Influence of Agitation on the Removal of Nonylphenol by the White-rot Fungi Trametes versicolor and Bjerkandera sp. BOL 13

Bjerkandera sp. BOL 13 removed 95% of nonylphenol (at 9.7 mg nonylphenol l⁻¹ day⁻¹) from aqueous medium after 5 days of incubation in agitated cultures. This removal rate decreased 2.5-fold in static cultures. By comparison, Trametes versicolor removed nonylphenol at 2.8 mg l⁻¹ day⁻¹ under conditions of static incubation, probably due to the action of laccase, but no growth was recorded in the agitated bottles. Received 4 August 2005; Revisions requested 18 August 2005 and 27 September 2005; Revisions received 22 September 2005 and 3 November 2005; Accepted 7 November 2005     

Redirecting Carbon Flux in Torulopsis glabrata from Pyruvate to α-Ketoglutaric Acid by Changing Metabolic Co-factors

The nutrition conditions needed to redirect the carbon flux in Torulopsis glabrata, a pyruvate hyper-production yeast, from pyruvate to α-ketoglutaric acid (KG) were investigated in a stirred fermentor. A minor amount of KG (1.3 gl⁻¹) was produced when NaOH was used to control the pH, while 12 g KG l⁻¹ was produced when CaCO₃ was used instead. When thiamine and biotin were included in the medium, 13 g KG l⁻¹ and 68 g pyruvate l⁻¹ were produced after 48 h when glucose was nearly consumed (approximately 5 gl⁻¹). With fermentation continuing for a further 16 h, the concentration of pyruvate decreased to 31 gl⁻¹, and KG increased to 30 gl⁻¹. KG thus accumulated at the expense of pyruvate consumption. Received 2 June 2005; Revisions requested 30 June 2005 and 1 September 2005; Revisions received 1 September 2005 and 28 October 2005; Accepted 28 October 2005     

Using Redox Potential to Detect Microbial Activities During Clavulanic Acid Biosynthesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces clavuligerus</Emphasis>

Production of clavulanic acid (CA) by Streptomyces clavuligerus in a shake-flask culture increased from 92 to 180 mg l⁻¹ with an increased O₂ transfer efficiency (0.039 → 0.058 s⁻¹), which maintained the redox potential values above −250 mV. Compared with traditional measures, such as dissolved O₂ concentration and respiratory activity, the redox potential can easily be determined and correlates closely with CA production. It can therefore be used to monitor microbial activities during biosyntheses of secondary metabolites. Revisions requested 5 April 2005 and 19 July 2005; Revisions received 19 July 2005 and 9 September 2005     

Reproductive performance of Norwegian cattle from 1985 to 2005: trends and seasonality

Declining reproductive performance is a serious breeding concern in many countries. To reveal the situation in Norwegian cattle, trends in reproductive performance were studied using insemination reports from 1985 to 2005 and data based on herd recording files from 1989 to 2005. The total number of first services was 469.765 in 1985 declining to 335.712 in 2005. The number of recorded herds and animals declined from 21.588 to 14.718 and 360.289 to 309.452 from 1989 to 2005, respectively. Sixty days non-return rate after single inseminations (NR60) increased from 68.1 in 1985 to 72.7% in 2005 (p < 0.001) and the number of services per inseminated animal (NIA) decreased from 1.8 to 1.6 (p < 0.001) from 1985 to 2005. However, return rates 0–3 days post insemination (RR0-3) increased from 6 to 12% in the same period (p < 0.001). NR60 was higher and the RR0-3 was lower in the summer season compared to the winter season during the whole period. A fertility index (FS), has been calculated from the herd recording files each year from 1989 to 2005. The average FS-index did not show a significant trend and the calving interval was also fairly constant between 12.4 and 12.6 months during this period. The average interval from calving to first and last insemination, respectively, increased from a low of 79 and 102 days in 1990 to a high of 86 and 108 days in 2005. Both intervals were consistently longer for cows in first lactation than for cows in later lactations. The percentage of inseminated animals reported culled because of poor fertility decreased from 6.0% in 1989 to 4.6% in 1996 and thereafter again increased to 6% in 2005. In conclusion, most fertility measures, mainly comprising the Norwegian Red (NRF) breed, show a relatively high level of reproductive performance with a positive or a relatively constant trend during the last two decades.     

Functional Significance and Weight Properties of the Shell in Some Mollusks

Functional, morphological, and weight properties of the shell are discussed for many gastropods and bivalves living under various conditions.__________Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Biologicheskaya, No. 4, 2005, pp. 479–505.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Alyakrinskaya.     

Two additional new species of the Stenus indubius group (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) from China

Two new species of the Stenus indubius group from China are described: Stenus huapingensissp. n. from Guangxi Province and Stenus zhujianqingisp. n. from Zhejiang Province. Habitus photos and illustrations of diagnostic characters of the new species and two described species, Stenus paradecens Tang & Li, 2005 and Stenus guniujiangense Tang & Li, 2005, are provided.     

Serological evidence of an antibody response in farmed southern bluefin tuna naturally infected with the blood fluke Cardicola forsteri

In this study, adaptive immune response was investigated in farmed southern bluefin tuna, Thunnus maccoyii, infected with a sanguinicolid Cardicola forsteri. A cohort (Cohort₂₀₀₅) of southern bluefin tuna was sampled between March 2005 and August 2006. Samples were taken at the transfer of wild caught tuna to sea cages and then at regular intervals. Parasite intensity, abundance and prevalence data were recorded. An ELISA was developed to detect and quantify an antibody response against the blood fluke in southern bluefin tuna serum. Intensity and prevalence of the blood fluke were shown to peak in May 2005 at 10.9 flukes per infected fish (SE = 1.72) and 97.5% prevalence and then decreased to low prevalence (10%) and intensity (1.0). There were no significant changes in prevalence or intensity in 2006. Antibody titres and seroprevalence increased from 1.37 U μl⁻¹ and 10% at transfer in March 2005 to reach a peak in December 2005 of 25.86 U μl⁻¹ (SE = 6.26 U μl⁻¹) and 66.66%. No significant changes were observed in antibody titres for the same cohort of fish during 2006. Parasitological and serological values from Cohort₂₀₀₅ were compared to a 2006 cohort (Cohort₂₀₀₆) in March 2006 and August 2006 to determine if prior infection in Cohort₂₀₀₅ elicited any protection against infection in 2006. Although significant differences were not observed in intensities between cohorts it was shown that Cohort₂₀₀₅ had significantly lower abundances and prevalences of blood fluke infection than Cohort₂₀₀₆. Although there was no significant difference in mean antibody titres between cohorts in March 2006, the mean antibody titre of Cohort₂₀₀₆ was significantly greater than that of Cohort₂₀₀₅ in August 2006. No significant differences were observed in seroprevalence. This is one of the few studies to demonstrate the development of acquired resistance in fish against a parasite in an aquaculture environment under natural infection conditions.     

Bioenergetics and death

Specific inhibitors of mitochondrial functions were used in studies on the relation between bioenergetics and programmed cell death. The data of the authors are discussed in the review.Translated from Biokhimiya, Vol. 70, No. 2, 2005, pp. 294–301.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Chernyak, Pletjushkina, Izyumov, Lyamzaev, Avetisyan.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with corrections to the post codes.     

Synthesis of Analogues of Natural Coumarins and Coumarinolignans

3-Aryl-4H-coumarins with the 1,3-benzodioxol, 1,4-benzodioxane, and 1,5-benzodioxepane moieties were synthesized by modified methods.__________Translated from Bioorganicheskaya Khimiya, Vol. 31, No. 3, 2005, pp. 326–330.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Ismailova.     

Morphogens of hydra <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hydra</Emphasis> sp.

Characteristics and probable functions of morphogens of the freshwater polyp, hydra Hydra sp., are considered in the review.Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 41, No. 1, 2005, pp. 3–11.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kukalev.     

Volume and Rate Parameters of the Respiratory System and the State of the Vocal Apparatus

The parameters of permeability of the tracheobronchial tree were shown to determine the frequency characteristics of the voice and the functional state of the vocal apparatus.__________Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 3, 2005, pp. 72–75.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Agadzhanyan, Smirnova.     

Citability of Original Research and Reviews in Journals and Their Sponsored Supplements

Background

The contents of pharmaceutical industry sponsored supplements to medical journals are perceived to be less credible than the contents of their parent journals. It is unknown if their contents are cited as often. The objective of this study was to quantify the citability of original research and reviews contained in supplements and compare it with that for the parent journal.

Methodology/Principal Findings

This was a cohort study of 446 articles published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (JCP) and its supplements for calendar years 2000 and 2005. The total citation counts for each article up to October 5, 2009 were retrieved from the ISI Web of Science database. The main outcome measure was the number of citations received by an article since publication. Regular journal articles included 114 from calendar year 2000 and 190 from 2005. Articles from supplements included 90 from 2000 and 52 from 2005. The median citation counts for the 3 years post-publication were 10 (interquartile range [IQR], 4–20), 14 (IQR, 8–20), 13.5 (IQR, 8–23), and 13.5 (IQR, 8–20), for the 2000 parent journal, 2000 supplements, 2005 parent journal, and 2005 supplements, respectively. Citation counts were higher for the articles in the supplements than the parent journal for the cohorts from 2000 (p = .02), and no different for the year 2005 cohorts (p = .88). The 2005 parent journal cohort had higher citation counts than the 2000 cohort (p = .007), in contrast to the supplements where citation counts remained the same (p = .94).

Conclusions/Significance

Articles published in JCP supplements are robustly cited and thus can be influential in guiding clinical and research practice, as well as shaping critical thinking. Because they are printed under the sponsorship of commercial interests, they may be perceived as less than objective. A reasonable step to help improve this perception would be to ensure that supplements are peer-reviewed in the same way as regular articles in the parent journal.     

Increased titers of antibodies to bifidobacteria as a marker of intestinal dysbacteriosis

The study showed that a high titer of antibodies to bifidobacteria can serve as a laboratory sign of intestinal dysbacteriosis.Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 2, 2005, pp. 132–134.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Anikhovskaya, Vyshegurov, Likhoded, Yakovlev.     

Immobilization of β-glucosidase on Eupergit C for Lignocellulose Hydrolysis

β-Glucosidase is frequently used to supplement cellulase preparations for hydrolysis of cellulosic and lignocellulosic substrates in order to accelerate the conversion of cellobiose to glucose. Typically, commercial cellulase preparations are deficient in this enzyme and accumulation of cellobiose leads to product inhibition. This study evaluates the potential for recycling β-glucosidase by immobilization on a methacrylamide polymer carrier, Eupergit C. The immobilized β-glucosidase had improved stability at 65 °C, relative to the free enzyme, while the profile of activity versus pH was unchanged. Immobilization resulted in an increase in the apparent K_m from 1.1 to 11 mm and an increase in V_max from 296 to 2430 μmol mg⁻¹ min⁻¹. The effect of immobilized β-glucosidase on the hydrolysis of cellulosic and lignocellulosic substrates was comparable to that of the free enzyme when used at the same level of protein. Operational stability of the immobilized β-glucosidase was demonstrated during six rounds of lignocellulose hydrolysis. Received 22 August 2005; Revisions requested 20 September 2005; Revisions received 8 November 2005; Accepted 10 November 2005     

Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Thraustochytrid-like Microorganism that Efficiently Produces Docosahexaenoic Acid

A thraustochytrid-like microorganism (strain 12B) was isolated from the mangrove area of Okinawa, Japan. On the basis of its ectoplasmic net structure and biflagellate zoospores we determined strain 12B to be a novel member of the phylum Labyrinthulomycota in the kingdom Protoctista. When grown on glucose/seawater at 28 °C, it had a lipid content of 58% with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6 n−3) at 43% of the total fatty acids. It had a growth rate of 0.38 h⁻¹. The DHA production rate of 2.8 ± 0.7 g l⁻¹ day⁻¹ is the highest value reported for any microorganism. Received 7 October 2005; Revisions requested 7 October 2005; Revisions received 15 November 2005; Accepted 15 November 2005     

Seven new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from colubrid snakes of Guatemala and a discussion of what to call ellipsoid tetrasporocystic, dizoic coccidia of reptiles

During a survey of Guatemalan herpetofauna in the summers of 1998–2000, 29 presumed new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 were found, seven of which have a distinct elongate-ellipsoidal shape (L/W ratio ≥ 1.7) and are described herein. Six of the seven new species are similar in oöcyst length, width and L/W ratio and sporocyst length, width and L/W ratio, lack a micropyle, oöcyst residuum, Stieda body, sub- and parastieda bodies, have a polar granule and sporocyst residuum, and their sporocysts appear to have dehiscence sutures. The seventh is slightly smaller and has sporocysts with a Stieda body. The new species are: E. coniophanes n. sp – whose sporulated oöcysts from Coniophanes fissidens are 29.2×14.9 (27–31×13–16) m, with sporocysts m; E. coniophis n. sp. –from Conophis lineatus are 32.0×16.5 (30–34×14–18) m, with sporocysts m; E. dryomarchoni n. sp. – from Drymarchon corais are 32.2×17.7 (31–34×17–19) m, with sporocysts m; E. leptophis n. sp. – from Leptophis mexicanus are 29.5×17.0 (28–31×16–18) m, with sporocysts m; E. oxybelis n. sp. – from Oxybelis aeneus are 31.8×16.5 (29–33×15–18) m, with sporocysts m; and E. scaphiodontophis n. sp. – from Scaphiodontophis annulatus are 30.0×15.3 (28–33×14–16) m, with sporocysts m. Sporulated oöcysts of E. siboni n. sp. from Sibon nebulata are 24.3×14.2 (21–27×13–16) m, with sporocysts m and with a Stieda body. We conclude that until all aspects of each life-cycle are known, it is prudent at this time to name all tetrasporocystic dizoic coccidia from snakes as members of Eimeria rather than place some of them in Choleoeimeria Paperna & Landsberg, 1989.     

Polymethylene Derivatives of Nucleic Bases with ω-Functional Groups: IV. [7-(2-Oxocyclohexyl)-7-oxoheptyl]purines

New polymethylene nucleoside analogues with a β-dioxo function in the ω-position of their hydro-carbon chain, [7-(2-oxocyclohexyl)-7-oxoheptyl]purines, were synthesized, and their physicochemical properties were studied.__________Translated from Bioorganicheskaya Khimiya, Vol. 31, No. 3, 2005, pp. 288–294.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kritzyn, Vepsalainen, Komissarov.For communication III, see [1].     

An extensive Cochlodinium bloom along the western coast of Palawan, Philippines

A massive fish kill and water discoloration were reported off the western coast of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines in March 2005. Phytoplankton analysis revealed a near monospecific bloom of the dinoflagellate, Cochlodinium polykrikoides, with cell concentrations ranging from 2.5 × 10⁵ to 3.2 × 10⁶ cells per liter. Ground truth data were supplemented by processed satellite images from MODIS Aqua Level 2 data (1 km resolution) from January to April 2005, which revealed high surface chlorophyll-a levels (up to 50 mg/m³) offshore of west and southwest Palawan as early as February 2005. The bloom extended 310 km in length and 80 km in width at its peak in March off the central coast (Puerto Princesa). By April, the bloom declined in intensity, but was still apparent along the northern coast (El Nido). Fluctuations in chlorophyll levels off the western coast of Sabah, Malaysia and Brunei during this time period suggested that the bloom was not limited to the coast of Palawan. Satellite imagery from Sabah in late January revealed a plume of chl-a that is believed to be the source of the C. polykrikoides bloom in Palawan. This plume drifted offshore, advected northward via the basin-wide counterclockwise gyre, and reached nutrient-rich, upwelled waters near Palawan (due to a positive wind stress curl) where the dinoflagellate bloomed and persisted for 2 months from March to April 2005.     

Assessment of the Neva Estuary ecosystem state on the basis of structural characteristics of benthic animal communities in 1994–2005

In the years 1994–2005, the values of the integrated index IP’ at some stations of the Neva Bay changed from 38.1 to 81.9%, water quality changed from class 3 to class 5, and the states of some areas of the ecosystem that were evaluated as “tense” went to “catastrophic.” The integrated mean assessment of water quality according to the IP’ index over the entire Neva Bay throughout 12 years (1994–2005) remained relatively stable, waters were assessed as “polluted” (fourth class), and the state of the ecosystem was considered “critical.” The state of the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland in 1994–2005 was less favorable. The species diversity of zoobenthos in the resort zone of the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland is considerably lower than in the Neva Bay. Waters of the resort zone of the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland in 1994–2005 were assessed as one class lower than in the Neva Bay, i.e., as “polluted-dirty” (fourth-fifth class), and the state of the ecosystem was assessed as being in a “crisis.” In the resort zone, there was a decline in species diversity and abundance and biomass of benthic animals; i.e., all characteristics of the degradation of benthic animal communities were observed.