DFT studies of the phenol adsorption on boron nitride sheets

We perform first principles total energy calculations to investigate the atomic structures of the adsorption of phenol (C₆H₅OH) on hexagonal boron nitride (BN) sheets. Calculations are done within the density functional theory as implemented in the DMOL code. Electron-ion interactions are modeled according to the local-spin-density-approximation (LSDA) method with the Perdew-Wang parametrization. Our studies take into account the hexagonal h-BN sheets and the modified by defects d-BN sheets. The d-BN sheets are composed of one hexagon, three pentagons and three heptagons. Five different atomic structures are investigated: parallel to the sheet, perpendicular to the sheet at the B site, perpendicular to the sheet at the N site, perpendicular to the central hexagon and perpendicular to the B-N bond (bridge site). To determine the structural stability we apply the criteria of minimum energy and vibration frequency. After the structural relaxation phenol molecules adsorb on both h-BN and d-BN sheets. Results of the binding energies indicate that phenol is chemisorbed. The polarity of the system increases as a consequence of the defects presence which induces transformation from an ionic to covalent bonding. The elastic properties on the BN structure present similar behavior to those reported in the literature for graphene.     

A note on Rashevsky's theorem about point-bases in topological biology

A graphG may have more than one point-baseB _G. In a primordial graphP of Rashevsky's (1954) TransformationT, some of the pointbases may consist of nonspecialized points only, and some other pointbases may contains specialized points. In this case, Rashevsky's Theorem (1955a) on point-bases may not hold. The Theorem is certainly true ifall point-bases ofP consists of nonspecialized points. A rigorous proof is given. Some results are derived for the more general case, when point-bases include both kinds of points. A general expression for the point-base ratio of the transformed graphP(T) is obtained. It is shown that with some biologically plausible assumptions Rashevsky's interpretation of the point-base ratio and his conclusions are still true. A few simple Theorems on point-bases of graphs are included in this work.     

Infectivity,viability and effects of Paranosema locustae (Microsporidia) on juveniles of Dichroplus maculipennis (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Melanoplinae) under laboratory conditions

Infectivity and effects on host of a long-term stored aqueous suspension of Paranosema locustae on juveniles of Dichroplus maculipennis, a pest grasshopper in parts of the Pampas and Patagonia, were evaluated. Infections developed in 90–97.8% of treated individuals. Mortality increased with time, reaching highest values at 30–40 days post-inoculation (79.5–100%). Infected nymphs showed significantly slower development.     

Glycans from Fasciola hepatica Modulate the Host Immune Response and TLR-Induced Maturation of Dendritic Cells

Helminths express various carbohydrate-containing glycoconjugates on their surface, and they release glycan-rich excretion/secretion products that can be very important in their life cycles, infection and pathology. Recent evidence suggests that parasite glycoconjugates could play a role in the evasion of the immune response, leading to a modified Th2-polarized immune response that favors parasite survival in the host. Nevertheless, there is limited information about the nature or function of glycans produced by the trematode Fasciola hepatica, the causative agent of fasciolosis. In this paper, we investigate whether glycosylated molecules from F. hepatica participate in the modulation of host immunity. We also focus on dendritic cells, since they are an important target of immune-modulation by helminths, affecting their activity or function. Our results indicate that glycans from F. hepatica promote the production of IL-4 and IL-10, suppressing IFNγ production. During infection, this parasite is able to induce a semi-mature phenotype of DCs expressing low levels of MHCII and secrete IL-10. Furthermore, we show that parasite glycoconjugates mediate the modulation of LPS-induced maturation of DCs since their oxidation restores the capacity of LPS-treated DCs to secrete high levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-12/23p40 and low levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Inhibition assays using carbohydrates suggest that the immune-modulation is mediated, at least in part, by the recognition of a mannose specific-CLR that signals by recruiting the phosphatase Php2. The results presented here contribute to the understanding of the role of parasite glycosylated molecules in the modulation of the host immunity and might be useful in the design of vaccines against fasciolosis.     

The gene for trypsin inhibitor CMe is regulated in trans by the lys 3a locus in the endosperm of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Summary A cDNA encoding trypsin inhibitor CMe from barley endosperm has been cloned and characterized. The longest open reading frame of the cloned cDNA codes for a typical signal peptide of 24 residues followed by a sequence which is identical to the known amino acid sequence of the inhibitor, except for an Ile/Leu substitution at position 59. Southern blot analysis of wheat-barley addition lines has shown that chromosome 3H of barley carries the gene for CMe. This protein is present at less than 2%–3% of the wild-type amount in the mature endosperm of the mutant Risø 1508 with respect to Bomi barley, from which it has been derived, and the corresponding steady state levels of the CMe mRNA are about I%. One or two copies of the CMe gene (synonym Itc1) per haploid genome have been estimated both in the wild type and in the mutant, and DNA restriction patterns are identical in both stocks, so neither a change in copy number nor a major rearrangement of the structural gene account for the markedly decreased expression. The mutation at the lys 3a locus in Risø 1508 has been previously mapped in chromosome 7 (synonym 5H). A single dose of the wild-type allele at this locus (Lys 3a) restores the expression of gene CMe (allele CMe-1) in chromosome 3H to normal levels.     

Nutrient dynamics within amazonian forests

Summary Relationships between fine root growth, rates of litter decomposition and nutrient release were analysed in a mixed forest on Tierra Firme, a Tall Amazon Caatinga and a Low Bana on podsolized sands near San Carlos de Rio Negro. Fine root growth in the upper soil layers (root mat+10 cm upper soil) was considerably higher in the Tierra Firme forest (1117 g m^-2 yr^-1) than in tall Cattinga (120) and Bana (235). Fine root growth on top of the root mat was stimulated significantly by added N in Tall Caatinga and Low Bana forests, by P in Tierra Firme and Bana forests, and by Ca only in the Tierra Firme forest. Rate of fine root growth in Tierra Firme forest on fresh litter is strongly correlated with the Mg and Ca content of litter. Rate of litter decomposition was inversely related to % lignin and the lignin/N ratio of litter. Litter contact with the dense root mat of the Tierra Firme increased rates of disappearance for biomass, Ca and Mg as compared with litter permanently separated or lifted weekly from the root mat to avoid root attachment. Nitrogen concentration of decomposing litter increased in all forests, net N released being observed only in Caryocar glabrum and Aspidosperma megalocarpum of the Tierra Firme forest after one year of exposure. Results emphasize the differences in limiting nutrients in amazonian forest ecosystems on contrasting soil types: Tierra Firme forests are particularly limited by Ca and Mg, while Caatinga and Bana forests are limited mainly by N availability.     

Wheat Inhibitors of Heterologous alpha-Amylases : Characterization of Major Components from the Monomeric Class

The four major components of the wheat monomeric α-amylase inhibitors (WMAI) from wheat, Triticum aestivum, endosperm have been isolated and characterized. Two of them, WMAI-1 and WMAI-2, are highly active against the α-amylase from the insect Tenebrio molitor and their N-terminal amino acid sequences indicate that they are closely related to each other (86% identical residues) and to the other members of the family (subunits of dimeric and tetrameric α-amylase inhibitors and trypsin inhibitors). WMAI-1, which is identical to the previously described 0.28 inhibitor, is encoded by a gene located in the short arm of chromosome 6D and WMAI-2 by a gene in the short arm of chromosome 6B. Components 3 and 4, which have blocked N-terminal residues, have identical internal amino acid sequences and are a separate class of proteins with respect to WMAI-1 and WMAI-2, although their amino acid composition and apparent molecular weights are quite similar. Their inhibitory activity versus α-amylases is either unstable during the purification process or due to contamination with other inhibitors.     

Restriction cleavage maps of the DNAs of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteriophages containing protein covalently bound to their 5'' ends

Summary Several pneumococcal bacteriophages showing a morphology similar to that previously described for Cp-1 (Ronda et al. 1981) have been isolated and purified from throat samples taken from healthy children. Three of these phages (Cp-5, Cp-7 and Cp-9) have been studied in detail and compared to Cp-1. The four phages differed in several respects, e.g. size, structural polypeptides, restriction enzyme cleavage patterns, etc. The DNA of Cp-5, Cp-7 and Cp-9 showed protease-sensitive transfecting activity. This, together with the results obtained by electrophoretic analyses as well as by isotopic labelling of these DNAs with [-³²P] ATP and polynucleotide kinase indicated that all these new phages have a protein covalently linked to the 5 ends of their DNAs as in the case of Cp-1 (García et al. 1983). Restriction enzyme cleavage maps of Cp-1, Cp-5, Cp-7 and Cp-9 have been constructed.     

Phospholamban of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum consists of two functionally distinct proteolipids

Phosphorylation of phospholamban by either a cAMP-dependent or a calmodulin-dependent kinase stimulates the Ca²⁺ transporting activity of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. It has now been found that phospholamban consists of 2 distinct proteins; one is the specific substrate for the cAMP-dependent phosphorylation, and the other for the calmodulin-dependent kinase. In spite of functional diversity, the 2 polypeptides share a number of properties. Among them, the proteolipid character, M_r, resistance to trypsinization, and subunit composition.