Outsider Art and the autistic creator

Outsider Art (art brut) is defined as a mode of original artistic expression which thrives on its independence, shunning the public sphere and the art market. Such art can be highly idiosyncratic and secretive, and reflects the individual creator''s attempt to construct a coherent, albeit strange, private world. Certain practitioners of what may be termed autistic art are examined in the light of this definition; their work is considered as evidence not of a medical condition but of an expressive intentionality entirely worthy of the interest of those drawn to the aesthetic experience.     

Co-evolution with lytic phage selects for the mucoid phenotype of Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25

The effects of co-evolution with lytic phage on bacterial virulence-related traits are largely unknown. In this study we investigate the incidence of the mucoid phenotype of the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 in response to co-evolution with the lytic phage phi2 (φ2). The mucoid phenotype of Pseudomonas spp. is due to overproduction of alginate and is a considerable virulence factor contributing to the intractability of infections most notably in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung, but also in pathogenic infections of plants. Our data show that this phenotype can evolve as an adaptive response to phage predation and is favoured under specific abiotic conditions, in particular a homogenous spatial structure and a high rate of nutrient replacement. The mucoid phenotype remains partially sensitive to phage infection, which facilitates ‘apparent competition'' with phage-sensitive competitors, partially offsetting the costs of alginate production. Although P. fluorescens SBW25 is not a pathogen, several key characteristics typical of Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates from CF lung were noted, including loss of motility on mucoid conversion and a high rate of spontaneous reversion to the wild-type phenotype. Although the genetic mechanisms of this phenotype remain unknown, they do not include mutations at many of the commonly reported loci implicated in mucoid conversion, including mucA and algU. These data not only further our understanding of the potential role phage have in the ecology and evolution of bacteria virulence in both natural and clinical settings, but also highlight the need to consider both biotic and abiotic variables if bacteriophages are to be used therapeutically.     

Oxypetalum banksii subsp. banksii: a taxon of Asclepiadaceae with an extragynoecial compitum

 The floral morphology of seven Oxypetalum species and, in particular, the spatial relationship between the five stigmatic chambers and two separate ovaries of their flowers with respect to transmission of the pollen tube are studied. In all species, except O. banksii subsp. banksii, floral morphology is similar to that in other Asclepiadeae, and the flowers pollinated with one pollinium develop only one follicle, which means compitum absence. In O. banksii subsp. banksii flowers, the secretory interstaminal tissue lines the inner walls of the stigmatic chambers as in the other species studied, but it also reaches the upper part of the inner surface of the filament tube, where it surrounds the styles, an unprecedented feature for Asclepiadaceae. This tissue secretes nectar and mucilage; the latter acts as transmitting medium for the growth of pollen tubes from pollinia inserted and hydrated in stigmatic chambers (“hyperstigmas”). Mucilage also functions as an extragynoecial compitum: in flowers pollinated with one pollinium both carpels develop into a follicle. Received August 28, 2001; accepted April 9, 2002 Published online: October 14, 2002 Addresses of the authors: Milene Faria Vieira (e-mail: mfvieira@mail.ufv.br), Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Vi?osa, 36571-000, Vi?osa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. George John Shepherd, Departamento de Botanica, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, C.P. 6109, 13083-970, Campinas, S?o Paulo, Brazil.     

Computational Oral Absorption Simulation for Low‐Solubility Compounds

Bile micelles play an important role in oral absorption of low‐solubility compounds. Bile micelles can affect solubility, dissolution rate, and permeability. For the pH–solubility profile in bile micelles, the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation should be modified to take bile‐micelle partition into account. For the dissolution rate, in the Nernst–Brunner equation, the effective diffusion coefficient in bile‐micelle media should be used instead of the monomer diffusion coefficient. The diffusion coefficient of bile micelles is 8‐ to 18‐fold smaller than that of monomer molecules. For permeability, the effective diffusion coefficient in the unstirred water layer adjacent to the epithelial membrane, and the free fraction at the epithelial membrane surface should be taken into account. The importance of these aspects is demonstrated here using several in vivo and clinical oral‐absorption data of low‐solubility model compounds. Using the theoretical equations, the food effect on oral absorption is further discussed.     

In vitro propagation of the medicinal plant Plumbago zeylanica L. Through nodal explants

Summary A protocol for rapid in vitro propagation using nodal explants obtained from 2-yr-old, field-grown medicinal plants of Plumbago zeylanica L. belonging to the family Plumbaginaceae is described. High frequency bud break and fast development of shoots were induced on Murashige and Skoog's basal medium supplemented with 27.2 μM adenine sulfate +2.46 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Induction of rooting was achieved by transferring the shoots to the same basal medium containing 4.92 μM IBA. Using our protocol from one twig of P. zeylanica (eight responsive nodes per explant shoot) within a period of 5 mo., eight plantlets could be raised. After a hardening period of 4 wk, there was a 90% transplantation success in the field compared to the 60–65% survival of plantlets recorded in the experiments of previous workers. The plantlets derived through in vitro propagation mimic the growth and morphological characteristics of the donor plants.     

Mosquito larvicidal activity of Aloe vera (Family: Liliaceae) leaf extract and Bacillus sphaericus,against Chikungunya vector,Aedes aegypti

The bio-efficacy of Aloe vera leaf extract and bacterial insecticide, Bacillus sphaericus larvicidal activity was assessed against the first to fourth instars larvae of Aedes aegypti, under the laboratory conditions. The plant material was shade dried at room temperature and powdered coarsely. A. vera and B. sphaericus show varied degrees of larvicidal activity against various instars larvae of A. aegypti. The LC₅₀ of A. vera against the first to fourth instars larvae were 162.74, 201.43, 253.30 and 300.05 ppm and the LC₉₀ 442.98, 518.86, 563.18 and 612.96 ppm, respectively. B. sphaericus against the first to fourth instars larvae the LC₅₀ values were 68.21, 79.13, 93.48, and 107.05 ppm and the LC₉₀ values 149.15, 164.67, 183.84, and 201.09 ppm, respectively. However, the combined treatment of A. vera + B. sphaericus (1:2) material shows highest larvicidal activity of the LC₅₀ values 54.80, 63.11, 74.66 and 95.10 ppm; The LC₉₀ values of 145.29, 160.14, 179.74 and 209.98 ppm, against A. aegypti in all the tested concentrations than the individuals and clearly established that there is a substantial amount of synergist act. The present investigation clearly exhibits that both A. vera and B. sphaericus materials could serve as a potential larvicidal agent. Since, A. aegypti is a container breeder vector mosquito this user and eco-friendly and low-cost vector control strategy could be a viable solution to the existing dengue disease burden. Therefore, this study provides first report on the mosquito larvicidal activity the combined effect of A. vera leaf extract and B. sphaericus against as target species of A. aegypti.     

N-Terminal sequencing by mass spectrometry through specific fluorescamine labeling of α-amino groups before tryptic digestion

We present a single-step procedure for the specific mass labeling of unblocked protein N termini. We show that the dye fluorescamine, which is commonly assumed to require mildly alkaline conditions for undergoing a nonspecific reaction with α- and ε-amino groups associated with amino acids, in fact shows a specific reaction only with α-amino groups present at protein N termini when mildly acidic conditions are used. We use this finding to label, identify, and sequence the trypsinolysis-derived N-terminal peptide of lysozyme, using only mass spectrometry, to illustrate how this method could be used with other proteins.     

Effects of ionizing radiation on the growth and allyl isothiocyanate accumulation of Wasabia japonica in vitro and ex vitro

Mutations were induced in tissue-cultured wasabi (Wasabia japonica Matsumura) by treating in vitro-derived shoot tips with either γ-rays or X-rays at 0, 10, 20, 40 or 80 Gy. Doses of up to 40 Gy of either γ- or X-ray treatments resulted in a survival rate of more than 60% in culture after 3 mo. The use of γ- or X-rays at doses between 10 Gy and 40 Gy to induce mutation in W. japonica resulted in an alteration of the growth and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) content of multiple shoots after 3 mo. in culture on Murashige and Skoog medium containing 5 μM N⁶-benzyladenine (BA). Putative mutants from the 40 Gy treatments of either γ- or X-rays exhibited a reduction in shoot weight, number, and height, whereas treatments of either γ-rays or X-rays at 10 Gy and 20 Gy doses showed no significant differences in shoot growth. All shoots treated with 80 Gy were either necrotic or irregenerable, while those treated with 40 Gy produced deformed leaves, from both types of ionizing radiation. Concentrations of AITC were measured by the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The accumulation of AITC was shown to decrease when doses increased in both γ- and X-ray treatments, compared with the controls. Positive responses were solely occurred at 18 mo. after transfer of in vitro rooted shoots to the shade house. The survival rate, rhizome weight and AITC content of plants derived from shoots treated with 20 Gy or 40 Gy of either γ-rays or X-rays were significantly greater than those of the controls.     

Fasciola hepatica: effect of 4-amino-6-trichloroethenyl-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide on glycolysis in vitro

In vitro, 4-amino-6-trichloroethenyl-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide, a potent fasciolicide, causes a potent concentration-dependent inhibition of glucose uptake by mature Fasciola hepatica. In F. hepatica treated with the disulfonamide and then fed [U-¹⁴C]glucose, there was a 60% inhibition of glucose utilization and a corresponding inhibition of acetate and propionate formation. Treated fluke parasites possessed much lower levels of adenosine triphosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate, glucose 6-phosphate, and fructose 6-phosphate than untreated parasites and contained higher levels of glycerol and the free sugars fructose and mannose. Direct measurement of the effect of the disulfonamide on the glycolytic enzymes of F. hepatica demonstrated that 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (EC 2.7.2.3) and phosphoglyceromutase (EC 2.7.5.3) were inhibited. It is therefore suggested that the fasciolicidal activity of 4-amino-6-trichloroethenyl-1, 3-benzenedisulfonamide is due to inhibition of the enzymes 3-phosphoglycerate kinase and phosphoglyceromutase which effectively blocks the Embden-Myerhof glycolytic pathway.