Microbial transformation of 13-ethyl-3-methoxy-8,14-seco-gona-1,3,5(10),9(11)-tetraene-14, 17-dione to its 17-beta hydroxy derivative by Pichia farinosa in pilot plant fermentors

Parameters for microbial transformation of 13-ethyl-3-methoxy-8, 14-seco-gona-1,3,5 (10), 9(11)-tetraene-14,17-dione to its 17 beta-hydroxy derivative by P. farinosa have been standardised in pilot plant fermentors. The yield of the pure crystalline compound was 80%.     

Human pluripotent stem cells identify molecular targets of trisomy 12 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

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Statistical Dynamics of Flowing Red Blood Cells by Morphological Image Processing

Blood is a dense suspension of soft non-Brownian cells of unique importance. Physiological blood flow involves complex interactions of blood cells with each other and with the environment due to the combined effects of varying cell concentration, cell morphology, cell rheology, and confinement. We analyze these interactions using computational morphological image analysis and machine learning algorithms to quantify the non-equilibrium fluctuations of cellular velocities in a minimal, quasi-two-dimensional microfluidic setting that enables high-resolution spatio-temporal measurements of blood cell flow. In particular, we measure the effective hydrodynamic diffusivity of blood cells and analyze its relationship to macroscopic properties such as bulk flow velocity and density. We also use the effective suspension temperature to distinguish the flow of normal red blood cells and pathological sickled red blood cells and suggest that this temperature may help to characterize the propensity for stasis in Virchow''s Triad of blood clotting and thrombosis.     

Oxidation of dibenzothiophene byCunninghamella elegans

The metabolism of dibenzothiophene (DBT) by the catabolically versatile fungusCunninghamella elegans (ATCC 36112) was investigated. This fungus has been previously shown to metabolize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons including nitropolycyclic aromatics, but has not been shown to metabolize DBT. The results show thatC. elegans oxidizes DBT to its corresponding DBT-5 oxide and then to DBT-sulfone, without the formation of any biphenyl intermediates.Paper from the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Serological Activity of Protein A of Staphylococcus aureus: the Precipitinogen as an Antigen for Determining Antibodies by the Passive Hemagglutination Test

Tanned sheep erythrocytes have been considered incapable of sensitization with the precipitinogen of protein A of Staphylococcus aureus, so that the activity of this antigen in serological reactions has so far been studied by means of the agar diffusion test (ADT) only. The precipitinogen of the protein A in this study was found to become attached to the tanned erythrocytes and to sensitize them for the passive hemagglutination test (PHT). It was determined that, in contrast to nonspecific reactivity between normal human serum and the precipitinogen in the ADT, the reaction in the PHT was of specific nature. Of seven species studied, all normal human, dog, and hog sera tested were positive in the PHT. However, the hemagglutinin titers of the sera of the two animal species by far exceeded those of the human sera. The data emphasized the usefulness of the highly sensitive PHT for assaying antibodies to protein A.     

Experimental pulmonary nocardiosis in monkeys.

The study describes an easy and reproducible technique of producing pulmonary nocardiosis in monkeys, yielding consistent morbidity and mortality results. Introduction of the fungal suspension into the lower canaliculus, with or without debridement of the canalicular epithelium, produced fatal pneumonitis in 1-2 weeks. Specificity of the lesions was determined by demonstration of Nocardia in tissue sections and in culture.     

The segmentation of the gnathobdellid leeches with special reference to the Indian leech Hirudinaria and medicinal leech Hirudo

Large number of annuli in Hirudinea are not true segments, and in the absence of spacious bodycavity and septa in adult no decision was taken regarding limit of a somite, until Gratiolet 1862 recognised a segment by colour marking, repetition of nephridial openings, and especially by the presence of segmental receptors, distinguishing first annulus of a segment. Whitman 1884 gave precision to these determinations and analyzed morphology of leeches to logical completeness. He recognised that though Hirudinaria and Hirudo have 102 body annuli and posterior sucker, true segments are only 26 plus 7. Castle ('00) and Moore ('00) proposed a new scheme of segmentation, with segmental receptor bearing annulus, as central annulus of a complete somite, with nerve ganglion, like that of other annelids, in center of a segment. They orientated everything roundabout the ganglion without noticing distorted fate of organ system. In this paper both the views are compared. Morphological and embryological studies reveal that the annulus bearing the segmental receptors in uniformly first annulus of all segments, including incomplete segments at the two extremities, with nerve ganglion in first annulus of the segment. Clitellum occupies three natural segments, IX, X, XI; crop caeca, nephridia, testis sacs, haemocoelomic channels and “rhomboidal figures” formed by ventrolaterals, all make a complete unit, well integrated in such segment. Conclusive evidence comes from the presence of septa at the level of each nerve ganglion in embryos of Hirudinaria. These observations corroborate Gratiolet and Whitman's view.