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1.
Longlong Tang Tatsuya Nagashima Kouichi Hasegawa Toshimasa Ohara Kengo Sudo Norihiro Itsubo 《The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment》2018,23(12):2300-2310
Purpose
Health damage from ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) shows large regional variations and can have an impact on a global scale due to its transboundary movement. However, existing damage factors (DFs) for human health in life cycle assessments (LCA) are calculated only for a few limited regions based on various regional chemical transport models (CTMs). The aim of this research is to estimate the human health DFs of PM2.5 originating from ten different regions of the world by using one global CTM.Methods
The DFs express changes in worldwide disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to unit emission of black carbon and organic carbon (BCOC), nitrogen oxides (NO x ), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). DFs for ten regions were calculated as follows. Firstly, we divided the whole world into ten regions. With a global CTM (MIROC-ESM-CHEM), we estimated the concentration change of PM2.5 on the world caused by changes in the emission of a targeted precursor substance from a specific region. Secondly, we used population data and epidemiological concentration response functions (CRFs) of mortality and morbidity to estimate changes in the word’s DALYs occurring due to changes in the concentration of PM2.5. Finally, the above calculations were done for all ten regions.Results and discussion
DFs of BCOC, NO x , and SO2 for ten regions were estimated. The range of DFs could be up to one order of magnitude among the ten regions in each of the target substances. While population density was an important parameter, variation in transport of PM2.5 on a continental level occurring due to different emission regions was found to have a significant influence on DFs. Especially for regions of Europe, Russia, and the Middle East, the amount of damage which occurred outside of the emitted region was estimated at a quarter, a quarter, and a third of their DFs, respectively. It was disclosed that the DFs will be underestimated if the transboundary of PM2.5 is not taken into account in those regions.Conclusions
The human health damage factors of PM2.5 produced by BCOC, NO x , and SO2 are estimated for ten regions by using one global chemical transport model. It became clear that the variation of transport for PM2.5 on a continental level greatly influences the regionality in DFs. For further research to quantify regional differences, it is important to consider the regional values of concentration response function (CRF) and DALY loss per case of disease or death.2.
Michalis Omirou Chara Papastefanou Dimitra Katsarou Ioannis Papastylianou Harold C. Passam Constantinos Ehaliotis Kalliope K. Papadopoulou 《Plant and Soil》2012,354(1-2):347-358
Background and Aims
Rocket salad (Eruca sativa Mills) is one of the major leafy vegetables produced worldwide and has been characterized as a rich source of chemoprotective glucosinolates (GSL). The relationship between N fertilization and the resulting plant biomass and N status with GSL quantity and quality in rocket leaves was examined.Methods
A pot experiment was conducted, applying ten different N-rates and destructive sampling was carried out 15, 30 and 45 days after transplanting (DAT). The Mitscherlich equation was used to establish NO3-N critical levels at each growth stage and as an indicator of N demand for relative maximum dry matter accumulation and glucosinolate content and composition was determined.Results
Glucosinolate content was significantly influenced by N rate, growth stage and their interaction. Different GSL types showed dissimilar responses to N fertilization: aliphatic GSLs were significantly reduced under increased N rates whereas indole GSL showed the reverse. Under excess N fertilization (>1.04 g/plant), dry matter accumulation remained constant, NO3-N was significantly increased and total GSL content was significantly reduced, factors that could lead to an anticipated product quality decline.Conclusions
The application of the critical NO3-N level approach used to identify optimal N fertilization rates for plant growth could serve as means to obtain optimized GSL content in the edible plant parts.3.
Longlong Tang Ryouta Ii Koji Tokimatsu Norihiro Itsubo 《The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment》2018,23(12):2288-2299
Purpose
Global warming is exerting a damaging effect on human health. This damage is not only influenced by future climate conditions but also projected economic development and population growth. That being said, there are no health damage factors related to CO2 emissions which take into account future socioeconomic scenarios in life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). Thus, the purpose of the current research is to calculate human health damage factors based on the Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRESs) developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).Methods
The procedure used to calculate the SRES-based damage factors is as follows. First, a framework was developed to calculate damage factors based on multiple parameters: rise in temperature, relative risk increase, mortality rate increase, rise in number of deaths, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) increase. Secondly, these parameters were calculated for each individual SRES based on the relationship among the parameters and CO2 emissions, GDP, and population values of each scenario. Finally, the damage factor for each SRES was calculated by multiplying all the parameters that had been calculated based on the CO2 emission, GDP, and population data in the corresponding scenarios.Results and discussion
Using this method, the human health damage factors for four SRESs (A1B, A2, B1, and B2) were calculated. The damage factors consisted of six different items: malaria, diarrhea, cardiovascular disease, malnutrition, coastal flooding, and inland flooding. The calculated results by scenario were 2.0?×?10?7, 6.2?×?10?7, 2.1?×?10?7, and 4.2?×?10?7 DALY/kg CO2, respectively. The damage caused by malnutrition is the greatest, followed by diarrhea. Regions of Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East showed the highest damages due to their high damage from malnutrition and diarrhea. With regard to the differences among the four damage factors, the difference between the projected future mortality rate and DALY per death based on the future GDP per capita is greater than the difference between the increases in temperature among scenarios dependent on future CO2 emission.Conclusions
The human health damage factors related to CO2 emissions for four SRESs were estimated. As a result of differences between future socioeconomic scenarios, the largest amount of damage per CO2 emission unit was three times greater than the smallest amount. Therefore, sensitive analysis is highly recommended when seeking to compare damage caused by global warming and other impact categories.4.
Aim
Our objectives were to compare effects of root charge properties on Al adsorption by the roots of rice that differed in Al-tolerance, and to examine effects of different nitrogen forms on charge properties of rice roots and Al adsorption.Methods
Streaming potential and chemical methods were used to measure root zeta potential and investigate Al chemical forms adsorbed on the roots of rice obtained from solution culture experiments.Results
Rice roots of the Al-sensitive variety Yangdao-6 carried greater negative charge than the Al-tolerant variety Wuyunjing-7, which meant the roots of Yangdao-6 adsorbed more exchangeable and complexed Al. When both rice varieties were grown in NH4 +-containing nutrient solutions, there were less functional groups and lower negative surface charge on their roots, which reduced Al adsorption compared to the rice grown in NO3 ? containing nutrient solutions. The decline in nutrient solution pH due to NH4 + uptake by rice roots was responsible for the reduced numbers of functional groups and the lower negative surface charge on the roots compared to the rice grown in NO3 ? containing solutions.Conclusions
Integrated root surface charge, as expressed by zeta potential, played an important role in Al adsorption by the roots of rice with different Al-tolerance.5.
Cathryn A. O’Sullivan Elliott G. Duncan Kelley Whisson Karen Treble Philip R. Ward Margaret M. Roper 《Plant and Soil》2017,413(1-2):275-287
Aim
A simple, rapid, colourimetric method for screening biological nitrification inhibitors in plants is presented.Methods
Our approach combines the use of the Griess assay to track the rate of nitrite (NO2 ?) production by pure cultures of ammonia oxidising bacteria in the presence and absence of nitrification inhibitors with a simple method for collecting root exudates from plants. NO2 ? formation was tracked colourimetically on a microplate reader over 9 h of incubation. The advantage of this method is that it provides a simple, high throughput means of measuring biological nitrification inhibition in root exudates, using wild-type bacterial cultures.Results
NO2 ? formation rates and inhibition levels measured using the high through-put method were highly correlated with those measured by tracking NO2 ? formation using a segmented flow analyser. The method was able to quantify inhibition of Nitrosomonas europaea by the synthetic nitrification inhibitors allythiourea (AT), dicyandiamide (DCD) and 3,4,-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) with IC50 values similar to those reported in the literature. The method detected biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) in root exudates from Brachiaria humidicola and the lack of BNI in root exudates from wheat cv. Janz with minimal alteration of the exudates prior to testing. The results also showed that the more common soil ammonia oxidising bacterium (AOB), Nitrosospira multiformis, was much less sensitive to AT and DCD than N. europaea but had similar sensitivity to DMPP.Conclusions
This method provides a potentially useful way of screening large numbers of root exudate samples allowing for phenotyping of the BNI trait in crop and pasture populations which will be required for the trait to be introduced into commercial varieties.6.
Goal, Scope and Background
Photochemical ozone creation potentials (POCPs) typically used in life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) to address the impact category ‘photo-oxidant formation’ only provide factors for particular volatile organic compounds and do not take into account background concentrations and meteorological conditions. However, the formation of ozone from volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) is highly dependent on the background pollutant concentrations and meteorological conditions. Some LCIA manuals therefore recommend working with potentials for high background concentrations of NOx (Derwent 1998), and potentials for low background concentrations of NOx (Andersson-Sköld 1992).Objectives
This study has introduced an improved set of POCPs independently of meteorological and emission conditions specific to a given period or location. Whereas current POCP values may be relevant to estimate the photo-oxidant formation over a certain (temporally and spatially well-defined) domain, this study has further introduced more relevant values with respect to potential impacts of ozone on human health and environment.Methods
For the computation of POCP values on the scale of Western Europe, independently of meteorological and emission conditions specific to a given period or location, a Eulerian chemistry-transport numerical model (CHIMERE-continental) has been implemented over three summer seasons. POCPs have been evaluated for ten VOC species (including the whole VOC group), CO and NOx. The coherence of this new set of POCP values with previous studies has been checked. The spatial representa-tivity of POCP values over the simulation domain in Europe has also been addressed. The robustness of these POCP values to changes in the implemented chemical mechanism used in our model has been checked.Results and Discussion
The POCPs computed in this study were generally lower than the POCPs calculated in previous studies. In the previous studies, but not here, the POCPs have been calculated with particular meteorological conditions (during anti-cyclonic, fair weather conditions) or emission levels (high polluted backgrounds) known to be optimal with respect to ozone formation. Despite the quantitative variations in the POCP values, we have found a good agreement in the relative ranking of the pollutant species between this study and previous studies. It was also shown that POCP values display significant spatial variability over Western Europe (the largest spatial differences were obtained for NOx where the sign of the POCP value even changes from region to region).Conclusions
Finally, the temporally and spatially averaged values obtained here for the POCP index update previous values and represent an attempt to generate the most appropriate and accurate scale for European conditions independently of meteorological and emission conditions specific to a given period or location.Recommendations and Outlook
These new PCOPs should be useful to LCIA-practitioners in further life cycle impact assessment. However, for the NOx species, we do not recommend the use of the POCP value for LCIA.7.
Fertilization,soil and plant community characteristics determine soil microbial activity in managed temperate grasslands 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
Peter Dietrich Tina Buchmann Simone Cesarz Nico Eisenhauer Christiane Roscher 《Plant and Soil》2017,412(1-2):189-199
Background and aims
Contaminated soils can impede germination and growth of selected plant species, restricting effective phytoremediation strategies. The purpose of the present study was to enhance the germination and growth of saltgrass [Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene] by evaluating the efficacy of certain seed pretreatments and soil amendments.Methods
Ten seed pretreatment methods, two amendments, three soil depths and five saline levels were tested under greenhouse conditions.Results
Saltgrass germination and growth were negatively correlated with increasing salinity levels when NaCl > 85.6 mM. Among ten seed pretreatments (stratification + Proxy 24 h, hot water + Proxy 24 h, stratification, hot water + Proxy 48 h, Proxy 48 h, Proxy 24 h, hot water, scarification, gibberellins, and KMnO4), the two best methods were stratification + Proxy 24 h and hot water + Proxy 24 h for enhancing saltgrass germination, with the latter pretreatment being especially useful because of its shorter preparation time and high germination rates. Proxy is a commercial ethephon product. Potting soil (5.0 cm depth) was found to be the best amendment for saltgrass germination and growth in hydrocarbon-contaminated soils.Conclusion
We conclude that direct seeding of saline soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons is a feasible phytoremediation strategy provided that appropriate seed pretreatments and amendments are utilized.8.
Background
Airway management of the obese patient presenting for surgery is more likely to be a challenging problem. Supraglottic airway device has been adopted as a bridge to connect ventilation and tracheal intubation in obese patients who would be suffered with difficult intubation. The optimum sevoflurane concentration for supraglottic airway device insertion allowing spontaneous breathing in 50% of obese patients (ED50) is not known. The purpose of this study was to determine the ED50 of sevoflurane for supraglottic airway device Blockbuster? insertion with spontaneous breathing in obese patients requiring general anesthesia.Methods
Thirty elective obese patients (body mass index 30-50 kg/m2) undergoing bariatric surgery were recruited in this study. The predetermined target sevoflurane concentration (initiating at 2.5% with 0.5% as a step size) was sustained for >5 min using a modified Dixon’s up-and-down method, and then the supraglottic airway device Blockbuster? was inserted. The patient’s response to supraglottic airway device insertion was classified as either ‘movement’ or ‘no-movement’. The ED50 of sevoflurane were determined by calculating the midpoint concentration of crossover point from ‘movement’ or ‘no-movement’ response.Results
The ED50 of sevoflurane for supraglottic airway device Blockbuster? insertion in obese patients calculated using up-and-down method were 2.50?±?0.60%. The ED50 and ED95 (95% confidence interval) obtained by probit regression analysis were 2.35 (1.28–3.42) % and 4.03 (3.16–17.83) % for supraglottic airway device Blockbuster? insertion, respectively.Conclusion
We conclude that the optimum end-tidal sevoflurane concentration required for the supraglottic airway device Blockbuster? insertion allowing spontaneous breathing in 50% of obese patients (ED50) is 2.5?±?0.6%.Trial registration
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-IPR-16009071, Registered on 24 August 2016.9.
Background and aims
Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important limiting factors influencing plant growth and reproduction in alpine and tundra ecosystems. However, in situ observations of the effects of root traits on N absorption by alpine plant species are still lacking.Methods
We investigated the rates of N uptake and the effect of root characteristics in ten common herbaceous alpine plant species using a 15N isotope tracer technique and the root systems of plants growing in a semi-arid steppe environment on the Tibetan Plateau. Our objective was to determine the root traits (root biomass, volume, surface area, average diameter, length, specific root length and specific root area) that make the largest contribution to the total uptake of N (15N–NO3 ?, 15N–NH4 + or 15N–glycine) by alpine plant species.Results
Monocotyledonous species had higher absorption rates for 15N–NH4 +, 15N–NO3 ?, 15N–glycine and total 15N than dicotyledonous species (P < 0.05). The root biomass, volume, surface area and average diameter were negatively correlated with the absorption capacity for 15N–NH4 +, 15N–NO3 ? and total 15N across the ten alpine plant species. However, the specific root length and the specific root area had significantly positive effects on the uptake of N.Conclusions
In contrast with traditional views on the uptake of N, the N uptake rate was not improved by a larger root volume or root surface area for these alpine plant species in a high-altitude ecosystem. Root morphological traits had greater impacts on N absorption than traits related to the root system size in alpine herbaceous plants.10.
11.
Marise J. Kasteleyn Tobias N. Bonten Renée de Mutsert Willemien Thijs Pieter S. Hiemstra Saskia le Cessie Frits R. Rosendaal Niels H. Chavannes Christian Taube 《Respiratory research》2017,18(1):205
Background
Obesity is a risk factor for the development of asthma. In patients with obesity the diagnosis of asthma is often based on symptoms, but without objective measurements. Nevertheless, obesity-associated asthma is recognized as a distinct asthma phenotype. Therefore, this study explores lung function and symptoms in asthma patients with and without obesity.Methods
The Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity (NEO) study is a population-based cohort study with 6671 participants (aged 45–65 years) of whom 472 had asthma. Of this latter group, linear regression analysis was used to examine differences in lung function and symptoms between asthma patients with (n?=?248) and without obesity (n?=?224), and between asthma patients with and without increased FeNO. Analyses were adjusted for confounders.Results
Asthma patients with obesity had lower predicted FEV1 and FVC values than patients without obesity [adjusted mean difference (MD) -3.3% predicted, 95% CI -6.5, ?0.2; adjusted MD ?5.0% predicted, 95% CI -7.8, ?2.1]. The prevalence of symptoms was higher in patients with obesity. Asthma patients with obesity and with increased FeNO had lower FEV1 and FEV1/FVC values compared with those with low FeNO (adjusted MD ?6.9% predicted, 95% CI -11.7, ?2.0; ?2.4%, 95% CI -4.6, ?0.2).Conclusion
Asthma patients with obesity had lower FEV1 and FVC values than patients without obesity. This suggests that patients with obesity have restrictive lung function changes, rather than obstructive changes. Asthma patients with obesity and increased FeNO showed more obstructive changes. FeNO might help to identify patients with eosinophilic inflammation-driven asthma, whereas patients with low FeNO might have an obesity-associated asthma phenotype in which symptoms are partly caused by the obesity.12.
Luke Aiden Westfall Julia Davourie Mohammed Ali Doreen McGough 《The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment》2016,21(11):1573-1579
Purpose
Manganese is a metal used extensively in everyday life, particularly in structural steel. Despite the importance of manganese as an essential alloying element in steel and stainless steel, the environmental profile of manganese alloys lacked globally representative, primary industry data. The International Manganese Institute (IMnI) and Hatch completed the first global life cycle assessment (LCA) of manganese alloy production, providing environmental benchmarks and a firm foundation of accurate data with which to inform other industry-led initiatives.Methods
The study compiled primary data from 16 ore and alloy producers worldwide, covering 18 % of global ore production and 8 % of global alloy production for 2010. This peer-reviewed, ISO 14040 compliant LCA covers the cradle-to-gate life cycles of silicomanganese, ferromanganese, and refined ferromanganese. The study provides a comprehensive picture of global environmental performance, quantifying energy consumption, global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), primary water use, and primary waste generation. A novel model architecture was devised to generate process, site, and cradle-to-gate LCAs for single and multiple sites simultaneously, extracting greater value from the LCA process by facilitating environmental and operational benchmarking within the industry.Results and discussion
The results of the study show that total GWP, AP, and POCP for 1 kg of average manganese alloy was 6.0 kg CO2e, 45 g SO2e, and 3 g C2H4e, respectively. Electricity demand and coal and coke consumption during smelting are the dominant operating parameters contributing to environmental performance. On-site air emission measures (GWP, POCP, NOX, and particulate matter (PM)) contributed 25 to 35 % of total life cycle emissions. Overburden and waste rock were the most significant primary solid waste flows by mass. The study provides a resource for improvement at the global industry and site scales by establishing benchmarks, identifying hotspots, and quantifying the benefits of efficiency savings through process optimization.Conclusions
This LCA provides accurate primary data to improve steel and stainless steel product LCAs and communicate the environmental performance of the industry in quantitative terms. It facilitates dialogue between manganese producers and consumers through a shared understanding of the environmental profile of the industry. Through leveraging the study to identify hotspots within the manganese supply chain, producers can work both independently and collectively towards improving the environmental and economic performance of manganese alloys.13.
Background
Atherosclerotic lesions are comprised of distinct regions with different proteomic profiles. Men and women develop differences in lesion phenotype, with lesions from women generally being more stable and less prone to rupture. We aimed to investigate the differences in proteomic profiles between sexes, including distinct lesion regions, to identify altered proteins that contribute to these differences observed clinically.Methods
Carotid endarterectomy samples (ten men/ten women) were obtained, and intraplaque biopsies from three distinct regions (internal control, fatty streak and plaque) were analysed by tandem-mass spectrometry. Multivariate statistical modelling, using orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis, was used to discriminate the proteomes between men and women.Results
Multivariate discriminant modelling revealed proteins from 16 functional groups that displayed sex-specific associations. Additional statistics revealed ten proteins that display region-specific alterations when comparing sexes, including proteins related to inflammatory response, response to reactive oxygen species, complement activation, transport and blood coagulation. Transport protein afamin and blood coagulation proteins antithrombin-III and coagulation factor XII were significantly increased in plaque region from women. Inflammatory response proteins lysozyme C and phospholipase A2 membrane-associated were significantly increased in plaque region from men. Limitations with this study are the small sample size, limited patient information and lack of complementary histology to control for cell type differences between sexes.Conclusions
This pilot study, for the first time, utilises a multivariate proteomic approach to investigate sexual dimorphism in human atherosclerotic tissue, and provides an essential proteomic platform for further investigations to help understand sexual dimorphism and plaque vulnerability in atherosclerosis.14.
N. Cesbron A.-L. Royer Y. Guitton A. Sydor B. Le Bizec G. Dervilly-Pinel 《Metabolomics : Official journal of the Metabolomic Society》2017,13(8):99
Introduction
Collecting feces is easy. It offers direct outcome to endogenous and microbial metabolites.Objectives
In a context of lack of consensus about fecal sample preparation, especially in animal species, we developed a robust protocol allowing untargeted LC-HRMS fingerprinting.Methods
The conditions of extraction (quantity, preparation, solvents, dilutions) were investigated in bovine feces.Results
A rapid and simple protocol involving feces extraction with methanol (1/3, M/V) followed by centrifugation and a step filtration (10 kDa) was developed.Conclusion
The workflow generated repeatable and informative fingerprints for robust metabolome characterization.15.
Miguel A. Velasco Rafael Raya Luca Muzzioli Daniela Morelli Abraham Otero Marco Iosa Febo Cincotti Eduardo Rocon 《Biomedical engineering online》2017,16(1):74
Background
This paper presents the preliminary results of a novel rehabilitation therapy for cervical and trunk control of children with cerebral palsy (CP) based on serious videogames and physical exercise.Materials
The therapy is based on the use of the ENLAZA Interface, a head mouse based on inertial technology that will be used to control a set of serious videogames with movements of the head.Methods
Ten users with CP participated in the study. Whereas the control group (n = 5) followed traditional therapies, the experimental group (n = 5) complemented these therapies with a series of ten sessions of gaming with ENLAZA to exercise cervical flexion–extensions, rotations and inclinations in a controlled, engaging environment.Results
The ten work sessions yielded improvements in head and trunk control that were higher in the experimental group for Visual Analogue Scale, Goal Attainment Scaling and Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS). Significant differences (27% vs. 2% of percentage improvement) were found between the experimental and control groups for TCMS (p < 0.05). The kinematic assessment shows that there were some improvements in the active and the passive range of motion. However, no significant differences were found pre- and post-intervention.Conclusions
Physical therapy that combines serious games with traditional rehabilitation could allow children with CP to achieve larger function improvements in the trunk and cervical regions. However, given the limited scope of this trial (n = 10) additional studies are needed to corroborate this hypothesis.16.
Elif Erdem Ibrahim Inan Harbiyeli Hazal Boral Macit Ilkit Meltem Yagmur Reha Ersoz 《Mycopathologia》2018,183(3):521-527
Purpose
To evaluate the efficiency of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in addition to topical voriconazole in cases with mycotic keratitis.Design
Retrospective case series in a tertiary university hospital.Participants
CXL was performed on 13 patients with mycotic keratitis who presented poor or no response to topical voriconazole treatment.Methods
The clinical features, symptoms, treatment results and complications were recorded retrospectively. The corneal infection was graded according to the depth of infection into the stroma (from grade 1 to grade 3). The visual analogue scale was used to calculate the pain score before and 2 days after surgery.Main Outcome Measures
Grade of the corneal infection.Results
Mean age of 13 patients (6 female and 7 male) was 42.4 ± 17.7 years (20–74 years). Fungus was demonstrated in culture (eight patients) or cytological examination (five patients). Seven of the 13 patients (54%) were healed with topical voriconazole and CXL adjuvant treatment in 26 ± 10 days (15–40 days). The remaining six patients did not respond to CXL treatment; they initially presented with higher grade ulcers. Pre- and post-operative pain score values were 8 ± 0.8 and 3.5 ± 1, respectively (p < 0.05).Conclusions
The current study suggests that adjunctive CXL treatment is effective in patients with small and superficial mycotic ulcers. These observations require further research by large randomized clinical trials.17.
Huihui Xu Yang Zhang Xin Feng Kunyuan Tie Yuan Cao Wenyu Han 《Biotechnology letters》2017,39(6):897-903
Objectives
To identify and characterize a novel antimicrobial peptide, catesbeianin-1.Results
Catesbeianin-1 is 25 amino acids long and is α-helical, cationic and amphipathic. It had antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It was resistant against trypsin and pepsin. Catesbeianin-1 exhibited moderate hemolytic activity (approx 8%) at 100 μg/ml, and its HC50 (50% hemolytic concentration) was 300 μg/ml. Its cytotoxicity was approx 10–20% at 100 μg/ml, and its CC50 (50% cytotoxic concentration) was >100 μg/ml. The LD50 of catesbeianin-1 in mice was 80 mg/kg. At 3.1 µg/ml, catesbeianin-1 significantly inhibited the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.Conclusions
A new antimicrobial peptide from the skin of Lithobates catesbeianus (American bullfrog) may represent a template for the development of novel antimicrobial agents.18.
Seyed Ziyae Aldin Samsam Shariat Fatemeh Borzouee Mohammad Reza Mofid Jaleh Varshosaz 《Biotechnology letters》2018,40(9-10):1343-1353
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to develop a facile and efficient method to enhance the stability and activity of lactoperoxidase (LPO) by using its immobilization on graphene oxide nanosheets (GO-NS).Methods
Following the LPO purification from bovine whey, it was immobilized onto functionalized GO-NS using glutaraldehyde as cross-linker. Kinetic properties and stability of free and immobilized LPO were investigated.Results
LPO was purified 59.13 fold with a specific activity of 5.78 U/mg protein. The successful immobilization of LPO on functionalized GO-NS was confirmed by using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The overall results showed that the stability of the immobilized LPO was considerably improved compared to free LPO. Apparent Km and Vmax of LPO also indicated that the immobilized enzyme had greater affinity to the substrate than the native enzyme.Conclusions
Graphene oxide nanosheets are effective means for immobilization of LPO.19.
Takeo Moriya Yoshinori Satomi Hiroyuki Kobayashi 《Metabolomics : Official journal of the Metabolomic Society》2016,12(12):179
Introduction
Human plasma metabolomics offer powerful tools for understanding disease mechanisms and identifying clinical biomarkers for diagnosis, efficacy prediction and patient stratification. Although storage conditions can affect the reliability of data from metabolites, strict control of these conditions remains challenging, particularly when clinical samples are included from multiple centers. Therefore, it is necessary to consider stability profiles of each analyte.Objectives
The purpose of this study was to extract unstable metabolites from vast metabolome data and identify factors that cause instability.Method
Plasma samples were obtained from five healthy volunteers, were stored under ten different conditions of time and temperature and were quantified using leading-edge metabolomics. Instability was evaluated by comparing quantitation values under each storage condition with those obtained after ?80 °C storage.Result
Stability profiling of the 992 metabolites showed time- and temperature-dependent increases in numbers of significantly changed metabolites. This large volume of data enabled comparisons of unstable metabolites with their related molecules and allowed identification of causative factors, including compound-specific enzymatic activity in plasma and chemical reactivity. Furthermore, these analyses indicated extreme instability of 1-docosahexaenoylglycerol, 1-arachidonoylglycerophosphate, cystine, cysteine and N6-methyladenosine.Conclusion
A large volume of data regarding storage stability was obtained. These data are a contribution to the discovery of biomarker candidates without misselection based on unreliable values and to the establishment of suitable handling procedures for targeted biomarker quantification.20.