Biodegradation of fuel oil hydrocarbons by a mixed bacterial consortium in sandy and loamy soils

The aerobic degradation of light fuel oil in sandy and loamy soils by an environmental bacterial consortium was investigated. Soils were spiked with 1 or 0.1% of oil per dry weight of soil. Acetone extracts of dried soils were analyzed by GC and the overall degradation was calculated by comparison with hydrocarbon recovery from uninoculated soils. In sandy soils, the sum of alkanes n-C(12) to n-C(23) was degraded to about 45% within 6 days at 20 degrees C and to 27-31% within 28 days, provided that moisture and nutrients were replenished. Degradation in loamy soil was about 12% lower. The distribution of recovered alkanes suggested a preferential degradation of shorter chain molecules (n-C(12) to n-C(16)) by the bacterial consortium. Partial 16S rDNA sequences indicated the presence of strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas citronellolis, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Toxicity tests using commercial standard procedures showed a moderate inhibition of bacterial activity. The study showed the applicability of a natural microbial community for the degradation of oil spills into soils at ambient temperatures.     

Gender-dependence of substituted judgment on quality of life in patients with dementia

Background  

Substituted judgment asks the proxy to decide what the patient would have decided, had he or she been competent. It is unclear whether substituted judgment of the patient's quality of life can serve as a surrogate measure in patients with dementia.     

Expression of the alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor gene family during evolution of the genus Mus

alpha 1-Proteinase inhibitors (alpha 1-PIs) are members of the serpin superfamily of proteinase inhibitors, and are important in the maintenance of homeostasis in a wide variety of animal taxa. Previous studies have shown that in mice (genus Mus), evolution of alpha 1-PIs is characterized by gene amplification, region-specific concerted evolution, and rapid accumulation of amino acid substitutions. The latter occurs primarily in the reactive center, which is the region of the alpha 1-PI molecule that determines the inhibitor's specificity for target proteinases. The P1 residue within the reactive center, which is methionine in so-called orthodox alpha 1-PIs and an amino acid other than methionine in unorthodox alpha 1-PIs, is a primary determinant of inhibitor specificity. In the present study, we find that the expression of mRNAs encoding unorthodox alpha 1-PIs is polymorphic within Mus species, i.e., among individuals or inbred strains. This is in striking contrast to mRNAs that encode orthodox alpha 1-PIs, whose concentrations are relatively invariant. The intraspecies variations in mRNA expression represent polymorphisms in the structure of the alpha 1- PI gene family. The results, taken together with previously described aspects of alpha 1-PI evolution, indicate that the dissimilar levels of polymorphism exhibited by orthodox and unorthodox alpha 1-PIs, which likely have distinct physiological functions, may reflect different levels of selective constraint. The significance of this finding to the evolution of gene families is discussed.      

FasL‐triggered death of Jurkat cells requires caspase 8‐induced,ATP‐dependent cross‐talk between fas and the purinergic receptor P2X7

Fas ligation via the ligand FasL activates the caspase‐8/caspase‐3‐dependent extrinsic death pathway. In so‐called type II cells, an additional mechanism involving tBid‐mediated caspase‐9 activation is required to efficiently trigger cell death. Other pathways linking FasL–Fas interaction to activation of the intrinsic cell death pathway remain unknown. However, ATP release and subsequent activation of purinergic P2X₇ receptors (P2X₇Rs) favors cell death in some cells. Here, we evaluated the possibility that ATP release downstream of caspase‐8 via pannexin1 hemichannels (Panx1 HCs) and subsequent activation of P2X₇Rs participate in FasL‐stimulated cell death. Indeed, upon FasL stimulation, ATP was released from Jurkat cells in a time‐ and caspase‐8‐dependent manner. Fas and Panx1 HCs colocalized and inhibition of the latter, but not connexin hemichannels, reduced FasL‐induced ATP release. Extracellular apyrase, which hydrolyzes ATP, reduced FasL‐induced death. Also, oxidized‐ATP or Brilliant Blue G, two P2X₇R blockers, reduced FasL‐induced caspase‐9 activation and cell death. These results represent the first evidence indicating that the two death receptors, Fas and P2X₇R connect functionally via caspase‐8 and Panx1 HC‐mediated ATP release to promote caspase‐9/caspase‐3‐dependent cell death in lymphoid cells. Thus, a hitherto unsuspected route was uncovered connecting the extrinsic to the intrinsic pathway to amplify death signals emanating from the Fas receptor in type II cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 485–493, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Muscle temperature in free-swimming giant Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus L.)

Muscle temperature was measured by telemetry in giant Atlantic bluefin tuna whilst the tuna were free-swimming in large pounds. Muscle temperature tended to remain steady at about 24°C; water temperature ranged from 9 to 17°C. Muscle temperature was much less variable than stomach temperature in these fish. Muscle temperature varied less than 3°C whereas stomach temperature varied by as much as 14°C.     

The performance of fungal xylan-degrading enzyme preparations in elemental chlorine-free bleaching for Eucalyptus pulp

Cellulase-free xylan-degrading enzyme preparations from Acrophialophora nainiana, Humicola grisea var. thermoidea and two Trichoderma harzianum strains were used as bleaching agents for Eucalyptus kraft pulp, prior to a chlorine dioxide and alkaline bleaching sequence. In comparison to the control sequence (performed without xylanase pretreatment), the sequence incorporating enzyme treatment was more effective. Removal of residual lignin was indicated by a reduction in kappa number. Overall, enzyme preparations from T. harzianum were marginally more effective in reducing pulp viscosity and chlorine chemical consumption and improving the brightness of the kraft pulp. However, the highest reduction in pulp viscosity was mediated by the xylanase preparation from A. nainiana. Xylanase pretreatment compares very favorably with that of chemical pulping. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2002) 28, 204–206 DOI: 10.1038/sj/jim/7000227 Received 27 April 2001/ Accepted in revised form 03 November 2001     

Automated chromatographic system for the simultaneous measurement of plasma pregnenolone and 17-hydroxypregnenolone by radioimmunoassay

A new, simple, rapid and highly practicable automated chromatographic system for the separation, and a sensitive radioimmunoassay system for the subsequent measurement of pregnenolone and 17-hydroxypregnenolone has been developed. Pregnenolone and 17-hydroxypregnenolone were extracted with methylene chloride and separated from cross-reacting steroids by mechanised Sephadex-LH20 multi-column chromatography. Anti-pregnenolone and anti-17-hydroxypregnenolone were obtained by immunising rabbits with pregnenolone-20-oxime-BSA and 17-hydroxypregnenolone-20-oxime-BSA. The lower detection limit of the assay is 0.15 and 0.28 nmol/l for pregnenolone and 17-hydroxypregnenolone, respectively. Normal values for this assay in young male adults, in adult females, and in prepubertal boys and girls were established as a basis for the functional diagnosis of androgen excess syndromes/steroidogenesis defects.