Cholesterol assimilation and biotransformation by Lactobacillus helveticus

Lactobacillus helveticus, grown at 37°C in MRS medium supplemented with 3 mM cholesterol, assimilated all the cholesterol in 42 h having 68 U mg⁻¹ of intracellular cholesterol oxidase activity. The strain transformed 1 g cholesterol to 0.05 g of androsta-1, 4-diene-3, 17-dione and 0.04 g of androst-4-ene-3, 17 dione within 48 h at 37°C with extracellular cholesterol oxidase activity at 12 U mg⁻¹ and intracellular oxidase at 0.5 U mg⁻¹.     

Hydrogen storage in C3Ti complex using quantum chemical methods and molecular dynamics simulations

The hydrogen storage capacity of C(3)Ti and C(3)Ti(+) complex was studied using second order M?ller-Plesset (MP2) and density functional theory (DFT) methods with different exchange and correlation functionals. Four and five H(2) molecules can be adsorbed on C(3)Ti and C(3)Ti(+) complex respectively at all the levels of theory used. This corresponds to the gravimetric H(2) uptake capacity of 8.77 and 10.73 wt % for the former and the latter respectively. The nature of interactions between different molecules in H(2) adsorbed complexes is also studied using many-body analysis approach. In the case of C(3)Ti(4H(2)) complex, total five-body interactions is negligible whereas for C(3)Ti(+)(5H(2)) relaxation energy is negligible. All the many-body energies have significant contribution to the binding energy of a respective complex. Atom-centered density matrix propagation molecular dynamics simulations were carried out using different methods to confirm whether H(2) molecules remain adsorbed on C(3)Ti and C(3)Ti(+) complex at room temperature. Adsorption Gibbs free energies show that four and five H(2) molecule adsorption on C(3)Ti and C(3)Ti(+) at room temperature is energetically favorable and unfavorable respectively using MP2 as well as DFT methods used here. H(2) adsorption is thermodynamically favorable over a wide range of temperature on the C(3)Ti than C(3)Ti(+)complex.     

In vitro organogenesis and plant regeneration of Thymus serpyllum L.: an important aromatic medicinal plant

An efficient in vitro propagation system has been developed for the rapid micropropagation of Thymus serpyllum L. (Banajwain), an aromatic medicinal herb from nodal explant on MS medium. Phenolic leaching and high rate of contamination was the most significant problem in establishing in vitro culture of Thymus serpyllum which was overcome by preparing explants in an antioxidant ascorbic acid (1000 ppm) at 6°C for 45 min and addition of the same antioxidant (50 mgl⁻¹) to the MS medium. The frequency of shoot production was influenced by different cytokinins (Kn, BAP, and Kn + BAP) and 95.56% shoot induction was observed when MS medium was supplemented with 1.0 + 2.0 mgl⁻¹ (Kn + BAP). The maximum average number of shoots 16.93 ± 2.15 and average length (3.98 ± 0.55) was recorded when MS medium have 0.5 + 2.0 mgl⁻¹ (Kn + BAP). The in vitro regenerated microshoots were rooted on MS and half strength MS medium and there was significant difference in root induction on both media under the influence of auxins (IAA, IBA, and NAA). The maximum average number (11.67 ± 3.03) and average root length (3.88 ± 0.71) was reported in half MS medium having 1.0 mgl⁻¹ IBA. The complete regenerated plantlets were acclimatized under growth chamber before transferring to the earthen pots and showed 90% survival.

Graphical abstract

     

Tonic activity of Galpha-gustducin regulates taste cell responsivity

The taste-selective G protein, α-gustducin (α-gus) is homologous to α-transducin and activates phosphodiesterase (PDE) in vitro. α-Gus-knockout mice are compromized to bitter, sweet and umami taste stimuli, suggesting a central role in taste transduction. Here, we suggest a different role for Gα-gus. In taste buds of α-gus-knockout mice, basal (unstimulated) cAMP levels are high compared to those of wild-type mice. Further, H-89, a cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, dramatically unmasks responses to the bitter tastant denatonium in gus-lineage cells of knockout mice. We propose that an important role of α-gus is to maintain cAMP levels tonically low to ensure adequate Ca²⁺ signaling.     

Breeding system, colony and population structure in the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina

Weaver ants ( Oecophylla smaragdina ) are dominant ants in open forests from India, Australia, China and Southeast Asia, whose leaf nests are held together with larval silk. The species, together with its sole congener O. longinoda , has been important in research on biological control, communication, territoriality and colony integration. Over most of the range, only one queen has been found per colony, but the occurrence of several queens per nest has been reported for the Australian Northern Territory. The number of males mating with each queen is little known. Here we report on the colony structure of O. smaragdina using published and new microsatellite markers. Worker genotype arrays reflect the occurrence of habitual polygyny (more than one queen per colony) in 18 colonies from Darwin, Northern Australia, with up to five queens inferred per colony. Monogyny (one queen per colony) with occasional polygyny was inferred for 14 colonies from Queensland, Australia, and 20 colonies from Java, Indonesia. Direct genotyping of the sperm carried by 77 Queensland queens and worker genotypic arrays of established colonies yielded similar results, indicating that less than half of the queens mate only once and some mate up to five times. Worker genotype arrays indicated that queens from Java and the Northern Territory also often mate with more than one male, but less often than those from Queensland. A strong isolation-by-distance effect was found for Queensland samples. The variation uncovered means that O. smaragdina is a more versatile study system than previously supposed.     

Changes in haemolymph constituents of American bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), infected with nucleopolyhedrovirus

Six types of haemocytes viz., prohaemocytes, plasmatocytes (round, fusiform, vermiform and spindle shaped), granular cells, spherule cells, oenocytoids and adipohaemocytes were found in the haemolymph of larvae of American bollworm H. armigera. The total and differential haemocyte counts (THC and DHC) in H. armigera haemolymph were affected by nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) treatment. There was a general decrease in THC in response to NPV treatment in both young and old larvae. However the decrease was more apparent in 5 and 8 day old larvae than in 10 day old larvae. The differential haemocytes showed less of granular cells and more of spherule cells and prohaemocytes in the old larvae. Plasmatocytes and granular cells in 10 day old larvae initially phagocytosed polyhedra; however, disintegrated after 3 to 4 hr. The haemolymph of NPV treated larvae melanized slowly particularly in old larvae. Phenoloxidase (PO) activity decreased positively with granular cells and oenocytoids in 10 day old treated larvae. Cellular fraction had high level of PO activity, which was transferred to plasma in response to NPV infection in the older larvae. The role of NPV pathogenesis vis-à-vis immunity in insect is discussed.     

Binary neural network training algorithms based on linear sequential learning

A key problem in Binary Neural Network learning is to decide bigger linear separable subsets. In this paper we prove some lemmas about linear separability. Based on these lemmas, we propose Multi-Core Learning (MCL) and Multi-Core Expand-and-Truncate Learning (MCETL) algorithms to construct Binary Neural Networks. We conclude that MCL and MCETL simplify the equations to compute weights and thresholds, and they result in the construction of simpler hidden layer. Examples are given to demonstrate these conclusions.     

Anaerobic decolorisation of simulated textile wastewater containing azo dyes

The effects of the addition of powered particles of kaolin to nitrifying activated sludge systems were studied. Kaolin was added to a nitrifying activated sludge reactor, during the operational phase, to observe the effects of this clay on reactor performance. The results were compared to those obtained from a similar unit operated without kaolin. The settling properties of the sludges from both units were similar (sludge volume index (SVI) of 14.5 ml/g VSS; zone settling velocity (ZSV) of 7.5 m/h), but the specific nitrifying activities of ammonia and nitrite oxidizing processes were enhanced up to 75% and 50%, respectively, when kaolin was added. The mechanism of action of kaolin was not clear. Additional ammonia, nitrite and nitrate adsorption tests showed that these compounds were not adsorbed by kaolin. This demonstrated that no beneficial effect was caused by adsorption of either substrates or products. Short-term activity tests also showed that the stimulating effects of kaolin on specific activity were not immediate. The effects of kaolin when nitrifying units were operated under unfavorable conditions were also evaluated: In a second set of experiments, a nitrifying unit was operated with low levels of dissolved oxygen (DO), with and without kaolin. The presence of kaolin exerted practically no effect on ammonia oxidation but nitrite oxidation slightly diminished. In a third set of experiments, a nitrifying unit was subjected to pH shocks (9, 10 and 11) over 3 h with pH then restored to 7.8. A pH shock of 11 caused a decrease of 60% in nitrifying activity for 12 days. When kaolin was added to this unit the efficiency of the system was completely restored in 4 days. Therefore, kaolin might be useful to restore damaged units.