Using hyperspectral satellite imagery for regional inventories: a test with tropical emergent trees in the Amazon Basin

Questions: Understanding distributions of tree species at landscape scales in tropical forests is a difficult task that could benefit from the recent development of satellite imaging spectroscopy. We tested an application of the EO‐1 Hyperion satellite sensor to spectrally detect the location of five important tree taxa in the lowland humid tropical forests of southeastern Peru. Location: Peru, Departamento de Madre de Díos. Methods: We used linear discriminant analysis with a stepwise selection procedure to analyze two Hyperion datasets (July and December 2006) to choose the most informative narrow bands for classifying trees. Results: Optimal channels selected were different between the two seasons. Classification was 100% successful for the five taxa when using 25 narrow bands and pixels that represented >40% of tree crowns. We applied the discriminant functions developed separately for the two seasons to the entire study area, and found significantly nonrandom overlap in the anticipated distributions of the five taxa between seasons. Conclusions: Despite known issues, such as signal‐to‐noise ratio and spatial resolution, Hyperion imaging spectroscopy has potential for developing regional mapping of large‐crowned tropical trees.     

The Selective Detection of Cyantraniliprole Insecticides Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Coupled with an Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition-Based Biosensor

Cyantraniliprole is one of the anthranilic diamide insecticides widely used in the agriculture sector. Due to its low toxicity and relatively fast degradation, there is need for a sensitive determination method for its residues. Nowadays, there is growing interest in the development of enzyme-based biosensors. The major drawback is the non-specific binding of many insecticides to the enzyme. This work employs Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) to increase enzyme specificity and eliminate the organic solvent effect on the enzyme activity. The synthesized Cyan-Molecularly imprinted polymers (Cyan-MIP) possesses high affinity and selectivity toward cyantraniliprole. Acetylcholinesterase assay characteristics including enzyme concentration, substrate concentration, DTNB concentration, and acetonitrile concentration were optimized. Under optimal experimental conditions, the developed MIP-Acetylcholinesterase (MIP-AchE) inhibition-based sensor provides better precision than the AchE inhibition-based sensor with a wide linear range (15–50 ppm), limit of detection (LOD) 4.1 ppm, and limit of quantitation (LOQ) 12.6 ppm. The sensor was successfully applied for cyantraniliprole determination in spiked melon, giving satisfactory recoveries.     

Phosphorylation chemistry of the Bordetella PlrSR TCS and its contribution to bacterial persistence in the lower respiratory tract

Bordetella species cause lower respiratory tract infections in mammals. B. pertussis and B. bronchiseptica are the causative agents of whooping cough and kennel cough, respectively. The current acellular vaccine for B. pertussis protects against disease but does not prevent transmission or colonization. Cases of pertussis are on the rise even in areas of high vaccination. The PlrSR two-component system, is required for persistence in the mouse lung. A partial plrS deletion strain and a plrS H521Q strain cannot survive past 3 days in the lung, suggesting PlrSR works in a phosphorylation-dependent mechanism. We characterized the biochemistry of B. bronchiseptica PlrSR and found that both proteins function as a canonical two-component system. His521 was essential and Glu522 was critical for PlrS autophosphorylation. Asn525 was essential for phosphatase activity. The PAS domain was critical for both PlrS autophosphorylation and phosphatase activities. PlrS could both phosphotransfer to and exert phosphatase activity toward PlrR. Unexpectedly, PlrR formed a tetramer when unphosphorylated and a dimer upon phosphorylation. Finally, we demonstrated the importance of PlrS phosphatase activity for persistence within the murine lung. By characterizing PlrSR we hope to guide future in vivo investigation for development of new vaccines and therapeutics.     

Colorimetric method for the determination of ethanol by Flow Injection Analysis

An automated Flow Injection Analysis system using stop-flow technique for quantifying ethanol based in a colorimetric detection method was developed. The system permitted analysis in a linear range of 0.05–1 g ethanol l^–1 without external dilution, a sampling frequency of 15 analyses per hour, and a relative standard deviation of 3.5%. A dilution line was implemented in the FIA system permitting the extension of the linear range to 0.5–5.2 g ethanol l^–1 maintaining the same sampling frequency and standard deviation. The system was applied to measure ethanol concentrations present in samples of an alcoholic fermentation and the results showed no significant difference with other analytical procedures (GC).     

Measuring core body temperature with a non-invasive sensor

In various occupations, workers may be exposed to extreme environmental conditions and physical activities. Under these conditions the ability to follow the workers' body temperature may protect them from overheating that may lead to heat related injuries. The "Dräger" Double Sensor (DS) is a novel device for assessing body-core temperature (T_c). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the DS in measuring T_c under heat stress. Seventeen male participants performed a three stage protocol: 30 min rest in a thermal comfort environment (20–22 °C, 50% relative humidity), followed by an exposure to a hot environment of 40 °C, 40% relative humidity −30 min at rest and 60 min of exercise (walking on a treadmill at 5 km/h and 2% elevation). Simultaneously temperatures measured by the DS (T_DS) and by rectal temperature (T_re) (YSI-401 thermistor) were recorded and then compared. During the three stages of the study the average temperature obtained by the DS was within±0.3 °C of rectal measurement. The correlation between T_DS and T_re was significantly better during the heat exposures phases than during resting under comfort conditions. These preliminary results are promising for potential use of the DS by workers under field conditions and especially under environmental heat stress or when dressed in protective garments. For this goal, further investigations are required to validate the accuracy of the DS under various levels of heat stress, clothing and working levels.     

Changes in presynaptic calcium signalling accompany age‐related deficits in hippocampal LTP and cognitive impairment

The loss of cognitive function accompanying healthy aging is not associated with extensive or characteristic patterns of cell death, suggesting it is caused by more subtle changes in synaptic properties. In the hippocampal CA1 region, long‐term potentiation requires stronger stimulation for induction in aged rats and mice and long‐term depression becomes more prevalent. An age‐dependent impairment of postsynaptic calcium homeostasis may underpin these effects. We have examined changes in presynaptic calcium signalling in aged mice using a transgenic mouse line (SyG37) that expresses a genetically encoded calcium sensor in presynaptic terminals. SyG37 mice showed an age‐dependent decline in cognitive abilities in behavioural tasks that require hippocampal processing including the Barnes maze, T‐maze and object location but not recognition tests. The incidence of LTP was significantly impaired in animals over 18 months of age. These effects of aging were accompanied by a persistent increase in resting presynaptic calcium, an increase in the presynaptic calcium signal following Schaffer collateral fibre stimulation, an increase in postsynaptic fEPSP slope and a reduction in paired‐pulse facilitation. These effects were not caused by synapse proliferation and were of presynaptic origin since they were evident in single presynaptic boutons. Aged synapses behaved like younger ones when the extracellular calcium concentration was reduced. Raising extracellular calcium had little effect on aged synapses but altered the properties of young synapses into those of their aged counterparts. These effects can be readily explained by an age‐dependent change in the properties or numbers of presynaptic calcium channels.     

Enantioselective Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Based on C60 Fullerene‐Glutathione Self‐Assembled Monolayer (SAM)

A novel enantioselective surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on a self‐assembled monolayer of C₆₀ fullerene as the chiral selector is proposed. A binding assay, apparent affinity constant, and apparent dissociation binding constant were used to analyze and study the enantioselectivity of C₆₀ fullerene‐glutathione film for L‐histidine, which was chosen as the model analyte. The apparent affinity constant for the complex formed by L‐histidine with C₆₀ fullerene‐glutathione film was 5.2 x 10⁹ M^‐1. The proposed SPR sensor can be used for the assay of L‐histidine in the 10^‐10 – 10^‐7 mol/L concentration range. Chirality 26:129–131, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

C4-dicarboxylates sensing mechanism revealed by the crystal structures of DctB sensor domain

C₄-dicarboxylates are the major carbon and energy sources during the symbiotic growth of rhizobia. Responses to C₄-dicarboxylates depend on typical two-component systems (TCS) consisting of a transmembrane sensor histidine kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. The DctB-DctD system is the first identified TCS for C₄-dicarboxylates sensing. Direct ligand binding to the sensor domain of DctB is believed to be the first step of the sensing events. In this report, the water-soluble periplasmic sensor domain of Sinorhizobium meliloti DctB (DctBp) was studied, and three crystal structures were solved: the apo protein, a complex with C₄ succinate, and a complex with C₃ malonate. Different from the two structurally known CitA family of carboxylate sensor proteins CitA and DcuS, the structure of DctBp consists of two tandem Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) domains and one N-terminal helical region. Only the membrane-distal PAS domain was found to bind the ligands, whereas the proximal PAS domain was empty. Comparison of DctB, CitA, and DcuS suggests a detailed stereochemistry of C₄-dicarboxylates ligand perception. The structures of the different ligand binding states of DctBp also revealed a series of conformational changes initiated upon ligand binding and propagated to the N-terminal domain responsible for dimerization, providing insights into understanding the detailed mechanism of the signal transduction of TCS histidine kinases.     

Layer-by-layer self-assembly aluminum Keggin ions/Prussian blue nanoparticles ultrathin films towards multifunctional sensing applications

In this study we described the nanocomposites films of specially synthesized inorganic Prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles and polyoxocation Al₁₃ Keggin ions that possess the excellent sensing activities. Film fabrication using layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technique was followed by electrochemical characterization. The assembled multilayer Al₁₃/PB films as sensor devices for both the catalytic reduction of H₂O₂ and detecting the change of relative humidity were also investigated. The sensitivity of the biosensor was 0.886 mA cm⁻² mM⁻¹, and about two orders of magnitude change in resistance was observed as the relative humidity increasing from 5 to 95%. Both sensors exhibited good reproducibility, wide linear range. The performance and multifunctional abilities of these nanocomposites promise potential applications in biosensors, environmental controlling system and biomedical devices.     

The configuration,solvatochromism and metallo‐responses of two novel cyano‐containing oligo(phenylene‐vinylene) derivatives

Two novel cyano‐containing oligo(phenylenevinylene) (OPV) derivatives have been designed and synthesized. Photophysical and sensing properties of the two compounds were studied. Such studies reveal the intramolecular charge transfer process between cyano groups and OPV core. The results showed that the alkyl difference of substituted OPV leads to the changes of molecular configuration and metallo‐response of two compounds. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.