Unbalanced resting-state networks activity in psychophysiological insomnia

Sleep and Biological Rhythms - Psychophysiological insomnia (PI) is a clinical condition characterized by sleep-related disturbing cognitive activity and biased self-related information processing....     

The Pseudomonas syringae type III effector HopG1 targets mitochondria,alters plant development and suppresses plant innate immunity

The bacterial plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae uses a type III protein secretion system to inject type III effectors into plant cells. Primary targets of these effectors appear to be effector‐triggered immunity (ETI) and pathogen‐associated molecular pattern (PAMP)‐triggered immunity (PTI). The type III effector HopG1 is a suppressor of ETI that is broadly conserved in bacterial plant pathogens. Here we show that HopG1 from P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000 also suppresses PTI. Interestingly, HopG1 localizes to plant mitochondria, suggesting that its suppression of innate immunity may be linked to a perturbation of mitochondrial function. While HopG1 possesses no obvious mitochondrial signal peptide, its N‐terminal two‐thirds was sufficient for mitochondrial localization. A HopG1–GFP fusion lacking HopG1's N‐terminal 13 amino acids was not localized to the mitochondria reflecting the importance of the N‐terminus for targeting. Constitutive expression of HopG1 in Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) and Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) dramatically alters plant development resulting in dwarfism, increased branching and infertility. Constitutive expression of HopG1 in planta leads to reduced respiration rates and an increased basal level of reactive oxygen species. These findings suggest that HopG1's target is mitochondrial and that effector/target interaction promotes disease by disrupting mitochondrial functions.     

Interaction of metal ions with humic-like models. Part 5. The crystal and molecular structure of diaquabis(2,6-dihydroxybenzoato)-dioxouranium(VI) octahydrate

The crystal and molecular structure of the complex [UO₂(DHB)₂(H₂O)₂]·8H₂O (DHB = 2,6-di- hydroxybenzoato) has been determined from single- crystal X-ray analysis and refined to a final R value of 0.033 for 3620 observed reflections. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/m, with a = 6.704(3), b = 20.171(6), c = 9.454(4) Å and Z = 2. The coordination about the uranyl group, which is linear, involves two bidentate carboxylate groups and two water molecules in trans positions giving rise to an irregular hexagonal bipyramid. Intra- molecular hydrogen bonds between phenolic and carboxylate groups forming six-membered rings allow the molecule to be nearly planar. Spectroscopic (IR, NMR and electronic absorption) data and thermal properties of the compound are also reported.     

Isolation and evaluation of autochthonous Bacillus subtilis strains as probiotics for fat snook (Centropomus parallelus Poey, 1860)

The objective of this study was to isolate and select autochthonous strains of Bacillus subtilis from the fat snook, Centropomus parallelus, and examine the viability of the Bacillus bacteria to determine their beneficial effect on gut colonization in reared fish. Twenty strains of Bacillus were isolated and further confirmed as B. subtilis using PCR. Among the 20 strains, two strains (B02 and B03) exhibited an inhibitory performance against five tested pathogens. The Bacillus strains B02 and B03 were added to the fish ration, and after 30 days the number of viable colonies were maintained or increased under the conditions of refrigeration (5°C), freezing (?18°C), or room temperature (30°C). These strains showed a growth rate of 0.18–0.21 h and a doubling time of 3.34–3.9 h. Both strains were tolerant to variations in NaCl, and B03 was also tolerant to bile exposure. The ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract was also examined in healthy fat snook juveniles fed diets enriched for 30 days with strains B02 and B03. The amount of B. subtilis in the gastrointestinal juvenile tract was significantly higher in fish fed the enriched ration compared to controls. Based on these results, strains B02 and B03 were considered as candidate probiotics for fat snook.