FAMILIAL VALVULAR PULMONIC STENOSIS INVOLVING THREE SIBLINGS

This report describes the cases of three mentally and physically well-developed siblings, 12, 10, and 8 years of age, with varying degrees of isolated valvular pulmonic stenosis not related to age. The severest lesion occurred in the middle patient and was associated with a right-to-left shunt through a patent foramen ovale. The three children had no other siblings, and there was no history of congenital heart disease among close relatives. These cases support the conclusion that genetic factors play a significant role in the development of certain congenital cardiac disorders.     

Phenolic synthesis in Perilla cell suspension cultures

Suspension cultures of Perilla ocymoides accumulate caffeic acid, both in free and ester forms, as the only phenylpropanoid end metabolite. Increased levels of growth substances influenced the levels of PAL activity and phenolic accumulation so that cytokinin stimulated, while auxin repressed both parameters. The regulatory role of caffeyl compounds is discussed in relation to their accumulation during the early exponential phase of culture growth.     

Identification of Protor as a novel Rictor-binding component of mTOR complex-2

The mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) protein kinase is an important regulator of cell growth. Two complexes of mTOR have been identified: complex 1, consisting of mTOR-Raptor (regulatory associated protein of mTOR)-mLST8 (termed mTORC1), and complex 2, comprising mTOR-Rictor (rapamycininsensitive companion of mTOR)-mLST8-Sin1 (termed mTORC2). mTORC1 phosphorylates the p70 ribosomal S6K (S6 kinase) at its hydrophobic motif (Thr389), whereas mTORC2 phosphorylates PKB (protein kinase B) at its hydrophobic motif (Ser473). In the present study, we report that widely expressed isoforms of unstudied proteins termed Protor-1 (protein observed with Rictor-1) and Protor-2 interact with Rictor and are components of mTORC2. We demonstrate that immunoprecipitation of Protor-1 or Protor-2 results in the co-immunoprecipitation of other mTORC2 subunits, but not Raptor, a specific component of mTORC1. We show that detergents such as Triton X-100 or n-octylglucoside dissociate mTOR and mLST8 from a complex of Protor-1, Sin1 and Rictor. We also provide evidence that Rictor regulates the expression of Protor-1, and that Protor-1 is not required for the assembly of other mTORC2 subunits into a complex. Protor-1 is a novel Rictor-binding subunit of mTORC2, but further work is required to establish its role.     

Influence of harmonic radar tag attachment on nymphal Halyomorpha halys mobility,survivorship, and detectability

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a polyphagous invasive insect and currently one of the most threatening agricultural pests in the USA and globally. Nymphs are highly mobile, moving among host plants, and causing significant damage. Thus, understanding dispersal biology for all life stages is critical for the development of reliable monitoring and management programs. Here, we evaluated the influence of harmonic radar as a tool to study dispersal ecology of nymphal H. halys; we measured the impact of glues and tag attachment on survivorship and mobility in the laboratory and validated in the field that tagged and released nymphs could be tracked on baited and unbaited host and non‐host plants using harmonic radar. In the laboratory, four glues were evaluated for attaching harmonic radar tags securely to nymphs, and survivorship with attached tags was measured. There were no significant differences in survivorship or vertical and horizontal movement among nymphs with tags affixed with the glue treatments compared with the untagged control. Based on numerically greater survivorship of nymphs with tags affixed with Loctite glass glue, a field validation study of tagged nymphs released in host (apple tree) and non‐host (mowed grass) with or without H. halys pheromonal stimuli present revealed that nymphs could be successfully relocated using harmonic radar after 48 h. Among treatments, 83% of nymphs remained in baited and unbaited apple trees, 50% of nymphs remained in baited mowed grass plots, and in unbaited mowed grass plots, 17% of fifth instars, and 0% of fourth instars were retained. The absence of negative effects on mobility, survivorship, and field tracking validates that harmonic radar can be used to study dispersal ecology of nymphal H. halys.     

Ethanol-Induced Oxidative Stress: The Role of Binaphthyl Diselenide as a Potent Antioxidant

It is widely accepted that oxidative stress plays a central role in alcohol-induced pathogenesis. The protective effect of binaphthyl diselenide (NapSe)2 was investigated in ethanol (Etoh)-induced brain injury. Thirty male adult Wistar rats were divided randomly into five groups of six animals each and treated as follows: (1) The control group received the vehicle (soy bean oil, 1 mL/kg, p.o.). (2) Ethanol group of animals was administered with ethanol (70% v/v, 2 mL/kg, p.o.). (3) (NapSe)2 1 mg/kg, 1 mL/kg plus ethanol 70% (v/v, 2 mL/kg, p.o. (5) (NapSe)2 10 mg/kg, 1 mL/kg) plus ethanol 70% (v/v, 2 mL/kg, p.o). After acute treatment, all rats were sacrificed by decapitation. Evidence for oxidative stress in rat brain was obtained from the observed levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive species, of non-protein thiol (NPSH) groups, and of ascorbic acid, as well as from the activities of catalase (CAT) and of superoxide dismutase (SOD). (NapSe)2 compensated the deficits in the antioxidant defense mechanisms (CAT, SOD, NPSH, and ascorbic acid), and suppressed lipid peroxidation in rat brain resulting from Etoh administration. It was concluded that ethanol exposure causes alterations in the antioxidant defense system and induces oxidative stress in rat brain. (NaPSe)2 at 5 mg/kg restored the antioxidant defenses in rat brain and mitigated the toxic effects of alcohol, suggesting that could be used as a potential therapeutic agent for alcohol-induced oxidative damage in rat brain.     

Sulfate Reduction and Methanogenesis in the Sediment of a Saltmarsh on the East Coast of the United Kingdom

The rates of sulfate reduction, methanogenesis, and methane loss were measured in saltmarsh sediment at monthly intervals. In addition, dissolved methane and sulfate concentrations together with pS²⁻ and pH were determined. Methane formation from carbon dioxide, but not from acetate, was detected within the same horizon of sediment where sulfate reduction was most active. Sulfate reduction was about three orders of magnitude greater than annual methanogenesis. The two processes were not separated either spatially or temporally, but occurred within the same layer of sediment at the same time of the year. Their coexistence did not seem to be the result of sulfate-depleted microenvironments within which methanogenesis could occur, but the methanogenic bacteria persisted at very low rates of activity within the same environment as the sulfate reducers.     

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of Kanlow switchgrass by thermotolerant Kluyveromyces marxianus IMB3: the effect of enzyme loading, temperature and higher solid loadings

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) was subjected to hydrothermolysis pretreatment and then used to study the effect of enzyme loading and temperature in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) with the thermotolerant yeast strain Kluyveromyces marxianus IMB3 at 8% solid loading. Various loadings of Accellerase 1500 between 0.1 and 1.1 mL g(-1) glucan were tested in SSF at 45 °C (activity of enzyme was 82.2 FPU mL(-1)). The optimum enzyme loading was 0.7 mL g(-1) glucan based on the six different enzyme loadings tested. SSFs were performed at 37, 41 and 45 °C with an enzyme loading of 0.7 mL g(-1) glucan. The highest ethanol concentration of 22.5 g L(-1) was obtained after 168 h with SSF at 45 °C, which was equivalent to 86% yield. Four different batch and fed-batch strategies were evaluated using a total solid loading of 12% (dry basis). About 32 g L(-1) ethanol was produced with the four strategies, which was equivalent to 82% yield.