Regeneration of nasopharyngeal epithelium in Macaca fascicularis.

Regeneration of the nasopharyngeal epithelium in Macaca fascicularis occurs as a result of migration of epithelial cells from the margins of the lesions as well as from the neighbouring glandular ducts and epithelial crypts. The study further reveals that the basal cells are the progenitors of both goblet and ciliated cells. The regenerating epithelium at first consists of mucus-containing cells which are finally converted into normal globlet and ciliated cells. The formation of centrioles and concurrent reduction in the amount of 'mucus' droplets, and rearrangement of centrioles towards the luminal surface of the cells along with simultaneous development of cilia in some of these mucus-containing cells are stages in the differentiation of ciliated cells. However, some cells which do not possess secretory droplets may also develop into ciliated cells directly.     

Hexagonal Boron Nitride‐Based Electrolyte Composite for Li‐Ion Battery Operation from Room Temperature to 150 °C

Batteries for high temperature applications capable of withstanding over 60 °C are still dominated by primary cells. Conventional rechargeable energy storage technologies which have exceptional performance at ambient temperatures employ volatile electrolytes and soft separators, resulting in catastrophic failure under heat. A composite electrolyte/separator is reported that holds the key to extend the capability of Li‐ion batteries to high temperatures. A stoichiometric mixture of hexagonal boron nitride, piperidinium‐based ionic liquid, and a lithium salt is formulated, with ionic conductivity reaching 3 mS cm^?1, electrochemical stability up to 5 V and extended thermal stability. The composite is used in combination with conventional electrodes and demonstrates to be stable for over 600 cycles at 120 °C, with a total capacity fade of less than 3%. The ease of formulation along with superior thermal and electrochemical stability of this system extends the use of Li‐ion chemistries to applications beyond consumer electronics and electric vehicles.     

Analyzing somaclonal variation in micropropagated bananas (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Musa</Emphasis> spp.)

Summary In a micropropagation program, where it is of paramount importance to produce true-to-type planting material, somaclonal variation of any kind is undesirable. Variation among plants regenerated from tissue culture is termed ‘somaclonal variation’. In banana, somaclonal variants of different type have been reported with regard to plant morphology. This article discusses various factors due to which somaclonal variations may arise. Somaclonal variation may be detected by visual screening or by using molecular markers such as randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), and by cytological studies. Although somaclonal variation is undesirable in the context of micropropagation, it can be used to advantage for genetic improvement of banana, as has been described.     

Thidiazuron-induced shoot regeneration in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.)

Thidiazuron either alone or in combination with IAA induced high frequency shoot regeneration from primary leaf segments of three pigeonpea cultivars. Transfer of the cultures to medium with reduced concentration of thidiazuron resulted in further development of the shoots. The regenerated shoots were subsequently transferred to medium supplemented with BA, IAA and gibberellic acid where 5-10% of the shoots elongated further. Rooting of shoots could be obtained on half strength MS medium supplemented with NAA. Histological studies confirmed the mode of regeneration as shoot organogenesis. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Novel bis-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (bis-TMP) and bis-mecamylamine antagonists at neuronal nicotinic receptors mediating nicotine-evoked dopamine release

By linking two or three mecamylamine or 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (TMP) molecules together via a linear lipophilic bis-methylene linker or a specially designed conformationally restricted tris-linker, a series of bis- and tris-tertiary amine analogs has been synthesized and evaluated as potent antagonists at nAChRs mediating nicotine-evoked [³H]dopamine release from rat striatal slices. Compounds 7e, 14b and 16 demonstrated high potency in decreasing nicotine-evoked [³H]dopamine release (IC₅₀ = 2.2, 46, and 107 nM, respectively). The preliminary structure–activity data obtained with these new analogs suggest the importance of the length of the methylene linker in the bis-analog series. Such bis-tertiary amino analogs may provide a new strategy for the design of drugable ligands that have high inhibitory potency against nAChRs mediating nicotine-evoked dopamine release in striatum, which have been suggested to be target receptors of interest in the development of potential smoking cessation therapies.     

Decolorization and partial degradation of monoazo dyes in sequential fixed-film anaerobic batch reactor (SFABR)

Decolorization of two monoazo dyes, acid orange 6 (AO6) and acid orange 7 (AO7), were studied in sequential fixed-film anaerobic batch reactor (SFABR) with varying dye concentrations and 500 mg/L glucose as the co-substrate. More than 90% dye decolorization could be achieved, even at 300 mg/L, with both AO6 and AO7 and dye decolorization rates were 168 mg/L/d and 176 mg/L/d, respectively. COD removals with these two monoazo dyes were significantly different, as 75% and 35% decrease were observed with AO6 and AO7, respectively. UV-visible spectral as well as HPLC analysis of SFABR treated effluent showed the accumulation of 4-aminobenzenesulfonate (4-ABS) from AO6 and AO7. Aminoresorcinol (AR) formed from AO6 decolorization could not be detected at the end of SFABR cycle. This along with high COD removal indicated its further degradation. Formation of pink coloration on exposure to air indicated the presence of 1-amino-2-naphthol (AN) in AO7 fed reactor effluent. Thus both 4-ABS and AN were resistant to further degradation under anaerobic conditions. Presence of nitrate did not decrease the observed decolorization at the end of 24h SFABR cycle, although initial rate was decreased. This indicates the suitability of SFABR configuration for the treatment of azo-dye containing wastewaters in the presence of nitrate.     

Sorting nexin 27 regulates basal and stimulated brush border trafficking of NHE3

Sorting nexin 27 (SNX27) contains a PDZ domain that is phylogenetically related to the PDZ domains of the NHERF proteins. Studies on nonepithelial cells have shown that this protein is located in endosomes, where it regulates trafficking of cargo proteins in a PDZ domain–dependent manner. However, the role of SNX27 in trafficking of cargo proteins in epithelial cells has not been adequately explored. Here we show that SNX27 directly interacts with NHE3 (C-terminus) primarily through the SNX27 PDZ domain. A combination of knockdown and reconstitution experiments with wild type and a PDZ domain mutant (GYGF → GAGA) of SNX27 demonstrate that the PDZ domain of SNX27 is required to maintain basal NHE3 activity and surface expression of NHE3 in polarized epithelial cells. Biotinylation-based recycling and degradation studies in intestinal epithelial cells show that SNX27 is required for the exocytosis (not endocytosis) of NHE3 from early endosome to plasma membrane. SNX27 is also required to regulate the retention of NHE3 on the plasma membrane. The findings of the present study extend our understanding of PDZ-mediated recycling of cargo proteins from endosome to plasma membrane in epithelial cells.