A randomized test for the conditional odds ratio of matched pairs in an inverse binomial sampling design

Matched case‐control paired data are commonly used to study the association between a disease and an exposure of interest. This work provides a consistent test for this association with respect to the conditional odds ratio (), which is a measure of association that is also valid in prospective studies. We formulate the test from the maximum likelihood (ML) estimate of by using data under inverse binomial sampling, in which individuals are selected sequentially to form matched pairs until for the first time one obtains either a prefixed number of index pairs with the case unexposed but the control exposed or with the case exposed but the control unexposed. We discuss the situation of possible early stopping. We compare numerically the performance of our procedure with a competitor proposed by Lui ( 1996 ) in terms of type I error rate, power, average sample number (ASN) and the corresponding standard error. Our numerical study shows a gain in sample size without loss in power as compared to the competitor. Finally, we use the data taken from a case‐control study on the use of X‐rays and the risk of childhood acute myeloid leukemia for illustration.     

Membrane tethering by the atlastin GTPase depends on GTP hydrolysis but not on forming the cross-over configuration

The membrane-anchored atlastin GTPase couples nucleotide hydrolysis to the catalysis of homotypic membrane fusion to form a branched endoplasmic reticulum network. Trans dimerization between atlastins anchored in opposing membranes, accompanied by a cross-over conformational change, is thought to draw the membranes together for fusion. Previous studies on the conformational coupling of atlastin to its GTP hydrolysis cycle have been carried out largely on atlastins lacking a membrane anchor. Consequently, whether fusion involves a discrete tethering step and, if so, the potential role of GTP hydrolysis and cross-over in tethering remain unknown. In this study, we used membrane-anchored atlastins in assays that separate tethering from fusion to dissect the requirements for each. We found that tethering depended on GTP hydrolysis, but, unlike fusion, it did not depend on cross-over. Thus GTP hydrolysis initiates stable head-domain contact in trans to tether opposing membranes, whereas cross-over formation plays a more pivotal role in powering the lipid rearrangements for fusion.     

Development of intron-containing barnase gene (barnase-int) encoding a toxic protein to facilitate its cloning in bacterial cells

Developing gene constructs with the barnase gene and propagating them in Escherichia coli or Agrobacterium tumefaciens is difficult as unintended leaky expression leads to the death of the bacterial cells. In the present work, we circumvented this problem by developing intron containing barnase genes. We tested the use of two different introns viz., (i) the first intron (190 bp) of the catalase gene of castor bean and (ii) the twelfth intron (92 bp) of Pyruvate ortho-phosphate dikinase 2 (PPDK2) gene from cotton. Due to the absence of splicing in bacterial cells the unintended expression of the barnase protein was blocked allowing easy development and propagation of constructs. Further, we demonstrated that the intron introduced in the barnase gene was efficiently spliced out in the tapetum tissue of the anther in transgenic tobacco lines leading to male-sterility.     

Reduction in Acute Ecotoxicity of Paper Mill Effluent by Sequential Application of Xylanase and Laccase

In order to reduce the ecotoxicity of paper mill, four different enzymatic pretreatment strategies were investigated in comparison to conventional chemical based processes. In strategy I, xylanase-aided pretreatment of pulp was carried out, and in strategy II, xylanase and laccase-mediator systems were used sequentially. Moreover, to compare the efficiency of Bacillus stearothermophilus xylanase and Ceriporiopsis subvermispora laccase in the reduction of ecotoxicity and pollution, parallel strategies (III and IV) were implemented using commercial enzymes. Conventional C_DE_OPD₁D₂ (C_D, Cl₂ with ClO₂; E_OP, H₂O₂ extraction; D₁ and D_2, ClO₂) and X/XLC_DE_OPD₁D₂ (X, xylanase; L, laccase) sequences were employed with non-enzymatic and enzymatic strategies, respectively. Acute toxicity was determined by the extent of inhibition of bioluminescence of Vibrio fischeri with different dilutions of the effluent. Two-fold increase was observed in EC₅₀ values for strategy I compared to the control process. On the other hand, sequential application of commercial enzymes resulted in higher acute toxicity compared to lab enzymes. In comparison to the control process, strategy II was the most efficient and successfully reduced 60.1 and 25.8% of biological oxygen demand (BOD) and color of effluents, respectively. We report for the first time the comparative analysis of the ecotoxicity of industrial effluents.     

Benefit of Insecticide-Treated Nets,Curtains and Screening on Vector Borne Diseases,Excluding Malaria: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction

Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are one of the main interventions used for malaria control. However, these nets may also be effective against other vector borne diseases (VBDs). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the efficacy of ITNs, insecticide-treated curtains (ITCs) and insecticide-treated house screening (ITS) against Chagas disease, cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, dengue, human African trypanosomiasis, Japanese encephalitis, lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS and Tropical Disease Bulletin databases were searched using intervention, vector- and disease-specific search terms. Cluster or individually randomised controlled trials, non-randomised trials with pre- and post-intervention data and rotational design studies were included. Analysis assessed the efficacy of ITNs, ITCs or ITS versus no intervention. Meta-analysis of clinical data was performed and percentage reduction in vector density calculated.

Results

Twenty-one studies were identified which met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of clinical data could only be performed for four cutaneous leishmaniasis studies which together showed a protective efficacy of ITNs of 77% (95%CI: 39%–91%). Studies of ITC and ITS against cutaneous leishmaniasis also reported significant reductions in disease incidence. Single studies reported a high protective efficacy of ITS against dengue and ITNs against Japanese encephalitis. No studies of Chagas disease, human African trypanosomiasis or onchocerciasis were identified.

Conclusion

There are likely to be considerable collateral benefits of ITN roll out on cutaneous leishmaniasis where this disease is co-endemic with malaria. Due to the low number of studies identified, issues with reporting of entomological outcomes, and few studies reporting clinical outcomes, it is difficult to make strong conclusions on the effect of ITNs, ITCs or ITS on other VBDs and therefore further studies be conducted. Nonetheless, it is clear that insecticide-treated materials such as ITNs have the potential to reduce pathogen transmission and morbidity from VBDs where vectors enter houses.     

Characterization of a novel laccase from the isolated Coltricia perennis and its application to detoxification of biomass

A highly efficient laccase-producing fungus was isolated from soil and identified as Coltricia perennis SKU0322 by its morphology and by comparison of its internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA gene sequence. Extracellular laccase (Cplac) from C. perennis was purified to homogeneity by anion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Cplac is a monomeric glycoprotein with 12% carbohydrate content and a molecular mass of 66 kDa determined by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy observed type 1 and type 3 copper signals from Cplac. The enzyme acted optimally at pH 3–4 and 75 °C. Its optimal activity was with 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), it also oxidized various lignin-related phenols. The enzyme was characterized as a multi-copper blue laccase by its substrate specificity and internal amino acid sequence. It showed a higher catalytic efficiency towards ABTS (k_cat/K_m = 18.5 s^?1 μM^?1) and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (k_cat/K_m = 13.9 s^?1 μM^?1) than any other reported laccase. Its high stability and catalytic efficiency suggest its suitability for industrial applications: it detoxified phenolic compounds in acid-pretreated rice straw and enhanced saccharification yield.     

A uniform human Wnt expression library reveals a shared secretory pathway and unique signaling activities

Wnt ligands are secreted morphogens that control multiple developmental processes during embryogenesis and adult homeostasis. A diverse set of receptors and signals have been linked to individual Wnts, but the lack of tools for comparative analysis has limited the ability to determine which of these signals are general for the entire Wnt family, and which define subsets of differently acting ligands. We have created a versatile Gateway library of clones for all 19 human Wnts. An analysis comparing epitope-tagged and untagged versions of each ligand shows that despite their similar expression at the mRNA level, Wnts exhibit considerable variation in stability, processing and secretion. At least 14 out of the 19 Wnts activate β-catenin-dependent signaling, an activity that is cell type-dependent and tracks with the stabilization of β-catenin and LRP6 phosphorylation. We find that the core Wnt modification and secretion proteins Porcupine (PORCN) and Wntless (WLS) are essential for all Wnts to signal through β-catenin-dependent and independent pathways. This comprehensive toolkit provides critical tools and new insights into human Wnt gene expression and function.     

A Bayesian semiparametric approach for incorporating longitudinal information on exposure history for inference in case-control studies

In a typical case-control study, exposure information is collected at a single time point for the cases and controls. However, case-control studies are often embedded in existing cohort studies containing a wealth of longitudinal exposure history about the participants. Recent medical studies have indicated that incorporating past exposure history, or a constructed summary measure of cumulative exposure derived from the past exposure history, when available, may lead to more precise and clinically meaningful estimates of the disease risk. In this article, we propose a flexible Bayesian semiparametric approach to model the longitudinal exposure profiles of the cases and controls and then use measures of cumulative exposure based on a weighted integral of this trajectory in the final disease risk model. The estimation is done via a joint likelihood. In the construction of the cumulative exposure summary, we introduce an influence function, a smooth function of time to characterize the association pattern of the exposure profile on the disease status with different time windows potentially having differential influence/weights. This enables us to analyze how the present disease status of a subject is influenced by his/her past exposure history conditional on the current ones. The joint likelihood formulation allows us to properly account for uncertainties associated with both stages of the estimation process in an integrated manner. Analysis is carried out in a hierarchical Bayesian framework using reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms. The proposed methodology is motivated by, and applied to a case-control study of prostate cancer where longitudinal biomarker information is available for the cases and controls.     

Cloning and characterization of a thermostable H2O-forming NADH oxidase from Lactobacillus rhamnosus

NADH oxidase (Nox) catalyzes the conversion of NADH to NAD(+). A previously uncharacterized Nox gene (LrNox) was cloned from Lactobacillus rhamnosus and overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). Sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 1359 bp, capable of encoding a polypeptide of 453 amino acid residues. The molecular mass of the purified LrNox enzyme was estimated to be ~50 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and 100 kDa by gel filtration chromatography, suggesting that the enzyme is a homodimer. The enzyme had optimal activity at pH 5.6 and temperature 65 °C, and k(cat)/K(m) of 3.77×10(7) s(-1) M(-1), the highest ever reported. Heat inactivation studies revealed that LrNox had high thermostability, with a half-life of 120 min at 80 °C. Molecular dynamics simulation studies shed light on the factors contributing to the high activity of LrNox. Although the properties of Nox from several microorganisms have been reported, this is the first report on the characterization of a recombinant H(2)O-forming Nox with high activity and thermostability. The characteristics of the LrNox enzyme could prove to be of interest in industrial applications such as NAD(+) regeneration.     

Biologically active macrocyclic complexes derived from diaminonaphthalene and glyoxal: Template synthesis and spectroscopic approach

A novel series of complexes of the type [M(C(24)H(16)N(4))X(2)]; where M = Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II); X = Cl(-1), NO(-1)(3), CH(3)COO(-1) has been synthesized by template condensation of 1,8-diaminonaphthalene and glyoxal in the presence of divalent metal salts in methanolic medium. The complexes have been characterized with the help of elemental analyses, conductance measurements, molecular weight determination, magnetic measurements, electronic, NMR, infrared and far infrared spectral studies. The low value of molar conductance indicates them to be non-electrolytes. On the basis of various studies a distorted octahedral geometry may be proposed for all of these complexes. These metal complexes were also tested for their in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities to assess their inhibiting potential.