Über den bau der eischale von bulimus (Helicidae)

Zusammenfassung Der kohlensaure Kalk der untersuchten Helicideneischalen — Bulimus maximus (Durchmesser der Schale 23,6 x 25,1 mm, Dicke 0,25 mm), nicht näher bestimmte Schneckeneischale aus Sta. Catharina Brazil (Durchmesser 22,5 x 16,3 mm, Dicke 0,15 mm) — ist Calcit gemäß Optik (negativ einachsiges Konoskopbild) and Meigenscher Reaktion (in Übereinstimmung mit Kellys Beobachtungen bei Bulimus oblongus). Der Phosphatgehalt der Schale ist äuBerst gering trotz reichlichen Vorkommens der KELLyschen Phosphatkörnehen; diese sind in Wirklichkeit Gaseinschüisse. Erhitzen von Schalenstiicken braunt den Kalk bei Verkohlung der organischen Substanz durch and durch ; these durchsetzt also die Calcitkristalle, in Übereinstimmung mit Kellys Erfahrungen beim Entkalken. Erhitzen his zum Verbrennen der organischen Substanz (Wiederweißwerden der Schalenstücke) hebt die Doppelbrechung auf (Umwandlung des Calciumcarbonats in -oxyd); zugleich erscheint bräunliche Trübung im durchfallenden Licht wohl infolge des Austretens der Kohlensäure.Die Mammillenschicht auf der Innenseite der Schale besteht aus einzelnen Calcitindividuen oder Gruppen von solchen; diese Kristallkörnchen wachsen (zum Teil) zu den annähernd senkrecht stehenden Prismen aus, deren optische Achse rneist gegen die Schalenfläche geneigt ist. Vor allem bei Bulimus maximus lassen die Prismen eine innere grobgeschichtete and eine äußere feinstreifige Lage unterscheiden; die erste enthält die Gaseinschliisse, die sich bei der Schneckeneischale aus Sta. Catharina Brazil bis in die Mammillen hinein finden, and von rundlicher Form sind, während she bei Bulimus maximus zum Teil spaltenartig erscheinen. An manchen Stellen der Eischale aus Sta. Catharina Brazil tragen die Mamillen an ihrem freien Ende Scheiben aus radial gestellten Kalknadeln oder Rosetten aus größeren Kristallen, die bis zur Berührung benachbarter auswachsen können.     

Influence of orotic acid upon post-excitatory facilitation released by stimulation of the tooth pulp]

The influence of orotic acid on post-excitatory facilitation of evoked potentials released by electric stimulation of the tooth pulp in the sensomotor cortex was studied. 15-360 min following application of 100 mg/kg orotic acid, increase in amplitude of potentials released by stimulation of the tooth pulp, reinforcement of the post-excitatory facilitation observable 5 msec after stimulation occurred.     

Expression profiling of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crambe abyssinica</Emphasis>under arsenate stress identifies genes and gene networks involved in arsenic metabolism and detoxification

Background  

Arsenic contamination is widespread throughout the world and this toxic metalloid is known to cause cancers of organs such as liver, kidney, skin, and lung in human. In spite of a recent surge in arsenic related studies, we are still far from a comprehensive understanding of arsenic uptake, detoxification, and sequestration in plants. Crambe abyssinica, commonly known as 'abyssinian mustard', is a non-food, high biomass oil seed crop that is naturally tolerant to heavy metals. Moreover, it accumulates significantly higher levels of arsenic as compared to other species of the Brassicaceae family. Thus, C. abyssinica has great potential to be utilized as an ideal inedible crop for phytoremediation of heavy metals and metalloids. However, the mechanism of arsenic metabolism in higher plants, including C. abyssinica, remains elusive.     

A yeast's eye view of mammalian reproduction: cross-species gene co-expression in meiotic prophase

Background  

Meiotic prophase is a critical stage in sexual reproduction. Aberrant chromosome recombination during this stage is a leading cause of human miscarriages and birth defects. However, due to the experimental intractability of mammalian gonads, only a very limited number of meiotic genes have been characterized. Here we aim to identify novel meiotic genes important in human reproduction through computational mining of cross-species and cross-sex time-series expression data from budding yeast, mouse postnatal testis, mouse embryonic ovary, and human fetal ovary.     

Calculation of accurate small angle X-ray scattering curves from coarse-grained protein models

Background  

Genome sequencing projects have expanded the gap between the amount of known protein sequences and structures. The limitations of current high resolution structure determination methods make it unlikely that this gap will disappear in the near future. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is an established low resolution method for routinely determining the structure of proteins in solution. The purpose of this study is to develop a method for the efficient calculation of accurate SAXS curves from coarse-grained protein models. Such a method can for example be used to construct a likelihood function, which is paramount for structure determination based on statistical inference.     

UDP-Gal: <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acetylglucosamine β 1–4 galactosyltransferase expressing live attenuated parasites as vaccine for visceral leishmaniasis

As compared to cutaneous leishmaniasis, vaccination against visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has received limited attention. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that an UDP-Galactose: N-acetylglucosamine β 1–4 galactosyltransferase (GenBank Accession No. EF159943) expressing attenuated LD clonal population (A-LD) is able to confer protection against the experimental challenge with the virulent LD AG83 parasite. A-LD was also effective in established leishmania infection. The vaccinated animals showed both cell mediated (in vitro T-cell proliferation, and DTH response) and humoral responses (Th1 type). These results demonstrate the potential of the attenuated clones as an immunotherapeutic and immunoprophylactic agent against visceral leishmaniasis.     

Protoplast formation and regeneration in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus delbrueckii</Emphasis>

Method for production and regeneration of Lactobacillus delbrueckii protoplasts are described. The protoplasts were obtained by treatment with a mixture of lysozyme and mutanolysin in protoplast buffer at pH 6.5 with different osmotic stabilizers. The protoplasts were regenerated on deMan, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) with various osmotic stabilizers. Maximum protoplast formation was obtained in protoplast buffer with sucrose as an osmotic stabilizer using a combination of lysozyme (1 mg/ml) and mutanolysin (10 μg/ml). Maximum protoplast regeneration was obtained on MRS medium with sucrose (0.5 M) as an osmotic stabilizer. The regeneration medium was also applicable to other species of lactobacilli as well. This is, to our knowledge, the first report on protoplast formation and efficient regeneration in case of L. delbrueckii.