Highways are a threat for giant armadillos that underpasses can mitigate

We report 24 records of giant armadillo roadkill on Brazilian highways in the Cerrado, Pantanal and Amazon biomes illustrating that highways are a threat to this species. However, we also documented the species using underpasses, demonstrating that these structures could help to reduce the risk of roadkill for giant armadillos.     

Comparing methods for metabolic network analysis and an application to metabolic engineering

Bioinformatics tools have facilitated the reconstruction and analysis of cellular metabolism of various organisms based on information encoded in their genomes. Characterization of cellular metabolism is useful to understand the phenotypic capabilities of these organisms. It has been done quantitatively through the analysis of pathway operations. There are several in silico approaches for analyzing metabolic networks, including structural and stoichiometric analysis, metabolic flux analysis, metabolic control analysis, and several kinetic modeling based analyses. They can serve as a virtual laboratory to give insights into basic principles of cellular functions. This article summarizes the progress and advances in software and algorithm development for metabolic network analysis, along with their applications relevant to cellular physiology, and metabolic engineering with an emphasis on microbial strain optimization. Moreover, it provides a detailed comparative analysis of existing approaches under different categories.     

Temperature‐dependent conformational change affecting Tyr11 and sweetness loops of brazzein

The sweet protein brazzein, a member of the Csβα fold family, contains four disulfide bonds that lend a high degree of thermal and pH stability to its structure. Nevertheless, a variable temperature study has revealed that the protein undergoes a local, reversible conformational change between 37 and 3°C with a midpoint about 27°C that changes the orientations and side‐chain hydrogen bond partners of Tyr8 and Tyr11. To test the functional significance of this effect, we used NMR saturation transfer to investigate the interaction between brazzein and the amino terminal domain of the sweet receptor subunit T1R2; the results showed a stronger interaction at 7°C than at 37°C. Thus the low temperature conformation, which alters the orientations of two loops known to be critical for the sweetness of brazzein, may represent the bound state of brazzein in the complex with the human sweet receptor. Proteins 2013; © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Cranial morphology of an Early Cretaceous Monjurosuchid (Reptilia: Diapsida) from Liaoning Province of China and evolution of the choristoderan palate

A new specimen of Philydrosaurus proseilus from the Early Cretaceous Chiufotang (Jiufotang) Formation preserves the first complete palate of a monjurosuchid choristodere. As in other choristoderes, the palate of Philydrosaurus is akinetic, extended by a broad contact between the vomer and maxilla, and equipped with multiple batteries of palatal teeth. This specimen provides phylogenetically significant information and clarifies the distribution of many apomorphies within Choristodera. Philydrosaurus is primitive relative to the Neochoristodera in that it exhibits only a moderate degree of posterior displacement of the choanae and retains a relatively large interpterygoid vacuity. However, Philydrosaurus also exhibits several derived features previously considered diagnostic of the Neochoristodera, including establishment of a long midline contact of the pterygoids and development of a distinct nasopalatal trough extending from the choana. The choristodere palate exhibits significant modification of the primitive diapsid condition, including elongation of the vomers, establishment of a vomer–maxilla contact, posterior displacement of the choanae, development of the nasopalatal trough, and reduction of the interpterygoid vacuity.     

Laccase immobilization and insolubilization: from fundamentals to applications for the elimination of emerging contaminants in wastewater treatment

Over the last few decades many attempts have been made to use biocatalysts for the biotransformation of emerging contaminants in environmental matrices. Laccase, a multicopper oxidoreductase enzyme, has shown great potential in oxidizing a large number of phenolic and non-phenolic emerging contaminants. However, laccases and more broadly enzymes in their free form are biocatalysts whose applications in solution have many drawbacks rendering them currently unsuitable for large scale use. To circumvent these limitations, the enzyme can be immobilized onto carriers or entrapped within capsules; these two immobilization techniques have the disadvantage of generating a large mass of non-catalytic product. Insolubilization of the free enzymes as cross-linked enzymes (CLEAs) is found to yield a greater volume ratio of biocatalyst while improving the characteristics of the biocatalyst. Ultimately, novel techniques of enzymes insolubilization and stabilization are feasible with the combination of cross-linked enzyme aggregates (combi-CLEAs) and enzyme polymer engineered structures (EPESs) for the elimination of emerging micropollutants in wastewater. In this review, fundamental features of laccases are provided in order to elucidate their catalytic mechanism, followed by different chemical aspects of the immobilization and insolubilization techniques applicable to laccases. Finally, kinetic and reactor design effects for enzymes in relation with the potential applications of laccases as combi-CLEAs and EPESs for the biotransformation of micropollutants in wastewater treatment are discussed.     

Mechanistic Studies on Metal-pyrophosphate Hydrolysis. Structure of Tetraammine(chloroaquo)cobait(III) dichloride ([CO(NH3)4ClH20]2+•-2Cl−), an Acid Hydrolysis Product of Co(NH3)4HP2O7 and Co(NH3)4PO4

Abstract

The octahedral complex tetraammine(chloroaquo)cobalt(III) dichloride is shown to be the HCl hydrolysis product of both P¹,^2-bidentate tetraammine(pyrophosphato)cobalt(III) [CO(NH₃)₄HP₂0₇ or CoPP] and bidentate tetraammine(phosphato)cobalt(III) [Co(NH₃)₄P0₄or CoP]. The complex crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pna2¹ with cell dimensions α=13.033(2)Å, b=6.710(1) Å, and c=10.318(2)Å; the crystal structure was refined to a final disagreement index of 0.033. The average of the four Co-N distances is 1.944±6Å. The Co-Cl distance is 2.257(2)Å and the Co-O(W) distance is 1.971(4)Å. Both protons of the coordinated water molecule are engaged in strong hydrogen bonds to the two nonbonded chloride counterions with 0(W)-C1 distances of 3.087(6)Å and 3.123(6)Å. Each nonbonded chloride is engaged in seven hydrogen bonding interactions resulting from the high ratio of hydrogen bond donors to acceptors in the CoP structure. Cobalt bisphosphate (CoP₂) is the final enzyme hydrolysis product when CoPP is used as substrate in the yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase reaction. The bridge oxygen atom is the site of initial CoPP cleavage both, for HCl catalyzed hydrolysis as well as for enzyme catalyzed hydrolysis.     

Migrant economies: opportunity structures and potential in different city types

In this paper we wish to appraise how opportunities for migrant economies and their role in urban development may differ among various city types. The article contributes to the debate about the relationship of migrant economies and urban development and takes up two perspectives: it examines local opportunity structures for migrant entrepreneurs and sheds light on migrant economies’ potential for urban development. To address the many interrelated historical and contemporary processes in cities that influence migrant economies, we adopt the rescaling and the mixed embeddedness approaches. Studies on the role of migrant economies in urban development have predominantly focused on metropolises. Based on mixed-methods case studies in two medium-sized German cities, we ask how different city types influence the opportunities and potential of migrant economies for urban development.     

Preparedness as a counter-memory. School desegregation,social chances and life chances

ABSTRACT

How should we understand the conundrum of love for the segregated school – a system built to keep you in your place? In Gone Home. Race and Roots through Appalachia, Karida L. Brown looks at African American teacher’s work in segregated schools and shows how desegregation could be felt in both gains and losses in the black community. Those teachers prepared their students for a world of integration without freedom. This essay proposes a counter-memory of segregation, a relational agency of teachers past that remains to this day. Former students’ commemoration of teachers, principals, and schools dating from the time of institutionalized racial exclusion works as a symbolic reminder in a still-racist world, representing not only the need to be prepared, but also to stay prepared.     

Syntomoza Amaliae,a New Species of Moth-Fly (Diptera,Psychodidae) from Nicaragua

A new species of Psychodidae, Syntomoza amaliae is described from Nicaragua and compared to all the type material of this genus. Besides head and wing structures, the subgenital plates provide taxonomic characters by which the ♀ ♀ can be determined. Drawings of the respective details are presented for 4 neotropical Syntomoza species.     

The Potential Role of Scattered Trees for Ant Conservation in an Agriculturally Dominated Neotropical Landscape

Although biological conservation has traditionally focused on the protection of pristine areas, it is becoming increasingly evident that efforts should also be made toward the maintenance of biological diversity in human‐managed ecosystems. We evaluated the potential role of scattered, remnant trees in enhancing ant diversity in agricultural lands within a biodiversity hotspot, namely the Cerrado savannas of central Brazil. Ant collections were performed in, beneath, and away from the crowns of a native tree species growing in planted pastures, soy fields, and in small (<400 ha) savanna reserves. Significantly more ant species were found beneath than 30 m away from scattered trees. The magnitude of this effect was similar in soy fields and in pastures at all scales of our analyses, except at the landscape scale where the effect was comparatively greater in soy fields. Most of the species that occurred more frequently beneath than away from trees nest on ground, indicating that the conservation value of scattered trees goes beyond the mere protection of arboreal ant species. Soy plantations presented a particular species‐poor ground‐dwelling fauna when compared with savannas, whereas differences in the number and composition of arboreal species were less marked. In contrast, the diversity of arboreal‐ and ground‐dwelling ants recorded in and beneath pasture trees was nearly as high as the one found in savannas. It is suggested that pasture trees can have an important value for ant conservation off reserves, particularly in regions where most of the native vegetation has already been cleared.