Recurrences and Human Agential Meaning Grounding: Laying a Path in Walking

This article addresses the semiotic problem of how meaning is agentially grounded: how actual meaning is possible and is justifiably supported by agents’ capabilities and purposes. This article is particularly focused on human agential grounding; however, to a great degree, insights presented here can be extended to other living beings. Specifically, agential meaning is examined here inside the framework of agentive semiotics and embodied, situated and enactive cognition theories, in line with the mind-life continuity general thesis (which intends to naturalize mind and experience). To offer clarity and methodological precision about agential grounding, three explanation categories (called recurrences) are proposed: phylogenetic recurrence, the evolutionary basis for corporal/embodied grounding; ontogenetic recurrence, the developmental basis for individual meaning grounding; and collective recurrence, the basis for meaning recognized, attributed and assigned inside social contexts. These recurrences are conceived as three types of general processes that constantly enclose possibilities for purpose and meaning emergence in humans. As a result of these types of recurrences, two categories of human agendas or purposes are also proposed: individual and collective. Finally, remarks about how these categories can be useful for semiotic analysis and further research are suggested.     

Plasmid transformation of Ruminococcus albus by means of high-voltage electroporation

To apply recombinant DNA techniques to the genetic manipulation of cellulolytic ruminal bacteria, a plasmid vector transformation system must be available. The objective of this work was to develop a system for plasmid transformation of Ruminococcus albus. Using high voltage electrotransformation, pSC22 and pCK17 plasmid vectors, derived from lactic acid bacteria plasmids and replicating via single-stranded DNA intermediate, were successfully introduced into three freshly isolated R. albus strains and into R. albus type strain ATCC 27210. The optimization of the electrotransformation condition raised the electroporation efficiency up to 3 x 10(5) transformants per microgram of pSC22 plasmid.     

A Lead ANRIL Polymorphism Is Associated with Elevated CRP Levels in Periodontitis: A Pilot Case-Control Study

Elevated high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is a marker for systemic inflammation and a risk marker for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD), and has also been associated with periodontitis. Inter-individual variation for hsCRP in periodontitis has been shown. ANRIL is the strongest genetic susceptibility locus for both periodontitis and ACVD, and it is speculated that genetic variation in ANRIL may modulate inflammatory processes. Therefore, we explored the possible association between hsCRP plasma levels and a leading ANRIL single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in periodontitis patients and controls. 171 healthy subjects with North European descent (115 periodontitis and 56 controls) were included in this case-control study. hsCRP levels were determined and subjects were genotyped for the leading ANRIL SNP rs1333048. In a multivariate analysis, periodontitis, female gender, increasing BMI and homozygosity for the major allele (AA-genotype) of rs1333048 were significantly associated with elevated hsCRP plasma levels (p = 0.012, p = 0.004, p = 0.007 and p = 0.003, respectively). Periodontitis patients with rs1333048 AA-genotype showed higher levels of hsCRP than those carrying the minor C allele (median: 4.5 mg/L vs. 1.6 mg/L, p_adjusted = 0.007). This study is the first to show that, in addition to gender and BMI, also a leading SNP in ANRIL is explanatory for inter-individual variation in hsCRP levels in periodontitis patients of North European descent.     

Comparison and Analysis of Zinc and Cobalt-Based Systems as Catalytic Entities for the Hydration of Carbon Dioxide

In nature, the zinc metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase II (CAII) efficiently catalyzes the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to bicarbonate under physiological conditions. Many research efforts have been directed towards the development of small molecule mimetics that can facilitate this process and thus have a beneficial environmental impact, but these efforts have met very limited success. Herein, we undertook quantum mechanical calculations of four mimetics, 1,5,9-triazacyclododedacane, 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododedacane, tris(4,5-dimethyl-2-imidazolyl)phosphine, and tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amine, in their complexed form either with the Zn²⁺ or the Co²⁺ ion and studied their reaction coordinate for CO₂ hydration. These calculations demonstrated that the ability of the complex to maintain a tetrahedral geometry and bind bicarbonate in a unidentate manner were vital for the hydration reaction to proceed favorably. Furthermore, these calculations show that the catalytic activity of the examined zinc complexes was insensitive to coordination states for zinc, while coordination states above four were found to have an unfavorable effect on product release for the cobalt counterparts.     

Hastifolins A–G,antifeedant neo-clerodane diterpenoids from Scutellaria hastifolia

From the aerial parts of Scutellaria hastifolia, family Lamiaceae (Labiatae), seven neo-clerodane diterpenoids (hastifolins A–G) were isolated. The products are similar to the known scuteparvin and are characterized by being trans-cinnamoyl derivatives. Structures and stereochemistry were determined by intensive NMR investigation. Six of the products form three pairs of epimers at C-13. Hastifolins A–C showed significant antifeedant activity.     

Relationship between growth inhibition and mitochondrial function in petite-negative yeasts. II. Effects of central nervous system drugs upon pathogenic and non-pathogenic Candida species

Six nervous system drugs which inhibited vegetative reproduction of S. cerevisiae arrested also mitotic division of C. utilis, C. albicans and C. tropicalis. Chlorpromazine and chlorpheniramine which proved to be the most effective, affected respiration and cytochrome biosynthesis. Electrophoretic bands with MW congruent to 100 K were faint in silver-stained electrophoregrams of proteins from cells grown in the presence of a sub-inhibitory concentration of chlorpromazine.     

Antiproliferative Effect and Cell Cycle Alterations Induced by Salvia officinalis Essential Oil and Its Three Main Components in Human Colon Cancer Cell Lines

Colon cancer is one of the most common human malignancies, and chemotherapy cannot yet prevent recurrence in all patients. Essential oils are phytocomplexes with antiproliferative properties. In this study, we elucidated the antiproliferative properties and the effect on cell cycle progression of Sicilian Salvia officinalis essential oil and its three main compounds, α‐thujone, 1,8‐cineole (eucalyptol) and camphor, on three human colon cancer cell lines. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography. Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay, and the cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry. Thirty‐four compounds were identified in the tested essential oil. Growth inhibition was observed after 72 h, with an impact on cell cycle progression and no effect on the viability of normal colonic epithelial cells. The study shows that S. officinalis essential oil and its three main components have an in vitro antiproliferative effect on colon cancer cells.