Ghrelin signaling in heart remodeling of adult obese mice

In the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus, as in several crustacean species, the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone is present as two isoforms differing by the chirality of the third residue, a phenylalanine. In the present work, isoforms synthesized full length by solid-phase peptide synthesis have been purified, refolded, the location of the disulfide bridges has been checked, their immunoreactivity against different antibodies have been analyzed and their hyperglycemic activity tested, to ensure the identity of the synthetic peptides with their natural homologs. Different parameters of the hyperglycemic activity of both isoforms were studied. In addition to a difference in the kinetics of hyperglycemia, already known from other studies, it was observed that the dose-response was different depending on the season where experiments were performed, the response being stronger in spring than in autumn, especially for the d-Phe containing isoform. A dosage method based on sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed to measure hemolymphatic levels of the isoforms after spiking of the animals with one isoform or the other. It was found that hemolymphatic clearance was identical for both isoforms, indicating that their differential effect is not linked to their different lifetime in the hemolymph but may rather rely on other mechanisms such as their binding to different target tissues.     

Cross‐reactivity of a human IgG1 anticitrullinated fibrinogen monoclonal antibody to a citrullinated profilaggrin peptide

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common autoimmune rheumatic disease. It is characterized by persistent joint inflammation, resulting in loss of joint function, morbidity and premature mortality. The presence of antibodies against citrullinated proteins is a characteristic feature of RA and up to 70% of RA patients are anticitrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) positive. ACPA responses have been widely studied and are suggested to be heterogeneous, favoring antibody cross‐reactivity to citrullinated proteins. In this study, we examined factors that may influence cross‐reactivity between a commercial human anticitrullinated fibrinogen monoclonal antibody and a citrullinated peptide. Using a citrullinated profilaggrin sequence (HQCHQEST‐ Cit‐GRSRGRCGRSGS) as template, cyclic and linear truncated peptide versions were tested for reactivity to the monoclonal antibody. Factors such as structure, peptide length and flanking amino acids were found to have a notable impact on antibody cross‐reactivity. The results achieved contribute to the understanding of the interactions between citrullinated peptides and ACPA, which may aid in the development of improved diagnostics of ACPA.     

Terrorist Radiological Dispersive Device (RDD) Scenario and Cancer Risk Assessment

Terrorist attacks using radiological dispersal devices (RDD) are important threats that can lead to major environmental, economic, and public health concerns. In a simulation using a Gaussian model, we sought to determine dose curves as a function of distance from the explosion core site and from these data to determine the relative risk of developing tumors as well as the probability of causation (i.e., the statistical correlation between occurrence of malignancies and previous exposure to radiation). Calculation confirmed the cause dependence on age at exposure and the probability of tumor causation. This study aimed at emphasizing the importance of responding rapidly and efficiently, with a user-friendly user methodology that initially may help to guide the response from basic actions to the complete decision process.     

填埋场陈垃圾对黄瓜种子发芽的影响

陈垃圾资源化利用是生态环保领域的一个重要问题。选择黄瓜作为试验对象,向培养基质中添加比例为20%～80%和100%的陈垃圾,与使用蒸馏水和土壤的处理进行对比,采用种子发芽的陆生生态毒理方法,研究陈垃圾对植物发芽的影响。结果表明:稳定后的陈垃圾有利于黄瓜种子发芽,而未产生毒性效应;陈垃圾在培养基质中的最佳比例为80%,与蒸馏水和土壤相比,此时发芽势分别提高了12.8%和7.6%,发芽率分别提高了11.3%和7.2%,根长-芽长和芽的鲜重分别比使用蒸馏水时增加了177.6%、44.9%和143.4%,比使用土壤时增加了49.0%～28.4%和72.4%。研究结果可为陈垃圾的资源化利用提供借鉴。     

High-performance liquid chromatographic separation and identification of polyphenolic compounds from the infusion of Davilla elliptica St. Hill

The isolation of polyphenolic compounds from an infusion of the Brazilian plant Davilla elliptica (Dilleniaceae), used as tea by virtue of its digestive properties, is described. An improved preparative HPLC method was used in order to isolate pure polyphenols from the complex mixture. Liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction were employed to minimise the interference of polymeric compounds and to provide an enriched fraction of the compounds of interest. The identification of the isolated compounds was performed using analytical HPLC as well as direct injection electrospray ionisation ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-IT-MS/MS). The high flavonoid content suggests that D. elliptica may be a promising source of compounds to produce natural phytomedicines.     

Solid substrate fermentation of lignite by the coal-solubilizing mould, Trichoderma atroviride, in a new type of bioreactor

Trichoderma atroviride CBS 349 is able to solubilize lignite. The mould was cultured under non-sterile conditions in a new type of bioreactor for solid substrate fermentation. German lignite (lithotype A, Bergheim) was used as complex solid substrate. Over 40 days 140 g of 1.5 kg lignite held in a 25 l-bioreactor was solubilized by the fungus.     

Engineering supramolecular artificial edifices designed for a specific function

The Langmuir-Blodgett technique and its variants (alternate layers, self-organising mixtures, the semi-amphiphilic technique, the peculiar solid state chemistry in L.B. films) are collective methods which allow physical chemists, with a very small amount of synthetic chemistry, to build up molecular assemblies exhibiting not only the properties of each of their components, but also extra properties which arise from the architecture: cooperativity, anomalous chemical properties, molecular recognition, etc. These new tailored molecular edifices are the basic “brick” of tomorrow's molecular electronics and fine chemistry. These strategies are exemplified here by two active supramolecular edifices which have been successfully designed and built up: an artificial dioxygen trap based on the same principle as hemoglobin, and one molecule thick conductors. Promising applied results have already been obtained in the field of gas sensing with these new conductors, owing to molecular architectural amplification.     

Biofilter performance and characterization of a biocatalyst degrading alkylbenzene gases

A biofilter treating alkylbenzene vapors was characterized for its optimal running conditions and kinetic parame-ters. Kinetics of the continuous biofilter were compared to batch kinetic data obtained with biofilm samples as well as with defined microbial consortia and with pure culture isolates from the biofilter. Both bacteria and fungi were present in the bioreactor. Five strains were isolated. Two bacteria, Bacillus and Pseudomonas, were shown to be dominant, as well as a Trichosporon strain which could, however, hardly grow on alkylbenzenes in pure culture. The remaining two strains were most often overgrown by the other three organisms in liquid phase batch cultures μ _max, K_S, K_I values and biodegradation rates were calculated and compared for the difterent mixed and pure cultures. Since filter bed acidification was observed during biofiltration studies reaching a pH of about 4, experiments were also undertaken to study the influence of pH on performance of the different cultures. Biodegradation and growth were possible in all cases, over the pH range 3.5–7.0 at appreciable rates, both with mixed cultures and with pure bacterial cultures. Under certain conditions, microbial activity was even observed in the presence of alkylbenzenes down to pH 2.5 with mixed cultures, which is quite unusual and explains the ability of the present biocatalyst to remove alkylbenzenes with high efficiency in biofilters under acidic conditions.     

Use of Lethal Control to Reduce Habituation to Blank Rounds by Scavenging Birds

Abstract Scavenging bird deterrence frequently fails due to habituation. We demonstrated such habituation by gulls and corvids to blank rounds used in a dawn-to-dusk regime at a landfill site in southern England. We then combined blank rounds with live rounds and shot birds whenever they attempted to land. Gull numbers declined significantly despite only 1.9% of the population being shot. Corvid numbers returned to precontrol levels despite 52.7% of the population being shot. We suggest that shooting reduces gull habituation to blank rounds but is ineffective at reducing habituation by corvids.     

Lead phytoextraction from printed circuit computer boards by Lolium perenne L. and Medicago sativa L.

This work assessed the ability of Lolium perenne and Medicago sativa for extracting lead (Pb) from particulate printed circuit computer boards (PCB) mixed in sand with the following concentrations: 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g of PCB, and including a control treatment without PCB. The PCB were obtained from computers, and grinded in two particle sizes: 0.0594 mm (PCB1) and 0.0706 mm (PCB2). The PCB particle sizes at their corresponding concentrations were applied to L. perenne and M. sativa by using three experimental assays. In assay II, PCB2 affected the biomass production for both plants. For assay III, the PCB1 increased the biomass of M. sativa (236.5%) and L. perenne (142.2%) when applying either 0.5 or 1.0 g, respectively. In regards to phytoextraction, assay I showed the highest Pb-extraction by roots of L. perenne (4.7%) when exposed to 1.5 g of PCB1. At assay I, L. perenne showed a Pb-bioconcentration factor higher than 1.0 when growing at 0.5 g of PCB1, and when HNO₃ was used as digestion solution; moreover, in assay III both plants showed a Pb-translocation factor higher than 1.0. Therefore, Lolium perenne and Medicago sativa are able to recover Pb from electronic wastes (PCB).