Effectiveness of five antidandruff cosmetic formulations against planktonic cells and biofilms of dermatophytes

This study aimed to investigate the in vitro antifungal effectiveness of five different formulations against dandruff and ringworm dermatophytes. Candida albicans was also included in our assays. Fungal susceptibility tests were performed with planktonic cells and biofilms of reference strains. Microbiological and physicochemical quality parameters were assessed for all formulations. Our data indicated that the formulations were effective against the dermatophytes strains, and to our knowledge, the effectiveness of cosmetic formulations against fungal biofilms is shown for the first time. The formulations were considered effective against the explored dermatophytes and were considered safe given the adequate microbiological and physicochemical characteristics shown in the proposed assays.     

A high yield multi-method extraction protocol for protein quantification in activated sludge

A multi-method extraction protocol based on mechanical, ionic and hydrophobic methods was investigated on two types of activated sludge samples. Extraction methods were chosen with regards to optimal protein yield without cell disruption. Sonication, EDTA and Tween extraction methods were selected and combined. The total amount of protein released by the multi-method protocol sums up to 191 and 264 mg equiv. BSA/g VSS for the two different sludge samples. Protocol repetition on the same sample showed that protein yield after each successive protocol fitted an exponential curve model. The total amount of extractable proteins was evaluated by model predictions, 423 and 516 mg equiv. BSA/g VSS for the two sludge samples. The multi-method extraction protocol appears relevant for harvesting a representative quantity of proteins from the original sample (45-49%), moreover the multi-method criterion of the protocol also offers a heterogeneous pool of proteins. Thus, further qualitative studies may not be biased by the extraction protocol.     

Anthropogenic impact on water quality of Chilika lagoon RAMSAR site: a statistical approach

This paper investigated the spatio-temporal variability of water quality parameters (transparency, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients viz. NH₃-N, NO₂-N, NO₃⁻-N, PO₄³-P, total nitrogen, total phosphorous and chlorophyll-a) in Chilika lagoon during 2001–2003 in order to better understand its ecological characteristics. Marked spatial and seasonal variations were detected with respect to almost all parameters studied. Northern sector of the lagoon is more affected by the anthropogenic stress from the catchments than the southern sector. Addition of nitrogen and phosphorous compounds to the lagoon mainly occurred through the drainage from agricultural lands and river run off during the early months of paddy cultivating seasons. Phytoplankton productivity of the lagoon was nitrogen limited, as suggested by nitrogen to phosphorous ratio. Processes affecting the water quality of the lagoon system included agricultural drainage, sewage intrusion, macrophyte litter fall and exchange of water between lagoon and the sea (Bay of Bengal). Further in depth study pertaining to quantification of exogenous material input and their disposal is recommended to ensure proper management of the lagoon and its resources.     

Molecular characterization of cold adaptation based on ortholog protein sequences from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrionaceae</Emphasis> species

A set of 298 protein families from psychrophilic Vibrio salmonicida was compiled to identify genotypic characteristics that discern it from orthologous sequences from the mesophilic Vibrio/Photobacterium branch of the gamma-Proteobacteria (Vibrionaceae family). In our comparative exploration we employed alignment based bioinformatical and statistical methods. Interesting information was found in the substitution matrices, and the pattern of asymmetries in the amino acid substitution process. Together with the compositional difference, they identified the amino acids Ile, Asn, Ala and Gln as those having the most psycrophilic involvement. Ile and Asn are enhanced whereas Gln and Ala are suppressed. The inflexible Pro residue is also suppressed in loop regions, as expected in a flexible structure. The dataset were also classified and analysed according to the predicted subcellular location, and we made an additional study of 183 intracellular and 65 membrane proteins. Our results revealed that the psychrophilic proteins have similar hydrophobic and charge contributions in the core of the protein as mesophilic proteins, while the solvent-exposed surface area is significantly more hydrophobic. In addition, the psychrophilic intracellular (but not the membrane) proteins are significantly more negatively charged at the surface. Our analysis supports the hypothesis of preference for more flexible amino acids at the molecular surface. Life in cold climate seems to be obtained through many minor structural modifications rather than certain amino acids substitutions.     

Biomass pretreatment: fundamentals toward application

Development of sustainable energy systems based on renewable biomass feedstocks is now a global effort. Lignocellulosic biomass contains polymers of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, bound together in a complex structure. Liquid biofuels, such as ethanol, can be made from biomass via fermentation of sugars derived from the cellulose and hemicellulose within lignocellulosic materials, but the biomass must be subjected to pretreatment processes to liberate the sugars needed for fermentation. Production of value-added co-products along-side biofuels through integrated biorefinery processes creates the need for selectivity during pretreatment. This paper presents a survey of biomass pretreatment technologies with emphasis on concepts, mechanism of action and practicability. The advantages and disadvantages, and the potential for industrial applications of different pretreatment technologies are the highlights of this paper.     

新分离呼吸道肠道病毒生物学特性和S4片段的序列测定

新分离呼吸道肠道病毒(简称呼肠病毒)经过空斑分纯后进行生物学和部分基因序列的鉴定。首先通过BYD株(由端青从北京于某患者标本中分离到的第一株呼肠病毒)对4种传代细胞的敏感性试验,选出L929和LLC-MK2敏感细胞,然后用LLC-MK2细胞进行理化性质试验,血凝试验和形态学鉴定。结果显示该病毒为耐乙醚、不耐酸、不耐热的RNA病毒;对人O型红细胞能产生凝集,滴度达1:32;电镜下可查见细胞胞浆内有球形、直径为70nm～80nm、双层衣壳的病毒颗粒。提取BYD株RNA并进行S4片段序列分析,结果显示该片段的氨基酸序列与已知呼肠病毒1～3型标准株的同源性分别为95%、90%和95%。以上这些生物学以及S4片断的序列分析结果表明:新分离BYD株病毒符合呼肠病毒科的特性。     

太平湖水库水质的理化特征

总结了1985年11月至1986年7月太平湖水库水质的理化特性,结果表明:太平湖水库水质良好,透明度高平均为321cm;pH值平均为7.4;水中溶解氧丰富;总离子量较低;水质属重碳酸盐类钙组Ⅰ型水(CⅠCa).水中主要生物营养元素氮含量较高,总氮平均为1.49mg/L,磷含量较低,总磷平均为0.012mg/L.氮、磷比为124.2:1,表明磷是该水体生物生产力的限制性营养元素。水中多数理化组分有明显的季节变化,多数理化组分在平面和垂直分布上也有差异,但差异不显着。       

三峡水库库首初期蓄水前后理化因子的比较研究

根据2002—2004年对三峡水库库首的监测,对该水域的理化特征及其动态进行了比较分析,并对三峡水库初期蓄水前后的数据进行了差异显著性分析。结果显示主要理化指标空间差异不大,主要随季节变化。部分理化指标在蓄水前后有显著差异。其中TN、TP在蓄水后与蓄水前同期比较有明显降低,分别由蓄水前的周年平均值2.38mg/L、0.274mg/L下降到蓄水后的1.62mg/L0、.132mg/L。在无机氮组成中,NO3-N高达91.25%,而NO2-N仅占1.05%,这表明调查水域有较强的自净能力。透明度、浊度月变化很大,且呈良好的负相关,并在7—9月分别有显著降低与升高,表明本地区水土流失在降雨季节十分剧烈。而TP也随库区水体中悬浮物增高而显著增高,表明流失水土受磷污染严重。但由于同时期PO4-P反而是降低的,则说明此污染并不能有效转化为PO4-P。对营养状态指数(TSIM)的评价表明,尽管蓄水后库首水质污染较之蓄水前有明显降低,但仍呈中营养化水平。与国内其他大型水库比较,结果显示TP、NO3-N都远远高于被比较水库。     

Purification and physicochemical properties of different polysaccharide fractions from the water extract of Boschniakia rossica and their effect on macrophages activation

Today more and more attentions had been attracted by many nutritionists and pharmacologists on polysaccharides from natural plants or animals due to their significant biological activities. In this research three polysaccharides (BRR-W1, BRR-WA1 and BRR-WA2) were isolated and purified from the water extract of Boschniakia rossica by DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow and Sepharose 6 Fast Flow column chromatography. Chemical and physical characteristics of three polysaccharides were investigated by a combination of chemical and instrumental analysis methods. The assays of their effect on macrophages activation were also investigated in vitro, including phagocytosis of macrophages, detections for NO production and TNF-α secretion. The results indicated that the effect of polysaccharides on macrophages activation was influenced by their respective physicochemical properties.     

Banana starch structure and digestibility

It is well known that raw banana starch is a good source of resistant starch. Less is known, however, regarding the digestion property of gelatinized banana starch. In this study, banana starch cooked for 20 min in excess water had a significant fraction of slowly digestible starch (19%), as well as resistant fraction (27%). Amylopectin is thought to be responsible for its slow digestion property, since banana starch studied here has a relatively low amylose content of 11.2%. Chain-length distribution analysis revealed that banana amylopectin has a significantly different structure from corn or potato amylopectin in that it has a higher proportion of very long chains. Retrogradation studies support the view that banana starch retrogrades at a substantially faster rate than corn or potato starch leading to less digestible cooked starch. Additionally, banana starch has unique pasting properties making it behave like a chemically lightly cross-linked starch. Banana starch is unique, both nutritionally and functionally, to warrant further investigation on potential commercial uses.