Microbial transformation of neutral fraction and upgraded neutral fraction of Polish tall oil

Summary Microbial transformations of neutral fraction (NF) and upgraded neutral fraction (UNF) of Polish tall oil byMycobacterium sp. MB 3683 were performed. Final metabolites and yields were compared to bioconversion of pure -sitosterol. Additionally, origin of a new metabolite —5-androsta-3,6,17-trione was proved by transformation of UNF in the presence of labeled -sitosterol.     

Cumulation of mycotoxins in maize cobs infected with<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium gramihearum</Emphasis>

Maize cobs withFusarium ear rot were collected at 1986 season and five infected byFusarium graminearum were analyzed for presence of triohothecenes and zearalenone. Collected material was subsampled forFusarium damaged kernels and corresponding axial stems and healthy looking kernels. All investigated cobs contained deoxynivalenol (DON) (range 18.0–131.5 mg/kg) and zearalenone (ZEA) (range 0.38–2.17 mg/kg), in four cobs 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-AcDON) (range 5.2–6.2 mg/kg) was present and two cobs besides three all metabolites contained 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-AcD0N) (range 0.5–0.8 mg/kg).The average of individual toxins amount in axial stems: in mg/kg was equal to: DON — 110.36, ZEA — 4.57, 15-AcD0N — 16.66, and 3-AcD0N — 1.32.Fusarium damaged kernels contained in average the following amount (mg/kg) of: DON 77.00, ZEA 0.98, 15-AcD0N 3.78 and 3-AcD0N 0.06. Healthy looking kernels contained DON 1.96 mg/kg and ZEA 0.07 mg/kg only. Cooccurrence of 3-AcDON and 15-AcDON in two samples was an interesting finding. The amount of DON in total cob was highly correlated (r = 0.94) with percentage ofFusarium damaged kernels in given ear.     

Nerve growth factor induces mast cell degranulation without changing intracellular calcium levels

Nerve growth factor (NGF) induces degranulation of rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) in a dose-dependent manner, providing direct evidence for its action on non-neuronal tissues. Activation of RPMC by NGF depends on lysophosphatidylserine and extracellular calcium. NGF-mediated RPMC degranulation is not coupled to a transient increase in intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i). It is suggested that NGF has a unique mode of action independent of [Ca2+]i and presumably also without involving protein kinase C activation as indicated by the effects of phorbol esters and NGF on antigen-evoked [Ca2+]i rise.     

Differential regulation of the brain and gut immunoreactive dynorphin by the serotonin system

Administration of drugs such as fenfluramine, 20-40 mg/kg, and m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP), 2.5-5 mg/kg, which release serotonin or activate postsynaptic serotonin receptors, respectively, induced a dramatic decrease in the duodenal content of immunoreactive dynorphin (ir-DYN). The effect was antagonized by cyproheptadine, 1 mg/kg. Similarly, acute administration of the specific serotonin reuptake blockers fluvoxamine, 15 mg/kg, or femoxetine, 10 mg/kg, and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), 40-160 mg/kg, evoked a marked decrease in the duodenal content of ir-DYN. A combined administration of fluvoxamine or femoxetine and 5-HTP failed to potentiate the effect of individual treatment. Only a higher dose of fenfluramine, 40 mg/kg, increased the ir-DYN content in the hypothalamus. These results suggest that the brain and gut ir-DYN is independently regulated by the serotonin system and that a serotonin mechanism might stimulate release of the gut dynorphin content.     

Relation between macronuclear DNA and total protein content and generation time in thechilodonella steini (Ciliata) sister cells

Summary Using the monotone dependence function (mdf) together with correlation coefficient it was found that the Ma-DNA content as well as total protein content are regularly, linearly, positively and strongly dependent in sister cells (proter-opisthe) ofChilodonella steini. Additionally it was shown that proter-opisthe ordering is irrelevant to Ma-DNA and protein contents.Analysis of sister cell generation times (TG) confirmed the existence of regular, linear, positive and strong codependence.The relations between Ma-DNA and total protein contents, between protein content and TG, and between Ma-DNA content and TG were also described. There is a weak, linear dependence between Ma-DNA and total protein contents. Relations of TG and Ma-DNA content or TG and total protein content are non-linear and not even monotone. Low and high levels of DNA or proteins are connected with long generation times.     

Elemental composition of the human atherosclerotic artery wall

Summary The elemental composition of the human atheroselerotic popliteal artery was examined using the proton-induced X-ray-emission (PIXE) method. The application of a narrow proton beam (3×10 m²) enabled us to determine not only the concentrations of Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br and Pb, but also their localization in different artery-wall regions. The highest mean concentrations of Cl, K, Zn and Br were found in the tunica media. In the investigated sections the distribution of Ca and Fe varied: sometimes, these elements were prevalent in the tunica intima, whereas in other cases, the highest concentrations were observed in the tunica media or tunica adventitia. The concentration profiles of each element were characterized by many sharp, narrow peaks. The highest concentrations of Ca and Fe showed such high levels that only one explanation is possible, i.e. the presence of crystals. The correlation of Ca peaks with those of Zn and Fe is discussed. The usefulness of the micro-PIXE method for the investigation of biomedical materials is also considered.     

Cytochromec oxidase fromParacoccus denitrificans in Triton X-100: Aggregation state and kinetics

Cytochromec oxidase fromParacoccus denitrificans was homogenously dispersed in Triton X-100. Using gel exclusion chromatography and sucrose gradient centrifugation analysis a molecular weight of the detergent-protein complex of 155,000 was determined. After subtraction of the bound detergent (111 mol/mol hemeaa ₃) a molecular weight of 85,000 resulted, which agreed well with the model of a monomer containing two subunits. This monomer showed high cytochromec oxidase activity when measured spectrophotometrically in the presence of Triton X-100 (V _max=85 s^–1). The molecular activity, plotted according to Eadie-Hofstee, was monophasic as a function of the cytochromec concentration. AK _m of 3.6×10^–6 M was evaluated, similar to theK _m observed in the presence of dodecyl maltoside [Naeczet al. (1985).Biochim. Biophys. Acta 808, 259–272].     

Removal of239Pu from mice with 3,4,3 LICAM(C) or N,N′, N″, N‴-tetra-(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)-spermine

Summary Male mice SAS/4 were injected i.v. with²³⁹Pu citr(IV) 0.27 µCikg^–1–9.99 kBqkg^–1. After 1 h 30 µmol kg^–1 of 3,4,3 LICAM(C), N, N, N, N-tetra-(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)-spermine or Na₃CaDTPA as a reference compound was given intraperitoneally. After 4 days the animals were sacrified and the Pu content in livers, kidneys, femurs and carcasses was determined by the liquid scintillation method. It was found that, as compared with the control, 3,4,3 LICAM(C) removed 83% of the Pu activity deposited in the liver, 71% of that in the femur and 79% of the Pu in the whole body. The Pu content in the kidneys exceeded the control value by about 50%. Na₃CaDTPA removed 96, 86, 40 and 72% of plutonium from the liver, kidneys, femurs and carcasses respectively.Tetra-DHB-spermine caused the excretion of 50, 57 and 39% of Pu from liver, bone and whole body respectively. The retention of Pu in the kidneys was increased to 400% of the control value.     

Application of fuzzy multiobjective optimization for self-sucking impellers in a bioreactor

For three types of self-sucking impellers (fourand six-pipe and disk impellers) mixing power, initial point, amount of gas leaving the impeller and mass transfer coefficient were determined experimentally. Investigations were performed for two systems: water and biomass solution.From the point of view of a minimum mixing power and maximum mass transfer coefficient the best impeller has been chosen. Fuzzy multiobjective optimization for determination of optimum operating conditions is proposed.List of Symbols c concentration of oxygen - D tank diameter - d impeller diameter - g acceleration of gravity - H height of liquid in the tank - H height of liquid above impeller, H=H-y - k consistency coefficient - k _L a volumetric mass transfer coefficient - N rotational speed of impeller - n flow behaviour index - P mixing power for pure liquid - P _G mixing power for aerated liquid - V _G volumetric air flow rate - y distance of impeller from the tank bottom - v _a apparent kinematic viscosity of liquid - density of liquid - time - gas hold-up - Eu=P/N ³ d ⁵ or Eu_G=P _G /N ³ d ⁵ Euler Number for non-gassed or aerated liquid - Fr=N ² d/g Froude Number - Fr^*=N ² d ² /g(H -y) modified Froude Number - K_G=V _G /N d ³ gas flow number - Re=N d ² /v _a Reynolds Number - Sh=k _K a/(g ² /v _a )^1/3 Sherwood Number