Temperature effects in ethanol fermentation high corn media

Summary A relationship between temperature and high ethanol yields has been found using whole corn mashes saccharified with Aspergillus oryzae wheat bran koji. Decreased ethanol yields were obtained at 34.5°C with high concentration corn mashes in contrast to high ethanol yields with the same medium at lower temperatures. The decreased yields appear to be related to mass and/or heat transfer problems rather than primary ethanol toxicity. Scale-up of the high corn medium will require a re-evaluation of alcohol fermentation technology.     

Action of Systemic Nematicides in Control of Xiphinema iindex on Grape

In greenhouse tests using potted grape plants three nematicides, aldicarb 10 G at 4.5 ai/ha, phenamiphos 15 G at 22 kg ai/ha, and oxamyl liquid at 4.5 kg ai/ha, were tested against Xiphinema index on ''Thompson Seedless'' grape. Different timings for chemical treatments and X. index inoculations were used to determine some of the aspects of the mode of action. When nematodes and nematicides were applied simultaneously, nematodes were reduced from the initial 500 to the averages 5, 1, and 4, respectively, for aldicarb, phenamiphos, and oxamyl. Similar counts (respectively, 3, 1, and 2) were obtained when the nematicides were added first and the nematodes 14 d later. Nematode counts were 83, 112, and 1,346 when nematicides were applied first, and 14 days later plants were washed free of soil, repotted in untreated soil, and then inoculated. In untreated controls the population increased to an average of 2,703. Plant growth was inversely related to the level of nematode population resulting from the treatment.     

Copulatory behavior in relation to anatomical characteristics of three macaques

Anatomy of copulatory organs and patterns of copulatory behavior were studied in three species of Macaca. The copulatory behavior of the rhesus monkey (M. mulatta) and crab-eating macaque (M. fascicularis) were similar. Mounting time was longer in stump-tailed macaque (M. arctoides) (48 seconds) than in the rhesus monkey or crab-eating macaque (8.5 seconds). Species differences were correlated with anatomical differences in the female and male reproductive organs. In the stump-tailed macaque the male has a relatively long penis, and the female has an elaborate vestibular colliculus in the vestibule. Both rhesus and crab-eating macaques have a short penis, and the female has no vestibular colliculus. Under scanning electron microscope, cone-like projections (3–4 mm) were observed on the surface of the glans and corpus penis of M. arctoides. In M. fascicularis shorter projections (0.05–0.1 mm) were observed on the glans penis but not the corpus penis.     

Development of gonadotrophin-binding sites in the immature rat ovary.

There was a temporal relationship between ovarian development and the sites to which 125I-labelled gonadotrophins became bound. Labelled human LH and FSH bound uniformly to 5- and 15-day-old ovaries. At 21 days, heavy FSH and light LH binding was observed over the granulosa cells increased at Day 33 and again at Day 38. Quantitative determination by gamma-ray spectrophotometry of binding to ovarian sections showed that LH binding gradually increased with advancing age, but FSH binding remained relatively constant between Days 5 and 33 with a significant increase between Days 33 and 38.     

Gonadotropin binding and testicular function in old rats.

Serum testosterone levels, testicular LH binding and the spermatogenic cycle were analyzed in rats 4 and 22 mo of age. With age, serum testosterone levels decreased from 3.2 to 0.63 ng/ml serum. There was no age related decline in testicular LH binding or changes in the spermatogenic cycle.     

Sequential changes associated with the degeneration of preovulatory rat follicles.

In 26-day-old rats, follicles capable of ovulation were present 48 h after PMSG injection and they degenerated if not exposed to an ovulating dose of HCG. In such follicles 125I-labelled LH bound to the thecal and granulosa cells. By 60 h after PMSG, LH binding to the granulosa cells was reduced by 46% although these follicles retained their ability to ovulate. LH binding to the granulosa cells was lost in most follicles by 72 h and ovulation could not be induced. The thecal cells still possessed LH binding sites at 72 h after PMSG. HCG stimulation of these follicles resulted in disruption of the granulosa and the invasion of blood cells into the antrum.     

The Diverged Trypanosome MICOS Complex as a Hub for Mitochondrial Cristae Shaping and Protein Import

1. Download high-res image (166KB)
2. Download full-size image

     

Impact of Apo E gene polymorphism on HCV therapy related outcome in a cohort of HCV Egyptian patients

The functional apolipoprotein E (Apo E) gene polymorphism could be used as a determinant of outcome of HCV infection. This study aimed to demonstrate the impact of Apo E genotype on the response to HCV combined therapy. Material and methods: The study has been implemented on 125 individuals with persistent HCV infection and 120 cases with sustained virologic response (SVR). All participants were genotyped for ApoE gene polymorphism by a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Results: Statistically significant differences were demonstrated regarding the Apo E genotypes between the two groups (P-value?<?.001) where the frequency of E3E3 was significantly higher among the chronic HCV-patients while E3E4 and E4E4 genotypes frequencies were higher among the SVR-subjects group and E3E3 genotype was associated with increased risk of chronicity (OR 4.7; 95% CI 1.9–12.1, P-value?<?.001). Moreover, There were statically significant differences regarding E3 and E4 alleles frequencies, where E3 allele display a higher frequency among the chronic HCV-patient group while the SVR-subjects group showed higher frequency of E4 allele and the carriers of E3 allele have 1.4 times more risk to develop chronicity than those with E4 allele (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.0–2.0, P-value?<?.05). Meanwhile the protective E2 allele was absent in all infected participants. Conclusion: This study supports the hypothesis of the protective impact of Apo E4 allele that favors viral clearance of HCV infection and its recovery after combined therapy, while the Apo E3 allele is considered as a particular risk factor for the chronicity in HCV patients and resistance to therapy. Whereas the Apo E2 allele confers a resistance to HCV infection at a time of exposure.     

The effects of silver ions and silver nanoparticles on cell division and expression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">cdc2</Emphasis> gene in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium cepa</Emphasis> root tips

The effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), silver ions (Ag⁺), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on mitosis and expression of a gene encoding cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdc2) in onion roots were compared. Three concentrations (5, 10, and 15 mg dm^-3) were employed in combination with three incubation times (3, 6, and 9 h). PVP enhanced mitotic index and cdc2 expression. Both silver forms decreased mitotic index and cdc2 expression. Genotoxicity of both silver forms were indicated by three major distinguishable classes of chromosome aberrations: spindle disturbances, clastogenic aberrations, and chromosome stickiness. Concerning Ag⁺ treatments, significant enhancements in occurrence of any chromosome aberration type was associated with significant decrease in mitotic index. On the other hand, disturbed spindle in AgNPs treatments was observed even in absence of significant reduction in mitotic index suggesting that AgNPs inhibit cellular events occurring during mitosis to proceed normally rather than starting of cell division.