Gymnoascus arxii's potential in deteriorating woollen textiles dyed with natural and synthetic dyes

So far, very little is known about microbiological deterioration of dyed woollen textiles. In this paper, the influence of the Gymnoascus arxii fungus on woollen textiles dyed with natural and synthetic dyes was studied. What is more, it was analysed whether the enrichment of the culture medium with additional nutrients has any impact on the deterioration of dyed woollen fabrics caused by a strongly keratinolytic strain. The study was carried out by means of a pure culture method over three different time periods, i.e. 1, 2 and 4 weeks. Within a week, the pure Gymnoascus arxii strain led to a severe deterioration in the mechanical strength of the examined woollen textiles, with the raw fabric being the most severely damaged. After the two-week incubation period, only the fabrics coloured in yellow, i.e. the fabric dyed with natural dye weld, and the synthetic yellow textile as well as the textile dyed with natural dye indigo survived, exclusively on the enriched medium. Solely the weld dyed textile withstood the four-week culture on the nutrient-enriched medium. The conducted studies demonstrated a strong influence of Gymnoascus arxii on dyed fabrics leading to their irreversible destruction. It has been also shown that the presence of nutrients in the substrate that are readily available to microorganism may hinder the development of the Gymnoascus arxii strain and thus, prevent textile deterioration.     

The ApoE receptors Vldlr and Apoer2 in central nervous system function and disease: Thematic Review Series: ApoE and Lipid Homeostasis in Alzheimer's Disease

The LDL receptor (LDLR) family has long been studied for its role in cholesterol transport and metabolism; however, the identification of ApoE4, an LDLR ligand, as a genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease has focused attention on the role this receptor family plays in the CNS. Surprisingly, it was discovered that two LDLR family members, ApoE receptor 2 (Apoer2) and VLDL receptor (Vldlr), play key roles in brain development and adult synaptic plasticity, primarily by mediating Reelin signaling. This review focuses on Apoer2 and Vldlr signaling in the CNS and its role in human disease.     

Recycling,reproduction, and life's origins

Kinetic considerations make it most improbable that any reproducing system could arise spontaneously in a prebiotic soup containing a large variety of organic molecules, as commonly postulated. This batch process can be contrasted with a completely recycling network of reactions maintained by an influx of energy. So long as the network includes at least two bimolecular reactions it is likely to support pathways for chemical reproduction. However, such reproducing systems will be simple in both kinetic and structural terms. Subsequent evolution will lead to much more complex reproducing structures although the kinetic complexities, measuring the varieties of reactions between these structures and their media, will remain relatively simple.     

The micronucleus test with mouse peripheral blood on N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and mitomycin C

The micronucleus test using mouse peripheral blood was conducted with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitro-soguanidine (MNNG) and mitomycin C (MMC) as part of the 5th collaborative study supported by the Environmental Mutagen Society of Japan (CSGMT/MMS · JEMS).Male CD-1 mice were intraperitoneally injected once with 12.5–100 mg/kg of MMC. Peripheral blood was drawn at different intervals after treatment, placed on slides previously coated with acridine orange and the numbers of reticulocytes with micronuclei (MNRETs) were scored.The experiments indicated that the maximum effect of both MNNG and MMC was found about 48 h after treatment, and that the micronucleus test using peripheral blood is useful for the screening of chemicals throughout the experimental period in a single animal.     

Relationships among physical traits,age and social status in Thomson's and Grant's gazelles

Territorial male Thomson's and Grant's gazelles on a commercial game ranch near Nairobi, Kenya, were older, heavier and possessed longer horns than bachelor conspecifics. Among territorial Thomson's gazelles, males accompanied by females were older than solitary individuals but differed little in frame and horn dimensions. Small sample sizes precluded similar analyses for Grant's gazelles. These results suggest the importance of size, age and perhaps experience in determining social status.     

The enzymatic sulphation of heparan sulphate by hen's uterus

A sulphotransferase preparation from hen's uterus catalysed the transfer of sulphate from adenosine 3′-phosphate 5′-sulphatophosphate to N-desulphated heparan sulphate, heparan sulphate, N-desulphated heparin and dermatan sulphate. Heparin, chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid were inactive as substrates for the enzyme. N-desulphated heparin was a much poorer substrate for the enzyme than N-desulphated heparan sulphate suggesting that properties of the substrate other than available glucosaminyl residues influenced enzyme activity. N-acetylation of N-desulphated heparin and N-desulphated heparan sulphate reduced their sulphate acceptor properties so it was unlikely that the N-acetyl groups of heparan sulphate facilitated its sulphatiion. Direct evidence for the transfer of [³⁵S]sulphate to amino groups of N-desulphated haparan sulphate was obtained by subsequent isolation of glucosamine $\text{N-[}{}^{35}\text{S}\text{]}\text{sulphate}$ from heparan [³⁵S]sulphate product. This was made possible through the use of a flavobacterial enzyme preparation which contained “heparitinase” activity but had been essentially freed of sulphatases. Attempts to transfer [³⁵S]sulphate to glucosamine or N-acetylglucosamine were unsuccessfull.