of dilution, height, and lateral spread of vertical dense jets in marine shallow water.

PubMed

Ahmad, Nadeem; Suzuki, Takayuki

2016-01-01

This study provides information for the design of sea outfalls to dispose of brine from desalination plants into shallow lagoons of the sea. The behavior of vertical dense jets was studied experimentally by discharging cold saline water vertically upward into a tank filled with hot freshwater under stagnant ambient conditions. The minimum return point dilution, μmin, was determined using thermocouples, and the maximum height, Z(m), and the lateral spread, R(sp), of the fountains were determined by observing shadowgraph pictures. The flow was turbulent and the densimetric Froude number Fr(0) varied from 9 to 18.8. Three mixing regimes were identified: deep, intermediate, and impinging mixing regimes. In the intermediate mixing regime, μ(min) and Z(m) were analyzed and compared with the results of deep water studies. The μ(min) and Z(m) values of fountains at an intermediate water depth were found to be higher than those of fountains at deep water depths. In the impinging regime, μ(min) decreases rapidly when a fountain starts to continuously impinge on the water surface, showing a noticeable disturbance in the water surface. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to reduce the flow through multiport diffusers from desalination plants when the noticeable disturbance is observed from the top water surface.

Sex pheromone chemistry and field trapping studies of the elm spanworm Ennomos subsignaria (Hübner) (Lepidoptera:Geometridae)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryall, Krista; Silk, Peter J.; Wu, Junping; Mayo, Peter; Lemay, Matthew A.; Magee, David

2010-08-01

The elm spanworm, Ennomos subsignaria (Hübner), occurs throughout Canada and the eastern United States and can be a destructive forest pest on a wide range of deciduous trees. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC/EAD) analysis of pheromone gland extracts, in combination with chemical synthesis and field trapping studies have identified (2 S, 3 R)-2-(( Z)-oct-2'-enyl)-3-nonyl oxirane (hereafter Z6-9 S, 10 R-epoxy-19:H) as the female-produced sex pheromone. Significantly more male moths were captured between 1-100 μg loadings of this compound on red rubber septa in sticky traps compared to blank (unbaited) traps; catches then declined at higher dosages (500-1000 μg). The other isomeric enantiomer, (2 R, 3 S)-2-[( Z)-oct-2'-enyl]-3-nonyl oxirane ( Z6-9 R, 10 S-epoxy-19:H), at a 10-μg dosage did not elicit trap capture. The likely precursor to the active epoxide, ( Z, Z)-6, 9-nonadecadiene (( Z, Z)-6, 9-19:H), identified in virgin female sex pheromone glands, did not elicit trap capture either, and inhibited trap capture when combined with the active epoxide. Racemic 2-((Z)-oct-2'-enyl)-3-nonyl oxirane showed no significant difference in trap capture compared with Z6-9 S, 10 R-epoxy-19:H, indicating that the opposite enantiomer was not antagonistic. The addition of the EAD-active diene epoxide enantiomers (2 S, 3 R)-2-[( Z, Z)-octa-2', 5'-dienyl]-3-nonyl oxirane or (2 R, 3 S)-2-[( Z, Z)-octa-2', 5'-dienyl]-3-nonyl oxirane in admixture with Z6-9 S, 10 R-epoxy-19:H (at 10% of the latter) did not enhance or decrease trap capture compared to Z6-9 S, 10 R-epoxy-19:H oxirane alone, so they are not likely pheromone components. This pheromone, impregnated in rubber septa at less than 100-μg dosage, can now be used as a trap bait to develop detection and monitoring strategies for this insect.

Rhenium-catalysed dehydrogenative borylation of primary and secondary C(sp3)-H bonds adjacent to a nitrogen atom.

PubMed

Murai, Masahito; Omura, Tetsuya; Kuninobu, Yoichiro; Takai, Kazuhiko

2015-03-18

Rhenium-catalysed C(sp(3))-H bond borylation in the absence of any oxidant, hydrogen acceptor, or external ligand, with the generation of H2 as the sole byproduct is described. The transformation, which represents a rare example of rhenium-catalysed C(sp(3))-H bond functionalisation, features high atom efficiency and simple reaction conditions.

Alkaliphilus namsaraevii sp. nov., an alkaliphilic iron- and sulfur-reducing bacterium isolated from a steppe soda lake.

PubMed

Zakharyuk, Anastasiya; Kozyreva, Lyudmila; Ariskina, Elena; Troshina, Olga; Kopitsyn, Dmitry; Shcherbakova, Viktoria

2017-06-01

A novel alkaliphilic spore-forming bacterium was isolated from the benthic sediments of the highly mineralized steppe Lake Khilganta (Transbaikal Region, Russia). Cells of the strain, designated Х-07-2T, were straight to slightly curved rods, Gram-stain-positive and motile. Strain Х-07-2T grew in the pH range from 7.0 to 10.7 (optimum pH 9.6-10.3). Growth was observed at 25-47 °C (optimum 30 °C) and at an NaCl concentration from 5 to 150 g l-1 with an optimum at 40 g l-1. Strain Х-07-2T was a chemo-organoheterotroph able to reduce amorphous ferric hydroxide, Fe(III) citrate and elemental sulfur in the presence of yeast extract as the electron donor. It used tryptone, peptone and trypticase with Fe(III) citrate as the electron acceptor. The predominant fatty acids in cell walls were C16:1ω8, iso-C15:0, C14 : 0 3-OH and C16 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 32.6 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain Х-07-2T was related most closely to members of the genus Alkaliphilus within the family Clostridiaceae. The closest relative was Alkaliphilus peptidifermentans Z-7036T (96.4 % similarity). On the basis of the genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain Х-07-2T represents a novel species in the genus Alkaliphilus, for which the name Alkaliphilus namsaraevii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Х-07-2T (=VKM В-2746Т=DSM 26418Т).

Tindallia californiensis sp. nov., a new anaerobic, haloalkaliphilic, spore-forming acetogen isolated from Mono Lake in California

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pikuta, E. V.; Hoover, R. B.; Bej, A. K.; Marsic, D.; Detkova, E. N.; Whitman, W. B.; Krader, P.

2003-01-01

A novel extremely haloalkaliphilic, strictly anaerobic, acetogenic bacterium strain APO was isolated from sediments of the athalassic, meromictic, alkaline Mono Lake in California. The Gram-positive, spore-forming, slightly curved rods with sizes 0.55- 0.7x1.7-3.0 microns were motile by a single laterally attached flagellum. Strain APO was mesophilic (range 10-48 C, optimum of 37 C); halophilic (NaCl range 1-20% (w/v) with optimum of 3-5% (w/v), and alkaliphilic (pH range 8.0-10.5, optimum 9.5). The novel isolate required sodium ions in the medium. Strain APO was an organotroph with a fermentative type of metabolism and used the substrates peptone, bacto-tryptone, casamino acid, yeast extract, L-serine, L-lysine, L-histidine, L-arginine, and pyruvate. The new isolate performed the Stickland reaction with the following amino acid pairs: proline + alanine, glycine + alanine, and tryptophan + valine. The main end product of growth was acetate. High activity of CO dehydrogenase and hydrogenase indicated the presence of a homoacetogenic, non-cycling acetyl-coA pathway. Strain APO was resistant to kanamycin but sensitive to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and gentamycin. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 44.4 mol% (by HPLC method). The sequence of the 16s rRNA gene of strain APO possessed 98.2% similarity with the sequence from Tindullia magadiensis Z-7934, but the DNA-DNA hybridization value between these organisms was only 55%. On the basis of these physiological and molecular properties, strain APO is proposed to be a novel species of the genus Tindallia with the name Tindallia californiensis sp. nov., (type strain APO = ATCC BAA-393 - DSM 14871).

The effect of PO 4 doping on the luminescent properties of Sr 3-3zEu 2zV 2-xP xO 8

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, S.; Ma, Y. Q.; Yang, K.; Zhu, W. L.; Yin, W. J.; Zheng, G. H.; Wu, M. Z.; Sun, Z. Q.

2010-07-01

The luminescent properties of Sr 3V 2-xP xO 8 (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 2), Eu 3+ doped Sr 2.7Eu 0.2V 2-yP yO 8 (0 ⩽ y ⩽ 2) and Sr 3-3zEu 2zV 0.8P 1.2O 8 (0 < z ⩽ 0.3) have been investigated. For the Sr 3V 2-xP xO 8 (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 2) samples, the VO43- activation and emission intensity reaches the strongest as x = 1.6. For the Sr 2.7Eu 0.2V 2-yP yO 8 (0 ⩽ y ⩽ 2) samples, an appropriate amount of phosphorus doping enhances the Eu 3+ emission with the strongest emission occurring at y = 1.2. For the Sr 3-3zEu 2zV 0.8P 1.2O 8 (0 < z ⩽ 0.3) sample with the phosphorus content fixed at 1.2, it exhibits the most intense emission as Eu 3+ concentration reaches at z = 0.2. Our results indicate that the introduction of the PO43- plays an important role in the photoluminescence properties of the studied samples and the relevant mechanism has been discussed.