Genomic comparisons of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella</Emphasis> spp. and closely related bacteria using base compositional and proteome based methods

Background  

Classification of bacteria within the genus Brucella has been difficult due in part to considerable genomic homogeneity between the different species and biovars, in spite of clear differences in phenotypes. Therefore, many different methods have been used to assess Brucella taxonomy. In the current work, we examine 32 sequenced genomes from genus Brucella representing the six classical species, as well as more recently described species, using bioinformatical methods. Comparisons were made at the level of genomic DNA using oligonucleotide based methods (Markov chain based genomic signatures, genomic codon and amino acid frequencies based comparisons) and proteomes (all-against-all BLAST protein comparisons and pan-genomic analyses).     

Stock Portfolio Structure of Individual Investors Infers Future Trading Behavior

Although the understanding of and motivation behind individual trading behavior is an important puzzle in finance, little is known about the connection between an investor''s portfolio structure and her trading behavior in practice. In this paper, we investigate the relation between what stocks investors hold, and what stocks they buy, and show that investors with similar portfolio structures to a great extent trade in a similar way. With data from the central register of shareholdings in Sweden, we model the market in a similarity network, by considering investors as nodes, connected with links representing portfolio similarity. From the network, we find investor groups that not only identify different investment strategies, but also represent individual investors trading in a similar way. These findings suggest that the stock portfolios of investors hold meaningful information, which could be used to earn a better understanding of stock market dynamics.     

4α-methyl-24S-ethyl-5α-cholestan-3β-ol and 4α-methyl-24S-ethyl-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-3β-ol,two new sterols from a cultured marine di

Twenty sterols of the cultured zooxanthellae (dinoflagellate symbionts) originally derived from the Caribbean gorgonian coral Briareum asbestinum w     

A monograph of the genus Colignonia (Nyctaginaceae)

Species of the neotropical genus Colignoniu are perennial herbs, subshrubs and lianas from 1 m to c. 15 m tall. The genus ranges from c. 5°N in Colombia to c. 28°S in Argentina and comprises six species. It occurs in the Andean montane rain forest and cloud forest, often in disturbed areas. The flowers are of two types and divide the genus into two sections, viz. Pterocarpae (3 spp) with a 3-lobed perianth, and Colignonia (3 spp) with a 5-lobed perianth. C. pentoptera is described as new. C. biumbellata is reduced to subspecific status under C. parviflora. C. acutifolia , originally described by Heimerl as a variety of C. glomerata , is referred to C. parviflora as a distinct variety of ssp. biumbellata . Several names are reduced to synonymy. The chromosome number 2 n = 34 is recorded for three species (Sect. Colignoniu ) and 2 n= 32 for three species (Sect. Pterocarpae ). The correlation between chromosome numbers and perianth type supports the subdivision of the genus. Considerable morphological variation, correlated with changes in temperature and altitude, was observed in the field and in plants under cultivation. Pollen morphology and relationships to other genera in the Nyctaginaceae are discussed. Colignonia seems most closely related to Mirabilis, Commicarpus, Boerhaaviu , and Pisoniella .     

Minor and trace sterols from marine invertebrates 28. A novel polyhydroxylated sterol from the soft coral Anthelia glauca

A novel sterol containing four hydroxy groups has been isolated from the soft coral $\text{Anthelia glauca.}$ Its structure, 5α-ergostane-3β, 5,6β,7β-tetrol ($\text{1}$), has been deduced by spectroscopic methods and confirmed by comparison with a synthetic analog.     

A plant extract which enhances the plating efficiency of lymphoid cell lines and enhances the survival of normal lymphoid cells in vitro

A water soluble extract from the bark of the Samoan medicinal plantAlphitonia zizyphoides A. Gray (Rhamnaceae), enhances the plating efficiencyin vitro of lymphoid cell lines as well as the survival of bone marrow cells and normal T and B lymphocytes. Furthermore, the inclusion of bark-extract into culture media enhances the cloning efficiency of a T-hybridoma cell line by more than 30 times at otherwise unsuitably low serum concentrations, but does not completely substitute for serum. The enhanced growth of a B-cell hybridoma is also paralleled by an increased production of monoclonal antibodies in cultures containing low cell densities.Abbreviations AZH/w water extract ofAlphitonia zizyphoides - AZH/c sugar-free fraction of the same extract - CM complete medium - FCS fetal calf serum - NMR nuclear magnetic resonance - PBS phosphate buffered saline - SEM standard error of the mean - TLC thin layer chromatography     

Minor and trace sterols in marine invertebrates XVI. 3 epsilon-hydroxymethyl-A-nor-5 alpha-gorgostane, a novel sponge sterol

The free sterol mixture of the sponge Stylotella agminata contained a series of 3-hydroxymethyl-A-nor sterols of 5 alpha-cholestane, 5 alpha-cholest-22-ene, 24-methyl-5 alpha-cholestane, 24-ethyl-5 alpha-cholestane, and 24-ethyl-5 alpha-cholest-22-ene. A new cyclopropane-containing sterol was isolated and shown to be 3 epsilon-hydroxymethyl-A-nor-5 alpha-gorgostane. Sterols with conventional nuclei were also present as minor constituents;     

Is selection for territorial aggression in brown trout density‐dependent?

A comparison between a high-density (migratory) and a low-density (stream-resident) population of brown trout Salmo trutta , from the same stream, showed there was no support for the view that aggression was density-dependent.