New evidence on the southeast Baltic Late Bronze Age agrarian intensification and the earliest AMS dates of Lens culinaris and Vicia faba

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany - This article explores the Late Bronze Age agrarian intensification in the south-east Baltic. In recent years several studies have illustrated that to date...     

4-[N-(substituted 4-pyrimidinyl)amino]benzenesulfonamides as inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase isozymes I, II, VII, and XIII

A series of 4-[N-(substituted 4-pyrimidinyl)amino]benzenesulfonamides were designed and synthesised. Their binding potencies as inhibitors of selected recombinant human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) isozymes I, II, VII, and XIII were measured using isothermal titration calorimetry and the thermal shift assay. To determine the structural features of inhibitor binding, the crystal structures of several compounds in complex with hCA II were determined. Several compounds exhibited selectivity towards isozymes I, II, and XIII, and some were potent inhibitors of hCA VII.     

Detection of methicillin-resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> using double duplex real-time PCR and dye Syto 9

A screening method for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and dye Syto 9 was developed and evaluated. The assay was based on the two duplex reactions run simultaneously. The detection reaction amplified staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) right extremity sequences and S. aureus-specific 442-bp DNA (Sa442). The control reaction amplified S. aureus-specific nuclease gene nuc and a marker of methicillin resistance, mecA. The method was evaluated by analyzing 214 clinical S. aureus isolates yielding 98.7 % sensitivity, 100 % specificity, 100 % positive predictive value and 96.6 % negative predictive value for detection of MRSA. The detection limit was determined to be 15–80 genome copies per real-time PCR. It was able to discriminate between MRSA, methicillin resistant coagulase negative staphylococci and methicillin susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) isolates containing only small fragments of the right extremity of the SCCmec (MSSA revertants).     

Changes in microbiota of rainbow trout caused by sediments contamination

The abundance, composition and hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, as possible biomarkers of contamination with oil hydrocarbons, of autochthonous and alochtonous microbiota of the digestive tract of rainbow trout have been estimated. The samples of the bottom sediments for microbiological tests have been collected and a response of natural bacterial communities in the digestive tract of rainbow trout and nutritional changes has been investigated. Experimental fish have been fed with a mixture of three substances with the aim to assess the influence of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria contained in the sediments on the microbiota of rainbow trout’s digestive tracts. The abundance values of rainbow trout intestinal heterotrophic bacteria were found to change depending on alochtonous microbiota of different bottom sediments given to the experimental fish with food in vitro. According to the results of our research, it is likely that the changes in the abundance values of the microbiota of the digestive tract of fish and in the proportions of functional groups of the bacteria allow us to determine changes in the functional activity of bacteria depending on food composition. Any relative increase or decrease of abundance or activity of alochtonous microbiota allows the prediction of toxic effects of the contaminants on animals and the environment.     

Skin extracellular matrix components accelerate the regenerative potential of Lin− cells

Due to their unique properties, bone marrow-derived Lin^? cells can be used to regenerate damaged tissues, including skin. The objective of our study was to determine the influence of the skin tissue-specific microenvironment on mouse Lin^? cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Cells were analyzed for the expression of stem/progenitor surface markers by flow cytometry. Proliferation of MACS-purified cells in 3D cultures was investigated by WST-8 assay. Lin^? cell migration was evaluated by in vitro scratch assay. The results obtained show that basement membrane matrix is more effective for Lin^? cell proliferation in vitro. However, type I collagen matrix better enhances the re-epithelization process, that depends on the cell migratory properties. These studies are important for preparing cells to be used in transplantation.     

Selection by parasitoid females among closely related hosts based on volatiles: Identifying relevant chemical cues

Parasitoid fitness is influenced by the ability to overcome host defense strategies and by the ability of parasitoid females to select high‐quality host individuals. When females are unable to differentiate among hosts, their fitness will decrease with an increasing abundance of resistant hosts. To understand the effect of mixed host populations on female fitness, it is therefore necessary to investigate the ability of female parasitoids to select among hosts. Here, we used behavioral assays, headspace volatile collection, and electrophysiology to study the ability of Asecodes parviclava to use olfactory cues to select between a susceptible host (Galerucella calmariensis) and a resistant host (Galerucella pusilla) from a distance. Our studies show that parasitoid females have the capacity to distinguish the two hosts and that the selection behavior is acquired through experiences during earlier life stages. Further, we identified two volatiles (α‐terpinolene and [E]‐β‐ocimene) which amounts differ between the two plant–herbivore systems and that caused behavioral and electrophysiological responses. The consequence of this selection behavior is that females have the capacity to avoid laying eggs in G. pusilla, where the egg mortality is higher due to much stronger immune responses toward A. parviclava than in larvae of G. calmariensis.     

Ethephon and Aventrol as tools to enhance spring rape productivity

Ethephon and Aventrol were used as tools to provoke the processes taking part in the formation of rape seed yield and quality. Investigations on spring rape (Brassica napus L.) cultivars ‘Terra’ and ‘Landmark’ were carried out from 2008–2010. Ethephon (10 mM) and Aventrol (1 l/ha — pinolene 960 g/l) were used on different plant growth stages: BBCH-62–64 and BBCH-72–74, BBCH-80–82, respectively. Impact of ethephon manifested itself as activation of ethylene evocation by siliqua and a slight activation of growth of siliqua dehiscence zone. Siliqua cell plasmalemma and tonoplast H⁺-ATPases activation under the influence of ethephon occurred but did not lead to the destruction of transmembrane electrochemical potential. Extra seed yield and crude fat yield increased; tendency towards a lowering of the saturated/unsaturated fatty acid ratio was observed. Under the influence of Aventrol the dehiscence zone of siliqua was more closed when compared to the control and the ethephon treated variants, seed loss was significantly lowered and transmembrane cation transport was not damaged. The seed yield increased, and this was due to the accumulation of extra crude fat. Aventrol did not change the fatty acid content in rape seed oil. The positive impacts of ethephon and Aventrol for spring rape seed yield formation and possible mechanisms are discussed.